Pianissimo in Italian - coming soon!

Pianissimo, my paranormal story, is coming soon in Italiano! ;)

Copertura Reveal!

Pianissimo di Lauren Shiro

Darryl e Corinne Richards comprano la loro prima casa. La carriera nell’esercito di Darryl sta giungendo al termine, e la coppia si sente pronta a sistemarsi a Louisville, nel Kentucky. Con impeccabile tempismo, Darryl viene inviato nella sua ultima missione, e Corinne deve vivere nella nuova casa e nella nuova città da sola.

Sopraffatta, Corinne si isola e conduce una vita tranquilla e noiosa con le sue gatte, adattandosi alla nuova città. Il problema è che qualcuno o qualcosa non vuole che la sua vita sia né tranquilla né noiosa. E poi c’è quell’inquietante pianoforte in cantina…

C’è qualcosa dietro all’inquietante pianoforte sgangherato e alla nuova casa, più di quanto Corinne possa immaginare. Tra alti e bassi, colpi di scena e risvolti inaspettati, comincia a capire che anche una melodia suonata con dolcezza è potente – e anche anche le dolci rivelazioni e i minimi cambiamenti possono avere effetti profondi.

http://books.noisetrade.com/laurenshiro/preview-pianissimo-italian

Last WeWriWa of 2015!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt: We are reading Agnes' diary as she sums up Christmas, and the meaning of the holiday. Snippet in 10:

So many people struggle and try to find joy in their material possessions. For them, this purpose of this day is for them to acquire more things, and yet still feel empty inside. I am so fortunate to know better than that. It is wonderful to not be wrapped up in the intangible concepts of money and belongings. I should rather live in a full dairy barn with Margaret than to not have her but have an exorbitant amount of money and things. Holidays aren’t about things. They’re about people. The people we all know and love. The people in our lives whom we should celebrate. And I shall celebrate Margaret every day that I am alive.

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading, happy holidays, and have a happy and blessed new year!

More Holiday WeWriWas!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
We are now watching Margaret and Agnes celebrate Christmas. They have just celebrated the holiday with Margaret's family. The two are having this discussion while heading off to bed.
Snippet in 9:

Margaret swished in place; her dress spun and twirled around her. “I love Christmas. I love our Christmases together."
     “As do I,” Agnes quietly replied. “You know, the holiday is so much more than gifts. It reminds us to love, appreciate and care for those we hold dear. It reminds us to not think of self, but rather to focus on those around us. Every day, I thank God for you. Every Christmas, I am reminded of how wonderful you really are.”


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Still lots of holiday WeWriWa fun!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
It's still early in the day, Corinne and Darryl just sat down for breakfast. The reality of his presence, but the absence of the rest of their families is hitting Corinne.
Snippet in 9:

Darryl sat across from Corinne. It was strange celebrating the holiday without their families. She felt a pang of sadness and solitude, but she loved the fact that Darryl was home, and he always would be.

“You alright, babe?” He interrupted her thoughts.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “Happy that you’re home.”

He reached across the table and gently caressed her hand. “Me too.”

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

WeWriWa: First Christmas

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
This is the opening of the story. It is early Christmas morning. Corinne is awake, enjoying the start of the day in solitude. Snippet in 8:

Corinne tightly held her coffee mug. It was forty two degrees out. Not cold enough for her. She pulled back the curtain and looked out the window. No white Christmas here. Not today, anyway. Corinne couldn’t help but to feel bummed by seeing green grass. It wasn’t anything like her childhood Christmases in Indiana. 


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Pianissimo for the holidays

It's December!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at Pianissimo.

Pianissimo is multi-facited. First you have the story of Corinne, a lonely military wife. Just when she thinks she is done worrying about her husband being sent off, he goes on one final deployment. She finds herself lonely and depressed. She needs to discover herself, and to find peace in her solitude.

There is the paranormal aspect of Corinne's house. She and her husband, Darryl, bought the house right before that final deployment. It's an old house, chock full of stories and secrets. For as lonely as Corinne feels, she soon discovers that she's actually not alone.

Finally, there's the story of Agnes and Margaret. A love story. A life story. These two women lead extraordinary lives, and they leave a glorious trail of letters, photographs, and even a diary, so their legacy can live on.

Pianissimo is a story about women. It is a story about the strength of women, the resiliency of women, the determination of women, the capability of women, the enduring spirit of women. It is much a human story as it is a paranormal story and/or a love story.

For readers who love books with tremendous depth, palpable emotions, multiple elements, and a feel good story, Pianissimo is a great book!

Get your copy here!

4.5 Stars
Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone. Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement… There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect

Halloween WeWriWa!

Happy Halloween! Today is the day for good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: Corinne is going to do laundry when she suddenly sees the ghost of Agnes Walker.


Snippet edited to fit in 10 sentences:

        Corinne brought a small load of laundry down the rickety stairs into the basement when something caught her eye. A figure stood by the old mangled piano. It was her – the woman from her dream and in those pictures: it was Agnes!
     Tall and lean, and figure and her face were undeniable. 
     Slowly, Agnes turned to look at Corinne. Her face was wrinkled, yet regal; her hair was elegantly worn up; her clothes were an echo of days gone by. Her eyes grew wide and bright for a moment. “Margaret?” There was an unusual quality to her voice: a whisper, and yet a scream; clear, yet scratchy - hers was a voice like none Corinne had ever heard before.
     Corinne stood, holding the laundry basket, unable to move.



Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

Another Chilling WeWriWa Snippet from Pianissimo

'Tis the season for some good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: 
Corinne has just discovered the old, dilapidated piano in the basement of her new home while she waits for some service men to deliver a new washer and dryer.

Snippet edited to fit in 8 sentences:

     She walked over to it. She could only imagine the beautiful music that had once been played on the old piece. She softly touched it. A burst of a cold sensation struck her hand and raced up her arm. Corinne immediately dropper her hand. The cold feeling was gone.
     She was struck by a burst of energy while she continued to stare at the piano.
     “Hello,” a man’s voice echoed down the stairs.




Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

More Halloween Hauntings from Pianissimo

'Tis the season for some good scares. So, in keeping with October's tradition of all things frightening, I am once again sharing snippets from Pianissimo. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a paranormal story?!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the snippet: 
Corinne is washing the dishes when she hears someone speak. This isn't the first time this has happened. Her husband, Darryl, is deployed, though - she's alone in her house. So who is speaking to her?

Snippet edited to fit in 9 sentences:

There it was again. A voice - a strange voice. She couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman speaking. It was almost like a scratchy whisper. It was very weird. It was like nothing she had ever heard before, and yet she couldn’t be sure she actually heard anything.
Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe it was just her imagination playing games with her. This isolation and solitude was definitely taking a toll on her; It was probably nothing more than that.


Hope you liked it!
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

Character of the Week: Corinne from Pianissimo

Corinne Richards: dutiful army housewife, isolated loner, former pianist, home owner, and now piano restorer.

Corinne thought she had finally "made it." She, and her husband Darryl, had just purchased their house. He was due to retire from the army, and they could finally start living the life they had always hoped for.

Life had different plans for her.


Instead, Darryl is shipped off for one last tour. That blow sends Corinne spiraling into isolation and depression. Prior to this, she connected with other military wives. This time...she just gave up.

It's important to look at her history in order to fully understand what brought her to the house in Louisville.


Corinne grew up in Indiana. Hers was a typical mid-Western upbringing. Her parents owned a modest home.

Corinne and her brothers played sports. Their mother also encouraged all of them to play the piano. The lessons didn't stick with the boys very well. Corinne, though, had a natural talent for it.

She was a senior in high school when she was faced with a most difficult decision: piano or soccer? She was being scouted for a possible soccer scholarship, so sports won. Only three games into the season, and she injured her knee, dashing her dreams. To make matters worse, her parents sold the piano after she made her decision, and thus she was left with nothing.

She and Darryl met at Indiana State. He was working towards a degree in electronics engineering, she was in the General Studies program. It was love at first sight. Their courtship lasted through all four years at the college.

At that time, Darryl wanted to get some hands-on training, so he enlisted in the army. Desperate not to lose him, Corinne begged and pleaded with him to get married. So they did. In a small ceremony performed by a Justice of the Peace, Corinne became Mrs. Richards, and was able to travel with Darryl to different posts.

Years of moving and tours came and went. When Darryl FINALLY decided not to re-enlist, Corinne couldn't have been happier. She was finally getting her husband all to herself. She could finally have a "normal" life like she had growing up. So they bought a house and got ready to settle down. Then Darryl gets shipped off one last time...

What they didn't know when they bought the old farm house was that it was rich in history. It belonged to one of the most prominent Louisville families. It had stories, it had pictures, it had a piano, it had ghosts!

The spirits of the Walker family made themselves quite known to Corinne, even though she had no desire to meet them. What begins as a frightening, and terrifying occurrence becomes a wonderful lesson in history and humanity for Corinne.

She discovers the old, dilapidated piano. She discovers the old photos, letters, and journals. And through it all, she discovers herself.

Corinne is not a likely heroine. She's a rather "average" gal. She has no dreams of making it big. She just wants a normal family life. What she discovers is that family is what you make of it. Her ability to open her eyes and open her mind makes her one of my favorites, and possible even one of the greatest heroines in literature.

Favorite quote from Corinne: "Time to get back to regular life."


Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427504023&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 25 (Y)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

This is the twenty fifth day of our challenge, so we are up to the letter Y. Y is for Yes.

Yes. Yes to this story. Yes to these characters. Yes to Pianissimo.

This is a story unlike any I've ever written before. There were challenges as well as successes. There were lessons and rewards in writing a book like this.

There were times I doubted myself. There were times I was ready to give up. There were times where I shook my head and wondered if this was even feasible.  

Thankfully, neither Agnes, nor Margaret, nor Corinne would let me abandon ship. Though sometimes quietly, they just kept chanting, "yes."

With them as my cheerleaders, I continued to type and type and type. I researched, I studied, I created. The further along I got, the louder the cheers were.

After two years of working on this, Pianissimo came into being. Yes. Yes it was meant to be written. Yes it was written. Yes it is a story I can be proud of.

Yes is a very powerful word, and yes is the word for Pianissimo.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 24 (X)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

We're already up to day 24! We're at the letter X! X is for Xenagogue.

A xenagogue is a guide.

In Pianissimo, Agnes is our guide. 

Agnes' spirit reminds Corinne, quite frequently, that she is not alone. The house and the piano are saturated with Agnes' energy. Corinne is guided to the basement, to the piano, to the box of letters and photographs all by Agnes' ghost.

It is Agnes' photographs, diary, and letters that walks us through her entire life.

Ultimately, this is Agnes' story. She guides us through Corinne's experiences, as well as her own life. Through her diary, letters, and pictures, we are able to connect the two.

Although the story isn't told from Agnes' perspective, she is the foundation and the xenagogue through all that is Pianissimo.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 23 (W)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

We've made it all the way up to day 23, which means our letter is W. W is for Will.

In using the word will, I am focusing on the will and determination of the characters.

Agnes is a strong, willful woman who lives life on her own terms. She and Margaret willfully spend their lives and love together, despite social stigmas and prejudices.

Corinne is bound and determined to learn the history of the house and the piano. She is also willful in taking on the restoration of the piano, when she has never done anything like that before.

Perhaps my characters are closely related to me, but I find it important to write stories about women who are strong, fearless, and determined. Whether in historical context, or modern times, we need strong female characters to help us continue to push forward.

So yes, Margaret, Agnes, and Corinne are all very willful. This story couldn't exist any other way.

See what a strong will and determination can do, by buying your copy today!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 21 (U)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

This is the 21st day. so the letter of the day is U. U is for unique.

Pianissimo is a unique story. A combination of "if these walls could talk," self-discovery, the paranormal, parallel stories, diary entries and love letters, Pianissimo tells multiple stories.

It tells Corinne's story of self-discovery.

It tells the love story and the life story of Agnes and Margaret.

It tells the story of a haunted house and haunted piano.

It parallels the lives and marriages of Corinne and Darryl against that of Agnes and Margaret.

There is not cliche or redundant. This is a truly unique story that will work its way into your heart.

Click the link below to discover the uniqueness and beauty that is Pianissimo.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 18 (R)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

This is the 18th day of the A to Z challenge. That can mean only one thing: R. R is for Romance.

Pianissimo is actually two love stories in one.

The first love story is between Corinne and Darryl. He's a military man. She is a faithful wife who moves with him time and again. Once they purchase the old farm house, she is certain she'll have all of her days spent with him.

In perfect, impeccable timing, he is sent off for one final tour. Alone and depressed, Corinne becomes withdrawn and reclusive. Their house is just some empty, foreign locale to her. Despite her loneliness, she continues to love and be faithful to him until he comes home.

The second love story is that of Agnes and Margaret. Theirs is a story of a secret love - a forbidden love. Their love and devotion to each other are unmatched. Through good times and bad, they stay by each other's side until the very end.

It's not unusual for romance novels to include some steamy scenes. Pianissimo, however, is devoid of them. Why? Because I really wanted to focus on the aspects of true love and devotion. I didn't want sex to detract from the humanity of Agnes and Margaret. Instead, this is a book that focuses on the people first and foremost.

So, if you're up for a good, clean love story, Pianissimo is the book for you!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 17 (Q)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Q is our letter today, folks. Q. Q is for Queer.

Now, I want to talk about the different definitions of queer, and how they apply to Pianissimo.

The definitions of queer are: strange; odd. synonyms: odd, strange, unusual, funny, peculiar, curious, bizarre, weird, uncanny, freakish, eerie, unnatural; antonyms: normal.

informal offensive: homosexual. noun informal offensive noun: queer; plural noun: queers: a homosexual man.

In Pianissimo, Agnes describes her and Margaret as queer, among other things. Considering the era, it was fitting as two unmarried women possessing such a close and deep bond was considered unusual. They were certainly the town oddities, and they were well aware of it.

By today's standards, they are still considered queer as they are a lesbian couple. Not necessarily unusual by today's standards, but the word is still applicable to them, and the nature of their relationship.

Queer is an unusual word. It is rarely used nowadays, and yet it carries so much potency. It's a word that was much needed for this story. In the context of Pianissimo, it separates Agnes and Margaret from the rest of the town; it also crumbles as a barrier between Corinne and the couple.

It's amazing how much importance one word can have in a story. In this case, queer was a very fitting word for multiple reasons.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 15 (O)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

And on the fifteenth day, there was O. O is for Originality.

They say every story has been told. I think many people would speculate that to be true. If that's the case, what's the point in writing more stories?

Because no matter what, each writer puts their own spin on the stories.

This could certainly be chalked up to a cliche story of self-discovery. It could be considered just another "if these walls could talk" book. But is it really? Are Corinne, Agnes, and Margaret really just flat, two-dimensional characters? Can you compare Pianissimo to another story line for line?

You could give two writers or even two hundred writers all the same prompt. You would, undoubtedly, receive two hundred different stories.

So perhaps every story has been told, but not all in the same way. Grab a copy of Pianissimo, and see for yourself!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro