Ghost Writer (Raven Maxim Book 1) (60 page)

I value each and every one of you for giving me a platform from which to share

my thoughts and express my art.

Thank you so much!

Love,

Tiana

1.   Sloan Steele is a man’s man with a heart of gold. With that said, why do you think he was attracted to writing as a career?

2.   Emerald St. Claire was raised through the majority of her childhood life by her father. How do you think this played into her romantic relationships with men?

3.   Aunt Sugar is a character who adds comedic layers to this novel, but also offers interesting insight and food for thought. What is something Aunt Sugar said that stuck with you?

4.   This novel is best described as a mixed genre, but is, first and foremost, a romance. How do you think the elements of horror and suspense affected the dynamics of the story?

5.   The character of Nikki and Emerald’s father, James, have some commonalities. Sloan and his son, Joel, share some common traits as well. What other characters in the book share similar personalities or outlooks on life?

6.   Sloan had a difficult marriage that left him jaded, emotionally bankrupt, and angry. How do you think the mysterious absence of his mother, his challenging childhood, and his divorce changed him when it came to love and romantic relationships?

7.   Though this book is spoken from various characters’ POV (points of view), it is mainly in Sloan’s. How do you think this influenced/changed the dynamic of this romance novel being in the Hero’s voice?

8.   Sloan realized fairly early on that he was falling in love with Emerald. Why do you think he was willing to take this chance with her, even after everything he’d been through?

9.   Peter Jones is a complicated character that ties directly into the horror elements of this book, but is also inextricably linked to the romantic plotline. What do you think of the ‘love story within the love story’ in this novel?

10.  What commonalties did Sloan and Peter share that made the former a prime candidate for the position of “ghost writer”?

11.  One of the main messages in this novel is the importance of adults being able to love freely and without barriers. If not, it can have destructive consequences. What is one of the lessons you have taken from this book in regard to love?

12.  What was one of your favorite scenes in this novel, and why?

Anyone who is familiar with my work knows that I love music! I was raised listening to all sorts of music as a child, from classic jazz to funk, rap, hip hop, and gospel. It is literally the soundtrack to my life and I include it in the scenes that I write, to aid in transporting you, the reader, further into the scenes, to put you right there with the characters for a more intimate look into their lives. I encourage each and every one of you to re-read your favorite scenes, while listening to the music that was mentioned. This adds an entirely new layer to the experience. If there is a song you enjoy, please support the artist/band by purchasing a legal copy of the song for your enjoyment. The songs listed here are not necessarily in the exact order as they appear in the novel. Thank you.

1.   “Hang On Sloopy” – McCoys

2.   “Here” – Alessia Cara

3.   “Woman” – John Lennon

4.   “Africa” – Toto

5.   “If You Leave Me Now” – Chicago

6.   “November Rain” – Guns N Roses

7.   “Gigolos Get Lonely Too” – The Time

8.   “Girl You Know It’s True” – Milli Vanilli

9.   “A Fifth of Beethoven” – Walter Murphy

10.  “Love to Love You” – Donna Summer

11.  “Mack the Knife” – Louis Armstrong

12.  “Ice Cream Castles” – The Time

13.  “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green

14.  “Happy Feelings” – Maze

15.  “That’s What I Say” – Ray Charles

16.  “Pusherman” – Curtis Mayfield

17.  “Lowdown” – Boz Scaggs

18.  “Dancing in the Moonlight” – King Harvest

19.  “Brandi, You’re a Fine Girl” – Looking Glass

20.  “Only You” – The Platters

21.  “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka

22.  “You’re the Only Woman” – Ambrosia

23.  “Silly Ho” – TLC

24.  “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny Farina

25.  “Starship” – Sara

26.  “No Such Thing” – John Mayers

27.  “Fool If You Think It’s Over” – Chris Rea

28.  “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake

29.  “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers

30.  “Sledgehammer” – Peter Gabriel

31.  “Life” – J. Dilla

32.  “I Got A Woman” – Ray Charles

33.  “Come Away With Me” – Norah Jones

34.  “Happy’ – Pharrell

35.  “Red Red Wine” – UB40s

36.  “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears For Fears

37.  “Happy Feelings” – Maze

38.  “Take Five” – Dave Brubeck

39.  “Earth Angel” – The Penguins

40.  “Float On” – The Floaters

41.  “I Want To Be Free” – Ohio Players

42.  “Slipping Into Darkness” – WAR

43.  “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” – Billy Joel

Tiana Laveen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio though her soul resides in New York. She lives inside of her mind, but her heart is occupied with her family and twisted imagination. She enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life that includes writing books, public speaking, drawing, painting, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

Tiana Laveen is a creative and innovative author whose romance fiction is geared towards those who not only want to temporarily escape from the daily routines of life, but also become pleasantly caught up in the twisted, well-developed journeys of her unique characters. Tiana creates a painting with words as she guides her reader into the lives of each and every main character. Her dedication to detail and staying true to her characters is evident in each novel she writes.

Her works include “Cross Climax I,” “Cross Climax II,” “The Slave Master’s Son,” “The Naughty Sins of a Saint,” “I Want Candy,” “When Saint Goes Marching In,” “Swirled Satin Sheets I,” “In My Sister’s Shadow,” “Swirled Satin Sheets II,” “Saved and SAINTified,” “Addicted In Cold Blood,” “Forgive Me Father For I Have Loved,” “Saint’s Sacrament – Sins of the Father,” “The Tale of the Blood Diamond,” “The Unearthing of Blackstone,” “Every Breath You Take” (free read on the website), “Saint and Sinners – The King Angel Child of New York,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” “The Fight Within,” “Tattooed Moon”, “In the Nick of Time,” “The ‘N’ Word,” “Word of Honor,” “Grind,” “Grit”, “The REM Reaper”, “Kiss of the Scythe”, “Cruz Control – In Bad Company” and “Ghost Writer” – (Book 1 of the Raven Maxim Series.)