Welcome back, Stacy! I’m so happy to have you visit again and tell us all about your new novel, Garda, and what inspired you to write it. It’s sounds so interesting and imaginative!
Bonnie – thank you so much for inviting me here to your blog today so I can visit with you and your readers!!! It is always an honor to visit and talk about my writing and my life.
On February 10, I released a new novel, Garda – Welcome to the Realm. This was the first time that I have written about Guardian Angels. In my book, I call them “Garda” or “Gardaí”. The reason I choose to use that term was because the word Garda is Irish and translates to Guardian. In Ireland they call their police force Garda Síochána, or translated, the Guards of Peace.
Your readers probably don’t know that I am a police officer full time. So I love the term Garda, and when I started writing this book about Guardian Angels, that just fit perfectly.
One of the things I am most often asked is, do I believe in guardian angels? My answer is a simple, yes. Without going into religious beliefs and such, let me explain why I think the way I do.
My job is very stressful and at times very dangerous. I work for a very small department, and many times I have been out patrolling the streets alone. On those nights, or days even, that I drive around and protect my township, there have been many times when I am responding to a scene or about to stop a car, and instincts tell me to be careful. Maybe the hair on the back of my neck stands up, or some thought flashes through my mind randomly. Whatever it is, I take it seriously.
Maybe I’ll call for an extra car before I respond into a call, or maybe that car I was about to stop for not stopping at the stop sign will get a free pass that night as I turn off and look for another car. Is it just instinct, or is there something or someone else that whispers into my mind to let that one go, or be extra careful? I’m not sure, but I will tell you that I believe it is a guardian angel that watches over me. It is the one that comforts me when I am sad, the one that guides me when I am lost and the one that protects me when I walk towards danger. On those days when I must confront the beast face first, I go in knowing that I am not alone.
Whether you truly believe in them or not, the concept is appealing to many and that is one of the reasons I wrote my newest novel. I hope your readers will take the time to check out some of the links about the new book.
Thank you again Bonnie for the opportunity to visit with you and your readers!
After writing this initial post and sending it to Bonnie, she replied back and asked if there was any particular incident that I could expand on. I told her of course! So this is one of my brushes with what I believe was an angel watching over me.
It was a night shift several years ago, and I was working the street alone. The township that I work in is south of the only city in our county, but while we are next to a city, we are considered to be a rather country setting. We have a couple of major streets in our area, but no stop lights. Neighborhoods range from trailer parks to multi-million dollar ranches. Anyway, it was sometime shortly after midnight and I was sitting in my car watching a stop sign. There wasn’t much traffic, and when a car came to the intersection and didn’t completely stop, I thought about stopping them. Then I noticed that one of the brake lights was out, a second reason to make contact with them.
The car pulled away and I flipped on my headlights and put the car into drive to catch up to them. About a mile down the road I got behind the car, but because of the area we were in I held off flipping on my red and blue lights to direct them to pull over. The road was dark where we were driving and I wanted it in a brighter spot.
I ran the license plate on my computer, nothing interesting came back on it and I continued to follow it for a short time. Just as I reached down to flip on my lights, a tingle traveled down my spine, and the hair rose on my neck and arms. A voice inside my head said simply, “Don’t”.
For just a second I thought about ignoring it, but after years on this job, I have learned to heed the gut feelings, the instincts or the whispered words in my head. I backed off the car as I saw the passenger in the car turn to look at me. At the next street, I turned off the roadway and let the car move on.
Later that night, a department south of me got into a pursuit with that car. At the time I didn’t know it was the exact car, but I heard the call go out by the officer that he was attempting to stop a vehicle and they were fleeing. The car ended up crashing and the driver and passenger were injured. Inside the vehicle were several firearms and a trunk full of stolen electronics.
Had I attempted to stop that vehicle, many things could have happened. I don’t dwell on what could have happened, I just remember that there is a reason words whisper through my mind, and I take comfort in knowing that I have an angel watching over me.
Thank you again Bonnie! So glad you asked to me to elaborate on that!
Me, too, Stacy. Wow, that’s some story! I’m glad you listened to that “little whisper”! Best of luck with the book and thanks so much for sharing!
Read an excerpt from Garda
“He is my destiny.”
There is a place that lies between heaven and Earth, it is called The Realm. Within this place, the Guards of Peace, known as Garda Síochána, learn to guide and protect the ones that live below until they are called home.
Officer Corey Hamilton is dedicated to being the best that she can be, in uniform and out. Her loving nature, compassionate thoughts, and warrior strength make her the perfect candidate to join the Garda Síochána and spend her eternity protecting and guiding others.
Just before Corey dies in a line-of-duty accident, she meets Officer Mitchell O’Reilly. Her feelings for him may change her destiny, but not for the better, as she falls in love with this married man. Brock, Corey’s personal Garda, will bring her home to The Realm and attempt to train her for her future, even while she still fights for her past.
Will Brock be able to direct Corey down the right path, or will she cross the line and fall from grace?
Join Corey, Mitchell, and Brock for an emotional and heart-pounding adventure that is sure to make you wonder if angels are really guiding us in our everyday lives.
Get in touch with Stacy here…
Website: www.stacyeaton.com
Blog: http://stacyeatonauthor.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4826711.Stacy_Eaton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Eaton/191880767522183?ref=hl
Twitter: @StacySEaton
You Tube video Trailer: http://youtu.be/uNJcU7Ni8k8
KINDLE: http://tinyurl.com/b43msy6
NOOK: http://tinyurl.com/bbw6l7j
About the author:
Stacy Eaton is a police officer by profession. Currently, she is working as the department investigator and enjoys digging into cases and putting the pieces of the puzzles together.
Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania and is the wife to a police officer and the mother of two. She is very proud of her son who is currently serving in the United States Navy and equally proud of her nine year old daughter who works hard in her Tae Kwon Do studies.
When Stacy is not working her demanding job, or spending time with her family, she works on her business and volunteers with the World Literary Café. When there is time, she writes.
Stacy is currently working on book 3 of the International Best Selling “My Blood Runs Blue” Series (release anticipated late 2013). She is also working on a second Domestic Violence Novel, You’re Not Alone. She also has plans to add a second book to her newest series, Garda, along with publishing a contemporary romance later this year.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Bonnie – Thank you so much for allowing me to visit today! Such a pleasure to share my stories with you and your readers!
February 25th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
It’s always a pleasure to have you visit, Stacy! I really love the story of what inspired the book. Thanks also for sharing your real life cop drama tale. Fascinating. You’re welcome back any time!
March 1st, 2013 at 3:53 am
I was very lucky to get an early read of Garda, and I was captivated from the first page. I couldn’t put it down. I have always believed in guardian angels, purely on faith. When my very beloved Mother In Law passed away recently, it was a great comfort to think there is another “realm” for her to continue loving all kinds of people, and helping them find their way.
Thanks for the very interesting interview.
March 9th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Thank you Pat! I’m glad that you enjoyed it!