Marie Bartek & The SIPS Team - Book Tour and Giveaway

​Marie Bartek & The SIPS Team - A Paranormal Mystery Series
As seen on NBC, ABC & FOX and voted one of The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016

Sullivan's Secret
Marie Bartek & the SIPS Team Book 1
by Robin Murphy
Genre: Paranormal Mystery Romance 

​Dr. Marie Bartek enjoys a simple life as the veterinarian of Sullivan's Island — until her psychic abilities suddenly return after eighteen years.

Shaken by the spirits that now haunt her every moment, Marie confides in her best friend. Together, they form the Sullivan’s Island Paranormal Society: SIPS.

As new and unlikely friendships begin, Marie learns to channel her powers. When they find out that the spirits are trying to warn her of an evil presence on the island, Marie and her friends set out to bring a vicious serial killer to justice.

"Communing with the spirits may leave you with some very unwanted responsibility. 'Sullivan's Secret' follows Marie Bartek as she rediscovers her talents to communicate with spirits. Working with friends in a paranormal society, she finds that her skill leaves her with the responsibility to stop murders from sweeping her town and she has to put out her own neck to stop the hysteria. 'Sullivan's Secret' is a fascinating read that will be hard to put down." - Midwest Book Review-


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​Her eyes stared motionless into infinity and bulged while her skin was gray and red streaked. Most of her hair had fallen out, and her mouth, lips, and tongue were swollen. Found floating face down was the description Chief Cory Miller received during the five a.m. phone call Sunday morning that woke him out of a deep sleep.

Secret of the Big Easy
​ Marie Bartek & the SIPS Team Book 2 

Dr. Marie Bartek is struggling to gain control over her new psychic abilities while attending a veterinarian conference in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Marie's recent visions prompt her to work with local police and members of the Sullivan's Island Paranormal Society team to help solve a succession of heinous murders, while fighting against a demon from taking over her mind.

Secret Of The Big Easy is the second book in Robin Murphy's mystery series with Dr. Marie Bartek and the SIPS team.
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"Grabs the reader's attention and keeps it until the final page." - Readers' Favorite


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​Marie reached over and grabbed the phone to order room service when she felt a shocking jolt through her arm and a flash of light blinded her. She felt dizzy, and her eyes began to blur. She quickly rubbed them and realized she wasn’t sitting in her room anymore. It was pitch-black, and there were images of people dressed in dark robes with hoods over their heads. Her heart began to beat to the sound of chanting that rang in her ears. She noticed the smell of sandalwood wafting in the air, which tickled her nose and made her feel listless and sleepy. Suddenly a high-pitched shriek rang out and in the middle of the group was a woman dressed in a sheer white gown trying to pull away. The images looked distorted as they danced and swooned in Marie’s mind. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a raised hand in the air holding an athame. The group moved back and there at the helm was a man wearing a ram’s head. His hand struck down and stabbed the screaming woman in the heart. Before Marie could see what took place next, she was back to reality, sitting in her hotel room with the phone receiver in her hand.

Federal City's Secret
Marie Bartek & the SIPS Team Book 3 

​In Federal City's Secret, Dr. Marie Bartek and the SIPS team investigate spirit activity in the heart of Washington, D.C.

Marie learns more about her psychic abilities, bringing more depth and intrigue into their ghost investigations, as the SIPS team lands in the middle of conspiracy, politics, secret societies and murder.

Through the help of a spirit, Marie discovers that the mafia doesn't take kindly to strangers taking what isn't theirs. Can the SIPS Team get to the bottom of things before more lives are lost?

The third book in Robin Murphy's Marie Bartek series, Federal City's Secret will captivate you with murder, suspense and the world of the paranormal.


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​Alexandra Russell lay like a battered rag doll with haunted lifeless eyes staring up into nowhere. The blood smeared all over her body revealed noticeable slashes and stab-wounds on her neck, chest, and arms. Her hair was matted down, and her clothes had been torn from her body. Her sad life ended just before her twenty-first birthday.
Kelly Kaufman couldn’t keep the tears from running down her face, and she knew the blame fell on her for involving Alexandra Russell in her investigation. She hid behind the confusion of the crowd of rubbernecks and yellow tape. The fast-paced work of the DC police and EMT’s became a blur of movement as she closed her eyes and silently said a prayer. She was onto something, which was very clear, for this was a warning for her to drop the story before she was found in the same manner.

Secret of Coffin Island
Marie Bartek & the SIPS Team Book 4 

​Dr. Marie Bartek and her fiance, Police Chief Cory Miller, have finally tied the knot. Their wedding festivities are interrupted, however, by the discovery of a body.

While criminal investigations are Cory's milieu, Marie and her team of psychic researchers have been instrumental in solving mysteries in the past, and she has already received visions that seem to pertain to the mystery at hand.

Her mentor Myra, who had passed after suffering a heart attack, has continued her mentorship from the other side, and Marie takes comfort from both her presence and her guidance. Marie's also been asked to help with the case of Isabella, a young woman whose mother is concerned that she's been possessed.

A compelling cozy mystery with a paranormal twist, Secret of Coffin Island is the fourth novel in Robin Murphy's Marie Bartek And The SIPS Team series.


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​The ocean waves pounded out a rhythm that soothed your soul as its spray danced in the air with the seagulls. Crystal-like sands glistened in the sun as the sea slowly melted away the shore. With each ripple of water, the sand eroded away the remains of the coffins revealing headless skeletons facing west. Tiny sand crabs scurried in and out of the chest cavities and nibbled on century-old plankton and bacteria. The smell of decay mixed with salt gave out a sulfur-like odor even too putrid for the beach animals to ignore, while the sound of a sword sliced through the air.

Savannah's Secret
Marie Bartek & the SIPS Team Book 5 

​After returning from their honeymoon in France, Marie, Cory, and the SIPS team find themselves on another case in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia.

Trying to help a young girl who discovered a beast killing their livestock, they find a body on Tybee Island with wounds in the neck. Soon after, the team learns that there is more to learn from those keeping secrets from behind their masks at a masquerade ball.

But is there such a thing as real vampires, and can Marie and the SIPS Team receive help from a famous young spirit in time before more lives are lost?

A compelling cozy mystery with a paranormal twist, Savannah's Secret is the fifth novel in Robin Murphy's Marie Bartek And The SIPS Team series.


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​The moonlight shot its vibrant beam through an opening in the ceiling, which revealed a dark figure huddled over one of the pigs in the corner of the stall. Elizabeth stood frozen until she turned and lost her balance and knocked a shovel off the wall creating a loud crash. When she shined the flashlight toward the corner of the pig stall, she saw a pair of golden eyes staring back at her. Within seconds, the figure leaped onto the wall on all fours and crawled along the ceiling, and then slithered out through the loft door and disappeared.

**Book 6 is Coming Soon!**
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Robin Murphy is an Amazon best-selling author of a paranormal mystery series, and also writes chick-lit, and nonfiction. She is a speaker on author platforms, self-publishing, and marketing. She currently is a virtual admin and a freelance writer.

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Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
A: I’ve been writing since 2006 and became published by a small independent publisher in 2011. My series grew from a college writing course I was taking in 2009. My instructor asked me to write what I had an interest in or what I knew, which was the paranormal. I didn’t want to be a writer when I was young. I always tell people, writing found me. I write for myself and if someone enjoys my stories, it warms my heart. And if they don’t, that’s okay too.
In 2012 I decided to self-publish my stories and enjoyed having a little more control of my sales and marketing. Then in 2014 my current publisher, Next Chapter (aka Creativia) reached out to me on Twitter and wanted me to publish with them. I was honored and it’s been a great relationship ever since.

What is something unique/quirky about you?
A: I am an anglophile and love everything British, as well as a Hibernophile loving Ireland. Not sure where it came from, but possibly from traveling to Ireland on my honeymoon. Since then, my husband and I visited Ireland two more times, as well as England and Scotland.

Tell us something really interesting that's happened to you!
A: On New Year’s Day in 2000, my family and I were visiting relatives in CA. We had just finished watching the Rose Bowl parade, when out of nowhere a gentleman asked me if I lived in CA and would be interested in trying out for the show Survivor. I had never heard of it at the time, but told them I didn’t live there, but was flattered to be asked. After returning home and eventually seeing the show on TV, it struck me this was the show I could have been on.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
A: I love to meditate, do yoga, swim, and walk in nature with my hubby. I’m also learning to do pottery, which is another form of expressing my creative side. I love it!

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
A: Grateful, kind, creative, love of family

Do you have a favorite movie?
A: Silverado – I can’t even remember how many times I’ve watched it. It’s a great western with amazing characters.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
A: I always felt my paranormal mystery series could be an actual series on Discovery+ or Netflix. But my novel, Point and Shoot for Your Life, would make for a great movie because it has romance, humor, mystery, and great characters. Plus, most of it would take place in France.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
A: I have visited every city where my stories take place. I learned early on that visiting a town, city, country only helps you better describe the setting. I’ve been to Sullivan’s Island, New Orleans, Washington, DC, Savannah, GA, Ireland, and France.

What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I am currently working on the 6th book in my paranormal mystery series titled, Secret of Black Hills Forest. It involves the myth about the Blair Witch. I just sent it to my publisher. Now it’s time to research for my next story.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in the Marie Bartek/SIPS (Sullivan’s Island Paranormal Society) series?
Marie Bartek – main character, is a veterinarian on Sullivan’s Island, SC. She had psychic abilities as a young girl but squelched them until they begin to come back strong during an operation on a dog. Member of SIPS.  

• Gale Winters – Marie’s best friend and confidant. She owns the local antique shop on Sullivan’s Island and is the yin to Marie’s yang. She speaks her mind, and Marie is usually the one who keeps her in check. Member of SIPS.

 

• Cory Miller – Marie’s love interest, and the police chief on the island. He’s the skeptic of the group and tries to explain away the paranormal. However, after falling in love with Marie, and being a part of the ghost investigations, he’s a true believer. Member of SIPS.

 

• Tim Haines – Gale’s love interest, and the fire chief on the island. He’s very matter of fact and loves the history of places they investigate. He and Cory are close friends. Member of SIPS.

 

• Myra Cummings – retired, a fellow psychic, lives on the island and gives readings. She is also Marie’s mentor. Member of SIPS.

 

• Jim Rawlings – owns the local mini-mart on the island and has a love/hate relationship with his wife, Mimi. Member of SIPS.

 

• Mimi Rawlings – is a pharmacist and owns the pharmacy on the island, and a constant nag to Jim, but they do love the paranormal and can agree on their ghost hunts. Member of SIPS.

 

• Harry Connor – is the school counselor and a demonologist on the side. He’s a bit of an absent-minded professor type and gets on Gale’s nerves. But she also knows he’s good at what he does and a vital member of the SIPS team.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
A: They were developed while taking my writing course. I’ve always loved the paranormal, which includes psychics, ghost investigating, then add mystery, and I pulled them all together. The characters just came to me. I once had someone interview me and asked if I was Marie in the story. But I explained that I’m a bit of Gale and Marie. I have my serious side like Marie, as well as the sassy side of Gale.
The rest of the characters formed in my head. I pulled looks and characteristics from people I’ve met throughout my life, as well as some of the names. But honestly, those ideas just formulated as I wrote them.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
A: I can’t pinpoint one thing. I love all the aspects of writing. I enjoy the research, developing the story, creating dialogue, and editing. I love when it all comes together, especially if I find myself either laughing or crying at a scene I’ve written. It’s great to catch a hold of the emotions, which is what I hope I’m able to do for my readers.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?
A: Again, it was in my writing course that it came to fruition. I used the name of the island and adding “secret” to it just seemed to fit. I’ve been able carry that theme for each book in the series. Even though while writing the first book, I never intended it to become a series. But, once I finished the first book, I couldn’t put my characters away.

Who designed your book covers?
A: My publisher, Next Chapter

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
A: No, once it’s been released, I forget about it in that sense. I’m confident and happy with the final product.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
A: I think Jennifer Lawrence would be great as Marie Bartek. She’s confident, intelligent, and has a tenacity that I think fits Marie’s character well.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
A: If you love the paranormal, my series has it all. It deals with psychic mediums and their gifts, spirits communicating with the SIPS team, ghost investigating, solving mysteries, and the team sticking together through thick and thin. They go up against murderers, the occult, vampires, and witches.

Is there a writer whose brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?
A: J.K. Rowling. I would just love to know how she was able to create the entire Harry Potter series. It blows my mind when you read the books and see it come to life on screen. The intricate details on everything and carrying the plot forward is phenomenal.

How long have you been writing?
A: I started in 2006. Honestly, it truly did come out of nowhere. I felt the urge to write a romance story. When I realized how easy it came to me to tell a story, I decided to learn how to put it together properly and took my college writing courses.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
A: I would say yes to both. I’ve had characters develop in my head all at once, and then they sort of come more alive as I write. It can depend on where my brain is, at the time, ha ha. There have been times when I’ll add a character in the middle of my writing to add more drama or to help move the story forward.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
A: I do a TON of research before, during, and after writing. I’m always researching throughout my writing. I think it’s vital. Even though I write in fiction, you need research to explain either the way a gun is held, or the look of a town. You never know when a reader will be fluent in something you’ve written, and the minute they read something incorrect, you’ll lose them.

Do you see writing as a career?
A: Not really. My writing has always been for me first. It’s a way of escape and I have so much fun writing my books, but there are times when I’m just not feeling it. I don’t like the pressure of having to write. Every writer dreams of having their books make them enough money, and many do. However, I am not in that category…yet.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
A: I need silence. I simply can’t have any distractions going on while I’m writing. I’m the same way when I read.

Do you write one book at a time, or do you have several going at a time?
A: I do one at a time. There’s no way I would be able to write different stories at once and give it my proper attention. My brain just doesn’t work that way.

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
A: I’m going to go back to the Harry Potter series. I recently re-watched the whole series and plan to re-read the books. As I said, the details are amazing, and I love how much information are in the stories that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Pen or typewriter or computer?
A: I use a computer. I’m a virtual admin, so it’s a natural fit. It’s the easiest way for me to do research when I am in the middle of writing.

Advice you would give new authors.
A: Other than to write for themselves, I’d tell them to enjoy the journey. There’s so much information out there giving advice and sometimes it can be confusing. Ignore critics or those who say they are “experts”, because over time, they’ll become one in their own time. Never lose their confidence…and keep on writing!

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
A: For me, I will always be original. I truly don’t think about what readers want. I just want to write a good story and hope that folks enjoy reading them. I must be true to myself. I find that when I am original, my books show that in the storytelling.

If you could tell your younger writing-self anything, what would it be?
A: To enjoy the journey.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
A: My stories are novellas, so it normally takes about a year. However, my latest book (6th book in my paranormal series) that I just sent to my publisher, took me five years. The reason was that I began writing it in late 2017, early 2018, but when my father passed away in February of 2018, I just lost my mojo. He was an aspiring writer also, and we literally talked every day about writing. I so missed that, and just couldn’t find my motivation.
Somehow in 2022, I found my passion again and was able to finish it. Probably my greatest excitement since I began writing. I have a feeling my dad was looking over my shoulder and helping me along the way.

Do you believe in writer’s block?
A: Absolutely. Life interrupts and many things can stop the creative flow. I’ve found that if I read one of my authors or watch a specific show that I love that is creative, it’ll get me in the right frame of mind again.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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Oct 17
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Book Bites....with a side of coffee
Midnight Book Reader
Trixie Reports Books

Oct 18
Haley Cavanagh Books
All Things Dark & Dirty
Books all things paranormal and romance

Oct 19
I'm Into Books
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'
Girl with Pen

Oct 20
Naughty Nightie Book Blog
Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed
eBook Addicts

Oct 21
4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼
Craving Lovely Books
Painting With Words

Oct 22
A Wonderful World of Words – GUEST POST
Insane Books
Scrupulous Dreams

Oct 23
A Writer's Life
Sybrina's Book Blog – GUEST POST
Inside the Insanity

Oct 24
Anna del C. Dye official page
Author Sahara Foley
C.A.Milson

Oct 25
❧Defining Ways❧
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
Kenyan Poet

Oct 26
Sandra's Book Club – REVIEW #1
Celticlady's Reviews
Literary Gold

Oct 27
Country Mamas With Kids
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
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Oct 28
Readers Roost – GUEST POST
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Twisted Book Ramblings

Oct 29
Bedazzled By Books
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Royally Insane Books

Oct 30
Maggie Blackbird – GUEST POST
My beauty my books
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Oct 31
Tina Donahue - Heat with Heart
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