Tagline: In 1944 Harrisville, Veronica’s dangerous love ignites a flame that reveals dark secrets, awakens ghosts and threatens to destroy all she loves.
Book Description:
There is something rotten in Harrisville.
It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can’t seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.
It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. She doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time for love, even less for dangerous love. You see there is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise.
After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco.
Lazlo began
walking the very same path she had walked minutes earlier, although he looked
much more graceful than she must have looked. His gate was long and easy. His
eyes were down, staring at the track as he walked. Veronica sat as still as she
could, terrified that he might see her, equally terrified that he wouldn’t.
As he came
to the spot where she was sitting, he didn’t look up. He walked right past her,
as if he hadn’t seen her. Veronica felt a stab in her heart. Before she could
stop herself, she called out.
“Aren’t you
Lazlo Fox?”
He turned
quickly.
“That’s
me,” he said, and a grin lit up his face.
Now that he
was here, Veronica realized that she hadn’t planned what she would say if she
saw him. For a second, she considered saying that the draft office needed more
information about him, but she realized that was both stupid and an obvious
lie.
“I have an
extra biscuit, if you’re hungry,” was what she managed to squeak out.”
She had
hoped to be able to speak with him for a just a moment. She knew that it would
be dangerous for him to even be seen with her, but as he walked toward her, she
held the biscuit out for him. She knew that he would have to climb up to her to
get it, and despite the danger, this is what she wanted.
Instead of
scrambling up the broken concrete, as she had done, he gracefully jumped from
one to the next, balancing on the ball of one foot as he landed on each one. In
less than a minute he was standing on the rock next to her. She expected him to
take the biscuit and leave, but she wanted him to stay… how badly she wanted
him to stay.
Lazlo
smiled and took the proffered biscuit bag gently from her, but his eyes were on
her face, not on the bag. For a moment, he paused, and then he sat down next to
her. He wasn’t so close that she might accidentally touch him but his feet
dangling over the edge of the rock next to hers felt weirdly intimate. He
opened the bag and pulled out the biscuit. Veronica looked down at her biscuit
and took a tiny bite, pretending to be engrossed in eating but her heart was
racing so hard, she almost choked on the bread.
“Lazlo,
that’s an unusual name, is it a family name or something?” she asked.
Lazlo
turned and smiled at her. She was suddenly afraid that she had said something
wrong or stupid, although she couldn’t for the life of her think what it was.
Lazlo’s
eyes suddenly got wide.
“Well, my
mama named me that cause she’s a witch,” he said quickly, and then winced and
shook his head.
“That
sounded awful,” he said quickly. “I’m not talking bad about my mama. She’s
actually a witch, so she thinks like attracts like. And if she gives me a
rich-sounding name that will draw money to me.”
Lazlo then
laughed and shook his head.
“I can’t
believe I just told you that,” he said. “I never told anyone that before.
Probably because—”
Then he
stopped.
Veronica’s
heart felt like it had grown to take up the whole of her chest. She was
frightened of what Lazlo would see if she looked at him, so she took another
bite of her biscuit. When she did look up, he was looking at her with eyes that
were hopeful and wary in equal measure.
“It sounds
like your mother really cares about you,” was what she finally said. And that
was all.
Looking at
Lazlo’s guarded yet hopeful eyes, Veronica desperately wanted to tell him that
none of this stuff mattered. She wanted to say that they could be friends, or
even more. Inside, her crazy heart said that they could just run away together.
She longed to say this out loud, but she knew it wasn’t true. Neither of them
could outrun their class or caste. Lazlo was a colored man.
She was the
poor white daughter of a single mother. If he was an untouchable, she was
barely one step above that. Her brain told her that, even if her heart argued
otherwise.
About the Author:
Lexy is the Author of the Limerent novel universe. The first two books in this universe were Caio and Bright Midnights. They are two of the three foundation books of the Limerent Series, and as such can be read in any order.
Bright Midnights was picked as an Editor’s Choice by Booklife and received a Golden Wizard award in the UK in the category of YA.
Lexy has also been a travel writer and author of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Hong Kong and An Expat Mom’s Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris. She is an ex rock musician, ex science grad, recovering attorney and now an expat writer. Her love of writing stems from an eclectic life. As a navy brat, she grew up in various states across the U.S. until her father retired to North Carolina when she was a teenager.
As an adult, she has continued this tumbleweed life, having since lived in 3 countries, 9 US States, and 21 cities around the world. But, through all this change, her love of writing has been the one constant. Writing the Limerent Series allows her to use her unusual past to help create new worlds.
Lexy now lives in Paris with her husband and two very cool sons.
“Writing fiction gives you a place where you can put all the attractions that you probably shouldn’t feel, all the thoughts you are afraid of saying out loud, and all the rage that you can’t vent because you would kill people. While we live, these moments stay with us, but when we die, they die too. When you put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, you put these things out there in the world where they can be read by others. This means that they have a life outside of you and outside of your own head, and that’s something that is really compelling to me. I like the idea that these amazing moments that I’ve had in life don’t disappear when I disappear.” - LS Delorme
“For me, writing is like therapy…just cheaper. As most writers are not really individuals but a collection of individuals trying to find a way to live together in one brain, fiction allows them to make a home for all these people who live rent free inside their heads. It’s also place that you can capture unique moments in life that impact you or that make you feel deeply.” - LS Delorme
Tagline: She wanted it all, but she’d have to save the galaxy to keep it…
Book Description:
Dying a thousand years ago was the easy part.
Stopping a planetary annihilation? That might just kill her again.
The cat-like alien blocking her exit was the first clue Shannon had that something wasn’t right. Discovering she’d was freshly thawed from cryogenic stasis was her second. When the corporation that revived her wants answers about how she played a part in the destruction of earth over a millennium ago, she's more than willing to respond. The only problem is she doesn't remember how.
He was everything she wanted, but nothing like what she was used to…
Out of balance in this new era, Shannon turns to D’lane, the other out-of-place being in her new sphere of existence. Now slightly less terrifying, the intimidated alien male is shifting from a close friend to something more. A relationship she’d be more willing to explore if he wasn’t dead set on fulfilling his destiny, at the cost of destroying everything they’d built.
She wanted it all, but she’d have to save the galaxy to keep it…
With another planetary annihilation on the horizon, it’ll take everything Shannon and D’lane have to work together and unearth new information on how to stop the impending battle. With enemies hiding everywhere, they’ll have to learn to rely on each other to survive what’s coming for them, because not everyone wants to stop the attack.
“In my culture, names have strong meanings.” D’lane
pulled out the curved blade strapped to his arm and cut up the meat he’d been
eating earlier into small precise pieces. “They’re meant to impart wisdom and
advice throughout our lives.”
She straightened and tucked her hands onto her lap.
This was an interesting conversational change. “There are, or at least used to
be, cultures on Earth that believed the same. I’ve always loved that philosophy.
What does yours mean?”
“Mine is a powerful name.” His lips were roguishly
tipped up at the corner, exposing sharp eye teeth. He settled into his seat, as
if preparing to lecture a student. The surrounding mess hall noise dimmed as
she focused on him. “I am named after one of our past kings. A mighty
Chriw’rian who fought valiantly against the Hissat or, as you humans call them,
the Anunnaki. He’s credited with their first defeat on our planet.”
She locked her fingers together. “Really?”
He placed the curved knife beside her tray. “For your
protein.”
Shannon glanced around the room. Surely someone would
jump in to stop him from offering her a weapon. When no one did, she picked up
the knife and cut up the last bit of food on her plate, a wrinkled sausage link
in an off-putting green color. The blade cut smoothly through the dehydrated
chunk. “Thank you.”
She fingered the metal handle. Smooth and warm in her
hand, she tilted the blade far enough to see her reflection on its surface. She
wanted to keep it. She placed the knife beside her tray and glanced up as
D’lane consumed the last of his jerky.
He pushed his empty tray to the side. “The previous
D’lane crashed his warship into the Anunnaki fighter set to bomb our most
vulnerable. His actions disrupted the mothership and allowed the rest of the
fleet to destroy them. If not for his heroic actions, my planet wouldn’t
have survived their last attack.”
She ate a bite of the sausage and winced. It fought
her with every chew. Mouth dry, she discreetly spit it into her napkin. A few
brows arched in her direction, including D’lane’s. To give herself something to
do, she handed the knife back, handle first. He wouldn’t have let her keep it
anyway. “Have you figured out how your name dictates your future?”
“Yes.” His fingers brushed hers as he accepted its
return. The silver metal blurred when he holstered the blade. This male moved
quickly.
She was afraid to ask about his future. She kind of
liked this particular alien and didn’t want to see him dying any time soon.
“And?”
He grinned and flashed his sharp canines. “One belief
is I will be a great benefit to my people, but unable to participate in the
ultimate victory of my path.”
“Does that mean you expect to die?” Shannon asked,
undecided on if his smile edged from sexy into frightening.
“It is a possibility.”
She picked up her sausage, put it back down, and
frowned. “You said one of the meanings. Can you choose another path?”
“There are many possibilities that exist for an
individual. The Namegivers do not choose lightly when gifting a child at birth
with their destiny. I could follow another D’lane’s path, or I could forge my
own fate and provide a future for another down the line as the previous D’lane
did.”
“Which destiny is yours?”
“I follow the path of the king.”
“Ah.” She ran her finger over the smooth surface of
the table. Did that mean he expected to die or was there another path within
that destiny he would follow? How did someone know which one to follow?
It had taken her months in college to discover she
wasn’t interested in chemistry. Six long hellish months. The frustration alone
for losing that small bit of time seemed inconsequential when compared to the
possibility of traveling an entire lifetime down the wrong path.
He tapped the table. “What does your name mean?”
She huffed, knowing her name meant little when
compared to his. She’d looked it up once after an unpleasant conversation with
her father. “It means possessor of wisdom.”
Her father had wanted to call her Clair after his
sister, but her mother had gone with Shannon after hearing it on a show during
labor. The uncomfortable conversation on how he’d hated her name had been a
slight peek into her mother’s past, even as her dad lay drunk on the couch.
He’d apologized later, but the damage had already been done. She forced a laugh
to lighten the mood. “If you take it to mean I went to school, then I’ve lived
up to the title.”
“It is accurate.” His nail pressed down on the table’s
surface. A bit of plastic curled in its wake. His nails were either extremely
durable or the tables were flimsy. Shannon flattened her hand next to her tray
and curled her fingers. She scratched at the table and winced as her nail bent
back. “How so?”
“You were revived for information that will save
billions of lives and stop a war.”
About the Author:
E.L. Roux is a Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance author who writes about finding love in all the wrong places. E.L. uses their knowledge on everything from prosthetics to the sport of fencing, to weave together complex romances you can't put down.
E.L. Roux lives in Washington State with their artistically inclined family, an indoor street cat, and a terror of a Bosten Terrier.
Today we are chatting with E.P. Bellow about Quest for Copia.
Supernatural Central Short and Quick Interview
1. Tell me a little bit about your main character of this book.
John William Drake… where to begin. John is a nobby-kneed, awkward young man with a lot on his mind and in his heart. He comes from a long line of explorers - not just any type of explorer though. The Drakes are seekers of lost cities and legends of sorcery. John inherited the same curious nature. Now that his father is missing his search has taken a much more meaningful tone. He knows he has big shoes to fill if he wants to be a great explorer like those in his lineage and carries a heavy burden. It is all too much for someone so young to take on, but he is determined. When he enters the realm he feels an indescribable connection. there is something extraordinary about John, that he has yet to discover.
2. Do you believe in the paranormal and if so, do you have an experience you can share?
I do believe that we come from a source of energy and that energy dwells in us all. Once our bodies are done in life, the energy makes an exit. While I don’t know if I’ve ever been in the presence of a spirit outside of the body, I know such a thing does exist in the best possible way. When I was a little girl I would get antsy at night while everyone else was asleep in their beds… doors shut to their rooms. I would get up and step into the hall. On occasion, there would be a man in a cowboy hat leaning against the wall quietly and unthreatening. I had a very active imagination (still do) so it was always dismissed as such. I knocked on my parents' door “There’s a man standing next to the bathroom… I have to go!”
Mom and Dad were in no rush to investigate knowing that I had a posse of imaginary friends. By the time my dad would open the door the man strutted into the darkness and faded away. I saw him on a few separate occasions but only knocked on doors about it once. My young mind playing tricks on me on me or a cowboy who once lived where our house stood… to this day I just don't know.
3. What titles are you working on now that you can tell us about?
The next series is in the works. Part one is titled The Academy of Obscure Alchemy. The New Guardians series takes John William and his friends into the next era in the realm… The Age of Imperious. Centuries of dark sorcery seep to the surface at the will of the worst of all villains. Loved ones who have been missing will re-emerge. Some bonds will grow stronger while others will be broken.
~A new era emerged in Azra’s Pith bringing a change felt by all. Tucked away in the mountains, Roman and Celeste stumbled upon a town once occupied by a wizard cult. It was supposed to be abandoned but instead was bustling with new residents. On the edge of town was a new academy with a giant banner draped across the front…
“ALL ARE WELCOME!”
The buzz for the academy spread quickly throughout the realm. Magic filled the halls while sorcery from all over the realm and beyond was taught. All was not what it seemed. Something sinister was at work behind the scenes. Students were disappearing without a trace and no one dared discuss what lurked under the school.
When the young guardians enrolled in the academy they discovered the source - a gateway to ancient curses and forbidden sorcery. For Roman, the gateway was just too tempting to ignore. Celeste knew the dangers–she was intent on locking the gateway and throwing away the key. There was just one drawback, everything that escaped from the gateway would need to be captured and returned before shutting its doors.
Quest for Copia
John William Drake
Book Two
E.P. Bellows
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Publisher: Azra’s Pith books
Date of Publication: 11/1/24
ISBN: 979-8865821205
ASIN: B0CLJ2BQDP
Number of pages: 197
Word Count: 38,000
Tagline: Join John William Drake and his friends on their Quest for the Lost City of Copia… but beware, something evil lurks in the shadows.
Book Description:
John William Drake believed there was something special about the medallion Celeste found. It chimed and sparkled in the sunlight. He was right; the medallion was from Copia, a lost city masked in time. Legendary tales were repeated of a golden city inhabited by Empyrean Wizards until it was plagued by dark sorcery when a meager fledgling magician by the name of Imperious the Great wandered in.
Some did not believe the city ever existed; others who knew better wanted it to stay lost. How did it all start? How would it end? The answer simmered for hundreds of years waiting for the right moment to escape.
John and Celeste were more than ready for another adventure. The journey to Copia was also a search for his missing father. They were unaware of just how dangerous their quest was until it was too late. The medallion’s power could bring the lost city to life again, unlocking the dark past dormant within its walls. The young explorers were in the middle of a battle of ancient sorcery that could end with an evil capable of destroying the realm and they held the key.
~The Copian Mediallion is
discovered after being buried for years by layers of the realm.
Come on, wings! Don't fail me!" Gusts of wind blew the
little bird in all directions. Her vivid red feathers stole the sun’s beams
from the sky.
This was not an ordinary bird. This was a young Empyrean
wizard named Celeste. Empyrean wizards lived in an extraordinary place where
fantastic creatures and magic were a part of every day. All Empyrean Wizards
have a bird form appropriately coordinated with their personality. This
particular Empyrean was fearless and kind. She also had a knack for finding
"Made it!" Her small but determined wings descended
into the trees below. There was a peculiar tree she heard whispers about, and
she was on her way to see it for herself. The tree was believed to be a
passageway to the other side. Of course, she had no idea what the other side
was, which only drove her curiosity. She perched on a boulder next to a single
dead tree that boasted the broadest tree trunk in all of Copious Forest. The
tree was surrounded by a blanket of thriving greenery. Celeste cautiously
glanced around and gave her feathers a ruffle. A young girl emerged through the
feathers with wild hair the same shade of vibrant red.
“Incredible!” she gasped and scuttled over to the tree. She
poked her fingers out of the sleeve of her cloak and ran them along the rigid
bark on the trunk. The bark chimed a soft melody as her fingers went along.
“So it is real.” Her eyes beamed. She stepped back and pulled
a scroll out of her cloak. As she unraveled the scroll, the verses of an
ancient spell were revealed. “The Tunnel of Light Enchantment ...
Cuniculum lucis incantationis tempus sit, electi
ingrediantur. Cum tempus est, electi per cuniculum lucis relinquere possunt.
When it is time, the chosen may enter. When it is time,
the chosen may leave through the tunnel of light." She gazed at the dead
tree, waiting for even a small flicker of magic. The trunk looked like it had
not been seen or touched in years. “Hmm ..." Celeste raised her brow.
A prickly chill traveled down her spine. She squeezed her
arms across her chest to soothe her goosebumps. "Hello? Is-is someone
there?" Celeste frantically glanced around.
An angry groan rumbled through trees.
“I'm not afraid of you!" she declared. “Come out and
show yourself!”
Twigs and bits of forest flew past her curls. She scrambled
behind the boulder. Sharp whispers buzzed through the gaps in the trees.
“The moan went from a groan to a vicious roar. A wind funnel
shaped like a pair of long, wretched claws appeared.
“Oh, no—it’s the Rive.” Her body tensed.
The dark spell was strong enough to twirl her straight into
the air with one dizzying burst. It plowed through trees and shot rocks in all
directions. Celeste's cloak whipped around in a frenzy. She crouched behind the
boulder and gripped her hands around the base. Then her body lifted off the
ground. Inch by inch, her fingers slipped from the boulder. "Oh no!"
Her head throbbed from intense pressure as the wind consumed her.
"Where is it? I must find it," the Rive whispered
sharply, bringing a sting to Celeste's ears.
"Where is what? What are you talking about?" she
shrieked.
"Where is it? I must find it!" the Rive's whisper
was now at a rattling shrill.
She took a deep breath. "Azra lucem tuam ostende. Azra
tua industria illuminet …
Azra lucem tuam ostende. Azra tua industria illuminet."
A warm, vibrant energy burst through her cloak. The dark
spell released its grip. It hissed and hurled rocks at Celeste. She stood her
ground and
Celeste collapsed to the ground, breathless. “I just did
that.” She examined the palm of her hand in astonishment.
She scooped up the shimmering clump and scraped the forest coating off
it until all that remained was a medallion with strange markings and feathered
wings carved in the center. It chimed and sparkled in her hands. Celeste
stuffed it in her cloak and cautiously looked around. An excited giggle slipped
out just before she morphed back into a little red bird and flew above the trees.
About the Author:
A little about me…
Let's see... When I was eight, I had a pet turkey. I used to take it with me on my short-lived paper route. Needless to say, I was terrible at delivering the paper. No one wanted a "Dollar Saver" with turkey poop splattered across the best coupons on the front page.
Books... "Treasure Island" is a fantastic pirate tale. I love just about anything by Roald Dahl. Who could ever leave out Tolkien? I would also like to thank C.S. Lewis for sending me on an unrelenting childhood quest for portals to amazing worlds.
I write fantasy stories for children. Yep - proud fantasy geek here. It's pretty darn awesome to escape to another realm with sorcerers and wizards for a chunk of the day. The underlying theme in my stories is empowerment and living purposefully. We all have that spark inside just waiting to shine ;)
When football is on I turn into a cookie-eating pottymouth. I have a theory that avocados are the Jedi of all foods. I also believe the aroma of garlic and butter sizzling in a pan is pure magic.
Last random nugget… few things make me smile more than chocolate, cheese, and a nice splash of vino... AND, if the Chargers would make it to the Super Bowl again - just once
Cover Artist: Shayne Price with Craig’s typography.
Tagline: Cats are out to explore the galaxy… dogs are ready to protect it.
Book Description:
In the vast expanse of the galaxy, feline explorers from the Cat Exploration Corporation, led by the ambitious Blake, yearn to make their mark and unveil the secrets of uncharted space. All Blake desires is to honor his father's legacy and contribute to the endless curiosity of catkind. Meanwhile, Shadow, a loyal canine under the banner of the Tofferis Empire, is determined to pass his trials and stand as a stalwart guardian, protecting the very galaxy the cats seek to explore.
At the forefront of the Mineral Mining Corporation, Jade, a charismatic catsplorer, spearheads daring expeditions into uncharted territories. His mission: to unearth valuable minerals crucial for advancing feline exploration. Little do they know that their individual aspirations will intertwine in an unexpected political showdown, where cats and dogs are at the center of a cosmic power struggle.
As Blake, Shadow, and Jade navigate the complexities of interstellar politics, allegiances are tested, and the line between friend and foe blurs against the backdrop of unexplored galaxies. In "Space Cats: Making Enemies," the first installment of the series, these unsuspecting heroes find themselves entangled in a captivating space opera with a feline twist. Will they emerge victorious, or will the clash of paws and claws reshape the destiny of the cosmos? Embark on a thrilling journey that combines cosmic curiosity, canine loyalty, and the indomitable spirit of feline explorers.
If you're a fan of space adventures where the stakes are as high as the humor is charming, "Space Cats: Making Enemies" awaits your cosmic companionship.
"Don't be
ridiculous," Jade replied, leading the way toward the temple. "We came
here for the minerals, and we're going to find them."
As they
approached the temple, they could see that it was ancient, with large stone
columns and carvings covering the walls. They made their way inside, and the
mineral finder began to beep rapidly.
"There it
is," Jade said, pointing to a door at the end of the chamber. "That's
where the scanner is leading us."
They cautiously
approached the door, which was adorned with strange symbols and carvings. Jade
hesitated for a moment, but then pushed the door open.
When the door
creaked open, they saw a blinding light emanating from inside the chamber. They
shielded their eyes and cautiously stepped inside, drawn toward the powerful
energy source.
Jade and his team crept through the temple. The air grew colder, and they felt
a sense of unease.
The mineral
finder beeped louder as they approached the large chamber door. Ryan, the
team's technician, examined the door and found that it was heavily secured.
They noticed
strange markings etched on the walls. The markings resembled scratches, as if
claws or sharp objects made them. Upon closer inspection, Jade realized the
markings were actually a form of language, but one that he had never seen
before.
Ryan, who had
some expertise in ancient languages, inspected the markings. "This isn't
any language that I recognize," he said, furrowing his brow in
concentration. "It looks like some kind of primitive tool made it, like a
claw or a rock."
Jasper, who had
been scanning the temple with his handheld device, interrupted. "Guys, I'm
getting some strange readings here," he said, pointing to his device.
"It looks like there's some kind of energy emanating from the walls
themselves."
Jade walked over
to Jasper. "That's strange." He looked at the device. "There's
definitely something here, but I can't quite make out what it is."
"It seems
to radiate from behind this door." Jade touched a door at the end of the
hallway with strange markings.
Jasper, the
team's muscle, stepped forward and used his strength to force the door open. Inside
the chamber, they found a glowing orb emitting a powerful energy. Jade
approached the orb and scrutinized it, trying to identify its properties.
As he did so,
the orb suddenly flared up with a blinding light, knocking the team off their
feet.
When they
regained their senses, they found the orb had disappeared and the chamber was
now empty.
Jade, Ryan, and
Jasper looked at each other, stunned by what had just happened. They realized
they had stumbled upon something beyond their understanding and knew that they
needed to report their findings to their superiors. Before they could head back
to their shuttle, the darkness faded once again, and the center of the room
gleamed with a small object. A crystal. It flickered slightly.
About the Authors:
Craig A. Price Jr. is a USA Today bestselling author of Claymore of Calthoria Trilogy, Dragon's Call Trilogy, Dragonia Empire Series, Space Gh0st Adventures Series, and several other titles available in alternate realities. He loves to read, write, cast spells, and spend time with his beautiful wife and three children. He dreams to one day become a full-time wizard, but until then, he'll settle for being an author. With more than a dozen novels under his belt now, it's only a matter of time before he settles for world domination, but until then, you can follow his author journey as he takes over one reader's soul at a time.
Craig lives on the Alabama Gulf Coast, among the ravenous mosquitos, humidity, and deadly predators. If you spot him in the wild, he can be dangerous, but will often be tamed by a Mountain Dew and Reese's.
Shayne Price is the son of Craig A. Price, and hopes to one day become a Geologist. He likes to play sports and video games. He was behind all the plot in this book. He is a sophomore in high school and attends classes at the University of Alabama.
Tagline: Saving a mysterious stranger might come back to bite her.
Book Description:
Liliana is shocked to find a dying man in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the remains of a brutal fight. She brings him home to her father’s farm to nurse him back to health. However, when the stranger regains consciousness, he doesn’t remember who he is or how he came to be there.
Intrigued by the mystery of it all, Liliana sets out to discover who this handsome, well-mannered stranger is. Could he be the man who whisks her away and shows her the world? Or will whatever happened in the forest put her and everyone she loves in grave danger?
This is the start of a new supernatural fantasy series focusing on the decisions one woman has to make in her effort to balance love, morals, ambition and responsibilities as her world expands from her little cozy village to the events that span her continent.
At dinner, Liliana repeated what the stranger had said.
After all, he now had a name.
Then the weather was discussed, and the whole table
agreed that they were expecting another cold snap. Grandmother felt it in her
bones, the farmhands and Cedric observed it in the animals’ behaviour and
Father smelled it in the air. The chicken broth was well received.
Armed with a portion of said broth, Liliana ventured
to the stranger’s bed after dinner. He awoke immediately and swallowed
greedily, his gaze fixed on the bowl. There were so many questions swirling
around in her head that she didn’t quite know where to start. If he was missing
his memories, he couldn’t answer most of them, and she didn’t want to overwhelm
him.
‘Do you remember me?’
He looked up briefly. ‘Yes.’
The fact that he could remember newer things was a
good sign.
‘How’s the pain?’
‘Don’t ask.’
Liliana would’ve liked to know if his curt manner was
part of his personality or due to the pain he was in. To wake up in a strange
environment, in this agonising state and unable to recollect anything … No, she
didn’t envy him.
Once the bowl was empty, she gave him the medicine,
and Grandmother came to look at his wounds. She loosened the bandages in some
places, careful not to damage the skin that had already healed. She rubbed on
some of the ointment containing the resin Liliana had collected.
The stranger grimaced but made no sound.
‘That’s my grandmother,’ Liliana said. ‘She’s nursed
many people back to health.’
Since he lay there quietly afterwards, Liliana stayed
in the room. She was eager to talk to him more, but he kept his eyes closed,
exhaustion on his face. So she sat down with her book, in front of the
wardrobe. It was a precious, carved piece of furniture that Father had given to
her mother after their wedding.
‘How did I get here?’
Astonished, she looked up. His eyes were still closed,
but it seemed he felt her presence in the room. ‘I found you half-dead in the
woods and brought you here.’
A pause followed, during which Liliana watched him
over the edge of the book. What a peculiar way of speaking he had … Although
she understood him clearly, the melody of his sentences sounded strange to her
ears. His lips formed the words with precision, as if every single one of them
deserved to be heard.
‘Be honest, what are my chances?’
‘The fact that you survived the first few days is
amazing. If you keep going like this, I’m sure you’ll make it.’
A hint of a smile appeared on his lips. He opened his
eyes and slowly turned his head to look at her, quietly grunting with pain.
‘What … are you reading?’
The bronze colour of his eyes still fascinated her.
‘Oh, this? A collection of fairy tales.’
Another pause followed while they studied each other.
‘You like books?’
‘I do. Would you like me to read you one of the
stories?’
‘Yes, please.’
Liliana cleared her throat. ‘Most farmers struggle
with reading. While I am by far the best reader in the family, it probably
still sounds bungled to trained ears.’
The stranger gave her another smile to acknowledge her
efforts and closed his eyes.
Liliana began to read. She hadn’t read out loud in a long time. No one
here shared her enthusiasm for books. Why would they? There always seemed to be
gossip to share, and after a day of hard work, most people in the village
didn’t want to overexert their tired brains. For them, books were an expensive
and superfluous possession. When Cedi had been younger, she’d taught him to
read. As with many other activities, her little brother started on it with
great zeal, only to lose interest after the first few strides. Reading to
someone who may be well educated made her nervous. But she soon found her rhythm.
As intended, the stranger relaxed. Distraction was a good antidote to pain.
About the Author:
D. S. McColgan emigrated from the Swiss mountains to Wales, where she now writes her stories surrounded by green hills, countless sheep and castles. She writes in German and English, and her short stories reside in the realm of fairy tales or magical realism. This year, she has published the first two books of her fantasy series: A Tale of Something New & A Tale of Something Red.
If you are not afraid of blood and fancy a historical tale with slow-burn romance, secrets, authentic characters and atypical twists, you will love her series.
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