Everything about Malicious by James Raven appealed to me in this terrifying glimpse into the world we live in that will have you putting that piece of tape over your webcam.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Malicious by James Raven.
4 Stars
Amazon / Goodreads
MY REVIEW
HIs brain had been rattled one too many times, but names had been planted in his head and they will be pulled out one by one and I love this paranormal thriller that kept me on my toes as the conspiracy is unraveled.
Join us for this tour from July 5to July 25, 2022!
Series Details:
Book Title: THE SERAPHIM’S SONG – Book 5, The F.I.G. Mysteriesby Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 213 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release date:April 2022 Content Rating: G. THE SERAPHIM’S SONG is suitable for all readers – adult and young adult.
Book Description:
Many changes have taken place at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women while Carolina and Larry were on their honeymoon in Frascati, Italy, on the Granchelli farm. The newlyweds have been given a larger bungalow; Ms. Alcott, niece of the founder of Wood Rose, and Mrs. Ball, assistant to the headmaster, have moved into a bungalow together; and Jimmy Bob, caretaker and night watchman at Wood Rose has moved from his family home down the road a bit into a small bungalow on the orphanage property with his hound dog Tick, as well as his new cat and her litter of kittens.
Summer is coming to an end and the F.I.G.s will soon return to the universities to complete their special projects. They are starting to feel anxious, and the coping mechanisms they have used their entire lives are starting to work overtime. Dara’s thoughts turn to an unknown language, possibly from another world; Mackenzie focuses on the relationship of math to music; and Jennifer keeps hearing the note of B flat minor and is drawing dark swirls on her canvas board.
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels and book-length works of nonfiction for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Several of her books have been optioned for major films and television series.
In addition to her own writing, Barbara is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she
represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan.
In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive
experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas.
Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with three cats who adopted her: Homer, a Southern coon cat; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.
Amateur
sleuths, Erika Shawn-Wheatley, art magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, art
history professor, attend a Zoom meeting of individuals from around the globe whose
common goal is to expedite the return of African art looted during the colonial
era. Olivia Chatham, a math instructor
at London University, has just begun speaking about her recent find, a journal
penned by her great-granduncle, Andrew Barrett, active member of the Royal Army
Medical Service during England’s 1897 “punitive expedition” launched against
the Kingdom of Benin.
Olivia is about to
disclose what she hopes the sleuthing duo will bring to light, when the
proceedings are disrupted by an unusual movement in one of the squares on the
grid. Frozen disbelief erupts into a
frenzy of calls for help as the group, including the victim, watch in horror
the enactment of a murder videotaped in real time.
It will not be the only
murder or act of brutality Erika and Harrison encounter in their two-pronged
effort to hunt down the source of violence and unearth a cache of African
treasures alluded to in Barrett’s journal.
Much of the action
takes place in London, scene of the crimes and quest for redemption.
EXCERPT
He wondered now why had it taken such an effort to decide
which of his plans to set in motion. Walking off with an artifact or two from
Franks House, the British Museum’s storage facility in East London, may have
given him his political statement, but at what cost? The place was crawling
with workers in lab coats and masks—conservators, project managers,
photographers, interns, auditors, volunteers—the lot of them engaged in the end
goal of moving 200,000 objects from the museum’s collection of Africa, Oceania,
and the Americans to its nearly spanking new World Conservation and Exhibition
Centre. True, it would not have been an insurmountable task, entering the quiet
road where the quaint redbrick warehouse lay and unobtrusively blending into
the workforce, but then what? Would he have been forced to shoot his way out of
the place at the risk of being gunned down himself? How sordid and at the same
time mundane to mow down an uncalculated number of individuals, only to find
himself a mere casualty sprawled among them. Hell no, he was neither a loony
terrorist nor a crack- head martyr. The plan in place was the more sensible
course, no question about it.
It was restful, hearing below his thoughts the rhythmic
phrase of train wheels clacking against the tracks in lulling repetition. His
calmness surprised him a little, given what lay ahead. His scenario had been
well choreographed, but only on an imagined stage with players moving about
under his ironclad direction. In real life, even the most meticulous plan is
apt to be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. He knew that it was exactly
1.6 miles from Effingham Junction Station to the mansion on Ockham Lane in
Cobham, Surrey, but was he certain that he would not be accosted by a madman or
struck by lightning on his walk to the place?
If he allowed his thoughts to ramble on in this manner, his
nerves would start acting up. He must lean into the physical moment and move
with it into his destiny. He looked out the window past his reflection and
focused on the indifferent stars.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
An award-winning author of seven novels, Claudia Riess graduated
from Vassar and resides in Manhattan and Westhampton Beach. Her most
recent novel is the fourth book in her art history mystery series. “To
Kingdom Come” will be released in Spring 2022 by Level Best Books. Last
year, Riess signed a second three-book contract with Level Best Books
to continue the series that began with “Stolen Light.” The plot involved
murder, the Italian Renaissance, and the Cuban Revolution—as well as a
love story. The book was chosen by the Vassar travel program coordinator
and the Vassar Latin American professor for distribution to the
participants in their 2017 “people-to-people” trips to Cuba. The
latest suspense novel set in the art world, sleuths Erika Shawn, art
magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, art history professor. Now
married, the couple is caught up in a multiple-murder case involving the
repatriation of African art and artifacts seized by the British in the
late nineteenth century during the colonial era. Much of the action
takes place in London, scene of the crimes and quest for redemption. “Riess uses words as an artist uses a paint brush; the pages come to life.” –Joseph Epstein, Ph.D
“Mystery. Passion. Crime. What more could a book-lover want!” –Elizabeth Cooke, author of the Hotel Marcel Series
An
engaging speaker, Riess has recently given several author talks via
Zoom for libraries* and is scheduled for future Zoom and podcast events
at more venues. Subjects include “Anatomy of a Murder Mystery,”
“Dangerous Liaison: Fiction and History,” and “The Joys and Perils of
Creating a Mystery Series.” Her talks are of interest to both authors
and readers. *“Thank you for a fun evening. It was very interesting to hear about the process of writing.”
–Jocelyn Ozolins, Head of Reference, Shelter Island Library
Claudia
Riess has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker
magazine and Holt Rinehart and Winston. She has also edited several art
history monographs. For more about Riess and her work, visit www.claudiariessbooks.com. All four books in the art history mystery series are available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com,IndieBound.org and at independent book stores. For bulk discount purchases, contact https://levelbestbooks.wordpress.com.
Hollywood Underworld Lindy S. Hudis (A Hollywood Series) Publication date: August 8th 2021 Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Nick Savage was supposed to be the next sexy Hollywood heartthrob, until he turned up dead!
His personal manager, Dani Foxx, is a seductive former actress with spunk, guts and a take-no-prisoners attitude. She lives in the Woodland Hills section of the San Fernando Valley with her teenage daughter. They must survive and protect each other in the world’s most glamorous and sin-filled city. Then an unidentified body discovered under the Santa Monica pier is found to belong to the up and coming young actor.
Dani’s partner, the dashing and charismatic A.J. Tarentella, is the son of a mob boss, raised in a ruthless crime family. He now is the proud owner of the Tarantella Agency, a Private Investigation Company located in the heart of Beverly Hills. He used his father’s work ethic, connections and family ties to build his powerful business empire, and now he is always there to help those in need.
When another gorgeous nubile actress on the brink of getting her breakout role mysteriously vanishes as the body of a beautiful young girl is discovered in Runyon Canyon park in the Hollywood Hills, Dani realizes this is no coincidence. Who is targeting young Hollywood stars? And more importantly, how can Dani stop them before the next body surfaces?
Together, A..J. and Dani find themselves tangled in a web of organized crime, Hollywood secrets, and a vengeful faded movie star with a lethal vendetta.
Lindy S. Hudis is an award winning filmmaker, author and actress. Lindy is a graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She also performed in a number of Off-Off Broadway theater productions while living in New York City.
She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her “Hollywood” story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. Her latest release, “Hollywood Underworld – A Hollywood Series” is the first installment of a crime, mystery series.
In addition, she has written several erotic short stories, including “The S&M Club”, “The Backstage Pass”, “Guitar God”, “The Guitarist”, and “The Mile High Club”.
Her short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, has won numerous awards, including ‘Best Short Film’ at the Paris International Film Festival, The Beverly Hills Arthouse Film Festival and the San Fransisco International Film Festival.
She is also an actress, having appeared in the indie film Expressionism, the television daytime drama “Sunset Beach”, also “Married with Children” , “Beverly Hills 90210” and the feature film “Indecent Proposal” . She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures, and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
I have loved all the books I have read by Anita Dickason, but Deadly Keepsakes is my FAVORITE. It all starts with the lovely cover, add in an historic house with hidden secrets, some wonderful characters that stole my heart, and I am hooked.
Alone. A hospice nurse. A mysterious death. A vicious dog. Sure did get me going, from the opening pages and I love when an author hooks me so quickly I am unable to look away.
It was the beginning of her descent into a living hell of fear
She knew the police couldn’t protect her. It was up to her to protect herself. Like her, I had thought danger would be over after the trial, but the story would have been over too soon and Anita Dickason wouldn’t have it. Now I know why. Thrills and chills coming up.
Anita Dickason didn’t take the story where I thought it would go. Well done, Anita. I do love when an author can throw a surprise my way and I should have known better than to leap to conclusions with an author like Anita.
The best thing that ever happened to Tori Winters was meeting MIa…and Cammie, Heidi and Tina. I loved watching Tori grow, along with her friendship with these amazing characters, so well fleshed out I wanted them for my friends too. I laughed and cried with them.
I was swept up in the intrigue that became Tori’s life. Who to trust? What the heck is going on? How much danger is she in? Where is it coming from?
I have to come back to the characters, so richly developed. I love the ladies. The more I read of them, the more I came to love them, their generosity, their desire to help a newcomer to their town, their selflessness, doing something good for someone and expecting nothing in return…but Tori will show them how much she appreciates and loves them.
The suspense is not in your face, fast paced danger and thrills, but an underlying current of menace and intrigue flows through the entire novel. I didn’t want to put the book down, but sleep was calling to me.
I love the historical elements, Benny Binion, Top O’Hill Terrace, Granbury, Texas. I love when an author adds elements that make the book special to me, touching on familiar things and introducing me to new things that make me want more.
WOW! I am blown away and super excited about more to come. I can’t say much more or I may include spoilers that are worth discovering for yourself, but I will repeat myself, WOW. I want more of these characters and I can hardly wait to see what is in store for them next.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Deadly Keepsakes by Anita Dickason.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The past becomes a deadly future.
Stalked and nearly killed for her role in a murder trial,
Tori Winters isn’t giving the killer a second chance. On the run, she’s
desperate to find a place where she can’t be found. A puzzling phone
call about a vague inheritance seems to be the answer. After all, who
would look for her in a Granbury, a small, quaint Texas town?
Instead,
Tori’s life is about to spin into an existence where nothing is as it
seems. The historic house she inherits is steeped in secrets from the
past. Secrets that could prove deadly. There is the disinherited
step-grandson, and the lawyer and his son. What are they hiding?
When a killer strikes again, who can she trust? Tori’s newfound wealth may not be a blessing. It could be her death warrant.
ABOUT ANITA DICKASON
Code Name: Trackers: The elite of the elite. FBI agents, each with a secret, an extra edge, that defies reason and logic.
Characters
with unexpected skills—that extra edge for overcoming danger and
adversity—have always intrigued Anita. Adding an infatuation with
ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and
Irish folklore creates the backdrop for her characters.
Anita is a
retired Dallas Police Officer. During—what she refers to as an
extraordinary career—Anita served as a patrol officer, undercover
narcotics officer, advanced accident investigator, and SWAT
entry/sniper.
Upon retirement, she became involved in a research
project that dealt with the death of a witness to the Kennedy
assassination. The research led to her first book, JFK Assassination
Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, that details the results of her
reconstruction of a 1966 motor vehicle accident that killed Lee Bowers,
Jr., a key witness to the assassination.
Once the Bowers book
was written, Anita reached the same point many authors ultimately face:
I’ve written it, now what do I do? Answering that question has become
another career, one she has wholeheartedly embraced. The publishing
field is in a constant state of flux, offering unlimited possibilities
for an author, but also endless landmines.
Anita started a new
company, Mystic Circle Books & Designs LLC, offering cover design
and manuscript services. In addition to her works as an author, she
enjoys helping other authors see their dream become a reality.
I found the characters for And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling very interesting, a gay policeman, a missing girl with diabetes…and what happens when two kids break into a man’s house to steal his prescription drugs….
Seems there are a lot of secrets for a small town. But, we all know, sooner or later, they will be exposed. In the meantime, some will do anything to protect themselves.
The clock is ticking and time is running out.
I love watching the characters as they walk through the pages, some worse than others. They remind me of how fragile live is. Is everyone either good or bad? I love villains that make me wonder…and we have many to choose from. The whys are intriguing. Nature or nurture seems to come up when dealing with drug addiction, murder, serial killers…
I didn’t take many notes as I read, but I will commend Joshua Moehling for a job well done for his first novel. I look forward to watching him grow and develop his writing. I foresee good things for him.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling.
4 Stars
GOODREAD BLURB
“A dark and complex
mystery that will consume you, starring a protagonist who is equal
parts quirky Milhone and steady Gamache.”—Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight
They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong.
When
two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of
prescription drugs, what starts as a simple burglary turns into a
nightmare for all involved. Emmett Burr has secrets he’s been keeping in
his basement for more than two decades, and he’ll do anything to keep
his past from being revealed. As he gets the upper hand on his
tormentors, the lines blur between victim, abuser, and protector.
Personal
tragedy has sent former police officer Ben Packard back to the small
Minnesota town of Sandy Lake in search of a fresh start. Now a sheriff’s
deputy, Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens,
motivated by a family connection. As clues dry up and time runs out to
save them, Packard is forced to reveal his own secrets and dig deep to
uncover the dark past of the place he now calls home.
Unrelentingly
suspenseful and written with a piercing gaze into the dark depths of
the human soul, And There He Kept Her is a thrilling page-turner that
introduces readers to a complicated new hero and forces us to consider
the true nature of evil.
ABOUT JOSHUA MOEHLING
This is Joshua Moehling’s debut novel. I was unable to find any information at this time.
“It’s part him, part me, part stuff I made up…The magic formula…”
And that is part of the reason I grabbed Sulari Gentill’s novel, The Woman In The Library. The other reasons, a library mystery, Boston, a town I have visited many times, and a murder. I love mystery/thrillers and I so wanted to love The Woman In The Library…but I found it was not for me.
I was confused about numerous things and the story never grabbed me. I was about a third of the way through and started skimming. I do not like to DNF books. I know authors put their blood, sweat, and tears into their work, so I always want to finish. It was a good thing that at 53% my curiosity arose. I wanted to know, who is the murderer. I thought of skipping to the end to find out, but held back.
Not every book works for me and I am sure that is the same for you and just because The Woman In The Library by Sulari Gentill was not my cup of tea, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Woman In The Library by Sulari Gentill.
2 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In every person’s story, there is something to hide…
The
ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the
tranquility is shattered by a woman’s terrified scream. Security guards
take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until
the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the
all-clear, four strangers, who’d happened to sit at the same table, pass
the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or
her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just
happens that one is a murderer.
Award-winning author Sulari
Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library,
an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated
nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most
treacherous weapons of all.
ABOUT SULARI GENTILL
Once upon a time, Sulari Gentill was a corporate lawyer serving as a director on public boards, with only a vague disquiet that there was something else she was meant to do. That feeling did not go away until she began to write. And so Sulari became the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries: thus far, ten historical crime novels chronicling the life and adventures of her 1930s Australian gentleman artist, the Hero Trilogy, based on the myths and epics of the ancient world, and the Ned Kelly Award winning Crossing the Lines (published in the US as After She Wrote Hime). In 2014 she collaborated with National Gallery of Victoria to write a short story which was produced in audio to feature in the Fashion Detective Exhibition, and thereafter published by the NGV. IN 2019 Sulari was part of a 4-member delegation of Australian crime writers sponsored by the Australia Council to tour the US as ambassadors of Australian Crime Writing.
Sulari lives with her husband, Michael, and their boys, Edmund and Atticus, on a small farm in Batlow where she grows French Black Truffles and refers to her writing as “work” so that no one will suggest she get a real job.
I have read a few books by Pamela Crane and loved them, so I am happy to share The Art of Fear. I LOVE the creepy cover and…well, you’ll have to scroll down to get my thoughts about the story. BUT, how about that cover? What are your thoughts? Does it make you want to read it, or run screaming? LOL
WARNING: Human trafficking and all the ugliness that goes with it.
Luckily for you, I’m a master of The Art Of Fear
The Art Of Fear has a morbid start and I love that Pamela Crane makes dishing out the crazy look so easy. She paints vivid pictures with her words. They flow at a pace that makes it impossible for me to stop. I have an urgent need to know…
I am only at 27%, but the villain is terrifying, and what’s more, I know there are real people like the villain walking among us. Next time you’re out, look around you…
Ari and Tina are complicated characters, as are those that surround them. Ari and Tina are suspicious, guarded, wanting answers and wanting something to give them a reason to go on. I am curious about Tristan and have my fingers crossed that he won’t be a bad guy. Ari deserves to have something good in her life. Children, betrayed by those who were supposed to love and protect them. I urge you to discover them for yourself.
There is so much going on, my head spins, I am confused. I found myself reading until my eyes crossed, because I had to know. White knuckled, heart pounding, emotions running riot. Intense, edge of your seat suspense. Great job, Pamela, keeping me guessing until the end. When I was done, I felt like I’d been ‘put through the wringer’, as my mother used to say…and I WANT MORE!
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“Perfect for fans of
Ruth Ware and Paula Hawkins, Pamela Crane introduces a mind-twist that
takes everything you love about thrillers, pushes it outside the box,
and electrifies you with clever prose and a plot that will terrify you. A
must-read thriller…” – Southern Editor Reviews
A life no girl should endure. A father no daughter could love. A twist no one would predict.
From USA Today best-selling author Pamela Crane comes a terrifying tale of small-town secrets and murder.
Ari
Wilburn’s life ended long ago—the day she watched her little sister die
in a tragic accident and did nothing to stop it. Crippled with
self-blame and resented by her parents, she stumbles through life … and
onto an unexpected clue that casts doubt on whether the death was
accidental.
Now a psychological wreck, Ari joins a suicide
support group where she meets Tina, a sex-enslaved escapee who finds her
long-lost father dead. Suicide, police ruled it. But Tina suspects foul
play. As a bond develops between the women in their shared loss,
they’re dragged into playing a dangerous game with a killer.
A serial killer with a deadly message.
Faced
with a murderous wake-up call and two possibly linked deaths, Ari’s
investigation puts her next on the killer’s list. But she’s never been
one to back down from a fight.
Needing closure, Ari must face her demons and the killer behind them … or lose everything she loves.
“If Dexter and Gone Girl had a love child, this would be it.” – reader review
ABOUT PAMELA CRANE
PAMELA CRANE is a USA TODAY best-selling author and professional
juggler. Not one who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler
of four kids, a writing addiction, and a horse rescuer. She lives on
the edge (her Arabian horse can tell you about their wild adventures
while trying to train him) and she writes on the edge…where her sanity
resides. Her thrillers unravel flawed women who aren’t always pretty.
In fact, her characters are rarely pretty, which makes them
interesting…and perfect for doing crazy things worth writing about.
When she’s not cleaning horse stalls or changing diapers, she’s
psychoanalyzing others.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Shannon O’Gorman will be awarding a $40 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Rose Hawthorne: The Irish Wanders follows Rose, a celebrity author in her early seventies, who dislikes the limelight but does like Hermes scarfs, round violet sunglasses, and old colonial hotels. One day, she receives a letter asking her to visit Newgrange, Ireland and discover something that has been hidden there for a thousand years.
She asks her granddaughter Samantha to accompany her, but she hadn’t expected her to continually post photos of their progress on her Instagram account. An encounter with an old love and an unexpected discovery leads Rose deeper into the past, where she finds she must make a hard decision about her future.
Read an Excerpt
At first, the music the fiddler played was lively, his fingers deftly danced across the strings, and a few couples got up to spin around the floor. Towards the end of his set, he played exquisite notes that washed over the pub, making the dust dance, and it rose in the air like magic. The cheering and conversation quieted down for his last song. It was a slow piece that most of them recognised. The fiddler hit the final note with such poignancy that it echoed throughout the pub. When the music stopped, the whole pub went quiet.They cleared their throats and blinked back tears, and then took a few last swallows from their pints.
“Nothing like a bit of Irish music to bring out the tears,” Bill admitted wiping an eye.
“It’s something so special,” Rose agreed with a small sniff.
And all around the pub, they raised their glasses to the fiddler and his music.
As people began to leave the pub, Rose realized that it was getting late and neither of them had eaten yet.
“Shall we eat something? Maybe grab some fish and chips?” Bill said, reading her mind.
“Perfect,” she replied in a low, quiet voice.
They bought some greasy fish and chips at a nearby takeaway. It was wrapped in brown paper and covered with the Dublin news.
Then, they walked the streets until they found a bench under the stars away from the shouts, laughter and the lights. Beside the river, they were alone. They unwrapped the greasy paper and ate the cod hungrily, stuffing the vinegar smeared fries quickly into their mouths.
“Do you want the last chip?” Bill had said softly, holding it up in his greasy fingers.
About the Author:
Shannon O’Gorman is a retired ESL teacher who has recently completed her second walk on the Camino de Santiago. She is currently training her dog to accompany her on a Camino one day. She lives in California with her husband and daughter when university is not in session.
Serenade Morgan Shamy (The Dark Nocturne, #1) Publication date: May 31st 2022 Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Young Adult
St. Paul’s Academy of the Arts isn’t your usual boarding school…
When November Huntington is sent away to live with her long-lost family, she’s forced to attend a music school for the gifted—which wouldn’t be a problem if November were musical. She’s an athlete through and through, and hates being different.
The kids at the school don’t welcome her, they’re wary of her presence, especially Vincent, a brooding teenage boy involved with dark spirits, who can make time stop when he plays his piano. In fact, all her classmates are all obsessed with playing their instruments. And odd things happen when the do.
But something is off about the school. Deaths have occurred through the years, students showing up dead the same way November’s parents were killed—with their throats ripped out.
A killer is on the loose… November must figure out a way to stop whoever it is, balance her feelings for Vincent, and solve her parents’ past before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
The first in a Paranormal Fantasy Saga by debut author Morgan Shamy.
She started forward once more, silently cursing, when a soft melody drifted from the woods. The sound jarred her to a stop, and her heart suddenly spiked. She wasn’t alone. Someone was out here. The music drew closer, heightening. It was slow and haunting, tinkling, like a music box. It didn’t sound like music from a radio or phone. It moved through the trees, wrapping around the bushes, spreading out toward her. She could feel it all around her, soaking into her.
“Hello?” she asked, backing up a step. She squinted into the trees. “Hello?”
No one answered.
The music continued, and she wrapped her arms around herself, backing up further.
“Hello?”
Deep into the forest, a bright light appeared, small at first until it burst outward. The light seared her eyes, large and white, and she ripped her gaze away. A voice in the back of her mind screamed at her to run. The music continued to play on the air, soaring toward her. It was getting closer, becoming thicker, heavier.
This couldn’t be happening. She was having hallucinations. She needed to get out of here. She needed to find stability. Ground herself.
She pushed herself faster, her feet pounding on the forest floor. But the music slithered after her, brushing along her back, carrying with her as she ran.
“Stop!” she yelled. “Stop!” She continued to race, until she dropped to her knees. She covered her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. “Stop!”
In a blink, the music halted, and the light dissipated, but the music still echoed inside her head, hanging on the air. She stretched her eyes wide, her gaze darting side to side. She stayed frozen, her knees on the dusty ground. Her heart beat loud as the breeze picked up and tickled the hair off her face. Birds chirped, and the forest came alive again. She slowly lowered her hands.
Everything was normal. Everything was fine. She had been hallucinating.
She huffed out a frustrated breath and headed back down the trail, shaking out her arms. She was stupid to think someone had been after her, or to think she’d heard music or seen such a bright light, but the sweet melodic sound wouldn’t leave her alone. The melody lingered inside her head, weaving through her memory. Maybe someone had been there, and maybe she had been its target.
Author Bio:
Morgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer. She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed various roles alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few.
Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.
Morgan is also an accomplished concert pianist. She was the first girl in Utah to receive the 75 pt. Gold Cup in the Utah Federation of Music in piano solo/concerto competition. Morgan currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in Salt Lake City, Utah.
