L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 32
January 19, 2013
January 19th, 2013
Beenie and Troy crept into the room, and advanced across the floor toward the monstrous shape of the wooden destructive device. Beenie could hear her heart pounding in her ears, and every breath sounded like a hurricane - sure to bring any gnomes running the instant they heard it.
Suddenly, there was a clattering sound. In her heightened state, it sounded like one hundred people were pounding on pots and pans with spoons. She shot into the air toward the rafters, her entire body tense, but shaking.
The noise died down, and she waited for a gnome to rush into the room, brandishing a torch. She looked for Troy, hoping he'd found someplace to hide. But all she saw was Troy huddled on the ground, not near where she had been, but across the floor, next to a pile of tools. Beenie frowned.
She looked carefully around the room, and fluttered down to him.
"Troy," she said. "Was that you?"
"...Maybe..." Troy murmured, looking sheepish and frightened at the same time.
"Don't touch anything else," Beenie said severely. "We're here to ruin that thing." She pointed to the strange contraption. "Let's go."
They glided silently up to the machine, and split up. Beenie loosened gears on one side, while Troy put tools in strategic places on the other. After a few long minutes, they stood back and admired their handiwork.
"That should do it," Beenie said. Then she saw the lever that had set it running. She bit her lip, check4ed for gnomes, and then dashed forward to see how it was connected to the contraption.
"Beenie, what are you doing?" Troy asked in a panicked whisper. "I want to go now!"
"I'm trying to take this off," Beenie said, poking at the lever. She saw a bolt near the floor, and knelt down to try and loosen it with her fingers. But the bolt was stuck, and she picked up a tool that Troy had given her to help with their sabotage. It was a wrench, and she placed it around the bolt and she gave a might yank.
The handle of the wrench caught the lever, and with a loud, earth-shattering grumble, the lever moved.
Beenie threw herself backward, and the rumbling continued, getting louder.
"Beenie!" Troy pointed at a door on the other side of the room. Red torch light spilled in, silhouetting the gnomes' dark figures as they rushed in.
Beenie flew upward, and made for the door to the outside. Below her on the ground, Troy did the same. The gnomes were yelling now, screeching at them to come back.
They didn't listen.
Suddenly, there was a clattering sound. In her heightened state, it sounded like one hundred people were pounding on pots and pans with spoons. She shot into the air toward the rafters, her entire body tense, but shaking.
The noise died down, and she waited for a gnome to rush into the room, brandishing a torch. She looked for Troy, hoping he'd found someplace to hide. But all she saw was Troy huddled on the ground, not near where she had been, but across the floor, next to a pile of tools. Beenie frowned.
She looked carefully around the room, and fluttered down to him.
"Troy," she said. "Was that you?"
"...Maybe..." Troy murmured, looking sheepish and frightened at the same time.
"Don't touch anything else," Beenie said severely. "We're here to ruin that thing." She pointed to the strange contraption. "Let's go."
They glided silently up to the machine, and split up. Beenie loosened gears on one side, while Troy put tools in strategic places on the other. After a few long minutes, they stood back and admired their handiwork.
"That should do it," Beenie said. Then she saw the lever that had set it running. She bit her lip, check4ed for gnomes, and then dashed forward to see how it was connected to the contraption.
"Beenie, what are you doing?" Troy asked in a panicked whisper. "I want to go now!"
"I'm trying to take this off," Beenie said, poking at the lever. She saw a bolt near the floor, and knelt down to try and loosen it with her fingers. But the bolt was stuck, and she picked up a tool that Troy had given her to help with their sabotage. It was a wrench, and she placed it around the bolt and she gave a might yank.
The handle of the wrench caught the lever, and with a loud, earth-shattering grumble, the lever moved.
Beenie threw herself backward, and the rumbling continued, getting louder.
"Beenie!" Troy pointed at a door on the other side of the room. Red torch light spilled in, silhouetting the gnomes' dark figures as they rushed in.
Beenie flew upward, and made for the door to the outside. Below her on the ground, Troy did the same. The gnomes were yelling now, screeching at them to come back.
They didn't listen.
January 18, 2013
January 18th, 2013
Well, this is the second time my scheduled Flash Fiction hasn't come through. So I've approached a fellow author, and she's thinking about sending in flash fiction stories for me to post each week. She's already given me a little preview of what she has in mind, and I like it so far! From what I understand it would be an ongoing serial.
What do you think?
What do you think?
January 17, 2013
Meet Anne Elisabeth Stengl, the author of Starflower!
This was a fascinating interview - definitely want to get my hands on this book! ;)
Tour Schedule
Interview with Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Author of Starflower
1: What was your inspiration for writing Starflower?
Starflower was inspired by a number of things. Initially, I just wanted to play around with the fairy tale theme "the Maiden and the Wolf." I wrote a short story version of it, which I shelved for several years as I pursued other projects. As I wrote the first three novels in my Tales of Goldstone Wood series, the characters from Starflower kept cropping up along with references to their story. So when I finally sat down to tackle the manuscript that became this novel, I was really interested in exploring those characters!
2: Who is your favorite character and why?
I really love Bard Eanrin, my hero in this story. He's an immortal Faerie who often wears the form of a cat, fancies himself a brilliant poet (he's not), and is so completely stuck on himself, it's almost impossible not to love him! He makes me laugh. He appears so shallow, but he can surprise you with sudden depth. His is a story of growth in Starflower, and he was easily the most fun to write. He's also the fan-favorite. I get more fan mail about this character than any other two characters combined!
3: What, in your opinion, is the most important thing to remember when writing a fantasy?
Fantasy is about otherness. About creating a sense of the bizarre and otherworldly. To do this, however, you have a strong foundation in reality. If everything in the story is strange, then ultimately nothing is strange. It's all about balance.
4: How do you think your characters would react if they ever met you?
I'd like to think they would like me! But they would probably be remarkably put out by all the truly horrible situations I've tossed them into . . . .
5: Is Starflower the first of a series? Why or why not?
Yes, and no. Starflower is the fourth book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood, but it is also the first book chronologically. It is set 1600 years before Book 1, Heartless. On the whole, I think it's best to start the series with Heartless, but Starflower works well as a stand-alone and has also proven a good entry-point into my world.
6: What is a dragon witch, and what makes one different from a regular witch?
The Dragonwitch is a dragon who has lost her dragon form. She is trapped in the body of a woman, without wings, claws, or scales. The problem is, she is full of dragon fire, but because she doesn't have the body of a dragon, the fire builds up and consumes her from the inside out. She's immortal, so the fire doesn't kill her, but it will drive her temporarily insane. When she wakes up from a fiery fit, she can't remember what has happened to her.
The Dragonwitch in this book desperately wants to regain her dragon form. Her Father, the Dragon King, took her dragon form away because he was angry at her. To win back his favor, she must bring him the treasured prize he demands.
7: Which part of Starflower is your favorite?
I love the climactic sequence between Starflower herself and her great foe.
8: Why is that your favorite?
The whole of the story points to this moment. You don't realize it as you're reading, of course. But everything is ultimately driving toward this one fantastic confrontation . . . and a revelation that is as surprising to the heroine and villain as it is the readers themselves. Actually, the big revelation was a surprise to me in some ways! I got to that point in the story and realized there could be only one answer. But it was an answer I had not seen until I got there. For this reason, it was very satisfying and thrilling to write. And I hope it will prove equally satisfying and thrilling to read!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Christian Book
Author Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.
Facebook * Twitter * Website * Goodreads
Starflower
When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.
But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?
Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below. :)
Tour Schedule Interview with Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Author of Starflower
1: What was your inspiration for writing Starflower?
Starflower was inspired by a number of things. Initially, I just wanted to play around with the fairy tale theme "the Maiden and the Wolf." I wrote a short story version of it, which I shelved for several years as I pursued other projects. As I wrote the first three novels in my Tales of Goldstone Wood series, the characters from Starflower kept cropping up along with references to their story. So when I finally sat down to tackle the manuscript that became this novel, I was really interested in exploring those characters!
2: Who is your favorite character and why?
I really love Bard Eanrin, my hero in this story. He's an immortal Faerie who often wears the form of a cat, fancies himself a brilliant poet (he's not), and is so completely stuck on himself, it's almost impossible not to love him! He makes me laugh. He appears so shallow, but he can surprise you with sudden depth. His is a story of growth in Starflower, and he was easily the most fun to write. He's also the fan-favorite. I get more fan mail about this character than any other two characters combined!
3: What, in your opinion, is the most important thing to remember when writing a fantasy?
Fantasy is about otherness. About creating a sense of the bizarre and otherworldly. To do this, however, you have a strong foundation in reality. If everything in the story is strange, then ultimately nothing is strange. It's all about balance.
4: How do you think your characters would react if they ever met you?
I'd like to think they would like me! But they would probably be remarkably put out by all the truly horrible situations I've tossed them into . . . .
5: Is Starflower the first of a series? Why or why not?
Yes, and no. Starflower is the fourth book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood, but it is also the first book chronologically. It is set 1600 years before Book 1, Heartless. On the whole, I think it's best to start the series with Heartless, but Starflower works well as a stand-alone and has also proven a good entry-point into my world.
6: What is a dragon witch, and what makes one different from a regular witch?
The Dragonwitch is a dragon who has lost her dragon form. She is trapped in the body of a woman, without wings, claws, or scales. The problem is, she is full of dragon fire, but because she doesn't have the body of a dragon, the fire builds up and consumes her from the inside out. She's immortal, so the fire doesn't kill her, but it will drive her temporarily insane. When she wakes up from a fiery fit, she can't remember what has happened to her.
The Dragonwitch in this book desperately wants to regain her dragon form. Her Father, the Dragon King, took her dragon form away because he was angry at her. To win back his favor, she must bring him the treasured prize he demands.
7: Which part of Starflower is your favorite?
I love the climactic sequence between Starflower herself and her great foe.
8: Why is that your favorite?
The whole of the story points to this moment. You don't realize it as you're reading, of course. But everything is ultimately driving toward this one fantastic confrontation . . . and a revelation that is as surprising to the heroine and villain as it is the readers themselves. Actually, the big revelation was a surprise to me in some ways! I got to that point in the story and realized there could be only one answer. But it was an answer I had not seen until I got there. For this reason, it was very satisfying and thrilling to write. And I hope it will prove equally satisfying and thrilling to read!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Christian Book
Author Anne Elisabeth StenglAnne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.
Facebook * Twitter * Website * Goodreads
StarflowerWhen a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.
But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?
Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below. :)
January 16, 2013
What are YOU known for?
"Fortunate people often have very favorable beginnings and very tragic endings. What matters isn't being applauded when you arrive - for that is common - but being missed when you leave." ~ Baltasar Gracian
How you live your life is, of course, more important than the manner of your entry. What will you be remembered for? Surely not because you were born on such and such a day, or in a specific place. No, you'll be remembered for what you did afterward. The place and manner of your birth is as much under your control as the color of your skin when you're born, and means as much in the scheme of things. You can change neither - it's how you live that is important.
Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share about this quote? Post a comment below!
How you live your life is, of course, more important than the manner of your entry. What will you be remembered for? Surely not because you were born on such and such a day, or in a specific place. No, you'll be remembered for what you did afterward. The place and manner of your birth is as much under your control as the color of your skin when you're born, and means as much in the scheme of things. You can change neither - it's how you live that is important.
Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share about this quote? Post a comment below!
January 15, 2013
January 15th, 2013
In our resolution roster this year is another self-improvement biggie: Being happier.
One thing to remember is that happiness is entirely dependent on circumstances, so you may want to change 'happy' to 'joy.' Joy is a postive feeling you have, no matter your circumstances. And to develop it, you can start by keeping a thankfulness journal. A regular notebook will do. Each night, before bed, make a list of the things youre thankful for. You can even give yourself the rule that you ca't stop until you've listed a certain number. Being grateful for what you have already is an easy way to help eliminate the desire for other things.
One thing to remember is that happiness is entirely dependent on circumstances, so you may want to change 'happy' to 'joy.' Joy is a postive feeling you have, no matter your circumstances. And to develop it, you can start by keeping a thankfulness journal. A regular notebook will do. Each night, before bed, make a list of the things youre thankful for. You can even give yourself the rule that you ca't stop until you've listed a certain number. Being grateful for what you have already is an easy way to help eliminate the desire for other things.
January 14, 2013
January 14th, 2013
Weekly Challenge:
Add a minimum of three servings of fruit to your diet this week
This is relatively easy. Most people like fruit more than vegetables, because it's naturally sweet. I've heard it called nature's candy. One way to get an easy serving is to have strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream for dessert. You can make a simple fruit salad, too, or just have apple slices with peanut butter for a snack. (Fruit juice doesn't count, since it doesn't have the fiber of real fruit.)
Find more information on the Weekly Health Challenge!
Add a minimum of three servings of fruit to your diet this week
This is relatively easy. Most people like fruit more than vegetables, because it's naturally sweet. I've heard it called nature's candy. One way to get an easy serving is to have strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream for dessert. You can make a simple fruit salad, too, or just have apple slices with peanut butter for a snack. (Fruit juice doesn't count, since it doesn't have the fiber of real fruit.)
Find more information on the Weekly Health Challenge!
January 13, 2013
January 13th, 2013
I've wondered recently why the new year happens in the wintertime. Just when everything's sleeping, waiting for spring. Why wasn't it put in February, or March, or April, when everything is renewing itself for spring? It makes more sense to me. Why celebrate a new beginning in the winter? Why not celebrate it in the spring, when the surroundings echo the very idea?
It makes more sense to me. In the winter the whole world sleeps in the cold, waiting for the un and warmth to come back so it can burst out with new life. But we celebrate new beginnings in the winter.
It makes more sense to me. In the winter the whole world sleeps in the cold, waiting for the un and warmth to come back so it can burst out with new life. But we celebrate new beginnings in the winter.
January 12, 2013
January 12th, 2013
"Uh oh," Beenie breathed as the target disintegrated.
"They're going to use it on the forest!" Troy hissed.
They ducked out of sight and huddled on the ground, pressed close to the tree trunk.
"Why would they do that?" Beenie asked.
"Because they're nasty," Troy answered at once. "What else could they want to use it for?"
"I don't know," Beenie said. "What are we going to do?"
"Why are you asking me?" Troy asked incredulously. "I'm the hide-in-the-bushes one. You're the let's-go-figure-it-out one."
Beenie huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine," she said. "We'll go mess up the machine thing, and thn go get help."
"You mean go in there?" Troy asked, aghast. "We'll get caught!"
"Not if we wait until they all leave," said Beenie. "We could go in and mess with some of the parts until it won't work, then go find someone who can help us."
"And who's going to help us, Beenie?" Troy asked.
"I don't know," Beenie answered. "But I'm sure you do." And she stared at Troy, who had started to fidget nervously, his tail twisting and twitching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They waited until the gnomes had cleared the room. It seemed a very long time to Beenie, who had dragged Troy to a nearby tree where they could watch through the windows without being seen. It was cold, and they sat as close to each other as possible to keep warm. Beenie didn't like sitting right next to Troy too much. He was always moving. She doubted he had ever held still for so long in his entire life.
But, at last, the gnomes had left the room and extinguished the torches that lit it up. They crept silently from their hiding place, and darted across the open space between their tree and the door to the gnomes' tower. They put their shoulders on the door and began to push. They pushed and pushed until Beenie was tired and sweaty, and still the doors hadn't budged.
"Why won't they open?" Beenie asked, stomping her foot in frustration.
Toy didn't answer. He was slumped against the tower, panting.
"Do you think it's locked?" she asked, squinting in the darkness as she examined the door.
"I don't know," said Troy, his voice faint. "But I don't think acorns are worth this."
Beenie sat down and stared at the door. Then she stood up, grabbed hold of the door handle, and pulled.
The door swung open without even a creak.
"They're going to use it on the forest!" Troy hissed.
They ducked out of sight and huddled on the ground, pressed close to the tree trunk.
"Why would they do that?" Beenie asked.
"Because they're nasty," Troy answered at once. "What else could they want to use it for?"
"I don't know," Beenie said. "What are we going to do?"
"Why are you asking me?" Troy asked incredulously. "I'm the hide-in-the-bushes one. You're the let's-go-figure-it-out one."
Beenie huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine," she said. "We'll go mess up the machine thing, and thn go get help."
"You mean go in there?" Troy asked, aghast. "We'll get caught!"
"Not if we wait until they all leave," said Beenie. "We could go in and mess with some of the parts until it won't work, then go find someone who can help us."
"And who's going to help us, Beenie?" Troy asked.
"I don't know," Beenie answered. "But I'm sure you do." And she stared at Troy, who had started to fidget nervously, his tail twisting and twitching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They waited until the gnomes had cleared the room. It seemed a very long time to Beenie, who had dragged Troy to a nearby tree where they could watch through the windows without being seen. It was cold, and they sat as close to each other as possible to keep warm. Beenie didn't like sitting right next to Troy too much. He was always moving. She doubted he had ever held still for so long in his entire life.
But, at last, the gnomes had left the room and extinguished the torches that lit it up. They crept silently from their hiding place, and darted across the open space between their tree and the door to the gnomes' tower. They put their shoulders on the door and began to push. They pushed and pushed until Beenie was tired and sweaty, and still the doors hadn't budged.
"Why won't they open?" Beenie asked, stomping her foot in frustration.
Toy didn't answer. He was slumped against the tower, panting.
"Do you think it's locked?" she asked, squinting in the darkness as she examined the door.
"I don't know," said Troy, his voice faint. "But I don't think acorns are worth this."
Beenie sat down and stared at the door. Then she stood up, grabbed hold of the door handle, and pulled.
The door swung open without even a creak.
January 11, 2013
The Creature In The Mirror, By Jonathan Kittrell
(A quick note from L. Y. Levand: This is an interesting flash fiction; however it's more of a horror-type story, and thought I should let everyone know - just in case. It kept my attention, let me tell you!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They pulled into the driveway and she got out of the truck. She ran to the driver’s side. “Be safe,” she told him.
The man looked at her and said, “You too.” They were silent for a moment. Crickets were chirping and the moon was full. “I’ll be back in the morning,” he told her.
“Okay,” she answered.
They kissed and she walked into her house. The man rolled up his window and backed out of the driveway. That was the last she saw of him before she closed the door.
The woman walked upstairs, to her room, and into the bathroom. She undressed and got into the shower. When she turned the knob, nothing came out of the faucet. Instead, she heard an unnatural hiss. She turned it back and tried again. The hiss came out again. She was very frustrated at this point. When she reached for the knob a third time, water poured out from the faucet, before she had touched it.
Disregarding the happening, she started to wash herself. Afterward, she walked to the sink and picked up a brush. When she looked into the mirror, she screamed at what she saw.
The next morning, Henry drove back up his girlfriend’s driveway. He parked the car, pulled the keys from the ignition, and got out of the truck. When he got to the door, he knocked and waited patiently. There was no answer. He tried again, but this time he knocked a little louder. No answer again. There wasn’t even a small stir in the house.
He was frustrate and a little worried now. For the third time, he banged on the door. When there was no answer again, he got out the spare key that she had given to him a couple weeks ago, from his pocket. He unlocked the door and walked in. The house was dark and a chill went down his spine when he stepped in. It reminded him of the house they had stopped at the other day. It terrified him and he felt the urge to run back out at once, but he remembered that his girlfriend was still here.
He started up the stairs when the front door slammed shut. A cold breeze chilled him but there weren’t any open windows. He was once again reminded of the house they had visited yesterday. Something must have followed them here from that house.
Once he was up the stairs he called her name. There was nothing but a hiss coming from the bathroom in reply. He walked towards the bathroom to investigate. His heart stopped when he walked in. On the wet tiled floor lay his girlfriend’s limp naked body. He stooped down to check if she were still breathing. He gave a sigh of relief when he felt the gentle release of air from her nose.
Henry pulled down a towel from a ring on the wall and wrapped his girlfriend in it. He then picked her up and as he was about to walk out he saw a man in the mirror. He was wearing red and black clothing. There was a grin on his face revealing fangs. He was a very dark looking man, if that was what he was. In fact, the thing in the mirror resembled a man less and less the longer he stared at it. Henry ran out of the room carrying his beloved from the evil creature. It didn’t pursue him but gave out a loud ominous laugh.
Henry ran down the stairs to the door and twisted the knob with his free hand, but nothing happened. The door would not open. He tugged at it again with the same result. He then ran to the back door and tried to open it. It wouldn’t budge either. Henry then tried to open a window and the same thing happened as with the doors. He laid his girlfriend on the couch and picked up a lamp from the coffee table. He threw it at the window as hard as he could. When the lamp collided with the window, it smashed to pieces that flew throughout the room. There were only a few options left to him. He ran into the kitchen and snatched up the phone. He hastily dialed 9-1-1 and waited. It just kept on ringing without an answer. He ended the call and slammed the phone down on the counter top.
Henry went to the laptop sitting on the dining room table and opened it. He found the screen cracked and a yellow sticky note on the keyboard. It said:
You will never leave my house. No one will find you.
You are dead to the world, and you will soon be dead to me as well.
Henry couldn’t breathe for a moment. What kind of thing could be this evil? They didn’t do anything to deserve this. They were just ordinary, good people. Henry’s girlfriend sighed. The noise startled him, and he went to her. She was still unconscious, probably dreaming he thought. “I hope you are having good dreams now, because you’re going to wake up to a nightmare,” he whispered. He then kissed her cheek.
He ran back up the stairs and went straight into the bathroom where he had found his girlfriend. He looked back into the mirror and saw only his own reflection staring back at him.
“Where are you?” Henry yelled.
He heard a laugh and then, “Over here.”
Henry turned to the door, where the voice had come from, and saw a terrifying creature staring back at him. He whirled back around to look for a weapon. All that he saw was a hairdryer, a brush, and air freshener. He grabbed the brush and threw it at the creature. It started running toward him, its teeth barred and ready to strike. Henry then grabbed the air freshener and sprayed it into its eyes. He then kicked it and ran out of the room.
Henry ran down to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. The creature started walking slowly down the stairs after him. His heart started to beat faster and faster as the creature came closer to the bottom of the stairs. He readied himself to kill the evil thing. The footsteps grew louder and louder until suddenly they stopped. After a few moments, Henry grew too anxious to wait and turned his head to the stairs on the other side of the wall. There was nothing.
Henry’s heart beat faster, where could it be? He felt a drop of some sort of liquid on his head and looked up. The creature was on the ceiling. It hissed at him and jumped down on his head. He felt its claws ripping up his arms and back. He then felt it sink its teeth into his neck.
Henry felt his strength being drained from him as every drop of blood in his body was drained from him. He grew more tired with every moment that passed. He wanted to give up and sleep. All that he wanted was to close his eyes and give in, he was tired of fighting. As he sank to the floor he thought of his girlfriend. Did he want her to have the same fate as himself? Was he ready to sentence her to death as well? No. He wouldn’t let her die. He raised the knife, aimed, and plunged it into the side of the creature’s head. It screamed and fell to the floor.
Henry stood for a minute, trying to remember what had happened. He was so tired and couldn’t remember where he was. Then he fell to the floor along side the dead creature.
The woman woke up, wondering why she was on the couch. She remembered an evil looking man hurting her in the bathroom but nothing more. She got up to look around when she saw the evil man. He was lying beside her love. They were both dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They pulled into the driveway and she got out of the truck. She ran to the driver’s side. “Be safe,” she told him.
The man looked at her and said, “You too.” They were silent for a moment. Crickets were chirping and the moon was full. “I’ll be back in the morning,” he told her.
“Okay,” she answered.
They kissed and she walked into her house. The man rolled up his window and backed out of the driveway. That was the last she saw of him before she closed the door.
The woman walked upstairs, to her room, and into the bathroom. She undressed and got into the shower. When she turned the knob, nothing came out of the faucet. Instead, she heard an unnatural hiss. She turned it back and tried again. The hiss came out again. She was very frustrated at this point. When she reached for the knob a third time, water poured out from the faucet, before she had touched it.
Disregarding the happening, she started to wash herself. Afterward, she walked to the sink and picked up a brush. When she looked into the mirror, she screamed at what she saw.
The next morning, Henry drove back up his girlfriend’s driveway. He parked the car, pulled the keys from the ignition, and got out of the truck. When he got to the door, he knocked and waited patiently. There was no answer. He tried again, but this time he knocked a little louder. No answer again. There wasn’t even a small stir in the house.
He was frustrate and a little worried now. For the third time, he banged on the door. When there was no answer again, he got out the spare key that she had given to him a couple weeks ago, from his pocket. He unlocked the door and walked in. The house was dark and a chill went down his spine when he stepped in. It reminded him of the house they had stopped at the other day. It terrified him and he felt the urge to run back out at once, but he remembered that his girlfriend was still here.
He started up the stairs when the front door slammed shut. A cold breeze chilled him but there weren’t any open windows. He was once again reminded of the house they had visited yesterday. Something must have followed them here from that house.
Once he was up the stairs he called her name. There was nothing but a hiss coming from the bathroom in reply. He walked towards the bathroom to investigate. His heart stopped when he walked in. On the wet tiled floor lay his girlfriend’s limp naked body. He stooped down to check if she were still breathing. He gave a sigh of relief when he felt the gentle release of air from her nose.
Henry pulled down a towel from a ring on the wall and wrapped his girlfriend in it. He then picked her up and as he was about to walk out he saw a man in the mirror. He was wearing red and black clothing. There was a grin on his face revealing fangs. He was a very dark looking man, if that was what he was. In fact, the thing in the mirror resembled a man less and less the longer he stared at it. Henry ran out of the room carrying his beloved from the evil creature. It didn’t pursue him but gave out a loud ominous laugh.
Henry ran down the stairs to the door and twisted the knob with his free hand, but nothing happened. The door would not open. He tugged at it again with the same result. He then ran to the back door and tried to open it. It wouldn’t budge either. Henry then tried to open a window and the same thing happened as with the doors. He laid his girlfriend on the couch and picked up a lamp from the coffee table. He threw it at the window as hard as he could. When the lamp collided with the window, it smashed to pieces that flew throughout the room. There were only a few options left to him. He ran into the kitchen and snatched up the phone. He hastily dialed 9-1-1 and waited. It just kept on ringing without an answer. He ended the call and slammed the phone down on the counter top.
Henry went to the laptop sitting on the dining room table and opened it. He found the screen cracked and a yellow sticky note on the keyboard. It said:
You will never leave my house. No one will find you.
You are dead to the world, and you will soon be dead to me as well.
Henry couldn’t breathe for a moment. What kind of thing could be this evil? They didn’t do anything to deserve this. They were just ordinary, good people. Henry’s girlfriend sighed. The noise startled him, and he went to her. She was still unconscious, probably dreaming he thought. “I hope you are having good dreams now, because you’re going to wake up to a nightmare,” he whispered. He then kissed her cheek.
He ran back up the stairs and went straight into the bathroom where he had found his girlfriend. He looked back into the mirror and saw only his own reflection staring back at him.
“Where are you?” Henry yelled.
He heard a laugh and then, “Over here.”
Henry turned to the door, where the voice had come from, and saw a terrifying creature staring back at him. He whirled back around to look for a weapon. All that he saw was a hairdryer, a brush, and air freshener. He grabbed the brush and threw it at the creature. It started running toward him, its teeth barred and ready to strike. Henry then grabbed the air freshener and sprayed it into its eyes. He then kicked it and ran out of the room.
Henry ran down to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. The creature started walking slowly down the stairs after him. His heart started to beat faster and faster as the creature came closer to the bottom of the stairs. He readied himself to kill the evil thing. The footsteps grew louder and louder until suddenly they stopped. After a few moments, Henry grew too anxious to wait and turned his head to the stairs on the other side of the wall. There was nothing.
Henry’s heart beat faster, where could it be? He felt a drop of some sort of liquid on his head and looked up. The creature was on the ceiling. It hissed at him and jumped down on his head. He felt its claws ripping up his arms and back. He then felt it sink its teeth into his neck.
Henry felt his strength being drained from him as every drop of blood in his body was drained from him. He grew more tired with every moment that passed. He wanted to give up and sleep. All that he wanted was to close his eyes and give in, he was tired of fighting. As he sank to the floor he thought of his girlfriend. Did he want her to have the same fate as himself? Was he ready to sentence her to death as well? No. He wouldn’t let her die. He raised the knife, aimed, and plunged it into the side of the creature’s head. It screamed and fell to the floor.
Henry stood for a minute, trying to remember what had happened. He was so tired and couldn’t remember where he was. Then he fell to the floor along side the dead creature.
The woman woke up, wondering why she was on the couch. She remembered an evil looking man hurting her in the bathroom but nothing more. She got up to look around when she saw the evil man. He was lying beside her love. They were both dead.
January 10, 2013
Guest Post By Talia Nunez! Author of Escucha Means Listen
Tour Schedule Guest Post By Author Talia Nunez
What fuels my passion for writing for children is their reaction. It is their brutal honesty that I value and appreciate. Whether the response is walking away to do something else that keeps their attention, like playing with Legos or a puzzle, or lighting up with a smile; they tell you exactly how they feel. When you read a story to them, that they connect with, there is nothing like the smile that comes upon their face and the anticipation in their eyes. That is what makes me write for kids and makes me want to create a fun and exciting story for them.
Escucha Means ListenFrom the mowing of the lawn to the splish-splashing of rain puddles, Talia Aikens-Nuñez’s bilingual picture book Escucha Means Listen introduces toddlers and babies to the sweet sounds around them.
Take a journey through the world—just listening. Escucha Means Listen helps children discover sounds around them in English and Spanish.
Excerpt
Buzz. Buzz. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las abejas (The bees) circling the flowers.
Woosh. Woosh. What do you hear?
El viento (The wind) is whistling by.
Shh. Shh. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las hojas (The leaves) are dancing on the trees.
Purchase Publisher * Amazon
Author Talia Aikens-Nuñez Talia Aikens-Nuñez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. She never thought she would be a writer. It was the birth of her daughter that caused her to start writing. Raising a bilingual child inspired Talia to write lyrical children’s books. These ‘first experience’ books introduce Spanish to children and parents too! Talia’s family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water. She, her husband and daughter live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter Isabella.
Facebook * Website
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/21/12
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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