ALEX
ALEX
Dianne Hartsock
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GENRE: psychological thriller
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BLURB:
Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…
Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.
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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
“You spotted Pat Gibson?” Brad asked perfunctorily when he reached them.
He nodded, climbing to his feet. “She came up to me by the glassblowers’ table.”
Brad raised his brow. “And…”
Alex flushed, angry and humiliated to have to repeat what had happened. “I was watching the artists when she grabbed me from behind. She kissed me and ran off.”
Brad snorted disdainfully, but not because of Alex. There was a hint of humor and commiseration in his brown eyes. “I’ve seen pictures of her,” he said levelly. “I’m sorry.”
Alex blinked, but before he could reply, Brad went on, “Did anyone else see her?” When no one spoke up, his lips thinned. “I’ve alerted the security officers to keep an eye out for her, and I’ll ask the vendors if they’ve seen anyone matching her description in the area.” He looked carefully at the crowd. “Let me know if any of you spot her again.”
“Thank you,” Alex said. He waited, curious, while Brad tapped his notebook a few times. He glanced at Alex as if he wanted to say something.
“Just be careful,” he muttered at last. “The Gibsons are dangerous people.”
Alex watched in surprise as Brad walked away.
Jane stood up and slipped her hand in his, and together they strolled through the park with Angie and Justin. They passed a table covered with amateur drawings from the college’s art department, and Angie pointed to several sketches on the table.
“Aren’t these yours?”
The bold strokes and unique use of light and shadow set Alex’s work apart from the others. He nodded, surprised to see his artwork on display. Even the napkin he’d idly sketched Jane’s face on was there, under glass.
“I gave the napkin to Mr. Gardinar,” Angie told him. “He asked for it when I showed it to him at the coffee shop. I hope that’s okay.”
Andrew Gardinar came up beside him. “I didn’t think you’d mind, since you’re one of my students now.”
Alex didn’t know what to say. His drawings seemed garish next to the others, and he wished they weren’t where his friends could see.
Jane squeezed his hand and gave him a proud look. “They’re wonderful. Are these the ones that are going to be in the magazine?”
Gardinar laughed. “These were rejected. I’ll send you a copy of the magazine as soon as it comes out.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Just let me know when I can visit your students.”
“I’ll do that.” He nodded pleasantly and moved off to help another couple.
An odd feeling of being watched compelled Alex to look up. He caught a young man studying him from across the table. Amber eyes sent a shock through him, and then the man blinked, returning his attention to the sketches. Fascinated by the sunlight in his fair hair and the brilliant aura surrounding him, Alex remained entranced. The gold eyes met his again, and Alex flushed with embarrassment for staring.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.
She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks/?show_switched_toast=1&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
