Tom Lewis - July Featured Author - Hell: The Possession and Exorcism of Cassie Stevens

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Synopsis of story:

Something Evil is Inside Cassie Stevens

In a quiet coastal New England town, a girl awakes suddenly in the dead of night — there's something in the room with her. She doesn’t see it or hear it, but she feels it in the pit of her soul. The presence of cold unseen eyes watching her from the darkness.

Ever since surviving a near-death experience in a crash, Cassie Stevens has been haunted by this malevolent presence. She’s shunned by friends and classmates who fear her, and with good reason — terrifying phenomena is happening around her, and something evil is taking over.

Goodreads Author Profile of Tom Lewis:

Tom Lewis

Amazon link to buy the book:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07... (the book is also on KU)

Please welcome Tom Lewis!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Welcome Tom! Cannot wait to reread this book as it has been a long time! I remember the first time I read the story it spooked me out of my skin! lol :)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

That art looks fierce with the book on it, love it Marie!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Kasia wrote: "That art looks fierce with the book on it, love it Marie!"

Thank you so much, Kas! :)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

I just have to jump in and say that Tom's profile picture is the best one I've seen yet on Goodreads. I love squirrels sooo much and they mooch of me all day long, I get pounds of almonds shipped to my house every month lol.

Looking forward to this read, let's goooo!

[Kris]

Hey hey! Well I might have to read this one… exorcisms in general are one of my most feared scenarios for films or books! Must be those 11 years of forced catholic school LOL! Count me in :D

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Kris wrote: "Hey hey! Well I might have to read this one… exorcisms in general are one of my most feared scenarios for films or books! Must be those 11 years of forced catholic school LOL! Count me in :D"

Might be a cathartic read for you then Kris, happy to see you here, thank you for joining us! :)

[Tom]

Hi Marie! Thanks for the welcome and all the nice words about my book! Enjoy the read everyone, and let me know if you have any comments or questions!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Kris wrote: "Hey hey! Well I might have to read this one… exorcisms in general are one of my most feared scenarios for films or books! Must be those 11 years of forced catholic school LOL! Count me in :D"

Welcome to the group read! :) I love exorcism themes too. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I started this book and get ready to be spooked once again! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am going to throw the first question out there.

How did this book come about Tom and why did you write a horror theme of demonic possession?

[Tom]

Marie wrote: "I am going to throw the first question out there.

How did this book come about Tom and why did you write a horror theme of demonic possession?"

Hi Marie. Good question. The idea started as a ghost story about this girl, Cassie, being haunted by this shadowy figure she sees from the corner of her eye. I wrote it as a screenplay called "The Periphery," and it was optioned by one of the producers of "The Grudge." We had Christian Slater and Rutger Hauer attached at one point, but couldn't pull together all the financing, so I decided to adapt it into a book. As I wrote, the story began to unfold for me into one of demonic possession, where Cassie suffered a near-death experience, and during her twenty minutes of death, she was in Hell. When she was revived, the demon followed her back from the other side of death, determined to take her back. To differentiate it from other books in the genre, I kept the focus on Cassie, and the interior horrors and helplessness she experienced as the possession progressed. Thanks for asking!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Tom wrote: "Marie wrote: "I am going to throw the first question out there.

How did this book come about Tom and why did you write a horror theme of demonic possession?"

Hi Marie. Good question. The idea st..."

This book would still make a great creepy movie Tom! Fascinating that it was almost a movie but I think it is a scary book that could still make it to the big screen! :)

[Tom]

Thanks Marie!!! I'm crossing my fingers. I have a producer client reading it, and another producer reading my book "The Necromancer."

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Tom wrote: "Thanks Marie!!! I'm crossing my fingers. I have a producer client reading it, and another producer reading my book "The Necromancer.""

Awesome Tom! Great news! :) Fingers crossed here too! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Read a lot more of it during the night when I couldn't sleep - great insomnia fuel! lol 28% into the story. :)

More thoughts:

(view spoiler)[I had forgot just how far Cassie went down that road into the dark abyss when she hooked up with the goth friends. She really went down a very dark road. I know she thinks everything is good now but I know more darkness waits in the shadows. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Another question Tom.

When writing this story did you have to do a lot of research into the demonic/demon realm?

(view spoiler)[The ritual that takes place was so descriptive it felt like I was reading a true account of what was taking place. (hide spoiler)]

[Tom]

Yes. Fr. Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest who performed several Exorcism, wrote an excellent book called "Hostage to the Devil" that chronicled the possession and Exorcism of five contemporary Americans. It's the scariest thing I ever read, and provided valuable insight into the interior battles the possessed person suffers during the progression of possession, along with what happens during the Exorcism itself.

[Tom]

Kasia wrote: "I just have to jump in and say that Tom's profile picture is the best one I've seen yet on Goodreads. I love squirrels sooo much and they mooch of me all day long, I get pounds of almonds shipped t..."

Hi Kasia. Glad you liked the squirrel. He used to come to my door every morning to mooch for Wheat Things. If I didn't come right away, he would tap on the door to get my attention. LOL

[Tom]

Kris wrote: "Hey hey! Well I might have to read this one… exorcisms in general are one of my most feared scenarios for films or books! Must be those 11 years of forced catholic school LOL! Count me in :D"

Awesome Kris! I hope you enjoy it!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Tom wrote: "Yes. Fr. Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest who performed several Exorcism, wrote an excellent book called "Hostage to the Devil" that chronicled the possession and Exorcism of five contemporary Ameri..."

Interesting enough I checked out that book on here as it sounded familiar and found out that I have owned the kindle edition of it since 2016. I will read it this year as I like reading about true accounts of demonic stories. Since it scared you then that is a great recommendation to me! :)

Your story is parallel to the true accounts of demonic activity as your story is the "keep the lights on for a week" kind of book that rattles you down to your soul!

[Tom]

Marie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Yes. Fr. Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest who performed several Exorcism, wrote an excellent book called "Hostage to the Devil" that chronicled the possession and Exorcism of five contem..."

Thank you!! I really think you'll like that other book.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am back to having weird dreams! lol Thanks for that Tom! lol

46% into the story and my dread meter is at an all time high! lol

This story goes down deep into the darkness with tons of spooky shivers!

Will share some more thoughts later. :)

[Tom]

Tom wrote: "Marie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Yes. Fr. Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest who performed several Exorcism, wrote an excellent book called "Hostage to the Devil" that chronicled the possession and Exorcism ..."

LOL!! Mission accomplished. =)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

85% into the story. Yes I am still reading. lol Being spooked out of my skin is more like it! I remember this book being scary and once again my insomnia is fueled! lol

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I have a question Tom. The town in the story - Capetown - is that a real place in Maine or is it fictional?

The way you described the setting of the town just drew me there wanting me to visit the town. :)

[Tom]

Marie wrote: "I have a question Tom. The town in the story - Capetown - is that a real place in Maine or is it fictional?

The way you described the setting of the town just drew me there wanting me to visit th..."

Hey Marie. It's entirely fictional. I was imagining a coastal town like Bar Habor with the seaport and lighthouse, but on a long peninsula. My new book, The Covenant, also takes place in Capetown. Speaking of which, I'll be launching The Covenant next week. I'll send you a new copy of the final publication version.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I finished the book Tom and once again I was spooked out of my skin! I tweaked the review slightly but basically left everything the same. :)

Here is my updated review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom]

Marie wrote: "I finished the book Tom and once again I was spooked out of my skin! I tweaked the review slightly but basically left everything the same. :)

Here is my updated review:

https://www.goodreads.com..."

I LOVE it!! Thanks so much Marie! There's lots more of Fr. Sean and Capetown in my new book, The Covenant. It also mentions Cassie's Exorcism, that he's written a book about.