When Alex, Lukas and Marley
meet the new guy at their school, Henry, they have no idea what he'll bring to
their lives. Romance, an inexplicable connection between the four of them and
reoccurring bad dreams for Alex.
They discover a past none of them could have
contemplated before Henry's arrival. Alex's nightmares of a child abductor
swiftly turn into a frightening reality which affects them all. Finding someone
who will help may seem easy, but can they trust them enough to keep their
secrets?
It becomes a race against time to save not
only the child, but one of their own.
Excerpt:
I sat back and
watched Lieutenant Kirk's face. At first I could tell he thought Max was losing
his mind He shuffled in his spot and kept sneaking glances toward us as if we
were going to disappear in a puff of smoke. His eyebrows arched so high at one
point I thought they might migrate into his hair for good.
Yep! Obviously he
thought we were all crackpots. At least
he has the decency to let Max finish what he was saying. When Max did
finish the Lieutenant just sat there with a blank look on his face. You could
tell his brain had gone way into overdrive. I checked Max's reaction. He was
looking back at me, the expression on his face worried. An expression I was
fairly certain we all wore. I wonder how long it would be before he'd speak.
"Well, this is a
lot to take in. I'm not really sure what to say to be honest and I really don't
know what to do," he said as he looked around at each of us.
"Maybe if I
explain a bit more about their past you might b—" Max started to say.
"What is that
smell? Did you guys put something in the oven?" the Lieutenant
interrupted.
"No, we
didn't." Henry said wrinkling his nose.
"What's wrong,
Lukas?" Marley asked as she saw the look on his face. Next thing I knew
she was jumping up off the couch and moving toward him.
What the hell was
Lukas doing? He had ripped his jacket off and was in the process off tearing
off his T-shirt. What was that smell? God it was awful, like something burning.
Then something clicked in my brain, and my stomach dropped.
Marley screamed and
we leapt up. Lukas had perfect circular burns appearing all over his arms and
chest. His eyes met mine, terrified, as he sank back onto the couch.
Henry grabbed for my
hand and I saw the horror reflected in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking,
what Marley and Lukas were thinking too. Max was staring at Lukas, his face
almost as white as Lukas'. The only one in the room who seemed to have no idea
what was going on was Lieutenant Kirk.
"Somebody care
to tell me what's going on? Why the hell has he got burns popping up all over
him? Max! What's going on?" he asked, flustered.
"I told you,
whatever he does to Lauran, it happens to Lukas too," Max said quietly,
still staring at Lukas in disbelief.
"Jesus, you mean
he has just done this to that little girl? My God, the bastard!" He looked
truly horrified.
"Do you believe
us now?" Marley snapped as she rounded on him. She was shaking and
struggling to hold back tears. Lukas took her hand.
"Don't worry, I
can handle it. It's not as bad as my wrists, although it will be hard to sleep
tonight. I won't be able to roll over much," Lukas said, trying to put on
a brave face for us.
"Max, get the
boy the doctor, quick," Lieutenant Kirk barked out. "I'm sorry, son,
can I get you anything to make you more comfortable?"
"No, there is
nothing you can do." Lukas closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing
deeply. He wasn't letting on just how much pain he was in. Marley was
whispering in his ear and kissed him gently on the forehead. She was doing a
great job of keeping it together.
"Lukas," I
said quietly, tears threatening to spill over any second.
"Don't, Alex. It
is not your fault. Don't even go there, okay?" Lukas said without even
opening his eyes.
I sat back down and
stared at him. The poor guy, you could see how much effort it was taking him to
block out the pain. Tears ran unchecked down my face. Why is this happening to us?
A small sob escaped,
and Marley threw me a look that said, "get it together" and shook her
head. She was right. I had to pull it together for Lukas. I stood, went
outside, sucked in a few deep breaths, and leaned up against the wall before I
completely lost it. Slowly, I slid to the floor and sobbed to myself for a few
seconds before Henry's feet appeared in my line of sight. He kneeled down and
shuffled himself against the wall next to me. He reached around to pull me to
him, holding me while I blubbered. When I calmed myself a little I looked up at
him, wondering if I would be able to be as strong as Marley if that was Henry
in there in so much pain.
"Feeling better?"
he asked gently as he kissed the side of my head.
"Yes and no.
He's so strong, Henry, but how can he keep putting up with pain? How can they
both keep on going with this? This is crazy, it doesn't make any sense. I was
looking at you just now wondering if I could watch you go through that and I
don't know that I could. Marley is so strong."
"You know Marley
lost it big time when Lukas got the rope burns. She's just figured out that
being strong helps Lukas stay strong. And I'm sure you would be just as tough.
You have been reliving that dream every night and you haven't lost
your mind yet, have you?" he said giving me
a squeeze.
I sighed and wrapped
my arms around him. "Thank you, Henry. I don't know how I would cope with
this if you weren't around."
"We all need to
be there for each other if we are going to get through this. Come on, we need
to get back in there. All right now, babe?" he asked as he got to his
feet.
"Yes, I'll be
all right." I took the hand he offered me. He pulled me to my feet and turned
to head back to the room. I tugged him back toward me and kissed him softly.
"What was that
for?" he asked as I pulled away.
"For being you.
For calming me and giving me strength," I said. And being everything I've ever needed.
1. I write because… I find it relaxes me and because I enjoy
it.
2. If I were your favorite cookie, what would I be? I'm not
much of a cookie fan so I guess just the boring choc chip.
3. Plotter or pantster? Oh , most definitely a pantster.
Plots and scenes can change almost daily with me.
4. What is your favorite type of character to write about
and why? I do love to write an independent woman. Someone with a bit of sass
and not scared to call it how it is.
5. Hamburgers or sushi? Both!!
6. Name three things on your desk. Ipod dock( I can't write
in silence), a notepad to doodle on when things aren't quite going to plan and
a waterbottle ( I tend to get into writing a little too much and forget to
drink and eat, so the waterbottle sitting in front of my face is a constant
reminder.)
7. What books have influenced your writing style? In the YA
genre, Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter series and Richelle Mead's Vampire
Academy books inspired the need to write not just romance but action and
mystery as well.
8. Tell us a little about your book. In my first book in the Sightseeing Series we
meet Alex and her three friends Marley, Lukas and Henry. These four discover a
unique connection, but with the connection comes more than they bargained for. They
end up in a race against time to save a kidnapped girl and one of their own.
9. What advice do you have for new and aspiring authors?
Never give up, just keep writing. It took me almost three years to finish my
first book, but writing "the end" is an accomplishment in itself.
10. What is next on your writerly horizon? Book two in the
Sightseeing Series is under way and also another YA/NA book is almost finished.
I also have several other ideas for books.
Top 5 favorite (pick one) desserts, movies, things to eat,
ice cream flavors, books.
Books
1.
A Discovery of Witches- Deborah Harkness
2.
Carter Reed – Tijan
3.
From the Outback- Ann B Harrison
4.
Harry Potter series- J K Rowling
5.
The Mortal Instruments series- Cassandra Clare
Biography
I live in a small town just outside Mackay, Queensland,
Australia. In between working at the local high school in the special education
unit, ferrying my three girls back and forward to swimming squad and carnivals
and the rest of that inconsequential mum/wife business, I write. In those rare
spare moments I try to get down a small portion of the many different plots and
schemes I have running through my mind. About three years ago, a special lady,
she knows who she is, talked me into writing. I ummed and aahed over the idea
for ages, I had no idea where to start. But one morning I had an idea and
pulled out the laptop and went for it. Most nights now I drop off to sleep planning
new scenes. I'm also an obsessive reader. I would simply curl up and die if I
didn’t have a book to read. I read anything and everything, when I was younger
I would pull out the old encyclopedias if Mum wouldn't let me go to the town
library. It is a rare day that I don't pick up a book, even if it is only for
five minutes before I nod off.
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