Author: D.S. McKnight
Publisher: Stone
Bay
Pages: 286
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Book Description:
We
live. We die. Is there anything more? Jenna Barton is about to find out. After moving to the coastal North Carolina Parson
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Guest Post - Revisiting The Story
For approximately 2 1/2 years, I spent every available moment in Parson's Cove - the fictional town where Of Dreams and Shadow takes place. I knew the town - the name of the streets as well as the locations of shops and restaurants. I knew the characters, how they looked and what they liked. I witnessed the tragedy that set the story into motion. So, I found it difficult to let go when it came time to say goodbye. Fortunately for me, I was able to visit the story in other ways. One way was to become the reporter for The Parson's Cove Daily News:
The Parson's Cove Daily News
June 19, 1997
(Parson's Cove) Area authorities continue to search for Sarah Jones. The four year old girl was last seen the morning of June 17, while playing outside of the family home located on Sandpiper Drive. Parson's Cove Police Department spokesman, Sgt. Joe Wilkes confirmed that there was a witness to the abduction. The suspect is described as a male however there was no further description available. The suspect is believed to have been wearing dark clothing.
Neighbor Bob Williams spoke for the family. "At this time, the family is asking for prayers for the safe return of their daughter." When asked how the family was doing, Williams became visibly upset. "I guess they are doing as good as possible considering the situation."
Besides canvassing local businesses, search and rescue teams have been called in. "Bloodhounds are a valuable asset in this type of investigation," Sgt. Wilkes said.
Sarah is described as a white female child approximately three feet tall with light brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing pink shorts and a white top.
Residents are asked to contact the police department if they remember seeing anything suspicious in the area.
Excerpt from Of Dreams and Shadow
June 17, 1997
Excerpt from Of Dreams and Shadow
Prologue
Details…they were the making or breaking of any plan and he felt sure that his plan was perfect. He surveyed the yard one
last time, slid back into his hiding place and waited. It wouldn’t be long now. She would open the door and come out to play as she did every morning: swinging, pulling her wagon, playing with her doll. Only this morning would be different, this morning would be special.
Laying in her wagon
was his gift, a necklace he had taken from his mother. He was certain Sarah would love it. A door slammed, pulling his attention from the wagon to the patio where the
little girl stood.
“Big…black…bug’s
blood,” she said slowly. And then, looking rather pleased with herself, she continued a bit faster, “Big,
black bug’s blood, big black blugs blug, blig black blug’s blug.”
Shaking her head, she stepped off the patio, “I don’t like bugs
anyway…well, maybe ladybugs…and butterflies,” Sarah added as a swallowtail fluttered by.
Sarah found herself
following the butterfly’s trail, stopping when it lit upon a flower and continuing on as it once again
took flight. “Come back
butterfly,” she called as the butterfly flitted from place to place, always just out of her reach. The tinkling sound of her laughter floated across the yard to his hiding place. He couldn’t believe his luck. It seemed that fate was lending him a hand as the butterfly fluttered ever closer to the wagon.
Just a little
further, sweet Sarah.
She stopped, looked
up at the butterfly as it changed course, then set off in the opposite direction. He clinched his fist. Fate, he thought, is like a fickle strumpet. But
patience on the other hand, was quite the virtuous lady. Damn. He hated virtuous ladies. And strumpets…they weren’t any better.
The swallowtail, perhaps
tired of playing the game, circled around and carried Sarah back toward the wagon. Its flight was now one of purpose. It had nectar to collect and flowers to
pollinate and a curious little girl was a hindrance. The butterfly,
however, didn’t need to worry. It had lost Sarah’s attention. She had
seen the gift.
Picking up the
silver chain, she watched as the blue stones glistened in the sunlight. It was the most beautiful thing she
had ever seen. Sarah slid the necklace over her head and ran back to
the house calling out for her mother.
Liza Jones opened
the door. “Is everything okay, Sweetie?”
Sarah lifted the
pendant. “See what I found.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, as she looked over her shoulder. “Do you think a
fairy dropped it?”
Liza shook her head.
“I don’t know about a fairy, but someone certainly did.” She put out her hand. “I think maybe you should give the necklace to me. We don’t know whose it is.”
Sarah’s lip began to
tremble. “But I found it and it’s so pretty. Can’t I please wear it for a little while? I won’t lose it.”
Liza smiled as she
touched her daughter’s cheek. She hated telling her no. “Okay, as long as you’re careful. But when we
find out who owns it, no tears.”
“No tears, Mommy,” Sarah agreed. “I promise.”
Liza closed the
door, her mind already going over the phone calls she needed to make. She felt certain that one of the
neighbor’s children had been exploring in their mother’s jewelry box.
Smiling, Sarah
whirled around and set off for the swings. Her soft caramel curls, caught in a ponytail, danced about as she
skipped across the backyard. She hoped her mommy couldn’t find the owner of the necklace.
As she sat in the
swing and pushed off with her feet, Sarah noticed her shadow. It moved along the sand, stretching out just
as she did. Higher and higher she went, her shadow following below. Taking a flying leap from the swing, Sarah sailed through the
air, landed on the soft grass and toppled over. Giggling, she righted herself. Her shadow did the same. And so the game of chase
began.
Like a small rabbit,
Sarah scampered across the lawn, her little feet swiftly changing course. Sometimes, depending on the direction she was going, Sarah noticed that she was being chased
by her shadow. Other times, she was doing the chasing.
The slamming of the
neighbor’s back door didn’t go unnoticed. Boys! She thought to
herself as she wheeled in the opposite direction, making sure to avoid the fence. Glancing over her shoulder, she
saw
the neighbor boy peeking over the pickets.
As she neared the
back of the yard, Sarah slowed to a walk, sat down, and leaned against a large boulder, her shadow all but forgotten. She fingered the silver chain before carefully
lifting the pendant. Blue stones surrounded a small crystal, reminding her
of the flowers that grew in her mother’s garden. “Buttercup, Poppy, Forget-Me-Not,” Sarah recited her favorite nursery rhyme, “These three bloomed in a garden spot—” her soft voice trailed away to nothing as the sensation of being watched rolled over her.
Sarah lifted her
eyes from the necklace and glanced toward the wood line, looking for anything that seemed out of place. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she continued to search the yard, looking for the source of her discomfort. She paused, realizing
that the only place left to look was behind her. The hair on her arms began to rise as did the instinctual
feeling to run to safety. Slowly, she turned her head to look over her shoulder. Her eyes rested
on the dark figure standing behind her right shoulder.
“Shadow?” she asked
in a bewildered voice.
“Who else could it
be?” hissed the childlike apparition as it took position between Sarah and her house. A ragged whimper wrenched from deep in Sarah’s throat, her eyes darted, looking
for an escape but seeing none. From across the fence, the frightened eyes of the neighbor boy found hers, his small hand waved for
her to run.
“Mommy!” she cried
out, her eyes welling with tears.
“Thy mother hearest thou not, sweet Sarah,”
the specter hissed as it took a step closer to the child.
Sarah’s mind told
her to flee yet her body refused to move. Tears streamed down her face. The shadowy figure looked over its shoulder at the house. Satisfied, it turned its attention
back to Sarah. Cocking its head to the side as though in thought,
Sarah’s silhouette paused for just a moment before lunging and engulfing the child. Sarah had no time to scream. She was gone, swallowed by the blackness that was the shadow. The dark figure of the
little girl stretched upward and outward as it shifted into the dark
shape of a man.
D.S.
McKnight has enjoyed a varied career—from working as a radio DJ on a small AM
station to serving as president and co-owner of a marina, until Hurricane
Ophelia took aim at the Carolina coast.
Currently, she works at an insurance agency as well as hosting her blog
- Novel Notions.
It
is her love of the North Carolina
You
can visit the author's website at:
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ReplyDeleteHey Deborah. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your book with us :)
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