Hello, and thanks so much for having me on your blog today!
It’s an honor to be here. So, let’s talk about story. Those transcending,
inspiring, time-robbing plots that suck us in and keep us turning the pages
until the last one.
What is that?
Why do we feel with certain books and characters that we’ve
teleported from our reality to an alternate one?
This, my friends, is the power of story.
I remember as a kid losing myself in book after book. It
didn’t really matter what type of book, though I had a proclivity toward
mysteries. I’d daydream about the characters, the situations they found
themselves in, what happened to them beyond the pages of whatever book I read.
And into adulthood, those tendencies continued. Taking it a step further, I can
recall several occasions leaving a movie theater with a feeling of
invincibility, that the world was my oyster and I could conquer it at will. Or
leaving the theater or closing a book with solemn observation as it caused me
to reflect and think and wonder what I would do in those situations, or how a
given scenario applied to me.
Some of my books, like my debut, The Killing Cure: Drink,
are paranormal or contain some type of fantasy component. Those kinds of books
are important because we need a chance to feel the world outside of our own
realities. That world is ripe with
possibilities, where anything can happen, as long as you can imagine it. These
kinds of book take us from real life and transport us someplace else.
Then there are other books that reflect our realities or take guesses about what may become our
reality should we continue down a certain path. Those books give us characters
to cling to who are not unlike ourselves--who struggle with similar troubles
and motivations and questions and doubts. And we say to those characters: “Do
this!” or “Don’t do that!” because we can put ourselves in their shoes and live
vicariously through their experiences, which may not fall too far from our own.
And it provides a type of empowerment, only to find ourselves at the mercy of
whatever fate is penned for them. Even so, we enjoy the ride, we relish the
chance to say “If I were in their shoes, I would….” and sometimes it makes a
difference. We may feel inclined to take a step we’ve been holding back from or
to seize the day because a book reminded us of the preciousness of life.
This is the kind of experience I’d love to offer people who
read what I write. An opportunity to transcend…whether you need a break from is
a life that seems to be taking all the wrong turns or a tough decision or a
feeling of being stuck in limbo. Whether you’re depressed or anxious or just
coming out of a tough relationship or bogged down with mommy duties or work
demands or endless stress. I want to be an author among many whose characters
offer that to people--a chance to escape--whether that escape is a truly
temporary leaving of one's situation or if it’s a chance to re-evaluate our
real lives through the lens of a character we can relate to. If readers can
dive into my books and experience this, that makes me a success as an author.
After all, isn’t that what a good story is all about?
The Killing Cure: Drink
Book One
C.S. Kendall
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Booktrope
Date of Publication: September 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-1513704586
ASIN: 1513704583
Number of pages: 200
Word Count: 63,871
Cover Artist: Shari Ryan
Book Description:
Childhood friendship turns to love in this dark reimagining of the fountain of youth. In 1919, Charlie returns from WWI and gives his heart to Julia. As their love story begins, tragedy strikes when Julia contracts a deadly illness.
On her deathbed, dreams of a future together shatter, but Charlie refuses to give up, convincing Julia to drink from a vial of “healing waters” his war buddy swore would bring spontaneous healing. Julia's miraculous recovery brings hope, but the water's murderous side effects snuff out the couple’s short-lived joy.
Can Charlie help Julia fight the water's call to kill? All their efforts may be in vain when Julia has to choose between running from the curse or embracing it in order to save Charlie.
Journey with Julia and Charlie through a love story that spans a hundred years and an age-old curse that spans more and worse, puts Charlie’s life and Julia’s soul at risk.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/NLNDojMxckQ
Excerpt:
She wheeled me
to our meeting place. Charlie was not sitting on the lumpy couch like he
usually was; instead, he stood, his feet almost bouncing as they met the
ground. His eyes were bright, his smile bigger than I’d ever seen.
As soon as we
were alone, I asked, "What are you so happy about?"
"First,"
he said and then kissed me. "Second, I’m happy because today you’re going
to get well."
I hardly had the
energy to lift my gaze to his face. "Can you sit, please?"
"Oh sure,
of course. See, I knew you’d beat this thing. It only became clear to me today
how it would happen. I took the next train as soon as I knew."
"What are
you talking about?"
"Sorry.
Okay." He took a deep breath and tried again. "Do you remember my war
buddy Arnold I told you about?"
"Was he the
one who wanted to be the horse doctor or the one with the bizarre obsession
with water?"
"The
water." Charlie’s eyes lit, and he pulled a chain from his pocket. On the
end of it was a small vial with a clear liquid in it. "All I’ve thought
about since I left you last was how I couldn’t lose you. I racked my brain all week
long, prayed to God for you when I should've been sleeping, until the answer
came this morning. I remembered I had it. You should've heard how he carried on
and on about this water, how it would heal, how he went through hell to get it
but it was worth it should he ever need it. And I thought, ‘Why let it go to
waste?’ Especially now that you need it so badly. Obviously there was a reason
I held on to the water. It wasn’t clear until now."
"Oh, I love
you. But there's no such thing as healing waters. You said yourself he was
superstitious."
"I know I
did, but what if there's more to it than I thought? I can’t believe I didn’t
think of this before."
"Look at
me, Charlie. I am skin and bones. My entire body hurts, and I can barely eat. I
am being consumed right before your eyes, and you’ve got your sights set on
some silly potion."
And then I saw
it. Behind the fire in Charlie’s eyes lived desperation. All his hope hinged on
this sip of water. Insane as it was, he was willing to embrace any farfetched
possibility if it meant he didn’t have to face the reality of living without
me.
His face fell a
little at my words, but he wouldn't be discouraged. "What will it hurt?
Drink it, please. For me." He held the vial out, and I studied him.
Hopelessness threatened to burst through the expectation in his eyes, and I
felt sad for him. I, with a body full of consumption, pitied Charlie.
The pity came on
the heels of my love for him. His plea warmed my heart, desperate as it was,
because somewhere, deep down, despite all his optimism and prayers, he knew I
was going to die. I took it from him, opened it up, and tipped it back. What
harm could one small sip of water do?
About the Author:
C.S. Kendall spent her formative years growing up in the small town of McPherson, KS. As such, there was not much to do, so her imagination, which always lagged behind her age, had free reign. From playing dress up into her teens, recording radio shows with various voices and storylines with her friends, to dappling with the art of crafting a novel, there were few dull moments for her. Enter adulthood, a day job, and the backburner. But story came calling, and finally, her imagination woke up and answered. Though she loves and is fulfilled by her job as a social work therapist, she equally enjoys running away in her mind to imaginary lands with made up people. She lives happily with her husband and their two amazing children in southwest Michigan.
Learn more by visiting http://cskendall.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cskendallbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSKendallwrites
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/C.S.-Kendall/e/B015UEF7IK/
Posts
1 comment:
Thanks so much for featuring my book and post today! This looks fang-tastic! :)
Post a Comment