Saturday 11 October 2014

Spotlight: Night Life, Paranormal Short Stories Anthology

Join the Night for Life....Charismatic Aliens, Mysterious Werewolves, Vengeful Vampires, Haunted Houses and Timeless Obsession...


Ash, is starting her senior year in high school but she sees things that no one else does, Andi wants to finally belong but that means running away, Collin has an unrequited crush on the most popular girl in school, Amber is roped into vanquishing a ghost and Molly is haunted by dreams of the past...

Silver

Ash sees things that no one else does—apart from that, life is pretty normal until childhood friends, Carey and Cooper, move back into town. Suddenly life isn’t the same. When she falls for the wrong brother Ash discovers the surreal truth about her old neighbors. But their secret is threatened by jealousy and Ash fears she will lose them forever.

Coming Home

Andi has never felt like she belonged, she has little memory of her past until the day a mysterious stranger walks into her life. Devon insists he knows her. She doesn’t believe him, no matter how attractive he might be, until he shows her irrefutable evidence. Intrigued, Andi takes him up on his offer to journey home—only to discover there is danger involved with uncovering the past.

Only Darkness

Collin has had a crush on Heather, the most popular girl in school—forever. When he is approached by Nathan, the richest kid in town, with an offer of easy money, Collin can’t refuse. Enticed by Nathan’s popularity and connections to Heather, Collin goes along with the plan. But his desire for acceptance could cost him his life.

Non Stop to Nowhere

One night Amber’s old high school frenemy, Phoebe, turns up desperately seeking help. The last thing Amber wants to do is get involved. Apprehensive, she investigates and soon discovers things aren’t what they seem. It isn’t just Halloween fun when the past comes back to haunt them—literally!

Ouroboros

Molly has Chris, a caring boyfriend and a typical teenage life, but she suffers from terrifying nightmares. When an attraction to Jackson, the hot new boy in school causes jealousy to erupt, Molly realizes that this has all happened before—only in a different lifetime. Chris will do anything to be with her always and if he can’t have her, no one will.





Tina Smith is the author of the Wolf Sirens Series. From her home in Adelaide South Australia Tina inspires, entertains and examines life. Night is the time her creative juices flow. Under the light of the moon she is driven to write and connect with readers through her mad-capped imagination—you could say it's a calling...

Melissa Frost grew up loving young adult novels. In the fifth grade, she won a writing competition to work with children’s author Colleen O'Shaughnessy Mckenna, and it inspired her to write stories of her own. In 2011, she received her certificate in Novel Writing from London School of Journalism. Her first teen release, The Dating Tutor, made Amazon’s Best Seller list.


S.W.Best is the author of the Eventide Vampire Series. With this story being in the world of Eventide, you can read more about the story in first full length novel, Eventide Lost in Darkness, if you dare . . . Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your friend in darkness, S.W.Best.

Sherri Fulmer Moorer By day, Sherri is a program assistant for design professionals. By night, she's an independent author if mystery and science fiction novels. Her published works include Splinter, Move, Anywhere But Here, and Blurry. She creates her stories from her secluded home in the woods on South Carolina (United States), where she lives with her husband, Rick, and their parrots, Zack and Chloe.

Alisse Lee Goldenberg is an author of Horror, Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She has her Bachelors of Education and a Fine Arts degree, and has studied fantasy and folk lore since she was a child. Alisse lives in Toronto with her husband Brian, their triplets Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey, and their rambunctious Goldendoodle Sebastian.


An Tran
An Tran lives in Canada, just close enough to make a break for it to the Arctic in case of a zombie attack. She is an avid hunter of scotch and chocolate. Her deep appreciation of Hello Kitty and cats does not detract from her love of all things gory and violent. Every day she tries to blend in at an office while frantically wondering when a zombie is going to shamble out.
Follow her inane ramblings on Twitter @bathsaltsbook


Silver by Tina Smith.

Dad got ready to go and jumped in the shower as Cooper and I finished the dishes. We were sitting on the couch as dad said goodbye and left. My legs were wrapped around Cooper’s.
I can’t believe it, I think my dad likes you.”
Seems that way.” His eyes slid to mine.
You didn’t play some alien mind trick on him or something?”
He smiled. “That’s, no.” He breathed a laugh. I felt him twist his fingers in mine playfully.
Can you do anything else?”
Like what?”
I don’t know, read minds or fly…I don’t know, just anything?”
Just then I heard a mighty smash. We both shielded our faces as something came crashing through the sliding door. We jumped up and Coop went ahead, toward the shattered glass. I was stunned. It was the trampoline. It was sitting half on the deck of the balcony and the other half through the glass sliding door. Coop grabbed the trampoline frame and pushed it back out. Throwing it like a Frisbee at something. Carey. He was laughing and he was levitating in the silver. He came at us and flew into Coop. The silver melted back and disappeared as he thrust his hand around Coop’s neck with a fierce look.
He lifted him up. “When the trampoline’s a rocking don’t come a knocking,” he yelled angrily through gritted teeth. Cooper somehow broke his hold and they fought, flinging each other into the walls of our house and breaking the side table as I scooted out of the way. Carey tossed Coop and started to lunge after me. He grabbed my legs and tripped me up but he was pulled back as Coop ripped him away. My sandals came off as I kicked. I flailed and struggled up, I had to get away.
Run!” I heard Coop cry. I opened my bedroom window and looked at the ground below. I jumped and landed awkwardly on my arm. Pain seared through my body. I hurried to get up almost falling again as I ran for the neighbor’s house, holding my forearm.
I could hear the destruction going on inside the house as I ran across the road and beat on the door with my good hand. They didn’t answer. Next thing I knew I was catapulting through the air so that my stomach lurched. I was inside the silver. Carey had yanked me back. The silver started to warm as I was suspended in the air. Suddenly it was hot. The clear watery gel started to turn yellow and red. I realized he was heating me, his arms held out in front. Cooper was struggling out of the house as I looked down, my skin starting to sear. He thrust out his palm to intercept the heated silver. The heat weakened, but I remained suspended. I began to struggle but it was no use, the silver just seemed to contain me, no matter how I thrashed.
My body began to lower and then as Carey regained the upper hand I suddenly shot higher. I was suspended high on my belly looking down. I saw Carey and Cooper, palms out, staring intensely at the force field. I knew I was going to die. I saw my black cat, Silver. She ran across to Carey and then the silver expanded around her in a wave. She was in a bubble which heated yellow then red and suddenly exploded.
I began to tumble but just before I hit the pavement


Only Darkness by S.W Best

Nothing was said as they drove along the quiet tree-lined road, the evergreens towering above them. The sun faded behind the horizon, darkness following. Collin wished Nathan would turn on the radio—anything to distract from his rumbling stomach. He opened his notepad in the fading light and began to scribble out of habit.
Nathan noticed and broke the silence. “So, Morris . . . you with anyone at the moment?”
Huh?” Collin said, a little too startled for Nathan’s liking.
Girls? You know?” Nathan prompted with an added smile. “You are interested in girls, yeah?” he teased. “I mean, it’s cool if you’re not. Doesn’t bother me if you’re gay,” he added with a sober expression, eyes back on the road.
Yeah, of course,” Collin answered in a hurry to defend his heterosexual lifestyle. “Of course I’m interested in girls.” he said with a side glance of embarrassment. “Why?”
Nathan shuffled, seemingly at war with his conscious. “I’m not supposed to tell. She’ll kill me.”
Tell what?”
Forget I said anything,” Nathan said eyes glued to the road.
No, come on, tell?”
Nathan looked to him, spilling the beans. “Well . . . you know Heather used to be with Dave for a while?”
Collin felt his insides twist. How could he forget? Their two-week ‘relationship’ was a virtual kick in the nuts every time they breezed past him in the corridor at school. “Yeah? And?” he enquired causally though he was dying to know.
Well, they broke up last night.” Nathan tapped the steering wheel. “It’s a big secret, of course, so keep it to yourself.”
His second bout of good news today. First, the one hundred dollars, and now this. Perfect. Someone up there did love him after all.
Collin lost all credibility by speaking before thinking. “I noticed she was keeping her distance at school today?” He froze. His head at war with his heart.
Nathan gave him a slow frown. “Yeah . . . you noticed, huh? Should I be worried? It’s always the quiet ones they say.”
No . . . not at all.” Collin glanced away to save face. Silently kicking himself.
Nathan shrugged and continued, “Well, anyway, she’s on the rebound, and she’s looking for a change, if you know what I mean.” He flashed a knowing look with a hint of a sly smile. “You might be in with a chance.”
C’mon man you’ve had a crush on her since second grade . . .”
Collin felt himself blush.
I don’t.” He shook his head, “I wouldn’t ever have a chance . . .”
Nathan’s smile vanished. “Easy pickings, man. Come on?” he said a frown. “She’s vulnerable. I’m giving you the heads up, man.” He shook his head “Jeez, I thought you were smart?”
Collin’s expression fell, a wounded defence. “I am smart . . .” This was the Nathan Lawson he’d come to despise. How could I be so stupid to trust him again? He cursed in his head. Nathan was just like all the rest. I should have known he’d never change.
You should ask her out, man.”
Collin’s soda almost came out of his nose. “What? No . . . impossible. Not Heather Brooks. She’s one of Dave’s groupies—”
Nathan looked at him. “Vicky Langford says she’s hung up on you. So it’s cool.” He glanced from the road to size up Collins expression. “There’s nothing stopping you?”
Nice Nathan had appeared again. He liked nice Nathan but he doubted it was true. “Are serious, it’s Heather Brooks. Every guy wants her. Why would she be interested in a nerd like me?”


Coming Home by Melissa Frost

Andi marched along the snow-covered sidewalk without any real destination in mind. If she could, she would allow her speedy pace take her away from the anxiety Devon’s presence had stirred up, but she doubted he would allow that to happen.
You wanted to talk,” she said brusquely, feeling cornered in by the impending conversation, “so talk.”
Hold up a second!” He broke into a jog to keep up with her hurried pace. When she didn’t slow, he grabbed her elbow and pulled her to a stop. “Andi, wait! I just want a minute to look at you.” As he swung her around to face him, his glove-covered hands went to her face, the gray fabric scratching at her cheeks. “I want to make sure you’re really here with me. After all this time…it feels like a dream.”
She tensed while the wool encasing his fingers stroked along her cheek, but she didn’t pull away. The fog from their breaths mingled, looking more intimate than it had any right to. She didn’t know this boy, but he was acting as if he knew her more than she knew herself. It was disconcerting.
What happened to you?” he asked, his voice sounding pained.
The question caught her by surprise, and she found she had to swallow down a lump in her throat before she could speak. “It’s not that complicated. I was dumped into the system and abandoned.”
Abandoned?” He spoke the word with horror thick in his voice. “Andi, that’s just not true. My parents—” He shook his head. “They wanted to take you in. You should have come live with us, but the idiots at the sheriff’s department thought my parents were…suspects. They kept you away from us. They thought my dad had a hand in your parents’ deaths.”
She took a fearful step back, feeling suddenly wary. “Did he?”
How can you ask that?” Devon’s hands dropped away from her, and his blue eyes widened. “Our parents were pack.”
She blinked at him, confused by his explanation. “Pack?”
Yeah, pack. Meaning they were loyal. Undyingly so. My father never would have hurt your parents. They…they were best friends.”
She was still having a hard time following him. He was talking about things as if she understood their meaning, things that didn’t make any sense. “Pack. As in…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it. It was too ridiculous. Unfortunately, he said it for her.
As in werewolves.” Devon spoke slowly, as if talking to a child. “I figured that was assumed.”
You figured…that was…” Andi trailed off. Shaking her head, she took another step back, wanting to put some space between them. “Of course the only cute boy to ever talk to me has to be insane. That’s just the kind of luck I have.”
Insane?” Devon’s eyebrows shot up and his expression became affronted. “Why would you think that?”
He seemed truly perplexed by the accusation, which caused her to give a nervous laugh. He was making her uncomfortable again, and she didn’t like it.
Why would you say our parents were in a werewolf pack together? Obviously, that would lead me to think you weren’t functioning at a hundred percent in the mental department.”
Our parents were in a pack together,” he said obstinately. “I was in the pack, and so were you.”


Ouroboros by Alisse Lee Goldenberg and An Tran

Night had fallen. By eleven, Molly sat on the floor of Jackson’s family room wearing nothing but one of his sweatshirts. A box of pizza sat open behind her. She had spread a collection of Chris’s belongings in a circle around a glass mason’s jar. Inside the jar stood a short fat candle. Chris’s letterman’s jacket was lying beside a photograph of the two of them. Nearby was a notebook of game plays that he had spent hours on. Next to that, an old teddy bear that he had won at a carnival sat smiling. Molly had set up white candles in various positions around the room.
Are you sure this is going to work?” Jackson asked as he walked into the room.
Molly smiled up at him. He wore nothing except a pair of loose sweat pants that hung low on his hips.
Jackson’s lips curled up in a smile as he watched her watching him.
Well?” he asked again.
Everything I read said that this is the best way,” Molly assured him. Deep down she felt less than certain.
So we basically light the candles, call Chris and he’ll magically go inside the jar.”
Basically, yeah,” Molly said. “He’ll be trapped, and we’ll be free.”
It seems too easy. I don’t know…”
Molly stood and put her arms around Jackson. “Trust me,” she said to him and gave him a light kiss.
Okay,” Jackson said. “I do trust you. It’s him I have an issue with.”
Midnight came. Molly set to work lighting the candles. She and Jackson sat cross-legged on the floor. Molly took a deep breath and tried to focus on what she had to do.
Chris,” Molly called out. “If you’re there, if you can hear me, it’s Molly. I want to see you. I want you to come to me.”
She looked around the room and saw no change. Nothing had happened. She tried not to feel frustrated, and tried to focus on Chris. She saw his smiling face in her mind. She could see his eyes, their purple colour standing out more than she ever remembered it doing before.
Chris!” Molly called again. “I need you to come to me! Chris, if you can hear me, I command you to show yourself now!”
The candles around the room sputtered and flared. Molly felt goose-pimples spring up along her arms. The hair on the back of her neck stood. She looked Jackson in the eye and saw fear on his face.
Jackson looked around trying to see if Chris was there.
A couple of candles fell over onto the floor and Jackson scrambled to right them.
Chris entered the room. Molly’s eyes went wide as she saw him. He looked just as he did when she had last seen him alive.
You’re trying to trap me Molly?” Chris said. His purple eyes blazed with anger.
I have to,” Molly cried. “I know the truth about you. I know the truth about all of us. This has to end.”
Chris frowned at her. “Sweetie,” he said. “I told you many times before. If I can’t have you, no one can.”
I don’t think so,” Jackson said.
A wind whipped up around the room tossing papers around them. Molly scrambled, trying to stop them from flying into the candles and catching fire.
Stop this!” she cried. “It doesn’t have to be this way!”
Yes it does!” Chris screamed in anger.
Jackson darted forward and grabbed the jar. Chris stared at him, and with a flick of his wrist, sent a side table hurtling towards him, knocking him to the ground.
No!” Molly cried.


Non Stop to Know Where by Sherri Fulmer Moorer

My mind is made up. Get your stuff out of the house.”
You can’t be serious. I just lost our baby, and now you’re kicking me out?”
You knew getting in this mess again would be the last straw. The lease is terminated and we have a week to vacate. I talked to your parents and they agreed to help you move back in with them when the hospital releases you.”
Amber shuddered, standing outside the hospital room. So Phoebe knew. She went to so much trouble to convince her uncle to let her deliver the news, but Ted got there first.
Ted, you can’t do this,” Phoebe sobbed.
Don’t play the damsel in distress with me. I’m done with this crap.”
What about us?”
I can’t do this again. Go back home to your parents. Work out your problems. Then we’ll see what happens.” Ted stormed out of the room as Phoebe cried after him, stopping before he ran into Amber. His brown hair was messed up and his brown eyes were bloodshot—clearly, he was as shaken from this mess as everybody else.
Ted, I’m sorry,” Amber said weakly.
He pointed at her. “This is your fault. Every time she tangles with you, it’s trouble. Stay away from her.” He stormed down the hall before Amber could reply.
Amber sighed as she walked in the hospital room, where Phoebe’s body racked with sobs. She put her arm around Phoebe. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d get here sooner.”
Phoebe looked up at Amber. “So you know?”
Amber nodded, sinking into the chair beside the bed. “My uncle called this morning. I told him I was coming by to see you. I would have been here earlier, but I had some explaining to do when my parents got home. Your mother called my father last night, and, well, Mom and Dad aren’t happy with me.”
Join the club,” Phoebe said, flopping back on her pillow. “I’ve had my parents, my priest, a psychiatrist, and my now ex-boyfriend come to give me a piece of their mind today, and they all agree on one thing: I’m crazy.” She paused. “You were right. I should have never gotten into this mess with spells and witchcraft. I should have left well enough alone and taken my chances. Dabbling in that crap just made it all worse. The very things I feared came to pass.”
Well, for better or worse, it’s over,” Amber said. “The porthole is closed. Leave it closed, and there shouldn’t be any more of those problems.”
Phoebe snorted. “So much for a happy ending.”