Title: Curse of the Blacknoc Witch
Author: Tori V. Rainn
Genre: Fantasy
Book Blurb:
Samuel dreamed of being a lot of things, but a monster trapped in a forest realm never entered his mind. The Blacknoc Curse wasn't supposed to be true, only a children's story meant to persuade them away from evil. Yet, here he was tasked with hunting cursed kids. There's nothing left for Samuel except the horror surrounding him. Layla, a young girl tormented by the same curse, is dropped into the terrifying forest every night, running from the monsters intent on taking her life. She meets Samuel and vows to save all the children, especially Samuel, from their torment. Working together can they defeat the Blacknoc Curse?
Excerpt:
I crouch down next to the girl, careful not to touch her. “Look. You’ll be okay as long as you stay with me.”
She sniffles and cups her face. “This can’t be happening.” She wipes a tear off her cheek. “The legend of the curse is really like what my great-aunt said.”
I stand and pace. My monster self cannot be still when on constant alert. “It’s all true. A real cesspool of teeth.”
“When I woke back in my room, the scratches on my skin from last night were still there. Grandfather thought I’d done it to myself. I told him what happened, and he didn’t believe me.”
“He won’t be able to help anyway.”
She moans, and I stifle a grunt. There I go again with my optimism. As long as I am cursed to this flesh, there just isn’t any room for the stuff. But I can’t avoid the truth of her fate.
I kneel to her level. “What’s your name?”
“Layla Marlowe.”
I smile. A fitting name for a gorgeous girl. “Layla,” I repeat, as if the name carries me back to a reality where humans live in harmony away from monsters. I hurriedly add, “Nice to meet you.” Then I remember our situation. My comment is inappropriate. There’s nothing nice about the forest. Social etiquette must have died along with my soul.
“And you?” She looks up at me with a curious gaze. “Do you have a name?”
It’s been so long since I’ve heard my name. Who said it last? Josh? Pa calling me to supper? I stop to think for a second and then allow it to roll off my tongue.
“Samuel Fawcett.”
She hugs her knees, leaning forward, dangerously near my barbed hands. “What a keen name for a monster.”
An odd musk from between the trees reaches me. The stench of fear grows potent as low branches snap. Someone small and clumsy runs toward us.
I leap up. “We need to go now.”
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If money were no object and there wasn’t a pandemic circling the world, where would you go for a Spring Break vacation and why?
Somewhere with a lot of beautiful scenery like New Zealand. I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s always looked magical to me. I love nature so I wouldn’t mind vacationing near a hiking trail or zip line. How fun that would be.
What’s your favorite thing about Spring and why?
Spring is symbolic to me. Not only is Spring gorgeous but because of how everything changes anew it’s a reflection of how we too can bud leaves or bloom new petals.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
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Open internationally.
Runs April 1 – 30
Drawing will be held on May 1.
Author Biography:
Tori V. Rainn was born and raised in Texas. In her late teens, she became a writer in 2011 when she took a writer's course at Writer's Village University. If she's not working on novellas or novels, she can easily be distracted with coming up with her next big short story adventure. Several of her short stories have been featured in online magazines--links of stories can be found on her author page. When she's not writing, she enjoys knife collecting and running. Tea and chocolate are her addictions. Video games, books, music, and movies are her outlet.
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