Title: Finding Evie
Author: Catina Noble
Genre: Non-Fiction
Book Blurb:
I am sure we all must have told ourselves, at least once while growing up, that life couldn’t possibly get any worse. Imagine being the eldest female child in a family with no parenting. Imagine being “Mommy” to a pair of irresponsible, substance-addicted adult children. Imagine taking on the responsibility of being the nanny for the younger siblings, the maid for lazy, hangover parents, the literal whipping girl for a father’s outbursts. Finding Evie holds hope between its covers for neglected children and those who are survivors of trauma.
Excerpt:
I held the two phone books in front of me and to the right as instructed.
My father inserted an arrow into his crossbow.
“Evie, stop shaking. You’re moving the target around.” He was getting impatient which made me even more frightened. I now understood what he was planning to do.
He pointed the crossbow downward to pull back the wire and hook the arrow in.
He stood straight and readied his stance. “Stop shaking.”
Fine for him to stay. He wasn’t the one with a deadly weapon pointing at him.
The creepy part was the expression on his face. He was smiling.
I couldn’t stop shaking I was so scared, I thought I might pee my pants. That was something I could not do, no matter what. How could this be happening? Maybe it was a dream. Maybe I did have “quite the imagination Evie.” I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Slowly. With any luck, I’d wake up in my bed. Wake up from this dream. Dream? Nightmare.
I made it to nine before I was suddenly slammed against the door frame from the impact of the arrow hitting the phone book, the target. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. My father had literally scared the pee right out of me. Urine dribbled down my pant legs, making a large wet spot. I was paralyzed with fear. All I could do was pray my father wouldn’t notice.
Maybe it was over. Surely my father had come to his senses. But of course I was wrong.
“Evie! Did you see that? I nailed it!” My father was excited. He pumped his fist int he air and got ready to set up another arrow.
Please no. I bit down on my bottom lip and the metallic taste of blood told me I wasn’t imagining this. It was real. I was in hell.
My father’s second arrow missed the target—and me. It pierced the door and was lodged in tightly. My father walked over to inspect the arrow.
“Would you look at that.” He pointed to the arrow as though I hadn’t seen it on my own. I wasn’t listening. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice the wet spot on my pants.
“I missed. I missed. I missed!” My father was no longer doing fist pumps. He had missed the target and was not happy about it.
Good. Maybe he’ll stop this madness.
Nope.
He went into the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed another beer, popped it open and sucked back the entire bottle.
“That’s just what I need. I won’t miss next time.” It almost sounded like he was talking to me.
Peeing myself was one thing. I might be able to cover that up, but if I did anything else in my pants, there’d be no hiding it. I would get a spanking for sure. I wondered he was going to explain this to my mother when she got home. He’d gotten himself situations before, but I think this one would be at the top of the list
I watched my father load another arrow and take aim. I closed my eyes.
***
I shook my head no. Why was the shower running if there was no one in it?
“Liar.” He dragged me toward the bathroom and flung open the door and tossed me into the freezing cold shower.
I struggled to get out but he held me in the cold flow, calling me a liar over and over.
What was he talking about? Water was getting into my mouth. I was having trouble breathing. Was he trying to drown me?
The more I struggled, the more he seemed to enjoy himself.
I stopped fighting. This was no way to live.
I don’t know how long this went on. I zoned out.
Buy Links:
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
My first favourite book binge book was Stephen King’s book, IT. It captivated me from the beginning. I could relate to the unstable home life and not feeling as though I fit in anywhere.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
My book offers hope and a light at the end of tunnel for those who have experienced trauma and neglect in their childhood. Writing this book helped me find my voice and maybe it can help someone else find theirs.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on September 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Catina Noble is a Canadian, multi-genre writer. Her work is eclectic and contains something for everyone. She has over two hundred publications including her books, short-stories, poetry and articles. Her work has appeared in several publications, including, but not limited to; Chicken Soup for the Soul: 10 Keys to Happiness, Woman’s World Magazine, Bywords Magazine, Y Travel Blog, Canadian Newcomer Magazine, The Mindfulword, Perceptive Travel and many others. In 2013 her poem You Can’t See Me won first place in the Canadian Author’s Association (NCR) poetry contest. Four of her books Finding Evie, Vacancy at the Food Court & Other Short Stories, I’m Glad I Didn’t Kill Myself and Everest Base Camp: Close Call have won the Reader’s Favourite silver seal of approval. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Carleton University and a Social Services Worker Diploma from Algonquin College. She currently writes, works full-time and is enrolled in the Addictions & Mental Health Program and the Creative Writing Certificate program at Algonquin College. Her favourite place to write is at a local coffee shop. Sometimes her dog Aspen, and cat PJ, supervise the creative writing process.
Social Media Links:
IG: @Cncreate
X: @CatinaNoble1