Title: Seeing Things
Author: Jana Richards
Genre: Paranormal romantic suspense
Book Blurb:
When psychic Leah McKenna “sees” the abduction of a small boy, she knows she must help find him, no matter the danger to herself. David Logan, the boy’s uncle, doesn’t believe in psychic phenomenon. He believes Leah knows who kidnapped his nephew, and plans to stick close to her to discover the truth. As they search for Jeremy they uncover truths about themselves and the way they feel about each other. Can Leah convince him her visions, and her love for him, are real before time runs out for all of them?
Excerpt:
Leah McKenna swept out her arms, imitating the wings of a dragon. "Gertrude the dragon told Toby to have faith. But Toby was afraid of flying. What if she fell off Gertrude's back? What if she got airsick and threw up all over Gertrude's beautiful shiny green scales?”
She paused as her audience of four-year-olds hooted with laughter. She'd told groups of kids the story she'd created about Gertrude and Toby many times, changing bits and pieces in each retelling. But the pleasure she got from telling stories to children never changed.
"'Have faith, Toby, and hang on!' Gertrude said. Suddenly they were in the air. The dragon spread her giant wings and they soared over the edge of the cliff.
"Toby closed her eyes as tight as she could, too afraid to look.
"But Gertrude told her, 'Open your eyes and see how beautiful everything looks from up here.' Toby opened one eye, and then the other eye. She saw her village and all the people below waving at them. She saw the fields that looked like her mother's beautiful patchwork quilt, all different colors and shapes. And then she saw the ocean. It was such a beautiful blue-green color, exactly the shade of her baby brother's eyes. Toby threw her arms around Gertrude's scaly neck. 'Oh, thank you,' she said.
"And Gertrude said, 'You are very welcome. See what happens when you believe? You can fly!'"
Leah's young audience cheered and clapped. She laughed with them, their exuberance infectious. Contentment flowed through her as she watched their happy faces. How lucky she was to have a job that let her work with kids on a daily basis.
"Okay everyone, we're going to read one more book before snack time. This is one of my absolute favorite--"
The ground suddenly shifted beneath her as daylight turned to darkness...
Leah trembled on the edge of consciousness, trapped in the shimmer of light that marked the onset of one of her visions. She wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. The visions had been absent for two years, since the tragedy that had shaken the foundations of her world. She'd started to believe that she had finally been left in peace. Now that peace shattered into a thousand tiny shards.
The ringing in her ears reached a crescendo. Waves of panic and nausea rolled through her stomach. All traces of her normal, everyday life disappeared. In the next instant she was transported onto a quiet residential street. Leah shivered in the cold, rubbing her hands across her arms to warm herself.
The bare branches of stately elms canopied the snow-covered street, which was lined with older two- and three-story homes. The street looked familiar, almost like her own neighborhood in Winnipeg, the city on the Canadian prairies where she lived. A small boy wearing a winter parka and a bright blue knitted hat walked towards a deserted school.
Oh God, please not another child.
A car stopped at the curb. A man got out and stepped toward the boy, his hand outstretched. The boy shook his head at first and attempted to go around him, but after a few steps, he turned around. He listened with rapt attention. Finally he reached for the man's hand and together they walked to the car.
Leah tried to scream at the boy to run, but no sound would come from her closed throat. Her heart hammered in her chest as she helplessly watched the car pull away with the boy staring out the back window.
As suddenly as it appeared the scene vanished.
When Leah's sight cleared, ten pairs of anxious four-year-old eyes stared at her with a mixture of curiosity and fear. She knew only seconds had elapsed, though the vision had seemed to pass in a slow, dreamlike state. She took a deep calming breath, remembering that this was Friday and she was in the Winnipeg Public Library where she worked. Her regular Friday morning story-hour group sat in a semi-circle in front of her. Relief flooded through her when she caught sight of a well-worn copy of Peter Rabbit beside her on the floor, and she remembered they'd been about to read it. She picked up the book with trembling fingers, the familiar feel of it giving her a much-needed sense of normalcy.
"Okay everyone," she said. She forced a smile, hoping to reassure the children. "When we finish the story it's snack time."
Why now, after two years? Why couldn't these visions leave her alone? All she wanted was a normal life like everyone else.
She struggled to keep the panic at bay.
But as she finished reading the book and watched the children jump up and head toward the snack table, she knew instinctively that what passed for normal in her life had just been irrevocably altered.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
SEEING THINGS is on sale for $1.99 from October 17 to 31, 2023!
If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?
I would love to dress up as Cinderella at the ball, in a big poufy ballgown, complete with tiara and glass slippers (even though they strike me as incredibly uncomfortable). Like Cinderella, I’d probably turn into a pumpkin at midnight, since I’m not a night owl and not much of a partier. But for one night, it would be fun to be the belle of the ball and the center of attention.
Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:
I had great fun writing this book because when you’re talking about the paranormal, almost anything goes within the parameters you’ve established in your story world. I found the research into clairvoyance and the use of psychics by police to be intriguing. I believe I’ve written a fascinating look into the world of psychic phenomena along with a powerful suspense story and a captivating love story. I think you’ll enjoy it!
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card
Open internationally.
Runs October 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on November 1.
Author Biography:
When not writing up a storm or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better).
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren and two senior cats named Layla and Leelou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.janarichards.com
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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
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