Title: THE MONSTER FACTORY
Author: Sharon Shipley
Genre: Horror/Paranormal/Coming of Age
Book Blurb:
Two loser boys need to grow up fast in a 'perfect town' where a voracious Monster born of ecological sludge in a derelict factory's crawl-space, develops strange new hungers—out where sidewalks end and no one has a clue where you are …
Will-Fred is neglected. His sole buddy, Elmo is asthmatic. Peers shun them. When they stumble on the Monster, they have fat chance of convincing parents or town elders of the blood-freezing peril. Worse, the two discover the most chilling menace, is much closer than their worst nightmares…and they must destroy the Monster on their own... anyway they can...
Excerpt:
Danno, surrounded by fetid dark alive with skittering un-namables, crouched between rusty lumps of machines too frozen to move, and for once not whinging, jumping at the sound of Will-Fred anxiously calling his name, bawling outraged, as only a three-year-old can… "Wiw-wy? Not pwaying, no more!"
Clambering on short plump legs over refuse, Danno fatally crossed The Grate, in doing so, snagged his precious Red Ked in busted scroll-work—a space just made for the entrapment of a chubby little foot.
He pulled at it, however the welting of the shoe, knotted laces, and fat rubber sole conspired for The Grate's metal claws of broken bits to hold him fast.
Outside, Elmo grabbed Will-Fred. "Wait! Gotta get dad's flashlight! He'll kill me."
"Forget that. Where'd the little dweeb go!" Will-Fred hissed, "Danno! Where the heck are you!"
"I'm 'tuck!" Danno wailed. "Come get me, Wi - wy. My foot 'tuck. Scared!"
Elmo's fallen Big-D flashlight fluttered weakly on Danno's terrified face. He resembled a round little Halloween pumpkin.
"Over there. By your brother!" Elmo pointed. The flashlight snuffed like a candle.
To give them credit, Will-Fred and Elmo stumbled blind toward Danno's muffled sobs, where SlugThing awaited with Its gelatinous dripping opening stretched glue-ily wide with viscous mucous-y stuff stringing top to bottom right below Danno as Its 'eye' dim-glowed, focusing muzzily on the little boy's twisted foot.
Perversely, out of nowhere, a Rag-Thing fluttered like a gray bat wrapping Danno's face, plastering his mouth. Danno sucked in, clawing blind.
Involuntarily, Will-Fred nervously whistled his irritating ragged triple-note, "Schreeeee-ooooo! Here, Danno! Over here!"
Danno's muffled voice wavered. "Mmmmmphhhh! Come get me! Can't bweave!"
****
Below floor, SlugThing heaved up for Danno's foot, dazzled in Its limited way, over the murky pinkish smear of Danno's Ked—by the unexpected color…a hue It had never perceived before.
Irresolute, It wove 'angrily' side to side at the sound of Will-Fred's shrill irritating whistle.
Above floor, RagThing fluttered off, while SlugThing dithered, Its mass wobble-weaving, giving off stench-filled belches. RagThing returning like an insane Bird of Prey, clung like duct tape on Danno's face.
Sputtering, Danno dragged it off with fat little fingers, once more panicking; the twisting motion plunging him half through The Grate, his cries dimming as RagThing wafted off in fetid night air.
SlugThing reared again for Danno's foot, elongating Its bulk, never mind the rasping, jarring whistle sending shudders, like cut-glass through Its bulk, as above, the junk-swarm wavered, attracted as if heat-seeking missiles by SlugThing's 'pull', to the boys, racing and leaping hurdles of junk for Danno. A metal shard pinned Elmo's shirt against one of The Factory's rotting wood stanchions.
Will-Fred feinted, as sharp bits, old bolts, a rusty tin-snips, stopped short of his face, batting them furiously away, while scrabbling blind to where Danno disappeared, fanning Elmo's fading penlight on Danno's fat little fingers, watching them whiten around a pipe below The Grate and his pale frightened moon-face looking up...
as a gummy yawn...
smacked directly
under the little boy.
His brother.
Buy Links:
If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?
Nefertiti. I have always admired the portrait bust.
Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:
The Monster Factory appeals to the kid we all recall, in all of us. The yearning to be heard, for adults to notice and understand our deepest fears and applaud our bravery against all odds.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon (US or Canada) gift card.
Open internationally. You must have an active Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to be eligible.
Runs October 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on November 1.
Author Biography:
I pen scripts and novels in Myrtle Beach and frequent far too many, 'All You Can Eat Crab Shacks'.
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