Into the Dark Has Over 10k Likes! #KindleVella #Vella #paranormalromance #pnr #KU #KindleUnlimited

 

I woke up this morning to find my paranormal romance, Into the Dark, has over 10,000 likes on Kindle Vella!

I'm grateful to my readers for following me on this journey.

About Into the Dark...

Trapped in a realm where the dead roam the forest, Allison Reed searches for the truth behind a mystery haunting her small town. Relying on a stranger may be her only chance at survival. Despite the danger, Allison refuses to give up hope of returning home, especially when she finds herself falling for the brooding man who saved her.

Brian Morrissey has long given up hope of escaping this cursed dimension. Living in constant darkness, he knows his time is running out. But when he meets Allison, she brings a glimmer of light into his life. He will do whatever it takes to keep her alive, even if it means sacrificing himself in the process.

As their fight for survival intensifies, Allison and Brian cling to each other and their dwindling hope against all odds. With sinister forces lurking in the shadows, will they sacrifice their love for a chance to escape? Or will they remain forever trapped in a nightmarish world where the dead hunt the living?

Into the Dark is now available on two platforms!

Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Vella!

New Release! Into the Dark #romancefantasy #dark #pnr #newrelease

Trapped in a realm where the dead roam the forest, Allison Reed searches for the truth behind a mystery haunting her small town. Relying on a stranger may be her only chance at survival. Despite the danger, Allison refuses to give up hope of returning home, especially when she finds herself falling for the brooding man who saved her.

Brian Morrissey has long given up hope of escaping this cursed dimension. Living in constant darkness, he knows his time is running out. But when he meets Allison, she brings a glimmer of light into his life. He will do whatever it takes to keep her alive, even if it means sacrificing himself in the process.

As their fight for survival intensifies, Allison and Brian cling to each other and their dwindling hope against all odds. With sinister forces lurking in the shadows, will they sacrifice their love for a chance to escape? Or will they remain forever trapped in a nightmarish world where the dead hunt the living?

 Now Available!

Read an #Excerpt from Into the Dark #ParanormalRomance #PortalFantasy #Witches #Zombies #KindleVella

  

Have You Fallen Into the Dark?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

People in a small town are disappearing. Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, makes it her mission to find them. A mysterious tip sends her searching a wealthy family's secluded mansion where she discovers more than she ever thought possible.

Witches are real.

And as punishment for her intrusion, they cast her into a world where magic feeds from the living.

Oh, and zombies are real, too.

With the help of a handsome stranger, Allison fights for a way home. While she learns what it takes to survive in this nightmarish world, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious man who saves her time and again from the monsters who roam the forest.

Can they find a way home together?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

 

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

When Inspiration Strikes #IWSG #writing #writinginspiration #storyideas

    

The first Wednesday of every month is officially 

Insecure Writer's Support Group day.

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It's a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

IWSG Asks: When you are working on a story, what inspires you?

Inspiration comes from several sources. For me, I get a lot of inspiration from the dreams I have at night while I'm sleeping. Since I was a child, I've always had vivid dreams. My mother once suggested that I write my dreams into a notebook, and maybe one day I could make stories from them. I followed her advice. I've been keeping a dream journal since I was a teenager. It has become a source of many of my story ideas. For these, the dreams are so strong, the images so striking, that the dream haunts me for days afterward. Not in a bad way. But one that compels me to write it down and craft a story from it.

My paranormal romance, Into the Dark, was inspired by a dream I'd had about a woman captured by witches and thrown into a dark hole in the ground. She was not alone. Someone was with her. A man with shaggy brown hair and a long face. His clothes were badly torn and dirty. Not only dirt stained his clothes but also something that looked like blood.

From that dream, a 90,000-word story developed and is now available on Kindle Vella.

Another story I created from a dream was Loving Boone. This dream didn't play out as a story in my head like Into the Dark. Instead, it felt more symbolic. In my dream, my family was being attacked by a dozen or more large cats. It was scary. Then one of the cats morphed into a young man and begged us to stop fighting his family. From that image, the young shifter in my dream became Boone Evans. The idea of two families at war with each other unfolded, and soon I had developed a paranormal romance with cougar shifters.

Sometimes I'm inspired by listening to a piece of music that sparks an idea. Or perhaps an emotional scene from a movie. I once overheard a couple at the mall arguing with each other which created an idea for a line of dialogue in a story. 

Then there are times when inspiration strikes at the oddest moments. The idea for The Pirate's Lady hit me while I was driving to work one sunny day. For whatever reason, I had an image of a man and a woman sword-fighting on a beach at night pop into my head while I was driving along the highway. I was curious and kept playing the what if game until a story emerged. I couldn't get that image out of my head until I finished writing the story.

When all else fails, what truly inspires me is my desire to simply write stories. I love writing! I've been writing since I was a child. I'll never stop. Stories fascinate me! Intriguing characters, fantastic settings, spellbinding plots. I feel like this is what I'm meant to do in this life. So, that's what I'm doing. :) 

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal, sci-fi and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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Looking for a little escape? Check out these stories!

New Chapters for Into the Dark! #Excerpt #PNR #suspense #witches #zombies #strangerstolovers #KindleVella #Vella #VellaRomance

 

Into the Dark has new chapters to read! Episodes #48 and #49 are now available and #50 will be published later this week. We're nearing the end of this story, so I hope you've been enjoying the ride!

Here's a quick, sneak peek at the newest installment:

Excerpt:

“I’m going with you.” Her hair muffled Brian’s voice as he spoke into the crook of her neck.

She licked her lips, baffled by his statement.

“What?”

Brian rolled onto his side, leaving a chill of empty air above her. She grasped at the only blanket they had, but since they both lay atop it, she could only use the edge to cover herself. Not that it mattered, she reminded herself and felt foolish for feeling so exposed. Brian couldn’t see her nakedness. Not without his hands.

She had the sudden urge to take his hands and place them on her body again.

“When you leave,” Brian clarified with a relaxed sigh. “I’m going with you.”

Allison blinked, then moved, lifting herself onto her elbow so she could face him.

“You can’t.”

He grunted an unamused laugh. “Who says?”

“I say. They need you here.”

“They need more than I can give them, Ally.”

“You’re all they have.”

Brian sighed, and the sadness he carried within started to chip away at his relaxed and sated state.

“They don’t need me. Ally, they need medicines we don’t have. They need hospitals and doctors who can heal them. People who can see them.” He scowled and the serene expression from a moment ago faded completely. “And I don’t want to leave you alone with Donovan.”

She huffed. “You don’t trust me?”

“I don’t trust Donovan,” he amended. “And I can’t stand the thought of not hearing your voice. Even for a day.”

Emotion swelled within her, striking her silent. Her throat clenched tight. She couldn’t speak for fear of having him hear her tears in her voice.

A loud knock sounded at the door.

“Break’s over,” Brian sighed, turning his face from her. Dismay and heartache settled once again into his expression as he got out of bed, searched the floor for his clothes with his hands and began dressing. 

Allison’s lips parted, wanting still to say the words, but the moment was gone. She shut her mouth, frowning.

Later.

Maybe tomorrow.

Then she'd tell him.

First 3 chapters are FREE to read!

Read an #Excerpt for Into the Dark #paranormalromance #survivalromance #strangerstolovers

 

New Chapters are available for Into the Dark!

Read the first 3 chapters for FREE!

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison must learn to survive with the help of a mysterious stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. But living in this world presents its challenges and horrors, as Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will Allison and Brian find a way home?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Excerpt:

The footsteps echoed closer.

She scanned the area, searching for an object she might use as a weapon. There was nothing except some debris in the far corner, what looked like leaves and old rags. Nothing she could use to defend herself. 

Allison’s heart thumped so loudly it became difficult to listen to the footsteps as they drew closer. All she heard was the drumming of blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t see anything beyond the archway leading to this room. The source of the dim light originated from somewhere to the left of the opening, but beyond that, she didn’t know what might be out there.

Fear made her feet scurry until her back hit the stone wall beside the wooden ladder. She didn’t know what to do. Whatever was down here had been put here for a purpose. 

Some animal? A bear, wolf or lion? Starved until the sisters fed him. Was she supposed to be sacrificed as dinner? 

Was that why they said they hadn’t killed any of their victims? They’d thrown them into a hole in the ground and let an animal finish their dirty work. Semantics, but maybe that’s how they viewed it.

Allison wasn’t ready to die, but she didn’t know how to defend herself against an animal without a weapon either. 

So, she did the only thing she could think of in a situation such as this. 

She hid.

Allison crawled beneath the wooden ladder, curling her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She wanted to tuck her face into her knees to hide, but she couldn’t take her gaze off the archway. She needed to see what animal approached.

If she kept still, perhaps whatever walked in this direction would pass the opening, not noticing her presence.

She waited, heart thundering as she clutched her arms around her knees. The footsteps got closer. They weren’t hurried. The steps sounded slow. Sluggish. Cautious.

Stalking? Hunting?

Allison wished to close her eyes.

I’m invisible. I’m invisible. 

If she kept repeating the words in her mind, they might come true. 

It will walk by. It won’t see me. I’m invisible.

A tall shadow appeared in the opening. As it stepped into the chamber, she recognized a human shape, not an animal as she’d expected. 

A man.

He stepped cautiously, his feet shuffling forward. He was tall. Well over 6 feet.

As he approached, he turned enough to allow the low light to illuminate his face. He had shaggy brown hair and a long, thin, narrow face covered with an unkempt beard. His blank expression sent a shiver of apprehension racing through her.

Something about his stance, the way he approached the chamber made her uneasy. He walked slowly into the room, aimlessly stepping from left to right and left again with no obvious direction. 

Perhaps, if she remained hidden in the poor light, he’d turn and leave. 

Although, how could he not see her? The ladder was not solid wood. There were open slats. She curled beneath, searching for protection, but the low light from the doorway must be enough to illuminate the area. She was sure there wasn’t much shadow beneath the ladder to keep her hidden. 

Yet, he didn’t see her. And why didn’t he move his gaze to search the room? He stared straight ahead, neither looking left nor right, up nor down. Simply straight in front of him.

He held a long, sturdy stick in his hand. As he shuffled near, she realized the point of it was sharpened. Like a makeshift spear. 

A weapon. 

He was armed.

Had this man killed those victims? Would she be next?

Allison wanted to duck her head and cry, but she was too frightened. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on the man as he walked across the room. The space wasn’t large, perhaps 15 feet at its widest. And he was only a few steps away. It wouldn’t take much for him to turn in her direction and use the spear to attack her. 

As he walked past her hidden spot, she noticed his clothing. Faded blue t-shirt and tan trousers, badly torn and filthy. Not only dirt stained his clothes, but something else, too.

Was it mud? 

Or was it… blood?

New chapters are available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Only on Kindle Vella!

Behind-the-scenes of Into the Dark #KindleVella #pnr #mustread #dystopianromance #writinglife #WhatToRead

 

This story is just moving along! It's got to be one of my favorite books that I've written. I'm so excited I get to share it with you chapter by chapter. This format has really helped piece this story together.

I'll give you a little behind-the-scenes info that I haven't shared anywhere else. I wrote this book roughly 5 or 6 years ago. Finished the rough draft of 50k in about a week. I was obsessed with this story! Wrote like a madwoman! So much that my (then) husband complained that I was neglecting cooking my typical high-standard family suppers for him and the kids (which I retorted that he was fully capable of making supper himself. After which, I ordered pizza because clearly, that wasn't going to happen.)

The scene where Allison is pushed through the portal which is an opening in the ground that leads to a cave is what started this story. I dreamt of this scene. It was terrifying! With her cowering in the dark, listening to the approach of the stranger, feeling disoriented and not knowing if he meant her harm. And then when he grabbed her - not to hurt her, but to protect her, to protect them both from the monsters crawling out of the dark.

This entire novel was created from that one scene.

Everything fell into place as I wrote. I had no idea where the story was going, or what was going to happen to these characters. There was no outline. I was thrilled to enjoy the ride of what happens next??

A week later, I had the first draft finished. But it was so different from my typical writing that I didn't know what to do with it. Over the next few years, I fixed it up, polished it to a brilliant shine, then sent it off to publishers. I had a few nibbles, requests for more, but nothing ever came of it.

It's different.

It's not exactly horror. Not fantasy or sci-fi. Not completely romance, although this is clearly represented. It's not post-apocalyptic. More like an odd combination of all.

I see it now as Alice in Wonderland meets The Walking Dead. That really is the best way for me to describe this story.

Eventually, I decided to publish it myself. I bought an amazing cover that fits this story perfectly. As I began my 20th time reading through it (seriously, I lost count reading this one!), I heard about Amazon's new venture, Kindle Vella. After exploring that and learning more about serialized fiction, I realized that was what I had with Into the Dark. Each chapter, each scene, was written with a cliffhanger, a suspenseful ending to get the reader to turn the page. It's basically how I kept writing it. With endings to scenes like those, I was constantly left with the question What Happens Next? Well, I have to keep going to find out!!

I realized quite quickly that Into the Dark would be a perfect fit for Vella.

And really, what was there to lose? The poor novel had been languishing on my desktop for years. I wanted to share this story with readers. I wanted to hear what others thought of Allison and her adventure. I wanted readers to fall in love with Brian. And what about Donovan? Is he friend or foe? And also, what happens to Noah!? These are complex characters set in a strange, frightening environment.

So, I took the jump, plunging myself and my novel into the world of Kindle Vella and it has been exciting! I've met some amazing people. Read some fantastic stories. And I'm learning more about my writing as I pick apart the chapters and scenes to make them fit Vella's short episode format.

I promise you, this story is complete. I'm dusting off each chapter and editing it as I schedule them to post. I know some readers tend to be wary of serialized fiction because of writers who stop writing. But, the manuscript is finished! I've been posting around 2 to 3 chapters a week to stay active and have accumulated more than half the story online already.

With over 30 episodes, it's ready for you to binge-read! One short episode at a time!

It's been a fun ride! I hope you'll join me! 

The first three chapters (episodes) are free to read! Give them a try! But I'll give you a little hint, the scene that started this story with my dream is actually episode 4! I'd love for you to read it and let me know what you think!

New chapters available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison has to learn to survive with the help of a mysterious stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. But living in this dimension presents its challenges and horrors, as Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will they find a way home?

Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Find Out Now!
Only on Kindle Vella!

Into the Dark #ReadOnVella #serializedfiction #ReadMe #PNR #paranormalromance

 There are new chapters available to read for Into the Dark!

If you haven't started, now is a great time to get caught up.

Investigative journalist, Allison Reed, has been sent an anonymous tip regarding the strange disappearances of several seemingly random local people. When she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's house, she discovers the man's daughters are witches who are abducting people and casting them into another world where magic feeds from the living and zombies are real.

Now, Allison has to learn to survive with the help of a stranger. Together, they work to find a way home. As they search for a way to escape this nightmarish world, Allison finds herself growing closer to Brian, the man who saved her. Living in this dimension presents its challenges, and Allison learns more about the witches who abducted her as well as the other victims.

Will they find a way home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read Now!
Only available on Kindle Vella!

Into the Dark Episode 3 #Excerpt #KindleVella #pnr #zombies #witches

 

I've got new episodes this week!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality.

Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read the first three episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

Into the Dark Excerpt

Episode #3

"Please." He whispered so softly that even with his mouth pressed against her ear, she barely heard him.

The desperation in his voice stunned her. Silenced her. Allison stopped struggling.

And she realized his attention wasn't on her. He stared in the direction of the opening, where the moaning grew louder. Whatever made that horrible noise moved closer.

A shadow filled the doorway. It shuffled, rocking side to side as it crept forward. And then it stepped into the light, making it visible to where she sat huddled with the stranger beneath the ladder.

At one time, the creature must have been human. It had the features of a being who could have passed for human.

Arms, legs, a torso, a head.

Beyond that, the thing was barely recognizable.

Read More!

Taken to the Forest ~ Into the Dark Episode 2 #Excerpt #pnr #witches #KindleVella #readonvella

 

I've got new episodes this week!

For a short time, Amazon is giving away FREE tokens to new Vella readers!

Hurry over and grab your tokens now! 

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality.

Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read the first three episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

New to Kindle Vella?

Vella stories are serialized novels written in short segments. These episodes are published as installments at regular intervals from weekly to monthly.

There is nothing new about serialized fiction.

Some famous novels written as serialized fiction were A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.

More recently, Stephen King's The Green Mile was published in 6 installments.

Into the Dark Excerpt

Episode #2

Three large stones about four feet in height stood around the platform and each of the women moved to take their place by a separate stone. Allison remained standing in the center of the triangle-like arrangement while Shannon continued aiming the pistol at her.

At the platform by Allison's feet lay a large, flat, rectangular slab of stone protruding slightly above the rock. Although it wasn't high, it appeared coffin-shaped, which did not bode well for her regardless of the sister's assurances she was not meant to die.

"What is this?"

"Our altar, sweetie," Melanie said. "You're our sacrifice."

Despite the warm air, a chill swept across Allison's skin. "I thought you weren't going to kill me."

"You won't die. Not yet. We're sending you through a portal into another dimension where we'll feed on your energy while you're alive. We're witches, sweetie. Immortal witches, as long as we feed on souls to sustain us."

"Funny," Allison grunted. "Do you regale all of your victims with fairy tales?"

Again, Shannon laughed. "It's just too much fun to see the look on your faces!"

"Enough," Morena reprimanded in a sharp tone. "Either we send her or let her go. Let's be done with it."

"Oh, we can't let her go." Shannon giggled, tucking a few strands of black hair behind her ear. "Although, it's been a joy to watch her panic."

"She's not simpering or wailing like some of them, though," Melanie added, glancing at her sister. "Maybe we should shoot her, anyway."

Their bantering sounded too bizarre for Allison to decipher between truth and fiction. They simply concocted nonsense to scare her witless.

Witches? Immortal? A portal into another dimension?

Maybe she was dreaming?

Read More!

The Mansion Holds Secrets ~ Into the Dark Episode 1 #Excerpt #KindleVella #PNR #DystopianRomance

 

I'm thrilled to share an excerpt of the first episode of my paranormal dystopian romance, Into the Dark. I've been working on the idea of this story for a long time. It's one that is close to my heart.

Each week, I'll post a short excerpt and some details about the story, characters or writing that you might find interesting. I hope travel with me on this journey!

If you like suspenseful romances filled with the supernatural,

then I think you'll love Into the Dark!

You can read the first 3 episodes for FREE!

If you enjoy what you read, please "like" the episode and "follow" the story!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality. Brian has lost all hope of escape. Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long? As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Excerpt Episode #1

"I have information," Allison Reed whispered into the cell phone as she pushed aside the heavy drapes covering the tall, arched gothic-style windows. Beyond the rain splattered beveled glass, Allison had a clear view of the empty driveway and a portion of the road lit by a streetlight beyond the iron gate surrounding the property.

"What are you doing, Ally?" Noah growled. Of course, he wouldn't be pleased if she informed him of her whereabouts, so Allison kept silent about that part.

"Meet me at the Hidden River Diner in twenty minutes." She also wouldn't explain that she broke into the old Victorian mansion after the Adler family left their home nearly an hour ago. Nor would she mention over the phone what she discovered after searching the house.

That she needed to show him face to face.

"I told you to leave Mr. Adler alone. He's part of a wealthy and respectable family. They are not kidnappers."

Allison grimaced. Leave it to her detective brother to suspect what she was up to. There was a reason he excelled at his job. But as an investigative journalist, she was pretty darn good at her job, too. And she didn't have a pesky moral code with the law to keep her from digging into places without proper authority.

"I wouldn't be too sure."

Allison's fingers tightened on the pocket watch in her palm. It was an ornate silver case with a thin chain attached. She found it in one of the bedrooms upstairs.

"Ally..."

"Just meet me at the diner, Noah. I gotta go."

She tapped the red button with her thumb and turned her phone off to keep it silent as a car turned onto the street. The headlights shone through the drizzling rain as it slowly drove by the house.

Allison released a breath. She thought she'd heard a noise indicating the sisters had returned home, but it must have been the wind.

The Adler Mansion was built in 1862 and furnished with a mixture of antiques and modern-day conveniences. The place abounded with dark corners and eerie old-house noises. Since picking the lock to gain entrance, Allison had constantly looked over her shoulder. The hair still stood on the back of her neck with the feeling of being watched.

Read this episode and two more for FREE!

#NewRelease! Into the Dark #KindleVella #pnr #dystopian #Romance

 

If you haven't heard of it yet, Kindle Vella is Amazon's new serialized reading platform which opened in July 2021. Basically, it's reading a story one short episode at a time.

I'm dipping my toes into this and having a blast with my paranormal dystopian romance, Into the Dark! I already have several episodes available with more to come. The first 3 episodes are FREE, so there's no harm checking it out! I'll be dropping 2 to 3 episodes a week going forward, so keep checking for updates!

And if you read and enjoy it, please, please, please like the episode with the thumbs up and hit that follow button! That helps me know if you want to read more of the story! And it helps other readers take notice, too!

Trapped in a dimension where magic feeds from the living, Allison must trust a stranger to help her survive in this terrifying reality. Brian has lost all hope of escape.

Finding Allison has given him new purpose to keep going, but for how long?

As they search for a way out of this nightmarish world, will they sacrifice their newfound feelings for each other for a chance to return home? Or will they remain trapped in a world where the dead walk among the living?

Read the First 3 Episodes for FREE!