October 25, 2012

The Non Reluctant Reader YA Paranormal Spooktacular Day Four: Daniel Marks, author of Velveteen

Today is the fourth day of The Non Reluctant Reader YA Paranormal Spooktacular and I'm pleased to welcome Daniel Marks, author of Velveteen for a guest post! Read the post then enter the giveaway for a signed copy of Velveteen! And make sure when you're tweeting about the event to use the hashtag #NRRYASpooktacular!
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.
The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days.

It’ll be brutal... and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.
Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.
WHEN I WAS A KID WE WERE SCARED AS HELL…AND LIKED IT! 
Has Halloween changed a lot? I mean since I was a kid? I have this feeling it’s a different world out there, somehow gentler and struggling to be free of conflict, populated by a generation that doesn’t seek out horrific experiences. I hope I’m wrong. I really do. But until I am certain, I’m going to hide out in my house watching horror movies and pretending that people aren’t quivering in the shadows for fear that Hocus Pocus might come on the TV (clue: that movie’s not scary).

I’m thinking of a Halloween back in 1978. I was in the 5th grade, so long ago, I can’t even remember how old that would make me—clearly I need some gingko. I can paint you a picture though. Back then, it was pretty common for young kids to roam the streets until 10 or 11 at night without our parents worrying. After all, the folks were too busy cutting the seatbelts out of the car or filling the attic with asbestos to mind. So, on a regular night, the neighborhood was a thunderdome of pranks, fights and vandalism.

But on Halloween…APOCALYPSE!

We’d dress up in our crappy costumes and hit the streets, eyes narrowed to slits to search out the older kids hiding in the shadows, waiting to slit our trick-or-treat bags open with knives they’d swiped from their older brothers or sisters. The candy would rain down on the concrete. Reach for it at your own peril. Violence was not out of the question, nor was anyone likely to go to Juvie for beating up a kid. That just didn’t happen. Ever—the juvie part, I mean, not the beatings. Those were rampant.

Those were the days, though. Days of actual, unsupervised danger—not a parent in sight. And kids were tough, we moved in packs like animals. I say one group jump a stranger who dared to whisper something from a bush. He may have survived with a few teeth intact. Maybe.

Meanwhile, the kids just walked off with their candy cigarettes dangling from their lips jumped on their banana seat bikes and headed down the next driveway to snatch some razor blade-laced popcorn balls or red candy apples spiked with cyanide. NOMS.

I shouldn’t pretend that our parents didn’t care. That wasn’t what was going on at all. In the ten to twelve years of parenting that preceded this Halloween night, they’d done exactly what parents did back then, they filled us with capital “F” Fear. They taught us to be leery of strangers and to fight back…hard, lest we be murdered. Horror movies were a blueprint for safety. Hey, Danny. Check out what happens to these kids when they don’t tell their mom where they’re going.

Yup. Dead.

Maybe I came from a tough area—I know I did—but there’s something to be said about being tough. It’s a shield. Because when the horror show comes. I’m ready. I hear the music and I know there’s something around the corner.

My blade is ready. How about yours?
Giveaway
Danny has generously offered up a signed copy of Velveteen and some swag! Enter to win that after the page break!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

46 comments:

  1. I hate it! Unless I'm in a haunted house. THat's about the *only* acception!

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  2. Yes! There's nothing like that "O. MY. WORD. I'M GONNA DIE!" feeling...I love the adrenaline!

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  3. Yes - kinda. ;)
    Unless I get REALLY scared O-o
    Mary DeBorde M.A.D.

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  4. Yes! I like being scared, just not terrified :P

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  5. Such a great post. I love being spooky shared..not really into the Saw kinda scared..more the creepy ghost, hair standing on end kind of scared!

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  6. Not really. I'm kind of a whimp... Lol. I love Halloween though. That's like my one exception for anything that scares me... Except spiders... I never make an exception for them! Eww!

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  7. Yes! I love this time of year. Spooky stories, haunted houses, it's all great.

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  8. Nope! Hate anything scary!

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  9. Thank you for the great giveaway! I usually don't like being scared... unless I know there is no way the thing I'm afraid of at the time is real. Unrealistic fear is ok I guess lol! Thank you for the chance to win!

    melissargolden@yahoo.com

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  10. Hmmmm. This definitely seems like something I may enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  11. No not really, I'm scaredy cat! :)

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  12. No!! Nothing good ever happens when people try to scare me (slaps may or may not have been thrown reflexively) Thanks for the giveaway!!!

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  13. Yes depending on my mood lol its exciting for me :)

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  14. Of course I don't while I'm getting scared, but afterwards it kind of gives me a rush & it's pretty funny :D

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  15. Yes, I love the sudden fright and adrenaline :D Thanks for the chance to win.

    -Danniele

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  16. No!! I scare pretty easily too, so it's not a good thing! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  17. Nope...I like suspense but not being scared!

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway! I'd have to say sometimes I like being scared but usually not.

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  19. I guess I do like being scared, but if it is one that makes me terrified...not so much. Great giveaway and post!

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  20. It is quite fun being scared...We always have a laugh about it afterwards!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  21. I like scaring people more than I like being scared. But it's always funny to laugh about later. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  22. I dont think I like being out-right scared but the thrill of finding something surprising and unexpected is an attraction to many people I think.

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  23. I love being scared. I just got off a haunted hayride about an hour ago :)

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  24. Hmm... depends on the situation! But I enjoy watching Supernatural, Grimm, and other scary shows! :)

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  25. i enjoy the thrill though i cant hide my fear easily. but still it builds up suspense in ur life, so i think that somehow i enjoy it.:D

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  26. Yes, I love being scared! I enjoy scary/creepy books and movies. However, I admit to covering my eyes if a certain part scares me too much Lol. I think October/Halloween is the perfect time of year for us to get scared!

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  27. Love it, though I don't scare easily (:

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  28. No, no! I'm a totally scaredy cat!

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  29. On roller coasters, yes. Any other time? No.

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  30. Yes, as long as I know it's not real!

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  31. I love it!!! That sick feeling.. your heart thumping...love it!!!

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  32. I like being scared, but not surprised. I prefer being creeped out to being startled, if that makes any sense.

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  33. I love being scared. It's a great adrenaline rush!

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  34. I do like being scared up to a point - getting chills, but not screaming or freaking out!

    Thanks,
    Leanne

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  35. Only if someone else is with me and I have my pillow.......

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  36. Yes i do as long as it doesnt involve my kids.

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  37. No I do not like being scared. Although my husband test every other day to check if I have changed my mind. :)

    Dragana @ Bookworm Dreams

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  38. I actually love being scared. I've been a horror junkie since the ripe old age of 3 and my first ever viewing of Nightmare on Elm St.

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  39. I like being scared but not so scared that I'm afraid to go to sleep! Thanks for this amazing giveaway - I would love to win!

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  40. I love to be scared, but not too scared, haha. I don't really enjoy being scared to go down my own hallway at night... especially when I have to use the bathroom.

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Thank you for the comment, I love and appreciate each and every one! As of March 2012, The Non Reluctant Reader is an awards-free zone. I'm honored to be considered, but do not currently have the time to pass the award on. Comments are the best award I can receive though! If the comment requires a reply, please be sure to check back for one. If it is a feature/meme leave a link to your post and I will stop by and comment if I get the chance!

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