Horror Month Presents: Eli Constant Day 2

24/9/2013

The winners for the ebook copies of Dead Trees are: San DK, Milly Stott, Laura James, & Gregory Carrico! (Yep, Eli decided to treat four of you to copies of her book!)

Congratulations. Send me your details and I'll pass them on to Eli and we'll get your prize to you.

On to tonights show. Who wants a pre-release of her newest book Mastic? Of course you do, but if you're unsure if it's for you then read the excerpt below and see what you think. I bet you won't be disappointed.

Eli Constant lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters. She is surrounded by battlefield country, farmland and lakes. Currently, she spends her days being a devoted mother and, of course, writing. Eli feels fortunate that her marriage is one of real love and she thinks her children are the coolest people in the world. She also feels so lucky to have an extended family that is ever present with encouragement and kind words.

Find out more about Eli on her website: www.eliconstant.com
Follow Eli on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_EliC
Follow Eli on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorEliConstant
http://authoreliconstant.wordpress.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901568.Eli_Constant

Amazon:

http://amzn.to/16RUIdW
http://amzn.to/16RUW4U

Mastic Promo Art

Here's a little sneaky excerpt from Mastic! Enjoy!!

Mastic Excerpt

4 PM

Moving again. In a car.

Is it a car? Am I moving?

My eyes felt heavy again.

I turned my head, straining to focus.

Mikolas was beside me; my body rested against his. When our eyes met, I could see sadness. His hand lifted to my face and he drew his fingers softly across my eyes. I closed them, unable to resist the gentle touch and my body’s urging to sleep once again.

------------------

I was in the garden, but it felt changed- the flowers were different colors, the air felt heavier. No grandfather, but Mikolas strode out from between the fragrant clusters of flora. I looked at him thoughtfully, far removed from fear and fate in this dream world.

“We’re in a car.” I said simply.

“Yes.” He said, matching my simple speech.

“Where are we going? Are you taking me to die?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be the one to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad it will be you.” I turned away from him, walking toward a strange rose– its petals neon yellow with a deep fuchsia border.

“Why are you glad?” He sounded surprised.

“You love me?” I matched his question with a question.

“Yes.”

“I’d rather die at the hands of someone that loves me. Even if the love is cruel, it’s better that way.” I bent over, grabbing the stem of the rose and snapping it. Standing back up, I held the strange flower.

Mikolas was beside me now. He took my hand, the hand that held the rose, and lifted it to his mouth. He took the flower from me and kissed my fingers; his lips came away tinged red. I looked at his mouth, then at my hand. I had not felt the thorn cutting me.

“Your death will be painless.” He said, lowering my hand from view.

“Like a thorn prick in a dream.” I murmured.

-------------------

When my eyes fluttered open, I was still cradled against Mikolas’ body, but not in the car. I was swaying, feeling the rhythm of his walking. The silver of my dress was brilliant against the bright blue of his robe. I glanced away from him and saw a dark entrance in the ground illuminated only by the dying rays of the setting sun. A circular stair twisted downward into the darkness. Around us were trees, hundreds of trees.

Again I slept.

11:30 PM

It was many hours before I stirred, the sedative tea having lulled me finally into a deep, lasting sleep. My body was cushioned by a thin mat and covered by a soft blanket. I couldn’t see anything. It was so very dark.

I shifted my body, the fabric of the dress rubbing against my thighs uncomfortably. I couldn’t see the silver material, but I knew it was the same dress by the texture. My hair was loose; the long strands tickled my back as I sat up. I touched it and it felt like it was curled into long romantic tendrils.

Tentatively, I let my hands explore the floor area around me.

Hard. Rock-solid. Slightly damp. It was chilly also. When I stood, I lifted the blanket with me, wrapping it around my body against the cool. My eyes were just beginning to adjust and I could now tell that there was an obvious lightening of the dark ahead. I began to walk very slowly, pointing my toes toward the floor and feeling around before planting my foot solidly.

Waking up in the dark had momentarily revived my sense of self-preservation. I’d never liked the dark, not really. Who really likes the dark? We grow away from fear, we leave behind monsters under our bed, but the dark never becomes familiar or comfortable. Evil doings are done in the night and it’s perfectly natural to shy away from shadows. I continued walking, the slow progression of movement no match for the thudding heart in my chest.

I could see a light now- a lantern hanging from a rusted hook in the wall. When I arrived at the lamp, I reached for it, wanting the security of illumination to help me roam the dark passageways. A plink of rock on rock made me freeze and I quickly turned my head to search. A curve in the tunnel lay a few feet ahead; behind me was the dark room that I’d journeyed from.

My fingers were gripping the lamp handle now, holding it out in front of me like a shield. Then they rounded the corner ahead. Three of them.

Fight or flee or give-up? My mind worked quickly. I turned swiftly and began to run full-speed back the way I had come.

I should have figured it was a dead end.

Mastic Book Cover

And now for the awesome giveaway!

GIVEAWAY

For a chance to win a FREE pre-release eBook. Simply answer the question:

Would you rather:

Stay in a small town, marry your high school sweetheart, have two kids and live a long life.

OR

Go on a dangerous adventure, have a passionate tryst and die young

Answers can be posted on the comments below or the event page, or since Facebook is acting completely screwy- private message myself OR Eli Constant.

Happy Reading

Claire ♥

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