Hey there and welcome to my stop on the Vanished from Dust Blog Tour hosted by YaReads Blog Tours! Click here to follow along with the tour schedule. For you guys today I have an interview with Shea Norwood, author of Vanished from Dust!! Thank you, Shea, for being a guest on my blog today!
Title: Vanished from Dust
Series: Vanished from Dust #1
Author: Shea Norwood
Publication date: October 16th 2013
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 320
A CHILL RUNS THROUGH HIS SKIN AS THE PHANTOM APPEARS.
HE SEES THEM EVERYWHERE...
Eric Stark is not insane. Or at least he doesn't think so. He wishes everyone in Dust, Texas, felt the same way. But that's not going to happen since the whole town thinks he's crazy. Why didn't he keep his mouth shut?
No one understands. Eric is alone as he battles his sanity in a town of tormenters. Suddenly a new friendship emerges after the new kid, Kyle Barrett, moves to town.
Eric reluctantly reveals his secret. Is it a curse or a gift? He isn't certain, but with Kyle by his side he finds the courage to seek the truth.
They soon realize that something sinister is descending on the residents of Dust.
Is it caused by Eric's phantoms or is it something else? Is it connected to the mysterious death of hundreds of townspeople over sixty years ago? One thing is certain - only Eric and Kyle can save them.
They set out on a heart-pounding adventure and find themselves transported to a disturbed and deserted version of their small southern town. They quickly discover that this new world has mysteries of its own to uncover. What they find could prove more than they bargained for, and it only leads to more questions. Eric and Kyle must face a horrifying fact - they may never get out alive.
"We're gonna die here," Kyle muttered.
"I don't believe that," Eric said. "And neither do you."
Will they survive their encounter with these dark and mysterious beings?
Will they find a way back home?
Or will they be lost forever?
The Vanished from Dust series is perfect for anyone who craves a hair-raising thriller packed with mystery and suspense. This paranormal story for young adults can be compared to Stand by Me, mixed with Odd Thomas, and a twist of The Dark Tower.
Q: What's your favorite genre to read?
Since I'm a huge Stephen King fan, I'd say Horror is my favorite genre. But, I recently found the I am Number Four series and discovered my love of the Young Adult genre.
Q: Are there books you believe everyone should read at least once? What are some of the titles?
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
I am Number 4 Series by Pittacus Lore
The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Q: Are you an eReader fan or do you prefer physical books?
I'm a frequent traveler that likes to read many books at once so I'd have to say I'm more of an eReader fan. Otherwise, I'd have the discomfort of carrying lots of books!
Q: What's the most recent movie you've seen and what'd you think of it?
Most recently, I watched Spiderman 2 and loved it! He has always been my favorite superhero because of his quirky personality and vulnerability.
Q: Where's your favorite place you've traveled to?
I truly love all the international places I've traveled due to their distinct cultures and history. But, if I had to pick an absolute favorite it would be Tokyo. The Japanese are a very welcoming and friendly society and Tokyo was amazing!
Q: Do you like to write in silence or with music in the background?
I prefer to write in complete silence. It allows me to fully immerse myself in the story and write better.
Q: Can you give us background on when and how Vanished from Dust began?
I actually started Vanished from Dust over a decade ago, but lost interest in the direction of the plot so it was put aside and forgotten. I rediscovered it after sorting through some old boxes and rewrote all the parts that didn't work. The concept for the story began when I wondered what it would be like to be trapped on the other side of the mirror and is loosely based off my hometown.
Q: Do you have future books planned at this time?
Yes, I'm in the process of finishing Vanished from Dust II: The Illusion of Home, and writing two other novels in the New Adult and Adult genres.
A huge thanks to Shea Norwood for granting me an interview and being a guest on my blog today!! Thank you, Shea!!
CHAPTER 1
"I'm not crazy," Eric Stark shouted at the crowd of seventh graders as they surrounded him. He looked up from the ground, which consisted of patches of grass and dirt, to see the sunlight glinting off of the metal braces of a girl with pigtails as she pointed and laughed with the rest of them. Another boy kicked him in the stomach, causing him to retreat into a fetal position to guard against another blow.
"Oh yeah?" Greg Coffey asked as he towered over Eric. His lip was curled, showing his crooked, heavily stained teeth. "What happened last week in class? You said, 'They're watching me.' Remember that, loser?"
"I didn't say that." Eric tried to get up, but Greg pushed him back down and kicked dirt in his face. Eric rubbed his burning eyes with both hands. When he opened them he saw four more kids sneering over him, all laughing at his expense. Where was a teacher when you needed one? The hot Texas sun was high on the horizon, almost blinding him as he stared back at his tormentors. Sweat was pouring from his brow, mixing with the tears that streamed down his face.
"Yeah you did," Adam Marshall said with a smirk. "You're going off the rails, crazy train."
"I like that - crazy train. Just like the song," Greg said. He laughed and gave Adam a high five. "That's your new name. Like it?" Greg kicked another pile of dirt at Eric.
Eric tried to spit it out, but his entire face was covered in a muddy film. He wished that he'd just kept his mouth shut about it, but it was too late now. News traveled fast in a small town, and he was sure everyone thought he was insane by now.
He didn't know what he was.
"Leave him alone," a kid said. He leaned over to help Eric to his feet. "I don't like bullies."
"Stay out of it, new kid." Greg said and gave him a scowling stare.
"Or what?" The kid got closer.
"Let's go," Adam said. "There's a teacher coming." He slapped Greg on the shoulder.
"This ain't over," Greg said as he walked away.
"Thanks," Eric said.
"I'm Kyle Barrett," the kid said, extending his hand.
Eric shook it. "Did you just move here?"
"Yeah, this is my first day," Kyle said. "It's hard being the new kid. No one talks to you."
"No one talks to me either, except to make fun of me," Eric said.
* * * * * *
Six months after the dirt-kicking incident, Eric and Kyle had turned from strangers into fast friends. But everyone else still thought Eric was crazy. Even now, he couldn't be sure if they were right or wrong.
He only knew one thing - he hadn't actually seen them in several months. So was it all in his head? His mom always told him time heals all wounds. But this wound was more like a cut that never healed. It festered in the eyes of everyone in Dust, Texas. He was just a mentally defective kid who barely deserved their pity.
He was in eighth grade now, and he tried to put those troubled years behind him. It seemed that most of his classmates felt the same way, but a select few never grew tired of reminding him of his sanity (or lack thereof) and demeaning nickname from time to time.
Eric looked up at the clock. The second hand moved in a slow, agonizing speed before the bell rang loudly, reverberating throughout the building.
"Finally," he said quietly to himself. The sound of the bell signified the end of the school week, and he was happy to hear it. It was only the week after Thanksgiving and he was already looking forward to summer break. He scrambled down the stairs and out the heavy double doors. Kyle Barrett waited at the foot of the steps wearing a tucked-in red polo. They had been inseparable ever since Kyle had stood up for him that day.
He didn't stop when he got outside, taunting Kyle to a footrace. Kyle ran hard to catch up after seeing Eric dart by. Kyle was five months older, but for the time being they were both still fourteen, and they were often thought of as brothers due to their similar appearances. Both of the boys had dark-brown hair, chestnut-colored eyes, and olive skin. But Kyle was broader in the shoulders compared to Eric's slender frame.
"Bet I can beat you to the car," Eric yelled.
"No way," Kyle said as he raced ahead of Eric.
Eric wasn't going down with a fight, so he ran harder while dodging several students loitering outside the school. He was closing the distance when he tripped, scattering his books across the parking lot. A group of girls standing on the sidewalk giggled as he got to his feet and gathered his things and what little dignity he had left. Kyle made it to the car and pointed at Eric, laughing.
"You busted big time," Kyle said.
"You got lucky. If I hadn't tripped I would've beat you," Eric replied.
"Yeah right, you'll never beat me."
Jean, Kyle's mother, rolled down the car window. She had a cigarette hanging from her lip. Eric watched as the smoke drifted out the window and disappeared into the wind.
"Can I spend the night at Eric's house tonight?" Kyle blurted out, still breathing hard.
Eric was standing anxiously next to the car, waiting for her reply. He bent over to rub his knee. He was pretty sure he'd scraped it hard enough to draw blood. He looked back to see if the girls were still watching him. They were on the sidewalk waiting for their rides but apparently had found a more interesting topic to discuss since they were no longer looking at him.
"Did Eric's mom say it was all right?" Jean asked. She flicked her ash out of the window and took another drag. She had dry, ashy-brown hair, along with a pair of large-rimmed glasses that draped over her hazel eyes. She wore a simple mauve-colored T-shirt and blue jeans.
Kyle's little sister, Katie, and older brother, Ben, were sitting in the backseat. Katie Barrett, the youngest of the family, had wavy dirty-blonde hair that looked like a poodle's fur. Ben was Kyle's older brother.
"She is okay with it," Kyle said.
"Yeah, we asked last period," Eric added.
"Well if she doesn't mind, then it's fine with me," Jean said. She took her huge glasses off, wiped the lenses with her shirt, and put them back on. "Kyle, do you still have your bike at Eric's?"
"It should be there." Kyle eyed Eric for confirmation, and he nodded.
Eric looked in the backseat and saw Ben picking his nose with no shame. He thought about pointing it out but quickly decided against it. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Eric had narrowly escaped getting his head dipped in the toilet by him at the high school football game, so it was best that he kept a little distance for now. If it hadn't been for the school principal walking in during the act he would have had the unfortunate opportunity of seeing a close-up view of the inside of the toilet bowl.
"Dammit Ben. Don't pick your nose and throw boogers in my car," Jean demanded.
Ben looked up and replied, "I'm not picking my nose, Mom."
"Katie, did you see him picking?" Jean asked.
"No ma'am. I didn't see anything," Katie said. Eric was fairly certain that she had in fact seen her older brother pick a fairly large booger, methodically roll it into a neat ball, and then flick it onto the floor of the car, but she probably knew that it was much wiser to keep her mouth shut.
Jean turned and gave Ben a stern look before turning back to look at Kyle. "Y'all be good now."
Kyle and Eric nodded in near unison as she rolled up the window and pulled out of the school parking lot.
Shea Norwood is an emerging author and native of West Texas that currently lives in the DFW area with his wife and son. He was drawn to writing at an early age and recently rekindled this passion after dusting off a decade-old manuscript, titled Vanished from Dust. The fictional town of Dust is loosely based on a small town south of Odessa, TX.
When he's not writing, Shea loves to spend time with his family, read, and is a frequent globetrotter. His travels have taken him to France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Mexico. Shea writes Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal/Mystery.
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