Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Patient Twenty-nine.
A monster roams the halls of Soothing Hills Asylum. Three girls dead. 29 is endowed with the curse…or gift of perception. She hears messages in music, sees lyrics in paintings. And the corn. A lifetime asylum resident, the orchestral corn music is the only constant in her life.
Mason, a new, kind orderly, sees 29 as a woman, not a lunatic. And as his belief in her grows, so does her self- confidence. That perhaps she might escape, might see the outside world.
But the monster has other plans. The missing girls share one common thread...each was twenty-nine's cell mate.
Will she be next?
Chapter One
1894, SOOTHING HILLS SANATORIUM
PHILADELPHIA, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
“Jane! Jane, where are you? There has been an accident!”
Nurse Sally’s tremulous voice echoes down the sanatorium’s hallway, ricocheting off the walls like mad bats in flight. I close my eyes, press my lips tight, and keep silent.
“Patient Twenty-Nine!”
I flinch at the use of my patient number and slide from the hidden window seat, snapping my book closed to bound down the corridor. The nurse’s cry came from the direction of my room.
“Twenty-niiiine … ” a male, sing-song voice calls out through the bars. I swerve and dart out of his way, narrowly missing those yellowed, grasping fingernails. My heartbeat doubles as I spin and run faster.
What has she done now?
My roommate Lily is truly disturbed. I spend most of my time out of the room, out of her way, because of her howling, because of her—
I round the corner and skid to a halt, instantaneously shaking.
Lily’s long blond hair spreads out on her cot like a coquette’s fan. Her eyes are closed. Her chest appears … still.
“Nurse?”
“Jane, go for help. Now. Run to Ward 4 and fetch Dr. Grayjoy!”
I stand staring, blood frozen in my veins, feet frozen to the floor. Lily’s head gives a violent jerk, and I gasp.
“For the love of heaven, now, you imbecile!”
I run. But not before I see the wall. Not before I see the message scrawled above her bed.
Help me. I know not what I do.
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Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.
Guest Post
1. The best book/s you ever read ?
This is very #nerdy but I do love classics. I have read the entire works of Jane Austen and the majority of the Brontes. Jane Eyre is my all time favorite book, and th original Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is up there as well.
2. How did you get into writing?
Hmm. Well, all my high school English teachers told me I should write (hello Miss Bird, Miss Hoffman, Mrs. Thompson et al) but my parents were practical...so in University I studied medicine. Therapy, precisely. I returned to writing when my brain was soaked through with chemistry and research studies and NEEDED the fantastical as much as I need a breath.
3. Who inspire you?
Traits inspire me. So it can be anyone from a child to a ninety year old. Honesty, integrity, courage--and taking the hard way because it happens to be the right way.
4. Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?
I am an obsessive researcher...so I always study the history of the place extensively and the medical affliction that inevitably turns up in my writing. I try to visit the setting and take a historical tour if available--I have toured the Outer Banks of North Carolina, St Simon’s Island, GA, Salem, Ma, Charleston, SC, Gettysburg, Pa...on and on!!
5. Did you always plan for more than one book?
What can we expect from the sequel? Not always, but more often than not. The sequel, Black in Time, will deepen the journey into what the corn holds..and hides. And delve further into the mystery of Jane’s musical synesthesia, and what she can do with it. And where in the world is Dr. Frost?
6. Did any real-life political incidents or maneuvering make it into the book?No politics...but at times I will touch on subjects in history such as The Civil War etc.
7. Do you have strange writing habits? If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?Hmm. I plead the fifth Lol. I still work in medicine by day and write by night...most of the time.
8. How did you come up with the title? Names?They usually have a hidden meaning...or were inspired by a character in History. Jane is for Jane Austen, and my first lovely writing partner, Jane Richardson.
9. What gender you prefer for your main character will be? why?I typically have a point of view of both a man and a woman….they both have a lot to say LOL
10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?Hmm. Their eyes. Are they kind? Hard? Wistful?
11. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a writer?All writers sacrifice. If you love it, you do it, regardless of the practicality. That said, I’ve heard the statistic that 75% of all writers work a day job. So...it making time for it amongst family, responsibilities and other work. It’s hard to explain to a non writer, but you cannot, not-do-it. I tried lol.
12. Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?One hundred Percent. For me as a reader, if the cover artist has done their job, I know precisely from the cover if it is in my realm of interest. A large portion of my readers are teen girls...have you seen instagram loaded with #bookstagram etc? They use beautiful book covers to create their own art forms. It’s amazing.
13. What do you think of “trailers” for books?I personally love them--that said, I do not do them for every book, primarily because of the time investment to do them justice.
14. Name one thing that drives you crazy in the publishing industry. One?LOL. Every industry has it’s quirks. I will just say this...finding professionals who ‘get’ your voice, your agent and editor--is as important as finding your readers. Because without them championing your words, you may never find the readers who want you.
15. What’s the best thing that anyone said to you when you were in a writing low spot?'I think all writers swing from pathologically optimistic to wallow. lol. Last year on goodreads, for one of my titles that I call my ‘quiet book’ (it’s exciting, don’t get me wrong, and scary--but there aren’t any murderers breathing down your neck) but the reader said, “One of my favorite books of the year.” That book did not hit the NY Times, but it did pierce someone’s heart. Which is why we do this. And that was as gratifying.
16. How do you celebrate when you finish a novel?No time. When I have a MAJOR accomplishment I drink a glass of champagne, and talk to my writing buds and agent--but i am in the world of write, edit, promo, repeat, at the moment. Not complaining. Just the writing life basically.
17. Where did you grow up? tell us a little about yourselfI grew up in Pennsylvania, in a small town. I still live in Pa, but I do love to travel. My parent’s have a house in Florida, so I have come to think of the Florida Panhandle as my ‘second home’. The area now has that feel for me now; when we pull into town, a large sense of relief, safety and homecoming floods over me when I smell the saltwater and hear the gulls.
18. What do you consider your best accomplishment?The fact that I am typing this for you. LOL. Meaning I’m still here at the keyboard, breathing life into my characters through my words, giving them the passport from my head to page--to live in all your lives. And maybe that Requiem Red is my first hardback. Many embarrassing selfies with it to come forthwith.
22. What is your favorite quote?
23. What’s the worst job you’ve had?
Being a pediatric therapist is both fulfilling and excruciating. (high five out to all my therapy peeps who’re reading)
In any given day as a feeding therapist you face: vomit, biting, head butting, crying of parents and children, feeding tubes and more.
BUT oh, waaa, really poor us. What we do is NOTHING compared to the brave kids and parents who are trying to change their own lives. Our contribution is minor compared to them. #GoParents #GoKiddos
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