Author Jay Barnson is proud to announce his latest release, "Blood Creek Beast," the second book in a planned trilogy in his award-nominated series set in rural Appalachia. The first book, "Blood Creek Witch," was named as a 2018 Whitney Award finalist in the categories of Young Adult Speculative and Best Novel By a Debut Author.
Much of Mr. Barnson's inspiration for his novels comes from his experience living in West Virginia as a young child. "The first fantasy stories I ever heard were traditional folk tales told to me by my father," said Mr. Barnson in a recent interview. "These were 'Jack' tales, many of which [originated] from Europe, but became Americanized / Appachianized. Jack took on witches, giants, and other monsters. . . . I wasn't even five years old. . . . and I always imagined the woods around my home in West Virginia could be full of wild adventures like the one from these old stories."
Wild adventures – and also strange monsters. One such creature is the snallygaster, a half-bird, half-reptile beast that features octopus tentacles. Yet the snallygaster did not originate with Barnson. On snallygasters, he says, "The word is an Appalachianized version of the German words, 'Schneller Geist,' as it was called by the German settlers who first reported it in the 1700s. It enjoyed a resurgence of sightings in 1909, to the point where Theodore Roosevelt planned a hunting expedition for it. Earlier reports had it as a winged demon-like being, whereas the later version was more dragon-like, but with tentacles. I used a variation of the latter version for 'Blood Creek Witch,' because it is just such a nightmarish (and awesome) monster."
Could the snallygaster be the titular Blood Creek Beast? You'll have to read the book to find out. Mr. Barnson cautioned, "There are several witches in 'Blood Creek Witch.' Likewise, there are at least a couple of characters that could be the 'beast' in 'Blood Creek Beast.' And there are at least two significant phantoms in Blood Creek Phantom, which I'm working on right now. I like having that title be a subject to interpretation."
"Blood Creek Beast" is available starting 12 March 2019 from Immortal Works Press as an ebook and paperback.
About Blood Creek Beast:
For years,
Jack Parsons dreamed of escaping the tiny community of Maple Bend, West Virginia. Now he is trapped in another world entirely. Seeking help to protect the crossroads from the immortal "man in the white suit" and his Coven, Jack ventures into the world 'Round the Bend, a mirror-image of West Virginia more wondrous, and more dangerous, than he had ever imagined.
On the other side of the crossroads, the Coven pursues Jessabelle Rose with plans to use her shape-shifting powers for their own dark ends. Jessabelle must choose between flight or fight; to escape the Coven forever, or risk everything to protect her family.
What began with mysterious deaths deep in the Appalachian Mountains now threatens to engulf two worlds. Witchcraft and creatures of folklore mix with shadowy high-tech organizations and political intrigue in this thrilling tale of magic and adventure.
About Jay Barnson:
Jay is an author, game developer, and software engineer. A steady diet of Star Trek, Star Wars, and The Twilight Zone as a child, mixed with an addiction to the words and worlds of Robert E. Howard, Lovecraft, Heinlein, and of course Tolkien produced a mixed-up young man who went on to corrupt the youth making console and PC video games, and writing stories that grow out of bizarre questions that begin with the words, "What if...?"
Praise for "Blood Creek Witch":
"'Blood Creek Witch' is an enjoyable, fun read for young adults and fans of urban fantasy. It is onthe edge of transition into more mature themed work." - Guild Master Gaming
Appropriate for Teens – Intriguing to Adults
If you would like more information about our authors, upcoming releases, and our Flash Fiction Friday podcast, visit us at www.immortal-works.com to join our mailing list.
Comments
To post a comment, you must
register and
login.
