Building a Sanctuary
Everyone
dreams of a place they can feel safe and protected. A private nook where they can
be themselves. Where wishes and dreams are built. A sanctuary.
Merriam Webster defines sanctuary
as:
2. a (1) : a place
of refuge and protection (2) : a refuge for
wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal
b : the immunity from law
attached to a sanctuary
In Tethered,
my first Zodiac Shifters novella, I created the town of Willows Haven. A
sanctuary for all the magical creatures inhabiting on East Coast which is
protected from humans and anyone with intent to harm.
The town
butts against the imaginary Gracelynne Shroud State Park with its large lake. Along
the water’s edge, five willow trees along with their guardians provide the
power for the protection spell that keeps away those with malicious intent from
the town.
I adapted
this from my own sanctuary. The neighborhood I live in is next to a city park.
It’s a great place to walk, let the kids play or take in nature. I wanted my paranormal characters in Willows
Haven to have the same experience. Only on a larger scale, including a bubble
of protection that I can’t wrap my kids in.
Aside from
the lake, another attraction of the town will be the Cherries and Berries
Diner. I wanted something like the old 1950s diners, but a lot of the interior
inspiration came from the Normal Diner
which I found in an online search. Situated in one of the downtown buildings,
everyone stops by the Cherries and Berries diner at some point for some great
food, gossip and pie or cobbler.
Nothing
makes you feel safer than being surrounded by food and friends.
Blurb
Evelyn Brooks lives with the
freedom only her kind can know—in her human form as a photographer, and in the
skies as a falcon. When a stalker drives her from her home, Evelyn discovers a
beautiful, wild sanctuary in North Carolina. After a bolt of magic knocks her
from the sky, leaving her helpless, she realizes too late that danger invaded
her refuge.
Park ranger Lawke Morgan’s day goes
from bad to worse when his ex-wife unexpectedly drops off their 13-year-old
daughter in the beginning of a dangerous storm. His life takes a turn for the
bizarre after he finds an injured Peregrine falcon that transforms into a
lovely woman.
When his daughter is kidnapped by
an Aztec priest, one who should have been dead for centuries, Lawke learns that
Evelyn holds the key to the priest’s demands. Together they must confront blood
sacrifices, defy ancient gods and find a way to trust each other when a young
girl’s life hangs in the balance.
Can a woman used to
soaring amongst the clouds embrace love with a man firmly rooted on the ground?
Excerpt
Willows Haven appeared to be a
typical small town. There were residential streets intermixed with strip malls
and a large shopping area near the highway. Even the downtown section had been
revitalized with eateries, businesses, and professional offices. Like the local
newspaper.
Several willow trees grew along the
edge of a deep lake on the north side of town. They must have been the
inspiration for the town name. Although that didn’t explain the businesses use
of nature-themed titles. Someone must have an earthly sense of humor.
Lawke escorted Evelyn into the
Cherries and Berries Diner. It occupied a large storefront on Main Street. They
stood between the checkout counter and a large refrigerated pie case while
waiting to be seated. A modest décor consisted of dark wood booths along the
street-side windows and near the kitchen a beige countertop was lined with
bright silver cushioned stools. The walls held paintings of different types of
fruit trees.
“You can sit anywhere. I’ll be with
you in a minute,” an older redheaded woman in a mint green uniform told them as
she walked by carrying a tray filled with steak, eggs, and waffles.
He slid into the end booth where he
could keep an eye on the door and anyone walking around the side, near the
restrooms. Evelyn sat across from him and slid him a menu. They offered an
eclectic selection of sandwiches, dinner platters, and breakfast entrees.
Desserts, mostly pies and cobblers, covered the entire back page.
“What can I get you, sweetie?” the
waitress asked, tapping a pen on her pad.
“I’ll try the strawberry French
toast.”
Lawke shook his head at Evelyn’s
sweet tooth. “I’ll have an omelet with mushrooms, onions, ham, and cheese with
a side of fried potatoes.”
“Any coffee?”
Evelyn flipped through the menu.
“I’d like a glass of apple juice.”
“I’ll just have sweet tea.”
The waitress nodded. “Be back with
your drinks shortly.” She walked away.
Lawke glanced out the window at the
empty street. Even for a Sunday, downtown appeared eerily deserted. Except for
the bike parked in the lot next to the brick building across the street. Which
happened to contain the offices for When
the Tree Falls, the local newspaper.
“Why three days?”
He didn’t want to think about
having to break the law, but he couldn’t pretend he didn’t understand her
question, either. “It’s long enough to observe any patterns in the brothers’
lives while still being short enough that the priest shouldn’t kill Zoe.”
On the counter, a portable TV
showed the projected path for the tropical depression. At least the storm was
weakening, although they’d still have the potential for flooding.
Buy
Links
Barnes
and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tethered-beth-caudill/1125729374?ean=2940157181444
Bio
Although Beth grew up in West Virginia, she
currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two sons and a Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel who makes an excellent lap warmer. Blending the analytical
and creative sides of her brain, she delights in creating fantasy worlds for
others. Catch her online most days except when NCIS and Once Upon a Time air.
