Stalking the Moon
Wyrdwood Welcome
Book One
Angel Leigh McCoy
Genre: Supernatural Suspense
Publisher: Wily Writers
Wyrdwood Welcome
Book One
Angel Leigh McCoy
Genre: Supernatural Suspense
Publisher: Wily Writers
Date of Publication: April 24, 2020
ISBN: 978-1950427055
ASIN: B0832JJRPG
Number of pages: 290
Word Count: 88,868
Cover Artist: DIStudios.pl
Tagline: A New Mythology for the 21st Century
Book Description:
Normal life is complicated enough. Add magick to the mix, and suddenly all hell breaks loose!
Viviane doesn't have time for voices in her head or monsters in her bed! Her family relies on her. She's in charge of a mentally ill mother, a sneaky grandfather, and a sexy (but delusional) fiancé. And yet, the whispers in her mind are barging into Reality—with claws and teeth and murderous intent.
When her fiancé goes missing, she'll do anything to find him. If that means magical, mythical creatures hunt her down, then so be it. This could be the end of her life as she's known it, but well… Consequences be damned.
Excerpt
from STALKING THE MOON by Angel Leigh McCoy
from STALKING THE MOON by Angel Leigh McCoy
The staff
entrance was on the women’s wing, near the employee parking lot. Out of habit,
I entered there. Nurses, orderlies, and doctors all greeted me as I made my way
to Richard’s office.
entrance was on the women’s wing, near the employee parking lot. Out of habit,
I entered there. Nurses, orderlies, and doctors all greeted me as I made my way
to Richard’s office.
Richard was
seated at his desk. "Hey, Vivi. Come on in." He rebuttoned the collar
of his white, custom-fitted dress shirt.
seated at his desk. "Hey, Vivi. Come on in." He rebuttoned the collar
of his white, custom-fitted dress shirt.
"Howdy."
I shut the door behind me and went to the leather couch. It was overstuffed
with a high back and deep seat. I felt small on it, but that was part of
Richard’s evil plot. Plus, it would have been impossible to fall off it while
under hypnosis. It cradled me.
I shut the door behind me and went to the leather couch. It was overstuffed
with a high back and deep seat. I felt small on it, but that was part of
Richard’s evil plot. Plus, it would have been impossible to fall off it while
under hypnosis. It cradled me.
"What part
of my psyche are we going to poke today?"
of my psyche are we going to poke today?"
Richard folded
his arms on the desk, a pen flapping in one hand as he looked me over. "I
want to revisit your early days," he said. "I’ve been going through
the transcripts of our sessions, compiling them, and there are a couple things
I’d like to revisit."
his arms on the desk, a pen flapping in one hand as he looked me over. "I
want to revisit your early days," he said. "I’ve been going through
the transcripts of our sessions, compiling them, and there are a couple things
I’d like to revisit."
"Let’s get
to it then."
to it then."
The first time I
met Richard, back in the early days, he was finishing his last year as a
graduate student in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois. He
was in Peoria doing an internship at the counseling center, and Abram had
dragged me there to get my head fixed—at the junior high principal’s request.
met Richard, back in the early days, he was finishing his last year as a
graduate student in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois. He
was in Peoria doing an internship at the counseling center, and Abram had
dragged me there to get my head fixed—at the junior high principal’s request.
Back then,
Richard had a long ponytail and was every teenage girl’s dream of the older
college boy. I was only thirteen, and he was taller than me, though that
changed when I had my growth spurt a few years later.
Richard had a long ponytail and was every teenage girl’s dream of the older
college boy. I was only thirteen, and he was taller than me, though that
changed when I had my growth spurt a few years later.
Thirteen-year-old
Me had gone into his office with a chip on my shoulder, hating Abram, hating my
illness, and hating Dr. Richard Reuter before I’d even met him.
Me had gone into his office with a chip on my shoulder, hating Abram, hating my
illness, and hating Dr. Richard Reuter before I’d even met him.
He'd appeared in
the waiting room and asked, "Viviane? Right? Would you come with me?"
the waiting room and asked, "Viviane? Right? Would you come with me?"
"I don’t
got a choice."
got a choice."
Abram hissed,
"Hey," at me, and said "Be nice."
"Hey," at me, and said "Be nice."
"Yeah,
sure."
sure."
I walked into
the office and went straight to a chair, flopped there, and crossed my arms on
my chest. The first thing I noticed that interested me was the plate of cookies
on the coffee table. They were chocolate chip and appeared homemade. I
pretended not to see them. I didn’t want him to think I was going to stay all
that long, and besides, my stomach didn’t feel too good.
the office and went straight to a chair, flopped there, and crossed my arms on
my chest. The first thing I noticed that interested me was the plate of cookies
on the coffee table. They were chocolate chip and appeared homemade. I
pretended not to see them. I didn’t want him to think I was going to stay all
that long, and besides, my stomach didn’t feel too good.
Richard sat in
the chair opposite me and watched me for a full minute. Finally, he asked,
"How old are you?"
the chair opposite me and watched me for a full minute. Finally, he asked,
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
It was a bold-faced lie.
It was a bold-faced lie.
"I know
you’re lying."
you’re lying."
I asked,
"How old are you?"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-nine."
"Are you
gay?" I said with vehemence, calculating his possible reactions.
gay?" I said with vehemence, calculating his possible reactions.
He didn’t even
flinch. "Viviane, do you know why your grandfather brought you here?"
flinch. "Viviane, do you know why your grandfather brought you here?"
"Because
he’s a sociopath afraid of being noticed. I draw attention to him, and he wants
me to stop."
he’s a sociopath afraid of being noticed. I draw attention to him, and he wants
me to stop."
He smiled at
that, and for the first time, but not the last, I thought how handsome he was.
that, and for the first time, but not the last, I thought how handsome he was.
In that first
session, he didn't hypnotize me, though later, it became a regular part of our
therapy sessions. Richard felt it was the best way to track down the source of
my hallucinations. He would take me back to the time before my first
hallucination, and we'd go over the events of a day or two in each session,
gradually working forward through my memories. It was my own personal
reality-TV show.
session, he didn't hypnotize me, though later, it became a regular part of our
therapy sessions. Richard felt it was the best way to track down the source of
my hallucinations. He would take me back to the time before my first
hallucination, and we'd go over the events of a day or two in each session,
gradually working forward through my memories. It was my own personal
reality-TV show.
One time, I had
what can only be described as a past-life memory, or maybe a dream. Both
Richard and I waved it off as an aberration, though I never forgot it. The
dream had been wonderful, about a place with emerald hills, crystal streams,
and a palace that felt like home. Whenever I thought about it, I could still
imagine the smell of honeysuckle on the breeze.
what can only be described as a past-life memory, or maybe a dream. Both
Richard and I waved it off as an aberration, though I never forgot it. The
dream had been wonderful, about a place with emerald hills, crystal streams,
and a palace that felt like home. Whenever I thought about it, I could still
imagine the smell of honeysuckle on the breeze.
Twenty years
later, I was thirty-three, and our regressions were catching up to the
conscious flow of time. In the hypnosis sessions, he recorded my soul in bits
and pieces, saved forever as audio recordings, transcribed to digital
documents, and printed out on paper. He kept the files in his cabinets.
later, I was thirty-three, and our regressions were catching up to the
conscious flow of time. In the hypnosis sessions, he recorded my soul in bits
and pieces, saved forever as audio recordings, transcribed to digital
documents, and printed out on paper. He kept the files in his cabinets.
I’d often
wondered what would happen when we finally caught up to the present moment.
Maybe I’d die. Maybe he’d die. Maybe the entire world would end as the
Ouroboros swallowed its own tail.
wondered what would happen when we finally caught up to the present moment.
Maybe I’d die. Maybe he’d die. Maybe the entire world would end as the
Ouroboros swallowed its own tail.
"All
right." Richard got up from his desk. "I’m ready, if you are."
He sat in the chair opposite me and leaned forward to turn on the metronome.
right." Richard got up from his desk. "I’m ready, if you are."
He sat in the chair opposite me and leaned forward to turn on the metronome.
I said,
"Take me to a happy day."
"Take me to a happy day."
"You know
the drill. Close your eyes, relax, and remember."
the drill. Close your eyes, relax, and remember."
Not every tick
and tock of the metronome sounded the same. The differences were subtle, but
they were there if I listened for them. It was a song without rhyme or reason.
and tock of the metronome sounded the same. The differences were subtle, but
they were there if I listened for them. It was a song without rhyme or reason.
It started small
and distant: tick.
and distant: tick.
The cuckoo clock
on the wall at Abram’s house had to be wound. I loved pulling the chains that
raised the heavy, metal pinecones. Tock. It had been my job, every morning,
when I was a kid. My body rocked to the beat: tick tock. Time ebbed, and space
flowed. My spine relaxed. Tick. Gravity released me. Tock. The metronome sang
its song in my belly. Tick tock. I was energy, and I radiated.
on the wall at Abram’s house had to be wound. I loved pulling the chains that
raised the heavy, metal pinecones. Tock. It had been my job, every morning,
when I was a kid. My body rocked to the beat: tick tock. Time ebbed, and space
flowed. My spine relaxed. Tick. Gravity released me. Tock. The metronome sang
its song in my belly. Tick tock. I was energy, and I radiated.
"We’re
going to continue our journey back in time," Richard said. The waves of
his voice rippled through me, and the present faded into the background.
going to continue our journey back in time," Richard said. The waves of
his voice rippled through me, and the present faded into the background.
I followed the
metronome down into a trance. We had a signal. I raised a finger to indicate
that I was ready to begin.
metronome down into a trance. We had a signal. I raised a finger to indicate
that I was ready to begin.
"Go
back," Richard suggested, "to the moment when you first met Simon,
when you were thirteen."
back," Richard suggested, "to the moment when you first met Simon,
when you were thirteen."
The scene formed
around me, inside me, throughout me.
around me, inside me, throughout me.
"Describe
it to me."
it to me."
I’m home, and
I’m taking a shower. There’s blood running down my leg. It’s swirling in the
water and spinning down the drain. I know what it is. Lettie’s had hers since
last year, and she took me to buy the stuff I’d need. I’m really glad I didn’t
have to do that with my grandpa.
I’m taking a shower. There’s blood running down my leg. It’s swirling in the
water and spinning down the drain. I know what it is. Lettie’s had hers since
last year, and she took me to buy the stuff I’d need. I’m really glad I didn’t
have to do that with my grandpa.
Lettie and me,
we read the little instruction book that came in the box and made fun of the
pictures. She warned me how it would be, the cramps and mess, but it’s worse
when it’s actually happening. It’s scary and weird. I keep thinking that my
blood is supposed to stay in my body.
we read the little instruction book that came in the box and made fun of the
pictures. She warned me how it would be, the cramps and mess, but it’s worse
when it’s actually happening. It’s scary and weird. I keep thinking that my
blood is supposed to stay in my body.
So, I’m standing
there in the shower, watching my blood drain away, and I’m trying not to cry,
wondering if I’m going to die, and that’s when I hear a man. He sounds like
James Bond. "You’re probably not going to die."
there in the shower, watching my blood drain away, and I’m trying not to cry,
wondering if I’m going to die, and that’s when I hear a man. He sounds like
James Bond. "You’re probably not going to die."
I scream and
cover my private parts with my hands, but no one’s there.
cover my private parts with my hands, but no one’s there.
The voice says,
"What I mean is, you are going to be just fine." But nobody’s there.
I’m freaking out. I jump out of the shower and run through the house. I’m
screaming.
"What I mean is, you are going to be just fine." But nobody’s there.
I’m freaking out. I jump out of the shower and run through the house. I’m
screaming.
The voice is
following me. "Oh, lass, it’s okay."
following me. "Oh, lass, it’s okay."
I streak into
the kitchen, and my grandpa is there, trying to calm me down.
the kitchen, and my grandpa is there, trying to calm me down.
I’m crying,
naked and wet, shaking all over, blood staining my leg, and Grandpa thinks I’m
upset because of my period, but that isn’t it. It’s the man talking to me right
next to my ear, when there’s nobody there.
naked and wet, shaking all over, blood staining my leg, and Grandpa thinks I’m
upset because of my period, but that isn’t it. It’s the man talking to me right
next to my ear, when there’s nobody there.
He says his name
is Simon.
is Simon.
The metronome
sang. Tick. Tock.
sang. Tick. Tock.
Angel Leigh McCoy wears author, game designer, and audiobook narrator hats—sometimes simultaneously. She is the creative force behind the Wyrdwood series of novels and the Dire Multiverse audio drama. She was a senior writer on the award-winning video games CONTROL and GUILD WARS 2. Her work on the White Wolf World of Darkness series included books for Mage, Vampire, Changeling, and several others. She was also the first female game designer on the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS team at Wizards of the Coast. These days, she works from home and is intent on building her own epic worlds, including Wyrdwood and the Dire Multiverse. Her cats approve.
Prizes:
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Audible.com 3-month membership (or 3 credits if you’re already a
member). Entitles you to partake of the Audible Originals titles offered free
each month to members. (all-told, a $45 value) If you’ve ever wanted to try
audiobooks, this is the time.
Audible.com 3-month membership (or 3 credits if you’re already a
member). Entitles you to partake of the Audible Originals titles offered free
each month to members. (all-told, a $45 value) If you’ve ever wanted to try
audiobooks, this is the time.
5
- Wyrdwood Welcome Swag Bags
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Each swag bag includes:
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MOON, Wyrdwood Welcome Book #2, due for release on May 15, 2020.
MOON, Wyrdwood Welcome Book #2, due for release on May 15, 2020.
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Interview by Angel Leigh McCoy
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
I confess, I’m a control freak, and I’m also forgetful. That combination means I plot everything out very carefully in advance. I outline thoroughly before I start writing. Having said that, however, the characters don’t always obey. Quite often, they take me in a direction I hadn’t planned. They can be naughty (and wonderful) like that. I love it when they surprise me.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
You’d be joining me on an epic journey that doesn’t end with just one book! I’ve been working on the world of Wyrdwood for many years, and I have a vision for not just one novel, but multiple series of novels, all set in the Wyrdwood universe.
This novel won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. The kind of people who will enjoy it are those who want a more immersive and epic experience. I’m not offering snacks; I’m offering a many-course meal.
In the Wyrdwood world, all those creatures, gods, and races we’ve heard about as stories and mythology actually did/do exist, and they’ve been breeding with each other and with humans for millennia. The magick in their blood gets passed to their descendents, sometimes watered down.
Normals (those humans without magickal blood or ancestry) have historically persecuted anyone different from them. Therefore, the magickal races have kept themselves closeted. The clash between Magickal and Normal people will be a regular theme in the books.
My novels and novellas focus on specific characters who are dealing with some aspect of the magickal. The genres may vary, but the world won’t. I already have ideas for a trilogy of romances and another of cozy mysteries, all set in Wyrdwood. The sky’s the limit!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes! I have the second book in the Wyrdwood Welcome trilogy ready to go, and I’m actively working on the third book. I also have the first book in my Wyrdwood Romance trilogy written, and half the first book in the Wyrdwood Cemetery trilogy written (waiting to be completed).
Pen or type writer or computer?
Computer, definitely. It’s sad, but I find it hard to write anything by hand anymore. I’m so out of practice! I have a laptop I write on when I want to be mobile, and sometimes I use my iPad too. Mostly, though, I’m installed in front of my desktop computer, tapping away at the keys. It’s my happy place. 😊
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
It is going to be a great pleasure to meet you and to welcome you to Wyrdwood. If you’re familiar with my previous work on video games (Guild Wars 2 and Remedy’s CONTROL), then it’ll be awesome to reconnect! You’re more than welcome to contact me via email, Facebook, or Twitter. You can find all my contact information at WyrdwoodAngel.com. So, hello! I look forward to forging a lifelong friendship.
Teresa, thanks very much for giving me this opportunity to reveal my project on your blog. You’ve done this humble writer a great service.
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