Today I’m posting an introduction to Shade that includes the description from Amazon.com as well as what others are saying about the book. Also included are the video book trailer and a brief bio of the author John Olson. Check back tomorrow to find out what I thought about Shade.
THE BOOK:
Book Description (from Amazon.com)
“You will not fear the terror of the night.” —Psalm 91
A monstrous waking nightmare is pursuing graduate student Hailey Maniates across San Francisco to Golden Gate Park where she is rescued by a towering homeless man. She seems able to read her rescuer’s mind, but is it just a delusion? Doctors diagnose her as a paranoid schizophrenic and attempt to prescribe away her alleged hallucinations. But too many questions remain around Hailey and the man who saved her. He appears to suffer from her same mental condition and is convinced that some type of Gypsy vampire is trying to kill them both.
Against reason, Hailey finds herself more and more attracted to this strange man. But what if he is a fantasy? What if he is the monster?
Endorsements:
“From its stunning first scene to its heartwarming last, Shade is a striking tale of mystery and danger that kept me hooked. This is Olson’s finest work yet, and reading it, one gets the feeling he’s just getting warmed up.”
Robin Parrish, author of Relentless and Merciless
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“Unseen enemies. Questioned sanity. The weighing of reality. All the things I like in a book! The shadows are not silent. I lost sleep over this book. I got goose bumps from this book. The kind of scary that you crave and cringe at, Shade offers up a monster made more frightening by its originality. Thanks a lot, John Olson–because of you, I will not walk alone at night for a long time to come.”
— Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve
“John B. Olson is a seasoned storyteller, and Shade is quite a story! As the heat turns up, and as menacing tones and brooding characters abound, the theme of God’s grace boils to the surface. A few years back, Olson gave us a new twist on Jekyll & Hyde; now he puts his own fast-paced spin on the Dracula story. I can only hope there’s a sequel in the works!”
Eric Wilson, author of Field of Blood and A Shred of Truth
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“Shade is a smart, gripping thriller. John B. Olson whips you along in a breakneck odyssey through a hellish paradise lost–and keeps you up all night doing it.”
Melanie Wells, author of My Soul to Keep and When the Day of Evil Comes —
“Things that go bump in the night are not all figments of overwrought imaginations or evidence of mental illness. As our heroine discovers, evil personified preys on the ignorance of its victims. Lock your doors and windows, leave the lights on, and hunker down for a splendid, spine-chilling read.”
Donita K. Paul, author of the DragonKeeper Chronicles
SHADE TRAILER:
JOHN OLSON:
John Olson is an award-winning novelist and speaker who lives with his wife Amy and two children in San Leandro, CA. John earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did postdoctoral research at the University of California at San Francisco. After eight years as a director and principal scientist at a major scientific software company, John has quit his day job to devote himself full-time to a ministry of writing and speaking. He has won several awards for his writing, including a Christy Award, a Christy finalist, a Silver Angel award, and placement on the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age.
Learn more about John Olson and his books at his web site.
Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament at Vanguard University, in Costa Mesa, California. A professional storyteller, he is the author of the highly-acclaimed Christmas stories When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four (in trade adult and children’s picture book editions) and Givers of Gifts; plus Irony in Mark’s Gospeland Grapevine: A Spirituality of Gossip. His passion is theology and storytelling, which he believes are meant to go together. Jerry and his wife, Shaleen, are the parents of three children.
BOOK SUMMARY:
A grandfather’s song turns a diner into hallowed ground, like a church. A contrary girl with a gypsy heart feels the tug of home. A mother, far away, confronts impossible expectations. And a truck driver named Jedidiah keeps his foot on the gas to sweep you into an unforgettable story of belonging and grace.
Readers looking for a meaningful, powerful read on a winter’s evening or with the family will love the rich 1960s nostalgia captured in the Midwest of Jedidiah’s and Ellee’s story; the peace found when family strife boils over, and the gentle reminders of the influence and effect every life has on another.
My Mother’s Wish is an unforgettable, powerful tale that ends on a memorable Christmastime note, but will be cherished and reread year-round for its bold message of grand hopes, impossible expectations, and the gift of grace that comes in between.
You can purchase a copy of My Mother’s Wish at: Amazon.com
My Mother’s Wish is the story of Elee McKutcheon, a young midwestern girl who has always walked to the beat of a different drummer. The only thing she has ever wanted was to be recognized for who she really is rather than who her mother wants her to be or a duplicate of her older sister.
The story is both humorous and compassionate as it highlights people and incidents that shape Elee’s life. Elee’s climactic experience at the Comeback Cafe and with Jedidiah opens her spirit to true acceptance and grace.
My Mother’s Wish is a short but profound look at the importance of love and acceptance. It will probably take more than one read to really plumb the depths of all the treasures this little book has to offer.
Fascinated by the Amish people during the years of visiting her husband’s family in Pennsylvania, WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER combined her interest with her writing and now has eleven novels about the Amish in print, along with numerous other stories and ministry booklets. She lives in Washington State, where her husband is a pastor, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements throughout the states.
Step into Amish country for this bittersweet holiday romance. Here you’ll meet Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, and Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers. Add a desperate father searching for his son, and you have all the ingredients for a first-class romance that will inspire and enthrall.
Abandoned by his father, Will Henderson was raised by an Amish couple. Now he’s about to marry Karen Yoder but is having second thoughts. Can Will overcome the bitterness of his past in order to secure his future? Karen cannot break through the barrier her fiance has suddenly constructed around his heart. When she seeks the advice of an old boyfriend, Will begins to see green. Has he already lost his chance for happiness?
When an accident threatens Will’s life, the strength of blood ties is tested. Will a recipe for White Christmas pie contain the ingredients for a happily-ever-after?
Travis Thrasher, suspense, adventure and drama novelist, shares thoughts about his new supernatural thriller, “Isolation.” With the dream of being a writer since the third grade, his first novel, “The Promise Remains,” was published in 1998 and received accolades from Publisher’s Weekly, which said it was “one of the nicest surprises in CBA fiction.” Now, with nine additional published books, Thrasher is known as a writer who remains ever-changing, tackling and succeeding in various genres. His newest novel, “Isolation,” is masterfully written and will keep readers on edge until the chilling end.
WHAT:
“Authors at Abunga” Weekly Online Chat with Travis Thrasher at Abunga.com, an online bookstore offering family-friendly materials.
“Isolation” is a thrilling mystery about a missionary family that moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, thinking they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined – spiritually and physically. Thrasher weaves suspense and drama into this gripping story centered around fear and faith.
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“You will not fear the terror of the night.” —Psalm 91
John Olson is an award-winning novelist and speaker who lives with his wife Amy and two children in San Leandro, CA. John earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did postdoctoral research at the University of California at San Francisco. After eight years as a director and principal scientist at a major scientific software company, John has quit his day job to devote himself full-time to a ministry of writing and speaking. He has won several awards for his writing, including a Christy Award, a Christy finalist, a Silver Angel award, and placement on the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age.
