Title: A Hidden Element
Author: Donna Galanti
Publisher: Imajin Books
Pages: 226
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Format: Paperback/Kindle
When
Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a
secret community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to
save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him.
Seven years later, Laura and
Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son
who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own
them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown.
Laura
and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the
world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must
he sacrifice what he most desires to do so.
Book Excerpt:
Silent dark hung under a star-filled sky.
The dark deepened as they headed into the forest. Ancient
conifers towered over them, blocking out the moon. Rain fell cold and lifeless.
The nearest town of Benevolence Oregon
Caleb Madroc’s father stood across from him, waiting for his
people to gather their belongings. Their pale faces glowed like orbs within
gray hooded robes as they waited for his father’s instruction.
“We head toward town,” his father ordered. Caleb opened his
mouth, but there were no words for his feelings of anger and loss at suddenly
leaving the only home he’d ever known. It raged inside him, a tumult of emotion
he must quell for now. At least his own black hair, like his face, was a
constant reminder of his mother to his father. This made him glad.
Caleb shut his mouth and nodded, stepping in behind his
father. Rain fell cold and lifeless. He fell behind as he helped the womenfolk
with their bags. One young female sent him a furtive, desperate look as she
touched his hand in passing.
I’m so scared. What will happen to us?
He smiled at her. Keep your thoughts to yourself. It’s
safer this way. All will work out once we settle. She bit her lip, her eyes
full of tears, and nodded looking back down at her feet.
“Father, how much further? Some of the younger females are
struggling,” Caleb said.
His father’s eyes stung him through the mist rising up from
the forest floor. They were eyes so different from his, and from his mother’s.
Caleb had often seen sadness and pity for his father in his mother’s eyes. The
day he had found her dead in the well her eyes held only nothingness.
“Can’t we stop and rest, Adrian
“We do not stop.” His father’s voice rose over the line of
people before him, and he smiled back at the female and a strange sense of
relief washed over Caleb. If his father did create a new prodigal son to groom
it might remove his first born from his watchful eye.
With that thought, anguish over his mother’s absence hit him
fresh again. At eighteen and bigger than his father, he still needed his
mother. She had been his kindred spirit, like Uncle Brahm. But now he was alone
in this strange place. No longer did he have someone to be his true self with.
He must step carefully.
His father continued to scan his flock. They stood still and
silent, conveying their subservience. He nodded, apparently satisfied with
their response. “You all took the oath to come here. Hard work lies before us
in breeding our new community. Understood?”
They nodded in a collective wave.
Just like you bred with Aunt Manta while your wife lay dead? Caleb spewed
out in his head without thinking.
His father moved closer, until his flaring nostrils touched
his. Caleb stepped back, but his father gripped his arm. Dozens of eyes watched
their battle.
Do not ever mention my brother’s wife’s name again, Son.
About the Author
Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam
as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is an International Thriller
Writers Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A Human Element,
the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The
Lightning Road.
She’s lived from England Hawaii Pennsylvania
Her latest book is the paranormal romance, A
Hidden Element.
Interview:
Where are you from?
I mostly grew up in Upstate New York and my hometown is actually the setting of book 1 in my paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element. I was born in Washington Court House, Ohio (an actual town!) but soon after adopting me my parents moved us all over from England to New Hampshire.
Tell us your latest news?
Book 2 in my Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element, is out! In it evil lurks within...One family must risk everything to defeat a nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, but their enemy’s own son may be their only hope to escape—if he survives.
Book 2 in my Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element, is out! In it evil lurks within...One family must risk everything to defeat a nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, but their enemy’s own son may be their only hope to escape—if he survives.
When and why did you begin writing?
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. I knew I was born to be a writer. It’s all I ever burned to do. I began writing plays and acting them out with neighborhood kids when I was seven and moved to short stories as I became a tween. I began writing novels five years ago out of my grief over my mother’s death.
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. I knew I was born to be a writer. It’s all I ever burned to do. I began writing plays and acting them out with neighborhood kids when I was seven and moved to short stories as I became a tween. I began writing novels five years ago out of my grief over my mother’s death.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I am fascinated by the power of the brain and how little we use. We are not even close to tapping our potential of brainpower. Writing in the paranormal allows me to tap into the “what if”. What if we possessed the power to do the unbelievable? Like telepathy, telekinesis. And what if we could use those powers to heal – or to kill? Some people like to imagine that aliens would have such power, as eluded to in A Hidden Element, but what if it was inside us all along and we just had to tap into it?
I am fascinated by the power of the brain and how little we use. We are not even close to tapping our potential of brainpower. Writing in the paranormal allows me to tap into the “what if”. What if we possessed the power to do the unbelievable? Like telepathy, telekinesis. And what if we could use those powers to heal – or to kill? Some people like to imagine that aliens would have such power, as eluded to in A Hidden Element, but what if it was inside us all along and we just had to tap into it?
Do you have a specific writing style?
I look at each chapter as a short story in itself. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end–and I love ending my chapters on cliffhangers that raise a question and (hopefully) beg the reader to keep turning the pages.
I look at each chapter as a short story in itself. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end–and I love ending my chapters on cliffhangers that raise a question and (hopefully) beg the reader to keep turning the pages.
How did you come up with the title?
Like all my titles come to me–in a vision! A Hidden Element deals with the dark hidden within us, that we can choose to give in to or not. The title also was a natural extension of book 1, A Human Element, and the third book to be written, A Healing Element, will bring the story full circle.
Like all my titles come to me–in a vision! A Hidden Element deals with the dark hidden within us, that we can choose to give in to or not. The title also was a natural extension of book 1, A Human Element, and the third book to be written, A Healing Element, will bring the story full circle.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I believe the story of A Hidden Element contains universal elements that people can relate to; abandonment, loss, redemption, acceptance, grief, and yearning for something you can never have. I write from the dark side with a glimpse of hope and am drawn to writing the tormented hero’s journey–and tormented villain’s. I enjoy creating empathy for both by blurring the lines between good and evil. And I especially enjoy using the paranormal elements of mind control to shake the foundation of my character’s world. Relinquishing the struggle to belong can lead to self-acceptance and choosing love over hate leads to peace. These are the themes I am drawn to writing about.
I believe the story of A Hidden Element contains universal elements that people can relate to; abandonment, loss, redemption, acceptance, grief, and yearning for something you can never have. I write from the dark side with a glimpse of hope and am drawn to writing the tormented hero’s journey–and tormented villain’s. I enjoy creating empathy for both by blurring the lines between good and evil. And I especially enjoy using the paranormal elements of mind control to shake the foundation of my character’s world. Relinquishing the struggle to belong can lead to self-acceptance and choosing love over hate leads to peace. These are the themes I am drawn to writing about.
How much of the book is realistic?
While there are unrealistic paranormal and science fiction elements to A Hidden Element, there are some very real dimensions played out. These include the tensions within a family, specifically between fathers and sons, and the dilemma posed of how far a parent will go to save a child.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not at all! This book takes place in an entirely made up location and the characters are from my own imagination. However, book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element, includes much of my life from being stationed as a U.S. Naval Photographer in Hawaii to my college town and to the country town I grew up at in Upstate New York.
Not at all! This book takes place in an entirely made up location and the characters are from my own imagination. However, book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element, includes much of my life from being stationed as a U.S. Naval Photographer in Hawaii to my college town and to the country town I grew up at in Upstate New York.
What books have most influenced your life?I would have to say The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I re-read the entire set every other year because I am fascinated by her life. She represents a defining span of time in American history. A time when folks lived off the land, began migrating West, lived amongst the Indians, and finally put down roots to settle the West and close the frontier. I think, if she can live and survive through all that I can surely adapt to whatever life throws my way–and not only survive, but thrive. Her books also were a big part of my growing up, and I wanted to be her. She was my hero. Reading her books reminds me of what it was like to be a child again with my whole life just waiting to happen. I like to think we can continue to feel that way at 25 or 45 or 65.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Dean Koontz. Why? Because he writes the tormented hero and that appeals to me. His characters suffer and love and adapt and have self-reliance, and love, at the core of their strength. I adore character-driven stories about; who they are, what drives them, what happens to them, and how they deal with it.
Dean Koontz. Why? Because he writes the tormented hero and that appeals to me. His characters suffer and love and adapt and have self-reliance, and love, at the core of their strength. I adore character-driven stories about; who they are, what drives them, what happens to them, and how they deal with it.
What book are you reading now?
I have a few on my nightstand I rotate reading! Dean Koontz: A Writer’s Biography by Katherine Ramsland (non-fiction),The Art of Floating by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe (women’s fiction), and Ranger’s Apprentice: Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan (fantasy). I guess you could say that I like to read across genres.
I have a few on my nightstand I rotate reading! Dean Koontz: A Writer’s Biography by Katherine Ramsland (non-fiction),The Art of Floating by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe (women’s fiction), and Ranger’s Apprentice: Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan (fantasy). I guess you could say that I like to read across genres.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Jandy Nelson, who writes contemporary young adult with a beautiful, poetic style.
Jandy Nelson, who writes contemporary young adult with a beautiful, poetic style.
What are your current projects?
I am now plotting the third and final book in the Element Trilogy, A Healing Element, and also a young adult medieval fantasy series. I also write children’s books and in 2015 have the first two books coming out in my middle grade adventure fantasy series, Joshua and the Lightning Road. In book 1, Joshua Cooper learns the hard way that lightning never strikes by chance, when a bolt strikes his house and whisks him on an adventure to a world where stolen kids are work slaves for the frustrated heirs of the Greek Olympians. You can learn more about it here: www.donnagalanti.com
I am now plotting the third and final book in the Element Trilogy, A Healing Element, and also a young adult medieval fantasy series. I also write children’s books and in 2015 have the first two books coming out in my middle grade adventure fantasy series, Joshua and the Lightning Road. In book 1, Joshua Cooper learns the hard way that lightning never strikes by chance, when a bolt strikes his house and whisks him on an adventure to a world where stolen kids are work slaves for the frustrated heirs of the Greek Olympians. You can learn more about it here: www.donnagalanti.com
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?
I meet up with a wonderfully supportive group of women writers one day during the week at Wegman’s Café, where we write, share advice, help each other with story issues, and enjoy lunch. We can write alone, but we certainly can’t make it alone in this publishing industry.
For More Information
- Visit Donna Galanti’s website.
- Connect with Donna on Facebook and Twitter.
- Visit Donna’s blog.
- More books by Donna Galanti.
BUY THE ELEMENT TRILOGY BOOKS:Purchase Book 2 in the Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element: http://amzn.to/1zjpIjM
Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element: http://amzn.to/1mNcyCO
ON SALE NOW FOR JUST $.99cents!
Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element: http://amzn.to/1mNcyCO
ON SALE NOW FOR JUST $.99cents!
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