Between
the Bleeding Willows
Demon
Hunters Series
Book
One
D.A.
Roach
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Date of Publication: March 8,
2016
ISBN: 1680585274
ASIN: B01C4VVPII
Number of pages: 282
Word Count: about 64,000
Cover Artist: Deranged Doctor
Design
Book Description:
At eighteen years old, Cassidy
has suffered more loss than most…
At the end of her senior year,
her boyfriend, Jace Peters, was killed in a car accident, and her grandmother
died only weeks later of a heart attack. Emotionally lost, Cassidy desperately searches
for an heirloom her boyfriend was wearing in the crash—her mother’s gold ring.
But during her search, Cassidy discovers more than her ring.
She finds a gate to the Demon
Realm….
A battle is brewing, and
Killian—head of the Demon hunters—preps his Clan for the approaching conflict.
They’ve been working to secure the gate between his realm and the mortal world.
But it’s been nearly impossible since Rya—a voracious demon on a quest to
expand her power—devoured the soul of his Clan’s necromancer. Now Rya is
possessed with the necromancer’s powers and she may break through the gate at
any moment.
Apparently Rya isn’t the only one
Killian has to worry about…
When Cassidy accidentally crosses
into the Demon Realm, Killian can’t understand how a human girl survived the
transition. Now he has to find a way to return her to her own world, or risk
her being caught in the crossfire, which is a complication he definitely
doesn’t need. Once back in the Human Realm, Cassidy readies herself for battle.
She signs up for Krav Maga classes, where she meets Tyler Romaitis—a handsome,
tenacious, humble guy. He seems almost perfect, but nothing is ever that easy.
And as the balance between good
and evil shifts, Cassidy finds herself—and her ring—at the heart of the
conflict for the survival of mankind.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/gBICLCIVERw
Excerpt:
I had no idea
where the path would lead me, but I told myself I’d be fine as long as I did
not veer from it. The insects hiding in the foliage sang their quiet night
songs, and fireflies began to twinkle in the shadows, trying to convince me I
made the right choice and would be safe. On the contrary, the trees seemed to
reach out for me, unashamed of their menacing appearance. I walked carefully to
keep my noise down, not wanting to draw attention to myself or scare off the
voice I heard.
The path
continued some ways before it joined with a clearing dotted with headstones.
Blaylock Grove Cemetery. The headstones were in ruins, kicked over by vandals,
no longer marking where the dead were buried. Weeds grew around the grave
markers, and fallen branches cluttered the ground. What the hell was the deal
with this place? There was a bad vibe here.
I crouched next
to a headstone and Googled Blaylock Grove Cemetery. Wikipedia said it was a
small abandoned cemetery that was known for its ghost sightings and haunted
reputation. My arms got goosebumps, but I continued reading through a few
sites. Some believed that the spirits were restless and angry because of the
disrespect for their final resting place. In the 1950s, it became a place where
couples would come to make out. There was also an increase in vandalism, and it
was around this time when the burial ground became known as “haunted.” In the
early 1900’s a mob boss and his goons were rumored to have dumped their
victims’ bodies into the lagoon at the edge of the cemetery. I looked around
and saw a clearing in the treeline ahead; the moon shimmered off of what must
be the lagoon. The image gallery showed photos of the grounds in daytime and
with infrared film. Looking at the images only made me feel even more
unsettled.
“Jace,” the
female voice whispered to my right in a seductive tone. I stood frozen in one
spot, staring in the direction of the voice, staying as silent and statuelike
as I could. In my periphery, I saw a shadowy figure walk across the clearing
toward the voice. I couldn’t make out a face so I stood and followed it, hoping
for a closer look. In my haste, I snapped a branch beneath my foot.
Crap!
The figure
turned toward me. His mouth twisted in a snarl, and his eyes were solid black.
Despite these deformities, the face was familiar. My heart and mind warred with
each other. Instinct told me to get the hell out of there, but my heart still
thrummed for the guy who had captured it four years ago.
Seeing him like
this, though…
Jace Peters was
a good guy, not evil like the demon before me.
The sound of
fast footsteps and cracking branches gained on Jace. I looked to the sound. In
the dim moonlight, I could only see a large, dark figure running at full speed.
Jace took off and darted between two giant willows at the edge of the cemetery.
The dark figure dove at him—and they both vanished before they hit the ground.
What the…?
I grabbed my
backpack and ran to the willows, but there was no sign of them. I ducked under
the weeping branches and studied the base of the tree, searching for any clue.
I grabbed the trunk to steady myself, but quickly retracted my hand when I felt
the wet sticky liquid. Using my phone light to illuminate, I found the willow
trunk coated in a dark sap. Putting my soiled fingers to my nose, I could not
smell a thing. I touched my tongue to it, and tasted the metallic warmth of
blood. Shining the light up the tree top showed me the streaks started as high
as I could see and ran down to the roots. I walked to the other willow and found
it also oozed blood. The leaves and branches were unremarkable; only the trunks
were affected.
Trees didn’t
bleed, so what was going on here? Maybe this place really was haunted. Had I
witnessed two apparitions tonight, one being my dead exboyfriend?
Why was I
blaming this on mystical things? I had never believed in ghosts and I always
thought those Ghosthunters shows preyed on gullible people. Well, I wasn’t a
gullible person, but I sure as hell saw two figures disappear right before my
eyes tonight.
I needed to get
out of there and get home. After I wiped the blood on the weeds below, I
grabbed my backpack. Stepping out from beneath the branches onto the path
between the bleeding willows, I began falling…down…down…down…
About
the Author:
D.A. Roach has been telling
stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she
met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks
after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli.
D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were
immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so
they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and
D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story.
D.A. is a full time mom and wife.
When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing,
reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids' school
landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors
include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L.
James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has
motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in
the world with her art and writing.
"Life isn't about finding
yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
— George Bernard Shaw
WEBSITE:
http://daroachbooks.blogspot.com/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/DARoachDA/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/daroach12books
BOOK GORILLA:
http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00AQNBVH2/daroach
AMAZON AUTHOR PG: http://www.amazon.com/author/daroach
Interview:
Where are you from?
I was born in a south suburb of Chicago and lived in the Homer Glen area most of my life. But once I married, I moved to a suburb of Indianapolis.
Tell us your latest news?
I signed book 2 of the Demon Hunters series, Within the Darkest Hollows. It is set to release in late October. I also am a part of the Detours in our Destinations Anthology that will release this year. Authors contributed uplifting stories of overcoming challenges. Profits will go to a charity to help those that have lost a child. I am also part of the Limitless Publishing Thriller Anthology entitled 13. It will have thirteen Limitless authors presenting thrilling and chilling tales and should release in October of this year.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began about five years ago. When I was a kid, our family went through a tough situation with the help of some strangers. So about five years ago, I was chatting with my dental hygienist and began telling the story to her and she said, “You have got to write that down. That is such an amazing story.” So I wrote it with Createspace and loved the process of writing.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
This fluctuated. First I thought I would feel like a writer after penning my first book, but I still did not proclaim that I was an author. Then I thought maybe after my first paycheck, or review, or contact from a fan. But in all honesty, I proudly proclaimed that I was an author after I published with Limitless Publishing, a small press publisher.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I go somewhere with no Wifi and take pen and paper and hash out my general storyline, characters, and what major events need to happen in the story. Then I head home and get my laptop and begin writing. I use my initial notes to guide me, but I often find myself straying from the path I set out to take.
How did you come up with the title?
For Between the Bleeding Willows, I wanted to incorporate a haunted cemetery that kids talked about in my hometown. It had a lagoon on the property and it was rumored that Mob bosses dumped bodies into that lagoon. So I pictured the cemetery and lagoon and imagined some large willows near the lagoon. I wanted those willows to be significant, not necessarily holding power, but marking a gateway to a demon realm. The willows bleed when the gate has been used, a side effect from the gates energy. In the opening of the book, Cassidy follows a voice into the cemetery and runs between the willows and finds herself in the hands of a band of demon hunters.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There is not one singular theme. One of the minor themes in the book is don’t put someone you love on a glass shelf because you fear they will get broken, they may resent and leave you for holding on too tight.
How much of the book is realistic?
The town Cassidy resides in is real, but everything else is made up.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The cemetery where the gate to the demon realm is based on the Bachelor’s Grove cemetery near the house I grew up in and the town of Homer Glen was my childhood hometown.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Honestly, Stephanie Meyers Twilight series because it made me fall in love with reading and inspired me to write. It’s not my favorite book series, but it was the most influential. I think she did a great job with the storyline, character development, and she had me laughing and falling in love with the Cullen family.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
JK Rowling. She is a master storyteller! To create an imaginative world that old and young would enjoy reading is a true talent.
What book are you reading now?
Pucked Up, a hockey romance for adults.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Yes! I met a bunch of authors at UtopYA Con this past week and am excited for many of their books. Mary Shotwell’s Weariland Kelly Martin’s Hart Sarah J. Pepper’s Twisted Games Zach Chopchinski’s The Curious Tale of Gabrielle Jaci Wheeler’s United series
What are your current projects?
I’m working on book 3 of the Demon Hunters series. Edits for book 2 will start in August. I am also in the brainstorming phase of writing with author Bradon Nave for a book we will coauthor.
What would you like my readers to know?
A few reviewers commented that it reminded them of the Mortal Instruments story but with it’s own story. And those that enjoy paranormal stories have said that it is unlike any other they have read and it has renewed their love for this genre. I, personally, am too close to the story to brag on it, but I truly enjoyed crafting this world, the rules that govern it, and the characters that venture through the plot. I hope you give it a try and enjoy the adventure. Thank you for having me!
Where are you from?
I was born in a south suburb of Chicago and lived in the Homer Glen area most of my life. But once I married, I moved to a suburb of Indianapolis.
Tell us your latest news?
I signed book 2 of the Demon Hunters series, Within the Darkest Hollows. It is set to release in late October. I also am a part of the Detours in our Destinations Anthology that will release this year. Authors contributed uplifting stories of overcoming challenges. Profits will go to a charity to help those that have lost a child. I am also part of the Limitless Publishing Thriller Anthology entitled 13. It will have thirteen Limitless authors presenting thrilling and chilling tales and should release in October of this year.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began about five years ago. When I was a kid, our family went through a tough situation with the help of some strangers. So about five years ago, I was chatting with my dental hygienist and began telling the story to her and she said, “You have got to write that down. That is such an amazing story.” So I wrote it with Createspace and loved the process of writing.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
This fluctuated. First I thought I would feel like a writer after penning my first book, but I still did not proclaim that I was an author. Then I thought maybe after my first paycheck, or review, or contact from a fan. But in all honesty, I proudly proclaimed that I was an author after I published with Limitless Publishing, a small press publisher.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I go somewhere with no Wifi and take pen and paper and hash out my general storyline, characters, and what major events need to happen in the story. Then I head home and get my laptop and begin writing. I use my initial notes to guide me, but I often find myself straying from the path I set out to take.
How did you come up with the title?
For Between the Bleeding Willows, I wanted to incorporate a haunted cemetery that kids talked about in my hometown. It had a lagoon on the property and it was rumored that Mob bosses dumped bodies into that lagoon. So I pictured the cemetery and lagoon and imagined some large willows near the lagoon. I wanted those willows to be significant, not necessarily holding power, but marking a gateway to a demon realm. The willows bleed when the gate has been used, a side effect from the gates energy. In the opening of the book, Cassidy follows a voice into the cemetery and runs between the willows and finds herself in the hands of a band of demon hunters.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There is not one singular theme. One of the minor themes in the book is don’t put someone you love on a glass shelf because you fear they will get broken, they may resent and leave you for holding on too tight.
How much of the book is realistic?
The town Cassidy resides in is real, but everything else is made up.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The cemetery where the gate to the demon realm is based on the Bachelor’s Grove cemetery near the house I grew up in and the town of Homer Glen was my childhood hometown.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Honestly, Stephanie Meyers Twilight series because it made me fall in love with reading and inspired me to write. It’s not my favorite book series, but it was the most influential. I think she did a great job with the storyline, character development, and she had me laughing and falling in love with the Cullen family.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
JK Rowling. She is a master storyteller! To create an imaginative world that old and young would enjoy reading is a true talent.
What book are you reading now?
Pucked Up, a hockey romance for adults.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Yes! I met a bunch of authors at UtopYA Con this past week and am excited for many of their books. Mary Shotwell’s Weariland Kelly Martin’s Hart Sarah J. Pepper’s Twisted Games Zach Chopchinski’s The Curious Tale of Gabrielle Jaci Wheeler’s United series
What are your current projects?
I’m working on book 3 of the Demon Hunters series. Edits for book 2 will start in August. I am also in the brainstorming phase of writing with author Bradon Nave for a book we will coauthor.
What would you like my readers to know?
A few reviewers commented that it reminded them of the Mortal Instruments story but with it’s own story. And those that enjoy paranormal stories have said that it is unlike any other they have read and it has renewed their love for this genre. I, personally, am too close to the story to brag on it, but I truly enjoyed crafting this world, the rules that govern it, and the characters that venture through the plot. I hope you give it a try and enjoy the adventure. Thank you for having me!
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