Chess Desalls is one of my Twitter buddies and we always seem to find ourselves doing author slots in the same events. We both write Young Adult Fantasy and when I was offered a chance to do a promo spot for her blog tour, I was more than happy to do so.
Lantern
by Chess Desalls
Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi
Pages: 118
Release Date: December 11th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother’s estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it’s a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.
by Chess Desalls
Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi
Pages: 118
Release Date: December 11th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother’s estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it’s a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.
Buy
Links (Lantern is FREE!):
Excerpt:
Tori
slipped the phone in her pocket and looked up. It was a clear night
with a round moon and a sky full of stars. The glow of light
brightened as she neared the lantern.
She
stopped about a foot away from the pole and shined her flashlight at
its base. Unsure whether she felt more relieved or terrified that she
didn’t see a pair of shoes and legs, she circled the pole to make
sure no one was behind the lantern.
“No
one’s shining a flashlight through it, so I can check that off my
list. Now what?”
Tori
stopped to think. She reached up to hold the lantern in her hands and
took a look inside. Once again, condensation from the inside of the
globe blocked her view. The glass felt smooth and cool between her
fingers.
“Well,
Lantern,” she said, “explain yourself. How come you’re out here
all alone? And where does your light come from?”
Tori
breathed through several beats of silence.
A
dot appeared on the left side of the glass as if some of the
condensation had melted away. The dot stretched to the right, and
then turned back on itself and reached downward, forming the letter
T.
Tori’s
breath hitched. Her hands sprang free from the glass. Too scared to
resume breathing, she watched, mesmerized as another dot appeared,
then five more, each forming another letter until the globe of the
lantern spelled out a message:
Too
Loud
“What?”
The
lantern dimmed, and then brightened, as if accentuating its point.
Tori
swallowed a lump in her throat. The words looked like they were
written by a child, wavy and shaky, like someone forced to write
backwards.
Okay,
don’t freak out. Lantern hasn’t hurt me; there’s no one else
here. Too loud? Maybe it means me—I guess I’m shouting right at
it.
“What
are you trying to tell me, Lantern?” she whispered. “Are you a
ghost?”
Another
dot disappeared from the condensation below the T and formed the
letter N, followed by more dotting and stretching until a second
message appeared:
No
I’m Jared
Tori
chewed on her lip as she looked left and right, and then peered back
over her shoulder. Are
you kidding me?
Remembering to keep her voice low, she cleared her throat. “Jared?
Are you inside
the lantern?”
Instead
of spelling out more words, the condensation began to disappear as if
someone were wiping it away. Beads of moisture gathered and dripped
along the inside of the glass. The closer she looked, Tori noticed
two tiny hands swiping along the surface. She gasped, squinted, and
then looked closer.
Unable
to hold it in, she screamed.
The
light dimmed.
Tori
pressed her lips together and covered them with her hand. Finding her
voice again, she whispered, “Sorry—I’m sorry. If I was too loud
before, that must have been horrible.”
The
lantern brightened again. Tori tentatively glanced at it and caught
her breath. A tiny person stood inside, rubbing his ears.
Oh
no, what have I done? I’ve hurt him. The
male figure had young features. He was so small that they were
difficult to make out, but she guessed he was a teen version of
whatever he was, with dark hair and matching dark eyes. His clothes
looked like they were from ages past.
“How’d
you get in there?” she whispered.
He
removed his hands from his ears and reached out to the glass, rubbing
away more of the condensation. His mouth moved but made no sound.
“I
can’t hear you.”
Jared
wound up his arm and let it spring forward. His fist came in contact
with the glass, resulting in a faint clink. He dipped his head.
Tori
frowned, her heart melting. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I
have an idea. I’ll visit you again tomorrow night.”
The
light brightened as Jared looked up.
“How
do you do
that—make the light brighter and dimmer?”
He
shrugged and shook his head.
“Okay,
don’t worry,” said Tori. “We’ll figure this out. I’m going
to go back to my grandmother’s house.” She pointed a finger, not
completely sure it pointed in the direction of the house, but to show
him that it was far away. “Next time, I’ll bring tools—something
to help me hear you and try to get you out. My name is Tori.”
A
grin stretched across Jared’s face; the light glowed brighter.
About
the Author
Chess Desalls is the author of the YA time travel series, The Call to Search Everywhen. She's a longtime reader of fantasy and sci-fi novels, particularly classics and young adult fiction. Her nonfiction writing has led to academic and industry publications. She’s also a contributing editor for her local writing club’s monthly newsletter. The California Writers Club, South Bay branch, has awarded two of Chess’ stories first place for best short fiction. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling and trying to stay in tune on her flute.
Travel Glasses is YA fantasy filled with metafiction and other literary twistiness. Sign up for Chess' newsletter to receive updates on giveaways and new releases.
Chess Desalls is the author of the YA time travel series, The Call to Search Everywhen. She's a longtime reader of fantasy and sci-fi novels, particularly classics and young adult fiction. Her nonfiction writing has led to academic and industry publications. She’s also a contributing editor for her local writing club’s monthly newsletter. The California Writers Club, South Bay branch, has awarded two of Chess’ stories first place for best short fiction. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling and trying to stay in tune on her flute.
Travel Glasses is YA fantasy filled with metafiction and other literary twistiness. Sign up for Chess' newsletter to receive updates on giveaways and new releases.
Author
Links:
Giveaway!!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out the other tour stops here:
Blog Tour Schedule –
May 30th
A New Look On Books http://anewlookonbooks.wordpress.com Review
Fantasy Fun Reads http://fantasyfunreads.blogspot.com/ Promo Post
Bubble Bath Books www.bubblebath-books.com Review
Riddle's Reviews http://riddlesreviews.com Review
May 31st
Alina Melinda Reads http://alinamelindareads.blogspot.com/ Promo Post
La Tartaruga Si Muove http://latartarugasimuove.blogspot.it Review
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange www.anneliselestrange.wordpress.com Promo Post
June 1st
Lilly's Book World www.lillysbookworld.wordpress.com Review
Reading Addict http://readingadd.blogspot.ro/ Promo Post
YA Book Divas http://yabkd.blogspot.com Review
June 2nd
The Cubicle Escapee http://TheCubicleEscapee.com Review
The Recipe Fairy http://recipe-fairy.weebly.com/ Review
Mama aReads Hazel Sleeps http://mamareniazen.wordpress.com Promo Post
Buried Under Books https://cncbooksblog.wordpress.com/ Review
June 3rd
The Phantom Paragrapher www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com Review
Forever Obsession https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com Review
Hi, Rose! Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. It was a lovely surprise to see you on the list for the blog tour. The post looks great. :o) Thanks again for supporting a fellow indie author. You rock!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome ♥
ReplyDeleteLiked the excerpt very much. Will be on my reading list. Thanks.
ReplyDelete