THE CATS OF CULLABY
CREEK
Think “The
Animorphs” Grown Up
RELEASE
DATE: January 21, 2016
ISBN:
978-1-62135-483-3
BOOK
TEASER:
YOU CAN BUY KIM’S BOOKS HERE:
LOVE
IS ALWAYS RISKY
BUT
IN
CULLABY CREEK IT’S DANGEROUS
IS
IT ALREADY TOO LATE FOR SAVANNAH?
FIND
OUT IN THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK
TAG
LINE:
Love
is in the Air, something else is in the water
EXCERPT:
Kelly and Kyle
These
two shared some sort of history. And now I was in the middle of their story.
Sparks
flew through the air. But, they didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just didn’t
care how uncomfortable they were making the rest of us.
I
scanned the room. The terribly odd thing was that while they stood in the
center of the cafeteria—arguing—everyone’s eyes were on me.
What is so interesting about
me?
After
a few seconds, I heard whispered accusations slammed back and forth, like a
ping-pong ball. My name, muttered in odd and angry tones. No one seemed to mind
staring at me, but only the bravest few were sneaking sideways glances over at
Kelly and Kyle, hoping no one noticed.
This
wasn’t what I needed on my first day at a new school. I hadn’t come here
looking for instant enemies, but I knew I’d accidentally stirred a private pot
and things were already starting to boil.
I
needed to do something and quick. From the sounds floating around me, if they
got into an actual argument, I was going to get the blame.
I
spit out the first words I could think to say, “What’s a new kid to do, after school, around here… for fun?”
Kyle
sighed and chuckled, “That depends on what you’re hoping to find and what you think is fun.” He stepped back away
from Kelly for a moment. “You big city kids always think something needs to be going on. But in real life, in a small town,
not much ever happens.”
“We
could ask my Mom to drive us into Astoria to do some shopping,” I suggested. It
was a little too obvious—even to me—Kelly wanted me out of the picture and was
trying everything she could think of to keep me away from Kyle. I almost felt
sorry for her—but only for a second.
“Or,”
Kyle sat down and nodded for me to join him. I could feel a warm rush of air
and his scent worked its way up inside my head. I barely heard him finish, “We
could go for a run.”
“What?”
Kelly demanded, clenching her hands into tight-balled fists at her side.
“Savannah,”
Kyle lowered his voice and said my name slow, putting an emphasis on the last
syllable, like it was a soft sigh, ‘ah’. And, for the first time in my life, I
loved the sound of my own name. “Is a runner. And she’s fast. Aren’t ‘cha?” He
nudged me and moved even closer. I could barely think. His smell overpowered my
senses; it was the sweet woodsy scent of him that took me by surprise. I closed
my eyes and drank it in.
When
I opened them back up, Kelly’s eyes were shooting red flames of rage straight
at me.
I
gazed at Kyle and felt a warmth in my stomach again. It was working its way up
into my chest. “That’s not what you said this morning,” I laughed then spun
away.
“You
two went running this morning?” Her voice came out in a squeak that broke into
a high-pitched screech, like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“Yeah,”
Kyle said casually, then back to me he added, “And, I’d like to see how fast
you are.”
I
wondered if everything he said was going to have a double meaning but I wasn’t
ready to question his motives. He was my only real friend in this place, and it looked like I was going to need a few
because I was making more than a few enemies, without even trying.
“I
could use the exercise,” I nodded, looking around the table at the other kids’
faces and wondering why no one else had said a single word. “Plus, you could
show me around the town.”
“No
problem,” Kyle agreed, and I couldn’t help looking forward to it, even though I
knew Kelly wasn’t going to be happy about my running off with Kyle. “But I only
think it’s fair to warn you, there’s not much to see—so don’t get your hopes
set too high.”
“Great—I
mean about the exercise,” I smiled, and without even thinking how it might
sound, I added, “Then it’s a date.”
Kelly
only heard one word and it was like I’d pulled back a rubber band—hard—and
snapped it against her forehead.
She
wailed like a wounded animal, “Agghhh!” and spun around on her heels, stomping
out of the room.
Kyle
shrugged and started to walk toward the exit, then he twisted around to call
out, “I’ll meet you out by the flag post after seventh period.” His lips curled
softly, throwing me a quick backwards nod, “And, remember, it’s a date.” The last thing I saw was his
warm, sensual grin, as he glanced around the room before he gave me an
exaggerated wink—meant more for everyone else to see than for me, and then he
disappeared out into the hall.
I
wished he would have used a different word because he didn’t need to rub it in.
I
shrugged. Who cares? I told myself,
he’s been the nicest person in the entire school. If it weren’t for Kyle, I
wouldn’t want to ever come back to Mist High.
The
rest of the day dragged on and on. All I wanted was to see Kyle again, with his
sleek body and powerful frame. But what I found fascinating was the casual way
he had about himself. He said whatever he wanted, while I worried about
everything I said, how it would be taken, and what people would think of me.
Somehow,
Kyle was working his way into my system, like a powerful drug. And I was
beginning to feel addicted. I couldn’t wait for our meeting out by the flag
post.
Finally,
after what seemed like absolutely for…ev…er, the bell rang.
I
rushed out of class, down the hall, and out the front doors of the school to
meet up with Kyle.
But
as I got closer, my spine tingled. Something was wrong. I could feel it. Then I
knew why.
Kyle
wasn’t standing underneath the flagpole; someone else was there, waiting for
me.
“Kelly,”
I muttered under my breath.
She
stood beneath the red, white, and blue banner with an enormous grin carved into
her face, like a giant jack-o-lantern beaming up at me. But this look was way
more sinister and gloating. My knees suddenly felt weak and my throat went dry.
This
girl just kept surprising me.
BLURB:
When Savannah meets Kyle, its love
at first sight. And why wouldn't it be? He's perfect, as far as she can tell.
But Kyle appears whenever things go wrong. Maybe he isn't everything she
thought he was. It's a complete mystery until she discovers the water in
Cullaby Creek is being bottled and sold as vitamin “infused” water. Mistic
Water promises the impossible. And then, like a magical elixir, it
delivers. People who drink it feel younger, smarter, faster...healthier. But it
doesn’t take long before side effects hit. Literally. The secret has to be in
the water…or is it something more?
Here is a sneak peek at Kimbra new book coming out next month.
Summary of Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking
This is an old story told from a totally different perspective. This is a Viking’s tale.
MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING is a legendary romance filled with honorable Knights from King Arthur’s Round Table, Salacious Pirates, and Brutal Vikings. This is the retelling of the romance between King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay, and her epic lover, the Viking Prince of Denmark and heir to King Geoffrey’s throne, Holger Danske. And though you might think you know these characters from the British stories, this tale comes from an entirely different point of view. The Viking perspective.
Everyone knows of Excalibur and King Arthur but few know of his brother-in-law, the Danish Viking Prince and warrior Holger Danske or his sword Cortana. MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING is a Young Adult retelling of folk-lore legend and Danish leader, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with the sorceress Princess Morgaine Le Fey.
They met on a battlefield, poised against each other, but their attraction was more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than Merlin, yet theirs is a tale more tragic than Romeo and Juliet.
Weaving the stories from English, French and Danish together this is one slice from the rich tapestry of tales that have come together throughout time and history.
While most everyone who searches for tales of the middle ages and seeks out stories of Knights and battles, castles and magical swords, they will only find the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Yet, it is only with the help of the Viking warrior Holger Danske of Denmark and Charles the Great (a.k.a Charlemagne of France) that King Arthur beat back the Saxons and retained leadership of Camelot.
Amidst these battles and legends, Morgaine Le Fey is worthy of her own stand-alone stories for she was such a strong woman everyone believed her to be a sorceress or more than human. Some said she was half fairy because she rode with the men in battle and was more than willing to take enormous risks for the men she loved.
Some believe she was the most powerful sorceress in all of history, having tutored under the guidance of Merlin and quickly surpassing his abilities. But it is her tragic love story with the Danish Prince that forms this first story in the Viking Series: MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING.
Morgaine’s lover, the Viking Norse leader and legendary warrior, is immortalized in stone in the dungeons of Hamlet’s Castle on the shore that sits between the sound of Denmark and Sweden.
But there is much more to this tale than a simple love story.
King Arthur received his magical sword, Excalibur, from the Norse Goddess, also known as The Lady of the Lake but Excalibur was not the only magical sword she ever relinquished to mortal hands. She gave just such a magical sword to the Danish Prince, Holger, and one to the French King, Charlemagne. Together these three heroic men joined forces to fight side by side. Britain, France and Scandinavia battled back the invading Saxons.
I am married to a Dane who was born and raised in Denmark, and have visited the Castle of Kronborg in Helsingør, Denmark and viewed the statue Holger Danske in the casemates. I have also visited both England and France and tried to stay true to the themes of all three legends, (from Denmark-Holger Danske, England-King Arthur, and France-Charlemagne), while weaving them together. However, I have taken artistic liberties with language and in dramatizing the tale of MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING.
There is an entire world full of rich stories about epic battles that go far beyond King Arthur’s realm and other countries hold their legendary heroes in this same high regard. This is one such story.
KIM’S
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
GOODREADS
