Short Summary
Horror author, Jonathan D. Carter tackles the demons we all have inside of us in his debut novel The Shadows Within. This horrific tale of guilt and regret is sure to chill your spine and leave you sleeping with the lights on.
Ten years after a horrific accident claimed the life of his best friend, Chris Turner still carries around the demons of guilt and regret. When he moves to the small town of Rosemont, Ga, it seems he is finally able to escape the horror of his past.
Chris soon finds out, however, that everyone has demons. And some of them are more terrifying than even his own. There is another nightmare unfolding in Rosemont, Ga. One he won't just be able to wake up from...
Excerpt:
It was the same dream Edith had almost every night: kneeling by Harold’s grave, fixing the flowers the wind had knocked over the night before. His name was etched in the stone under his favorite quote: Behind every great man, there is an even greater woman. They had cared so much for each other. He had been the first and only man Edith had ever truly loved.
“That’s good.” Edith looked over the arrangement. “You would really love these, Harold. They would have really brought out your eyes.”
“Yes. They are beautiful.” Harold agreed.
“The best I had in the store. Only the best for my precious Harold.” Tears formed in Edith’s eyes.
“Don’t cry, my heart. You will be with me soon enough.”
“Oh Harold.” Edith wiped the tears from her eyes. “I miss you so.”
“I know, my heart. I miss you too. It won’t be long, though. We will be together before you know it.”
“Yes. The kids, though. They need me.”
“They are selfish. When was the last time you even heard from them? A week? A month?”
“Mary and her husband, Derek, came by last month.”
“They needed money to fund one of their trips, didn’t they?”
Edith shook as her emotions almost got the best of her. “Yes. They took the kids to one of those amusement parks down in Florida.” Edith laughed. “You should have seen how excited they were. They were just beaming.”
“Of course! You were giving them money. Money that I worked all of those years for. God, you’re weak.”
“Harold, please…” Edith’s voice trailed off and tears poured from her eyes as her emotions overcame her.”
“It’s true! They know that all they have to do is call up their Mommy and they can get whatever they want. That’s the only thing that matters to those spoiled little brats anymore. Other than that, what do they care about you?” Harold spoke with an anger Edith had never heard before.
“Nothing, I guess. Those grandkids, though, they love me to death. They would have loved you, too.”
“Would they have?”
“Yes. I think they would have. They are such a joy.”
“Brats.” The response came back harsh and flat.
“No. They aren’t like their parents.”
“Not yet. But they will be.”
“Maybe.” Edith whispered.
Edith looked at her hands as if they held an answer to her hoplessness. The anguish of being alone and the anger in Harold’s voice shook her. “I just wish you were here, Harold. You would know what to do.”
“If I were there, they wouldn’t have turned out so shitty.”
Edith had never heard Harold curse and it jolted her as if she had been struck by lightning. “What?”
“You heard me. You have spoiled our children and their kids are going to turn out the exact same way. What kind of mother or grandmother are you?”
Edith couldn’t believe her ears. Was this really how Harold felt? No. It couldn’t be. Harold would never curse at her. He never got angry enough to curse at her. He most surely wouldn’t have called her worthless.
Suddenly, hands burst through the dirt that lay over the top of Harold’s grave and grabbed Edith’s wrists. Her eyes widened and she struggled against them.
“Time to come home, Edith. Time to stop fucking up our kids and let them find out how hard life is when they don’t have their Mommy around to save them.” The hands tightened around Edith’s wrists.
“No. Please, Harold. Please let me go. You’re hurting me.”
Vines snaked out of the ground beside Edith and wrapped themselves around her ankles. She screamed as the ground in front of her separated to reveal Harold’s coffin. The top burst open and Harold’s gruesome, deteriorated remains rose up. “It’s time to come home, Edith” He grinned through blackened, rotted teeth.
“No. Please, Harold, no.” The vines crept up Edith’s legs. She grabbed at them and they grabbed back, curling their way up her arms.
Suddenly, Edith was being pulled closer toward her own plot. The ground tore open and she saw teeth growing out of the sides. On the bottom, there was a giant tongue whipping around as if it were licking its lips.
Harold laughed maliciously as his head turned to the side, watching the pitiful fight Edith was putting up against the vines.
Edith screamed as she was pulled into her grave.
She screamed as the last bit of light from the sun was blocked out by the ground closing over her.
She screamed until she couldn’t scream anymore.
Help Jonathan bring one of his most terrifying nightmares to the world.
The book has already gone through two drafts, beta readers, and countless revisions. It’s time to send it off to the final editor and then get it printed, shipped, and ready for mass consumption. That’s where you come in.
Please help Jonathan bring this unique vision of terror out to the world by donating and you will not only make him the happiest author on the planet but you will get some really nifty perks as well!
About the Author:
Jonathan has been interested in horror his entire life. Coming from a strictly religious background, he has experienced first-hand the demons that many people hide from the outside world.
He chose to start writing as an outlet for his emotions and experiences. It wasn't until he read "Pet Sematery" By Stephen King that he decided he wanted to make a career out of writing.
Writing is the only thing he has ever stuck with and been truly passionate about. He has written short stories, flash fiction, and even online articles. "The Shadows Within" is his first horror novel.
When he isn't writing, he is usually playing World of Warcraft or some other video game, spending time with his girlfriend and two dogs (most likely watching Duck Dynasty or Castle), or reading.
Why this campaign is important:
For years, Jonathan has dreamed of having his visions shared with the world and a successful campaign would get him that much closer to seing this dream realized.
His aunt, an avid reader and storyteller, started planting seeds in him at the age of three. She would tell him stories of sewer monsters and children turning into chocolate chip cookies because they ate too many. These stories were the spark that later grew into a blazing inferno of need. A need to share his nightmares with the world.
This campaign has been created to help pay for the costs of editing, promotions, a professional cover, and everything else that will make this dream a reality.
To find out more about Jonathan, visit the links below:
Website: Jonathandcarter.com
Twitter: @horroticawriter
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJDCarter