Dark Energy author Addison Brae takes a look at how to combat your darkest fears! Whether you fear monsters in the dark or family gatherings –this time of year is no walk in the park. How do you stave off the heebie jeebies?
Everyone’s Afraid of Something
by Addison Brae
Movies do a great job of zeroing in on viewers’ greatest fears. It pulls people into the story. The Blair Witch Project may make the bravest fear the dark. If heights are your fear, have you seen Cliffhanger? Authors go wild when they write novels that include the most spine-tingling fears from claustrophobia and arachnophobia to technophobia, pedophobia, and more.
Gillian, the young, badass main character in Becker Circle and Dark Energy, Return to Becker Circle developed a horrible fear of engulfment. Experiences with her father and ex left a deep-rooted fear of losing herself. Gillian is a winner and faces her fear. Former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt summed up Gillian’s attitude to her fear, “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.”
Here is a scene where Gillian uses every ounce of strength to take control of a situation that could have tipped her over the edge—while maintaining some control. How far would you go to face your greatest fear?
Excerpt from Chapter 27
I lock the front door behind him, stash the cash in the safe, and log the receipts, just realizing how not enough rest has caught up with me. Sleep will be welcome after last night. I turn off the last light and head through the heavy back door to the parking garage when strong arms wrap around me from behind.
“No!” A rag covers my face, garbling my scream. Exhaustion converts to fear. All I see is cloth and concrete. I swing my body around with everything I have to escape my captor’s hold before everything goes black.
Time passes before I come to. How much, I have no idea. I struggle to break loose. My arms and legs are tied to a chair, and my face is covered.
“Where am I? Who’s here?” My heart might pound through my ribs.
“Hello, Gillian. Sorry to drop in uninvited.”
“It’s you. Again.” I’ll never forget the voice I heard the first time someone held me hostage after Bobby died.
“Indeed, we meet again. Trust me, this is a friendly visit.”
“Then why am I tied up and blindfolded?” My heartrate slows. For some odd reason, I’m not afraid I’m about to die.
“Please don’t take it personally. It’s purely so I can remain anonymous.”
“We have these things today called phones. Don’t you guys use burners so no one can trace the calls? Might try that next time.”
“You being here is much more personal.”
Then why can’t I see him? Footsteps travel across the room.
“You and Pinkie have a nice place here.” Carl’s pots and utensils clank together like off-tuned chimes.
“I heard about Pinkie’s misfortune. If you want to keep this nice place, we need to work together.”
“Why would we work with some guy who keeps kidnapping me?”
“I always like your spirit, Gillian Davis. Your question is smart. There’s someone new in town. He’s trying to control Dallas. Keep hard working entrepreneurs like Pinkie and me from running our businesses.”
Cybercrime doesn’t talk.
It creeps in and destroys lives right under my nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands my boss, Pinkie, in jail. I had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered my ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves me struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the conspiracy.
I won’t let my mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend…until his good fortune sends me reeling. Now I have to force myself to trust the cops, people who hurt me, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save my life? Watch the trailer.
Meet Addison Brae
Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. As a child, she was constantly in trouble for hiding under the bed to read when she was supposed to be napping. She has been writing since childhood starting with diaries, letters and short stories. She continues today with articles, video scripts and other content as an independent marketing consultant.
Addison writes new adult and adult romantic suspense and young adult contemporary fiction. When she’s not writing, Addison spends her time traveling the world, collecting interesting cocktail recipes and hosting parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.
One thought on “Novel Magic: Dark Energy”
Thank you Sorchia for hosting my blog on Novel Magic! It’s always fun stop by Sorchia’s Universe! It’s intriguing to think about what scares us most and explore ways to add humor to help us survive. Lots of people will see themselves in Gillian. She’s part vulnerable and part badass as she stumbles her way through a fresh start in #DarkEnergy. #guestblogging about @phobias and #RomanticSuspense Happy reading and happy Thanksgiving!
~Addison