"A brilliant read, the author does an amazing job of capturing the raw nature of fear that grips us all when staring into the face of death while also delving into the hardships and struggles modern day teens face from peers and adults alike." Anthony, Goodreads
Release Date: February 25th, 2020
Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.
EXCERPT
After lunch, we head to a nearby
McDonald’s and buy bags of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries to give
out on the streets. I make momentary eye contact with each person I hand a bag
to because I want them to know they’re
human like me. But I can’t hold it for more than a second until, beneath the
dim shade of the freeway overpass on Main Street, this one man grasps my arm as
he takes his bag. He’s a regular named Hank, an older guy with a limp who
always wears a dirty Dodgers cap and mismatched clothes I’m sure he found in a dumpster.
“Thank you, Leo.” Hank’s voice is
strained, but sincere.
I force myself to look into his
grateful eyes and our gazes lock. I can’t
seem to look away. It’s like I’m being drawn into Hank’s very soul. Then I see it! Gasping, I lurch
back and yank my arm away from him.
He recoils, looking stung by my
action, and I want to apologize, but no words come. I’m paralyzed by what I
just saw and can only offer him a silent nod.
Gripping the bag with gnarled
fingers, Hank lurches down Main Street until he reaches the corner and turns
out of sight.
J.C. steps around in front of me.
“Hey, Leo, you okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”
“I know… when he’s… going to… die.”
I barely get the words out.
J.C. stares at me. “Huh?”
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About the author:
Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for many years, both in general education and students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing you can find him volunteering as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, volunteering within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, or caring for his newly adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, and hopes his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.
Author's Giveaway
Thanks so much for hosting my book. It's much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI love the eye catching colors of the cover, the images make me want to read it asap!
ReplyDeleteno19034770 @yahooDOTcom
Colorful cover as well as eye catching.
ReplyDeleteChildren of the Knight Book Series is such a great read. You won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI like the premise. We used to get fast food for some of the local homeless kids but just on general principle.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Audrey Stewart, for your kind words about my series. I'm so thrilled you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThat cobra makes the cover pretty scary Rosanne rosans4comcast(dot)net
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love that cover and can't wait to read.
ReplyDeleteDifferent cover, sounds good!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting read... thanks for sharing the excerpt with all of us! :)
ReplyDeleteThe title is haunting and intriguing!
ReplyDeleteThis is outside the genres I read but I think the cover is great and the story sounds really frightening. Which is probably the intention!
ReplyDeleteGreat scary cover makes me want to read it.
ReplyDelete