A Ghost Story Excerpt from YA author Teri Polen

This June and July I have invited authors to share ghost stories on my blog. The stories could be excerpts from their novels, stories of ghosts they've encountered in real life, ghost legends from the region where they live, or whatever other paranormal activity they'd like to share. My hope is that you'll read their books while you wait and get pumped up for the release of my newest novel Lost on the Water, A Ghost Story.

Today's guest is author Teri Polen. I originally  met Teri through her book blog Books and Such, where she has reviewed most of my books. I got to meet her in person at the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books last year, which was so awesome. In 2016 she approached me about reading her YA horror novel Sarah before publication and letting her know what I thought of it. I thought it was awesome! It's really spooky, and has a sense of humor as well.  It's a great ghost story. She put a quote from me on the book's cover, and that made me feel really important. I'm so glad people are discovering her book. Sarah also was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

​Here is a blurb about the novel:

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Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.

A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah's death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.

Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn't in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house - but exorcising her isn't that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again.

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Excerpt:

I knew she was here because of the drop in room temperature, but I felt Eby tensed up at my side, surprised he hadn’t dashed out of here. I let out a huff, rolled over and sat up, figuring she was going to do what she wanted anyway, and sleep would have to wait. She was standing at the foot of my bed, light from the street lamp creating an aura around her. But something was different.

Watching various nature shows over the years, I knew some animals sensed when a predator was near, their self-preservation instincts the strongest they possessed. That’s exactly how I felt right now. I was the prey. Sarah looked nothing like the innocent, victimized, shy high school girl she liked to portray. She was the embodiment of evil, her black eyes reflective pools of malevolence, hands stretching towards me as if reaching for my throat.

As she cocked her head very slightly to her left, a confident, victorious leer stretched across her face. Everything inside me said to run, but I couldn’t get to the door without going by her and knew I’d never make it.

With my hand on Eby’s back, I felt a rumble go through him as he growled at Sarah. Crouched on all fours, his body was rigid and I figured he was as nervous about running by her as I was. Sarah slowly rose off the floor, and I felt the muscles in Eby’s haunches grow even tauter in anticipation.

What happened next was over in the blink of an eye, but I saw everything as if in slow motion. Sarah shot toward me like a bullet out of a gun. Simultaneously, Eby leaped in front of me, attempting to block Sarah from reaching me. Although a valiant effort, Eby had no effect on Sarah and sailed right through her semi-transparent shape, but I loved my brave furry friend for trying.

When she hit my chest, I felt it at my core, like a wrecking ball had plowed into me. But she didn’t just hit me, Sarah was inside me again and I could feel her moving, as I felt myself fading, my life energy being drained. When Sarah had been a passenger within me before, I’d never felt her presence. This feeling was completely foreign to me. She was something palpable, not like an internal organ, but more of an extension of myself, an extra arm or leg. Just before my world went black, I had a brief connection with Sarah’s corrupted mind and the atrocities I saw made me welcome the darkness as it enveloped me.

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This is a good horror story for readers 13 and older. So, if you're looking for a scare this summer, go pick it up. Available through Amazon  Nook or her publisher Black Rose Writing.


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She also has a brand new YA science fiction novel The Gemini Connection out. It is definitely on my TBR list.

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Click on this image to get to her website.

I hope you enjoyed this visit with Teri Polen and will go download one of her books to enjoy over the next month. And remember, Lost on the Water, A Ghost Story publishes one month from today! (7/17). If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment for Teri or myself or share the link with your friends.  You can always sign up for my mailing list here.