Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Words Once Spoken by Carly Drake-Excerpt & Giveaway

 

Welcome to another fab post! Today I have a great excerpt from Words Once Spoken by Carly Drake to share with you. As well as the continuing giveaway going on!

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“Evelyn… Evelyn …,” the light‐as‐air voice whispers on the breeze.

My shoulders tense and burn as I continue holding my bow at the ready. Sure, it is a lovely voice, but I cannot see where it is coming from and I am too far from civilization for anyone to know my name.

The voice continues calling, gradually growing louder, until even the birds and forest animals come out to see what is going on. Usually the creatures hide from unknown things but for some reason they are just as drawn to the voice as I am.

“Show yourself,” I whisper as the voice echoes through the trees. I had asked the voice to do this when it appeared before without garnering any results. I honestly do not think I will get an answer this time, either.  

But, then … there! What is that?

I see the whisper of gossamer and a flash of dark blue slip through the trees. Finally I have something and I race towards it, gripping my bow and arrow.
 
Though running, I am able to keep my eyes on the fleeing fabric as I automatically jump over rocks and dodge branches that I know already are there, my soft leather boots making no sound. Soon the dense trees begin to thin out and I am able to make out more of what I am chasing. It is not just fabric, it is a person — a woman — wearing a dress made out of a thin substance that glistens like the stars. Even though she is finally standing still, the fabric continues to move, swirling around her legs. The blue I had seen was actually her hair, tumbling in loose thick waves down her back, and the colour is so dark it is almost black.  

She is not facing me, but is looking out over the river. Normally at this time of the year the river is loud and frantic, finally free of winter’s ice, but right now it is calm and peaceful.
I can almost hear it whispering to us, but cannot make out the words. I look at the woman.
Who is she that even the river acts out of reverence?

“Evelyn,” the woman starts singing again.

I attempt to move, to draw closer to her, to see her face. It takes me a moment to realise that my body is not responding to my commands. I stand frozen with my mind screaming at my body, “Move!” Every muscle tenses again, hearing the warning and wanting to flee.

“It is almost time, Evelyn.” She draws out my name in that sing‐song voice of hers.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Now that I have finally seen her, I want answers. I do not know who she is, but I keep my voice firm, not letting her know how much her presence unsettles me.   “It is almost time …”

“Almost time for what?” Despite my efforts, impatience permeates my voice. I have never been good at playing the mind games women are accustomed to, a fact my parents have tried to remedy with little success.

“It is time,” her voice drifts away as she dissolves into mist. “You do not know … are … it is time … home.”

She slowly begins to turn towards me, so transparent I can no longer make out her features. She raises a slender hand to brush the hair from her face and is gone. 

 

YA meets high fantasy in this lush series debut about a girl who never quite fit in — and the reason why...

Evelyn might not love the confines of her village life, but she takes her small freedoms where she can get them. But everything changes when her parents decide it’s time for her to wed. Suddenly she loses her tunic and breeches, her bow, her horse, and gains rigid gowns, restrictive manners, and carriage rides.

The best way to escape is through her dreams, but as they become more and more real, Evelyn begins to worry that she is losing her grasp on reality. It is only when she makes two new friends that the truth is revealed: she is destined for far, far more than even she could imagine.

 

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Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 

 

Carly Drake loves books, but loving them was not enough -- she has to write them too. As a reader and as an author, she gravitates toward period pieces and supernatural works, stories that offer the advantage of escape to a different time and set of rules. Mix a magical world with the drama of young adults discovering who they are, or in some cases what they are, and you have a recipe for her favorite brand of make-believe.

A former fashion design student, a Coast Guard wife, and eternal devotee of UK and Irish actors, Carly currently endures the heat of Texas with her husband, two children, and one giant puppy.

Visit Carly:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

 

YA Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a YA bundle featuring Words Once Spoken as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**On Saturday, Tearing The Shroud author J.M Bray stops by to guest post!**