Fiction Feature: Undertow by Callie Kingston

For this Fiction Feature, we have a guest post from Callie Kingston, the author of Undertow.

That jerk! I thought he loved me. He's worse than all the rest.

I almost have it. If only I could remember my dream.

He's out there beneath the waves, waiting for me. But how do I find Him?

We'll finally be together.

No! Why am I here? This is all wrong; I should be out there, with Him.

I hope this freedom lasts.

How could I not realize this before? I'd be crazy not to love Jim.

ABOUT CALLIE KINGSTON:

My home is in the Pacific Northwest, where I live with an assortment of furry creatures (husband included). I have a masters degree in Psychology. When not writing or working, I like to explore the outdoors, especially the forests and beaches along the Oregon coast. I also enjoy a great cup of cappuccino, which happily is easily found in this part of the world.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Marissa is nearly eighteen and can't wait to leave behind her traumatic past. With long time boyfriend Drake, she thinks she has her future all figured out--until she discovers his betrayal. She flees to a desolate beach on the wild Oregon coast hoping to escape her pain, where, overcome with emotional and physical exhaustion, she dozes off beside a log. When the first icy waves strike her, it is too late: a rogue wave drags her out to sea.

Somehow she survives, and now each night she dreams of a creature who rescues her. Determined to discover the truth, her obsession deepens, threatening both her sanity and her life until she once again risks her life in the frigid ocean. Will the creature Marissa seeks save her? Will she be lost forever in the eddies of her mind, or will Jim, her new boyfriend, keep her from drowning in the abyss?

UNDERTOW is a contemporary Young Adult novel in which a young woman finds a terrible choice thrust upon her: overcome the pain in her past and the dangers which lurk in her mind, or succumb to these and be lost forever inside a beautiful dream.

OUTTAKE:

Time passed in slow-mo, as if some twisted deity wanted to prolong Marissa’s torment as long as possible. She was numb, like a soldier in the war, right after rolling his Humvee over a roadside bomb. Shell shock, her history teacher had called it. Unlike the soldier’s, her limbs were intact, but they seem gripped by some other girl, one whose brain still functioned. She walked to the car and put her suitcase in the back. Her possessed arms calmly shut the Honda’s hatch.

Marissa’s body was passively transported to the driver’s side. Her mind acquired a peculiar clarity as her hands clutched the steering wheel. With new resolve, she turned the key in the ignition. Slowly backed out of the carport. Kept her eyes glued to the rear view mirror. Don’t look to the side, a stern voice in her mind ordered. He’ll be standing there, and you won’t have the strength to leave. Just get out of here. Go!

READ SAMPLE CHAPTERS HERE: Amazon

GIVEAWAY:

Win a copy of Undertow on Kindle! Just fill out the Google form below. Everyone who comments throughout the tour will be entered into the grand prize giveaway to take place on Callie Kingston's blog at the end of the tour.