Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Dancing with a Dead Horse by @sammyig

 

 

Dancing with a Dead Horse

Danielle DeVor

Genre: YA Thriller

Publisher: Eirelander Publishing

Date of Publication: April 30, 2014

Word Count: 65,104

Cover Artist: Buffi BeCraft

Book Description:

Sometimes lullabies aren’t soothing; they’re deadly.

Sixteen-year-old, Jason Miller, wants three things: to become a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, graduate from high school, and avoid his mother’s ballet classes.

When he finds the body of the most popular girl in school, he has a major freak-out session, and then calls 911. But if finding a body wasn’t bad enough, when a horse doll made of human skin and hair is found in his locker, the entire town accuses Jason of the murder.

As the body count rises, so does the hostility. Jason is left with a choice: To run and hide or to clear his name and find out why the killer is targeting him before it’s too late.

Available at Amazon

Palomino

Living in a small town is like living in a bubble. Everything seems to go the way it has for eons, until something comes along and POP! The bubble bursts. That’s when mass panic sets in.

The panic doesn’t come immediately. Usually, it takes some loser redneck with a chip on his shoulder to say something like, “Kyle Crabtree has always been weird. Weird ain’t good.” And the next thing you know it all goes to hell and poor Kyle has a mob surrounding his house demanding justice. Unfortunately, Kyle has no idea what’s going on. Then, they drag him out of his house. If Kyle is lucky, they don’t beat him to death.

Thank God, I’m not Kyle.

My name is Jason Miller and I almost died today. Believe me, it sucked. All I wanted was a normal life, instead, I ended up with a giant mess.

But, today wasn’t the beginning. It all started about six weeks ago…

#

“Jason,” Mom said. We were in the kitchen. She had done a lot of work to it over the years. The formerly green metal cabinets were replaced with white wooden ones, and the sink was made of some type of soapstone. She’d spent hours trying to decide on the right colors, the right design, but I never really paid much attention. Kitchens just weren’t my thing. Not that I really paid much attention to the rest of the house either, but that was beside the point. I looked up from my cereal. She was wearing her do-what-I-say-mister-or-you’ll-be-sorry look. Her brown hair was pulled back into this severe bun. It was so tight that it seemed to stretch her eyebrows up towards the top of her skull. People said I looked like her. I guess it was the brown hair and blue eyes. Who knew what I’d done this time. Mom was kind of obsessive compulsive.

“Yeah?” I asked. I fought not to roll my eyes. I didn’t feel like dealing with her weirdness this morning.

She put her hands on her hips, not that she really had any. She’d once been a famous ballet dancer for the Kirov Ballet, but then she’d met Dad while trying to find some obscure Chinese restaurant in New York when the company was on tour, and the rest was kind of history.

“You left towel on the floor again,” she said. It was interesting. Mom had lived in the States all these years and her Russian accent was still as strong as ever. I guess the “homeland” never left her. Not really.

But, shit. The way she acted, you’d think I just shot the dog—not that we had a dog, but whatever. I’d hit on her worst fear. She was a germaphobe of the highest order;at least that’s how it seemed to me. I didn’t mind it though.

The thing you have to know about Mom is that she has these fears because she lived through Soviet Russia. When she was a kid, she lived in an apartment with carpets on the walls to try to keep out the drafts. Everything was saved to be reused, even aluminum foil. So now, when she has something, it all has to be perfect, so it can stay good for many years. Somehow the American disposable society and her ideals still work. That is- if you can keep her from having a conniption fit when the TV breaks. Her culture was set on making things last because they didn’t have a choice. I think she resented that Americans didn’t pay much attention to things like that anymore.

Her head was probably running rampant with images of mildew snaking its way up the walls of my bathroom like some kind of space monster. And honestly, my bathroom wasn’t that bad. It was one towel for crying out loud. I mean, a little soap on the sink wasn’t that big of a deal and I’d cleaned up that part of it this time. Plus, Mom had a cleaning lady come in once a week. The place wasn’t going to turn into mold central that quick.

“Sorry, Mom. It must have fallen.” I gave her what I thought was a I’m-just-your-little-boy smile. Hell, even I had to admit, coming out of my mouth it sounded fake and hokey, but you can’t blame me for trying. Playing innocent was the only way I knew to get by Mom. But, she was getting better and better at ignoring my charm. At least I hoped it was charm.

She huffed and gave me the look. Apparently, my charm was not working this morning. “Don’t you lie to me, Jason Nicholas Miller, or I’ll make you take advanced class this afternoon.”

Oh, God, anything but that. Dealing with her reaming me out for not hanging up my towel was one thing, taking one of her classes was another. “I’m sorry,” I said. And I meant it. I did not want to spend the afternoon in tights and having sweat stick to my balls like glue. The itching would be bad enough, but the “unclean” feeling would drive me crazy.

Last thing I wanted to do was take ballet classes again. Mom owned her own studio here in town. Town was Orinth, Ohio. It wasn’t a bad place if you still liked picket fences and lots of gardens. Orinth was known for its yearly garden show. We never participated.

I felt the look of disgust creeping onto my face and I forced my facial muscles to relax and remain neutral. I needed to be strong. If I caved now, I would be so screwed. Besides, I didn’t need the “ballet dancers are manly” talk again.

 

 

Character Name: Jason Miller

Character Bio: Jason’s dream is to become a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. He’s sixteen years old and still trying to figure things out. His biggest problem? His mother wants him to be a professional ballet dancer. He spends most of his time trying to avoid going to his mother’s classes.

 

Describe yourself what is your worst and vest quality?

 My worst quality is probably that I tend to bottle things up that bother me until they explode. My best? I am very loyal.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

That I’m actually a pretty normal guy.

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

Sometimes, I don’t mind taking Mom’s classes, but don’t tell her that.

What are you most afraid of?

Meeting another serial killer

What do you want more than anything?

To be a professional MMA fighter

What is your relationship status?

Single.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

I dunno. American boy I guess.

How much of a rebel are you?

My dad is a motorcycle guy, so I was kind of raised to be outside the box.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Surviving the past year. Sad, but true.

What is your idea of happiness?

Being somewhere with a few people I care about and relaxing.

What is your current state of mind?

Mildly depressed.

What is your most treasured possession?

My first pair of MMA gloves.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I tend to shred my clothes when I get nervous.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Being judged by people who have no idea what they are talking about.

Which living person do you, most despise?

Garret Keller

What is your greatest regret?

Not being able to save Shubangi

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Being honest

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Being someone who I can count on

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Harry Dresden

Which living person do you most admire?

 Eddie Alvarez- He’s one of the most awesome fighters ever.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I wish I was stronger- both physically and mentally

What is your motto?

Get over it.

 

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Danielle DeVor spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. After living briefly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown to write. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino.

Twitter: @sammyig

Blog: http://danielledevor.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danielledevorauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/DanielleDeVor