07th
Nov
Nov
Today I am excited to participate in the Book Blast of ‘Falling Awake’ by Debrah
Martin. ‘Falling Awake’ is a brain
teaser, an atmospheric mystery, an exposition of madness; an examination of the
impossible, a fantasy, a ghost story, a psychological thriller, a love story,
and a story of intrigue and sudden death.
About the Book:
Magic or madness? Can your dreams really take over your life?
‘Falling Awake’ is the story of a book and the power of imagination to turn two lives upside down.
When Mary Parker finds an unusual book everything in her
life changes. As she reads, she dreams, and the quiet, repressed woman is
transformed.
life changes. As she reads, she dreams, and the quiet, repressed woman is
transformed.
She gives the book and the phenomenon a name, ‘falling
awake’. The existence of the book seems to make others act out of character
too. Joe’s usually dour father gambles with the factory where Mary works, and
Joe, the romantic daydreamer, engages in a sexual eternal triangle to keep the
dull routine of the accounts department at bay. The dominant partner in the
triangle is Clem; dark and dangerous.
awake’. The existence of the book seems to make others act out of character
too. Joe’s usually dour father gambles with the factory where Mary works, and
Joe, the romantic daydreamer, engages in a sexual eternal triangle to keep the
dull routine of the accounts department at bay. The dominant partner in the
triangle is Clem; dark and dangerous.
Extricating himself from Clem, Joe meets Mary. They fall
in love and marry in haste when Mary falls pregnant, but this is no happy ever
after tale. Their joy turns to misery when Mary miscarries and she turns inward
to her darkening ‘falling awake’ world. Then Joe’s father dies, and he has to
fight for control of the factory. He falls into Clem’s clutches again, and to
make things worse, he believes Mary is going mad, and the people and places she
remembers all just dreams dreamt inside her insanity. But then how can Joe
remember them too?
in love and marry in haste when Mary falls pregnant, but this is no happy ever
after tale. Their joy turns to misery when Mary miscarries and she turns inward
to her darkening ‘falling awake’ world. Then Joe’s father dies, and he has to
fight for control of the factory. He falls into Clem’s clutches again, and to
make things worse, he believes Mary is going mad, and the people and places she
remembers all just dreams dreamt inside her insanity. But then how can Joe
remember them too?
Magic or madness?
For Mary and Joe, the impossible – or the deadly – might
only be a breath away.
only be a breath away.
‘Falling Awake’ is a brain teaser, an atmospheric
mystery, an exposition of madness; an examination of the impossible, a fantasy,
a ghost story, a psychological thriller, a love story, and a story of intrigue
and sudden death. It will keep you awake at night, wondering, and pausing
during the day, questioning …
mystery, an exposition of madness; an examination of the impossible, a fantasy,
a ghost story, a psychological thriller, a love story, and a story of intrigue
and sudden death. It will keep you awake at night, wondering, and pausing
during the day, questioning …
One editor has already described it as:
“In the best traditions of Audrey Niffenegger and Carlos
Ruiz Zafón…”
Ruiz Zafón…”
And others comment:
“…one of the most original, quirky manuscripts I’ve read
for a long time…”
for a long time…”
“…I especially like the fairy-tale and myth undertones that creep in from time
to time throughout the novel: Sleeping Beauty clutching her book with echoes of
Snow White in her glass coffin, the transformative red mac with its Red Riding
Hood connotations, Mary’s Cinderella transformation from emotionally abused
child to confident woman, the mermaid dress, Mariam’s Scheherazade dance, and
especially the gambler as Rumpelstiltskin…”
“…a light, authoritative touch with both …story and characters.”
The Book Trailer:
Excerpt:
Proloque:
No-one could sleep forever.
But apparently she could. It was the unusual challenge to
the premise that had brought him here against the inclination to evade
responsibility and slip home to his own dreams. She’d slept continuously for
days now, without the need for water or sustenance; her only requirement,
seemingly, a book. He peered curiously through the viewing panel as the
attendant hovered behind him.
the premise that had brought him here against the inclination to evade
responsibility and slip home to his own dreams. She’d slept continuously for
days now, without the need for water or sustenance; her only requirement,
seemingly, a book. He peered curiously through the viewing panel as the
attendant hovered behind him.
‘That’s her,’ the attendant announced as if pulling a
rabbit from a hat. ‘Mary Parker.’
rabbit from a hat. ‘Mary Parker.’
‘She’s very pretty,’ the tall young man declared, deep
blue eyes narrowing to slits as he studied her. The woman’s long red hair
cascaded over the side of the bed like blood streaming to the floor, her face a
marble effigy of life. She reminded him of Millais’ Ophelia as she floated
downstream on her layette of wild flowers – except this frozen beauty was
merely asleep, not dead. He wondered what she was dreaming about. She seemed
very familiar in a strange half-forgotten way.
blue eyes narrowing to slits as he studied her. The woman’s long red hair
cascaded over the side of the bed like blood streaming to the floor, her face a
marble effigy of life. She reminded him of Millais’ Ophelia as she floated
downstream on her layette of wild flowers – except this frozen beauty was
merely asleep, not dead. He wondered what she was dreaming about. She seemed
very familiar in a strange half-forgotten way.
‘Yeah, she is – and quiet now, but she weren’t once.
Blimey – you should have seen her then, screaming and hollering. Wasn’t until
we found that old book and gave it back to her that she shut up.’ The attendant
picked at his nails and watched the tall young man lean in closer still. The corner
of a book poked out from under the tightly clasped hands. ‘Then she just
slept,’ the attendant added, shrugging his shoulders.
Blimey – you should have seen her then, screaming and hollering. Wasn’t until
we found that old book and gave it back to her that she shut up.’ The attendant
picked at his nails and watched the tall young man lean in closer still. The corner
of a book poked out from under the tightly clasped hands. ‘Then she just
slept,’ the attendant added, shrugging his shoulders.
‘What’s its significance?’ the young man asked. He could
just make out a title scrawled longhand across its spine. He wondered if the
woman had written it on herself. He could only decipher the first word –
‘Falling’.
just make out a title scrawled longhand across its spine. He wondered if the
woman had written it on herself. He could only decipher the first word –
‘Falling’.
‘Not a clue, Mister; it’s just an empty book.’ The
attendant shifted impatiently, as if tired of waiting, then asked, ‘How’d you
know her again?’ He flipped the visitors’ page back to read the tall young
man’s entry.
attendant shifted impatiently, as if tired of waiting, then asked, ‘How’d you
know her again?’ He flipped the visitors’ page back to read the tall young
man’s entry.
22nd Sept ’92: Time in – 5.45pm. John Hathorne, Director: Geo. Tooley & Sons.
‘I don’t really. She worked at the factory, that’s all.
We have to be seen as caring employers so I’m here to check on her before we
sign her off the books.’ He paused. Now he came to think of it he might have
met her once. There had been a girl with bright red hair like hers the day he’d
been shown round the factory. He’d been surprised by her scarlet mac because of
the colour clash. He dragged himself from his reverie.
We have to be seen as caring employers so I’m here to check on her before we
sign her off the books.’ He paused. Now he came to think of it he might have
met her once. There had been a girl with bright red hair like hers the day he’d
been shown round the factory. He’d been surprised by her scarlet mac because of
the colour clash. He dragged himself from his reverie.
‘You said she had no family?’
‘Nope, apparently the mother died a while back and the
neighbours say she’s been a bit odd ever since. Before they brought her in here
she was wandering the graveyard down the road babbling about how she couldn’t
find herself any more. Shame – when you got no-one.’
neighbours say she’s been a bit odd ever since. Before they brought her in here
she was wandering the graveyard down the road babbling about how she couldn’t
find herself any more. Shame – when you got no-one.’
‘How do you think she can do it?’
‘What?’
‘Not eat or drink for so long – just sleep.’
‘Beats me. Maybe she’s not really there and we’re just
imagining her.’ The young man stared at him. The attendant laughed. ‘Only
joking. You done then?’ The attendant looked expectantly at him, and the young
man found himself involuntarily offering his business card before collecting
his briefcase and coat.
imagining her.’ The young man stared at him. The attendant laughed. ‘Only
joking. You done then?’ The attendant looked expectantly at him, and the young
man found himself involuntarily offering his business card before collecting
his briefcase and coat.
‘I suppose I could see if I can do something to help her
if she comes back to the land of the living.’
if she comes back to the land of the living.’
The attendant turned the card over and read aloud, ‘Bespoke leisure wear and stage costumiers; themed event supplies a specialty.’ He studied the tall young
man. ‘Versions of reality, huh? You’ll be getting a lot of custom soon, then.’
He sniggered. Outside the midweek rush hour traffic distantly hooted on its way
home. The light had dimmed to the half-dusk of early autumn, but fallen leaves
and skeletal trees said winter was already in the air.
man. ‘Versions of reality, huh? You’ll be getting a lot of custom soon, then.’
He sniggered. Outside the midweek rush hour traffic distantly hooted on its way
home. The light had dimmed to the half-dusk of early autumn, but fallen leaves
and skeletal trees said winter was already in the air.
The tall young man had spotted the now redundant leather
straps on the side of the bed when he’d been trying to decipher the title of
the book. The reddening round her wrists indicated where no doubt they’d been
clasped until recently. ‘Halloween does tend to be a busy time,’ he agreed,
suddenly uneasy. The place was oppressive and the sight of the comatose and
confined woman depressed him. ‘Such a waste. Will she ever recover, do you
think?’
straps on the side of the bed when he’d been trying to decipher the title of
the book. The reddening round her wrists indicated where no doubt they’d been
clasped until recently. ‘Halloween does tend to be a busy time,’ he agreed,
suddenly uneasy. The place was oppressive and the sight of the comatose and
confined woman depressed him. ‘Such a waste. Will she ever recover, do you
think?’
‘Don’t know, mister. Not sure if she’s actually ill.
Probably just the stresses of life – grief and disappointment. They do strange
things to us, don’t they? Perhaps if she had someone to look after her, she’d
get well again, but then who knows when anyone recovers from life.’ He laughed
mirthlessly. ‘Maybe it’s better to just dream?’ The tall young man considered
the idea for a while.
Probably just the stresses of life – grief and disappointment. They do strange
things to us, don’t they? Perhaps if she had someone to look after her, she’d
get well again, but then who knows when anyone recovers from life.’ He laughed
mirthlessly. ‘Maybe it’s better to just dream?’ The tall young man considered
the idea for a while.
‘No, reality is always better, no matter how hard.’
He went back to the viewing window and studied the young
woman for a few minutes more before gathering up the Essex County Gazette he’d
brought with him and stuffing it under the arm carrying the briefcase. The
pages creased and he made to flatten them, but stopped abruptly and tossed the
paper back on the table the attendant had been sitting at when he’d arrived. He
peered at his hand as if there was something wrong with it before shaking his
head. The attendant cleared his throat meaningfully and opened the unit’s outer
door.
woman for a few minutes more before gathering up the Essex County Gazette he’d
brought with him and stuffing it under the arm carrying the briefcase. The
pages creased and he made to flatten them, but stopped abruptly and tossed the
paper back on the table the attendant had been sitting at when he’d arrived. He
peered at his hand as if there was something wrong with it before shaking his
head. The attendant cleared his throat meaningfully and opened the unit’s outer
door.
‘I hope her dreams are sweet,’ the young man added sadly
as the attendant ushered him out. The attendant flicked the light off and the
room behind them sank back into shadow.
as the attendant ushered him out. The attendant flicked the light off and the
room behind them sank back into shadow.
Neither saw the frozen figure thaw, stir, and open her eyes
– deep green pools of luminescence. They fixed on the door and she listened
intently to the low rumble of the tall young man’s voice as he made his
goodbyes. The marble features creased to a frown and the slack body tensed. The
book still clutched in her hand shivered.
– deep green pools of luminescence. They fixed on the door and she listened
intently to the low rumble of the tall young man’s voice as he made his
goodbyes. The marble features creased to a frown and the slack body tensed. The
book still clutched in her hand shivered.
‘No!’ she murmured. ‘No, no, no!’
About the Author:
Debrah Martin is a British author writing under threedifferent pen names and in three very different genres. She plots fast-paced thrillers as D.B. Martin, with
the first in the Patchwork trilogy, ‘Patchwork Man’, having been
recently awarded a coveted B.R.A.G. Medallion. Her YA teen detective
series is penned as Lily Stuart – THE teen detective; irreverent, blunt, funny
and vulnerable. Webs and Magpiesare the first two books in the
series. And as Debrah Martin she writes literary fiction. Her first literary fiction, ‘Chained Melodies’, a
startling transgender story to rival ‘The Danish Girl’, and described
pre-release as “… a beautiful book about love, acceptance and self-discovery… ” was
also released earlier this month.
Debrah Martin can be emailed on info@debrahmartin.co.uk
Her website is www.debrahmartin.co.uk.
Sign up to Debrah’s mailing list for news and special
offers: http://eepurl.com/3-965
offers: http://eepurl.com/3-965
Giveaway:
Net Galley reviewers can access an ARC of ‘Falling Awake’ there from 27th October, and all reviewers can obtain a copy and more
information about Debrah’s other works by contacting her at the email address
below.
information about Debrah’s other works by contacting her at the email address
below.
For the first thirty reviewers to post a review of
‘Falling Awake’ on Amazon, if you email Debrah with a link to the review,
she’ll send you a bumper bundle (digital) of her other adult fiction books,
including the award-winning Patchwork People series. Reviewers are also invited
to contact Debrah for review copies of any of her books.
‘Falling Awake’ on Amazon, if you email Debrah with a link to the review,
she’ll send you a bumper bundle (digital) of her other adult fiction books,
including the award-winning Patchwork People series. Reviewers are also invited
to contact Debrah for review copies of any of her books.
a Rafflecopter giveaway This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Thank you so much for sharing!
You're welcome 😉