Dread Watch Blurb Blitz

Dread Watch

by Jared Agard

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GENRE: Middle Grade Supernatural Thriller

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BLURB:

A secret fear.

An antique pocket watch with a tragic past.

When 8th grader Caleb Meyer stumbles upon the old watch at an abandoned railroad museum, he’s sure that if he has it, all his fears will vanish.

But the watch is more than just spindles and gears. A twisted ghost lives within, a Dreadmonger, feeding off the fears of his victims.

And Caleb, seeking to finally be rid of his secret, is walking right into the Dreadmonger’s trap.

*** Note: This book has a fun companion Reading/Literature Course especially for those who homeschool.

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EXCERPT

I was alone.

I sat in a ring of light in an empty room. The walls oozed blackness, like fresh asphalt. Cold prickles ran up my arms and legs, and then they went numb. I tried to stand, but I couldn’t.

            Creeeeeak.    

The black stuff bubbled out of the wall in front of me, sliding down to the floor like a slug. It slopped into a pile, forming feet and legs. It only took seconds. Shoulders. A head.

A man in a wheelchair.

Creeeeeeak.

The squeal of metal and rubber. The man rolled closer, his breaths raspy and labored. My heart raced. My stomach cramped.

I couldn’t move.

Creeeeeeak.

I knew who he was. I tried to close my eyes, but they wouldn’t respond. I tried to stand again, but none of my limbs would obey. The shadow wheeled closer, the chair moving on its own.

Creeeeeeeak.

My father, or what once was my father, stared dully at me through dead eyes. His body was a heap of skin, a husk, planted in the wheelchair. His piercing blue eyes had gone out like an old light bulb, but they were open and they were fixed on me. His lips bulged and sagged. Living, but lifeless.

“Is that what you want, Caleb?” His voice came clearly even though his mouth didn’t move.

My heart pounded against my ribcage. What I wanted was to run, or at least look away. But I was frozen, my eyes glued open, focused on him.

“Is this what you wanted?”

Tears burned my eyes. I couldn’t move my arms to wipe them away. He rolled closer.

Tick, tick, tick, tick…

In a flash of light, he was gone. In his place, a golden orb hung in the air, blurry, like I was looking at it through a fogged window.

Tick, tick, tick, tick…

Was that… the watch?

A thick, grey mist dripped down the walls. It swirled around the golden orb. A tingling sensation ran up my arms and legs. I could move them again. I stood, carefully, holding my arms out from my sides to make sure I didn’t fall. The vapors coiled together in mid-air in front of me, forming into the face of a man. His body dripped out beneath him.

He was older and very thin. The light blue suit he was wearing looked very expensive, but also like it was made centuries ago. The wrinkles around his small black eyes creased as he examined me. A smile spread across his thin lips.

The mist behind him formed into other shapes. People. Children. He was surrounded by at least twenty shadows, clothed in old-fashioned suits and dresses. Some were my age while others were much younger.

The man reached his hand into his suit coat. I stepped forward in anticipation.

He had it. The watch. It shone gold against his gray body. The cover was engraved with a picture of a locomotive, the watch face concealed. I’d almost taken that watch. Why didn’t I? It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jared Agard was writing and illustrating books as far back as he can remember. His mother was a school librarian and knew all the best books to read. Now, he teaches Art and Film at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering in Beaverton, Oregon, which is his dream job, besides being an author. He values creativity and always has a new idea rattling around in his brain. He loves watching cartoons, goofing off with his boys, and chili dogs. He is married to the most gorgeous woman on the planet and has three amazing boys, two tiger oscars, and the most pathetic dog you’ve ever seen.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.jaredagard.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8110688.Jared_Agard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaredAgard

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaredagardauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointyhair1/

My Review

October is a wonderful month to read a ghost story! This story is about a boy named Caleb, who lives with his mother in a new town named Amberly. They have just moved there and Caleb wants to move back to his old city, but they must start somewhere fresh.

On his birthday, Caleb’s dad had gone to get him his favorite ice cream, but never came back. He had been in a terrible car crash. He was now permanently damaged and Caleb wasn’t able to deal with the guilt and trauma. He didn’t even want to visit him now because it was too much for him to deal with.

He was not handling life well at all. His new school was where he was bullied, and he was angry and fighting back. But, his prank to scare his bully backfired and he had a black eye. Now, his mom was making sure to get him back to the counselor, which she knew they both needed.

The local scary legend of how the museum became haunted seemed to be the perfect place for him to escape from his trauma, but would it be? His mind was a terrible place right now. What he had found there in the museum was mesmerizing, but was it going to be his escape or was it just too dangerous?

Do you believe in ghosts? This isn’t the type of book I usually review, but there is more to the story than meets the eye. It could be a book that is discussed with parents, if they will take the time to delve into the deeper meaning.

Giveaway.

Jared Agard will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Additionally, Jared Agard is offering two more giveaways.

GIVEAWAY for Readers (Kindle Paperwhite / Ends 1 Nov 2021):

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GIVEAWAY for Writers (Professional Critiques / Ends 1 Nov 2021):

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