SECRETS OF THE HOME WOOD:
THE SACRIFICE
By
Julie Whitley
For Jonathon, the Home
Wood that borders his grandfather’s farm has always been a source of mystery
and dread. Strange half-heard rumours passed among aunts, uncles and cousins
never quite add up.
More than twenty years
ago, his father—when he was Jonathon’s age—was swallowed up by the Home Wood
for more than a day and came back badly injured. That was when his grandfather
forbade any family member from venturing back there.
And so when from his
bedroom window, three days after his mother left without a word, Jonathon sees
his father cross into the Home Wood, his gut tells him something is very wrong.
Deceiving his grandfather, Jonathon sets out after his father and makes his
way, for the first time in his life, into the heart of the woods.
What he finds there is
beyond even his wildest imagination.
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About
the Author
Reading
and writing has been a life long passion. Writing, however took a back-seat to
a career in health care and a ten year sojourn through two degrees. On retirement,
she was excited to have the opportunity to return to creative writing. Secrets
of the Home Wood: the Sacrifice, grew out of an in-class writing exercise
nearly thirty years ago. More courses post-retirement and a writing group
provided the motivation to finish her debut novel.
The
structure of the story was a journey in itself. As the new mother of an adopted
teenage daughter, Julie was introduced to a new genre, YA. She discovered that
other mothers of teenagers were also reading their daughters’ books. Her
favourite book had a role for the father and grandfather of the young
protagonist — and the style for Secrets of the Home Wood was inspired. From
there, the story took on a life of its own, the struggle was over. Julie wanted
her story to appeal not only to the young but to the older readers as well. Her
choice was rewarded in November when Secrets of the Home Wood: the Sacrifice
was selected as the 2016 Book Excellence Award winner for fantasy. A gratifying
motivation to continue to write. The sequel, The Stalker is on track to be
completed in summer, 2017.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx