Double Star
When Cepheus, a dark god, forces seventeen-year-old Ally Ashworth off an isolated overlook, she has no idea she's falling into his world, or that the necklace she’s wearing is actually a key - one with the power to ignite the next world war. But she’s carried beyond his reach and into the one place where he’s powerless ... the forest of Gilgamesh.
Ally’s never been Miss Popularity, but her outsider status takes on new meaning when she’s rescued by Liam Cheveyo and his peculiar friends. After seeing them shape-shift into their freaky humanimal counterparts, Ally smacks hard into a few truths: magic really does exist and, although getting here took no effort, finding her way back might be impossible. Feelings between her and Liam begin to grow along with the realization that, in this world, she’s stronger, better ... until she’s caught in a trap set by the creepy spider-boy Cepheus sends to retrieve her. But Ally’s not going down without a fight, not after learning the horrible truth about the passageways.
The survival of both worlds depends on it.
Ally’s journey begins in Sedona. Why? Because Sedona is famous for its vortex sites. A vortex is an energy mass that moves in a whirling motion, much like a tornado. They are areas of high energy concentration and originate from magnetic, spiritual or unknown sources. They are also considered to be gateways or portals to other realms. The Great Pyramid in Egypt and Stonehenge are to be centers of vortex activity. Ally went over the cliff at the Airport Mesa vortex ... one of four rock
Available Now! formations in Sedona believed to contain a power vortex.
Airport Mesa is named for its location next to the small Sedona Airport. To reach it, drive west out of Sedona on Arizona Highway 89A and turn left onto Airport Road. About halfway up the mesa is a small parking area and the panoramic views from here are among the best in the region.
Just remember ... watch your step.
Ally’s never been Miss Popularity, but her outsider status takes on new meaning when she’s rescued by Liam Cheveyo and his peculiar friends. After seeing them shape-shift into their freaky humanimal counterparts, Ally smacks hard into a few truths: magic really does exist and, although getting here took no effort, finding her way back might be impossible. Feelings between her and Liam begin to grow along with the realization that, in this world, she’s stronger, better ... until she’s caught in a trap set by the creepy spider-boy Cepheus sends to retrieve her. But Ally’s not going down without a fight, not after learning the horrible truth about the passageways.
The survival of both worlds depends on it.
Ally’s journey begins in Sedona. Why? Because Sedona is famous for its vortex sites. A vortex is an energy mass that moves in a whirling motion, much like a tornado. They are areas of high energy concentration and originate from magnetic, spiritual or unknown sources. They are also considered to be gateways or portals to other realms. The Great Pyramid in Egypt and Stonehenge are to be centers of vortex activity. Ally went over the cliff at the Airport Mesa vortex ... one of four rock
Available Now! formations in Sedona believed to contain a power vortex.
Airport Mesa is named for its location next to the small Sedona Airport. To reach it, drive west out of Sedona on Arizona Highway 89A and turn left onto Airport Road. About halfway up the mesa is a small parking area and the panoramic views from here are among the best in the region.
Just remember ... watch your step.
What people are saying...
“This is one of the best books I have read in a long time! I finished it in two days!”
“I couldn't put this book down. I am an avid Stephen King fan and this book has the suspense and other world novelty of both The Talisman and The Gunslinger series but includes a romance interest similar to Twilight - so it has it all!”
“This is a fast-paced book that draws you in quickly and is hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to everyone. Looking forward to the next one in the series.... “
"I recommend this story to any and all who love fantasy, magic, and supernatural. It is fully loaded with all that and more and is sure to keep the reader entertained. I know it did me and I am really glad I kept reading. I look forward to the next book so I can find out if Ally decides to stay with Liam or return to her mother ..."
“I couldn't put this book down. I am an avid Stephen King fan and this book has the suspense and other world novelty of both The Talisman and The Gunslinger series but includes a romance interest similar to Twilight - so it has it all!”
“This is a fast-paced book that draws you in quickly and is hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to everyone. Looking forward to the next one in the series.... “
"I recommend this story to any and all who love fantasy, magic, and supernatural. It is fully loaded with all that and more and is sure to keep the reader entertained. I know it did me and I am really glad I kept reading. I look forward to the next book so I can find out if Ally decides to stay with Liam or return to her mother ..."
Acknowledgements
It’s been four years since I wrote the first sentence of Double Star and I still don't know what inspired me. Many of my friends had no idea what I was up to and I have to thank the few people that did because I never could have done this without them.
Thanks to my mom: my tireless cheerleader, my proofreader and a constant source of optimism. I love you.
Thanks to brother, Ned: your words inspire me, your depth enlightens me and your support lifts me. I hope you’ll have my back again with Double Star II. You will definitely make it a better read.
To my kids: I had no idea writing was such a lonely business. Thanks for being patient and eating many frozen pizzas for dinner.
To Andrea: my wonderful sister. It’s great to have a lawyer in the family.
To my independent readers who read the book, sometimes more than once: Beth, Randy, Cal, Joe, Kate, Andrea, Laural, Laurie, Laura, Mom and MaryAnn. Thanks for keeping me focused.
To Arlene and Terry: my editors, my new friends and, most definitely, my harshest critics. They helped me transform a 203,000 word beast into an 85,000 word novel ... painful but necessary. They taught me so much about the writing process. I sent the first draft of my manuscript to Arlene for a critique ... to see if I had anything. She gave me the confidence and tools I needed to see this through to the end. She's the best! To anyone interested in hiring a great editor, Arlene can be reached at [email protected].
To Tammy: thanks for creating the website and Facebook page.
To Laurie: my illustrator. Thanks for putting up with me. We did it!
To the songs that inspired me throughout this process: it wasn't always the words ... sometimes, it was simply the melody that brought me to another place. I've indicated with an asterisk those songs which helped me create specific scenes in the book. Can you guess which ones they are?
Thanks to my mom: my tireless cheerleader, my proofreader and a constant source of optimism. I love you.
Thanks to brother, Ned: your words inspire me, your depth enlightens me and your support lifts me. I hope you’ll have my back again with Double Star II. You will definitely make it a better read.
To my kids: I had no idea writing was such a lonely business. Thanks for being patient and eating many frozen pizzas for dinner.
To Andrea: my wonderful sister. It’s great to have a lawyer in the family.
To my independent readers who read the book, sometimes more than once: Beth, Randy, Cal, Joe, Kate, Andrea, Laural, Laurie, Laura, Mom and MaryAnn. Thanks for keeping me focused.
To Arlene and Terry: my editors, my new friends and, most definitely, my harshest critics. They helped me transform a 203,000 word beast into an 85,000 word novel ... painful but necessary. They taught me so much about the writing process. I sent the first draft of my manuscript to Arlene for a critique ... to see if I had anything. She gave me the confidence and tools I needed to see this through to the end. She's the best! To anyone interested in hiring a great editor, Arlene can be reached at [email protected].
To Tammy: thanks for creating the website and Facebook page.
To Laurie: my illustrator. Thanks for putting up with me. We did it!
To the songs that inspired me throughout this process: it wasn't always the words ... sometimes, it was simply the melody that brought me to another place. I've indicated with an asterisk those songs which helped me create specific scenes in the book. Can you guess which ones they are?
Adored Collective Soul
Shake It Up Florence and the Machine Lightning Strikes* Live Cherub Rock* Smashing Pumpkins Fix You* Coldplay Closer to the Edge Thirty Seconds Closer to Mars Life in Technicolor* Coldplay Death and All His Friends* Coldplay Homesick Soul Asylum The Only One Manchester Orchestra I've Got Friends Manchester Orchestra I Can Feel a Hot One Manchester Orchestra Walk This Way David Garrett |
Strawberry Swing* Coldplay
These Days Foo Fighters The River Manchester Orchestra Timothy Jet Shine Collective Soul Run Collective Soul Yes Coldplay Lost Coldplay Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground Coldplay Everything's Not Lost Coldplay Politik Coldplay Clocks Coldplay Bitter Sweet Symphony The Verve |