A
pair of eyes underlined in weary darkness and punctuated with a
knowing stare. These are not the normal eyes of a newborn baby.
Abigail Delilah is the firstborn of three Whitestone children – and
she is the most regretted.
But
is it really her fault?
She
can’t help that the revelation of Father’s wretched secret
coincides with her birth. She can’t help the fear she feels during
Mother’s psychological – and physical – assaults. As the
shadows grow stronger over her soul and the noose of pain tightens
around her neck, Abigail will find out which is stronger: her
family’s wicked assumptions about her or her true self.
Take
your first step into the Dark Victoriana Collection with Anatomy
of a Darkened Heart.
Multi-layered
with motifs, symbolism, and psychological depth, this tale of dark
Victoriana will appeal to the literary reader and the leisure reader
alike, combining key facets of several popular genres. And don’t be
afraid to get addicted – the collection continues exploring the
intertwining threads that weave together the complex tapestry of the
Whitestone legacy.
Historical Down to the Floor Cleaner
It was really important to me to write a book that was historically accurate and didn’t mix today with yesteryear. My novel takes place during the period of 1840-1861, a time when commonplace services of today, like mail delivery, were in a state of flux. Even down to letter delivery times, it was very tricky to get it right because there were no standards at the time; the post office was still working itself out.
One thing in particular that was great to incorporate into Anatomy of a Darkened Heart was how someone would clean a floor and the solution and scrubbing instrument used. That sounds irrelevant, but it’s details like this that bring the time period from vague background bits to sharp, all-encompassing details that make the ambiance a living part of the book.
Anatomy
of a Darkened Heart extract:
The Hinsleys. Godparents.
Elizabeth knew what he was
thinking. He was thinking they would grant Abigail Delilah plenty of
gifts, money, bestow upon her all the things they could not give
their own baby. But he was also thinking Mrs. Hinsley could act as a
second mother to the child, replace Elizabeth even if only to a small
degree. He was thinking Mrs. Hinsley would make Elizabeth into the
woman he wanted her to be: her mother.
She would be no such thing.
Elizabeth's mother was a pious
woman, yes, but also hard, cold, so stern that Elizabeth never felt
her love. Exactly what she married into. How
do these horrible motifs carry through a person's life?
If she had already experienced distance from her parents, should she
not experience warmth from her husband? Was that not what was due
her?
It seemed not.
Elizabeth wondered… If she was
more like Mrs. Hinsley, would Richard change at all? Would he become
more considerate, more caring? Elizabeth doubted it. More likely he
would remain the same but approve of her more. What
does that feel like?
She supposed it must feel like a child winning a game of fox and
geese - hard won and short-lived. Insignificant in the long run.
No, she would not be her mother's
daughter.
She must take Mrs. Hinsley in,
make her think that she was welcome in Elizabeth's home at all times,
that she was part of the Whitestone family now. Now that Richard had
already made this enormous decision and informed them behind
Elizabeth's back, she must make Mrs. Hinsley feel like she belonged,
bring her in close. That would be the easiest way to eliminate her
from the picture.
Richard had changed the
wallpaper. It was horrid. Black damask on blinding white. She would
have preferred almost anything else. But why would he ask her? It was
his house.
It was
his house.
It was his
house.
It was his
baby.
But it was in her
hands.
Dark
Victoriana Collection:
The
Dark Victoriana Collection is not a series but an exploration of the
same town in which the Whitestones live. There’s plenty of
crossover with events in Anatomy
of a Darkened Heart
as well as other happenings and new secrets we didn’t get to
discover in AoDH. There will be five books total in the collection:
the first novel (AoDH) followed by three novelettes and then a final
novel. I can’t reveal too much without giving some things way, but
I can reveal the titles and release years of the upcoming books.
- Locke and Keye (early 2016) “When you make the lock, you own the key”
- Love’s Bloom (mid 2016)
- Mrs. Dodd’s Doll Shop (late 2016)
- Surviving the Whitestones: Ashdon’s Account (2017)
There’s
a lot to look forward to!
Buy
links:
Barnes
& Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anatomy-of-a-darkened-heart-christie-stratos/1122766074?ean=2940152392197
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/580327
Createspace:
https://www.createspace.com/5738844
Buy
direct from the author for the same price as Amazon - signed and
personalized copy: http://christiestratos.com
Bio:
Christie
Stratos is an editor and award-winning writer who holds a degree
in English Literature. An avid reader of all genres and world
literature, Christie reads everything from bestsellers to classics to
indies, and is an audiobook reviewer at AudioBookReviewer.com.
She is also a writer of published short stories, poetry, and novels.
She dabbles in all genres.
Social
media links:
Author
website: http://christiestratos.com
Editing
website: http://proofpositivepro.com
Amazon
author page:
http://www.amazon.com/Christie-Stratos/e/B015L5FMTM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/christiestratos
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/cstratoswrites
