Little Sister Lost

Isn't it strange how much emotion can flow inside your mind when you look through family photos?  Good, bad, or sad.  But the memories are there.

My sister and I used to go through our family albums dozens of times as kids.  We'd tell each other stories about how we remembered certain instances at the time the photos were taken.  But those days are gone, at least for her.

About ten years ago, she got mixed in with the wrong crowd because of a guy she fell head over heels for.  If love is blind, often doing things while in this "love" stage inhibited her from making clear decisions.  Before we knew it, he had her smoking pot.  A few months later, her behavior became so erratic she was no longer the sister we knew.  She began seeing things.   Little demons running through her house.  People who weren't there.  She destroyed her house, shattering pictures, windows, and once threw a broom so hard that it went through a closet door without splintering the broom handle.

She was finally put into a mental health hospital, and we found out that she had been using meth.  The drug use had done so much damage, they kept her there for months.  Doctor evaluations later diagnosed her with dementia.  The drugs had eaten holes in her brain.  And sadly, she'd never be the same.

Now, I look at family pictures differently.  When I see us as kids, I try to remember the things we did, but I cannot escape the remorse that the sister I knew and loved is no longer here.

Winner of Predators of Darkness: Aftermath Proof

Congratulations to Holly Bourque!  You are the winner of the Predators of Darkness: Aftermath proof. 


Next contest at 100 Followers!  Have to make it something good, eh?

Giving Back to My Alma Mater

As previously mentioned in a blog, Plainview High School (my Alma Mater) was hit and partially destroyed by an EF-5 Tornado on April 27th, 2011.  In an effort to help raise money for the school library I'm donating 50% of my royalties for the next six weeks.

Currently all Kindle versions of my novels are priced @ $2.99 each and will remain as such for the next six weeks.  Nook versions are also $2.99 each.  All new paperback novels under my publishing imprint, Deimosweb Publishing, are available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or through your local book store.

Please spread the word!

Blessings to you all,

Leonard

For A Limited Time: Kindle & Nook Versions $2.99

For a limited time all Kindle and Nook versions of my series are priced @ $2.99 each.  Times are tough, and this is a price cruncher!  Get my entire series for less than $9.00.  That's a lot of reading, too.

Cheers!

Paperback Editions of My Darkness Series Are Now LIVE on Amazon.

Predators of Darkness: Aftermath is now LIVE on Amazon.com.  This is the second edition of the novel and has some revisions and additions made that the previous Predators of Darkness did not.  Beyond the Darkness, Book 2, has had some revisions and additions as well.

My series is now published under my publishing logo: Deimosweb Publishing.  And, I've made certain that books 2 and 3 are cheaper than what my former publisher (Outskirts Press) had them priced.

New editions, new covers, and better prices.

New Contest Giveaway: Advance Proof of Predators of Darkness: Aftermath

This giveaway is for an advance proof copy of my novel, Predators of Darkness: Aftermath.  This is a one of a kind edition and not another one will exist like this.  This does not have our cool Deimosweb Publishing logo on the back as we had not created one at the time of submission.  The actual release edition will have the logo.

Improve your chances to win this one of a kind edition by:

Like my FB author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leonard-D-Hilley-IIauthor-page/157289854329916

Follow my blog here.

Be a fan on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1194774.Leonard_D_Hilley_II

Your name can be entered up to 3 times (1 for each above).  If you're already following any of these, you will be included in the drawing for your chance(s) to win.

Good luck!!!

Please note:  This contest is NOT limited to only the U.S.  Overseas readers/bloggers/authors are also eligible.  Anyone following is also eligible in each future drawing for other contests as well.







Kindle version: $2.99

Tornado Devastation in My Hometown

On April 27th, 2011, part of Plainview High School (my Alma Mater) and DeKalb County Coliseum were destroyed by an EF-5 tornado that left a 25 mile path of destruction.  More than 300 homes were destroyed and 33 people killed in DeKalb County.  38 people were also killed in Tuscaloosa that day, too.  For some reason major media focused on Tuscaloosa and overlooked DeKalb County victims.

Here's actual film footage of the tornado as it formed and dropped from the sky just a couple minutes before it tore through the area:  Rainsville Tornado 4/27/2011.  It is quite frightening.

June 25th was the first chance we had to travel to Alabama to see what had happened.  There are no words to describe the destruction.  The loss.  Seeing the dozens and dozens of houses ripped apart in the areas we traveled, I cannot imagine the fear that struck the hearts of the people who survived through this.  My heart goes out to them and to the families who lost loved ones.

I attended Plainview from K-12th grade.  I am a product of that school.  My craft of writing stems from what I learned there.  My novels are an extension of those who taught and encouraged me to pursue my goals.  I want to be able to give back to the school for those reasons.  I'm setting plans into action right now and will update soon on what I can do.