Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Guest Post by Dandi Daley Mackall


In celebration of Halloween, my second favorite holiday, Dandi Daley Mackall wrote a creepy guest post and shared an excerpt from her latest book!

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
Published October 11, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Hope Long's life revolves around her brother Jeremy. So when Jeremy is accused of killing the town's beloved baseball coach, Hope's world begins to unravel. Everyone is convinced Jeremy did it, and since he hasn't spoken a word in 9 years, he's unable to defend himself. Their lawyer instructs Hope to convince the jury that Jeremy is insane, but all her life Hope has known that Jeremy's just different than other people—better, even. As she works to prove his innocence—joined by her best friend T.J. and the sheriff's son, Chase—Hope uncovers secrets about the murder, the townspeople, her family, and herself. She knows her brother isn't the murderer. But as she comes closer to the truth, she's terrified to find out who is.


I have to confess that I used to dread Halloween. Don’t get me wrong - I loved the candy, popcorn balls, parading around in a spooky costume. But I grew up in a small town in Missouri, where there weren’t a lot of “tricks” kids could pull without getting caught. So nearly every year, a couple of guys in my class used to let our horses out of the pasture, or the barn. I’m not sure why they thought that was fun or funny. My sister, my dad, and I spent far too many Halloween nights trying to find our horses and put them back into the pasture. Boo to that!

I have no trouble coming up with the scariest thing that ever happened to me. A number of years ago, I started seeing a white pickup truck everywhere I went. It parked on my street in the middle of the night. It followed me. It showed up in the parking lot of the grocery store, parked next to my car. Then the driver of that pickup began to show up everywhere too. I started getting creepy phone calls I’d hang up on.

It all came together one night when I was home alone. A pounding on the door woke me, and that pickup-truck guy was shouting crazy things, screaming that he was going to get even with me for locking him out, that I was supposed to “belong” to him. In the end, I dialed 911. The police came and carted the guy away. I never knew why he’d targeted me, but he was a real, live stalker. I’ve told the long, scary version of the white pickup truck story when I’ve done school visits and author conferences across the U.S. Students would always ask me if I’d ever written about that pickup-truck guy, and I’d have to answer no. Only now, I have! In
The Silence of Murder, I recreated the white pickup truck and its frightening driver.

An excerpt from The Silence of Murder:

When I go inside, my arms and shoulders cry out for a long, hot bubble bath. I start the water, then remember to close the shades and curtains. I’m struggling with the living room curtains when I catch sight of something white across the street. It’s the white pickup truck.
How long has it been there? Was someone watching me while I mowed? I shiver, thinking about it, picturing it. What if they were waiting for Rita to leave?
Fast as I can, I lock the doors. Then I edge toward the window and peer out.
Nothing moves.
No cars drive by.
If the pickup is still there, I can’t see it. But I didn’t imagine that truck.
I hear the bathtub water running and dash in to shut it off before it overflows.
911. I need to dial 911. I race through the living room looking for my cell. I don’t know what I did with it. I don’t have time to look.
Heart pounding, I run to the house phone. I reach for it, and the phone rings. I jump back.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
I watch as my arm stretches down and my fingers wrap around the receiver. I lift it to my ear, but I don’t speak. I don’t breathe.
Someone’s there. There’s a rustling noise. I think I hear an engine, a car. Then he-or she-says, “I’m watching you.” The voice is calm, firm, as sexless as it is faceless.
"Who are--?"
"Quit poking around where you don’t belong. Leave...it...alone." The line goes dead.
I stand there, receiver to my ear, until it buzzes. I drop the phone back onto the holder.
Almost instantly, it rings again. I stare at it.
Ring, ring, ring. It won’t stop.
I jerk the phone off its hook. "Stop it! Stop calling here! You leave me alone!"
"Hope? What’s wrong? Did they call again?"
It’s Chase. I burst into tears.
"Hope, is Rita there with you?"
I shake my head. "No."
"Hang on. I’ll be right over." There’s a click of the phone, then nothing but the roar of the dial tone.

* * * * * * * * * *

I curl up on the couch, pulling the Afghan blanket around me. And I wait. Pipes creak. The fridge roars. Branches scratch the roof. Each noise is louder than the one before.
Outside, I hear a car drive up. A car door slam. Footsteps running up the walk. A knock. A banging at the door. It gets louder and louder.
"Hope! It’s me! Open up!"
I fling the blanket to the floor and rush to the door. The lock won’t turn. My hands are shaking. Finally, I yank the door open and throw myself into Chase’s arms.
Without a word, he picks me up and carries me to the couch. He has to go back to the door and lock it.
"Chase?" I call.
"I’m here." He kneels beside the couch and wraps me in the blanket. "You’re shivering." He rubs the blanket, warming my arms and legs. "Tell me what happened."
"The truck was outside." I start to sit up. "It might still be there!"
He eases me back down. "It’s okay. I didn’t see it out there. Go on."
"The phone...rang. They said to stop poking around, or something like that." I can’t finish because that scratchy, breathless voice is in my head, telling me to let it go or leave it alone.
Chase sits on the couch and takes my head in his lap. He strokes my hair, and I wonder if this is what children feel like when their parents take care of them when they’re sick or frightened. I think it might be.
"Hope?" His voice is as soothing as his fingers on my hairline. "Talk to me. Tell me again what the caller said."
I tell him. It’s easier now. I’m safe.
When I finish, Chase lets out a breath, like he’s been holding it during my account. "Did the person on the phone sound like a man?"
"Yes. At least, I think so. I guess it could have been a woman. It doesn’t even sound human. But I thought it was a man."
"It’s got to be the same person who’s stalking you," Chase says, "the guy in that pickup. I wish I’d seen him."

Wanna read more? THEN GO BUY THE SILENCE OF MURDER!
I hope everyone has an awesome & scary Halloween night!

FIND DANDI ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Book's Website

19 comments:

  1. This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep
    a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos,
    I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost.
    ..HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more
    than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

    Feel free to surf to my webpage; see more

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you
    actually know what you are speaking approximately!

    Bookmarked. Kindly additionally discuss with my website =).
    We could have a link change agreement between us

    Also visit my web site - porn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Quality articles or reviews is the key to attract the users to pay
    a quick visit the website, that's what this web page is providing.

    Also visit my web-site - http://Weandt.com/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=AnalisaFi

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post.

    Look at my web blog visit

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, of course this article is truly fastidious and I have learned lot
    of things from it regarding blogging. thanks.

    Look into my page: a porn actress
    my site - click here

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's really very difficult in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, so I simply use world wide web for that reason, and take the most recent news.

    Here is my web blog http://buyautopartsonline.tk/search.php?q=Watch+this+younger+female+describe+her+profession+as+a+chat+host&page=1

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice blog here! Additionally your site a lot up fast!
    What web host are you using? Can I get your associate
    hyperlink to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol

    my blog post ... Http://Chatclimax...
    My site :: Tek 1 Net; Aradığınız herşey burada.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What's up, I check your blogs daily. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!

    my web-site; porn movies

    ReplyDelete
  9. My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority
    of your post's to be exactly what I'm looking for.
    can you offer guest writers to write content for you personally?

    I wouldn't mind creating a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome weblog!

    Here is my webpage - more

    ReplyDelete
  10. If you are going for finest contents like I do, just visit this web site every day
    for the reason that it provides quality contents, thanks

    My site: see more

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello there! I could have sworn I've been to this blog before but after reading through some of the post I realized it's new to me.
    Anyhow, I'm definitely delighted I found it and I'll be bookmarking
    and checking back often!

    Here is my homepage: at grants

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's going to be ending of mine day, but before ending I am reading this enormous paragraph to increase my know-how.

    My page :: Email Console

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm not positive where you are getting your info, but great topic. I must spend a while studying much more or figuring out more. Thanks for wonderful information I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.

    Here is my blog; Seductive Brunette

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that
    I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case
    I'll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

    my website: http://pornharvest.com/index.php?m=2084147

    ReplyDelete
  15. We're a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You've
    done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.


    Feel free to visit my website :: see more

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and
    you're just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you've acquired here, certainly
    like what you're saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can't wait to read far more from you.
    This is actually a terrific web site.

    my website; click Here - pornharvest.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. At this moment I am going to do my breakfast, once having my
    breakfast coming over again to read additional news.

    My blog post 7:53 pm

    ReplyDelete
  18. Its like you read my mind! You seem to grasp so much about this,
    such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you can do with a few p.
    c. to pressure the message house a little bit, but instead of that, that is
    fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.


    Feel free to surf to my homepage: visit website

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am truly pleassant to read all at alone place.



    my web page; http://kenrieves.com/phpBB2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=87384 [www.aadal.biz]

    ReplyDelete

Thanks, I love what you have to say!