"Ms. Gideon demonstrates a remarkable ability to entertain in any chosen field of the imagination." - The Literary Times
"Horror at its finest and most eerie!" -Mid-West Book Review
To be filmed in southwestern Michigan with the F/X wizards who brought Harry and the Hendersons, Angels In the Outfield and Evil Dead II to life, book, movie and comic book versions revolve around the chaos created when medieval monsters locked in an age-old battle are unearthed by modern day fire fighters in a town already held hostage to fear by a stalking serial killer.
"A fascinating story!" - Andy Garcia, actor
Watch for In The Woods II, Origin of the Beast.
IN THE WOODS (Horror/Fantasy)
Nancy Gideon
Katharsys Pictures Publishing, $5.99
Backlist: Midnight Surrender, Midnight Temptation, Midnight Kiss
In the woods a creature was buried centuries ago... a creature of unlimited power and capable of unspeakable terror. Unleashed upon the world during the Medieval ages, his rest has been undisturbed until now.
Alex Kerwood's life seems to be falling apart around him. The firefighter lost his friend to a fire and Alex blames himself. Now he stands to lose his wife because of his drinking. A serial killer is terrorizing his small town and things are pretty bleak. When Alex and his boss stumble upon the grave in the woods they don't know what they will find. Could it be the serial killer that has been stalking the town has chosen this sight to bury his victims? What they find is a pile of old bones-- bones that take on flesh and fur, becoming a creature they can't believe exists. They make a pact of silence, vowing to forget what they have seen and experienced. But the evil they unearthed has other plans.
When the devil dog starts massacring people and leaving body parts at Alex's home, the authorities start looking to him for answers. Alex doesn't dare tell them truth, who would believe some supernatural creature is on the loose? But as the body count rises Alex knows one thing-- he's the only one who can stop the terror.
Author Nancy Gideon takes on a new challenge in writing In the Woods.
The book is a novelization of a screenplay by Lynn Drzick being made into a
movie by Katharsys Pictures. While Ms. Gideon's loyal fans may want to add In
the Woods to their collection, romance fans will probably want to stay out
of the woods, so to speak. The story line is familiar drive-in movie fare: a
monster buried for centuries is unearthed and terrorizes the town until the
hero can find a way to dispose of it. There is plenty of violence, gore, explosions
and chases to entertain horror fans, but little in the way of originality (though
the serial killer subplot had interesting aspects). In defense of Ms. Gideon,
who has had a long and impressive writing career, readers should be reminded
that this is a novel based on a screenplay-- in other words, Ms. Gideon is working
from someone else's ideas. As for this reviewer, I look forward to reading Ms.
Gideon's next original effort, whether it's romance or horror, because
I know what a talented writer she is. In the Woods simply doesn't do
her justice.
"Nancy Gideon's crossover from romance to horror is sure to create a
stir-- and a whole new group of fans!"
-Kristina Wright, The Literary Times
"An incredible and innovative series by one of the brightest
talents of the supernatural romance." The Talisman
"Move over Anne Rice!" Romantic Times
Pinnacle/May 1994
"A colorful and hauntingly beautiful tale of otherworldly love . . .
destined to become a classic . . . 5 Star!" Affaire de Coeur
Awarded Best Selling Paranormal Romance of 1994 by Booklovers
Pinnacle/October 1994
"A treasure trove of unearthly delights . . . Readers will want to induct
Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller's hall of fame." Romantic
Times
Nominated for Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Fantasy
by Romantic Times
Pinnacle/May 1995
"A fast paced supernatural romance that will elate fans of the sub genre"
Affaire de Coeur
Number 8 on Waldenbooks Best Selling Series Romance List
Silhouette Intimate Moments/June 1995
"Enough gripping suspense, emotional tension, and throbbing pathos on
each page to keep readers glued to their chairs until the end of the novel .
. . a work that leaves the audience breathless." Affaire de Coeur
They both knew what lay covered by dirt under that simple cross was not somebody's pet. It was somebody's body. And Alex didn't want to find out whose. He was in the business of bringing >em back alive not digging them up dead. His gaze flew around the clearing, searching out the spot where they'd entered. Finding it. Wondering crazily if he could find his own way back to the truck if Wayne continued this insanity.
But Wayne didn't look insane now. He looked deadly serious. Which was worse.
"What if it's not a pet!" he began with an ice cold rationality. "How can we leave, Alex, not knowing if we could put some family at ease, knowing that their loved one isn't out there being tortured somewhere?"
Alex hesitated, heart hammering, blood sluicing in tidal waves. He didn't want to look down at that mound of dirt again, to see where it had already been violated by Wayne's first scoop. God . . . anything could be under there. Something best left undisturbed, whispered through him on a chill.
The soil was cold, giving easily.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Alex murmured.
"Just dig."
Every natural sound in the woods went still. The insects, the animals, the birds, even the wind and rustling leaves stopped in complete silence. The only noise was the labored breaths of two men afraid to stop and just as scared to go on until an area of approximately three foot by sever foot was etched down twelve inches. Uncovering a burlap sack.
"Let me," Alex said. Wayne handed the knife over.
The weave was coarse and uneven, a poor job, like something a kid would make. The fibers were fragile, fraying in his hands as if very, very old. He stuck the knife into a flap of material then reared back. It wasn't a smell that came from the bag, not like he'd expected if he was opening up the shroud of a recently deceased and decomposing. It was like a breath against his face, a hard puff expelled as if from the lungs of a corpse in its final death rattle. An old, fetid smell, the kind archaeologists must have inhaled when cracking open the seams of a tomb. Alex clamped his jaw tight, fighting the bile burning in the back of his throat.
Bones. The sack was full of bones. Old bones, polished clean by the years. Not the bones of some innocent victim buried only weeks ago. Not Laurie Walshank in an unflattering state of rot. Not human bones, at all.
Alex leaned forward to examine the skeleton pieces. An animal, definitely. But what kind? He reached into the bag. "Come to Poppa."
The skull was heavy and huge. As big as a watermelon and like nothing he'd ever seen. He wondered in a brief euphoria if they'd stumbled upon something prehistoric, for the long, tapering skull was possessed of a fearsome set of teeth, the canines elongated to curl up like tusks. But what was it? A saber-toothed tiger? Stranger still was the short horn centered between gaping sockets and nasal holes.
As Alex studied the skull, it began to feel warm in his hand. His own heat transferring to the old bones, of course. "I bet you were one scary mother," he muttered, staring through the large vacant sockets. And as he stared into those twin black holes, an eerie light-headedness swirled up around him, sucking at him, pulling him down toward some unnamed darkness. For a moment, he thought he might faint as vision ebbed and surged in sickening swells. Through that hazy focus, Alex's gaze was mesmerized by a sudden subtle glow emanating from behind those ghastly hollow sockets. A pulsing brightness, a compelling energy of life and power, beckoning him to come closer, to look deeper, to discover some mystery hidden by centuries past. Calling to him.
Master . . .
Return to Nancy's Home Paranormal Books Booklists
This
page is designed and maintained by The Literary
Times