Sky Daughter was my first paranormal. It's set in the mountains of Idaho, a region that is somewhat isolated. There are actually three entities trying to control the mountain community-- one isn't human. One of the humans is using techniques used by many dictators, but the other has been exploring control of the supernatural-- or so he believes.
Maggie has returned to her grandfather's mountain, which is currently nothing like the Waltons. She meets Reuben when he is trying to steal fuel from the service station where she works. He had come to this beautiful but dark region to relax and do some fishing. He didn't count on being kidnapped.
So a love story, a cultural exploration that is as current today as it was when I wrote it in the early '90s, and the possibility of real spiritual power-- of the negative and positive sort. I did research on the supernatural exploring the sorts of things some claim to have experienced with no explanation. I'm doing more of that right now for the future paranormal, suspense romances ;).
Excerpt from Sky Daughter:
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How far would they hunt him? Had they manufactured evidence that they could use against him outside of Farley, something that could bring him back however far he ran? They had everything that identified him. They could prove he was him better than he could right now. What could they make of that if they wanted to do it? Were they already using his credit cards? It all came back to the bigger question. Why had they taken him? Would whatever was behind this be enough to put him in a real prison if someone wanted?
“I need to find out why this happened.”
“Worry about reasons later. First get down the mountain.”
He shook his head. Maybe I can’t run from this. Maybe it would follow me.”
“Have you heard the definition of paranoia?”
He smiled. “Clinically?” Then he laughed. "You call it an inner voice and think it comes from God. I call it gut instinct, and it comes from surviving.”
“Surviving will come easier for you elsewhere.”
“Something is going on up here, Maggie. I know it.”
“And you think you can find out what without being killed? Heck, I don’t even know that something is going on at all, but if I believed as you did, I’d get out of here fast.”
“Maybe I learned something which led to whatever followed.”
“And maybe you didn’t. Maybe the reason isn’t all that unique,” she said.
“Like what?”
“Could you have offended someone that night? Did you flirt with a woman at the bar? Maybe irritate her boyfriend enough to hit you over the head?”
“You are kidding, right?”
“A lot of mountain men would look with keen disfavor on some handsome Easterner coming in and trying to take away one of their women.”
He gave a snort. “I don’t even flirt with women in the city.”
“I need to find out why this happened.”
“Worry about reasons later. First get down the mountain.”
He shook his head. Maybe I can’t run from this. Maybe it would follow me.”
“Have you heard the definition of paranoia?”
He smiled. “Clinically?” Then he laughed. "You call it an inner voice and think it comes from God. I call it gut instinct, and it comes from surviving.”
“Surviving will come easier for you elsewhere.”
“Something is going on up here, Maggie. I know it.”
“And you think you can find out what without being killed? Heck, I don’t even know that something is going on at all, but if I believed as you did, I’d get out of here fast.”
“Maybe I learned something which led to whatever followed.”
“And maybe you didn’t. Maybe the reason isn’t all that unique,” she said.
“Like what?”
“Could you have offended someone that night? Did you flirt with a woman at the bar? Maybe irritate her boyfriend enough to hit you over the head?”
“You are kidding, right?”
“A lot of mountain men would look with keen disfavor on some handsome Easterner coming in and trying to take away one of their women.”
He gave a snort. “I don’t even flirt with women in the city.”
