Once long ago, man and nature, were one.
He spoke with the trees,
Saw colors in the breeze.
He learned many things, both seen and unseen,
From those in the trees, near the rocks, and the stream.
Enchanted by man, she came closer to the flame,
They danced together, sang together–feasting in the rain.
But all of that stopped, when man found greed,
Gone now were the voices, near the rocks, and in the trees.
In vain she cried out, she warned him of his fate,
But man would not listen, because it was too late.
So nature and man–once one–were now two,
And nature grew tired, of trying to get through.
One world became fierce. One world cringed in fear,
Her world then retreated, and refused to go near.
War and disease, soon ravaged the land,
So nature took back, the gifts she gave man.
Outraged and angered, tales of monsters he told,
Of those in the trees, near the rocks, and waters cold.
But a tale of a monster is often hard to tell,
Is it defined by its actions, its looks, or its smell?
So here is your challenge, tell me if you can,
Who is the monster, and who is the man?
The Locals Description:
A young-adult science fiction thriller with a historical twist. It’s a fantasy novel that takes place is the towns of Pacific and Catawissa, Missouri and hinges on actual people, places, and events in those rural towns. In fact, the main villain in the series is loosely based on the story of the second most notorious female serial killer in American history, Bertha Gifford.
“All she wanted to do was to spend a quiet summer vacation with her friends after a difficult first year in middle-school and the recent unsolved disappearance of her baby brother. The dynamics Molly faced were much different this year. Her friends were close to her, but her enemies drew in closer.
Suddenly, she had something they wanted, and it wasn’t exactly her new crush, Thom Talbot. One day, while exploring the local caves of Catawissa, Missouri, she connects with mysterious beings who have been hidden from mankind for centuries. Through them, she discovers clues to her brother’s disappearance as she desperately tries to locate him. In doing so, she is unexpectedly launched on an incredible journey of local myth, magic, and monsters!”
