Shattered (Tempest Coven Novels)

by Wendolyn Baird

  “I told you when you first got here.” She shrugs. “Folks stick around after they die. They stay on this property.”

  Her blouse is pulled to the side and covered in leaves, her ash blonde hair is stuck to her forehead, and her lower lip is twitching as she stares at me earnestly. “If you don’t believe me, why were you trying to crawl out of here? Who do you think closed the gate?”

  My stomach drops, and chills slip down every inch of my body. I open my mouth to argue, but my tongue is coated in the taste of metal and remains too clumsy to form words.

  “I know it’s hard to come to terms with, especially with everything you’ve been through, but you loved this place once. You knew without needing the words back then. You just need to remember, darling. We’re family here.”

  Acknowledgments

  THIS BOOK WOULD NOT have been possible without the encouragement and understanding of several people. First, my family. Thanks to my wonderful husband who let me rant about fictional characters and the struggles of editing without complaint, although it meant I spent far too many hours silently frowning at a screen. A special thank you to my kids who patiently waited an extra moment for me to “just finish up this sentence.”

  Then of course, there’s my dad, who has always told me that writing was the best of my talents. Who, no matter how bad my writing started as, taught me to keep trying.

  For my aunt who encourages me and continues to answer her phone, no matter how many phone calls I make asking for advice. Your patience and presence mean so much more than you can imagine.

  As far as my friends, Fiona is the one who outright demanded I continue on with what I thought was going to be a short story. Tania and Atlas would never have gotten so far without you. Justin, thanks so much for enthusiasm and wonderful photography you’ve lent to this project.

  There are so many more people I’d love to thank, but then I’d never stop writing! So, if you don't recognize yourself on this page, know that I really do care.

  About the Author

  BORN AND RAISED IN South Texas, Wendolyn Baird spent most of her childhood devouring books on magic, ghosts, and adventures.

  The dream to become an author was clear from the beginning, and though it was often put on the back burner, it never faded.

  Shattered is her first novel, though definitely not her last. The Tempest Coven series is meant to be a trilogy, and the other two are in the works. Besides that, several more storylines are under way, including a young adult dystopian series and a line of children’s picture books.

  When she’s writing, she exists on coffee and very little to no sleep. When not writing, family is the first thing on her mind, followed very closely by which books she’s going to read next.

  You can follow her online for updates on current or upcoming projects.

  https://www.facebook.com/authorWendyBaird/

  https://twitter.com/Wendolyn_Writes