A Second Chance
by Dana K. Ray
Publication date: June 14th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
by Dana K. Ray
Publication date: June 14th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
BLURB
A past she can’t forget…
Raven will do just about anything
to forget a horrific event from the past that still haunts her. Forced to
attend church because of a promise she made at a party, she is immediately
attracted to the young, handsome preacher but is unconvinced of his promises of
a better life.
A future he refuses to
accept…
Matthew has everything planned
out until Raven walks into his church and turns his life upside down. Repulsed
by her lifestyle, yet fascinated by her beauty and charm, he finds himself
drawn to her by a force he can’t explain.
Raven and Mathew’s unlikely
friendship leads them through escalating troubled waters that threaten to doom
their growing relationship. Will they survive to learn valuable lessons of
grace, forgiveness and love?
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Raven staggered into her bedroom and fell on the bed. Darkness pressed into her
on every side. A shard of light sliced through the room. She tried to focus on
the ceiling, but the room spun around her. She slid to the edge of the bed
until one foot lay flat on the floor. It was supposed to stop the spinning. It
didn’t.
Oh, God.
If You keep me from puking, I swear, I’ll never drink again.
It was an
empty promise, as deceiving as the alcohol. The numbness was too short. All too
quickly, she’d end up in the same position, praying the same stupid prayer,
talking to a God she didn’t know.
Teresa
appeared. Raven smiled and reached out to her best friend. Teresa came closer.
Her face was white and her lips were blue. Raven’s smile faded as terror filled
her.
“I’m
sorry,” Raven whispered as tears fell from her eyes.
Raven
blinked and gave her head a gentle shake to rid herself of the ghost. Wrong
move. Teresa vanished like a vapor but her stomach churned in protest. She
looked back at the ceiling, pushed the thoughts of Teresa out of her mind, and
focused on not puking.
Teresa
was back with a vengeance, haunting her this time, calling to her...
“Raven.”
Raven
rolled on her side and pulled the pillow over her head to muffle the girl’s
voice. The shrink said the memories would fade. They didn’t.
“Raven.”
Startled,
she sat up and tried to focus on something. Her heart pounded as hard as her
head did. She must’ve been dreaming.
“Raven.”
There was pounding. “Get the door,” her sister yelled.
Raven
turned. Hailey stood in the doorway of her room. Is it morning? Did I sleep? Am
I still buzzed or hung over? She sat motionless for a moment. Her head
throbbed. Cotton mouth. I’m hung over.
“The
door?” Raven asked, but Hailey had already disappeared.
Raven
crawled across the bed, peeked out the window, and looked down at the front
porch. Travis, the preacher boy, pounded on the door again.
“I’ll
kill him.” The doorbell shrilled through the house, intensifying the pounding
in her head.
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—
Q&A
with Dana K. Ray:
When did
you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Always. I felt odd because I always had movies playing in my head. I was so concerned with it that in college I wrote a paper on “fantasy thoughts” because I wasn’t sure if it was normal. I was a stay-at-home mom which gave me the chance to write my books down. Now, I am a full-time children’s minister at my church, which I love, and a writer in the evenings and weekends.
Always. I felt odd because I always had movies playing in my head. I was so concerned with it that in college I wrote a paper on “fantasy thoughts” because I wasn’t sure if it was normal. I was a stay-at-home mom which gave me the chance to write my books down. Now, I am a full-time children’s minister at my church, which I love, and a writer in the evenings and weekends.
What do
the “movies in your head” look like?
Very vivid. I see the characters in color but the fun of it, is I can change things. I can watch a scene and if I don’t like it, I mix it up. I do this until I love the scene then I go write it down.
Very vivid. I see the characters in color but the fun of it, is I can change things. I can watch a scene and if I don’t like it, I mix it up. I do this until I love the scene then I go write it down.
When did
you first start putting your stories on paper?
I won my first poetry contest when I was in 5th grade, 1976. A very basic, five-line poem. (you can go to danakray.com to read it) I’m not a poetry writer so I find it funny that that’s what I wrote, entered and won first place. In college I’d write thoughts, short stories but when computers came out in 1994, I wrote the book, Absolution.
I won my first poetry contest when I was in 5th grade, 1976. A very basic, five-line poem. (you can go to danakray.com to read it) I’m not a poetry writer so I find it funny that that’s what I wrote, entered and won first place. In college I’d write thoughts, short stories but when computers came out in 1994, I wrote the book, Absolution.
So A Second
Chance wasn’t the first book you wrote?
No. A Second Chance was the second book I wrote but the first on to be published. Funny how that worked out. I’ve had a couple articles on the Internet published that I got paid for.
No. A Second Chance was the second book I wrote but the first on to be published. Funny how that worked out. I’ve had a couple articles on the Internet published that I got paid for.
Were any
of the characters based on real people or your own experiences?
All the characters are purely fictional. I did draw from my own experiences. I’ve been touched by one friend and two family members that have fought Leukemia. I’ve also experienced the effects of suicide four times in my life, from a close friend’s attempt to three friends/relatives that accomplished it. Although fiction, some of Raven’s feelings were therapeutic for me to write about. Suicide is never the answer and I’d plead with anyone thinking about it to please, please, please reach out for help. Your life is SO important and you are loved more than you can even imagine, even if you don’t feel like it.
All the characters are purely fictional. I did draw from my own experiences. I’ve been touched by one friend and two family members that have fought Leukemia. I’ve also experienced the effects of suicide four times in my life, from a close friend’s attempt to three friends/relatives that accomplished it. Although fiction, some of Raven’s feelings were therapeutic for me to write about. Suicide is never the answer and I’d plead with anyone thinking about it to please, please, please reach out for help. Your life is SO important and you are loved more than you can even imagine, even if you don’t feel like it.
Have you
met people like Raven and Matthew?
Oh yes, and I have been Raven and Matthew. I’ve felt people were too judgmental of my past actions and I’ve been too judgment towards other people. That’s the awesomeness of our God. With repentance, He’s forgiving of everything. And as we grow closer to Him, we become more forgiving of other people.
Oh yes, and I have been Raven and Matthew. I’ve felt people were too judgmental of my past actions and I’ve been too judgment towards other people. That’s the awesomeness of our God. With repentance, He’s forgiving of everything. And as we grow closer to Him, we become more forgiving of other people.
Where can I buy A Second Chance or contact you?
I love to
connect with my readers and aspiring authors. You can go to my website
danakray.com, amazon.com or eLectiopublishing.com to purchase my book. If you
buy from my website, I’d be happy to send you a signed copy. While at my
website, you can signup on my email list so you can receive news, updates, blog
posts and new releases. I’d also love to hear from you.
What’s
next?
Absolution is the first book in the Luciano series and comes out in July of 2017. It’s about two brothers, one woman, and one bullet. Absolution is a fast read with mystery, love, devotion, fun and you might find a murder or two.
Absolution is the first book in the Luciano series and comes out in July of 2017. It’s about two brothers, one woman, and one bullet. Absolution is a fast read with mystery, love, devotion, fun and you might find a murder or two.
—
Author Info
Dana K. Ray has been writing
gutsy, true to life stories since she became a teenager. A full-time children's
minister in her church, she and her husband reside in the Midwest with their
four children and four dogs. A Second Chance is her first published novel.
Absolution, the first in the Luciano series, is set to be released July 2017.
Connect with her at danakray.com.
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