Facing Demons - Softcover

Sanders, Ashley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1426948018 ISBN 13: 9781426948015

Verlag: Trafford, 2011

Inhaltsangabe

New Novel Offers Insight Into Teenage Self-Harm and Recovery Ashley Sanders' new novel explores four teenagers' self-destructive behaviors and their recovery. Despite issues of child prostitution, gangs, homelessness, racism, and suicide, "Facing Demons" inspires by revealing that a second chance is possible. When life is difficult, too often teenagers see no other way out than suicide, or fearing suicide, they indulge in self-harming behaviors. Author Ashley Sanders knows another choice exists, and it is never too late to make that choice. Sanders portrays four self-destructive teenagers who are given a second chance in his moving new novel "Facing Demons" (ISBN 9781426951701, Trafford Publishing 2011). Dedicated to "those who deserve a second chance," "Facing Demons" is the often frightening, but also inspirational tale of how four teenagers tackle their self-destructive lives when they meet in a rehabilitation program. The four teenagers are: Rebecca, thrust into child-prostitution, and seeking escape from it through suicide; Jason, a racist gang-member determined to avenge his family's cold-blooded murder; Felicity, a manic-depressive grieving for her deceased brother and coping with her pain through drugs, alcohol, and self-harming behaviors; and Matthew, a homeless teenager, separated from his family after escaping his war-torn homeland only to end up burning himself severely. Each character in "Facing Demons" tells his or her story in first-person, which provides an emotional experience for readers and a deeper insight into the individual characters' minds. When Rebecca, Jason, Felicity, and Matthew come together for rehabilitation, it allows them to find camaraderie and strength in knowing others have experienced troubles like them, and their fellowship provides them support in their recovery. Together, their journeys will lead them to conflict and adventure, danger and romance, but ultimately, hope for a second chance. Written for young adult readers, "Facing Demons" is an important look into the issues many teenagers face. For those on similarly self-harming paths, the story will resonate and provide hope for a better future. More fortunate readers will find the book educational and it will provide them with gratitude for their own lives as well as an understanding of others' journeys. The book may also prevent other readers from entering the glamour of the underworld or a self-destructive life of drugs and alcohol. Seventeen-year old reviewer, Avni Gupta, of Reader Views, said, "When I received 'Facing Demons,' I was quite excited to read it. I have always been pretty interested in reading about people who have had to go to rehab and the stories behind them. Normally, you just hear about them as a statistic, but behind every number and every statistic, there is a real person and a real story....This book was absolutely amazing. I definitely read it twice before I started writing this review! With every page I read, and every detail into someone's story, I became more and more hooked on this book." Avni's response is sure to be that of numerous readers in her, and all, age groups. "Facing Demons" (ISBN 9781426951701, Trafford Publishing 2011) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.ashleysanders.com.au. Publicity contact: www.ReaderViews.com. Review copies available upon request. ###

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Ashley Daile Sanders was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up a true '90s kid. She graduated with honors from Beavercreek High School and has a BA in Liberal Studies with a focus in History from Wright State University - a degree in which she absolutely is not using. Classic millennial. When Ashley is not scheduling for a group of orthopedic surgeons or managing a clothing store at the mall, she can be found attending trivia nights at local wing joints or watching Jeopardy! She loves making lists, singing to Disney movies and Star Wars rap songs, playing fetch with her pups, playing board games (seriously...ANY type will do), listening to audiobooks, and watching Harry Potter movie marathons. Besides her furbabies, laughing and giving to others brings her the most joy. Ashley currently resides in Xenia, Ohio with her 3 dogs and her CRV, affectionately named Gandalf the Grey.

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Facing Demons

By ASHLEY SANDERS

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2011 Ashley Sanders
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-4801-5

Chapter One

Their Stories

Rebecca: Throughout my whole life I have never known love. I have been from foster home to foster home, to the streets and back again. From as early as I can remember, I have experimented with drugs, alcohol, and sex, trying to find acceptance in such a cruel and selfish world. Many times I thought I had found what love is, but I soon realised that men are only after one thing and they'll say or do anything to get it.

Often I thought my life was getting together—I'd find friends and become clean, and then something terrible would happen. I've been verbally, physically and sexually abused—often by the people I thought I could trust, including one of my foster dads.

The only time I ever feel safe is when I get high. Drugs know how to take away my pain. They give me peace and make me forget my worries. I feel like I'm floating, and nothing or no one can get me. If drugs are meant to be so bad then why do they make me feel so good?

I have become so blind by my addiction that I cannot see the harmful effects drugs are having on me. I used to be a smart kid, addicted to reading any and every book I could get my hands on.

Now I'm addicted to something terrible. My brain is fried and my body is fading away to nothing. When I can't get my stuff, I come down hard, vomiting and shitting all over the place til it's all out of my body.

My life is over. Finished.

Oh well, I guess nothing worse can possibly happen to me. Could it?

I have ended up in this place, this room. I don't even know how I got here. I don't remember. Or perhaps I don't want to remember. I don't even know where I am, sometimes even who I am. This room holds many painful memories I am sometimes able to forget but that often come flooding back to me and I scream and punch the walls until I collapse.

It is dull, with no window, the only light is from a small lamp with a pale red globe. The dim light shines on the pale pink walls—at least I think they're pink, I haven't seen the walls in proper daylight. There are only a few pieces of furniture in this room—a large king-sized bed with satin sheets and a wardrobe are the main items. There is a cracked mirror behind the bed with a curtain to hide it if unwanted. A small bedside table holds my only possessions in this world—a small photo of a family I don't even recognise, three tatted books that I've read dozens of times, a glass vase with no flowers and a key that I have no idea what's for.

There is a knock on the door.

My heart sinks for I know what's on the other side.

A well-built man enters. His skin looks leathery from too many days in the sun. As he gets closer I am hit by the horrible stench of stale booze, cigarettes and day-old sweat. He grins at me with his crooked, tobacco stained teeth.

"Allo sweet'art. You've got a nice tight lookin' bum there." He winks at me.

Any normal person would cringe at the sight of him, not to mention the smell. I don't even notice. It doesn't matter anymore. They're all the same—each one as dirty as the last.

They pay more for the younger girls.

I used to care, but now it's become my way of life. It's what I know. It's all I know.

I stare at the cracks in the ceiling. I count them for the millionth time.

There is another knock on the door—this man's time is up.

My dinner is placed on the ground. I place it on my bed and sit by it, staring at the same meal I have eaten for what seems like an eternity. Today I notice something new—a small cupcake and a tiny card that reads—"Happy 17th birthday Bec. X."

Wow. How generous of him.

Next to the food is a small tray with a syringe in it. They give us drugs to help us escape.

I want to escape for good.

I reach under my bed and pull out a bowl that I have been keeping these substance-filled syringes in, storing them up for over a week. I never know what's in them. Sometimes smack, other times it's crack, and on special occasions I get something completely out of control. It doesn't matter what's in them now.

My stash should do the job.

The most difficult part was going cold-turkey so that I could save up enough of the drugs. I got a lot of complaints this week, being too sick to perform. I've got the bruises to prove it.

I take one last look at my prison. I'll be glad to escape from here.

The photo of the family I never knew stares up at me. I think that's me to the left of the woman, perhaps my mother—the toddler clutching the doll. I guess I'll never know for sure.

I inject needle after needle into my scarred veins until my mind and body relax into a state of ecstasy.

I lie back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, the cracks slowly disappear, and the room turns bright white before fading to black.

Jason: "Come back here you piece of shit!" I yell furiously at a member from a rival gang. We were supposed to meet to strike a deal and discuss a truce but it went pear-shaped when they tried to double-cross us. A massive fight erupted—fists, baseball bats, chains, and knives—the lot. My crew were outnumbered but still much stronger and the other gang members still standing started running. Of course we had to give chase. Nobody gets away with messing with my crew.

Nobody.

Most of the enemy crew managed to escape in their cars but a few were still trying to get away on foot. I chose the meanest, strongest looking bloke to chase—it's only fair. Being the best fighter in my crew and by far the scariest looking intimidates even the toughest guys. My well-built, tattooed body has many scars—remnants of the fierce battles I have fought to protect my own and my territory. Far too many for any nineteen year-old. Those who caused the scars came worse off, believe me.

This guy would be my next victim. I've never actually killed anyone but I do a good enough job on them to make them wish they were dead. Some never walk again.

I haven't always been like this—a violent gang-member. I was the eldest child in a nice Christian family—Church every Sunday, that sort of thing. I had two younger brothers, and my sister was the youngest. My parents were great. They were supportive and helped me while I studied Law at University. I was the youngest in my class, having been advanced a couple of years throughout school. I had an amazing girlfriend who I had planned to marry. I was the captain of the University football team. Everything was fantastic until the day when my family was murdered by a vicious Negro gang. This notorious gang killed four innocent people—my family.

They slaughtered them all while they slept, and just because my dad was a top cop who had led a big bust on them, putting most in jail. They were murdered, and I wasn't there to protect them. I cannot even describe the intense rage that boiled up inside me that fateful day. All I could see was red. A primal need for revenge arose inside me and everything in my world was changed forever.

That was the day I decided to join a gang and hunt the killers down.

And I did.

They are now all in jail, two of them paraplegics.

I follow the thug up an alleyway in between two run-down apartment blocks and see him disappear around a corner.

I round the corner just as the thug is pulling out...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Trafford
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2011
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1426948018
• ISBN 13: 9781426948015
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 200
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland