Sheltered by Debra Chapoton
Living together unsupervised, five troubled teens confront demonic forces and are compelled to deal with their problems in distinctly different ways. Paranormal meets psycho meets Goth in this story of a supernatural haunting and budding love.
High school junior, Ben, hacks into his step-father's real estate holdings and provides rooms in an old two-story house to various outcasts: the schizophrenic kid, the angry Goth girl, and the homeless girl who worships him. When Megan needs a place to live she comes to the rooming house with a different set of problems and the ability to confuse and attract Ben.
One by one strange and mysterious occurrences stretch the teens’ beliefs in the supernatural. How they deal with demons, real and imagined, has tragic as well as redeeming consequences
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Author: Debra Chapoton
Websites: www.debrachapoton.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/debrachapoton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChapChica
Title: Sheltered
Debra's Bio:
Debra Chapoton has taught kids of all ages in her main career as a teacher. She has a BA in Spanish and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English. She started writing in 2002 and was surprised to find out that the characters quickly take over the action and dialogue in the stories.
Her first YA novel, Edge of Escape, was self-published and then discovered by Piper Verlag Publishing and translated into German. Stalking and obsession get a sympathetic twist in this story of physical and psychological survival.
Her second YA novel, Sheltered, detours into a different genre as she writes about five teens who confront supernatural forces. Two boys and three girls all harbor secrets which make some of them susceptible to demon possession. Embracing all things supernatural might protect them, but are they ready for the consequences?
Chapoton has also written eleven chapter books for middle grade kids and a non-fiction work for adults, Crossing the Scriptures.
When she’s not writing Chapoton enjoys the quiet of the full log home she designed and built with her husband. They live in the middle of 62 acres of beautiful woods in northern Michigan.
--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Five troubled teens confront demonic forces and deal with their problems in different ways; paranormal meets psycho meets budding love.
--How did you get the idea for the story?
The inspiration behind Sheltered came from reading the Bible and observing that everywhere Jesus taught and preached he cast out demons. It must have been a pretty big problem back then, but why don’t we hear about it now? The demon-possessed people of Bible times manifested the symptoms of epilepsy, dementia, super strength, schizophrenia, self-mutilation and so on. Aha, science and medicine have new names for what they used to call demon possession. But what if sometimes they’re wrong?
Anyway, I also wanted to get the message out on the subjects of teen suicide, self-mutilation, depression, homelessness, and the occult.
--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
I’d dine with Cori and try not to say anything that would set her off.
--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
The Guardian’s Diary, January 2013, is a YA novel that challenges the world’s view of right and wrong. Jedidiah was born with a gruesome deformity that causes him to drag his foot. He searches for acceptance through drugs and skateboarding. He sets his sights on becoming a champion skateboarder, but amputation, a mission trip and two girls challenge his dream.
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I read every day. I love romance, thriller, mystery, anything in YA, and most classics.
--If a fairy godmother told you you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
This question has me stumped. I can’t think of a single book I wouldn’t want to get into, but if I had to choose then I’d pick Jane Eyre because the dark setting is attractive in an eerie sort of way and nothing like my own life.
--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
I write on an empty stomach in the morning (never been a coffee drinker) in the sunroom of our full log home. It’s completely quiet.
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
I want to fly.
--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I like to play games so my husband and I allot at least an hour a day to play Scrabble, Qwirkle, badminton, or tennis.
--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
There is no rush to find the right guy. Be patient!
--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
If the themes in Sheltered are too scary for you, try my first YA novel, Edge of Escape, which doesn’t have any paranormal elements. It’s a story about obsession, stalking, and twisted love. “Special” Eddie fixates on Rebecca throughout high school and abducts her in a deadly attempt to win her affection.
Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate?
Chocolate!!!
Edward or Jacob?
Jacob
Hockey or soccer?
Soccer
Ebook or paper?
Ebook
Salty or sweet?
Sweet
Beach or mountains?
Beach
Phone call or email?
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird
Dog or cat?
Dog
Messy or neat?
Neat
Ninjas or pirates?
Pirates
Excerpt from Sheltered:
Prologue
Next Wednesday
Emily knew the precise moment that Ben returned, she felt him in her scars. She watched him carry some things to the house, heard the door close; she smiled when she heard him call out that Santa was here. He did that once before, in early December, insisting that she accept the gift he held out, not wanting her to wait until Christmas to use the mittens he knew she needed.
She went toward her door now, wondered what he had brought, and then heard Megan’s voice below. Oh no, he probably brought something for her. She scuttled back to her nest by the window and stared outside, was still staring fifteen minutes later when she saw them walk down the street, Ben shouldering a shovel, his other hand knotted with Megan’s.
She touched the skin on her arms, lightly at first, making it tingle. The image of Ben with Megan multiplied across her mind in broken mirrors, a repugnant picture that reflected her own self-loathing. She scratched at her scabs, felt the pricks of pain force away the ticklish sensations. She closed her eyes.
When she opened them she saw a figure standing at her door.
“Who–?” she started, but the figment waned to less than a shadow. Still, though, there was something at her door.
She rose slowly and held her hand out.
Its face was more womanly now, friendly, motherly. Yes, she knew this face. Its pearly white skin so shocking against the ruby lips, the stringy hair a match to her own. Her mother.
She stretched her fingers toward the face. The hallucination faded then sharpened. The eyes began to blaze. She drew her hands back to her own face. What’s wrong with me? The delusion grieved Emily; all around her fluttered a longing.
And a deadly fear.
