Author ///Mystery, Horror, Paranormal
Barbara Watkins
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By Barbara Watkins
ISBN #1413788386
…A mother and her young son are being tormented and terrorized by nightmares
and unexplained supernatural phenomena.
REVIEWS:
REVIEW
Eric
Delaware (11/30/2005)
I would just like to say that I not only read BEHIND THE RED DOOR by Barbara
Watkins, I absorbed it. What a wonderful and scary novel. I can confer having
released two books of my own with two different publishers and now
doing interviews concerning my third that I have touched the egg of horror and the
aura within the genre of the shell. I conducted a newspaper article today with my old
hometown Newspaper in Ephrata Pennsylvania. I live in Delaware but small towns
talk. When the interviewer asked me who my favorite authors were I told her many.
When she asked me whom I liked the most I told her “none of them" I told her
Barbara Watkins. She is an aspiring novelist who is talented and able to climb the
stairs of your spine. Without giving too much away, I will gladly say that the
supernatural elements of this story are “stunning" The book is a corker and tense. I
relish the idea of the “Visitors not of this world" not being completely explained.
Barbara has showed us where to tell the tale, and where we should tell it for
ourselves. The ending to this book was the icing that not only covers the cake, but
also "chokes" it with flavor. I just hope my new novel just published by PA entitled
“THE WORK" grabs the readers like” BEHIND THE RED DOOR" This is a book that M.
Night SHamalyn should direct. Barbara Watkins- an answer to prayers.... Five stars
baby...five stars...
UK Independent Press
Bill
UK (9/27/2005)
Behind The Red Door is a superb, well-written story. I picked it up, devoured every
word, turning the pages with anticipation. From the first page I was gripped. As I lay
in bed reading, a chill traveled the length of my spine! Behind The Red Door reminded
me of a Hammer House of Horror tale, with just the right mix of horror, suspense
and supernatural! Can't wait to read more BRAVO!
Bill Pooler Independent Press United Kingdom
Betsie's Literary Page
Betsie
Florida (9/18/2005)
Rating: Highly Recommended Suspenseful and Intriguing! September 12, 2005 Most
woman dream of a decent sort of life. One fulfilled by children, a good husband, and
possibly a career. Nikkie is one of those fortunate enough to obtain these treasures.
But there's something else... Imagine that the only connection to your oldest child is
through a series of terrorizing nightmares, which your spouse attributes to an
overactive imagination and stress. For Nikkie the nightmares would soon become
reality, as her son Michael begins to speak of eerie, yet familiar imaginary friends.
Alarmed, the distraught Nikkie calls upon her own mother whom reveals the family
secret. That of a power, which has been inherited. This becomes both a terrifying
and consoling burden to Nikkie as she battles to make sense of the
portents that her dreams are revealing. The writing style is quite raw although very
entertaining and fast paced. My only two wishes were that there had been more
interactions between the characters and the book bigger. Author Barbara Watkins
shows great promise in this genre and is certainly a writer to keep an eye on. Behind
the Red Door is a suspenseful read with a unique twist at the end... definitely worth
picking up!
Reviewed by Betsie
Midwest Book Review
Shirley P. Johnson
US (9/17/2005)
Nikkie always knew she was different from other children and held that knowledge
inside of her even into adulthood. She pushed her strange gift aside most of her life;
that is until her three-year old son Michael began to show signs of the same
supernatural insights. As the child began to have nightmares, ghostly visits and
nearly lost his life, Nikki could not longer ignore the supernatural in their lives. Afraid
to confide in her husband, Nikki alarmed and frustrated calls upon her mother who
reveals a long family secret of the power that works within them. This becomes both
disturbing and comforting to Nikkie as she battles to make sense of the warnings
that her dreams are giving her. The storyline is very intriguing, the 'human'
characters well defined, but I would have liked to know a few more details about the
'visitors not of this world’ and a little more explanation of the gift Nikki, her mom and
her son walked in. However the story certainly keeps you interested with elements
such as family interaction, the protection and love of a mother, suspense and
supernatural, and has a great ending. I believe you will enjoy this one.
REVIEW
Patricia
US (8/18/2005)
The gift of 'seeing' ghosts is passed down to Nikki from her mother and grandmother
and ultimately to Nikki's son, Michael. These spirits keep watch over the living but
very few people can actually sense them. Those that cannot see them believe that
those who can are crazy. Nikki has chosen to tune out these ghosts out of fear of
being ridiculed or misunderstood. It isn't until her son Michael begins to
communicate with them that she remembers her own childhood and the ghosts
from her past. Her memories slowly return and with them the realization that the
spirits are trying to warn her and her family about an imminent danger. The peril
comes at the hands of the living but it is the dead who interfere. Ms. Watkins writes
about what so many of us wish was true- that our loved ones watch over us
even in death.
ISBN: 1-4137-8838-6 Behind the Red Door Author: Barbie Watkins
Publisher: Publish America
Reviewer- Patricia Perry Quest for the Source of Darkness
"Behind the Red Door"
Amey Tippett
US (8/13/2005)
Nikkie is a housewife trying to juggle returning to school and two small children. She
has a life she is proud of and a husband she loves very much. Above all, everything is
normal. Until her eldest son Michael begins to speak of imaginary friends. At three,
Michael is an intelligent and curious little boy. He has the same rambunctious spirit
as other boys his age. His parents recognize this, and shelter him from the bad
things in his life. But they can’t always shelter him from everything. And, when his
nightmares begin to become solid realities, his mother begins to have
premonitions. The only way to read “Behind the Red Door” is with the lights on in the
middle of the day. Barbara Watkins plunges the reader into the unknown and gives a
sense of urgency and fear to her words. Although Watkins does an excellent job of
creating the setting for the novel, I found myself wanting more interactions between
the characters. Michael and Nikkie were well portrayed, but this amazing story had
to have its effects the minor characters in the story as well. Overall, this novel was a
thriller from start to finish. It has certainly given me something to think about – and
possibly even to fear. Amey S Tippett author of Alison's Journey nightmare or reality?
“They told me you were coming, I didn’t expect you this soon.” Nikkie asked, “Who
told you we were coming,
nobody knew?”The old woman replied, “They knew! They sent you here my dear, the
ones that live in your home, the
spirits.”
They walked in behind the old women and couldn’t believe their eyes. It was the first
time Nikkie had ever seen a dirt floor and there appeared to be no electricity. There
were candles burning everywhere and very little furniture. They noticed on one wall
there were lots of pictures; they appeared to have been taken long ago. There was
one of a small child; it appeared to be a little boy around two or three sitting in an
upright position, but with his eyes closed. They couldn’t help thinking the child looked
dead. “He was my dear, it wasn’t uncommon back then. We believe to
take their picture in that way and keep it is to keep their soul with you.”
ABOUT the AUTHOR:
Mrs. Watkins is from Sikeston Missouri and is a member of The Heartland Writers
Guild. She has been interviewed by several newspapers about her writing, and has
done book signings in Missouri and Arkansas. Skyline Review accepted her short
story, ‘Deadly Addiction’ for their 2008 magazine winter print addition. Her first full-
length novel, ‘Hollowing Screams’ is in editing stage.
She is the author of two novellas’, Behind the Red Door and Thorns of an Innocent
Soul. Available to order in bookstores and on-line.
ISBN#1424107849 ISBN#1413788386
The following are excerpts from Behind the Red Door &
Thorns of an Innocent Soul
BEHIND THE RED DOOR
How could she have possibly known what awaited her in the not so distant future?
She hadn’t had a good night’s rest in sometime. She had a beautiful home, a
wonderful husband, and two beautiful young children. Going back to school was so
exciting! She had wanted to finish her education for some time, but the new baby had
needed much of her attention. Michael was barely three years old and Evan was only
six months old. Michael was especially bright for his age and was very curious
about everything. He was very much like a typical three-year-old, always asking,
how does superman fly? And what makes the hulk so strong? It all seemed a little
overwhelming to her. She wanted to be fair and give an equal amount of time
between the children, but the baby obviously needed more of her attention. They
were vigilant about what they let him watch on television, nothing too violent, or
scary, it just wasn’t allowed.
John, her husband, was also a huge part of their lives. He had just sealed the deal on
some new property for a potential new client and was working long hours, but he
always made time for his wife and the children. She said later, she would always
remember the first time Michael asked her who the green man in his room was, and
why he wouldn’t leave him alone. First she thought how cute it was. She knew a lot of
kids had made believe friends, and that it was normal.
It wasn’t until one night, after she had made a bath for Michael she heard him
scream for her. When she ran in to see what was wrong, he was playing in the tub
as if nothing had happened. She asked him why he screamed for her,
“It’s okay now mama, the green man is here,” he said.
She proceeded to ask, “If he’s here, why couldn’t mommy see him?”
“You have mommy, the green man say’s you have many times,” She replied, “What
did the green man do to make you feel safe?” “He makes the scary people stay
away,” Michael answered. She felt like he must have heard something on television,
or maybe that was his way of dealing with his own fear, to make up a hero to help
him out when he felt scared.
Nikkie talked to John that night and told him about Michael and his new make believe
friend. He told her he didn’t think there was anything to worry about and to let
Michael express himself. That night when she went to bed she lay there and thought
about what Michael had told her, about how the stranger had claimed that she had
seen him before. It wasn’t really what he said, but how he had said it. She knew in
her mind that was crazy, but still the feeling was there. That night as she slept she
dreamt she was a child again back in her old room with all of her stuffed animals,
and her favorite baby doll. She could see herself curled up in her bed and dressed in
her favorite pajamas.
Only in her dream there was something there that didn’t belong, she felt scared, and
wanted to get up but she couldn’t. She wanted to cry out for help, but couldn’t make a
sound. Then as she looked at the foot of her bed she saw an indention. It was as if
someone or something had sat down, but she could see nothing. As she tried to get
up out of bed something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, a red glow.
She turned to see what it was; it was almost too bright to look at. She realized it was
a bright red light she couldn’t take her eyes off of it. Something was drawing her
towards it; but she felt as if she shouldn’t go. Just at that time she awoke. She
wanted to remember the dream, so maybe she could make some sense of it. It was
the first time she had actually slept long enough to dream. She laid thinking about
what she had imagined. Somehow it felt as if it had really happened, but that couldn’t
be true, could it? Nikkie decided she would keep it to herself.
The next day wasn’t much different than the day before. She was running late for
classes and had to get the children fed, dressed, and off to the sitter. All of a sudden
Michael called out to her from his room, "Mommy come quick.” As she entered his
room she was overcome with fright. There in the middle of his room laying face
down in a puddle of blood was Michael. He was still and quiet. At first he didn’t make
a sound until she reached for him, then he started to cry. She was frantic looking him
over for some sign of where he was cut or injured, but couldn’t find any. She
proceeded to question him about what had happened, and where the blood came
from. Michael told her he had started to get out of bed and there in the middle of his
room was a bright pretty light. As he went towards it he had slipped in something
and fell; he couldn’t get up by himself, so he had screamed for his mother. Almost
frozen with fright she asked, “Did the bright light have a color?”He replied, “Yes
mommy, a beautiful red light.” She sat for a moment to collect her thoughts and to
try and figure out what to do. This has got to be another bad dream, I’m going
to wake up and none of this will be real. But it wasn’t a bad dream it was happening!
She looked on the floor and could not believe the amount of blood. Where did it come
from and how did it get there? She quickly swept Michael out of the room and into
the bathroom, run him a bath and stripped his bloody clothes off, and threw them into
the washer. She hurried back to his room with a bucket and mop and then stopped
cold at his bedroom door.
When she looked through the doorway on the floor of his room, there wasn't
anything, not even a spot of blood. Her head was spinning. She was scared and
confused. She ran into the bathroom as fast as she could to check on him.
There he was, playing in the tub, not a drop of blood in his bath water. The next
thought was to check the washer where she had thrown his bloody clothes. No blood
was to be found. Unsure what to make of the situation she grabbed the phone and
called her husband at work. When John answered the phone she was hysterical, all
she could do was cry. A few minutes later he arrived at home not knowing what to
expect.
THORNS OF AN INNOCENT SOUL
A young woman tormented by her own demons. She is torn between wanting to love
her mother and a need to hate her. Growing up in an abusive environment she loses
self-confidence and self-respect. Struggling to be a fashion model her mother’s
interference made it near impossible. Haunted with the memories of abuse her
younger brother had to endure was unbearable. She wonders what a normal life is
really like and if she will ever know. Forgiveness sometimes is a hard emotion to
show when you feel you have been persecuted and manipulated. She is
bound and determined to have the life she has always dreamed of with the one and
only person that has truly ever loved her. The choices she decides to make could
change her destiny forever. One horrific night will decide her fate.
Will her soul ever be released from the pain she has endured on herself and on
others? Only she can remove the thorns of her innocent soul.
Everyday I have to recall that fateful night. All of my memories have revealed a
deceitful, manipulating, self-centered side of me. I have to accept the hurt and the
grief I have caused to my loved ones. I can see their faces, and the look of sorrow
and regret because they couldn’t do anything to save me from the hell I must endure.
Nobody comes to see me anymore. It’s just as well: they would always sit in silence,
as if they needed me to justify their pain. For me there is no future. I will never
experience true love again. I will never experience motherhood, or feel the
anticipation of what is going to happen next in my life. But I have this strange sense
that when I remember all the details about that night and exactly why it happened,
and relive all the pain that I caused those that loved me, only then will I be able to
break free from this cold dark lonely place. I had never been religious nor had
anybody I felt close to die. I always did what I wanted to do regardless of the
consequences. I never took the time to celebrate or rejoice the gift of life. I thrived on
hate and revenge. If you’ve never had to be confined, or have lost what life you
thought you had to never get it back, then you haven’t experienced losing your soul.
When I was first brought here I thought I would make the best of it, and in time I
would be able to leave, but the time is never-ending. So I sit in this place with only my
tormented thoughts as my company, not knowing if I will ever be released. They keep
telling me I had been given many chances to turn my life around, but I ignored them. I
didn’t anticipate in having to pay the consequence. Everyday I relive these
nightmares hoping to find away out of here, and everyday starts out the same.
REVIEWS
Review for Thorns of an Innocent Soul by Author Amey Tippett
Amey
US (3/31/2006)
Barbara Watkins tells a tale of betrayal, hatred, and deception in her novel, Thorns of
an Innocent Soul. Raised by a mother who is concerned only about her own welfare,
rather than that of her children, Jennifer loses her innocence to a man of her
mother's choosing. This leads her down the lonely road of revenge. People make
their own choices, and often those choices lead to more difficult situations than we
could ever imagine. Watkins' novel shows us just that, yet she gives us hope that we
might one day make the right choice and be led down a better path - one of
redemption.
Thorns of an Innocent Soul by Author Jean Pike (Novella)
Jean
US (3/30/2006)
Jean Pike Review of Thorns of an Innocent Soul By Barbara Watkins In this
heartrending novella, Barb Watkins has created a tragic account of the poisoning of
a young woman's soul. Abused by her manipulative mother, and longing for affection
from a father who is never around, Jennifer Scott spends her entire childhood in
search of love. When she finds that love in a clandestine affair with Chris, her high
school sweetheart, Jennifer thinks she has finally discovered the path to happiness.
When, through a series of unfortunate events, she loses not only Chris' love,
but her self-respect as well, she becomes a woman bent on revenge. Opportunities
for redemption present themselves, but sadly, Jennifer's spirit is so tainted by
hatred that she does not see the opportunities for what they are until it is
too late. A series of regrettable choices creates a domino effect in Jennifer's life,
driving the story to its shocking conclusion. This thought provoking novella searches
the gray areas between right and wrong; and the fine line between love and hatred,
and the reader cannot help but re-evaluate her own beliefs on forgiveness. A Thorn
of an Innocent Soul is truly a worthwhile read.
ORDERING INFORMATION:
Price $12.95
Wholesale purchasing:
Retail, Library, and School orders:
Publish America: #1-301-695-1707 www.publishamerica.com
Ingram Phone: #1-800-233-8467 (Canada) 1-800-937-8200 (set up an account) 1-800-
937-0152 Website: www.ingrambook.com
Baker & Taylor Phone: (800)775-1800 or (704)998-3100 Headquarters: 2550 West
Tyvola Rd. Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28217 Website: www.btol.com Email: btinfo@btol.
com
Brodart Co. Phone (USA & Canada) 1-800-233-8467 (International) 1-570-326-2461
Fax: (570)326-1479 Email: bookinfo@rodart.com Website: www.brodart.com or www.
brodart.ca (Canada) Headquarters: 500 Arch Street Williamsport, PA 17705
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Barbara Watkins
barbiewatkins42@yahoo.com
Web Address:
http://www.barbarawatkins.net
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| Reviews & Synopsis of each book to the left. |
| Copyright 2008 Barbara Watkins |