As You Wish Reviews: Sliding Beneath the Surface Blog Tour / Excerpt & Review with Doug Dillon

Stepping Off a Cliff Excerpt

The St. Augustine Trilogy Book 2

Coming Late Spring / Early Summer 2013!

Gasping for Air

In total darkness, a swirling, thickness pulled me downward to what I just knew had to be my death. Pressed face first into something cold, soft, twisted and rubbery, I realized with horror that I was suffocating. Filled with panic, I pushed against the gunk in front of me with both hands and strained my neck so I could lift my head as far as possible.

With my mouth and nose finally free, I sucked in a ton of needed air but that’s when I noticed there was nothing behind me except a shrieking, frigid wind. It blasted from somewhere below my feet and up across my entire body. Each breath though, made it feel as if little knives were digging into my lungs. The jacket I wore flapped wildly around my head and I began to shiver.

G-force. That’s why I had such a tough time moving—all that rubbery crap and I were spinning downward into the howling darkness at an incredible speed. The word vortex popped into my head and I swear, it almost felt like someone had flushed a huge, refrigerated toilet and I was going down the drain. The only thing close to that I had ever experienced was a ride at the fair where they rotate you in a circular cage and then the floor drops away leaving everybody stuck to the inner wall.

With each passing second, my lungs ached even more and the shivering increased. Freezing to death increasingly seemed like a very real possibility. A memory of stepping on ice crystals in cold darkness with Carla and Lobo at the St. Augustine National Cemetery shot through my mind but I pushed it away. I had to concentrate on my present situation in order to survive, if survival was possible at all.

The only thing I could think of was to turn over on my back so my face didn’t get pushed back down into the gunk again. It took every bit of my strength and a bunch of time but I did it—very, very slowly. Once more, my body sank three or four inches into the squishy cold stuff. This time though, the wind ripped across the front of me.

At least I finally didn’t have to worry about breathing, right? But I’m ashamed to say, only then did I think about Carla. I knew she had to be in there with me, wherever there was. I wanted to find her, help her, do something, but I couldn’t even help myself. When I shouted her name, my voice came out weak and I could hardly hear it above that roaring wind.

Just when I thought I would go absolutely crazy with fear for both of us, the circular motion slowed a little. At the same time, the darkness lifted enough for me to find Carla. There she was, about fifty feet away but stuck upside down against a glistening blackness that surrounded us, her hair whipping across her face. There was nothing between us but open space. And wind. Nasty, roaring wind.

to be continued...

Sliding Beneath the Surface Reviews

The St. Augustine Trilogy Book 1

Julia's Review

This book is a very unique book as I cannot compare it to any other book I have read in the past. And I have read a lot of paranormal books. It has history, paranormal experiences, mystery as it is like a puzzle to figure out, action and a budding romance. When I say history I mean that the author, Doug Dillon really did his homework in order to recreate a scene that I believe no one will question. I have never read a book that has a shaman as a character in the book and it opened my eyes and mind to the possibilities. It also had me question some of my own past experiences and rethink a few things that has happened in my life.

Because this book has had such an effect on me as a reader I purchased An Explosion of Being: An American Family's Journey into the Psychic [New Edition] also by Doug Dillon and Barbara Dillon, his wife. I'd almost like to see if it gives me any insight as to where Doug got the idea for this book.

This book hooked me from the beginning with Jeff and his telling of the story. The intro to the book cracked me up and gave me a feel for Jeff as the main character. Jeff is a unique teenage boy that is smart but has some family problems in which leads to anger management issues. He is then faced with paranormal dreams so he turns to his friend Carla, a witty teenage female that surprised me more than once with her smart mouth come backs. Carla then leads Jeff to Lobo, an old Native American Shaman, who is blunt and direct. Jeff doesn't know whether to run away or stay when things get worse, careful not to endanger Carla, he almost runs away from what could change his life and others forever.

With all that said, I must say I love the mystery of the books cover and finding out how it plays into the book itself, the visual is quite amazing. What is it you say? Well I'm not telling, you'll have to purchase the book to find out. And yes it is a mystery and puzzle piece...to the story itself.

Len's Review

First of all I think Doug Dillon has done a wonderful job writing the history of St. Augustine in Sliding Beneath the Surface. It made me feel like I was actually in St. Augustine when I was reading about Jeffrey Golden and following his journey throughout the book. Sliding Beneath the Surface is an awesome book because it is paranormal and I really enjoyed reading it. I am really looking forward to reading more of his books. I recommend my family and friends to get a copy of Doug Dillon's book.

Tina's Review

Sliding Beneath the Surface is a very unique story filled with rich history, mystery and paranormal features. It only took me a few chapters before I was totally immersed into Doug Dillon's world. Once I started to connect with the main characters, I couldn't put it down.

Jeff Golden, a troubled 15 year old, moves to St. Augustine Florida. He begins suffering from excruciating headaches and terrifying nightmares. Desperate for relief, he confides in his friend Carla Rodriguez. Lucky for Jeff, she introduces him to Lobo, her native american and somewhat eccentric neighbor. Together they unlock the source of Jeff's troubles and find they are linked to the past. Can they help Jeff to find peace or will he be swallowed whole by the chaos that lurks beneath the surface?

This story is filled with detailed descriptions of St. Augustine. I had no problem visualizing Jeff's adventures through the city. I am anxious to see what the author does with the next book in the trilogy. I will be reading it!