I’m super excited to have Harmony here today to share her latest release. I picked up my copy:)
Hi everyone. Harmony here. Thanks so much, Denise, for letting me visit with you today. I’m so thrilled to share the launch of my latest book with you all.
The Vanished Boy is a mystery suspense novel based around a teenaged boy, who’s gone missing. The book follows the mother as she trawls through her missing son’s online life and realises, to her horror, how out of the loop she’s become.
The inspiration for this novel came from watching a number of movies based on how our lives both revolve around and are influenced by the Internet and mobile devices. Although these movies covered many genres such as murder/mystery, thriller, and the supernatural, they all centred around the same theme: Apps and living life online. This led me to ponder how many of us spend our lives in digital pursuits rather than physical—both the old and the young? For many people, their actual physical lives become but a shadow compared to their online existence.
Mostly, the shift to a digital world happens slowly. It’s incremental and, too often, insidious. All of which led me to ask how well do we actually know our children? Our loved ones? Those around us? What might be going on in the shadows?
From that inspiration and questioning, this story was born. Much of life and our actions originate from the same needs and wants: to be loved and accepted, the ability to differentiate between truth and lies, and the things we do to cover our mistakes and make ourselves look better than the reality instead of owning who we are. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
BLURB:
It’s so remote out here. Anything could happen …
A missed phone call in the night is all it takes.
When Carole’s 18-year-old son goes missing, she breaks into Jayden’s laptop to try to understand his life.
All too soon, Carole discovers just how little she knew her boy.
And when one lead after another dead-ends, the distraught mother has to face the unthinkable.
Sucked into a sticky web of deceit and lies, nothing is as it seems.
When your life turns
inside out and upside down,
who would you trust?
EXCERPT:
Before she can change her mind, she hits send and slams the laptop lid closed with a sigh. As she does, she notices the battery symbol has turned to a dull red glow. A glance around the kitchen fails to produce the charging cable. Carole jogs up the stairs and walks tentatively into Jayden’s room. Its emptiness brings tears to her eyes. All at once, she can understand why bereaved parents leave their dead children’s rooms untouched year after year.
Though she needs to find the cable, Carole hates invading her son’s personal space like this. Carole doesn’t want him to come home and discover his mum’s gone through his stuff. With a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, she clenches her jaw and strides into the middle of the messy space. The chaos almost undoes her—where to start?
Carole crosses her arms and surveys the clutter. As she’s told Jay any number of times, you start right at your feet and work outward from there. ‘You can do this,’ she says to the empty room. I need the laptop so I can keep looking for Jay. He’ll understand.
At no point does Carole allow herself to think her boy won’t be coming home to complain. In auto-mum mode, Carole bends and picks up Jay’s crumpled uniform. She bundles the clothes in her arms and goes after the discarded socks and boxer shorts. After dumping them in the laundry basket in the bathroom, she goes back to Jay’s bedroom. When she’d first entered, her nose had wrinkled at the stench, but now she doesn’t pay much attention to the teen-stink that permeates the walls and carpet. Still, she’ll have to have a talk with him about his hygiene.
Author Bio
After spending around thirteen years as an ordained Buddhist monk, living in a Zen Buddhist temple, and six years after a life-changing injury following a surgical error, Harmony Kent returned to the world at the tender age of forty.
Now, she is famous for her laughter, and has made quite the name for herself … she’s also, um, a writer … and fairly well known for that too. She’s even won a few awards. Harmony lives in rural Cornwall with her adorable husband, ever-present sense of humour, and quirky neighbours.
Harmony is passionate about supporting her fellow authors.
Links
Story Empire (co-authored)
Thanks so much for hosting me today and for buying a copy of The Vanished Boy, Denise. Doing my happy dance this morning! It’s so lovely to visit with you 🙂
Yay for happy dances 🙂 I’m happy to have you here and share your good news!
Congratulations on the new release, Harmony. I love the concept. I’ve purchased my copy and can’t wait to read it. A big thanks to Denise for hosting.
Yay! Thanks so much, Joan 🙂
I’m very happy to have Harmony here today 🙂
I bought my copy this morning, Harmony, and anxious to start reading it. Congratulations!
Thank you, Denise, for hosting her today.
That’s fantastic. Doing my happy dance. Thanks so much, Karen 🙂
I’m glad to be sharing Harmony’s good news with her latest release:)
So happy for you, Harmony! I grabbed my copy. Congratulations!
Thanks for hosting, Denise.
Woohoo! Thanks so much, Staci 🙂
I’m happy to host, and look forward to reading The Vanished Boy:)
Congratulations to Harmony on her new release! I love the sound of this book. I’ve got my copy and it’s next on my TBR!
I love the sound of it too, Mae, and will be reading it soon:)
Yay! Thanks so much, Mae. Woohoo 🙂
I have purchased my copy and look forward to reading it! Harmony is such a talented writer, I know this will be a well-written, compelling story! Thank you for hosting, Denise!
I agree Jan about Harmony:) Never been disappointed in reading her stories:)
Oh, Jan. thank you so much for those lovely words! 🙂
What a heart-breaking story. I am forever thankful my kids grew up before the internet took over.
The internet has certainly changed our lives, Jacqui. I know I’m glad there is no digital trace of my youth.
For sure. I’d hate to have to navigate all that with teens today, Jacqui 🙂
I remember one conversation with my son. He’s smart and still didn’t believe he couldn’t chat with strangers on the Internet!
A rather frightening thought, Denise. Congratulations to Harmony on this new book.
It is, Robbie, I agree.
It sure is. Thanks, Robbie 🙂
Congratulations Harmony, your book sounds interesting. I have picked it up from KU. Thanks for sharing the news Denise.
I was happy to share Harmony’s good news and look forward to reading it:)
Yay! Thanks so much, Balroop. Doing my happy dance 🙂
Congratulations to Harmony and thanks, Denise for hosting
I was very happy to host, John:)
Thanks so much, John 🙂
Congratulation on the new release, Harmony! I’m so looking forward to reading this. Thanks for hosting Harmony here today, Denise. 🤗
I’m looking forward to reading this too, Soooz:) I’m happy to have Harmony here today. xo
Thanks so much, Soooz! 🙂
Thanks, Denise. This sounds like a good mystery. I’ll give it a read. Congrats, Harmony!
It does sound like a good read and its next up on my list! Happy reading, Linda! xo
Thanks so much, Linda! 🙂
An enticing read for sure, Harmony, and you have raised an important point about the impact of technology on our lives. Congratulations on the new release. Thank you, Denise, for being supportive, as always.
I agree Harmony brings up a good subject of technology and its effects on us. I’m always happy to share the good news of a new release.
🙂
Thanks so much, Mark. It scares me sometimes how much people spend and display their whole lives online 🙂
No doubt the pandemic has made this even more of an issue. That excerpt was gripping, Harmony. Hope is such a double edged sword. Great post! Thanks for hosting, Denise. 🙂
I dread to think how much the pandemic will have exacerbated this whole issue. Thanks, Yvi 🙂
Good point Yvette that this pandemic made this issue much worse. I’m always happy to share the good news of a new release 🙂 xo
Thanks for featuring Harmon and her new book, Denise! Harmony, another great excerpt pulling me in even more! Congrats again on your newest release, and here’s wishing you much success with it! 😊❤
I’m always happy to feature new release, Marcia:) Like you, the excerpt really pulls me in.
Thanks so much, Marcia! 🙂 <3
The internet surely is a frightening phenomena especially to younger generations. Congratulations on your new release, Harmony.
Thank you for sharing the new release, Denise!
Happy to share in Harmony’s release:) Yes, the internet is becoming a challenge to navigate.
It’s good and it’s bad with the technology.
It sure is, and only getting more so, I think. Thanks so much, Mirriam 🙂
Yes, the down side of technology, Harmony! 🙂