Kealan Burke - The Turtle Boy

Why did he say maybe he deserved to die?

As he straightened, struggling not to weep at the thought of what might yet lay ahead of him, he flinched so hard his neck cracked, a cold sheet of pain spreading over his skull.

A voice that might have been the breeze.

A whisper that might have been the trees.

And a face that peered over his right shoulder, grinning.

Timmy choked on a scream.

“ Mine, now ,” said Mr. Marshall.

The Turtle Boy is merely the first in a series of stories featuring Timmy Quinn. Other completed sequels are a short novel, The Hides , a novella entitled Vessels , and a novelette entitled The Turtle Boy: Peregrine’s Tale . You can find The Hides and Vessels on Smashwords, with Peregrine’s Tale to follow.

I am currently working on the final book, a full length novel entitled Nemesis . More news on that as it develops.

It should also be noted that all the locations in the preceding story and its sequel The Hides are very real.

And so are the turtles.

Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland, Kealan Patrick Burke is an award-winning author described as “a newcomer worth watching” ( Publishers Weekly ) and “one of the most original authors in contemporary horror” ( Booklist ).

Some of his works include the novels KIN, MASTER OF THE MOORS, CURRENCY OF SOULS and THE HIDES, the novellas THE TURTLE BOY (Bram Stoker Award Winner, 2004), VESSELS, MIDLISTERS, and JACK & JILL, and the collections RAVENOUS GHOSTS and THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA & OTHERS (Bram Stoker Award-Nominee, 2009).

Kealan also edited the anthologies: TAVERNS OF THE DEAD (starred review, Publishers Weekly ), BRIMSTONE TURNPIKE, QUIETLY NOW (International Horror Guild Award Nominee, 2004), the charity anthology TALES FROM THE GOREZONE and NIGHT VISIONS 12 (starred review, Publishers Weekly , British Fantasy Award & International Horror Guild Award nominee).

A movie based on his short story “Peekers”, directed by Mark Steensland screened at a variety of international film festivals and won a number of awards. You can view the film at the author’s website.

As actor, Burke played the male lead in Greg Lamberson’s film SLIME CITY MASSACRE, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic SLIME CITY, which will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Video On Demand in 2011.

Visit Kealan on the web at www.kealanpatrickburke.com, and read more titles by the author at Smashwords.com.

Copyright 2010 by Kealan Patrick Burke

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