DON’T LOOK, JUST RUN by R.A. Clarke Tour

09 Nov, 2024 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DON’T LOOK, JUST RUN by R.A. Clarke Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: DON’T LOOK, JUST RUN

Author: R.A. Clarke

Pub. Date: October 30, 2024

Publisher: Page Turn Press

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 272

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Consider this book a cautionary tale. The short stories, flash fiction, micro fiction, and poems contained within this collection are the stuff of nightmares—things you should’ve run from when you had the chance.

You’ll read a rhyming tale about a crafty northern witch with a deathly holiday fetish, the journal of a troubled woman who’s been offered revitalization in the form of experimental skin therapy, and two flirty college students who learn exactly why taking strange drugs is bad. Lock your doors and pull your blanket up a little higher while you navigate a feud between neighbours that spirals out of control, operate a camera with a thirst for blood, and even chuckle while a family of vacationing demons let their hungry lil’ guy trick-or-treat, human-style.

If you take away anything from this book, besides a cramp from turning pages too fast or a case of spine tingles that won’t quit—it should be this… Don’t look, just run!

 

Excerpt:

From the moment I met Terri, I knew it was fate.

She was looking to hire a very particular kind of somebody, and stumbled across my Craigslist ad, which read: The Finisher – A Step Above the Rest. Proof on Film, Every Time. Completion, Discretion & Creativity Guaranteed.

She’d sent me a message and, though I wasn’t sure if I’d accept the job, I agreed to meet her here. Not exactly the nicest part of town, but it made sense, considering.

I smiled and shook her hand. “I’m Winston. Nice to meet you.”

“H-hello, yes, I’m Terri. Same to you, too.” She seemed nervous, her eyes darting around and hands quaking. But, after a few moments, her posture relaxed a little. Probably realized the shabby pub was practically empty—nobody to overhear our conversation.

What a beautiful creature…

I ordered two bourbons, sliding one across the table to further ease her worry. I wanted to assure her I wasn’t some generic thug, but rather an educated and well-mannered man who possessed a unique set of skills for which others paid handsomely. A professional.

Terri sipped her drink and proceeded to explain why she’d called. She wanted someone to scare her cousin, Damien. They lived next door to each other, stuck in a horrible feud that was getting out of control. Terri had apparently cared for Damien’s ailing mother, a woman he sorely neglected. Years later, when the mother finally died, she’d left Damien’s share of the inheritance to Terri instead of her own son. He began tormenting her, poisoning her flowers, leaving hateful notes on her car, and shooting paint balls at her cat.

“He even accused me of stealing!” she said, cheeks flushed. I suspected this accusation wasn’t entirely untrue. Clearly, the pretty thing had stolen his mother’s heart. It wasn’t a shock to me. Of course, the old lady would love Terri. Not only was she lovely, but this Damien guy sounded like a real asshat.

“Anyway, I eventually got fed up and fought back,” she explained, staring at her hands. “I’m not proud of it, but I spray-painted Damien’s precious sports car, poured bleach onto his lawn, and tossed cat poop into his yard.”

Good for her.

“I didn’t know what else to do. None of it worked! He didn’t back off.” She flung her hands out, then reeled them back in with a nervous glance at the bearded bartender.

“Oh, don’t worry about ol’ Bob—he’s heard a lot worse things than that in this bar,” I said with a reassuring smile. I leaned back, waving a hand at her. “Please, continue.”

Terri took a deep breath. “Damien slandered my name all over our neighbourhood, calling me a scheming gold digger who had manipulated his mother. Said I was toxic. He turned most of my extended family against me; made me into a black sheep.”

Terri explained she went to the police, and I shook my head. Calling the police almost never solves these kinds of issues. The way her voice shook, I could tell she was torn up inside.

Poor thing.

“I just need someone to make him believe bad things will happen if he keeps harassing me,” she said with a weak smile. “I think that will make him stop.”

I was unsure about the job. Honestly, it seemed a little beneath me. Sure, it would be easy money, and cultivating fear was definitely in my wheelhouse. But my true specialty was death and disappearance. Money wasn’t everything, after all. This kind of gig offered little opportunity to indulge in the creative expression I enjoyed.

I nearly said no, but then Terri looked up at me with her big, innocent eyes. The delicate curve of her lips buckled my resolve, swaying me. Seducing me. A woman like this needed a white knight—a protector. Knowing I could be that for her, I obliged. 

 

 

About R.A. Clarke:

When she’s not writing children’s literature, Rachael Clarke enjoys writing short stories in all kinds of genres, including dark fiction, and horror. So not to confuse or frustrate her younger readership, Rachael publishes her short fiction under the pen name R.A. Clarke.

R.A. Clarke has a dedicated Facebook page for fans of her work.

You’re invited (and very welcome) to join the community!

https://www.facebook.com/raclarkeauthor

Thank you for reading!

Sign up for R.A.’s newsletter! (scroll to the bottom)

https://linktr.ee/raclarkewrites 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends December 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/4/2024

TX Girl Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

11/5/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

11/6/2024

Edith’s Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

11/7/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

11/8/2024

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

11/9/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

11/10/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

11/11/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

11/12/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

11/13/2024

Rajiv’s reviews

Review/IG Post

11/14/2024

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

11/15/2024

Katherinelovesbooks

Review/IG Post

11/16/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

11/17/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Review/IG Post

11/18/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

11/19/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

11/20/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/21/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

11/22/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

11/23/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

Week Four:

11/24/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

11/25/2024

@thepageladies

Review/IG Post

11/26/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

11/27/2024

thefashoionistfiles

Review/IG Post

11/28/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/29/2024

rolo_the_book_lover-

Review/IG Post


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