IN A DREAM BEYOND...: Book Spotlight on Shade's Champion by Cheryl Headford

Author Name: Cheryl Headford

Book Length 214 Pages

Book Name: Shade’s Champion

Release Date: 15^th September 2017

Publisher: Extacy Books: Devine Destinies

Sixteen-year-old Shade has spent years imprisoned in a dark cellar after being snatched off the street as a young child. Events since his release have left him traumatised and desperate to die.

Dory is a lively and engaging seventeen-year-old with mental health issues that make him a slave to his dangerously uncontrollable emotions.

When Shade comes to the secure children's home, Eastbrook; because no one else wants him, the manager appoints Dory as his champion, an appointment Dory takes very seriously indeed.

As friendship turns into something else, something new and exciting, they struggle to find their feet, but every step leads to more complication.

When a spiteful act separates them, it seems their love is doomed before it ever had a chance, but when Dory falls ill, it's up to Shade to pick up the standard and become his champion, although it might already be too late.

Meet the author

Cheryl was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was 16, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.

Cheryl has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her nieces, nephews and cousin and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created, in play.

Later in life, Cheryl became the storyteller for a re enactment group who travelled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.

It was here she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news, and the storyteller the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that still wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.

In present times, Cheryl lives in a terraced house in the valleys with her son and menagerie of three cats, a dog and a dragon. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close.

Immersed, as always, in the world of fantasy, she maintains a burning desire to share the stories and these days it’s in the form of books which all contain her spark and unique view on life, the universe and everything.

Excerpt

“You’re sixteen. A year younger than me. I’m seventeen—but only just gone. One more year and I’ll get to leave. I don’t know where I’ll go, though.” He heard the nervousness creep into his voice and tried to swallow it. Shade didn’t need to have his worries on top of his own. Shade didn’t seem to notice. He was thinking hard.

“Sixteen’s not very old, is it?”

“No, not very. Well, not at all really. You’re not a grown-up yet. I don’t think I’ll ever be a grown-up, but I guess you will. You weren’t put together wrong, just...broken a bit.”

Shade laughed. “Broken a lot.”

“Hmm. I don’t think so.”

“How would you know?”

“I can see it in your eyes. There have been broken people here before, and there’s something scary in their eyes. Your eyes aren’t scary at all.”

“Really? They feel scary to me.”

“How can eyes feel scary? Oh, you’re teasing me.” Dorien had caught a certain twinkle, and it made him feel excited. Shade wasn’t so shut down after all. There was a nice person in there waiting to come out, Dorien was sure of it.

Shade’s smile faded. He sighed and closed his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know. I feel...I don’t know.”

“Did that horrible doctor give you more meds?”

“Horrible?” Shade opened his eyes and blinked at him. He looked confused, but that humour was lurking in the shadows again.

“Oh yes. I had to go to a meeting to decide if I’m up to being your friend. My doctor was there, and so was yours. They were almost fighting because yours is horrible and mine is nice. Penny got cross, too, and she told him that if he didn’t stick to the point she’d throw him out. Well, she didn’t exactly say that, but it was implied. Penny often does that, kind of not saying things, but you know what she means.”

“I have no idea what you just said.”

“Sorry, am I talking too fast again?”

“No, well...yes. I...I have trouble following. It’s...”

“Oh. That’s okay. I get like that sometimes when the doctors change my meds. Dr. Blake says the best thing to do is get up and walk it off. You should do that. Hey, I can show you around. No one told me we have to stay here.”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel so good. I want to just lie here and—”

“But that would be boring for me.”

“You said it was okay to go to sleep.”

“Well, I didn’t really mean it, and anyway, I didn’t know then how much fun you are.”

“I am?” He sounded so surprised Dorien had to smile.

“Yes, you are. Come on, get up. By the time you get to the end of the corridor, you’ll be fine. Have you got a really fuzzy head? I hate that. It doesn’t happen much anymore, but I get it a lot after an episode or when they’re changing my meds. It will go away. Do you need me to help you?”

“I...think... Dorien, I don’t this is a good idea.”

“Call me Dory. Come on, up you get. I’ll help you.”

“No, I...”

No matter how much Shade protested, Dorien was single-minded. He just knew Shade would be okay once he was on his feet.

“I have no idea what you just said.”

“Sorry, am I talking too fast again?”

“No, well... yes. I... I have trouble following. It’s....”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel so good. I want to just lie and—”

“But that would be boring for me.”

“You said it was okay to go to sleep.”

“Well, I didn’t really mean it, and anyway, I didn’t know then how much fun you are.” “I am?” He sounded so surprised Dorien had to smile.

“Yes, you are. Come on, get up. By the time you get to the end of the corridor you’ll be fine. Have you got a really fuzzy head? I hate that. It doesn’t happen much anymore, but I get it a lot after an episode or when they’re changing my meds. It will go away. Do you need me to help you?”

“I... think.... Dorien, I don’t this is a good idea.”

“Call me Dory. Come on, up you get. I’ll help you.”

“No, I....”

No matter how much Shade protested, Dorien was single-minded. He just knew Shade would be okay once he was on his feet.

Groaning but compliant, Shade allowed Dorien to haul him up to sit on the edge of the bed. He bowed his head, his hands resting on his knees. “Give me a minute.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel right. I think I’m going to be sick.”

“No, you won’t. Once you start walking you’ll feel better.”

“Are you sure?” Shade looked up at him, his honeyed eyes wide and bright. Something inside Dorien went shivery.

“Yes. Give me your hands.”

Shade’s hands were cold but sweating. Dorien gripped them tightly and dragged Shade to his feet. Shade staggered forward and almost knocked Dorien over .

“Shit. Be careful. You’re bigger than me. You’ll break me.”

“Not bigger.”

“Nope, you’re definitely bigger. I’m a long string of nothing. Rich says that when he’s teasing me about how much I eat. I eat a lot but I never seem to put weight on. I think it’s because I do everything fast. I—are you alright? You’ve gone awfully pale.”

“No.” Shade mumbled something else, Dorien couldn’t hear.

“What did you say? Can’t you stand up properly now? You’re too heavy.”

Shade raised his head and met Dorien’s eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then his eyes rolled and he collapsed, unconscious.