The Shadow Box - Paperback

by D. L. Goddard (Illustrator), D. L. Goddard (Author)

The swirling nothingness surrounded him. He was lost, with no way to free himself, unable to live and unable to die. Thousands of years passed while he was trapped in this empty nowhere. Then he felt the familiar pull of one summoning him. Someone had power over him once more. He was a slave to the one who called and over the centuries, he became a finely honed weapon, used for whatever purpose they deemed him suitable for. He shut himself up inside, until his emotions were sealed, until he never blinked when he murdered a young maiden, or crippled a promising young man. He had to obey, it was part of his imprisonment and if he had to be coaxed, the pain that raged through his body was more than enough persuasion. He was of the shadow folk, and he was a Prince of his people, next in line to rule. But while he was imprisoned, his world became corrupted, the land became sick, the air tasted stale. And the shadow creatures that nurtured the forests and took care of the folk's dead were tampered with. Terrifying monstrous creatures roamed the forests, sent to kill and make certain ones disappear. The miano had changed and became the nightmares that stalked the Realm. But secrets were being played out and the world of the naturals was being used as a hunting ground by the miano and the ones that controlled them. Deaths were piling up and no one knew how many murders were going to satisfy the plans unfolding rapidly in the Realm. The beloved rulers were slaughtered and the heirs to the throne were abducted. When these terrible creatures haunted the night, folk went missing in whole households. No one knew where and everyone was too terrified to ask. Razi desperately tried to get free of his prison, but he had to find the other half of his soul, his shadow mate. Once they were joined, only then could Razi return to his home, for only in his shadow self could he pass through the gateways. But Razi had to find allies, and he had no one he could trust, for lies and deceit were safer than placing your life in the hands of a stranger. Razi had to stop the decay and the rot that was destroying the shadow lands. He had to confront the evil that was corrupting his people, their land, and even the very air they breathed, before the Realm and its people simply ceased to exist.

Author Biography

I have wanted to write for as long as I can remember and would write short stories and poetry for my own and my children's entertainment. I met my husband Ian when I was nineteen and in a bike gang. Ian asked me to marry him the morning of the third day after we'd met and I said yes. We were married eight months later. I was diagnosed with cancer for my 23rd birthday and again at my 39th birthday. In between this time, we managed to have three lovely children that I treasure. From the time I had cancer at 23 my husband, who was working as a nurse then, looked after me and became a dad who did everything. He cooked, cleaned, and worked very hard keep our family together. I was in acute pain and he was the best husband and shoulder to cry on I could ever have had. He went back to school during this time, and then to university to become a teacher, and studied for four years to achieve this aim thinking it would provide a better future for our family. In the next ten years, I was in and out of hospital getting surgery twice a year, but sometimes ending up in hospital five or six times a year depending on how badly my body reacted after each surgery. No matter what happened, my darling was there for us. I had never dreamed of having a support like Ian, especially as sometimes he had to work during the day as well as at night while still being the house hubby we needed. I have been happily married for 30yrs now and we are still going strong. As time passed and I gave up the wheelchair because I was able to begin walking again, and getting healthy enough to do things for myself. During my time of illness, there wasn't much I could do, but I had worked as a commission artist for the entire time Ian was looking after us. I am a self-taught artist and I wanted to illustrate my own stories, or adult fantasy or even children's books, but I always wanted to put two things I am passionate about together to be able to achieve what I have always wanted to do. This has been my dream for my whole life, because for the last thirty years I have been in acute chronic pain as a result of my illness and my surgery and will be for the rest of my life. I am on a lot of heavy painkillers to keep me up and moving; but for the first time in too many years, I am able to do something I have always wanted to do. I hope you enjoy my book. I just want someone to give me a chance to follow my dreams.