I’ve been reading since before I attended kindergarten. I’ve been devouring books, sometimes at the rate of one or two per day, since I was twelve.

That’s the year my parents got divorced. I moved to Narnia. Such a happier place, especially when the two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve were ruling.

In case you wonder, THE HORSE AND HIS BOY is my favorite from the seven-book Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve read that one at least ten times.

It was reading that spawned my overactive imagination. What then? I wrote my first book when I was nine. In a green spiral notebook. I still have a similar notebook for every novel-length project.

What was my first book? THE HORSE KILLER, which reminds me of the books the horse crazy girl I was loved to read. I checked out every horse book in the school library and the public library during my third and fourth grade years.

The story I wrote was about a vet who kills barrel racing horses so that his son’s horse will win the big competition. My young heroine figures it all out and stops him in his tracks with the help of her well-trained (but retired from barrel racing) horse.

The rest, some old guy said, is history. Now I’m an author of a novel, two nonfiction books, and five short stories in anthologies.

IN THE BEGINNING is my debut in the young adult publishing world. It’s a world I’ve dreamed of appearing in for about four decades (did I just give my age away?) so I’m thrilled to share it with you.

If you like dystopian or post-apocalyptic reads, you’ll enjoy this collection of eight short stories. Each one is perfect for a quick reality break.

The Demon was Me introduces readers to Oregon after The Greatest War and the Great Nuclear Winter that followed it. Who knew atomic explosions would ignite seismic and volcanic reactions worldwide? You can bet no one knew there were demons trapped in beneath the earth’s crust and released through a huge chasm that swallowed the Rocky Mountains.
You can buy the Kindle format here. Or if you want to hold a paper book in your hands, pick up a copy here.

About IN THE BEGINNING

Eight authors come together to build a powerful collection of dark young adult short stories inspired by the mysteries, faith, and darkness found within the Bible. Old Testament and New Testament, iconic and obscure figures alike are illuminated, explored, and re-envisioned throughout this charity anthology from Month9Books.
Stories include: Daniel and the Dragon by Stephen Clements, Babylon by Nicole Crucial, Last Will and Testament by Mike Hays, The Demon Was Me by Sharon Hughson, The Deluge by Marti Johnson, Condemned by Elle O’Neill, First Wife by Lora Palmer and Emmaculate by Christina Raus.
Here’s an excerpt from “The Demon was Me”:

The ghastly black fog overtook me. Icicles pierced my back. Every muscle in my body spasmed. I plunged face-first against the ground. Something sharp gouged my cheek. Shivery tingles pervaded my insides. A vile presence pressed against my mind.

“Get out!” I rolled to my back, arms outstretched. I wanted to fight, throw the intruder off me. But how can you resist something as ethereal as air?

Laughter rang in my ears. Sinister. It shuddered against my soul. Terror and hopelessness collided in my chest. A foreign power clutched at my mind.
I screamed. I rolled to my side and squeezed my eyes shut. If only I could disappear.

Another dark wave of laughter echoed through my skull. Convulsions gripped me.

Against my will, my limbs flailed in every direction. A spike pressed into my mind. I cradled my throbbing head. My body, a tumbleweed in the wind, spun on the ground.

About Sharon Hughson

Nurtured through a troubled teen-hood by Aslan in Narnia, Sharon Hughson has long appreciated the power of the written word. She has published romance and women’s fiction, but her dream is to write young adult fantasy, a genre she credits for keeping her alive during her parents’ turbulent divorce and the chaotic readjustments that followed.
To find her teenage voice, Sharon taps into a lifetime of experience working with young people in both church and public school. She resides in Oregon with her husband and three cats, where she spends her non-writing hours substitute teaching, reading, playing piano, enjoying the outdoors and scrapbooking her family’s memories.