Tom Pawlik: Thrillers

CFBR: Tell us about Valley of the Shadow?

Tom: It's the sequel to my first novel "Vanish" and continues the story of the main characters. I was hesitant to write a sequel because I really liked the way "Vanish" ended-- with a lack of resolution to Mitch's story. But it gave me a chance to develope the concepts introduced in "Vanish" and write some scenes I had originally planned.

CFBR: Can you give us a taste of what we can expect?

Tom: Sure.

Conner Hayden fought his way through the woods. Branches snapped at his passing, disintegrating into puffs of dust, as if every drop of moisture had been sucked out of them. Tendrils of mist curled around his legs like serpents seeking to pull him to the ground. He could feel their weight as he struggled to walk. But he had to press onward. He had to keep going.

He had been here before.

Darkness fell around him like a thick blanket, almost smothering him. His chest pounded as much from the strain of his movement as from the fear rising inside him.

He knew what was out there.

But he heard no voices this time. No ghostly whispers from the dark, save one. One single, moaning plea.

Help me!

His breath came in steamy puffs. The passing branches lashed at him like razors, slicing into his hands and face. The trees seemed to lean their gnarled limbs into his path, blocking his way and closing in again behind him. He would never find his way out.

Please, someone help me!

"Mitch!" Conner hissed through his teeth. For two months Mitch Kent's face had haunted his dreams. The thought of the young man he barely knew, trapped inside this place-trapped between life and death-gnawed at him day and night. Conner had to help him. This was his sole mission. This was the reason God had saved him. Brought him back from the dead. Back from the edge of the abyss.

A light flickered between the twisted branches. Conner lowered his head, threw his arm across his face, and plowed through. The trees seemed to claw at him like a swarm of angry cats. He almost thought he heard them hissing as if not wanting him to pass. Trying desperately to keep him from moving forward. It was the only way he could tell he was headed in the right direction. It seemed to be the one place they didn't want him to go.

Conner stumbled into the clearing and found himself staring at the old cabin. Again. It stood weathered and barren, the roof sagging under its own weight. A dull, orange light poured out from the crusted glass of the single window in the front.

He stepped closer. "Mitch?"

Help!

Conner peered through the window. The cabin was empty, just as he remembered it. He cracked the door open and slipped inside. And winced. The odor flooded his nostrils like an overflowing sewer. He turned toward the door, gagging. His head swam from the stench. This was not what he remembered.

Conner gathered himself and inspected the interior more closely. The wood-burning stove poured out a sickly orange light. But there was no heat.

"Mitch, where are you? It's me. It's Conner."

Something thumped against the wood. Conner spun around. The doorway stood open and empty. Nothing moved in the darkness outside.

There was a second thump and a sharp crack. The entire cabin shuddered. Then something burst through the floorboards directly in front of him, splintering the wood. An arm reached up. [short, wonderfully scary description omitted, for the sake of the kids reading] A skeletal hand gripped Conner's ankle like a bear trap. He couldn't move. The stench flowed up stronger now, overpowering him. His eyes rolled back, and the cabin seemed to sway beneath him. Conner tumbled backward onto the floor, but the hand kept its grip.

A second arm burst through the boards and clutched his hair. Then two more crashed through, pinning his shoulders to the floor. Conner screamed. . . .

He sat up straight. Chest heaving.

The cabin dissolved into the shadows of his bedroom as Conner gasped for breath. Cold sweat soaked his T-shirt. He felt something stir beside him.

Marta rolled over and reached for the nightstand lamp. "Connie?" Her voice was hoarse with sleep. She sat up and slipped her arm around him, pressing her hand lightly against his sternum. She held it there as she rested her cheek on his shoulder. "Was it the dream again?"

Conner could feel his heart pounding under her hand. He sucked air into his lungs, deep and slow. He had to control his breathing. He had to calm himself. Finally he nodded. "Yeah. The same one."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No." His heart rate began to slow. He rubbed his eyes and lay down again. "I'm all right."

He closed his eyes but could still feel Marta's stare. She was worried about him; he could tell. More so than usual. In the two months since his heart attack, he hadn't made it through more than three consecutive nights without having that dream. But he'd only described it to her in vague terms. He didn't want to give her the details. He didn't want her to press him with questions about his "experience" during the heart attack.

Because he hadn't told her everything.

CFBR: What inspirational message or messages can people draw from Valley of the Shadow?

Tom: Both books are about choices and how the decisions we make in life can have profound effects on the direction our lives take. It's also about letting go of the emotional baggage we sometimes carry with us through life-- about learning to forgive and ask for forgiveness. And how, if left unchecked, hate can grow inside our hearts and choke off  all of our other relationships.

CFBR: Can you tell us a little about your journey as a writer? I hear you won Operation First Novel. We would love to hear about that too.

Tom: I've always dreamed of being a writer, ever since the fourth grade. But I never pursued it seriously, because the chances of ever getting published just seemed so remote. I made my first attempt at a novel in 1997, from a short story I had written in college. I tried the usual routes to get it published for several years, but didn't have any luck. Finally in 2003 I stumbled across the Christian Writers Guild and the Operation 1st Novel Contest. I submitted that book and was pleasantly suprised to come in 2nd. That contest got the interest of my agent, Les Stobbe who shopped the book around for the next couple years--again with no luck. During that time I began working on my second novel, "Vanish" and shopped that to various publishers as well. Still no luck. Then, somewhat discouraged, I entered it in the 1st Novel contest in 2006 and went on to win. Needless to say, that was an awesome event.

"Vanish" was published in 2007 and even won a Christy Award that year. Tyndale has expressed an interest in further story ideas so I've been able to get the sequel published and I'm currently working on a third novel, due out in April 2011.

CFBR: Now that you are published through Tyndale House Publishing, what promotion do you do on your own?

Tom: I've done a few book signings on my own, and a couple radio interviews. It is definitely true that getting published is just the beginning of the work.

CFBR: Do you have any advice for aspiring Christian Fiction authors?

Tom: Check out the Christian Writers Guild. It's a first class ministry dedicated to helping aspiring Christian authors perfect the craft and get published. They also offer a critique service that will give you a good idea of how publishable your writing skills are. And their writing courses are top notch, pairing you up with mentors in the publishing industry who can offer professional feedback on your work. I heartily recommend them.

CFBR: We are excited to see what the Lord is going to do with your books. Keep 'em coming.

Tom Pawlik is a highly imaginative Christy Award-winning author from Tyndale House Publishers. His first novel, "Vanish" won the Operation First Novel Contest sponsored by the Christian Writers Guild and Tyndale House. Released in June 2008, "Vanish" went on to win a Christy Award in the Visionary category. His follow up sequel, "Valley of the Shadow" was released in June of 2009. His third novel, "Beckon" is due out in early 2011.

Available at Amazon