My name is Lily Scott. I’m a fifty-one-year-old widow who runs an herbal shop in Salem, MA.
And I’m a modern-day witch who can visit people’s dreams to solve crime. That’s right—I know how to walk into dreams.
I inherited this power from my grandmother. She and I come from a long line of Scottish witches born with the firefly-shaped birthmark of a dream-walker.
Unfortunately, dream-walking is frightening and dangerous. The first time I did it, I was twelve and went against my grandmother’s warning about the dark presence called the Stalker who defends dreams from intruders.
I’d been so outraged when a neighborhood brute viciously killed my best friend’s guinea pig that I “borrowed” the ancient family Book of Secrets. After skimming it, I was sure I was ready to dream-walk without my Nana’s promised training.
That night, I drank a cup of mugwort tea, slipped the cruel note left by the brute beneath my pillow, and followed my tiny firefly guide into Shadow Land. Despite my awe at the luminous sandstone peaks surrounding me, I remained vigilant and followed the firefly through one of the hundreds of narrow canyon passageways. The mountain walls were stacked with dream-caves, and if it hadn’t been for the firefly, I’d never have found the right dreamer. All went well inside my target’s dream until the Stalker attacked. I survived—barely.
After that debacle, I promised myself to focus on helping folks with my herbal healing skills and forget dream-walking.
Until now.
It might be the only way to save my daughter from a great injustice. Sarah’s in jail and charged with murder. Even though the police found her phone at the scene, and she was heard threatening the victim for trying to close my sister’s homeless shelter, I know Sarah isn’t capable of taking someone’s life.
As far as I’m concerned, the police didn’t look hard enough for other suspects. That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to look for clues. Yesterday I found one: a class ring inscribed with initials linking it to the dead woman. Tonight, after decades of denying my power, I’ll summon the courage to walk into a suspect’s mind to find the truth. Even if I die trying.
Wouldn’t you do the same?
Dream Stalker, A Lily Scott Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy, Paranormal
Release: June 2021
Purchase Link
Can you uncover evil in another’s dreams? You can if you were born with the birthmark of a dream-walker. Lily Scott, a modern Salem witch, was born with this mark like the line of maternal ancestors that came before her. But Lily’s first adolescent attempt at dream-walking ended in disaster.
Now, decades later, her world explodes. Her husband is dead. Her daughter faces prison for the murder of a local witch. Her estranged sister, a Roman Catholic nun, struggles to protect the band of aging homeless women in her care. Lily must decide. Tap into her power to search for a killer, or let her fear of the Dream Stalker hold her back.
Meet the author
Nancy Gardner’s paranormal cozy mystery, Dream Stalker, hits the shelves in June 2021, the first of a planned series. Dream Stalker tells the story of Lily Scott, a modern Salem witch, who has long avoided using her ancestral power to walk into other people’s dreams after a disastrous attempt when she was an adolescent.
Nancy’s short stories have appeared in anthologies published by Level Best Books and Cornerstone Book Publishers. Her most recent story, “Death’s Door,” appears in the 2021 spring anthology, Malice Domestic 16: Mystery Most Diabolical. It tells more of the story of Flo and Rose, homeless best friends who find surprising ways to fight crime. She’d love you to visit her website at nancygardnerauthor.com.
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Giveaway: Comment on your thoughts on Salem and witches for a chance to receive a signed paperback of Dream Stalker or the e-book version—your choice. U. S. entries only, please. Giveaway ends July 2, 2021. Good luck!
All comments are welcomed.
This sounds like an intriguing book. I’ve been to Salem. It had an otherworldly feel to it. Something was going on there the day I visited, and unpleasant things started happening to me. We’d planned to spend the day there, but left abruptly. All I can fathom is that dark magic was floating in the air. Witches or something else, I can’t say, but definitely something. Thanks for this chance.
Thanks, Leeza! I hope you visit Salem again sometime. Beyond the terrible Salem Witch Trials of 1692, there is a rich maritime history, as well as links to Nathaniel Hawthorne that propelled many of his classics. I hope you have a terrific day!
Thank you Nancy for introducing Lily to my readers.
It’s my pleasure, Dru! Thank you!
I enjoy visiting the Salem shops, especially for crystals.
I’ve visited Salem and read some books about the witch trials, but I’m not familiar with dreamwalkers.
I love shopping in Salem, too, Mary! And I recently found a terrific honey shop called Beverly’s Bees. I hope you have a wonderful day.
Very interesting history and psychology behind the trials, I’d like to visit Salem myself someday.
Looks like an interesting start to a good series…Salem is a nice town, but very crowded during October. I have heard only good things about the witches of Salem…
I agree about the October crowds, Gram, though one of my favorite memories is attending an October Haunted Happenings Parade. A contingent of witches walked right up front. And the costumes folks wear are so very creative, like a person I saw dressed as an art easel–the large painting on it was amazing. Enjoy the day 🙂
I have never been to Salem. I did hear of the Witch trials of 1692. Are there witches really out there? Who knows for sure. This book sounds really interesting. Love to start this series with winning this book.
Hi Linda, yes, Wiccan is serious business in Salem. Laurie Cabot started the trend a few decades ago. Have a great day!
I took a bus ride from Boston to Salem once. I felt sorry for the people who were caught up in the witch trials
Me, too, Sandy. I interviewed a graphics novelist who wrote about Ann Putnam, one of the young girl accusers, which told me there were traumatized victims on all sides of the trial. She felt guilty the rest of her life. Stay cool!
I’ve never been to New England but would love to visit. The Salem witch trials were so tragic and such an anomaly, I hope. It is impossible to understand such planned cruelty to friends and neighbors.
Hi Pat, the Salem Witch Museum looks at what drives such cruelty. They have some neat online resources, too. I hope your day is going well!
Thanks for introducing us to Lily, Dru and Nancy. This book sounds so fascinating and I’m looking forward to reading the book. I went to Salem years ago, but would really.like to go back now and visit the shops and other sites.
Thanks, diannekc, I hope you get back to Salem. I visited last week and enjoyed every minute. I hope you enjoy Dream Stalker if you read it 🙂 Best, Nancy
Would love to get a print copy, sounds like my kind of read!
Hi Teresa! Glad you’ve entered by making a comment here. Good luck! Have a great night!
Sounds like a very intriguing book,. I’ll have to add it to my Amazon wish list.
Dru, you have introduced me to so many great new to me authors that I’ll have to live to 125 if I want to read all these books.
Thank you!
**** WINNER ****
Dream Stalker is Leeza Stetson
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Leeza!