Castle in the Air
by Jennifer
Tressen
Release Date: July 23rd 2015
Summary from Amazon:
The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas has been called "America's Most Haunted Hotel" largely because of the events of the 1930s when Dr. Norman Baker ran a "cancer treatment hospital" which he called his "Castle in the Air."
Follow the fictionalized story of Clara, the young, unwed pregnant niece of Dr. Baker who comes to help at the cancer center in exchange for room and board and finds things aren't quite what they appear to be. Caring for an ill young boy at the center she feels her maternal instincts kick in - something is definitely not right at her uncle's hospital. But what? Will she be able to piece together the clues in time to save herself and the boy? Or will be forever be doomed to reside in the Castle in the Air, where once you check in...you never leave.
Excerpt:
Excerpt #1
On the second floor the distinct smell of a cedar tobacco pipe lingered in the air. Clara coughed as they ascended the stairs further.
“This is where sick folks get well,” Dr. Baker said opening his arms like a magician readying the
crowd for his next trick. One bedroom door on the second floor was open. Clara curiously poked
her head in. “Every room has a connecting bath.”
“Nice,” Clara mumbled as Dr. Baker quickly pulled the door shut coming within inches of
smacking her in the face.
As they made their way up another level Clara began to probe her uncle. “So what is it you do
here exactly?”
“We cure cancer, tumors…without operation, radium or x-rays.”
“And how do you do that?”
“I have found the cure.”
“It works on all cancers? Cancers of the stomach as well as the head?” Clara asked.
“Indeed,” Dr. Baker said, an air of arrogance in his voice. “Do you doubt me?”
Yes. Perhaps. I don’t know.
“No of course not. I’ve only just met you. Why would I doubt you?” Clara said, covering the
truth of her thoughts.
“I once did a brain surgery in front of a live audience.”
“You made an operation into a show?” Clara asked appalled by his flamboyant excitement.
“But it is a show. A feat of nature, beating it at its own tricks. Don’t you agree?” he asked,
searching her eyes for even the slightest falter of disagreement.
“I don’t know enough on the subject to have a real opinion I suppose. I’m only nineteen you
know.”
Dr. Baker took a second more to stare at her before turning and pointing toward the staircase
leading to the fourth floor.
Whew.
“Yes, well you do have a lot to learn. A bit of ignorance should be expected. I forget how
vacant-minded the youth are these days. Lily will show you to your room.” With that he turned on his heels and began back down the third floor hallway.
“Bye,” Clara let out meekly. “Thanks for…the tour.”
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About the Author
Jennifer Tressen is a wife, mother and writer. A former actor, she spent nearly ten years in the entertainment industry appearing in commercials, print ads and television shows. It was her love of storytelling that pushed her to the other side of the camera and sent her to film school at Chapman University. Although she entered as a Cinematography major, Jennifer graduated with a degree in Screenwriting after a single required screenwriting class forever changed her path. She found a passion for writing she had forgotten in her childhood. Everything she learned about screenwriting and especially storytelling she attributes to her mentor, the late Blake Snyder. After several years of writing and editing for producers and other screenwriters her curiosity led her into writing novels. As a huge fan of Young Adult and New Adult literature this is where her pen tends to lead her. However, she does have plans to release a few middle grade fiction and adult novels in the future.
Jennifer attributes her love of reading and writing to her mother who always reminded her of the power of literacy. Besides telling her and her siblings that they could do anything they wanted if they knew how to read and write, she said, "You can go anywhere in a book. You can be anyone."
Guest Post
8 Tidbits about “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” – The Crescent Hotel
1. Originally opened in 1886 as a luxury resort. Later it was a girls’ conservatory, then the
Baker Cancer Hospital and finally The Crescent Hotel.
2. The team from the show Ghost Hunters filmed an episode at the hotel and indeed found
apparitions.
3. It is said that over 400 people died while under Dr. Baker’s “care” at the Baker Cancer
Hospital.
4. Morris, a cat who lived in the hotel for 21 years, is still seen roaming the halls in ghost
form.
5. There are at least 8 known apparitions which have been seen repeatedly with sightings
of others reported as well.
6. Dr. Baker, the owner of the property in the late 1930s, was tried for mail fraud, practicing
medicine without a license and other charges. He served four years in prison.
7. One person is known to have died during the original construction; a stone mason, who still is
said to haunt rooms on the second floor.
8. The property has undergone several renovations through the years; however the ghosts have
always remained.
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