The following is an edited extract from my new novel, ‘State Of Denial‘, which is published tomorrow and is available to buy now on Amazon (see the links below).
Harbinger noun: ‘A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.’
The sun reached its zenith in the clear blue sky. It was not a time to be outside, especially doing any sort of labour. Danny lay down his tools, ready to resume harvesting his crop later in the afternoon when the midday heat had subsided. He walked over to the small porch that he had built onto the front of his home, which was covered by a corrugated tin roof, providing shade from the sun. He used a crude metal cup to scoop water from a wooden bucket and poured it over his head and shoulders, allowing it to dampen his dirt-covered clothes. He took another cupful and drank it down in one deep, grateful swallow. The water was warm after sitting out all morning.
He sat down on the wooden stool he had made and leaned back against the sturdy wall of his hut. He watched the calming, still landscape for a moment. The village was quiet as everyone had moved indoors, avoiding the midday heat by having a well-earned meal or rest. The sounds and smells that surrounded him were still novel to him after forty years of living in the city. Birds of various kinds sang in different voices, somewhere distant a stag bellowed and a welcome breeze rustled the leaves on the forest of trees that ran along each side of the valley slopes.
Danny’s eyelids drooped now as the combination of the heat and morning exertion led to the inevitable daily siesta.
In the wild meadow in front of his hut, Isla and Hanlen ran through the grass and the yellow and white flowers that grew up to their heads. They were older now, growing into playful, exuberant children. Their skin was olive and tanned, like their mother’s, bronzed by a lifetime spent outdoors with the wilderness as their playground. Their laughter floated over the meadow to the hut where Danny stood watching them, leaning against the wooden post that supported the porch roof. As he stood there, arms circled his waist. He looked round into the wide hazel eyes of Rosa, who smiled up at him. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in her comforting scent.
‘Elysium,’ he said to her.
‘Hmm?’ she replied.
‘Nothing,’ he held her closer. ‘This is the place I’ve always wanted to be, right here, like this.’
They stood holding each other, watching their children chasing butterflies through the sunlit haze, motes of dust dancing around them.
‘Elysium.’ He shouted it this time, louder and harsher. ‘Elysium. Elysium.’
Danny jerked awake, half-toppling from the stool.
‘I see them. I see them.’ The shouts came from the rough path that ran past his hut down to the village. ‘Come on, they’re here, they’re back.’

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt – Harbinger curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.
NEW NOVEL ‘STATE OF DENIAL’ RELEASED ON FRIDAY
My second novel is released on Friday and you can now order the paperback or Amazon Kindle version by following the links:
U.S.A. / AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA
Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo and commented:
First in this week, an excerpt from Iain Kelly’s NEW NOVEL, State Of Denial…
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Wonderful excerpt, Ian. It draws the reader right in.
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Thank you Alethea, hopefully it will inspire some to have a go at the full novel 😉
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Interesting.
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Thank you, I hope you might pick up the novel to find out more 😉
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Yes sure I would love to.
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Good to find you,Katherine
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And you Katherine 🙂
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I have just bought your first novel! I’ve not been able to read novels since my spouse died but I read the Warsaw Anagrams by Richatd Zimler lasr week.Iam happy fo find a another person whose work I find readable.I must be getting better.:)
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Sorry to hear of your loss. That makes me happy that you are able to enjoy reading again and I hope my novel is one you will enjoy. Do let me know what you think of it, I always like to hear feedback 🙂
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Enough there to whet any appetite!
Good luck with the launch, Iain 🙂
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Thank you Sue 🙂
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I loved this excerpt. It makes you want more. Good choice.
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Thank you Michele, hopefully enough to make a few people read the whole thing 🙂
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Great teaser, Iain. Thanks.
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Thank you Janet, hope you get the chance to read it 🙂
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Love the excerpt. Congrats on your new book!
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Thank you, hope you can pick up a copy and let me know what you think 🙂
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