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Swab Official Trailer 2

"Swab" Series

This Sci-Fiction/Dystopian YA novel will be released Summer 2014!

Scarb are the enemy.  The enemy.  The enemy.  I told myself this over and over.  They murdered my parents.  They rape the land and kill humans as if they are the vermin.  They took Ray.  I ran water over my face, looked at my eyes with their double lenses like two blue lakes: one navy, one ice.  The enemy.  And now I’m one of them.

Ray.  I can almost see his brown eyes and feel the warmth of his touch like a sun-warmed towel on my skin.  Will you still love me now that I’m everything you hate?

Seven years ago, most of humanity transformed into a mutated species known as scarb.  With their superior speed, protective platted chitin bone structure, and deadly barbs, they easily slaughter un-changed humans.   Cat and a small pocket of humans have survived.  But when the scarb capture Cat’s boyfriend, she is determined to face an entire colony of the ruthless creatures to get him back.  She quickly discovers she must confront not only her enemy, but the strengths and weakness inside her when she becomes scarb herself.

In Swab, Heather Choate delivers a captivating combination of suspense, romance, and self-discovery as Cat faces a treacherous world and uncertain future. Fresh, riveting and rich with surprise, this Dystopian series will leave readers hungry for more.

What I'm working on March 2014

Right now, I'm writing the third book of a young adult series to be released fall 2014.  It's about a brother who brings stories to life for his autistic sister, Emma, in which she is the heroine.  It's a story about the importance of family and sticking it out no matter how many curves life throws at you.  In the first series, Emma is a moonstone bearer who must fight a Master Shar, and summon the long-lost stormdragons to protect her family and her kingdom.

Artist, Amy Choate, is creating beautiful artwork for the book.

I love working on this project and am excited to share it!

Frayed Crossing

For years, Colton Brady never believed in the existence of anything beyond the rush of heroin in his veins. Upon finding the dead body of his twin, however, he decides to sober up and creates a rehab center for troubled teens. But when he experiences visions of a doorway no one else can see, his own sobriety and sanity are questioned. Despite this, curiosity overcomes him and he enters the doorway to discover Ahmalie, a young woman he is uncontrollably drawn to. Even when he is hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia, he longs to join Ahmalie, finally believing in the unexplained. Now Colton must decide if he’s willing to risk everything, including his sanity, to be with Ahmalie in this realm which may or may not exist.

Get it here!

Preview of FRAYED CROSSING coming 2013

Chapter One

“Mr. Brady, is he dying?”

Sean’s eyes were wider than the rocky mountain moon overhead as he gaped at the convulsing body of his teenage friend.

“No,” I said quickly, tying a knot in a strip of canvas.  “He’s not dying.”

Behind his glasses, Sean’s brows wrinkled together and he stood there like a rooted pine, too frightened to move.  “What’s happening to him?”

My fingers moved automatically, going through motions that had long since become habit.  “He’s going into shock.  Hand me that pine limb.” 

Hearing the commotion, some of the other boys woke up and their bewildered faces gathered in a tight circle outside of Sean’s tent.

James, one of the boys, fell to his knees and asked, “Isaac’s in shock?” Sean handed me the stick. 

“Yes,” I answered, huffing as I looped the limb through the knots on either end of the canvas.  “Jorge, try to hold his legs steady.”  The dark-haired kid complied, but Isaac’s 130-pound frame was shuddering so badly, Jorge’s biceps rippled as he tried to steady him.

“Mr. Brady,” James asked, “why’s he in shock?”

I really didn’t have time for details.  “He lied to me.” 

“Lied to you?” Sean straddled his legs over Isaac’s flailing arms.

“He wasn’t doing just cocaine and booze.  Whatever drug he was using, his body wants it bad, and without it— his nervous system’s freaking out.”  Standing up, I gave one end of the canvas to Sean. “Put this by his feet.  The rest of you, help me move Isaac onto the stretcher.  We need to get him down the mountain.  Now.”

Why did I trust Isaac to tell me the truth?  I cursed my own stupidity.  I should’ve done the drug test before bringing him up here. Then we’d know exactly what he’s on.  The test never lies.  But I had just been so distracted with Susan and all the wedding plans.  We took the faded-moonlit trail at a quick jog.  Isaac wasn’t dying— yet.  How long did he have? 

Ten minutes later, my cell beeped to let me know I had service again.  I made the boys stop while I quickly punched in a speed dial and then smashed the phone between my cheek and shoulder so we could keep going.

“Uh?  Hello?” a groggy voice answered.

“Tom, it’s Colton,” I said, hoisting the boy’s stretcher higher onto my shoulders.  “Isaac’s sick.  Bad.  Meet me at the trailhead.  If we don’t get him into the ER, we’re going to lose him.”

For the first time in weeks, none of the other boys spoke.  There was just the sound of our boots crunching rocks and twigs and our haggard breathing.  Though it was only June, we could see our breath in the chill night air.  Stay with me kid, I pleaded.  Don’t give out on me now. 

When we reached the bottom of the trail, the headlights of Tom’s jeep pierced the dark forest like a lighthouse beacon.  The sound of his rumbling engine was a welcome relief. 

“Holy Mother of Buddha.”  Tom’s tanned skin turned a pasty color in the moonlight as he looked Isaac over.  “How long has he been like this?”

“Too long.  Open the back doors.”  We followed him to the rear of the Jeep, and I yelled over my shoulder to the boys, “On three.”  We set Isaac’s wasted body down inside.  I hardly knew the boy— hadn’t had the chance to get to know him yet, but that didn’t matter, I wasn’t going to let him dies out here Others had fought the cleanse before, but never like this.  Don’t you dare die before I have a chance to fix you, I thought.

Wilson, the park ranger that managed the camp, came out of the building and helped Tom secured Isaac in the bed of the Jeep.  The boys moved to the passenger doors like they were going to come with us, but I herded them back.

“You stay here with Wilson on base till we got back,” I said.  “Tom and I will get Isaac some help.  They stared back at me.  Stubborn teenagers.   But Wilson stepped in and they complied.

  “Shouldn’t we call an ambulance?” Tom asked, his blond eyebrows like one as he frowned.

“Not enough time.”  We jumped into our seats.  “You drive faster than anyone anyhow.”

Evenly spaced lampposts marked the twenty miles of interstate like heartbeats as we sped through the night.  Isaac dry-heaved twice, his stomach empty of even acid.  When I looked back to check on him, I noticed his skin had a watery pallor.

“He’s not going to make it, is he?” Tom asked.  His mouth twisted to the side.

I avoided his gaze, instead staring out the windshield.  “Just drive.”

Lights flashed by on the pavement, but it wasn’t lampposts.  No cars either.  I shook my head, but more bursts of white light shot at me from the midnight road.   I smashed my palms into my temples as a familiar pain sliced at the back of my skull. 

“Hey, man,” Tom said, looking at me sideways.  “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lied, digging my fingers into my temples.  “Just drive.”  Headaches were something I’d grown used to, but this wasn’t anything like a migraine.  Another explosion of light set my vision spinning.  What the heck is happening?  My stomach twisted and heaved.  No.  Not now.  I can be sick later, after we get Isaac taken care of.    

Thankfully, we got to the E.R. and EMT’s rushed to get the boy out, throwing him onto a gurney and whisking him off to a blue-curtained bed, sticking an IV into his arm as they went.  Our boots tracked mud-clods across the tile floor, but I could hardly see them as another flash of the same white light flared, then disappeared as quickly as it came. 

“When was the last time he had fluids?” a nurse demanded. 

I’ve got to get it together, I thought.  “Um, about six tonight.  He had water and electrolytes at dinner.” 

I’m going to puke. 

“He’s been de-toxing,” Tom added, looking on as the boy was hooked up to more machines and another doctor was called in.

“Vomiting?” the nurse asked.

“Yeah,” I answered, feeling that I would be doing the same any second.

“Dude, you don’t look good.” Tom put a hand on my shoulder.  “You sure you’re okay?”  Tom’s green eyes, tight and small filled my vision, but then another rip of light tore through his face. 

My knees buckled under me like someone had kicked them.  My hands caught the cold floor, but I couldn’t see it, only blinding whiteness.  No!  Somewhere above, Tom shouted for a doctor.  He put a firm hand on my back, trying to help me up, but the light suddenly vanished.  The cream tile materialized again, crusty grout and all. 

I stood, slowly.  “I’m fine.”  I waved the nurses off, “Go tend to Isaac.  I just need to sit down for a minute.”

“Weak stomach?” one of the nurses asked, her tight black bun bobbing as she headed away from us.

Tom just grunted and gave me a glacial stare.  What am I supposed to say?  He tried to take my arm and help me to the thin cushioned chairs lining the wall opposite the beds, but I shrugged him off.  Two steps later, I wished I hadn’t as I nearly fell face-first into an armrest. 

Sitting should have helped, but the migraine just worsened, and the hospital felt like it had been tipped on its side.  In the next room, the ER staff rushed around trying to stabilize Isaac. 

Tom was still staring at me.  “What?” I asked.

“You look like crap, man,” he grumbled, leaning in closer.  “What’s going on, Colton?”

I shook my head like a wet dog, making my head spin worse.  “I don’t know. Just a real bad migraine or something.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I drove,” he replied.

“Yeah,” I agreed.  Me driving would have been really bad. 

“You’re, um—” he coughed, and dropped his voice an octave lower.  “You’re not using are you?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” I looked over at him weakly.  “I just have a really bad headache, okay?”

“Do you want me to get a doctor?” he offered.

“No, don’t worry about it.  I’m fine.”  Rubbing my hands on my dirty jeans, I hoped it was true.  “Maybe I ate something bad at dinner.”

“That full-meat lasagna,” Tom nodded his head, relaxing a bit. “It does it to me every time.  I’m telling you, man, vegan’s the way to go.” 

“Sure.  The lasagna.”  I rolled my eyes but didn’t want to argue with Tom.  Putting my head between my knees, I prayed I wouldn’t spew all over my boots.  But there was a sinking pit in my chest because I suspected that no amount of vomit would fix what was happening to me. 

            Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Fredrickson , as his name tag read, came over, clipboard in hand and all.

“We’ve contacted the boy’s parents,” he said.  “He’s in pretty bad shape, but he’s on fluids and anti-nausea meds so he should be fine in a few days.” 

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until I let a big whoosh of air out of my lungs.  But the doctor wasn’t done yet.

“His case is quite severe.  What kind of operation are you running up there?” His brown eyes shifted from Tom to me. 

“We help out drug-addicts.  Teens mostly,” I explained, uncomfortable with his stare.  He looked at me like he was God or something.  “Look, this kind of thing’s never happened before, and it wouldn’t have except that Isaac lied to me.  He told me he had only been using cocaine and alcohol, and I took his word for it, which was dumb I know.” 

The doctor’s face was textbook smooth.  “Well, detox can be a dangerous thing.  You need to make sure you keep them better hydrated.”

Tom brushed back his dirty-blond dreadlocks.  “Will do.” 

“Do you have proper first aid equipment up there?” the doctor continued.  “It is crucial that—”

Just then, a series of beeps sounded from Isaac’s bed side.  It sounded like a bomb countdown going off. 

“Doctor we need you in here now!” the blonde-bun nurse shouted.  Dr. Fredrickson’s coat whirled as he rushed back to the boy’s bedside.

I could just make out Isaac’s thin body thrashing around on the bed.  What’s happening now?  I thought he was okay! 

“His internal systems are shutting down,” the doctor said, jamming a syringe into Isaac’s IV line.  We jumped to our feet.  Shutting down?  That fast?  The beeps from the vital signs monitor quickened, faster, faster.  Then they morphed into a single flat tone.

I’d heard that tone in movies before, but I never imagined how terrible it would sound in real life.  I saw the solid green line on the monitor screen, and some part of my brain processed what it meant.  But realizing it was about a kid I knew and cared for— a kid I was supposed to help get better— was unreal. 

Tom put his hands over his mouth in shock.  “Oh no.” 

 “Give me the paddles,” the doctor yelled.  The nurses cut Isaac’s shirt exposing his blue-colored chest.  The doctor pressed the defibrillator paddles into his skin and his body shook as the electric current passed through it.  Come on, Isaac, come back.  Don’t give up now.  What will I tell his parents?

Suddenly, the doctor, the nurses, and the dying teenager I was responsible for vanished in another burst of light.  “No!” I yelled.  No!  This can’t be happening. Isaac is dying!  Before I could go on, the complete whiteness that surrounded me flipped to sheer black nothingness, and I was gone.

FRAYED CROSSING available here!

META BLACKWING

Meta hauls souls to Hell. Sol thinks sneezing during prayer is a sin. But Meta finds herself falling for him just as Satan tempts her with power and acceptance she’s never known. In a world where forbidden desires are paid for with your soul, young Meta must decide if she’s willing to turn from the alluring darkness and give her heart to an angelic man who was never meant to be hers.

Praise for META BLACKWING:

"Loved it!  Meta is so conflicted and complicated.  I am very interested to find out what made her the way she is and if this Guide will change her for the better." -Bethany Lee Robinson, Cottonwood Heights, Utah

"It pulled me in and made me want to read more."  -Kiery Wilson, Battle Creek, Michigan

"I am amazed at how Heather can create such imagery and tell a story with so few words.  This is such a unique idea/story.  I bet there's no other books like it.  I can't wait to read more!"  -Laura Mortgose, Provo, Utah

"Genius"  -Jasmine Hansen, Laie, Hawaii

"Very imaginative"  - Emily Choate, Cheyenne, Wyoming

"This is very captivating, and nicely done. I always wanted to know what happened next!" -Anonymous

Get your copy of META BLACKWING here!