Gwen Alyce Clayton writes supernatural thrillers and other stories that inspire readers to think critically while enjoying the wonder of things not yet known. To date, she has three books available: Fermata Cellars (Book 1 of the Rivervine Trilogy), Zinfandel’s Grimoire (Book 2 of the Rivervine Trilogy) and Purr: A tale of love, lions and a Hebrew named Daniel. Please leave a review after reading any of her works. Also, be sure to follow her on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Zinfandel’s Grimoire
PAGES STRAIGHT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
Xin Vondella, known to the townsfolk as Zinfandel, has been the spectral sentry of the city of Rivervine for over a hundred and fifty years. She has vowed to protect and defend her land against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Her modern-day allies are the Comatis—a group of mystics who live a simple, earth-based lifestyle that has been threatened by real-estate developers for ages. But now they face an enemy who has other plans for the property—and we’re not talking about a strip mall or housing subdivision. This is a spiritual battle that will be fought in both the physical and occult realms, stirring up six-thousand-year-old demons, with fronts in both California and the Middle East. The entire Comati culture faces erasure. Zinfandel is desperate to put into writing all of the history, philosophy and mystic lessons, in hopes the legacy might continue. If, where and when it will continue, though, is still unknown.
Fermata Cellars
BUSINESS CLASS DIDN’T TEACH THIS KIND OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Manuel Chavez grew up in the vineyards as the son of a migrant farmworker. All his life, the good Catholic boy heard rumors of Fermata Cellars being haunted, but he never believed them until he accepted a job as the winery’s marketing director. When a corrupt city councilman tries to snake the land away from his Pagan employers, he has to confront his fear of the supernatural to determine whether or not the nuisance should be abated.
Purr:
A story of love, lions and a Hebrew named Daniel
(Note: This was a short story Gwen wrote for her mom for Christmas 2019. The storyline does not follow the Rivervine Trilogy or its theme of magical realism and supernatural horror).
The biblical story of Daniel and the lions’ den has been loved by readers for thousands of years. In this version, the story is told from the point of view of the woman who would have been Daniel’s wife had Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar not taken them prisoner after seizing Jerusalem. Her account is one of discipline, purpose, and attention to the still, small voice of God.
Gwen Alyce Clayton 