A Human Element [Paperback]

Donna Galanti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 2012

One by one, Laura Armstrong's friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her special healing powers, there is nothing she can do to stop it. The killer haunts her dreams and leaves cryptic notes advising her to use her powers to save herself because she's next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to her hometown and the site of a crashed meteorite. There she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents' death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening mystery that binds them together.

But the killer's desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts her relationship with Ben in jeopardy and her pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to the stranger and she has two choices - redeem him or kill him.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A HUMAN ELEMENT is an elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart.  Highly recommended." -Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of ASSASSIN'S CODE and DEAD OF NIGHT

"A HUMAN ELEMENT is a haunting look at what it means to be human. It's a suspenseful ride through life and love...and death, with a killer so evil you can't help but be afraid. An excellent read." -Janice Gable Bashman, author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award

"Be afraid. Be very afraid. And be utterly absorbed by this riveting debut that had me reading till the wee hours of the night. A thriller star is born. Don't miss A Human Element." - International Bestselling author M.J. Rose

"Lyrical and creepy, Donna Galanti's A HUMAN ELEMENT tugs on our heartstrings and plucks the gut-strings of horror. This debut thriller author is a true storyteller, highly reminiscent of Dean Koontz. " - Dakota Banks, award-winning author of Deliverance

"Donna must have picked up on my weakness for Dean Koontz, because A HUMAN ELEMENT echoes the bestselling author in terms of creativity, the supernatural and overall dark allure. Add in a little paranormal romance and you've got one delicious literary paranormal mashup."- Mina Burrows, Blog for Paranormal & Mystical Minds

"A thrilling ride full of believable characters, a terrifying villain, an epic battle for survival, and a love worth killing for. The last third of the novel is a race to the finish, and I was glued to the pages, hoping the characters I'd grown to love would finally find the peace they deserved." - Marie Lamba, author of WHAT I MEANT.

From the Author

We either have the urge to write or we don't. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean we will be good at it but just that it's in us. If the urge is there then we can learn the craft. But first, we need the urge. The urge is what drives us to perfect our craft. We either are storytellers or we aren't.

Is there a writer gene and is storytelling genetic?  And are there sub categories of the writer gene just like there are sub genres in writing. If there is a "dark" writer gene, well, that fits me perfectly. I like writing from the dark places. To spiral my characters into tragedy - with a dash of hope. On the page I can act out horrific events by evil people and never get arrested.

EXCERPT of one dark character in A HUMAN ELEMENT:

X-10 hovered over the doctor's body. His anger drained away and he felt relief. He returned his mind to his body in the car. He needed to rest before continuing north. Traveling with his powers expended such energy it left him weak. But he needed to leave the car and hide out. He walked into the woods, breathing deep of all the life around him. After heading half a mile into the woods away from the dirt road, he found a hollow and lay down on the ground covering himself in a mound of leaves.
 
Within a few minutes his body heat warmed him inside his cocoon and X-10 slept. It was his turn to dream of the girl. He chased her as he always did, toying with her before he shredded her throat. But this time she stopped running and turned to walk back towards him. He stopped in his tracks, amazed she would do that when she knew he would kill her.
 
"Charlie, come with me. I know what you are. We are the same."
 
He shook his head, wanting to hate her. How did she know he wanted to be called Charlie? His mission had been to kill her. It had always been so. If it changed now what would he do? What would he become?
           
"Don't give into hate."
           
"What do you know about hate?"
 
"I know hate. And it's short lived. Love lives forever." She held out her hand. "Come."
 
"No!" He rushed towards her but she disappeared and he was left alone, as he had always been.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Echelon Press Publishing (March 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590808762
• ISBN-13: 978-1590808764
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,794,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Donna Galanti is an International Thriller Writers Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A Human Element and the author of the short story collection, The Dark Inside. If she couldn't write she would bike, hike, and kayak every day.

She was stationed in Pearl Harbor as a photographer in the U.S. Navy followed by a career in Marketing. Donna dreamed of being a writer at seven years old when she fell in love with the worlds of Narnia and Roald Dahl. She lived in England at the time, attending school in a magical castle where her imagination ran wild in an itchy uniform (bowling hat and tie included).

She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she's still wishing for a castle again.

Donna's website: donnagalanti.com
Twitter: @DonnaGalanti
Facebook: facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful!! March 9, 2012

By Colleen Smith

Format:Kindle Edition

Wow!! Donna Galanti really knows how to capture her audience from page one. I could not put this book down. She keeps you in suspense the entire time. It was difficult to predict what was going to happen next. So much sweet and evil wrapped up in paranormal abilities. I completely fell in love with Laura and Ben. I felt like I really knew them. A Human Element is a must read! I will be recommending all my friends and family.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great ride from debut author March 11, 2012

By Stacy Green

Format:Kindle Edition

Donna Galanti's A Human Element is a fast paced suspense novel with lots of sci-fi and mystery mixed in. Her leading lady, Laura, is likable and easy to root for, and Donna doesn't make it easy for her as she struggles to figure out why everyone she loves is suffering. Our hero is strong as well, suffering through his own unique miseries. With their paths finally cross, the two come together with a lot of heat. And with a truly frightening bad guy, A Human Element is a can't put down read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What is Humanity August 4, 2012

By laurathomas61

Format:Paperback

I completely fell in love with this book. Donna Galanti gives life to her characters, they live and breath on these pages.
Ben is hiding from his parents on the shore of Coopersville Lake when it happens.
A meteorite crashes into a group of 12 or so cabins, one of which contains his parents, and now all that remains is a huge crater of steam and fire. In one bright green flash Ben's life is forever changed, and for another, it is just beginning.
No one could know the long-reaching consequences of that fatal night.
9 months later.
A young girl struggles to bring her child into the world. She came to the doctor in secret. Not even the Armstrong's, the kindly couple who took her in, knew where she was.
The doctor doesn't know why the mysterious man waiting outside wants the baby, he only cares about getting paid.
In a rush, the baby is born. Sadly, the young mother doesn't survive. But wait, there is another baby fighting to be born, a twin, a beautiful baby girl. An exchange is made, but the doctor doesn't mention the baby girl, he will give her to the Armstrongs to raise.
Many years later, that baby, Laura, is all grown up and back home to find out why the people closest to her are being slaughtered. The answers lie here. Laura has always had the headaches and nightmares and she knows everything is coming together - the monster chasing her in her nightmares, the mysterious man who has always been on the periphery of her life, and whatever happened the night of the meteorite crash. It is all connected.
Laura and Ben are thrown together as death races towards them. Both need answers about the night of the meteorite if they are to survive what is coming.
I want to keep telling you more. I have only scratched the surface of this story.
Two babies were born that night, Laura, and the boy child called X-10. One looked human in every way and the other looked like a monster.
The many secondary characters made this story real for me.
Everybody should have a friend like Jim, a grumpy curmudgeon with a gentle soul and a fierce love and loyalty for Laura.
The Armstrong's, Laura's adoptive parents, who though they knew she was different and had special talents, loved her as their own.
The mysterious man in black, who has always been around, lurking in the shadows.
The cruel and sadistic Dr. Bjord, who thrills in tormenting X-10, his failed experiment.
And X-10. The monstrosity who's only thought is getting out, finding Laura, and tearing her to pieces.
From the first page to the bittersweet end, I was totally immersed in this book. A story of wonder, love, humanity and absolute evil.
Donna Galanti's debut novel has, at it's core, an energy, an essence, that gives it life.
Superb writing and a thrilling, all-out race to the end, A Human Element is an excellent read.