Thoughtless by Jacqueline Gardner Spotlight

About Thoughtless

When Bridget finds a dead cheerleader in the janitor’s closet, she becomes the killer’s next target. High school just got worse. It’s bad enough that she can hear the shocking truths that pass through her classmate’s heads. Now she has to worry about staying alive, and all clues point to the one person whose thoughts she can’t read - her boyfriend Terrence. Someone is taunting her, threatening to expose her secret. And when Bridget tries to single out her blackmailer, she’s nearly beaten to death by a mind controlled minion with fiery eyes. 

But when Bridget finally comes face-to-face with the killer, suddenly a horde of brainwashed students programmed to destroy her life doesn’t seem so bad.

Thoughtless #2 (coming summer 2012)

About The Author

Jacqueline Gardner works as a Story Editor for the production company, Labragirl Pictures.  Her love of storytelling began at an early age when she would make up stories with her grandmother before bedtime.  In early 2010, she completed her first novel and has been stuck on writing ever since.  She resides in Colorado and loves hiking, writing, fantasy fiction, and all things cupcake.   

Excerpt from Chapter 5 - Sanity

I watched Rory gather his things and disappear into the science lab down the hall.  My head was spinning and every sound around me made my heart pound.  I was afraid.  No, I was terrified that any second I’d hear the cruel, raspy voice call my name.  My taunter could’ve been anywhere or anyone.  Someone might even be watching this very moment.  My feet went on auto pilot and carried me to the science lab.

I stormed into the empty lab and shut the door behind me, relishing the comforting silence.  I listened for a minute to make sure no one else was in the room.  Rory looked bewildered.  He was alone.  His thoughts were on overload as usual, and I was the last person he’d expected to see.  I, Bridget Ferns, had voluntarily walked into the science lab.  Rory was intrigued.

 “What are you doing here?  You lose something?”  Yeah my mind, I thought to myself. 

Rory knew that something wasn’t right.  I guess it was the look on my face.  Rory thought about the note and he’d been thinking about the broken bracelet all day.  He wasn’t coping well, despite the brave face.  But at least he seemed to be handling all this better than me.  He still had his sanity.  “Bridget, you don’t look so good.”

 “Before you ask, the answer is no,” I immediately responded.  “I didn’t get a note in my locker.”

 “So what did you get?”

 “What makes you think I got anything?”  I wiped my forehead and forced a smile, but Rory wasn’t fooled.  He was certain that something had happened but he didn’t want to pry.  Stacy was a scary topic of discussion at the moment.  Just like me, Rory wanted to avoid the subject. 

 “Then quit acting like you’ve seen a ghost.” 

 “You have no idea,” I muttered.  I dropped my backpack and sat on a stool next to Rory.  He was jotting stuff down in a notebook and booting up his laptop.  “Look, I know you’ve been thinking about the bracelet all day.”  Rory turned to me with a curious face.  “I mean, I’m guessing you’ve been thinking about . . .”  I tried to backtrack. 

 “Certain events?”  Rory shut his notebook and straightened his glasses.  “Well, you guessed right.  You may not think this is serious, but it is.  I’ve been trying to take my mind off it, but then the note pops back into my head.”  Rory was frustrated.  Seeing me just reminded Rory that he was the only one in danger.  He was the one who called the police, and he was the one who got a warning.

 “I am taking this seriously,” I replied.  Rory strongly disagreed but didn’t want to cause an argument.

 “Fine,” he replied.  “Tell me what happened then?  You don’t need to lie you know.  Just tell me what your note said.  I can handle it.”  I hesitated.  How was I supposed to explain to Rory that someone was messing with my head?  I couldn’t.  It wouldn’t make sense to him.

 “What do you mean?”  I had no idea what else to do, so I brushed off his question.  Rory rolled his eyes, now even more annoyed.

Ms. Gardiner is also the author of the following books:

M.E.R. Series

Jade - The Silver Hills Series

You can learn more about the author and all her books at her website here: http://www.jacquelinegardner.com/