Hi, everyone! I want to thank the Novel Approach for having me on the blog. Soul Seekers is my fifth novel release. In this post, you will get a sneak peek at the story. But first, learn about the monster in Lake Champlain and don’t forget to enter for the giveaway!
Check in at www.jcwallacebooks.com for links to all of the blogs in the tour and you can enter as much as you like!
This is a blog post from 2014 that I’ve revived because my story is set on Lake Champlain again. You can’t talk about the lake without mentioning Champ, the Lake Champlain monster. Yes, there is a “monster.” Most call him Champ, or Champy (if you want to get all cutesy). Port Henry is where many sightings of Champ have been reported in what is called Bulwagga Bay. Port Henry is really big on Champ, which you will see in the following facts:
- Champ is a member of the elite group of creatures called cryptozoological animals, which include dragons, unicorns, Pegasus, Sasquatch, Yeti, and of course, Champ’s “cousin”, the Loch Ness Monster. Cryptozoological animals are those whose existence on earth has never been proven or disproven.
- It is purported that Samuel D. Champlain saw the Lake Champlain monster, however this was misreported in a 1970 article and is most likely untrue.
- Documented sightings of Champ predate those of the Loch Ness Monster by fifty years.
- The Iroquois and Abenaki tribes in the area have legends of this creature.
- The first modern day sightings of Champ:
- 1819 by a “Capt. Crum” in Bulwagga Bay, reported seeing a black monster resembling a seahorse with three teeth, large eyes, a white star on its forehead and a red band around its neck
- 1883 Sheriff Nathan H. Mooney reported seeing a gigantic water serpent twenty to thirty feet in length.
- In the late 19th century, P.T. Barnum offered a $50,000 for Champ, dead or alive.
- Many people think that Champ is a prehistoric creature such as a plesiosaur (same as the Loch Ness Monster) or a tanystropheus.
- Below is the famous Mansi photograph taken in 1977. This is the most documented “sighting” of Champ. The creature was reported to have surfaced for about four-seven minutes, then turned slightly, and submerged. The picture, examined by several experts ahd been reported as not being tampered with. Some think it’s a piece of driftwood.
- In 2003, a team from Fauna Communications Research Institute (doing research for the Discovery Channel) visited several areas of reported sightings of Champ on Lake Champlain. They used high tech equipment to record sound underwater. On three separate occasions, they measured an echolocation sound (which is only used by whales and dolphins) however, this signal was not from any known creature. Was it Champ? Maybe.
- Champ has been featured in many television reports and on shows including ABC News, the Discovery Channel, Japanese television, The Today Show, Unsolved Mysteries, Fox Network’s Sightings and several hundred local TV shows.
- The Vermont House of Representatives passed H.R. 19 in April 1982, protecting Champ “from any willful act resulting in death, injury, or harassment.” The next year, New York State legislators followed, protecting Champ against death, injury, or harassment, and encouraging report of sightings.
- Sightings of Champ are recorded on a sign in Port Henry, NY
- The first Saturday of August is Champ Day in Port Henry. There is a street fair with vendors and entertainment to celebrate Champ. Here is the Champ float, which appears in local parades.
- The Vermont Lake Monsters (previously the Vermont Expos) is a minor league baseball team in Burlington, Vermont, with Champ for their mascot
So, there you have it, some info about the famous Champ – who I have yet to see.
About the Book
Soul Seekers
Release date June 22
Available for pre-order at: Dreamspinner Press || All Romance eBooks || Amazon || Barnes & Noble
Blurb: Nineteen-year-old college student Levi Reed has spent his life with hollow emotions and a darkness so deep that he’s convinced he’s losing his mind. He’d give anything to feel something, anything, real.
When a mysterious stranger appears, Levi is convinced the man is trying to kill him. When he’s near, Levi experiences head-crushing pain and something surprising—real emotions for the first time. Jeb Monroe is arrogant, self-assured, closed-off, and handsome, but his isn’t the harbinger of doom Levi assumed. Jeb’s mission: help Levi find his missing soul.
Levi is pulled into the secret world of Seers and Keepers, those born with the innate abilities to manipulate souls and tasked with balancing the negative energy they can produce. Levi learns he possesses a rare gift, and he’s in danger. As Jeb and Levi grow closer, they discover a group of zealots who want to harness Levi’s power to cleanse the world of damaged souls. Everyone Levi cares for is threatened unless he agrees to become their tool of death. But agreeing could spell the destruction of humankind. With no one to trust and nothing as it appears, it’s up to Levi to save them all.
Excerpt
Jeb reached over and touched his cheek, taking his focus away from the others. Those dark brown eyes pulled Levi in. “Like Art said, it’s going to get rough. If they tie you down with rope, you’ll hurt yourself fighting. Hopefully, this way, we can keep you safe.”
Levi watched Phillip tie his ankles together with a piece of fleece. It was better than rope, but the panic over being bound closed Levi’s throat. This was going to hurt much worse than that last time with Jeb. He wanted to back out, but Phillip instructed Hank to leave. There was nothing left to protect Levi from the pain… from Jeb.
His heart rate tripled upon seeing Hank leave the cabin. “No… I can’t… do this.” Levi tried to get the blanket off his chest, but it was tightened.
“Levi, calm down.” Phillip’s voice was too gentle, too focused, too soothing.
Jeb cupped Levi’s cheeks. “Deep breaths. You can do this. I’m right here.”
Levi tried to take a deep breath, but the thought of the pain, of possibly losing who he was overruled Jeb’s instructions.
“Jeb….” Levi managed to say between gasps.
“I don’t think we should do this.” Phillip’s face had paled, and he appeared as scared as Levi was.
Jeb’s gaze was unyielding. “Levi. It’s going to be okay. Stay calm.” Levi wanted to listen, but he couldn’t hear past his fear of the pain and possible death, of the pressure already building in his head.
“No, it has to be done. Do it quick.” Art held the blanket taut. “Before he totally freaks.”
“Levi!” Phillip shouted, startling Levi into ceasing his struggle momentarily. “Just remember I didn’t want to do this.”
“Just do it!” Levi heard his dad shout.
Phillip touched his fingertips to Jeb’s forehead, taking Jeb’s gaze from him. Grasping for anything, he recalled after Phillip had touched his forehead in the vision everything had gone black. Sweet Jesus, maybe he’d be out for this.
Please knock me out.
Phillip touched Levi’s forehead, muttered several undecipherable words, and waited. Maybe taking the crystal away wouldn’t be enough. Maybe he’d gotten used to Jeb’s symbol. Pain ripped through Levi, negating those thoughts. He heard himself scream from a long way off as if every cell in his body were going to explode.
The Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway!
1 – $15 All Romance Ebooks Gift Certificate
1 – Ebook copy of Soul Seekers
2 – $5 All Romance Ebooks Gift Certificate
About Jake C. Wallace
Formerly, I wrote under JC Wallace, but recently decided to use my full name. I have been writing all of my life but didn’t start publishing until 2014. In my day job, I am a behavior analyst. At night and on the weekends, I write about all things men. I believe there is nothing hotter than two men finding and loving one another, whether for a night or forever. An avid reader of M/M romance, I love a good twist of a plot, HEA, HFN, or tragic ending. I am owned by three kids and two grandchildren. I live in Northern Vermont.
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The Novel Approach Reviews 
Thank you for sharing these interesting facts!
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