The Sea of Souls
By: Tammy Vreeland
Tyler, the small boy with the imaginary friends called The Folks, is now grown up. Moving on with his life, he has entered the Coast Guard.
While at Boot Camp, Tyler endures a high fever which brings
back flooding memories of The Folks. Memories he's not sure are his own.
Terry, Tyler's mom, ever watchful of The Folk's return, decides to help Tyler get settled in with his new orders. Travis, Tyler's brother, plans on sharing an apartment with Tyler making Tyler's transition even easier.
The two brothers are excited to start their new life in Galveston, Texas. Unfortunately, the island has a dark past of its own. Terry, Tyler and Travis find themselves re-living the past to ensure their future.
While at Boot Camp, Tyler endures a high fever which brings
back flooding memories of The Folks. Memories he's not sure are his own.
Terry, Tyler's mom, ever watchful of The Folk's return, decides to help Tyler get settled in with his new orders. Travis, Tyler's brother, plans on sharing an apartment with Tyler making Tyler's transition even easier.
The two brothers are excited to start their new life in Galveston, Texas. Unfortunately, the island has a dark past of its own. Terry, Tyler and Travis find themselves re-living the past to ensure their future.
PROLOGUE
It is the break of dawn on September 8, 1900 and Sister Mary looks anxiously out to the sea. Rumor has it a storm might crash down on their little island of Galveston, Texas. Although no one has evacuated the island, Sister Mary can tell by the waves that maybe they should.
She looks up to the heavens in prayer and quietly asks, "What am I to do?" As usual, there is no clear answer for her. The Sister sighs as she goes back inside the orphanage. She is use to not having her prayers answered but then again she is a sinner, what should she expect?
As Sister Mary walks back to her ward she wonders if she will ever be forgiven. Has she not endured her punishment long enough? She quietly opens the door to the room that holds her punishment. She looks out over the sleeping children and wonders how could such innocence be so evil?
It is her duty to oversee the group of children no one else wants. As sad as that sounds, she knows all too well why the children are here. Their families had grown tired of living in fear and the orphanage, along with Father Thomas, had been their salvation.
Just as it had been Sister Mary's salvation so long ago; at least she had thought. Now she is not so sure. Her punishment had been handed out by Father Thomas to be in charge of the most difficult children they had in the orphanage.
On several occasions, Sister Mary had feared for her own life but the children know it is much more fun to keep her alive. They torture her day in and day out with the unknown of what they are going to do next it is much more fun to keep her alive.
Suddenly, Sister Mary hears the wind pick up outside and wonders what she should do. She realizes maybe it is time to have God decide for the last time; with a renewed sense of hope Sister Mary quickly thinks of what needs to be done.
The Sister makes her decision and gathers the children outside. The sleepy children look to her in question, she tries to comfort them, "Children, quickly lets tie this rope around us all and we will try to move to higher ground."
Sister Mary instructs Andrew to be tied to her first, a slight pang of guilt courses through her as she shows favoritism towards Andrew. Andrew looks up at her, "Sister Mary what about Father Thomas?"
The Sister looks disgustedly back towards the orphanage and thinks, "May he get washed out to sea where he belongs!" Instead, she sincerely answers Andrew, "God will watch over him."
The wind whips hard at her and the children. Sister Mary is surprised at how obedient the children are being, but the fear of the unknown has set in and they quickly obey her. All of the children are tied together with her.
The Sister leads the children out into the storm. Unfortunately, they do not make it and all are swept out to sea. To this day, Sister Mary still has a problem with making the children mind.
BACKGROUND
In the first book, The Folks, I used my son, Tyler, and his imaginary friends The Folks, as a basis for the story. I had not planned on doing a sequel to The Folks any time soon.
However, Tyler had came to me with an idea for a new book called Sea of Souls. I originally started the book as a book to stand on its own.
Since the story took place in Galveston, Texas where Tyler was stationed at while in the Coast Guard, it became clear to me as the story unfolded that I could make it into a sequel for The Folks.
This also gave me an opportunity to introduce my other son, Travis, into the book. In this book, Tyler and Travis are half-brothers but in reality they are full brothers in every sense of the word.
You will find the book has actual events that happened. Galveston, Texas did have a horrific hurricane in 1900 leaving 6,000 people dead and an island destroyed.
You might find it fun to look up certain events that are in the book that are easy to research. There has been sightings of a Nun looking for crying children on the beach in Galveston, Texas.
There is a room, 505, that is supposedly haunted at the Hotel Galvez. And, the one I like the best, (Tyler saw first hand) is the story of the Face on the wall.
Sea of Souls, is the first sequel I have ever done. I can honestly say I found it quite challenging to try and tie both books together with a completely new story.
A fun fact, originally "The Sea of Souls" was "Sea of Souls" representing the famous distress call... S.O.S.
I have many fans who adored The Folks, I hope that the sequel is worthy of their continued admiration.
REVIEWS
Deborah Blount
Best read late at night...
May 8, 2014Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
“Sea of Souls” is a terrifying story; a story of two brothers looking forward to starting their new lives in Galveston, Texas. Soon they learn that the island has a dark history which somehow ties in with their own frightening past. Tyler, Travis and their mom, Terry soon find themselves embroiled in a supernatural struggle and must re-live the past to ensure their future.
Author of several horror novels, each one uniquely spine-tingling; Sea of Souls is a sequel and even a bit of a prequel to one of her other books called “The Folks”…Oh I can hear it now “groan…not a sequel!” Oh yes! And it’s a hell of a sequel too!! You see, Tyler is all grown up now and has entered the Coast Guard. While at Boot Camp however, he developed a high fever which brought back a flood of memories…memories of a bizarre group of people called “The Folks”, and they’re not interested in going away; but, the question is, are they real or just imagined?
Tyler’s mom, Terry is very much aware that The Folks might still be lurking somewhere in the shadows, so she and Travis decide to help Tyler get settled at his new post in Galveston, Texas. Once they arrive, they soon find out that this island has its own dark, disturbing history. And what a story it is!
Tammy has a delightful way of blending her ideas and thoughts with just the right amount of “creepiness” ...but it's much more than that; it's the family bond that makes this such a wonderful and intriguing read. It’s powerful, even a bit disturbing (perfect combination in my opinion) and wonderfully written. Beautifully chilling and definitely fear-provoking!
She also has a very interesting "treatment" of the metaphysical as told by one of the characters; Lori...she absolutely has “my way of thinking”, especially with reference to the "fingerprint" and energy aspects of the afterlife and of souls...This book really makes me think not just about the after-life, but about spirits and entities in general. Add to that the location and occurrence of certain past events; truly gives one pause for thought.
I’m always in love with the endings to Tammy’s books; why? Oh no, I’m not sharing that! To find out, you’ll just have to read the book.
This is a must-read. Especially very late at night.
Jennifer W Davis
Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you
December 8, 2014Format: Kindle Edition
This is the sequel to The Folks. After The Folks, Tyler has doesn't remember any of the events that accrued with The Folks. Terry and Paul got married, became pregnant, and moved to New Jersey. A new start for everyone.
Time passes and Tyler is now all grown up. He is now entering the Coast Guard and being shipped to Galveston, Texas. Terry thinks that with all the changes going on, that it would be best if Travis, Tyler's younger brother, moves to Texas with Tyler. A fresh start for both of the boys and neither one of them has to be alone. She finds an apartment for the boys near the base. Terry goes along with to boys to help move them, and get them settled. Terry stays at a hotel near the boys apartment. To Terry's surprise, she has gotten the boys settled and started with their new lives faster than she has planned. As a mother, she worries about her boys, between Tyler's past and now learning that the island has a dark past as well.
Strange things start happening. Terry can't help, but wonder if it the island or the past catching up with them. She has a few days before she has to return home and she hopes that she can get things figured out, because if she can't, there is no way she can leave her boys there to survive on their own. With everything that Terry has experienced, she knows that sometimes the past comes back to haunt you, but she isn't sure she if her and the boys are ready for what the past has in store for them.
This is a great installment to the series. You really get a feel of each character and what they are going through. There is lots of paranormal and mystery in this book. Even though this book is a work of fiction, it does contain some actual events. I suggest for you to look up the following events that accrued in Galveston, Texas: The Face on the Wall, The Lovelorn Lady of the Hotel Galvez, and The Great Storm of 1900. This author did lots of research on these events and weaved them into the story nicely. When I found out that these were actual events, I have to look them up and found them very interesting.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
Richaell
Breathe, turn the page! Keep reading, and save yourself from being touched!
January 23, 2017Format: Hardcover
What a great story, Tammy has the best way of adding real life drama, and factual history into a story, that leaves you gasping for breath when turning pages. She has away of creating such characters that make you feel you know them. The easy going good guys, yet they are sensitive to the paranormal, and sense and feel such evil. And all they want to be is left alone. But aren't able to unless they deal with it.. once and for all!.... or is it! Is it really the end... or some else's burden?
Sherrie Pate
Could not put this down...
May 13, 2014Format: Kindle Edition
As an avid reader of all of Ms Vreelands books. I have always loved the way you are pulled into the story, I enjoyed reading "The Folks" the story of young Tyler & his imaginary friends. The evil that they cause & how the young mother steps up to protect her son! Now " The sea of Souls" continues the story with Ty all grown up finding that the folks are back & join by other evil spirits! I was again drawn into the story & could not put the book down!!! The book is right up there with Stephen King & Dean Koontz! This book is Fantastic!
K. Ayres
Great Book
May 27, 2015Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Good job Tam. I really loved the book. You have quite a talent.
The book was hard to put down and I worried about you guys right to the end. Keep on writing. Loved it.
DELIGHTFUL DARK ART
Review of the Horror Book “The Sea of Souls”, by Tammy VreelandPosted: May 13, 2014 in Reviews
Tags: art, Books, creepy, horror, horror books, reviews, Tammy Vreeland, Tammy Vreeland author
0
“Sea of Souls” is a terrifying story; a story of two brothers looking forward to starting their new lives in Galveston, Texas. Soon they learn that the island has a dark history which somehow ties in with their own frightening past. Tyler, Travis and their mom, Terry soon find themselves embroiled in a supernatural struggle and must re-live the past to ensure their future.
Author of several horror novels, each one uniquely spine-tingling; Sea of Souls is a sequel and even a bit of a prequel to one of her other books called “The Folks”…Oh I can hear it now “groan…not a sequel!” Oh yes! And it’s a hell of a sequel too!! You see, Tyler is all grown up now and has entered the Coast Guard. While at Boot Camp however, he developed a high fever which brought back a flood of memories…memories of a bizarre group of people called “The Folks”, and they’re not interested in going away; but, the question is, are they real or just imagined?
Tyler’s mom, Terry is very much aware that The Folks might still be lurking somewhere in the shadows, so she and Travis decide to help Tyler get settled at his new post in Galveston, Texas. Once they arrive, they soon find out that this island has its own dark, disturbing history. And what a story it is!
Tammy has a delightful way of blending her ideas and thoughts with just the right amount of “creepiness” …but it’s much more than that; it’s the family bond that makes this such a wonderful and intriguing read. It’s powerful, even a bit disturbing (perfect combination in my opinion) and wonderfully written. Beautifully chilling and definitely fear-provoking!
She also has a very interesting “treatment” of the metaphysical as told by one of the characters; Lori…she absolutely has “my way of thinking”, especially with reference to the “fingerprint” and energy aspects of the afterlife and of souls…This book really makes me think not just about the after-life, but about spirits and entities in general. Add to that the location and occurrence of certain past events; truly gives one pause for thought.
I’m always in love with the endings to Tammy’s books; why? Oh no, I’m not sharing that! To find out, you’ll just have to read the book.
This is a must-read. Especially very late at night.
Definitely giving this one a HUGE Creepy Doll Rating!
Deborah Blount
Best read late at night...
May 8, 2014Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
“Sea of Souls” is a terrifying story; a story of two brothers looking forward to starting their new lives in Galveston, Texas. Soon they learn that the island has a dark history which somehow ties in with their own frightening past. Tyler, Travis and their mom, Terry soon find themselves embroiled in a supernatural struggle and must re-live the past to ensure their future.
Author of several horror novels, each one uniquely spine-tingling; Sea of Souls is a sequel and even a bit of a prequel to one of her other books called “The Folks”…Oh I can hear it now “groan…not a sequel!” Oh yes! And it’s a hell of a sequel too!! You see, Tyler is all grown up now and has entered the Coast Guard. While at Boot Camp however, he developed a high fever which brought back a flood of memories…memories of a bizarre group of people called “The Folks”, and they’re not interested in going away; but, the question is, are they real or just imagined?
Tyler’s mom, Terry is very much aware that The Folks might still be lurking somewhere in the shadows, so she and Travis decide to help Tyler get settled at his new post in Galveston, Texas. Once they arrive, they soon find out that this island has its own dark, disturbing history. And what a story it is!
Tammy has a delightful way of blending her ideas and thoughts with just the right amount of “creepiness” ...but it's much more than that; it's the family bond that makes this such a wonderful and intriguing read. It’s powerful, even a bit disturbing (perfect combination in my opinion) and wonderfully written. Beautifully chilling and definitely fear-provoking!
She also has a very interesting "treatment" of the metaphysical as told by one of the characters; Lori...she absolutely has “my way of thinking”, especially with reference to the "fingerprint" and energy aspects of the afterlife and of souls...This book really makes me think not just about the after-life, but about spirits and entities in general. Add to that the location and occurrence of certain past events; truly gives one pause for thought.
I’m always in love with the endings to Tammy’s books; why? Oh no, I’m not sharing that! To find out, you’ll just have to read the book.
This is a must-read. Especially very late at night.
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This is the original book cover. Some sites may not
have updated the image but the order should be filled
with newer cover.
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