The Underground Moon

The sweeter the lie, the darker the truth…

Summers in Tennessee are unfamiliar to fifteen-year-old Rosella Gill, who spent her life growing up in Oregon. But after a traumatic event with her mother that left their family in shambles, Rosella doesn’t plan on seeing her old home again any time soon.

Together with her mother and seven-year-old sister Hettie, Rosella finds herself ripped from her old life as they move in with her aunt. Though she doesn’t mind Tennessee, the town they live in is rural and stagnant. Things get surprisingly more interesting, however, when she and Hettie come across a well hidden in a nearby forest and a staircase that descends into it. Underneath, they find a moonlit lake and a forest with trees boasting intricate carvings of children’s faces. Above it all shines an underground moon, which grows a little fuller every time they return. After meeting a man with a haunted past, Rosella begins to realize that the world is not as innocent as it seems, and it has a particular target: her sister.

Finalist in the 17th Annual NIEA (National Indie Excellence® Awards)

Published: July 2020
Dark fantasy, horror. Young adult. Standalone.

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Praise for The Underground Moon

  • “The Underground Moon is a triumph in dark, thrilling fantasy, and a must-read whether you're a YA reader or not.”

    — Readers’ Favorite (Silver Medal Winner of Readers’ Favorite 14th Annual Book Awards, YA-Horror)

  • "This dark urban fantasy starts off with something of a fairy tale feel, before evolving into a tale more reminiscent of classic Stephen King, with a focus on small-town secrets and an underlying exploration of addiction, depression, and associated trauma. While true YA, the book will appeal to a wide array of prospective audience members."

    — BookLife by Publishers Weekly

  • “From the beautiful illustrations to the relationship between the sisters and the visual splendour of the underground world they discover, it's pure delight, but like all magic, this otherworldly place comes with a warning and a most unexpected hero.”

    — V. M. Andrews, Author

  • “The descriptions are lyrical and also masterfully provide insight into the characters and plot. Also great—the tension, pervasive symbolism, and robust characterization.”

    — Molly Fennig, Author

  • "A chilling account of the difficulties of living and the strength of the human spirit. A modern fairy tale with hope being the winner."

    — David Cameron, Author

  • "This is a book that will leave you thinking about it long after you have put it away. It is more than just a dark fantasy, it is also a commentary and an ode to childhood, friendships, and sisterhood."

    — S. Stein, Reader/Reviewer

  • “[The Underground Moon] was as emotional as it was eerie.”

    — Ingrid, Reader/Reviewer

  • “I chose this book because of the cover (pretty, spooky aesthetics are to die for) but the story is as good if not better. It felt like a fairytale at first, especially the beauty of the world below the well, but as the moon grows, the fairytale disappears and things get way more ominous.”

    — Arya, Reader/Reviewer

Immersive Audio

Music is a huge part of my writing process. Listen to the Spotify Playlist to hear songs that inspired the book or dive deeper into the “Signature Songs” list to match the song with scenes and characters.

Signature Songs

Like a cinematic score, this playlist follows the story’s emotional beats, from overarching themes to defining scenes and key characters.

1. A haunting, ethereal theme song

2. The world beneath the well

3. A sad, whimsical lullaby

4. Otherworldly and mysterious

5. Poison (Ch 30)

6. The real moon (Ch 32)

7. Rosella’s song

8. Ava’s song

9. Hettie’s song

10. Wayne’s song

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