Wednesday, August 14, 2013

A Dream for the low price of your soul

One dream coming right up, and all it will cost is the low, low price of your soul.

I can hear the collective intake of breaths and see the shaking of heads. I’m with you, but it does pose an interesting question—would you make a deal with the devil to achieve power or success for a delimited term? 


This question came up a lot when I was writing Embrace and Hold Tight. I think the answer would depend on the price. So let’s say, for argument sakes, you can have whatever you most desire for one night of your time. Sort of like they did in the 1993 movie Indecent Proposal.

Would you give up a night of your life?

What if the stakes were higher and a deal cost you years off your total lifespan. Say you wanted to become the best blues guitarist this side of the Mississippi River—maybe that would cost you ten years. If you wanted wealth, twenty.

That might be tempting. Become a NYT bestselling author and all it cost me is ten years off the top. Hmm…

Probably still not worth it, but tempting.

Or maybe instead of taking years like poker chips, you’re granted years to live. Ask to be the youngest person to become president of the United States and get ten years to live: two to campaign, eight to serve, and then your time is up. Advance immediately to the top of a Fortune 500 company, fifteen years to live. Possess magical powers, twenty-five years.

Would you make the deal?


What if it doesn't matter what you ask for. The price is the same no matter what you desire—power and success can be yours for ten years, and at the end of that time your debt comes due, like what is done in the television series Supernatural.


Of course, time does fly and before you know it someone or something will be knocking down your door to collect their fee, which in this case would be your soul.

I think it’s easy to say no to most of those scenarios, but what if you were making the deal to save the life of a loved one. The deal isn’t for personal gain, but to give another person a second chance to live.

Would you?

Find out what Madison Riley does in Hold Tight. Available August 20th.


If you haven't entered the Embrace Swag Giveaway or to win a paperback copy of Hold Tight, there's still time. Just click on the giveaway to enter.

10 comments:

  1. Great concept Cherie. It's already got me thinking all kinds of interesting thoughts. One night doesn't seem like much, but in my experience those deals always go bad....what if it was the night either one of my children were conceived?

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    1. Exactly! And like you said, somehow, someway, the deal is bound to go bad.

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  2. What a great way to entice readers--I'm in! Can't wait to read your book. Do I have to wait another week (whining noises)? ;-) Great post!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Less that 5 days until the release of book two. =)

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  3. Ooh, Cherie, this post held me riveted - and I was totally thinking Supernatural even before you showed the pic! I just hope I'm never offered such a deal - there are some things I know I wouldn't be able to resist trading away years for. Of course, getting old is one of my greatest fears, so for me, eh, what's a few years shaved off...

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  4. Wow, I was thinking one night wouldn't be so bad, until Johanna mentioned what she did. B/c of course that one night probably wouldn't be one where I was just vegging in front of the tv for hours... Great post!

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    1. What you're getting in return for the deal would have to be huge, but even then, I'd be afraid whatever it is would go bad. Like my dream comes true and then something horrible happens that leaves me ten times worse than I was to start with.

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  5. I would make the devil my bitch, and he knows it, that's why he would never offer me a deal.

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