I couldn't imagine hurting my little girl...

Hey ,

When I was dreaming up a villain for a new story, I started thinking about the worst possible person you could ever have to go up against.

A monster?

A serial killer?

Something supernatural?

No.

I realized it would be someone you love.

At the time, our little daughter was our only child.

I remember looking down at her tiny little face and thinking there was absolutely nothing in the world I wouldn't do to protect her.

I couldn't imagine ever causing her pain.

All I wanted was for her to have a life filled with happiness and joy.

And because I'm a big softy...

If she wanted something?

I usually couldn't say no.

I still can't.

But then a much darker thought occurred to me.

What if that tiny little bundle of joy grew up to become the greatest threat humanity had ever faced?

And what if you were the only person who could stop her?

Not the military.

Not the police.

Not some superhero.

You.

Her father.

Imagine being faced with the impossible choice between saving the world...

and saving your child.

That's where SLEEPERS AWAKE began.

It actually started as a screenplay for a movie called DARK SEASON.

Eventually, that screenplay became my first published novel.

And of all the stories I've written, SLEEPERS AWAKE is the one that scared me.

Not because of the monsters.

Not because of the violence.

Because of the idea at the heart of it.

What if the person you would die to protect became the person you had to stop?

That's the kind of horror that sticks with you.

And honestly, SLEEPERS AWAKE stayed with me for years after I wrote it.

It's now one of the six nightmares in my MONSTERS & MAYHEM collection.

Six complete horror novels.

Six full audiobooks.

Twelve ways to give yourself a very good reason to leave the lights on tonight.

[GET MONSTERS & MAYHEM]

And if you're a parent...

You might want to read SLEEPERS AWAKE after the kids are asleep.

Just don't blame me if you start looking at them a little differently.

— Patrick