DALLAS, Texas, June 26, 2008 – Psychological thriller author Melanie Wells provides readers summer mystery, adventure and mind games with her Dylan Foster series – “When the Day of Evil Comes,” “The Soul Hunter” and the newly-released “My Soul to Keep.”

Through Wells’ edge-of-your seat trilogy, readers will follow the mayhem surrounding the eccentric and slightly compulsive university psychology professor, Dylan Foster, who seems to have the worst fortune. Whether it is being framed for the murder of a former student (“When the Day of Evil Comes”), dealing with a psychotic stalker (“The Soul Hunter”) or witnessing the kidnapping of a child (“My Soul to Keep”), Dylan always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moreover, she can’t seem to escape from her own personal inner-demon, Peter Terry, who lives to engage her in mind games to steal her peace, joy and safety in the world.

“Summer is the perfect time to begin this series,” said Wells. “People relate to Dylan. She’s human, engaging and funny – someone you’d want to hang out with. The books’ quick pace and Dylan’s quirky character will keep readers turning pages, which is what every thriller writer strives for and what everyone wants in a summer read.”

Wells says it best with Foster’s opening line of the series, ‘It’s hotter than the eyes of hell out here,’ but readers will quickly feel a change in temperature as they get acquainted with eerie Peter Terry whose menacing antics are sure to bring a chill down one’s spine.

“Peter Terry is like a bad boyfriend who just won’t go away – a spiritual and emotional stalker whose aim is to disrupt your entire life and make every day difficult and daunting,” Wells said. “So he’s a metaphor for the opposition. We live in an oppositional world. Everyone has a Peter Terry – or maybe several – staking out their sanity. We’re all fighting that battle. As a result, I can’t tell you how many Peter Terry stories I hear from readers who have dived into the books and come up for air to identify their own Peter Terry.”

Wells, a Texas author and licensed psychotherapist, utilizes her 15-year experience as a therapist dealing with Peter Terry issues to write stories driven by real, multi-dimensional characters. In addition, Wells, who grew up in a musical family and is a musician herself, draws upon her lifetime of studying and playing music to use rhythm, melody and voice throughout her writing.

“I follow my characters around in my head, so often when I begin writing, I don’t know the direction the story will take,” Wells said. “It’s very organic, and quite unnerving not to know how the story ends – especially when you’re writing on a deadline. I find out the answers about 15 minutes before the readers do.”

“When Day of Evil Comes” (May 2005, paperback, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-59052-426-8), “The Soul Hunter” (May 2006, paperback, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-59052-427-5) and “My Soul to Keep” (February 2008, paperback, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-59052-428-2) are published by Multnomah Books, a division of Random House. All three books are available at bookstores nationwide and online retailers such as Abunga.com. For more information, visit www.MelanieWells.com.

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