"Lucy's Monster" is a disturbing tale of drug abuse and madness in the celebrity world. Within the space of a month, the lives of A-list celebrity couple Anthony and Lucy Denharden are completely destroyed in what is a spectacular fall from grace. Twists and turns run rampant throughout this novel and R L Royle has made sure that this in an emotional rollercoaster that won't be forgotten in a hurry. Lucy Cunningham was a sickly child who showed the first signs of schizophrenia at a young age. Unable to enjoy the life of normal children due to birth complications, her life was mollycoddled and joyless. At nineteen, she left her hometown of Whites Lake, Nova Scotia to search for independence and fame in the bright lights of Hollywood. After ten years of struggling, Lucy eventually hit big time. Lucy Cunningham, going by the glamorous stage name Autumn Leigh, discovered her perfect alter ego. Autumn Leigh was strong, beautiful and respected. Autumn Leigh was a winner and didn't the world know it. In 1985, Autumn Leigh married Anthony Denharden, 33.
The two moved to Anthony's homeland of England to start a family, but when 1987 brought their first child, he was not the perfect baby the Denharden's were expecting; born deformed and stillborn five months early. The trauma brought back the panic attacks and mild schizophrenic tendencies in Lucy, the girl underneath the mask, but she hid them well and her alter ego continued to shine. The final and absolute descent into madness began at the 1990 Epic Awards, where Autumn Leigh had picked up a 'best actress' award for her lead role in that summer's biggest film "The Green Book". She had starred along side twenty-three year old Jerry Tilsey; son of Hollywood. Jerry was a notorious drug addict and those that knew him saw the kid for what he really was; arrogant and dangerous. The rest of the world, of course, saw only his beautiful face and fine acting skills. Jerry wooed Autumn Leigh with drink as her husband mingled, and even managed to persuade her to follow him into a storeroom for illicit sex.
Only, when our leading lady changed her mind at the last minute, Jerry attacked his beautiful co-star and slipped a new hallucinogenic drug known only as The Servant down her throat, giving her time to pass out before committing rape. What followed were several panicky weeks of confusion, fear, anger and deteriorating mental health. Finally - just five weeks after the Epic Awards - a full, violent mental breakdown meant Autumn and Anthony's lives were broken beyond repair; ending with Anthony in a coma, and his once beautiful wife sectioned under the mental health act. Anthony struggled to rebuild his shattered life. His head blackened by depression, constant unanswered questions teasing his every waking thought: What happened to my wife? Who, or what, was to blame for her sudden and dramatic decline? Is all as it seems? Follow this couple on this disturbing journey and see just what celebrity can do to someone when it all goes wrong. An innovative and dark piece, "Lucy's Monster" is receiving positive media and international attention for its hard-hitting storyline and trendsetting style.
Breakthrough author R L Royle, a twenty-three year old with a thirst for the vexing, features the reader and writer as characters somewhat in a unique style of writing that enables the reader to feel, literally, part of the story.
