April 2014
TABLEO FCO NTENTS Dark Prophet
3
THE WHAT FOR, HOW TO OF HOLISTIC ALTERNATIVE HEALING
4
The Club The Gloomy Dark Alice by, James DeAcutis Celia Kennedy's Top 10 Favorite Places to Read Goddess of War The Second Captive An Interview with Dr. Robert G. Williscroft Author Feature: Marika Germanis
5 6 7 10 11 12 13 16
Blurred Lines
17
Writing Challenge with Kirstin Pulioff
19
Feminism and Nicole by, Linda Riesenberg Fisler 5 Quick Fire Q&A with Anna Othitis
25 26
DarkProphet Booktrope Publishing Re- Releases Dark Prophet: The Chronicles of Koa Book Two by, K.N. Lee
Discover lavish Net herworld grandeur meets British vampire societ y in t his highly anticipated sequel t o t he international best selling novel, Net herworld: The Chronicles of Koa Book One. Koa is a half - blood vampire wit h not only t he ability t o f ly, but survive in t he sun's light . She will do anything t o protect her mot her, and break t he curse t hat keeps her f rom ridding t he world of the demon, Bund. Agent Koa Ryeo- won, and her boss, Halst on, f ormed a crew of supernat ural agents t o st op Bund. But is a prophet, a temptress, a War- Breeder, a half - blood with an enchant ed sword, and a f ew angels enough to stop what Bund has planned? Available on Amazon.com & Knlee.com
Editorial Reviews:
Bookfeature THE WHAT FOR, HOW TO OF HOLISTIC ALTERNATIVE HEALING
What can one say about this book other than brilliant and beautifully put together ? in fact it is like several books all rolled into one. Written well, without waffle, it makes a wonderful guide for many aspects of alternative healing covering the ?What For and How To OF? ? Aromatherapy and Essential Oils THE MYSTICAL/ SPIRITUAL Side of Aromatherapy MAGICAL Aromatherapy You also have an Essential Oils by Properties Chart Aromatherapy by Symptom Guide Essential Oils Chart covering 43 essential oils Your Chakras Essential Oil Chakra Chart Crystal Chakra Chart Healing Crystals ? Introduction Healing Crystals and their Metaphysical Uses Chart Meditation Rainbow Meditation Meditation and Essential Oils Within this book, there is wisdom to be found, wisdom which can be used to keep you and your family healthy. This book was the Number One Best Seller for Maggie David in Australia when she was operating her Essential Oil Company Available on Amazon Facebook.com/ maggier.david Twitter @maggiedavid
TheClub
Heady Velvet (The Club, #6) by Emily Walker
Alice Plume is a carefree spirit. She doesn't get worked up about much-- how could she when her son-n-law owns a secret sex club? While she's fine with the fact that her daughter lives a life surrounded by kink, she's never had any desire to venture further into the lifestyle--or even the club itself--other than catering a party or two. But then, she meets Knoll Seaton. Knoll is the sexy personification of the 'silver fox--a real estate mogul with a voice that makes her insides melt, and touch that makes her want to beg. He's also very much into the club lifestyle. Alice isn't sure that she can change her perception of sex to meet Knoll halfway...but Knoll isn't one to walk away from something he wants. And he wants Alice.
TheG loomydark Th e Gl o o m y Dar k b y , K.N. Lee w w w .k n l ee.co m
The gloomy dark taunts While the constant screaming haunts My pitiful soul Tattered Battered And spoiled Plans to escape Lost And foiled One might think Redemption awaits One might make A dangerous mistake My sobs of agony Seem to simply fade Into a black abyss Such pain as this Threatens to end me Suspend me into pitch Embers flying Red hot In my abyss No one to listen No one to care No wonder I miss you You were never there
Writing Challenge Provided by, Writelikeawizard.com
The Chal l enge:
In 2000 words or l ess, writ e a st ory, poem, or what ever you l ike about being t rapped in your own home. What t rapped you t here? How do you escape? The Resul t : Al ice James DeAcut is ?Good-night, Mr. Bluesuit.? ?Goodnight, Alice.? The door closed gently as I bid goodnight to my dear. Another day of fun and games come to an end. I miss her so when she leaves me alone. This is a lonely place; my little house. Although it is bright and cheerful and I have everything I could ever need, it is still? a lonely little place. Alone in my home? I?ve tried to leave. I really have but there is no way for me to leave. Not without her help. I?m paralyzed now although I can feel myself getting stronger every day. The more she loves me and the more she believes in me the more I believe in myself. I know that with her love I will keep getting stronger and when I do I know I will be able to leave. One day I hope to surprise her and join her on the outside, on my own. It?s amazing that I can even think these thoughts considering who I am and where I came from. I?ve been here as long as I can remember; I guess since the beginning, although I don?t know how long ago that was. I only started
W ritingChallengewithAuthor,JamesDeacutis to know where I was or who I was just recently. It was as if one day I woke up from an eternal sleep and found myself here? in this neat little house...in this strange place. My friend, Alice, is a strange little bird you know. She chats with me and tells me the funniest stories. At least I think they?re funny. She seems to find them so as she laughs and laughs at them. She laughs at a lot of things actually. She?s even confided in me that everyone she knows thinks she?s ?daft?as she puts it. Really! She said that her sister won?t talk to her anymore because she?s ?coo-coo as a clock?! She laughed at that too. I kind of feel sorry for her; all alone in this house. Well, except for me of course but I?m not much for conversation in the condition I?m in. But, I hope that as I get stronger I will be able to be a better companion. I think I know what?s happening to me and I hope you don?t think it strange. Alice was reading a magazine to me the other day and there was a story about philosophy and it contemplated the idea that we only exist because others believe us to exist. We don?t exist in and of ourselves but because others see us, we are real. It was all very complicated, and made us both laugh, but as I thought about what she read it occurred to me that because Alice believed in me maybe her love was bringing me back! Strange, no? But, this is what I thought and then I thought, maybe that philosopher was onto something. Whatever was happening to me I believe it was of Alice; dear,
sweet Alice. Every day she would talk to me and every day I could feel my muscles getting stronger; felt my eyes slowly focusing; felt my tongue tasting words. If this continued I would be dancing in no time! Haha! I will make her so happy one day. But, until then? Days go by and I am frustrated by how long it?s taking. Alice takes care of me and talks to me and I know I?m real to her. It is only a matter of time? and I have all the time in the world. Today is the day! I can feel it! Today I will surprise Alice with a ?hello? and a hug! I could feel my eyes moving and my voice returning as the night progressed and I?m going to surprise her! Oh, won?t she be thrilled? I can almost picture the look on her face, the joy she?ll feel, when it happens! And, when it does, we can finally, really, be together. As the day progressed I could hear her moving about outside. I could hear her comings and goings. I think she took a phone call at some point because I could hear her talking, I think. She may have done some laundry too as I heard a machine humming at another point. I?m getting more and more anxious for her arrival as I try and flex my arms and legs and move my eyes and clear my throat. Oh, I can?t wait! But now the day is getting on and I?m worried. Where is my benefactor; my friend?
aliceby,JamesDeacutis I can still hear some noises and movement from outside so I think she?s not far away but when will she come to me? When will she share with me the good news I have? This is interminable torture. I am so frustrated. I know; I?ll go to her! I try to crawl across the floor to the door but I?m still too weak. I manage to get a few inches before my legs can no longer push and my arms no longer pull. But I can barely turn my head so I twist it as best I can and close my eyes as I rest upon the floor, waiting for my Alice. ? and wait ? and wait I drift off to sleep and dream but I don?t dream yet. I have no memories to dream about so my dreams don?t exist. Maybe, one day? I sleep, I think but I don?t know for how long because, before I can pick myself up I?m startled by the sound of my Alice coming! She is so close and I can?t wait to surprise her! I can?t wait to see the look on her face when I show her how far I?ve come! I don?t think I?ve ever felt anticipation before but I think I know what it feels like! She is near and over me and she reaches down with her hands. She picks me up with her strong hands and turns me over and holds me in her arms. I can see her clearly now, really for the first time. She is older! Her hair is white and her cheeks are very pink and her eyes have
deep, blue paint over them. Her face is very white and her lips are very red and twisted. She looks like a doll! A somewhat sad and silly one but, I won?t tell her that for I am so happy that I have her. Now, the moment I?ve been waiting for! She holds me in her arms and looks down at me making ?sing-song?sounds like she always does. But now I can see her funny, ?coo-coo?, eyes as she does. And she says, ?Hello, Mr. Bluesuit. How are we today?? And now is my moment! I try with all my might to look at her and see the look in her face when I do. My eyes flutter slightly as I turn them ever so slightly to look at hers but when I do and our eyes really meet (for the first time) something strange happens. Her eyes grow wide and I can feel her shaking. Her face changes and seems to darken, I think. I could be wrong but? Her breath grows shallow and I know it is time? I love her so much and I long to make her smile so with my now alive eyes looking at her and with all my strength I smile and croak out a weak? ?Hel-lo Alice? ? I don?t know why my creaky voice seemed to startle her so but it did. I thought she would be overcome by joy but the look she gave me broke my heart. She let go of me and I dropped to the floor with a hollow thump and looked up at her as she
crawled away, bug-eyed and clutching her chest. She could hardly breathe as she wheezed away from me. ?A-a-a-lissssss.? I hissed as best I could and reached for her with my weak little arms. She screamed and stumbled backwards away from me. I?m so confused! What have I done?! Why does she look at me with horror?! ?A-A-A-Lisssss!? I cried to her? ?A-ah-lisss? ? I cry as non-existent tears well in my bright-painted eyes. She reels back and her face is twisted in a look that even terrifies me! ?No! No!? she croaks as she falls near the door across the room. Her hand is twisted into a crooked claw scratching in the air but then it falls on top of her wheezing chest. ?A-Ah-Lisss? no? no? ? I crawl to her using every bit of strength I can muster. I must reach her! I just want to hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I love her. I want to tell her that it?s alright! That I?m alright. That there?s nothing to be afraid of. But, as I crawl slowly towards her I can hear her breath getting shorter and more labored and I can feel my efforts becoming more futile by the second. I must reach her! But, I?m afraid of how this will end. If my friend passes will I too pass back between nothingness and eternity?! If she breathes her last? ? I crawl onward, pulling my little body with my little arms; my shiny, hard hands scratching and clawing at the hard, shiny floor. It is impossible! It is so hard?
AliceBy,JamesDeAcutis I crawl and look up and she hardly moves now.
Do you have any advice f or ot her writ ers?
?Ahhhlisssss!? I drag myself inch-by-inch and she?s very quiet now. I think I know what it feels to be doomed as I inch ever closer, knowing that at any moment?
Don?t give up? Don?t forget to start? Write the best story you can. Unless the height of the girl?s heel is important don?t include it! Draw the picture and use only as much color as necessary.
?Ahhlisss, please! Alice!? I?m almost to her now! Almost? if I can reach her I can pull myself up to her! I so want to hold her! I so want to thank her for what she?s done! I so want to lo?
For More On James DeAcut is: Twitter: @jdeacutis website: www.petercooperandthepirateking.com Blog: jamesdeacutis.wordpress.com
Author James DeAcutis grew up fascinated by the worlds created by Ray Bradbury, H.P. Lovecraft, John Varley and Edgar Allen Poe and with this, first novel, he hopes he?s created a world and characters that will fascinate a new audience. An avid cook and hockey player, he is also a prolific songwriter influenced by progressive, heavy metal and folk-rock. He lives in New York with his wife, a school teacher and their three children.
Cel ia Kennedy's Top 10 Favorit e Pl aces t o Read: Originally posted on MagicalMustreads.blogspot.com
"I average four books a week, variety req?d!" -Celia Kennedy 1) In bed ? Before I go to sleep 2) In bed ? When I wake up 3) On the couch ? After the kids go to school and I transition from Mom to writer 4) Under a palapa in a tropical environment (if snacks are involved, this is a perfect scenario) 5) Floating on the water on a hot day 6) On the patio, when it drizzles, with a blankie 7) In front of a fire
8) On the bed ? When I?m supposed to be cooking dinner 9) In the car ? While I?m waiting for my offspring who need a ride 10) Wherever I am, cause I always take my Kindle with me.
Website: www.celiakennedy.weebly.com Facebook: https:/ / www.facebook.com/ CMKAuthor Twitter: @KennedyCelia
Goddess of War by, K.N. Lee
Go d d ess o f W ar No w av ai l ab l e f o r p r eo r d er o n A m azo n
An ordinary child.
first time.
A magic chest from the east.
War will never be the same when Luna is on the field. Blood and power fuel her. Empires, kingdoms,
When Luna's mother puts her in the chest to protect her from slaughter, her father returns when it?s too late. Everyone in the village is dead...except for Luna. Kellian knows what that box does to objects, but questions what it can do to a human. What did it do to his daughter?
From the award-winning author of the international bestsellers Rise of the Flame, and The Chronicles of Koa series comes Goddess of War, an epic fantasy tale set in a world of wizards, warriors, and one girl's journey to discovering she is more than a weapon.
Her fate is uncertain as Kellian brings her along to the royal army that he commands. He cannot help but wonder if she will have a normal life when forced to grow up surrounded by violence and war. No one can believe what she can do when she picks up a weapon for the
Preorder Sale on Amazon! and dynasties clamor to assassinate her. No one can stop her. Nothing can tame her until a magic she never expected to find reveals itself...in the form of an immortal young man with a few secrets of his own.
Available on Amazon
What happens when you love the
A study of emotional dependency,
man you should hate?
The Second Captive examines how
Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when Dominic Perdue abducts her.
love can assume strange guises. Available on Amazon
Held prisoner in a basement, she?s dependent upon him for food, clothes, her very existence. As the
5 Stars
months pass, her hatred changes to
"The perfection of this story is
compassion. Beth never allows
astounding. I am not surprised.
herself to forget, however, that her
Maggie James has a gift that I've
captor has killed another woman.
come to truly appreciate. Much like
She has evidence to prove it, not to
Gillian Flynn, she has a way with
mention Dominic?s own admission of
telling a story that leaves you in
murder. Then Beth escapes? And discovers Dominic Perdue is not a man who lets go easily.
suspense. I
Stockholm syndrome: the psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with his or her captor.
Meanwhile, despite being reunited with her family, she spirals into self-destructive behaviour. Release from her prison isn?t Maggie James is a British author who
enough. Can Beth also break free
lives in Bristol. She writes
from the clutches of Stockholm
psychological suspense novels.
syndrome?
The first draft of her first novel, entitled His Kidnapper?s Shoes, was written whilst travelling in Bolivia. Maggie was inspired by an impending milestone birthday along with a healthy dose of annoyance at having procrastinated for so long in writing a novel. His Kidnapper?s Shoes was published in both paperback and e-book format in 2013, followed by her second novel, entitled Sister, Psychopath.
Stockholm syndrome: the psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with his or her captor.
simply could not stop reading. I was completely absorbed in the story, the characters, and the way the author expertly weaved them
together."- Amazon Reviewer
An interview with the author of The Starchild Compact and Slingshot. By. Kenya Cooper- Moore
Where are you f rom?
AnInterviewwith Dr.Robert G .W illiscroft
This is a tough question. I was born in Montana, grew up in Germany, and have lived up and down both coasts, in Idaho, Texas and Missouri, and in Alaska and Hawaii, and even in Key West. What did you do bef ore you became a writ er? I am a retired Submarine Officer, deep sea diver, scientist, businessman, author, and adventurer. I have spent 22 months underwater, a year in the equatorial Pacific researching manganese nodules, 3 years in the Arctic creating a biological baseline study, and a year at the geographic South Pole in charge of National Science Foundation atmospheric projects. Have any of your careers or educat ion inspired your writ ing? Since my background is so eclectic, I have to answer, Yes! Virtually everything I have done gives me material for my writing. My submarine and diving experience gave me the detailed background for Operation Ivy Bells, my Amazon Technothriller Bestseller, with 8,800 copies
Dr. Wil l iscrof t ?s novel , Slingshot, is in preproduct ion. It is a prequel t o The Starchild Compact, and t el l s t he st ory of t he const ruct ion of t he Worl d?s f irst Space Launch Loop.
sold in the first nine months. As a PhD engineer, I have an in-depth understanding of how things work. I discovered years ago that I had a knack for explaining complex things. In fact, this was the basis for my syndicated newspaper column, The Thrawn Rickle. These formed the basis for my current events book the Chicken Little Agenda Debunking "Experts'" Lies. What woul d you say is t he hardest t hing about writ ing? Unquestionably, it's marketing - selling what you have written. How do you conduct research f or your books? It depends on the book. For Operation Ivy Bells, I used my personal experience, interviews with former shipmates, and the Internet (great resource!). I am a space exploration enthusiast. While reviewing the Cassini photos from Saturn, I was fascinated by the details of Iapetus. It is rocky, but has a very low density; it has a mountainous wall around the equator and several other interesting things.
An Inter view with Dr . Rober t G. Williscr oft I began to speculate what would happen if it were a derelict starship, and that led to The Starchild Compact and its forthcoming sequel, The Iapetus Federation.
I already mentioned how The Chicken Little Agenda came about. My books on diving instruction resulted from my having taught over 3,000 people to dive. Do you have any aut hors t hat inspire you?
Before going to the South Pole, I read a couple of interesting scientific papers about constructing a space launch loop. I contacted one of the authors and we eventually met and spent a day together. The result of that meeting was a life-long friendship, and my latest book,Slingshot, that will be released at the International Space Elevator Conference in Seattle on August 21, 2015.
I used to tell my boy bedtime stories about the adventures Starman Jones, Space Pup, and Billy. I used these stories to instill in him an intuitive understanding of advanced principles of physics, like Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. These stories resulted in the Starman Jones Series of children's stories. These books have been endorsed by Dr. Frank Drake, the Director of SETI and the Carl Sagan Institute for Intelligence in the Universe.
I am especially inspired by Robert Heinlein and Michael Crichton. Both were excellent story-tellers, and both were word-smiths par excellence. How did you get publ ished? My doctoral dissertation, A System for protecting Scuba Divers from the Hazards of Contaminated Water was published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and distributed to port captains around the world. My first two dive books were published by a small commercial publisher. My third one was commissioned by a dive magazine.
Don't be discouraged by rejection notices. If your writing is good, ultimately, someone will pay to publish it. If you choose to go Indie, be sure your book is every bit as good as anything else out there in its genre. If it is not up to per, you will fail, but if it is a really good book, you will be successful. 9. Who is your greatest supporter? My wonderful wife of three-and-a-half years, Jill. Is t here anyt hing you'd l ike t o say t o your f ans? "Buy my books!" Seriously, an author survives when people purchase and read that author's writing. Furthermore, in today's world, if you liked the book, review it on Amazon and on Goodreads. Yes, I know that Goodreads is a difficult platform to use, but do it anyway! We need you, we really do. What is next f or you?
I decided thereafter to go the Indie Publishing route, because I had to do just as much work for my traditionally published books, but earned less profit. As an Indie publisher, I get to keep all the profit.
I am in the midst of writing The Iapetus Federation, the timeline sequel to The Starchild Compact. It should be out in early 2016. Following that, I expect to write another book in theStarchild Series, tentatively titled Mars Calling. It is about a disastrous first expedition to Mars saved by the Captain of the Cassini II from The Starchild Compact. It will be a prequel to The Starchild Compact. I am also considering a sequel to Operation Ivy Bells. Finally, I am working on the remaining books in the Starman Jones Children's Series.
Do you have any advice f or aspiring aut hors?
These projects should carry me for a while, at least.
The Chicken Little Agenda was published by a mid-size publisher in New Orleans.
Contact Facebook: robert.williscroft www.starchildcompact.com @rgwilliscroft Available on Amazon & Createspace
I Can Cook: Light Lunches: A Chil dren's Cookbook Aut hor Feat ure: Marika Germanis
Aut hor Biography Born in Zimbabwe, Africa I was fortunate and privileged enough to have had several years of cooking with my granddaughter Imogen who enjoyed cooking. Before she could even stand she was stirring pots from my arms. I take pleasure in writing these books for "Imsi" in memory of our early years together. We spent many enjoyable hours in the kitchen and I have no doubt she will one day be a Great Cook. We came from Africa where fresh healthy locally grown fruits, vegetables and meats were readily available grown and ripened in the natural unspoiled gardens and farms with a large percentage of organic growing and production. Bl urb
Come along and cook with your Children and have fun in the kitchen together with my ?I Can Cook? Children?s Very OWN Cook Book series by Granny Marika ? easy, basic children's fun recipes ideal for beginners ages 4-12 year olds. Easy step by step instructions, with safety and health tips for your children while they cook they will instantly learn to make these simple salads, puddings, desserts, baking recipes for their family and friends - with adult guidance and supervision. In NO time your ?Precious Little Cooks? will be making these delicious recipes; pancakes, bread and butter pudding, jellos and more just like my granddaughter "Imsi" makes. Avail abl e on Amazon.com
Bl urred Lines: The Ent ire Col l ect ion Mature content for an audience of 18+.
"Short Hot Read that has you begging for more!" "I LOVE this book" - From Aphrodite, Book 1 "Smoking hot!" - From Aphrodite, Book 1 "Hot erotic romance..." - From Adonis, Book 2 Heat sizzles on the sidewalks. A sultry wind blows along the So Cal coastline, stirring passions, cooling the sun drenched skin of the beach goers. Tara Lynne needs to change. Enough is enough. She's tired of being left behind. She doesn't know what her options are. Only knows she needs to find some, and fast. Part 1 - The Beach: In this three part erotic short story series, Navy
seaman Zack Brannon's on shore leave, healing from a broken heart. Kentucky born Tara Lynne's on vacation, heading to San Diego...alone, thanks to her loathsome boyfriend bailing on her, crushing her dreams. When she spies the handsome soldier on the Greyhound bus, bearing a mysterious scar on his face and a limp to his stride, their worlds collide in a fiery summer explosion. Forbidden passions are explored. Scandalous lines are crossed. Dirty fantasies are created. A blurred reality forms in which neither one knows who the other is. The only thing they know is, for a scorching hot twenty-four hours, they can't stay away from one
Blurredlines Will her brief encounters with the heartsick seaman be enough for Tara to make lasting change? Part 2 - The Boardwalk: After a brief, scorching, surprising encounter with the Navy soldier she calls Adonis, Tara tries to play along with his cautious rules to stay away. She can't do it. She finds she craves more. He's awakened forbidden desires, while making it clear this is only an encounter. She's determined to make the best out of her twenty-four hours, regardless of the cowardly restrictions he tries to impose on her. She searches for him, finds him, and discovers new, scandalous passion in unexpected places. Part 3 - The Hotel: Tara's been seduced by military Navy man twice in her twenty-four hour sojourn. He's told her no more. He's shown her the rules to extremely sexy, consensual games. He's shown her cautious restrictions in what he's willing or unwilling to give to her. He's shown her mind-blowing, sexual fulfillment. She wants more -
calindaB.
? ? ? ? "The sex is very hot between them and it makes you want to see them eventually become a couple...well worth the four star rating." Teresa J., Reading Alley Reviewer
- she wants intimacy and deeper connection, and she intends to get it. Unwilling to be banned from his life, she chases after him on the streets of San Diego. As their time together grows short, she challenges him to let go of his assumptions of what's possible between them. She holds the reins at last - will Zack Brannon be man enough to yield to her desires? Mature content for an audience of 18+.
Available on Amazon
The Challenge: In 2000 words or less, write about an egg. What is inside the egg? A dragon? A chicken? A turtle? Be creative! Also, who discovers the egg and what do they do with it? The Results:
The Famil y Tradit ion By, Kirst in Pul iof f Jackson?s family had a peculiar tradition. They planted treasures. It started generations ago when Jackson?s great-great-great-grandfather planted his magical beans. After that, each person, on their thirteenth birthday journeyed to the same spot and planted their own treasure in hopes of magic. As with most traditions, the reasoning behind it had been long forgotten, but the practice remained, and every new generation looked forward to this rite of passage. Jackson could hardly sleep. Visions of beanstalks, magic, and adventure raced through his mind as he carefully planned which treasures to plant. By the time the first yellow rays of sunshine peaked through his window, he was already up and ready. A soft rat-a-tat-tat sounded on his window. Running over to see what the commotion was, Jackson instantly smiled. Down in his front yard stood his best friend, Gretchen. With her strawberry-blond hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail, wearing her work overalls and a blue gingham shirt, she looked quite at ease with the big shovel slung over her shoulder. Her goofy grin matched his. She had been waiting for this day too. One more rock, thrown in fun was all it took to get Jackson moving. ?Mom,? Jackson called out, running down the stairs, his fingers futilely trying to straighten the messy mop of brown curls on top of his head. ?Mom?? he asked again, seeing no sign of her in the main room or hall. ?Mom!? he yelled. ?Jackson, honey, what is it?? she asked running into the room, soap bubbles dripping off her fingertips. ?Sorry, Mom? he said sheepishly. ?I just wanted to see if I could run and play with Gretchen today? We?re going to plant our treasure.? ?Of course, dear, just remember- be careful where you dig, some treasures are meant to stay buried? and have fun.? She waved him off with a smile, watching him practically jump through the door, as soap suds dripped onto the floor beneath her. ?Are you ready?!? Gretchen asked excitedly, as he bounded towards her, her little nose scrunched up, making her sun-kissed freckles stand out even more. Standing there with one hand on the shovel, a basket of bread beside her, she gently teased him by tossing the seed shape container in the air.
?Careful,? Jackson warned, leaning in and grabbing the seed before she tossed it again. ?There are special things in there.? Looking down at the seed, he saw his reflection staring back. Big blue eyes, a head full of brown curls, and more freckles than was considered cute covering his cheeks. ?Are you ready?? she asked again, shaking the shovel impatiently. ?You betcha,? he said, cradling the container carefully in one hand. ?Let?s go!? Their giggles rang high as they skipped over the hills, across Farmer Percy?s beet farm, stopping only for a moment to toss rocks in the old river, and a final look at the map. ?Here,? he said pointing to the corner. ?This is where we need to go, in the shade of the old bean plant.? ?Are you sure?? Gretchen asked, her normal confidence replaced with a slight tremble. ?My mom told me the Giants still hide in that part of the forest.? ?Giants, nah,? Jackson giggled. ?They disappeared years ago when Great-Grandpa chopped down the beanstalk. We?re almost there, and anyways,? he said holding out his hand, ?I?ll keep you safe.? She smiled up at him and grabbed his hand. Together, they ran the rest of the way through the farmlands, to the far end of the dark forest, stopping as they entered the clearing where the stump stood. Even chopped down, the top of the stump was over Jackson?s head, and at least five feet around. Tiny sprouts of green vines twirled around the base, a living tribute to the magic and adventure that their family planted. ?We?re here,? Jackson said quietly, looking up in silent reverence. Gretchen elbowed him, and nodded to the seed container. ?Did you remember everything?? he asked, slightly shaking the container and hearing a soft shuffle inside. ?Yes,? she said, sticking the shovel into the ground in front of them. ?One loaf of bread from the bakery, and my stuffed unicorn, you just need to add in your pieces.? ?They?re right here,? he said pulling them from his pocket, smiling at the loud thump as each treasure was dropped in- his favorite action hero and his magic rock. The rock was something special that he had found one day at the river. It was perfectly smooth and flat, and every time he skipped it on the surface of the river, it bounced along to the other side without sinking. If anything was magical to him, it was that rock. The shovel dug into the ground easily, and before long, a pile was growing. Sweat beaded up on his forehead as the tower of dirt waved above them. Jackson yelled in excitement as his shovel struck something hard. ?Got it,? he said, reaching down to grab the items in the hole, and passing them off to Gretchen. A seed shaped container like his, and a round golden egg. ?This one is heavy,? she said struggling to take it from Jackson?s hands so he could climb out. ?Ok, let?s see what?s in here,? she said, shaking the dirt stained egg side to side. Jackson knelt by her side.
?Ewww,? they squealed, pulling out a moldy blob that slightly resembled his mother?s famous chocolate brownies. Quickly peaking in to see if there was more, Jackson pulled out a yellow ribbon, and some dried flowers. ?I guess that is all from hers,? he said disappointed. ?I wonder what?s in the other one,? he said, moving closer to the sparkly egg. ?I don?t know, Jackson. This one looks different. Maybe your mom was right that some treasures should stay buried.? He looked at her with a crooked smile and wink. ?Alright, but what if we take just a quick peak. Nothing wrong in peaking, right?? he asked. ?Besides, this one is cracked anyway. We need to check, to make sure nothing broke on the inside.? That was enough of an excuse for both of them. Keeping the egg hidden between them, Jackson took a deep breath and lifted the egg up gently in his hands. ?Ouch,? he yelled, dropping the egg, pulling his hand back to reveal a small pinprick. ?It bit me. There?s something in there.? The egg rolled to the side where they had discarded the shovel and bread basket. ?I knew it, we should have left it alone,? Gretchen whispered, quickly moving behind his back, shutting her eyes as the egg shook, and the cracks opened. They jumped backwards in shock, as the egg broke away, revealing a small white bird. ?Gretchen,? he said, pulling on her ponytail to make her open her eyes, and pointing to the bird. ?Do you know what we found?? ?What?? she asked, slowly peeking through her fingers. She gasped, quickly covering her mouth. ?Is that what I think it is?? ?Yes!? Jackson yelled excitingly, jumping up and down. ?That is one of the Golden Goose?s eggs. We found it, and it hatched! Do you know what this means?? ?Do you know what this means?? she asked looking at him in horror. ?Don?t you remember the old stories?? she asked, recalling in her own mind the tales of blessings and curses that came from the Golden Goose. ?It wasn?t all golden dreams. Each egg that the golden goose laid was made either for human dreams or curses. If the hatched bird turned blue, a dream would come true. If the feathers turned orange? ? she trailed off, watching the white bird peck at the stump. ?Dreamers, be warned.? Jackson finished for her, knowing the stories himself. ?Well, look here. This bird hasn?t decided her colors yet, maybe we?ll be on the lucky side.? He said, stretching his hand towards the bird, holding out crumbs from Gretchen?s bread basket. ?Here, birdie birdie? ? ?Jackson, I don?t think we should be doing this.? She backed away. ?Don?t be silly, it?s just a little b-,? he started to say and stopped as soft colors began to appear on the colorless wings. The white feathers slowly turned soft shades of greens, purples, and darker hues, and then settled on a fearful bright orange. Gretchen pulled Jack towards her, as her eyes began to fill with tears. ?Jackson, I?m scared. This was not the adventure we had in mind.?
Jackson sat, mutely nodding, watching as his blessing of adventure turned into a curse before his eyes. The bird moved, slowly at first, stretching its wings, pecking at the base of the stump, jumping closer to their basket of bread. Jack and Gretchen backed away slowly, their eyes fixed on the moving curse. Blood slowly dripped from the bite on Jack?s hand onto the ground. A soft drop, quiet enough they did not notice, but the bird did. Its head shifted in their direction, its beady eyes reflecting off the bright sun as it focused in on them. Jumping closer, it sniffed up to them and squawked. Their faces reflected off its small eyes, as the bird narrowed in on them- the fear in their wide eyes, the trembling of their chins, the tears flowing down Gretchen?s cheeks. They stood still, watching as the bird approached. A quick squawk, some beating of its wings, and the orange bird took flight. They watched, paralyzed with fear as it circled overhead, gathering speed and strength, before turning back down towards them. ?Run!? Jackson yelled seeing the bird descending towards them. His chest burned as he struggled to run faster and farther, his feet matching the beat of his heart, until he heard the screams. Looking back, he saw Gretchen flailing in the air. The bird?s talons tightly hooked around her overall straps. Her screams shot straight to his heart. ?Jackson!? she cried. ?Help me!? Her voice cracked with fear between sobs. Jackson watched in horror as his best friend was carried away. He watched her slowly disappear, her soft red hair blending into the orange of the feathers, her freckles fading out of vision as they rose higher. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind raced trying to find a way to rescue his friend. If only he hadn?t shared this tradition with her, she would have been safe. He had hoped for magic, but not at this price. Hearing her screams echo through the air, seeing her body swing all over, somehow the adventure of planting his magic rock seemed so insignificant. The rock! The rock! He thought to himself. Quickly running, he skidded into the fresh dirt by the beanstalk stump, digging through until his seed container was found. Ripping it open, he scattered the pieces and ran, feeling the cold stone squeezed into his palm. ?Here, birdie birdie,? he yelled again, watching it circle above. The bird squawked and dove towards him. ?One, Two, Three,? he yelled, throwing the rock in a perfect arc. It skipped through the air, and bounced off the bird?s beak. Gretchen screamed as the bird dropped her. The ground shook with a thud as her body fell to the ground. ?Gretchen!? he yelled, running to her side. ?Are you alright?? he asked, moving a strand of hair out of her freckled face. Her pale lips inched up in a smile, but her eyes remained closed. ***
His mother watched him enter, and stopped in her tracks. ?Jackson?? she asked, ?did you enjoy planting your treasure?? He stared at her, no words to even begin explaining. ?Did you open any other seeds?? she accused taking his silence as an admittance of guilt. ?I hope you remembered what I said. That some treasures are meant to stay buried,? she reminded him. He stared back at her, incredulously. ?You have no idea.? He muttered under his breath, knowing the thin line between a blessing and a curse, and all about buried treasures.
Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in the foothills of Colorado. When she's not writing an adventure, she's busy living one. Facebook: KirstinPulioffAuthor Twitter: @KirstinPulioff Amazon: Author & Book Page Goodreads: Kirstin Pulioff
Feminism and Nicole by, Linda Riesenberg Fisler Back in 1979 the feminist movement was gathering much steam. Being a female working at a consumer products company with a large number of engineers, a field at that time dominated by men, discrimination was something I experienced often. Anyone who knows me would tell you that it takes a lot to intimidate me. I remember sitting in my interview and being asked where I wanted to be in five years. I knew I couldn?t say Hollywood directing movies, so I answered that I saw myself managing people and projects. The HR Director stated flatly that would never happen because I didn?t have a college degree. So, strike one? female and strike two? ?uneducated?. My answer was ?We?ll see about that.? In the years that followed I endured many discriminating comments from my managers from being told I had no thinking process, to being forced to solve math problems to prove I could indeed think and being told that maybe I should go back and try high school again. After enduring many bad managers, there were a few years (count then as a handful in the twenty six years I worked at this company) when I had supportive managers. One saw the many benefits of my work and forged ahead to have me promoted to the management ranks without the college degree. The was something rarely done. When I left this company, I had accomplished the one thing that HR Director said I would never do. The road was a hard one and there are a ton of emotions and situations that I can draw upon for the character of Nicole. While today?s strong women seemed to be depicted as badasses with guns and the strength of an Amazon Warrior, most of the strong women that I know don?t arm themselves with guns or other weapons. Most of the women I know are facing what I have faced. Intimidation accompanied by arbitrary limitations or labels by men in the workforce. Discrimination and unequal pay for similar jobs held by men. These men supposedly out-perform their women counterpoints on every level. These women arm themselves with knowledge, perseverance, and a very thick skin on their long hard journey to accomplish the goals that they set out regardless of the obstacles in front of them. We owe the trailblazers, the women who forged the path in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s a huge debt and gratitude. While the starting point of a woman?s career has gotten easier, inequality still exists. While a woman can choose just about any career, there are still injustices. The prejudices of childbirth, expectations that she must work twice as hard to garner admittance to the ?old boys club? and discriminations once that ?status? is granted by men still exist. As much as we don?t like to admit it, there is a force to be reckoned with as the vile head of discrimination and inequality rises once again. We need to continue to strive for the simplest accomplishments. Small, confident steps will make a huge difference for the generations to come.
Find out more about Linda and her character Nicole in the diary entries posted on her blog! http:/ / lindariesenbergfisler.com/ wordpress/
Quick Fire Q&A with Author, Anna Othitis!
Cof f ee or t ea? I enjoy my Tea. Every morning I wake up that is the first thing I will have ?A Good Cuppa Tea? I grew up in Zimbabwe, a prior English colony where Tea and Scone was traditional. Favorit e movie? My favorite movie is still the ?Sound of Music?. It is a wonderful joyous family movie with fun and love. I enjoy such old fashioned musicals. Favorit e act or? I enjoy Jul ie Andrews, who is placed, a meek and mild lady and a lovely person
who has acted and suited musical rooted family-oriented movies. Which hist orical f igure woul d you l ove t o spend t he day wit h? I would you love to spend the day with Archyt as, t he Ancient Greek phil osopher, mathematician, astronomer, statesman, and strategist, who was reputed to have designed and built the first artificial, self-propelled flying device, a bird-shaped model propelled by a jet.
Annaothitis Biography:
Anna Othitis lived and was raised in the beautiful land and country of Zimbabwe, Africa (home will always be home. She left all of her life long memories, endless charity work and good people behind vowing that she will continue supporting the needy children in her land Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond. After traveling long and short distances from the East coast to the West coast twice she and her family eventually found their sense of belonging and final settling destination in New Jersey, USA. Her husband George, sons Johnny, Elia and Frankie encouraged her to write her first children's book titled "My First Travel Book", inspired by Frankie (Captain Frankie), who is graduating from his Masters degree in Aeronautical Science and beginning his career as a professional pilot. Anna's favorite saying is "Be Bold Be Brave". She was inspired to write her children's books with a vision to link up the children Africa and of the world on Angelic Airlines to so many beautiful places of interest and popularity on our wonderful planet Earth with all its beautiful some natural and some man made creations and resources. One of the beautiful natural wonders featured in her books is in her birth land of Zimbabwe "The Mighty Victoria Falls" All of her books educate our children and widen their scope of interest in the amazing surroundings, creations and nature to appreciate and look after our environment for many generations still to come.
BLOOD TREE - PART ONE by Scar lett Dawn Release date: 8/15/15