BDSM/AP lifestyler Breanna Hayse strives to give her readers truth and
reality of the BDSM/Age-Play/Total Power and Erotic Exchange lifestyle.
Who am I?
I’m a native Californian gone ‘wild’, and had the opportunity to travel
the globe and discover the world through the eyes of both a Marine
Intelligence specialist and a BDSM lifestyler. I left the service to
go into hospice nursing and grief counseling, eventually working as a
marriage and family therapist for those involved in alternative
lifestyle development. This experience has allowed me to gain unique
inspiration for my books and offer realistic plots and relatable
characters.
In 2004, my husband, John, and I joined forces to work with both
submissives and dominants- teaching, training, listening and loving.
Our goal was to take the mystery and fear out of the lifestyle and
mentor people in safe, consensual and healthy relationships.
My first book, The Game Plan, was published in 2012 and opened the door
to the now-booming world of Age-Play literature. Since that time,
I’ve devoted my ‘spare’ time to writing, researching, community
involvement, and private and group pro bono counseling in deviant
behavior, alternative lifestyle, and addiction recovery.
I was formally ‘dungeon trained’ as a Domme before discovering my
submissive side when I joined the service. My scenarios are pulled
primarily from either personal experience or observation, including
spending time in BDSM clubs as the safety/medical officer. My
multi-faceted background allows me to glean from many avenues and
give a unique and intelligent literary experience through elements of
fantasy and fiction. I also discuss the questions and psychology of
the lifestyle in a manner that is fun and informative, and based on
‘the real deal.’
I live with my husband, musician, and fellow-author, John Hayse, and
two border collies in southern California. We practice a 24/7 D&S
relationship with speckles of AP (and many trips to Build-A-Bear),
and happily spend every moment together that we can. My hobbies
include my puppies, hiding my vanilla salt-water taffy where John
can’t find it, exotic art, collecting inspirational trinkets, and
developing my own paddle line. You can also see me as a featured
author/instructor in professional conference settings and as a
Sexpert for kinkyliterature.com.
Roman Toguri finds himself burying the body of a nun in Boone, North
Carolina. As the skies darken and it begins to storm, he is forced to
shove the corpse into his trunk and take it home for the night,
unaware of the torment that playing God will bestow upon him.
Enter Hell with two bonus short stories: The White Shade, an ultra-violent
look into the mind of a mass shooter, and The Black Box, a
psychedelic dive into weird horror.
William Becker is an 18-year-old horror author with a mind for weirder sides
of the universe. With an emphasis on complex and layered storylines
that tug harshly on the reader to search for deeper meanings in the
vein of Silent Hill and David Lynch, Becker is a force to be reckoned
within the horror world. His works are constantly unfathomable,
throwing terror into places never before seen, while also providing
compelling storylines that transcend the predictable jumpscares of
the popular modern horror.
His first novel, WEEPING OF THE CAVERNS, was written when he was 14.
After eight months of writing, editing, and revising, the story
arrived soon after his 15th birthday. During the writing sessions for
his debut novel, he also wrote an ultra-controversial short story
known as THE WHITE SHADE that focused on the horrors of a shooting.
Living in a modern climate, it was impossible for THE WHITE SHADE to
see the light of day. Following a psychedelic stint that consisted of
bingeing David Lynch movies, weird art, and considering the depth of
the allegory of the cave wall, he returned to writing with a second
story, THE BLACK BOX, and soon after, his second novel, GREY SKIES.
Series: Children of the Fifth Sun (Book 1) Paperback: 414 pages Publisher: Vesuvian Books (July 25, 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1944109404 Praise for CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN
“An action-packed, globe-hopping science fiction thriller… pedal-to-the-metal pacing and relentless action make it easy to turn pages…” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Insane! What Gareth did here was incredible! This author took a global look at America, China, and Russia, and added a species from another era into the mix, to create a well-researched novel of suspense, intrigue, with dashing individuals. The characters travel the world on a unique mission while trying to stay out of the line of fire as rogue government agencies from several different countries try to stop them. It’s a wild ride from California to Peru, from Egypt to Siberia. The amount of research put into this novel is on par with a Michael Crichton novel. The main character, Kelly Graham, reminded me of Dirk Pitt from Clive Cussler’s novels. Overall, an incredible read and a book I’m recommending.” ―Jonas Saul, Best-selling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, April 2017
Suspend disbelief and let yourself travel on a downriver, undersea, and overland adventure in this well-constructed novel. The author takes you on a fast paced journey full of intrigue, government secrets, unusual creatures and just a tad of romance. Superlatives abound and the literary illumination paints an image so clear you feel you are there with the characters. For those who know the author, there are bit of his personality revealed which makes reading the novel even more enjoyable. A bit Tom Clancy, a hint of Dan Brown — authentically Gareth in his debut work. ―Charity Scripture
“Scientist Worthington’s understanding of the complexities and possibilities of marine biology and endocrinology are evident.” ―Publishers Weekly, May 2017
***WINNER, SCI FI CATEGORY, 2017 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL*** ***2018 SILVER FALCHION AWARD FINALIST*** ***2018 CYGNUS AWARD SHORTLIST (WINNER TBD)***
Genre: “Science Faction” – science fiction, action and adventure with fact-based science, theories and mythology
IN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.
But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?
***
Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D’Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.
You can purchaseChildren of the Fifth Sun at the following Retailers:
Photo Content from Gareth Worthington
Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World’s doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts – he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.
An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.
She thought her son would be fine if she left him in the car.
It was after all just for a few minutes while she went to grab something
at the store. It was no big deal. But when Mrs. Cunningham came back
out from the store, the car was empty, and her 5-year-old boy was gone.
In a town filled with dark secrets, who will you dare to believe?
Reporter Rebekka Franck is traveling to central Florida to interview a famous
author when the body of a young boy turns up inside an abandoned house.
The death of the boy leaves the small town of Webster horror-stricken.
Forty years ago, another little boy was found killed in that exact same
house.
Now they are all asking themselves: Will it end here?
As Rebekka Franck digs deep into the story, she realizes this town is
harboring a lot of secrets that some people will go to extremes to
keep hidden.
This highly anticipated and exhilarating new chapter in the Bestselling
Rebekka Franck Mystery series,IT ENDS HERE, is a stand-alone
mystery. It serves up a double dose of nail-biting, chilling
suspense, twists, and shocking revelations as only #1 Amazon
bestselling author Willow Rose can. This mystery is determined to
terrify you. No one is more addicting than the Queen of Scream.
TheQueen of Scream aka Willow Rose is a #1 Amazon Best-selling Author
and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 60 novels.
She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror,
Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.
Willow’s books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won’t
see coming. Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 10 of
ALL books in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three
million books.
Willow lives on Florida’s Space Coast with her husband and two daughters.
When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and
watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen people with an inherent
addiction to magic. Scorned and reviled for the deadly side of their
spells, the Shinree are bred as slaves. Their magic is suppressed by
drugs and used only as it serves the purposes of the other races.
Descended from a long line of soldiers, Ian is conscripted into the Rellan army
and made to fight in their longstanding conflict against the ruthless
Langorian invaders. The downfall of Rella imminent, Ian goes against
orders and turns to the Crown of Stones, an ancient Shinree relic of
untold power. Ignorant of its true purpose, Ian uses the crown to end
the war, and pays a terrible price.
A decade later, still tortured by the aftermath of that day, Ian lives
as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile. Having renounced his
magical heritage, he curbs his obsession with a steady stream of wine
and regret. He struggles to put it all behind him, until a fateful
encounter with a pretty assassin brings Ian’s past crashing into
the present.
Targeted by a rogue Shinree, and a ruthless old enemy, Ian is forced to use
magic again. His deadly addiction is rekindled and his life of
isolation is brought to a swift end. With the land he gave up
everything to protect once more in jeopardy, and his people’s
future at stake, Ian becomes embroiled in a violent race for control
of the Crown of Stones. To save the realms and those he cares for,
Ian must embrace the thing he fears most: his own power.
The story of Ian Troy continues in Magic-Scars, the second installment in
C. L. Schneider’s riveting epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.
Captured by his old enemy, King Draken of Langor, Shinree magic user Ian Troy
was sentenced to prison. Tortured and drugged, robbed of his will,
his memories, and his magic, Ian was made to do unspeakable things.
Rescued, as his body slowly rids itself of the drug, Ian realizes he
has returned to an unfamiliar world gripped with fear. In the wake of
his fall, those he cared for were left to their own grim fates.
Draken has seized control of the realms and named himself High King.
His brutal rein has sparked a desperate rebellion that Ian now finds
himself a part of. His one task: recover and repair the Crown of
Stones, in hopes it will tip the balance in the revolution that is
brewing. In pursuit of the reason behind the artifact’s strange
loss of magic, Ian is driven to release an explosion of retribution
and power that leaves him irrevocably scarred.
Struggling to reconcile the man he has become with the man he once was, Ian
strives to understand the growing number of magic-scars adorning his
body. He searches for the truth behind his link to the Crown of
Stones and uncovers shocking secrets buried for generations beneath
the sand. To become the weapon the resistance needs, he must assume
responsibility for his magical inheritance. But can he curb the
destructive appetite that comes with it?
The price of Ian’s magic and his addiction have never been higher.
No other Shinree has borne as much of magic’s weight, its pleasure, or its guilt.
The fate of Ian Troy is revealed in the final installment of C. L.
Schneider’s epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.
In one fell swoop, the resistance was shattered. Lives were taken. Hope
was lost. Peace slipped like grains of sand through his fingers. So
did the Crown of Stones. Now, forced into hiding, Ian Troy grapples
for a way to save the realm—and free its people—from the sadistic
clutches of Jem Reth; Mirra’kelan’s new self-appointed emperor.
Plagued with the knowledge of a tragic future, he strives to
influence events and save those he cares for. But his magic has
betrayed him, and Fate has other plans.
Marked by the crown, hindered by the transformation spell contained within,
each cast brings Ian one step closer to becoming more beast than man.
Each move brings the death and destruction foretold in his vision
inexplicably nearer. With Langor on the brink of war, and King
Malaq’s plan for peace hanging in the balance, Ian returns to the
ancient past; seeking an end to the eldring spell and a means to
thwart Jem’s growing domination. What he finds there sets off a
chain of revelations that leads Ian places he never thought to go.
Entrusted with the future of his race, Ian becomes the linchpin for lasting
change. But how much weight can one man carry? And how much is he
willing to sacrifice in the name of peace?
Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, C.L. Schneider grew up
in a house of avid readers and overflowing bookshelves. Her first
full-length novel took shape while she was still in high school, on a
typewriter in her parent’s living room. While her main focus is adult
epic and urban fantasy, she also pens the occasional science fiction
or post-apocalyptic story.
Though she has been writing all of her life, Magic-Price (the first
installment in The Crown of Stones Trilogy) was Schneider’s first
published novel. With the trilogy complete, she is excited to be
embarking on a new path with her urban fantasy series, Nite Fire.
Learn more about C.L. Schneider and her work at clschneiderauthor.com,
where you can read reviews, excerpts, sneak peeks and teasers,
subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. Look for book
reviews and guest posts, and follow her journey as an indie author,
on her blog, “Heading Down The Yellow Brick Road”. An
active part of the online indie author community, you can connect
with C.L. Schneider on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Google+,
where she chats about books, zombies, coffee, and the wonderful
roller coaster of a writer’s life.
“Jerome Mark Antil’s Mamma’s Moon does
for Acadiana what Truman Capote did for Tiffany’s or Tennessee
Williams did for streetcars. This is a novel about a lot of things,
including sex, crime, life, and death. But most of all, it’s a novel
about hope and about love.
Mamma’s Moon gives the reader a dramatic and insightful glimpse into the very
special world of today’s Louisiana French Acadians, whose early
tragic history was immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his
classic poem, Evangeline, even before the heartless bayou’s more contemporary history was
buried deep and forgotten.” Tom Hyman (LA Times bestselling
author: writer for LIFEmagazine, The Saturday Evening Post, Argosy, Washington
Post Book World and New York Magazine.)
This novel, Mamma’s Moon, is a sequel to the novel, One More Last Dance. It
stands alone as an entirely self-contained story, but for those of
you who may not have read the earlier novel, I include here a brief
description of the main characters and of the events that preceded this story.
A bond that can only happen on a dance floor happened in a cafe off
Frenchman Street among four unlikely characters: a man who was about
to die; his friend, an illiterate Cajun French yardman; and two of
the most successful women in New Orleans.
Aging Captain Gabriel Jordan, retired, was given two months to live, three
months before he met “Peck”–Boudreau Clemont Finch–a
groundskeeper on the back lawn of his hospice on Bayou Carencro,
Louisiana. It was at the hospice that Gabe told Peck his dream of
seeing the Newport Jazz Festival before he died. They became friends,
and Peck offered to help grant his wish by taking him there.
And they began their journey.
It quickly became a journey with complications and setbacks. They saved
each other many times, but they were in turn saved by two
extraordinary women: Sasha (Michelle Lissette), a real estate agent
in New Orleans’s posh Garden District, and her best friend, Lily Cup
(Lily Cup Lorelei Tarleton), a criminal attorney.
Less than a year before the events in Mamma’s Moon, Gabe
and Peck wandered into Charlie’s Blue Note, a small jazz bar in a
side alley just off Frenchman Street, where the music was live and
mellow and the dancing warm and sensual.
Here they encountered Sasha and Lily Cup, and amid the music, the dancing,
the food, the flirting, and the cigar smoke, the four formed an
unusual and lasting friendship that would see them each through a
series of crises, disappointments, life-threatening situations, and
moments of great joy and satisfaction.
JEROME MARK ANTIL writes in several genres. He has been called a
“greatest generation’s Mark Twain,” a “write what you know
Ernest Hemingway,” and “a sensitive Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.”
It’s been said his work reads like a Norman Rockwell painting.
Among his writing accomplishments, several titles in his The Pompey
Hollow Book Club historical fiction series about growing up in the
shadows of WWII have been honored. An ‘Authors and Writers’ Book
of the Year Award and ‘Writer of the Year’ at Syracuse University
for The Pompey Hollow Book Club novel; Hemingway, Three Angels, and
Me, won SILVER in the UK as second-best novel.
Foreword’s Book of the Year Finalist for The Book of Charlie – historical
fiction and The Long Stem is in the Lobby – nonfiction humor.
Library Journal selected Hemingway, Three Angels and Me for best
reads during Black History Month.
Before picking up the pen, Antil spent his professional career writing and
marketing for the business world. In this role, he lectured at
universities – Cornell, St. Edward’s, and Southern Methodist. His
inspirations have been John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Ernest
Hemingway.
Multi-award winning series, published in more than 10 countries,
movie rights optioned!
Welcome to a world like no other!
Philip is a good boy, a really good boy, who accidentally gets sent to Hell
to become the Devil’s heir. The Devil, Lucifer, is dying and
desperately in need of a successor, but there’s been a mistake and
Philip is the wrong boy.
Lucifer has no other choice than to begin the difficult task of training
Philip in the ways of evil. Philip is terrible at being bad, but when
he falls in love with the she-devil Satina and experiences the
powerful forces of love and jealousy, the task becomes much easier.
Philip finds both friends and enemies in this odd, gloomy underworld—but
who can he trust, when he discovers an evil-minded plot against the
dark throne?
The Great Devil War is a gripping and humorous tale about good and evil
seen from a different perspective, making the reader laugh and think.
It’s filled with biblical and historical characters and set in a
world beyond your wildest dreams. Or nightmares …
__________________________________
”Reminded me of the Harry Potter series, as the plot is complex enough to
satisfy teenagers and adults (of all ages) … I found it highly
compelling and raced through it.” – LoveReading
”A great adventure … The book is a page-turner.” ***** Rosie’s Book Review
”Like no other Young Adult book I’ve read … It’s going to attract a
huge following.” – Mike Finn’s Fiction
Over 2000 worldwide 5 star reviews of the series!
If you’re a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fan, you don’t want to
miss the ride!
Multi-award winning series, published in 10 countries,
movie rights optioned!
Continuing the dark and humorous adventure that begins
with The Devil’s Apprentice
Philip’s adventures as the Devil’s apprentice have changed him—in a good
way. Although he misses his friends in Hell, he has made new friends in life.
But when the future of the underworld is threatened once again, Philip’s
help is needed. Death’s Die has been stolen and immortality is
spreading across the globe.
Philip throws himself into the search—and discovers a horrible truth about
his own life along the way.
Buy now and enter a world like no other!
The Great Devil War is a gripping and humorous tale about good and evil
seen from a different perspective, making the reader laugh and think.
It’s filled with biblical and historical characters and set in a
world beyond your wildest dreams. Or nightmares …
__________________________
Readers on The Die of Death:
“Even darker, scarier, and more amusing adventure for all ages … A wild ride.” *****
“Just as good as the first book!” *****
“EVEN MORE MINDBLOWING!” *****
Over 2000 worldwide 5 star reviews of the series!
If you’re a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fan, you don’t want to
miss the ride!
Multi-award winning series, published in 10 countries,
movie rights optioned!
Continuing the dark adventure that begins with
The Devil’s Apprentice and The Die of Death.
An unfortunate chain of events makes Philip responsible for the untimely
death of the school bully Sam—the Devil’s original choice for an heir.
Philip must return to Hell to find Sam and bring him back to life, so that
fate can be restored. But trouble is stirring in Lucifer’s kingdom
and not even Philip can imagine the strange and dark journey that
awaits him.
A journey that will take him through ancient underworlds and all the
way to Paradise.
Buy now and enter a world like no other!
The Great Devil War is a gripping and humorous tale about good and evil
seen from a different perspective, making the reader laugh and think.
It’s filled with biblical and historical characters and set in a
world beyond your wildest dreams. Or nightmares …
______________________
Readers on The Wrongful Death:
“One of the things I really like about these books is that you never
really know where Kenneth will go with the story … Humorous and
clever at the same time.” *****
“I like how the world in the story keeps expanding. *****
“I love that this book has a trip to other underworlds.
Very much worth the read.” *****
Over 2000 worldwide 5 star reviews of the series!
If you’re a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fan, you don’t want to
miss the ride!
I was born in Denmark on a dark and stormy night in November 1976. I
began writing when I was a teenager. My first book was a really awful
horror novel titled Nidhug’s Slaves. It didn’t get published. Luckily.
During the next 7 years, I wrote nearly 20 novels–all of which were
rejected–while working as a school teacher. The rest of the time I
spent writing.
In 2000 I published my debut fantasy book, The Battle of Caïssa, and
that’s when things really took off. Since then I’ve published more
than thirty-five books for children and young adults in genres
ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction.
My books have been translated into more than 15 languages and my series
about the superhero Antboy has been adapted for film, which is
available on Netflix. An animated tv series is currently in
development.
A musical of The Devil’s Apprentice opened in the fall 2018 and the
movie rights for the series have also been optioned.
I live in Copenhagen with my wife, two boys, a dog named Milo and
spiders in the basement.
When PI Cassie Tam is hired to investigate the death of a local virtual
reality junkie, she thinks it will be easy money. In New Hopeland, VR
junkies die every day, and the local PD already declared it an
accidental overdose on synthetic stimulants. But the more she digs,
the more that things don’t add up.
To make things even more complicated, her client, the deceased’s
sister Lori, is a Tech Shifter – someone who uses a metal
exoskeleton to roleplay as an animal – and Cassie has always been
wary of that community. That wouldn’t be a problem if Lori wasn’t
fast becoming the first person she’s been genuinely attracted to
since splitting with her ex.
When PI Cassie Tam and her girlfriend Lori try to make up for their recent
busy schedules with a night out at the theatre to watch the Tech
Shift performer Kitsune, the last thing they expected was for Cassie
to get a job offer. But some people are never off the clock, and by
the end of the evening, Cassie has been drawn into a mundane but
highly paid missing pet case. Unfortunately, in New Hopeland City,
even something as simple as little lost dog can lead you down some
dark paths.
Until now, Cassie wasn’t aware that there even was a rabbit hole,
New Hopeland City may be the birthplace of Tech Shifter gear, but it
isn’t the only place that likes to blend technology with folklore.
Now, a new nightmare is stalking the streets…
When PI Cassie Tam is attacked on the way home one night, she expects the
police to get involved. What she doesn’t expect is to be forced
into acting as bait to lure out a lunatic in a tech-suit
that’s literally out for blood. But past actions have consequences, and doing so may be
the only way she can get a clean slate from the city’s law makers.
If only that didn’t mean having to face down a wannabe vampire.
Matt Doyle is a speculative fiction author from the UK and identifies as pansexual
and genderfluid. Matt has spent a great deal of time chasing dreams,
a habit which has led to success in a great number of fields. To
date, this has included spending ten years as a professional
wrestler, completing a range of cosplay projects, and publishing
multiple works of fiction.
These days, Matt can be found working on multiple novels and stories,
blogging about pop culture, and plotting and planning far too many projects.
It is a lazy summer day in the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee; much
like the day before, and the day before that. Everything seems normal
– at least on the surface; like an idyllic, pastoral painting; the
sky dyed with pastels of blue and white, the ground carpeted with
dark green fescue and bluegrass, a clapboard farmhouse resting on top
of a hill, sugar maples, oaks and Eastern red cedars providing
welcome shade from the heat of a Tennessee summer sun. You can almost
see moving images of little children running barefoot through the
grass; an era before tweeting and texting and the triumph of
technology over all.
Alas, appearances lie.
Behind the clapboard farmhouse sits a red barn, all bright and new looking;
fresh enough to lull a casual observer into believing it the benign
keeper of hey for cattle and shelter for goats. A closer look reveals
the color to be not barn red, but blood red.
Locals tend to close their eyes when passing by that barn. Something is just
not right about it. Some say it is unnatural. Some say it’s obscene
and evil. But they don’t say such things out loud, for the owner of
the barn is Sheldon Sprigg, a well-respected man of the cloth, the
preacher at Hare’s Corner Church of God Incarnate. Sheldon is the
most upright man in these parts. He keeps the law religiously, and
makes sure his wife and teenaged daughter do too. After all, to obey
is better than sacrifice.
Still, there’s just something that not right about that barn.
Michael Potts grew up near Smyrna, Tennessee and is currently Professor of
Philosophy at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
His undergraduate degree (in Biblical languages) is from David
Lipscomb University. He also holds the Master of Theology from
Harding University Graduate School of Religion, the Master of Arts
(in Religion) from Vanderbilt University, and the Ph.D. in philosophy
from The University of Georgia. Michael has twenty articles in
scholarly journals, nine book chapters, six encyclopedia articles,
six book reviews, and he co-edited the book, “Beyond Brain
Death: The Case Against Brain Based Criteria for Human Death,”
which was published in 2000 by Kluwer Academic Publishers. He also
has over fifty scholarly presentations, including one presented at
the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at The Vatican in 2005. Michael is
a 2007 graduate of The Writers Loft at Middle Tennessee State
University and a 2007 graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop at St.
Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. His poetry has been
published in Journal of the American Medical Association, Iodine
Poetry Journal, Poems & Plays, and other literary journals. His
poetry chapbook, “From Field to Thicket,” won the 2006 Mary
Belle Campbell Poetry Book Award of the North Carolina Writers
Network. His creative nonfiction essay, “Haunted,” won the
Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Award, also sponsored by the North
Carolina Writers Network. Besides reading and writing, he enjoys
vegetable gardening, canning, and ghost investigations. He and his
wife, Karen, live with their three cats, Frodo, Rosie, and Pippin, in
Linden, North Carolina.
Shadows of Atlantis: Awakening
by Mara Powers
Genre: Fantasy
Shadows of Atlantis: Awakening
by Mara Powers
Genre: Fantasy
“…had
me turning the pages obsessively from the very beginning.” Readers
Favorite.
Enter the legacy of the legend…
Brigitte has been chosen to renew the treaty
between Atlantis and the ancient bloodline of Lemuria. As an emissary of
nature, her betrothal would ensure the continued function of the Crystal Grid,
the life source of the ten kingdoms of Atlantis. But as Brigitte prepares to
leave from her home in the magical Dreamvale, her people are attacked by a
storm of shadows. Now she is running for her life.
Upon her arrival in the ruling city of Atlantis,
she meets D’Vinid, a dejected musician who lives the quintessential Atlantean
lifestyle of revelry, escapism and apathy. Under the eclipse of a sacred
festival, they are swept into an attraction they cannot resist. Their union may
protect humanity from its worst enemy – the shadows of Atlantis. But there is
one problem, this man is not her betrothed.
Brigitte soon discovers that the corruption of the
Grid could very well be the Grid itself. Citizens have neglected to attend the
rituals required to charge the crystals with their psychic emanations. Some
have fallen prey to an epidemic called “the madness”, caused by shadowy
parasites that feed off human suffering. But as nature always strives toward
balance, the crystals have activated a genetic upgrade among the people. The
youth have begun to express supernatural powers. Could it be that D’Vinid and
Brigitte are meant to be leaders among the awakened? And if so, why does it
seem impossible for them to be together?
A mysterious tale of romance, seduction and
betrayal that reaches just enough into the modern mind to ask – will we learn
the lessons of Atlantis?
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Leaving
the Dreamvale would mean Brigitte would gradually forget growing up on
the rocky shores of the mystical islands. She stood in her favorite
place high above the dreamclan village watching the ocean dance with the
cliffs. It would be her last chance to behold the glory of sunset
before boarding the galleon bobbing in the cove below.
Evenings
were always a masterpiece of color, the best time to behold the
splendor of nature’s art. Clouds of rainbow prisms had the look of
creatures billowing in the sky. But in the distance, a wall of storm
opened like the jaws of a predator, drifting ever closer to the
peaceful, green island.
“Brigitte.”
A male voice echoed through her contemplation. She felt a pang of
disappointment. Leaving would mean the beginning of a journey she had
feared all her life. With one last lingering view of the panorama, she
held her breath, reached out her arms and leapt from the cliff. As a
mass of dancing particles, she bounced down the ragged rocks toward the
village, one with the wind. Taking her time would be rude, so she kept
moving until she filled the inside of her room.
Her
brother Lukias was a dreamseer, finely tuned to the invisible. As
usual, his hair was a shock of chaos that pointed in every direction.
The amber of his eyes sparkled with gold flecks as he stood over her
body with arms crossed. He looked right at her dream form. “The council
has called us,” he said with a hint of impatience.
Brigitte sank back into her body and opened her eyes.
“I
warned you not to dreamwalk too much.” He turned his back as she
reached for her travel clothes. “You could separate from your body and
forget how to return. Especially here in the Dreamvale.”
“It
hardly matters anymore.” She watched the sun’s rays shoot dusty light
through holes in the walls. She thought about the pattern it made every
day at this time, the royal symbol of Atlantis. “In Atlantis we will be
bound to our bodies.”
Lukias
reached out a caring hand and patted her shoulder. “There will be ways
to dreamwalk in the realms of matter. It will just be more…
challenging.”
She
smirked, knowing he always loved a challenge. He could always find
humor even in the grimmest of circumstances. They exchanged a few
moments of unfolding memories until, with the final boot in place, she
stamped her feet and started for the door. “You coming?”
Together
they walked to the center of the village where the council was gathered
in a semi-circle facing a woman. She wore the leather of seafarers, her
face shaded by a wide-brimmed hat. With one hip thrust to the side, her
demeanor was unruffled with a twist of amusement.
Their father Denikon raised his booming voice for all to hear. “Captain Ofira Pazit of the Dreamship Vex Voyager,
I give you my daughter Brigitte, emissary to Atlantis. She is the first
true Moirae born into our dreamclan for seven generations.”
The
captain wrinkled her chin. “Impressive. Embodied Watchers are rare,
even among dreamclans.” Her chameleon eyes shifted in the fading light.
“If you are ready, I think it wise that we set sail before that shadow
storm arrives, don’t you?” Her eyes slid toward the horizon. “This storm
has struck more than one dreamclan. All of them were to send emissaries
for the renewal of the Telluric Treaty. None of them have been heard
from.” She turned back to the council. “Are you certain you want to risk
staying? It would be a tight fit, but we can evacuate the rest of you.”
Brigitte
glanced at the grim face of her tutor Indrius. The mysterious Atlantean
woman had always been a curiosity to the clan. Though she had spent
many years among them, she was never one of them. She was riddled with
tragedy from a past she never spoke of, a past born in Atlantis.
Denikon
answered, “Those who remain have chosen to face the shadows.” His voice
was steadfast though regret lingered in his eyes. He exchanged a nod
with Indrius. “I am sending Lukias, my son and heir, to accompany his
sister. If we fall, he will be the future of our clan. But trust me, we
will not go down without a fight.”
The
council had argued for many moon cycles, trying to decide the fate of
their people. It was important for Brigitte to escape. Her path was
evident. The first ships had already departed, taking women and children
to places of refuge. The rest stayed, devising a strategy. Though they
were hopeful, they worked with the solemnity of people who faced their
demise.
She
squinted at Lukias as he and Indrius said their goodbyes. Theirs was
always a close relationship. But everyone liked Lukias. Her time spent
with Indrius was always strained at best. She offered him a gift. The
sun flashed off a crystal dangling from a silver chain. Brigitte could
feel the telluric consciousness radiating from the multi-faceted quartz.
It pulsed with a longing that made her fidget.
After
a whispered message to Lukias, the white-haired woman turned to look at
Brigitte. Her green eyes were gray with emotion. She brushed Brigitte’s
cheek with her fingertips. “You know your task,” she began. “Remember
your Watcher powers. It has become exceedingly difficult to travel
between realms on this planet. I fear this shadow storm will make it
even more difficult. Atlantis is suffering from a disease. It will try
and take you, too. Do not be attached to your human wishes and emotions.
For humans, attachment can turn to weakness and suffering. This only
serves to feed the shadows. Your path will not be easy.”
“I will do what it takes to find a cause and a cure for Atlantis. I will be mindful of your warnings.”
“Therein
lies the trick. As you descend deeper into the Meridian Realm, you will
forget my warnings. Take steps to hold them in your heart.” She
lingered in Brigitte’s eyes for a few awkward moments. “I have prepared
you as best I could, my child. I regret how I’ve treated you.” She faced
Brigitte and held her shoulders. “Know that I loved you like my own
daughter. My treatment toward you was an attempt to prepare you for the
task you face. Atlantis will not be kind to you.”
“I understand, Indrius. You had no choice.” Brigitte wanted to cry. But her tears had long since dried up.
Mara Powers is
a rebel of the written word who has tackled the monumental task of recreating
Atlantis. When she was 16 in Fort Collins, Colorado, she began visiting the
library in search of things she couldn’t learn in school. Her goal was to
re-define her religion. She studied theology voraciously until she discovered
the concept of reincarnation though Hinduism. It was the answer to a lifelong
existential crisis that had plagued her for many sleepless nights. The study of
reincarnation led her to the channel Edgar Cayce. In his many books, she found
his past life readings of lifetimes spent in Atlantis. This was the beginning
of a lifelong quest to unravel the secrets of this mystery. She has spent
upwards of 30 years exploring the labyrinth of ancient civilizations. Her
decision to turn it all into a high concept, visionary fantasy series stems
from her study of the esoteric depiction of Atlantis. With the other half of
her research rooted in the secular, it was the best way to illustrate both
aspects of this fascinating legend. Her work is the legacy of the legend.
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