IT'S RELEASE DAY!! #FatesEndeavor

It’s been a long time in the waiting … almost a decade.

The question is, was it worth the wait?

Some say yes.

We’ll let you be the judge.

For the first time ever, C. Desert Rose, in conjunction with All Authors Publishing House is proud to present you with the third book in the now dubbed Fate’s Endeavor Experience, “If Death Should Find Me”.

To run or not, to live or die …? Destiny is a bitch and here is why ….

 

Azriel has always been an enigma amongst the Hierarchy of Angels. He was born a duality; human and not. Azirel, for centuries, has been appraised harshly by mankind. Nevertheless, death is of the natural order. All things that live must at some point, die. Azriel is the usher into transcendence.

Such was his purpose and the Higher Sources saw this to be good … yet, things change.

So begins the measure of Travis’ enterprise into the hands of fate. Due to the magnitude of his venture, Travis finds himself caught between life and death. Angels and demons surround him, attempting to influence the paradigm of his fate. The only question in Travis’ mind is, what would happen If Death Should Find Me?

The Fate's Endeavor Series, surpassing the emotional fabric of angels and demons and delving into the delicate threads which infuse Fate's tapestry.

Months Later

Rural Location, Earth

~ Travis ~

Who knows how much time had elapsed. Days, weeks, months, whatever …? I didn't know. Didn’t much care, either. But honestly, it felt like I'd been running forever.

Shortly after leaving my home, while on the road at some crazed point, I sawed off my cast. I couldn’t deal with the damn thing any longer. And, although the memory is a bit foggy, I can somewhat recall that it was in a grimy motel room in the middle of nowhere. My tool of choice was a rusty old hunting knife that had been sitting in my car for ages.

But that day, in that moment I thought to myself, If I am really a fucking angel, then I can probably fix my own damn leg and rib. Right? Right.

I took a deep breath—instantly my rib hurt. Regardless of that, I focused all of my energy onto healing my leg and rib. I put one hand on my broken leg, the other one on my chest.

I closed my eyes, kept breathing deep.

Suddenly, a strange warmth started exuding from my hands. It seeped into the areas I was trying to heal kind of like they were absorbing the energy or something. Out of nowhere, the rush of heat covered me entirely. I could feel it pulsating like a strobe light. Within seconds, I didn’t feel any more pain. It was all gone.

Opening my eyes, I immediately knew that I was better. I moved my leg. It didn’t hurt. I tapped my rib, that was fine too.

Well fuck, look at that—I guess I am an angel, I thought.

But wait, that’s not all!

For your reading pleasure, C. Desert Rose and All Authors Publishing House are also proud to share with you the newly improved “If Death Should Love Me”.

Azriel is appraised harshly by mankind. Humans do not like to face death, therefore, they conjecture it is an ugly and terrible thing. Death is of the natural order. All things that live, must at some point, die. Azriel is the usher into transcendence.

Such is his purpose and the Higher Sources saw this to be good … yet, things change.

A dull roar, that's all I could hear. Souls, that's all I could see... So many people. Some good, some bad. Some breathing, some barely breathing. All souls. It was funny what you could see when you stood in the middle of the Emergency Room. Who survived, who didn’t. All of them, every one, a soul. A soul for the taking.

So begins your introduction to the floating, clustered world of souls that will have such influence on Sophia, the young Puerto Rican-American girl who has just lost her closest ally, her grandmother, "Abuela". It is just after the funeral, at the cemetery, where Sophia meets the tall, almost angelic man who will play the most unexpected role in her life.

A love story. A fantasy. An adventure. If Death Should Love Me tells a tale of “fate” far beyond the normal meaning of that little four-letter word. How else would you explain why Sophia wonders what would happen If Death Should Love Me?

Bed two. The doctor, the running, the yelling. The focus on bringing her back, futile. It was incredibly sad to say that she was just a child. A baby. Five years of age. Why did “fate” find it necessary to take her? She had yet to even commence to live. It was not my choice. I merely followed orders.

Her soul was lovely, just like a little girl's should be. A soft pink. Like a princess, I mused. Beautiful.

"Come child." I extended my hand so that she would take it.

"Where am I going?" She asked. The innocence in her voice was heartbreaking. Or would be, if I had a heart.

"I'm taking you to a safe place. Somewhere where you will never feel pain again. You will be happy there, sweet child."

"Cindy," she said. "My name is Cindy."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," Her smile seemed as though it could quite literally light up the room. "Well Cindy, do you see that very pretty light just there?" I pointed.

"Yes." She responded with bright eyes.

"Walk into it. Go on, child … Pretty Cindy."

"But why? Where's mommy and daddy? Why do I have to go?" There they were. The questions that always followed once I had collected them.

"Do not worry Cindy, your grandmother is there waiting for you. I promise," I assured her with a soft grip of the hand, then continued, "before you know it, mommy and daddy will be there also." What more could I say to such a young and delicate creature?

"Okay." She replied, not at all convinced that what I was telling her was the truth. She obeyed nonetheless. When she entered she realized that my words were true and secure.

"Nana!" She called with a magnitude of happiness, then ran into her grandmother's arms.

 

I turned.

The mother, yelling. The father, failing at his attempt to be strong. The doctor, saddened. The confusion. The horrified faces. All of it, all too familiar, all too real.

Time for my next assignment.

Stay tuned for the upcoming link to "If Death Should Love Me"

A Look Into Fate ...

Hello, one and all. As always, thanks for stopping by.

For us, the lovers of the paranormal, fate is preferably manifested supernaturally. That's because for us, fate being embodied in an otherworldly way brings a sense of excitement, mystery and importance to life.

However, those who believe that fate is real also trust that it takes place in even those things we consider mundane.

Like what?

Every day life.

In celebration of short story month I would like to bring you something old and something new. In both we will find an exhibition of fate as experienced by the characters in the interpersonal enigma that is life. Join me?

First: The Old

Blurb:

Martina Foxworthy only knew one thing for sure in her life ... the Log Cabin.
It was her family's tradition to visit the Log Cabin every year, and every new year was a repeat of the last. Nothing ever changed at the Cabin, Martina's family liked it that way.
But Martina, not so much.
One day, when a fly ball comes out of nowhere and crashes through her bedroom window Martina realizes that there is a lot more to life; the Log Cabin was just the thread that kept it together.

Years pass far too fast. This is something that Martina Foxworthy knows all too well. Sitting in her favorite chair, in her favorite place, Martina recollects her life's journey.

Excerpt

"The spring of her eighteenth birthday, Martina felt like a misfit just as she had her entire life. She’d been told that said feeling would change when she got older. Well, she was older now and nothing had changed. She was, for all intended purposes, now an adult. Eighteen; she could vote, smoke, buy alcohol—although not consume it—even go into a bar if she so desired. And yet, that profuse and innate sensation of not fitting in had become such an all-consuming part of her life that Martina didn’t know how not to feel it. Ever spring, during the Easter Holiday, Martina and her kin took a two-week hiatus in the family log cabin, purchased an umpteenth million years ago by her great grandfather Martin Foxworthy the Second.

If anyone ever wondered how she’d gotten her name, all they had to do was look at the family tree. Her father was Martin Foxworthy who was the fifth in his bloodline. And, since he’d not spawned a son first but a daughter, Martin added an A to the end of the name and blessed their female child with a name that no one would ever want."

I love this story though I don't speak of it much. "Martina's Memories" embodies fate in a relatable way. I feel like most of us could relate to her life trajectory, to her ups and downs and to her ultimate destiny.
Here, in this "old" story, we can see kismet at work through a seemingly banal existence. That is until the bigger picture is revealed.

Lastly, The New

Blurb:

In the famous words of Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” For Angelo, life is like a slice of pizza; juicy, delicious and worth the wait. For Sandalphon, life is an unending cycle of sameness. That is, until she meets Angelo. From staircase to stairway to heaven, Sandalphon has an Angelic Epiphany.

Excerpt

"Angelo Esposito sat on the right hand side of the front porch steps, fourth step up, people watching. On an overcast day, the clouds created a particular shadowy pattern across the passersby faces making them look mechanical. Things like this always entertained Angelo, he never seemed to get enough. Most of the people who strode through the streets were enthralled in their respective cell phones. The rest looked angry at life; emotionless and half-alive. Except maybe for the bum at the street corner who on any given day would assume the job of heralding government conspiracies, or dance for dollars. It all depended on the day.

Sitting on the old and tattered, historically profound New York porch step, Angelo was perfectly comfortable. Entertained and amused; a people watcher at his core. He couldn’t help but think how the persons that walked past were missing out on the knowledge of the rich culture of the avenues which they treaded. Every inch of the firmament, replete with history, depth, despair, glee and the essence of lives now gone.

Being brainwashed by technology has that effect on people. They miss the enriching simplicities of life. The little things that made life worth living like the kids jumping rope, the hum of a busy city street, the scent of pizza in the air. There was nothing like it. Angelo always felt like life was best enjoyed when appreciating small wonders."

This story has become my newest favorite for two reasons. First, it is connected to my Fate's Endeavor Series. Second, it's heart warming, relatable and supernatural. An "All-In-One Punch" if you will.

In this story, serendipity meets destiny. It feels as though the Universe has planned something accidentally-on-purpose and at the end of the day the one who learns the lesson is not the human but the angel.

It is my pleasure to be able to offer these to everyone for free. You can get them in PDF, ePub or Mobi by clicking the link below. No strings attached! Go grab your copies and enjoy the manifestation of providence. 😊

"Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno" Cover Reveal

Today the members of the All Authors Family are celebrating the cover reveal of "Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno", the fourth installation of the Concordant Vibrancy anthology collection.

First, the blurb ...

There is a universal fascination associated with passion―its defining element, fire, as well as the unseen. Yet how many dare to trespass beyond the final product, exploring the ingredients which keep it sustainable?

This is the traverse of the fourth installment of the Concordant Vibrancy collection, presented by All Authors Publications and Promotions, entitled “Inferno”. Nine phenomenal talents diverge under one purpose: the creation of literary works guaranteed to set the mind, heart, and spirit ablaze.

Stories included:

“Express-Oh” by Adonis Mann

“Not Always Like This” by Carol Cassada

“The Fireman” by Harmony Kent

“The Complications of Fire” by Beem Weeks

“Calliope’s Inferno” by C. Desert Rose

“Moxy” by Y. Correa

“Antipode” by Synful Desire

“The Chronicles of Aidan” by Da’Kharta Rising, and

“The Calefaction of Insight” by Queen of Spades.

Since January 2015 All Authors Publishing House has been exploring the elements of nature through the enterprise known as Concordant Vibrancy, an All Authors Anthology Collection.

Book One explored Unity under the theme question of "What elements contribute to the concept of unity?" The element being Earth. Through an array of tales, the authors explained what Unity meant to them.

Book Two examined Vitality. The theme question was, "What force drives your spirit?" The element was Air. Here the authors endeavored to answer the question with a combination of stories and essays.

Book Three looked at Lustrate using the theme question, "What embodies the composition of fluidity?" The element was water. Herein the authors spoke lucidly and clearly on what fluidity meant to them.

Book Four takes a peek at Inferno ... the element of Fire. It asks "What are the ingredients to a sustainable blaze?" By far the best of the collection, "Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno" is a demonstration of depth in thought and evolution in craft.

Now, without further ado and with great pride All Authors brings you the cover of "Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno".

"PLEASURE PRINTS" IS HERE!

 

 

AND BOY DO WE HAVE A GOOD REASON TO CELEBRATE!

All Authors has been waiting 3 years to release this publication and the joy is beyond words!

Blurb:

Divergent Ink is the mesh of different frames of thoughts, various interpretations of one core question that yearns for universal expansion. Although the subject matter may change every year, the purpose of the Divergent Ink series will remain the same.The second book in the Divergent Ink anthology series, “Pleasure Prints”, revolves around the following question:

Where is paradise?

Six Divergent Inks exploring "Pleasure Prints". Will the destination cause one to sip a tropical cocktail or cock an eyebrow in amazement?

Featuring:

Adonis Mann: Desperation and delusion are a marriage of emotions. Sentiments collide when three lives tell their tales. Hypnotizing and melancholic are the days of the souls who pursue the "Odyssey of Rhapsody".

C. Desert Rose: Helena can be cumbersome and crude, while her life is at a standstill, she likes it that way. Amidst the orange glow of office lights and a steaming cup of hot chocolate, Helena learns that life is a series of "Fleeting Moments".

Da'Kharta Rising: For Masato, there's no time like the present. Is no limit too great to accomplish “Masato's Zion”?

Synful Desire: Cecilia Teflon knows she doesn't have much time left. Before she leaves this earth, she must make a confession. Will this revelation grant her entrance into spiritual paradise? Explore the twists and turns of “Onus”.

Queen of Spades: Axana has always lived a very careful life but a lucrative advertisement shreds her comfort zone. Paradise is where one least expects in “Axana … Unscripted”.

Y. Correa: Myth or memory, which can it be? A life so scripted can be less than desirable. To go or to stay, it is that question that leaves, "Nalani at Heaven's Gates".

AS AN ADDED BONUS GET "CRACKLES OF THE HEART: DIVERGENT INK BOOK 1" FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!

Dennis the Menace--An Interview with Dennis from "Fleeting Moments"

Hey there, y'all!

Today I am bringing you a fun look into Dennis from my story "Fleeting Moments" which was featured in "Pleasure Prints: Divergent Ink Book 2". Here we go!

Q: How would you describe yourself to someone who’s never seen you?

A: I guess I would say that I am just an average guy. Average height, average weight, average looks. Just like the guy next door only not as hot as the movies would have you believe. I am “that guy” you see everywhere.

Q: Do you really like hot chocolate or were you just doing that to melt Helena’s heart?

A: I wasn’t really trying to melt anyone’s heart. She looked lonely, not to mention bored. Since one never knows who is a coffee person and who is a tea person, I figured that hot chocolate was a safe bet and a good ice breaker. I don’t know many people that don’t like hot chocolate. I guess it was just a gesture of kindness for a person who looked like that needed a friend.

Q: In your opinion, why does Helena act the way she acts?

A: She seemed like a tough cookie, that Helena. But I’ve been around people long enough to know who is really that hard core and who uses it as a defense mechanism. Helena used the tough exterior to get where she wanted to go. I get and respect that. But that by no means meant that she was happy with life and with herself. Her behavior was all a mask that I thought she could do with getting rid of. Just my personal assessment, I guess.

Q: How could you deal with her attitude on a nightly basis?

A: I didn’t really. Lol.

I ignored it. Plus, half the time I just left the hot chocolate on her desk whenever she was away. The other half of the time, I chatted her up a little, gave her the cup and left. It wasn’t too much to deal with per say, if you really think about it.

Q: What instincts did you use in order to develop insight on Helena’s wants?

A: Basic instincts, I guess. I think that the Universe gave me the gift of discernment. I have always had this 6th sense that lets me read people.

Q: What is it like to work while battling an illness?

A: It’s life. I don’t know, I never gave it much thought. I just did what needed doing. Besides, who was going to pay my bills? You just learn how to take things one day at a time and get things done.

Q: Would you have ever wanted anything more from Helena besides friendship?

A: No, not at all. Besides, it would have been selfish and unrealistic of me to want more when I knew my situation. It wouldn’t have been fair to anyone. So, friendship was fine by me.

Q: Outside of work, what other activities do you like to do?

A: I love baseball. I watched a lot of baseball and did a lot of baseball related things. LOL

Q: How do you define friendship and do you believe that you and Helena achieved it in the span of time you two knew each other?

A: I define friendship as the acceptance of a person regardless of their social status, appearance, characteristics, and personality. Friendship is just being who you are to a person who is who they are without compromise or judgement. And, yes, I think we did.

Q: What is the best advice you can give to someone who is going through challenges in life?

A: Stick it out. It’ll probably get better. Who knows? Maybe it’ll get worse. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but life goes on no matter what happens. Take things as they come, do the best you can, and please, by all mean … LIVE A LITTLE.

Renewed Passion

Have you ever fallen completely out of love with a WIP or published work and then took the time to re-read it and fell in love with it all over again?

I was asked this question the other day ...

What body of work did you fall out of love with but it took rereading it to regain the passion?

And what immediately came to mind was the third installment of the Fate's Endeavor Collection which I've titled "If Death Should Find Me".

It is a story that hasn't even been published yet, but a series of events resulted in me loosing all passion for the project and getting to a point where I didn't even want to finish it any more.

Ladies and gentlemen, please have a seat and enjoy the story.

Some people are cruel and vindictive individuals; consumed by malice to the point of destruction towards others. That was my experience after the, what I thought was, very victorious publication of "If Death Should Love Me".

Here is my story.

Back in October of 2014 "If Death Should Love Me" hit book stores. I was elated at the amount of support I'd been getting from various author friends. However, during the same junction of time, my publishing house was simultaneously dealing with backlash from people who didn't like their polices.

What does one thing have to do with the other, you're wondering?

Well, it is like this ...

The people who All Authors Publishing House had had a falling out with decided to troll some of the authors whom were attached to the House. I fell among that group.

These trolls took the time out of their busy schedules (NOT!) to post bad reviews about "If Death Should Love Me" saying horrible things about the story that wasn't altogether true. One of these so called reviewers took it upon herself to divulge every last detail of the story spoiling the experience for anyone who may have wanted to read it.

This hit me hard. So hard, in fact, that it affected the 2nd book "Demoness Enchanted" and ultimately the uncompleted "If Death Should Find Me".

The way that "Demoness Enchanted" was affected was because I felt as if the story was as terrible as they made the first book seem and the outcome was me ripping out large chunks of the story. Inevitably, I was not altogether happy with the final draft and almost didn't let my publishing house publish it.

As it pertained to "If Death Should Find Me", I just started falling out of love with it to the point where writer's block took hold so profusely that every time I opened the manuscript I just couldn't write. I could not, for the life of me, write anything. Not. A. Thing. And, whatever I forced myself to write I hated. Most of the stuff I added, I eventually deleted because it just felt like a load of horse crap.
Eventually setting the project aside altogether I had sort of decided that I would just never finish it. Besides, who would want to read such a heaping pile of shit anyway? I struggled to see any light at the end of the Fate's Endeavor tunnel.

However, a couple of weeks ago the characters were talking to me as if to say, "Come one, Rose! You need to finish our story!" Their presence was so powerful that I wasn't able to ignore them.

Acquiescing, I opened the manuscript and began to read.

With every paragraph I felt a tinge of a re-ignition. By the time I'd finished the first 2 chapters my passion for the story had reignited.

I am happy to announce that I am back on the ban wagon and ready to complete the story.

Wish me luck everyone!