Good day everyone! I am Queen of Spades. My main genres are poetry and contemporary fiction. C. Desert Rose has been kind enough to allow me to talk about one of my short story freebies "When Summer Lingers".
Blurb:
Dahna is quite comfortable in her role as an outcast. Her favorite activities are painting her nails and hanging out on the beach. An observation by the quirky Carr leads to an endearing friendship between two unlikely people.
Overall, When Summer Lingers covers the tale of two individuals. Dahna is withdrawn and accustomed to being a loner. Carr is more extroverted and open to making new friends. During the summer, an important message is driven home: to treasure time and the experiences you have with others.
This free short story is available on my website as well as on the Freebies section of the All Authors Publishing House website.
Hello everyone! It's fantastic that Author C. Desert Rose has permitted me his platform to discuss my newest short story offering "Finding My Heart".
Blurb:
Leopold Hawkins Threadbare is revered for his scientific genius, which has blessed him with great fortune. When the lovely Katarina is less than impressed, their disagreement spirals him into unexpected circumstances. Time is of the essence. The treasure is Leopold’s heart. The reward is his life. Discover if Leopold achieves success in Finding My Heart.
Excerpt:
The crackling. It’s what I heard first. Followed by the humming of a tune I didn’t recognize.
Mixtures of colors: red, orange, and yellow. It was the first image I saw once I opened my eyes.
Fire. Fire atop wood. No other colors surrounded it, as if the scene was randomly thrown in.
“It was randomly thrown in,” a voice replied.
I twirled around with my fists raised. “Who said that? Where are you?”
“Technically, I have the ability to be everywhere, but in this particular case, I’m in front of you.”
I rubbed my eyes. Thrice. All remained black.
“I can’t see you. Show yourself!”
The voice scoffed. “Demanding bugger, aren’t you? I’m not revealing myself until you act like you have some manners!”
I lowered my fists. Relaxed my hands. “Mr. Invisible Man, will you do me the honor of revealing yourself?”
“Maybe, but only if you eliminate the sarcasm.”
“You’re being utterly ridiculous!” I yelled.
“You’re the one who’s pressed for time. Not me. I can do this game all day.” The voice resumed its humming.
"Finding My Heart" is available (1) on my website (in pdf form) or (2) via All Authors Publishing House (which also offers epub and mobi, along with pdf).
Hello everyone! Queen of Spades here, dropping by Author C. Desert Rose's spot to talk about my earliest short story freebie "Taint on Religion".
Blurb:
Natasha was taught three things: to love God, to love herself, and to always go to church. When a sea of tragedy strikes in her youth, she strays from the path of God. Realizing the error of her ways, she seeks redemption in her adult years. Reverend Jamison and his church looks to be the answer to her prayers. Yet when things in the dark come to the light, Natasha is faced with a tough decision. Does she stay silent with her discovery or does she dare put a taint on religion?
***
With "Taint on Religion" I tackle quite a few subjects. How one processes tragedy and going down an improper path. If a church can truly be forgiving. If a person's intentions are actually pure or have an ulterior motive. The reader goes through all the motions with Natasha but that doesn't mean that each reader will have the same feelings once the story is over.
"Taint on Religion" is available on my website or the Freebies section of All Authors Publishing House.
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".
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!
If there is any author that I say I admire, it is Ms. Queen of Spades.
Her words and prose are like a warm flame on ice, melting away ones
literary desire. She is just amazing. I am blessed to have her here with
us today. Everyone, welcome Queen of Spades.
Greetings everyone! For those of you who have been reading and supporting Pleasure Prints, many thanks. For people who are just joining the fray, All Authors is in the midst of its Pleasure Prints blog tour. Today is my feature day where all things are “Unscripted”.
I would like to discuss my favorite three parts of “Axana … Unscripted” as well as the reasons behind the choices.
Excerpt One
She surveyed the landscape. The grass was high, tinted yellow with neglect and saturated with candy wrappers, beer bottles, cigarette butts and ripped condom wrappers. A repugnant scent—a mixture of rotten eggs and raw sewage—gave foil to an otherwise clear day. If Axana were to guess, various neighborhood miscreants had taken liberties in the outward redesign of the grey building. However, the artistic direction lacked sync. The left side of the building—doused with profanity. The right side of the building—devotional mosaics of fallen comrades.
One portrait was of a little boy, who looked no more than six years old. His eyes were so big, his gaze so innocent and full of wonder. Axana wandered closer to the image and rubbed his button nose and robust cheeks.
What was this boy’s story? Why was his spirit called so soon?
With this, I wanted to paint a clear picture of the element that Axana was walking into. Although some people may be used to it because it’s what they see every day, this scene is not familiar to her, which is why it gives her tremendous trepidation. I also referenced the mural of the little boy to recognize that so many of them are taken from us too soon due to external elements. However, I leave the reader to come up with one’s own story as to the little boy’s demise.
Excerpt Two
Axana strutted over to the window. For a fleeting moment, she thought that Zube was studying her movements, but dismissed it just as quickly. She busied herself with different poses until he barked, “Don’t do any of that. It looks stupid.”
“What?”
“Axana, this isn’t a modeling shoot. I don’t need you to work the camera. This needs to come across as natural.”
Axana huffed, her forehead dimpled with lines of confusion. It was always championed that women tended to not know what they wanted. They had not come across Zube.
Zube placed his camera back on the tripod to approach her.
“Axana I wasn’t calling you stupid. I’m just saying that life isn’t staged so it doesn’t make sense for you to pose. You must behave as if the camera isn’t here. Look out of the window, think about how you are feeling and make it visual enough for me to capture … whatever that is, even if it’s unpleasant. For example, how did you feel when you first arrived here? I don’t imagine it’s an emotion associated with walking the runway.”
In this exchange, I wanted to capture the camaraderie between Axana and Zube. Both of them have awkwardness in different ways. Axana is slightly sensitive to Zube’s directness, and Zube does not have the eloquent finesse to deliver his request until in hindsight.
There is also a microscope on the operation of life. When one takes pictures for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and the like, we have time to make things pretty and perfect. Yet this is not what Zube is going for at all. Life is not staged or pretty. It often flows without opportunity for what’s appropriate or correct.
Excerpt Three
He didn’t answer, just pointed to the bed and instructed her to get comfortable. Just pretend he’s not here was the mantra Axana placed in her brain. Yet, she felt exposed. It had been a while since she’d been in this state of dress around anyone.
The more she attempted to dilute Zube’s presence, the more amplified it became. The silhouette manifested itself into him, adopted all of his features. The sensations pulling her closer to this fantasy rattled her rationale. Axana’s body was no longer her own. Some primal entity operated as her puppet master.
Axana’s eyes smoldered with lust while she looked into Zube’s camera lens. One brassiere strap, of its own volition, slid off her shoulder. One hand, originally on Axana’s thigh, slid closer to her secret treasure.
A tightrope is present between suppression and surrender. What is it about Zube that makes Axana’s cautionary wall feel comfortable enough to crumble? Is he that damn fine? Is it his art? Or seeing multiple sides to him? Perhaps, it’s just been a minute since she’s been sexually shaken up and she throws caution aside, thinking that she only lives once. Did they just kiss or go all the way? Those questions I left unanswered on purpose, for there’s really no wrong answer.
For more of Axana and Zube, don’t hesitate to pick up Pleasure Prints.
