Talking About Adolescence Virtual Book Tour

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Anxiety, Depression, and Adolescent Mental Health

 

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Health & Wellness, Parenting

Publication Date: November 8, 2023

Publisher: MindStir Media

 

 

Want to transition from childhood to adulthood successfully? Discover how
to empower yourself for a bright future.

Are you looking for help navigating the ups and downs of being a teenager?
Do you have a son or daughter going through growing pains? Hoping to avoid
the pitfalls of emotional, psychological, and social challenges unique to
young adults? As two experts in the field, multi-award-winning author Eichin
Chang-Lim, OD, MS, MA and international psychologist Lora L. Erickson, PhD,
LCPC, LMHC-QS, LPC have come together in a crucial collaboration. And now
they’re here to share how you can take charge and live your best life.

Talking About Adolescence: Anxiety, Depression, and Adolescent Mental
Health is an inspirational and easy-to-digest resource that explores top
issues affecting young minds. Through a direct conversational style and
engaging visuals, Chang-Lim and Erickson carefully walk you through each
essential topic while providing healthy coping skills and habits to help you
consistently make good choices. Equipped with the tools to succeed, teens,
parents, and guardians will confidently look forward to a life of
fulfillment and happiness.

 

In Talking About Adolescence, you’ll discover:

– Passionate and well-researched information that can transform lives

– A great start to productive dialogue that will allow parents and
educators to connect with teens

– How to triumphantly wade through the traps of social media

– Ways to eliminate the stigma of mental illness so any young person can be
comfortable seeking support and treatment

– Key strategies to tackle self-harm, panic attacks, bullies, childhood
trauma, substance abuse, neurodiversity, and much, much more!

 

Talking About Adolescence: Anxiety, Depression, and Adolescent Mental
Health is the must-have guide to thriving during those formative years and
is the first book in the Talking About Adolescence series. If you like
life-changing knowledge, learning more about yourself, and gaining control,
then you’ll love Eichin Chang-Lim & Lora L. Erickson’s comprehensive
handbook.

 

Buy Talking About Adolescence to find self-empowerment today!

Talking About Adolescence tablet

EXCERPT

Recently, I watched a news clip of Good Morning America in which Selena Gomez was interviewed about her mental health journey. She, her mother (Mandy Teefey), and Ms. Daniella Pierson founded a website called Wondermind (https://www.wondermind.com) with the desire to help others achieve mental health. I cannot honestly say I endorse this site as of this moment because it’s too new, but I applaud their noble goal of creating “a world where caring for your mental health is democratized and destigmatized.” 

The key and powerful words/concepts to emphasize here are “democratize” and “destigmatize.” Mental pain is invisible, yet real. We seek to strengthen physical health; why not treat our mental health the same? If society could embrace the ones suffering from mental illness, those who bear the mental and emotional pain would not have to feel like covering it up and going through the pain silently and alone. Don’t you think so? 

In part 1, I will highlight adolescents’ most common mental challenges: depression, anxiety, disordered eating, addictions, and some related conditions. For anyone struggling with mental health issues, please seek help. Whatever you’re going through is not your fault, and you are not alone. 

If you know someone in a difficult situation, give them encouragement, love, and understanding. Your kind support may rescue someone on the verge of hurting themselves.

In an interview with Juju Chang of ABC News for the episode of Good Morning America, Selena Gomez, her mother, and Daniella Pierson talked openly about their journeys with mental illness.The key messages are:

  • Let us all talk about our mental wellness as much as we talk about our physical health. That can be translated as “we should be working on our mental fitness just like you work on your physical fitness.”
  • It’s okay not to be okay.
  • Stepping away from Instagram for four and a half years detoxed Selena Gomez’s life; it made her happier, more present, connect more with people, and feel normal.
  • In 2020, Gomez was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The information about her diagnosis made her feel free and happy and helped her develop a relationship with herself.
  • Her mother advised other parents on how to help a mentally ill child: with love and understanding.


 

About the Author

Dr. Eichin Chang-Lim

Dr. Eichin Chang-Lim earned her Doctorate in Optometry, a Master of Science
in Microbiology, and a Master of Arts in Psychology. She is the mother of
two grown-up children, a wife, a semi-retired optometrist, and a
multi-award-winning author. The genres of her books include romantic
fiction, short stories, memoirs, self-help, and educational
nonfiction.

Chang-Lim’s books depict the intricacies of human relationships and
the striving of the human spirit. Ultimately, they evolve into inspirational
tales that readers will find multidimensional and thought-provoking.

When asked about her motivation to be a writer, she replied, “Every
human being is valuable; every soul is unique and special. I write with my
heart and soul. My mindset is that if my writing can make a difference in
even one person’s life, it’s all worth it, and that’s what
love is all about.”

Currently, she is collaborating with an international psychologist and
educator, Dr. Lora Erickson, to write a three-book series, Talking about
Adolescence.

Book 1: Anxiety, Depression, and Adolescent Mental Health is coming
soon.

Besides writing, Eichin is also passionate about acting, photography,
music, and dance acrobatics. She and her husband live in Orange County,
California, with their poodle mix named Gabby.

 

Social Media Links

Website

Amazon Author Page

Bookbub

Twitter

Facebook

Facebook

Good Reads

Instagram

Linkedin

YouTube

 

About the Author

Dr. Lora Erickson

Dr. Lora Erickson is an international psychologist, licensed mental health
clinician, and core faculty in the Master of Arts in Psychology program with
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She earned her Bachelor of
Science in Psychology from Illinois State University, her Master of Arts in
Counseling from Lincoln University, and her Doctorate in International
Psychology (trauma specialization) from The Chicago School of Professional
Psychology. For nearly 15 years, Dr. Erickson has been teaching and
providing clinical services to children, teenagers, and young adults. She is
also a mother to a teen and preteen and cares deeply for young people,
wanting the very best that life has to offer for them. She is also an
award-winning researcher within APA (American Psychology Association)
Division 52 (International Psychology) and currently holds an elected
position within the APA as Early Career Psychologist Past Chair for Division
52.

 

Purchase Links

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B&N

 

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Ghost Teaser Tuesday

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Ghost cover

(Shiva’s Road MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Interracial & Multicultural

Date Published: March 22, 2024

 


 

 

Ghost — Against my better judgment, I went to Chicago to meet my father.
Instead I find a sexy siren who’s fighting a daily struggle to
survive. I claim her for my own the first chance I get, but that’s
when our troubles really start. She won’t leave without my sister
Rachel, her best friend, and I’m a long way from home and my brothers.
When the bad guys attack, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them
both.

Simone — I need a way out. When Ghost arrives, I take a chance and ask him
for help. But he’s the son of the man who sells my body. I don’t
know how far I can trust him. My life and Rachel’s hang in the
balance. Ghost says he wants me by his side forever. I’m trusting him
with our lives, but can I trust him with my heart?

 

Ghost tablet
 

 

 

EXCERPT

Ghost

“This place is something else,” Beowulf said over the sound of
their idling bikes.

Ghost didn’t respond, knowing his best friend didn’t expect him
to. He just stared at the place his mother had called home for the last
twenty-five years. The McMansion and surrounding grounds presented a vulgar
display of wealth against the suburban Chicago backdrop. The pink granite
drive wound around the two-story house, lit by spotlights in the center of
the immaculately manicured lawn. In bright sunlight, he’d no doubt
need darker shades to withstand the glare of the mica-flecked walls and
white shutters. He’d known about the setup from the intel Bytes had
gathered on his father before they left the compound in Central Ohio, but
seeing it in person shocked the man who had grown up dirt poor in a
single-wide trailer on the Mescalero Apache Tribe Reservation.

“Name,” snapped a male voice from a box built into the brick
column to the left of the wrought black iron gate.

“Lucas Blackfoot,” Ghost replied. His voice sounded rusty, even
to his own ears.

“You were told to come alone.”

Ghost shrugged, sure the security cameras would pick up his response.

After a long pause, the voice instructed, “Park your motorcycles in
the open garage bay. You will be met at the interior door. Do not enter
without an escort or you will be shot.”

“Friendly type, your Pops.” Wulf chuckled.

Ghost let his unease out by revving his old Harley. The Knucklehead
vibrated the ground as the gate with a stylized W in the center pulled back
to allow them entrance. They followed the drive to the right of the house,
moving at a slow pace on the loose gravel, and found the place they were to
leave their bikes without issue.

Almost as soon as they swung their legs over the fenders, a door at the far
end of the far end of the garage opened. A limo occupied one bay. Midlife
crisis cars sat in the remaining two, each of which probably cost more than
Ghost had seen during his entire childhood.

A large, bald man in a black suit he couldn’t button over his flabby
stomach — a security drudge so stereotypical as to be laughable — motioned
them to come closer.

“What do you wanna bet he gets handsy?” Wulf said loud enough
to be overheard.

Ghost grunted. This was gonna suck. He had planned to get in and out as
quickly as possible, having minimal interaction with his sperm donor.

“Which one of you is Blackfoot?” the guard asked as they
approached.

Like that wasn’t obvious. Even a toddler could tell the black-haired
Native American from the Nordic blond. “I am,” Ghost
replied.

“Your… companion… can wait here.” The guard put a
wealth of innuendo into the word companion, still trying to get a rise out
of him.

“No.” Ghost didn’t make a threatening move, but he
wasn’t going into this house alone. He’d never spoken to Donald
P. Willard, never went looking for his parents after his mother left the
Reservation when he was eight. His father should be happy he’d only
brought his best friend for backup. No way in hell would he allow himself to
be separated from Wulf this early in the game.

“You come alone, or you don’t come at all.”

“Fine,” said Wulf, “We’ll be home in our beds by
morning then.”

The dumbass reached out to grab Ghost by the arm. “I said
–”

Ghost grabbed the guard’s hand by the thumb and bent it back. When
the man tried to twist out of his grip, Ghost held on long enough to make
sure the man knew Ghost was choosing to release him.

Another man, this one a little older and in better shape than the first,
appeared in the doorway. “Problem?”

“He doesn’t want to come quietly, boss,” Dumbass
said.

“Let him bring his little friend if it makes him feel better,”
the new arrival replied. “I’m sure they won’t cause any
trouble. Right, boys?”

“We’re housebroken,” Wulf assured him. “Can’t
say the same for your team though. Need a lesson in manners.”

“Boss” stared at them for a few beats, then turned on his heel
and walked back into the house. His lapdog followed, leaving Ghost and Wulf
to take up the rear. As soon as they cleared the doorway, another man came
up behind them, closing the door and walking practically on their heels.
They moved through the mostly dark house in that formation until they
reached a closed door with soft light spilling through around the
cracks.

A knock on the door received a curt, “Enter.”

A hand on his back pushed Ghost ahead of Wulf into the room. No less
opulent than the rest of the house, the study had dark built-in shelves at
the back wall and thick, velvet green drapes bracketing the floor-to-ceiling
windows along the side. Donald P. Willard sat behind a polished walnut desk.
A Tiffany desk lamp illuminated Donald’s thick features and extremely
short-cropped, graying hair. His hands were laced together in front of him,
resting over a sizeable belly straining the buttons on his tailored shirt.
His blue suit jacket hung on the back of his leather executive chair. The
picture of a prominent light-skinned black businessman, surrounding himself
with obvious signs of wealth and opulence. Ghost was pretty sure it was all
a front, meant to impress.

“Son, please have a seat. The rest of you are dismissed,”
Donald said.

The three bodyguards tried to grab Wulf to remove him bodily from the room,
but he evaded their grasps and sat down on the green leather sofa which
rested against a creamy damask wallpaper. “I think I’ll stay. I
like it here,” Wulf said mildly.

“This is a private conversation between my son and myself. Please do
us the courtesy of letting us have this family moment,” Donald
replied.

Wulf looked to Ghost, who gave him a slight nod. Beowulf could take care of
himself, and it didn’t seem like anyone was going to talk in front of
his friend.

“Come on, boys. Show me the kitchen. I could use a snack after the
long ride.” Wulf jumped up from the couch and led the way out into the
hall.

Once they were alone and the door shut, Donald gave Ghost an appraising
glance. “You look like your mother.”

Ghost knew what he meant. His father’s African American heritage
didn’t show much in Ghost’s features. There didn’t seem
much point in replying so Ghost didn’t bother.

Donald sighed. “Have a seat, son. We have a lot to talk
about.”

Ghost sat in one of the chairs in front of Donald’s desk that matched
the leather sofa. It was as uncomfortable as it looked. Still, he said
nothing. He’d learned a long time ago prolonged silence had a way of
getting people to start rambling just to fill the void.

“I have to say, your existence came as quite a shock to me. In all
the years I’ve been married to Caroline, she never once mentioned you.
Do you know why?”

“No.”

“Has she ever contacted you since she left the
Reservation?”

“No.”

“I’ve always wanted a son to carry on my legacy. Surely, she
would have known I’d have welcomed you with open arms.”

Ghost shrugged. His mother had signed over custody of him to his
grandfather when she left, giving no explanation. His memories of her were
happy, but dim. He couldn’t say why his mother did what she did, and
wouldn’t tell this man even if he did know. He owed this man
nothing.

“Did she tell you anything about me before she left? Anything at
all?”

“No.” Ghost knew he sounded like a broken record but really
what was there to say? He’d received word of his mother’s death
from a lawyer, closely followed by a summons from Donald P. Willard to
discuss her “affairs.” Ghost already regretted his decision to
come here and couldn’t wait to get the fuck out.

“Man of few words, eh? I can respect that. Too many people
don’t stand by their word these days. I’m not one of those. Old
school to the core, just like my daddy.” He probably practiced his
“trust me” smile in the mirror. Ghost wasn’t falling for
it.

“Why am I here?” He knew why, but he wanted to see how the
other man would spin it.

“I wanted to meet you, talk to you. I am your father, after
all.”

“Are you sure?” Ghost was. Bytes had done the research.
Donald’s name wasn’t listed on his birth certificate, but his
mother had left a letter with his grandfather. The old man never said a
word, but the document had been among his things given to the tribal leaders
upon his death. An old friend read it to him over the phone. His father had
been a high roller at one of the casinos on tribal land. His mother worked
there and caught his eye. Eventually they started a relationship. She got
pregnant. Eight years later, she left the Reservation to be his wife.

“Of course, I am. Your mother was faithful to me, even before we
married. Or are you trying to tell me you know otherwise?” The thought
seemed to anger him.

“No.”

“Well then, there you are. You’re my son. And I’d like to
think we could have a good relationship now that we know about each
other.”

Ghost almost said no again, just to see what the other man would do, but
managed to stop himself. Instead, he changed tracks. “Your letter
promised legal action if I didn’t show. That’s not very…
fatherly.”

“That was before I got to know you. My security team did a little
digging. Can’t blame a man for wanting to get to know all about a son
he suddenly finds out about, can you? And now I know you’ve served
your country well, but you’ve fallen on hard times. That motorcycle
club you’re with, well, I’d like to see my son socializing with
a better class of people. I can and will help you there.”

“No.” The word came out fast and emphatic. Shiva’s Road
MC was his family now. Not this man.

“OK, OK, I can see I’m moving too fast for you. A habit in my
business. You don’t make money letting grass grow under your
feet!”

Donald’s business, according to Bytes, barely paid the mortgage on
this eyesore these days. Donald’s father had been a solid contractor
for large scale buildings in downtown Chicago. But cutting corners to
underbid other contractors, shoddy supplies, and other bad business
practices had given the family business a bad name. Donald scrambled to
cover his monthly debts and if he didn’t hire better lawyers,
he’d be facing jail time. Then there was the little matter of his
gambling debts…

Instead of replying right away, Ghost let his attention drift around the
office. There were business books, decanters containing various kinds of
alcohol with the usual glasses, and several framed pictures. One of the
pictures caught his eye. Two young women were laughing with their arms
around each other in front of a fountain. One had black hair, dusky skin and
a more than passing resemblance to Donald. She must be Rachael, his
half-sister.

The other woman — he didn’t recognize her — was nothing less than
stunning. Platinum-blonde hair surrounded her tanned face in a halo as the
sunshine poured down on her, seeming to illuminate her from within. The red
top she wore hugged her more-than-a-handful breasts and rode up enough to
show a strip of her belly. The matching skirt flared out from curvy hips
that begged to be gripped with his large hands and held onto for a wild
ride. Though he couldn’t tell the exact color of her eyes from the
photograph, they seemed to sparkle with mischief. And her full lips, painted
the same red as her shirt, were a form of temptation all their own. He
wanted to lick and suck and taste every inch of her. His cock came to life
behind his zipper as he studied the image. He’d never had such a
visceral reaction to a woman, let alone one he’d seen only in a
picture, in his life.

About the Author

Every book is a mystery to Dana. Whether it’s writing one or reading
one, she delves into the who, what, when, where and why with a thirst for
knowledge. Getting to know the characters and following their journey as it
unfolds gives her a thrill she hasn’t been able to duplicate in any
other activity. She’s been known to devour as many as three books in a
day, and would write until her fingers bled if her muses allowed.

Although Dana is just getting started on her publishing career, please join
her on Facebook and Goodreads, and visit her website often as her MC
collection grows to see what Dana has in store for her readers next!

 

Contact Links

Author’s Website

Author on Facebook

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today

 

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The Cyclopes’ Eye Teaser Tuesday

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The Cyclopes' Eye cover

YA Dystopian, Soft Sci-Fi

Date to be Published: 04-09-2024

Publisher: NineStar Press

 

 

First they came for his sister’s eye. Now they’re coming for
his. And what’s even worse is he deserves it.

Henry has never had anything good happen to him, period. Full stop.
That’s why, after school, he’s going to put on his big-boy pants
and confess his love to his best friend—because the universe owes him
one, dammit, and he needs a win.

But maybe doing it on Drill Day wasn’t the best idea—the one day a
month that healthcare conglomerate Axiom infiltrates schools across America
to select a new candidate to give up one of their eyes, for… research? And
if this Drill Day is anything like the last, Henry will never get a chance
at a good life. Especially if his past keeps threatening to eat him alive,
and especially if his old ways of keeping the darkness at bay refuse to work
anymore.

 

Excerpt

I hate attention. I hate causing a scene. I hate being noticed. And
I’m very, very aware that, right now, that is exactly what’s
happening. I’m also noticing how sweaty I am. My face is either ghost
white or bile green. Or beet red. All three?

A part of me knows they can’t be looking at me any worse than they
usually do, though. Poor Henry with his one-eyed sister. Poor Henry with his
drunk of a dad. Poor Henry with his convict of a mother.

I think about reaching down to my thigh to catapult me out of this moment,
the tangle of cuts and scars I could squeeze and knead like dough so the
jolt of hurt would replace this ache of embarrassment. But I can’t.
Not here.

We take the third speed bump slower than the last two, but I still feel
touch-and-go. At this point, the best option is to just get out of here as
fast as I can. Since I’m already standing when we pull into the
parking spot, I don’t wait for all the people in front of me to get
off first. I march right on up to the front like I own this bus. And you
know what? For right now, I do, fuckers.

“You in a hurry or something?” asks the driver. He removes his
shades to reveal two very intact and very brown eyes. His fist is wrapped
around the lever to open the door, but he’s not opening it.

I wasn’t expecting this, and with each second, my blood feels thicker
and thicker, like sludge. I mumble something about a test I have to study
for.

“One day you’ll realize life’s about more than
school,” he says, believing, I’m sure, that he’s being
very profound at six-thirty.

I just nod and smile, hoping my face doesn’t betray my anguish.

He smirks and finally pulls the lever, and the door squeaks and sighs as it
opens. I jump down the stairs, and I must go a little too fast because
there’s no way I can hold it in anymore. I’ve got to puke, and
I’ve got to puke now.

I race around to the front of the bus, shielded on all sides by other buses
that I really hope are empty, and let it go.

It’s so painful coming up, like someone is stabbing me. My eyes
flutter open and closed as it comes pouring out, and it’s like
I’m watching myself in stop motion. It forms puddles around my feet.
Some of it gets on my shoes.

It’s hot and gross, and some of it sprays up into my nose, which
might make me puke more. I try to be quiet so nobody will hear me, but the
bus engine is so loud that it probably doesn’t matter. Or maybe
that’s delirious thinking. Maybe the driver is watching from his
window right now. But if anybody does come over to see, they don’t
wait around long enough to say anything.

A minute later, when I’m sure it’s all out of me, I feel light,
free. Empty. I think this might be the best I’ve ever felt in my life.
Maybe I can read this poem today. Maybe Sam will respond the way I want. I
should puke more often.

Everything in me goes still and quiet. It’s almost like I’m
floating through fog as I wind my way through the maze of buses all parked
in a cluster. I’m so light, it feels like a dream. Like I’m not
real. Is this what it’s like to get high?

As soon as I round the last bus, I come down.

If getting sick was a dream, reality is not worth waking up for. The
nightmare of my life is as bleak as it’s ever been.

Ah, yes, here we are. Drill Day.

Across the parking lot, a few hundred feet away, is the entire student
body—two thousand of my peers. They’ve been rounded up like
cattle in front of school, their incessant chatter like primal, god-fearing
cries for help before being led to slaughter. And just like real cattle,
they know there’s no escape.

But at least the cows get to die before their mutilation

 

 

About the Author

Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius works in healthcare by day and writes weird fiction
and poetry by night. His shorter work has been featured in numerous literary
journals and has been nominated for prizes, including Best of the Net. He
currently lives in the Midwest with his unbelievably handsome and perfect
dog, and also a human whom he loves. The Cyclopes’ Eye is his debut
novel.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @jeffreyhvwrites

Instagram: @jeffreyhvwrites

TikTok: @jeffreyhvwrites

 

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Once We Were Witches Teaser Tuesday

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Once We Were Witches cover

Immortal Kiss Series, Book 4

Supernatural Fiction

Date Published: 03-08-2024

 

 

The mysterious world of witchcraft, murder, and mystery thrusts Raven
Sagestone into an adventure whose main goal is to unlock the secrets of her
powers. To do this, she teams up with Brandon Cass, an outsider with
knowledge of the supernatural world. Raven is introduced to Eve, a psychic
who reads destinies. Despite this, Raven is protected by a strong magic
barrier, preventing Eve from seeing her. Brandon and Raven search for the
truth at Bloodthirst, a vampire club. Visiting The Council’s haven with
Margarete and Caleb is Raven’s chance to find answers to the questions that
have plagued her.

 

Excerpt

Chapter 1

 

A breaking news alert flashed on the TV screen as I bit into my
bagel.

As the reporter stood by, the camera panned over to the lifeless body of a
young woman hanging from a tree branch. “Witch” was carved into
her gray, blood-stained forehead. He sighed and hung his head. “A
seventh victim has been added to the list.”

I shoved my bagel aside as a sick feeling gripped my stomach. My heart
ached as I stared at the girl’s lifeless face. How could someone be so
cruel and sadistic? This was not just a random act of cruelty. And where
were the police in all of this?

My mom walked in, grabbed the remote, and shut off the TV.

“I was watching that.”

“There’s no need to watch some sicko murder young women.
Life’s too short to fixate on people like that.”

“I’m not fixated,” I clarified. “I’m
concerned. There’s a difference. That’s seven girls now. Each
with the word ‘witch’ carved into their foreheads. What are the
police doing? Nothing?”

She blew me off. “Investigations take time. The police are doing
everything they can. Your dad and I see a lot of accidents at the hospital.
Sadly, crime is a real thing. But you,” she kissed my forehead,
“don’t need to worry about that. Your focus should be on college
and the class you need to get to.”

Mom was wrong. I had to worry. The creep pursued young women, specifically
witches, a trait I shared and kept to myself. While my parents were
blue-eyed and blonde-haired, I had pitch-black hair and brown eyes, and I
also had strange birthmarks covering my forearms. It might seem like I have
a tragic story, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe I was
destined to be abandoned outside the hospital where my adoptive parents
worked. As they headed home after a long shift, they heard a faint cry near
the emergency entrance. Rushing to investigate, they found me abandoned on
the front steps, bundled in a pink blanket. As fate would have it, they
immediately took me in and showered me with love.

As a baby, a toddler, a teen, and now at 19, a college student, they never
saw me as anything but sweet, curious, sulky, and smart. They had no idea
what I was hiding, the power I perfected, the spells I practiced, the magic
I shed. In their eyes, I was like them. I knew I was someone beyond their
comprehension, someone powerful. But who was I? Who were my birth parents
who should have taught me how to use the gifts given to me at birth? The
only information I had about my past came from visions—an image of a
dark figure dropping me outside the hospital. There were no records of my
birth, my parents, a location—as if I never existed. Bringing my
questions to my adoptive parents wouldn’t do any good. They’d
kept these secrets hidden from me. In spite of me knowing the real truth, my
adoptive parents provided a birth certificate, giving me the name, Raven
Sagestone. I love them, but I want answers. I wanted to know the truth, and
it was clear it wouldn’t come from them. This was something I had to
figure out for myself.

I put on my cropped denim jacket, kissed my mom on the cheek, and hit up
Uber on my cell. My driver’s tests were a total disaster. I failed
every time. It creeped me out when the instructors stared at me with their
beady eyes. So…my driver’s license was out, and Uber was in.
Having someone else do all the driving was a much better plan, for now
anyway.

Forty minutes before class, the Uber driver dropped me off in front of the
massive steps leading up to entrance of Granite Bay University. It was one
of the oldest schools in Jodence, like something straight out of a
fairytale. Its structure was reminiscent of a castle, with its towering
columns, decorative arched windows, and cone-shaped roof; yet modern-day
people dressed in jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers surrounded the ancient
building—me being one of them.

In the past fourteen weeks, my daily agenda had consisted of visiting the
library before class and researching its extensive collection of witchcraft,
magic, and supernatural books. One of those books was certain to contain the
answers to my birthright. I absorbed every word I came across about
soul-bending, mental conjuring, healing rituals, protection rituals, binding
magic, and the lore of fire, water, and air. One of the most fascinating
things I discovered was the witch’s mark. It has likely been around
for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. However, between the 15th and 18th
centuries, it had a much darker history than it does now. Witches were often
burned, hanged, drowned, and tortured, and those with red hair and extra
fingers and toes were often suspected of witchcraft. Witch hunters used
moles, birthmarks, scars, and extra digits to identify witches. It was a
myth that a particular god or bloodline was associated with the presence of
a mole cluster or rose-colored mark. My arms were covered in black symbols
like ancient ink, and neither a cluster nor a mark applied to me. Thank
goodness I wasn’t born back then.

With my arms full of books, I walked beneath the library’s massive
brick archways, combing its numerous aisles for books I hadn’t read.
When I rounded the corner, I tripped over a guy sitting on the floor. My
books flew through the air and landed with a thud. I groaned as I hit the
ground, hoping I had not damaged my books. The guy on the floor, on the
other hand, quickly sprang up and apologized profusely.

His hands steadied me as he blurted, “Whoa, sorry.” He helped
me gather my books and ensured I was okay. An adorable smile swept along his
lips as he brushed sandy-brown hair out of his hazel-colored eyes. He was
probably one of those guys unaware of how cute he was, but cute or not,
he’d parked his ass in the middle of the aisle, causing me to
trip.

“What the hell, dude? There are tables to sit at and
read.”

“Yeah, I see your point,” he grinned, revealing dimpled cheeks
as he flipped through the books. “So you’re into witches? Or
maybe it’s research for a paper about what’s going now right
now?”

“Does it matter?”

He squished his eyebrows together and tilted his head to the side.
“Do you know my sister?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” He tucked the books under his arm and bobbed his
chin toward the tables. “Here, let me help you. It’s the least I
can do.”

With a smile, I accepted his offer. “Thank you.”

He arranged the books on the table before shoving his hands into his
pockets. Then he stood there, studying me.

“Stare much?”

“Has anyone told you, you’re difficult?” He didn’t
wait for me to respond. “But hey, I apologize for staring.” He
spread his fingers and moved them in a circular motion over my face.
“You remind me of someone, Eve. She’s got the same dark hair,
ivory skin, and red lip look.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know anyone named Eve.”

“Hmph.”

 The sound of a distant scream sent chills down my spine. My eyes
darted around, searching for the source. “Did you hear
that?”

“That was definitely a scream.”

Students leapt from their seats, hurling books onto the floor as their
gazes swept the room. Librarians abandoned their posts and spilled into the
aisles. Panicked voices shouted, “Who screamed?” “What
happened?” Me and the guy were thrown into madness by a stampede of
people charging to the exits and pushing us out of the building and onto the
library’s steps.

The echo of my thumping heart filled my ears as I tried to figure out what
was happening around me. The once orderly campus had become a chaotic mess
as hundreds of people rushed by, pushing and shoving, their faces filled
with panic. As I fought my way through the crowd, I couldn’t help but
wonder where everyone was going and what had happened to cause such
chaos.

“There!” the guy pointed toward the sculpture of the
university’s tower in the courtyard.

I gasped as my eyes landed on the bodies. Three girls hung from the white
tower with their necks bound together, now covered in blood. As I looked at
their lifeless eyes and saw the word “witch” carved across their
foreheads, a chill ran down my spine. An eerie, tragic, and horrific scene
surrounded the stained white tower. As students and teachers huddled
together, whispering in disbelief, a shrill of sirens echoed in the
distance, intensifying panic and fear. Police authorities were under
pressure to find those responsible for these horrific acts.

“Damn, three this time,” he uttered with shock.

I couldn’t speak. My throat swelled with a huge sob as I slowly shook
my head.

The police rushed in, their footsteps pounding the sidewalk as they raced
toward the tower. Their faces were determined as they cautiously approached
the cordoned-off area. They quickly pulled out their clipboards and
meticulously documented the evidence, taking photographs of the area.

An officer, wearing an exasperated expression, yelled. “Get back!
This is a crime scene.”

I flinched, staggered backward, before firmly planting my feet on the
ground. I wasn’t going anywhere. This was my battle. I needed answers.
Those poor girls needed answers too. My eyes grew wide as I demanded,
“Why don’t you find this sick creep before we all die?”

The guy’s gaze burned into my flesh as he snapped his head toward me.
“What are you doing?”

The officer thrust his shoulders back and barked out, “You need to
step back.”

“Are you trying to get arrested?” the guy whispered in my ear.

Just as his words entered my head, I overheard someone say,
“They’re ice cold; not a drop of blood in them.”

My eyes locked on the authoritative policeman. “Blood? Is that new?
Were the other girls drained of blood too?”

A pair of squinted eyes glared at me. “You can retreat or go downtown
and think about your actions in a jail cell.”

“Omgeez, man up much?” the guy said as he grabbed my arm and
hurried me away. “You need to calm down.”

I tore my gaze away from the dead girls and locked it on him.
“Don’t tell me what to do. You don’t know anything about
me. I want answers for those girls.” And myself, I privately declared.
“It seems nobody is fighting for them.”

“It might seem that way on the surface, but I’m sure
they’re doing everything they can to help.”

“I wish I could believe that, but dead bodies keep showing
up…” My voice cracked as the sob squeezing my throat broke
free. My shoulders quivered, and I buried my face in my hands.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and softened his voice.
“They’ll catch ’em. It’ll be okay.”

Sniffling, I sighed, “I can’t concentrate. I can’t be in
class.”

“We can walk to The Grind, get a coffee, and just relax.”

I nodded and then hung my head as he led me away from the gruesome scene of
dead girls.

About the Author

LAURA DALEO

LAURA DALEO is a multi-genre author, specializing in Dark Fantasy, Urban
Fantasy, Supernatural/Paranormal fiction, Science Fiction, and Young Adult
Fiction. Immortal Kiss, her best-known vampire series, explores the Egyptian
pantheon that gave rise to vampires. Currently, she is working on her eighth
book, I am Wolf, an urban fantasy.

A native of San Diego, California, Laura now lives in Tucson, Arizona with
her two dogs, Rose and Cooper.

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Code of Reanimation Blitz

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Code of Reanimation cover

Spin-off of the Father of Contention series

 

Paranormal Thriller, Science Fiction, Horror

Date Published: 11-14-2023

 

 

Freedom is a state of mind.

Brigita Nowak has only ever wanted one thing—her freedom. Labelled
psychotic and committed to a mental institution at seventeen, she missed the
chance of a “normal” life. She never held a job, owned her own
place, or experienced love. Until now.

After awakening sprawled on the common room floor—the hospital in
ruins, the staff and patients missing—she realizes it’s her
chance to escape. Seeking sanctuary with her sister, she meets “the
boyfriend” Renner Scholz, a vile yet brilliant geneticist. He has
developed a bioweapon, the Code of Reanimation, destined to destroy the
world. Or so Brigita believes. She’s been seeing zombie hallucinations
as of late, a sure premonition of the highly contagious bioweapon getting
out of hand. Why the connection? Because the bioweapon reanimates dead
organisms into bloodthirsty killing machines.

Brigita has typically experienced death-based hallucinations, blamed on her
mental illness. She, however, always felt they were psychic premonitions.
Convinced that Renner intends to release the bioweapon at a public
fundraising event, she teams up with a handsome love interest to thwart the
catastrophe. But, as Brigita’s visions kick into hyperdrive and
timelines blur, she must determine which events are based on reality or
delusional constructs of her subconscious mind…

before it’s too late.

About the Author

Lanie Mores

Lanie Mores is the award-winning author of the science fiction and fantasy
book series, Father of Contention. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science
Degree, a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, and she is an active member
of the Canadian Authors Association. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her
reading, binge-watching Netflix, baking, and slaughtering zombies and other
monsters on her Xbox. She lives in Ontario with her family and forever
barking fur babies, Batman and Petri.

 

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