T.R. Toth's Blog

Why I Write

Writers have different and personal reasons why they write. You can almost listen to any talk given by your favorite author and they will often share why they do what they do.

Steven King has said he writers "to drown that scariness out of my mind."

"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel like I should be doing something else," said Gloria Steinem.

For me, I do it because I have to.

It is a type of compulsion. I have to get the stories that live in the folds of my brain and the caverns of my heart down on paper.

Characters are screaming to be born and put on the page so their stories can be told.

Worlds that burst to life outgrow the confines of my mind and snake their vines and branches to my fingertips and out onto the computer keys.They just want others to nap under their safe trees and discover the secrets buried deep under their seas or hidden away on a spacecraft bound for new worlds.

But, the most personal reason why I write is for my daughter.

The world is a scary place right now. Turn on the news and it makes you want to dive under the covers and never leave your house.

But we can't do that. We have to go on.

But, if I can create a world for kids to get lost in, for just a little while, I can have hope that it might make their world a little brighter.

I wrote "The Sapphire Key" for one major reason. I wanted my daughter to have a brave role model to look up to that prioritized kindness, mercy, and empathy over all else.

I wanted her to see that we can all be heroes when we are kind and care about others.

The character of Lily was based on her, well a vision of what she would be like when she gets older, and I hope this is the type of person we can all grow into. Even us adults still have a lot of growing to do.

If just one kid picks up "The Sapphire Key" and feels a little less alone or if after reading it asks the shy kid to sit with them at lunch or play with them at recess, then all my dreams for the book have come true.

While the book is about magic and fairy tales, the core of it is about friendship. I have been blessed to have had so many people help me see what makes a good friend. And after all to quote "My Little Pony," "Friendship is magic!"

So, why do I write? I guess it boils down to I write to connect and make each of us feel a little less alone.

Happy Reading, Friends!

Think Small this Holiday

It seems like we haven't even finished the last of our Halloween candy and commercials have us thinking about the upcoming Holiday season.

Thanksgiving seems like a bygone concept. We still enjoy our turkey and cranberry sauce while we give our thanks for all our blessings, but I can't help starting to check things off of my holiday to-do list.

The pandemic has also taught me to rethink how I do some of my holiday shopping. Supporting small business has become crucial because many are struggling to make it in the climate of big box stores and getting items delivered to you in about an hour to two days with just the click of the button.

I remember seeing a photo of a sign that was posted outside of a small business that read something like "When you purchase from a small business you are paying for dance classes and scouting uniforms."

Being an indie-author I have to go through different channels to ensure that my books can get into the hands of the most readers as possible. I'm a one woman-band that does my own marketing, social media, podcasts, publishing, etc., so I need to relay on the "big businesses" to get my books out there.

However, this doesn't mean that I don't want to be a part of the small bookstore community.

There is a way you can, too.

I didn't realize this until I started publishing my books, but you can go into any small bookstore and request whatever book you want. If they don't have it on their shelves, they can order it for you. Also, you can go to their website and order it directly from there. This way you can still support your local small bookstore while getting the books you want this holiday season.

If you don't have a small bookstore in your area you can do a search online to find one that you would like to support.

(To add my own shameless plug) You can always purchase books from my website under the shop tab. All of my books come signed.

This year as you are making your list and checking it twice, remember to think small and support local businesses and creators.

What is it all about .....

As you have probably seen, the first book in the middle grade fantasy series "Storywood" is going to be released in just a few weeks! (Insert panic attack here.)

Not a lot has been revealed about "The Sapphire Key" by the teaser book trailer, that can be viewed on the homepage.

Each Friday I'm going to have "Four Facts Friday" and I'm going to share more information about the book.

But, to kick things off, I thought I would share the back of the book blurb so you can get a better idea of what it is all about.

Friends of Alice in wonderland kidnapped.

Peter Pan's mates — abducted.

And an evil sorceress bent on destroying them all.

Meet Lily Buchjager, an unassuming eighth grader whose biggest battle comes in the form of some popular girls, whom she's trying to befriend. But what if her life is about to get a little more complicated?

Lily never knew that trying to stand up for her childhood friends would end up with her sobbing in the most popular girl’s bathroom, much less thrust into a world we all thought only existed in books.

Now with the pressure to save the stories children and adults all over the world love and take inspiration from, Lily has no choice but to find the strength hidden inside her to beat the odds.

Can she really fight against a wicked, magic-wielding-sorceress, when she couldn't defend her friends in front of a group of girls her own age?

Will she let doubt creep into her heart and shatter her confidence?

Or will she conquer all her fears and find something even more precious?

Accompanied by Alice, Peter Pan, and The Cowardly Lion, and armed with magic and a special locket, Lily travels through fairytale realms to rescue the magical Story Weavers from being forced to rewrite all our beloved fairytales. They're ready to give everything for this epic showdown. But Will It Be Enough?

GET YOUR COPY OF THIS FAST-PACED AND EXCITING READ, TO JOIN THESE CHARACTERS ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME AS THEY LEARN THE TRUE MEANING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE REAL FRIENDS.

Treats over Tricks

My favorite holiday is Halloween (Christmas is a close second). I love spooky stories, picking pumpkins, haunted houses and hayrides.

I know the holiday can have its fair share of tricks, but I wanted to make sure there were some treats thrown in, too.

For the first time Seraphim Falls merchandise is available in the online store. A new line of mugs can be purchased.

You have either the choice of enamel mugs (perfect for camping) or a magic mug that is black when cold and the image magically appears when you add your favorite hot beverage.

One design features the Seraphim Falls book cover style and the other is from a charcoal painting that I did a few months ago.

You can find the full list of items available for purchase here.

What is better than curling up with your favorite book, a new mug filled with a cozy cup of tea?

This is why I have partnered with Adagio Teas to offer a special "Seraphim Falls" tea blend.

"Take a sip and be transported to the foggy and forested town of Seraphim Falls. The blend of chi, cinnamon, chocolate and a sprinkle of marigold will remind you of cozy autumn days when there is a chill in the air and a bump in the night."

The Seraphim Falls blend is low caffeine and will be perfect for helping you unwind from a hectic day.

Five precent from each purchase of the Seraphim Falls blend will benefit the non-profit "Girls Who Code."

This organization aims to "close the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030." (According to the Girls Who Code website.) They have served 450, 000 girls through summer immersion program, clubs, and college loops.

Another new addition is a hardcover version of "Seraphim Falls" is available through Amazon.

Just this summer Amazon began offering hardcover printing. So if you haven't purchased a copy yet, you now have a hardcover option available here.

Now comes the most exciting part. There is going to be a special Halloween give-a-way. One person will win a limited edition signed hardback cover of "Seraphim Falls," a seraphim falls mug, and a a tin of the special Seraphim Falls tea blend.

All you have to do is sign up for the newsletter. A winner will be selected by random draw and will be announced and contacted on Halloween.

Flash Fiction Friday: Corrupted

This week's Flash Fiction Friday is another "Roll & write." I roll a die and whatever number it lands on that is what I write about. I have four categories so I rolled the die four times to choose my character, time period, place, and conflict.

For this particular story I rolled a 2, 8, 6, and 9. My choices were: A lost boy, 1980s, Fantasy Kingdom, and worst nightmare realized.

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Sanders raced through the back alley knocking over trash cans in his wake. His ratty sneakers threatened to untie at any moment and trip him straight into the pavement below.

He only had to go about 25 feet and over the chainlinked fence just ahead and then he could be free.

Sanders's heart was beating out of his chest as his fingers wrapped around the metal of the fence and his feet latched onto the links.

Luckily, he was able to climb the fence on and over to the other side. Just as he anticipated, the robots that were chasing him weren't able to climb. They had no choice but to give up their pursuit.

"Nice knowing you guys," said Sanders as he gave a fake salute and turned around to head into what had become his sanctuary.

"Good news guys," he said sauntering into an abandonded building.

This place had become a home for Sanders and about 5 other kids since their parents were killed in the cyberwar of just two years ago in 1980. The uprising of the Cyberillians, a cross between AIs and humans, decided they were tired of being servants to the humans, so they held a revolution. To this day the revolution is still raging and any human is a target. That is why what Sanders had tucked away in his Ghostbuters jean jacket was so important.

"Did you get it?" asked a girl with blonde hair with pink ends swooped into a fauxhawk. Her dark glasses glinted off the neon lights in the room.

"You act like you had your doubts," said Sanders.

The girl rolled her eyes, while a voice in the darkness of the makeshift living room said, "You shouldn't be so cocky, you know, some day you are going to get caught and we won't be able to help you."

Sanders sighed loudly. "I'm cocky only because I KNOW I'm good," he responded.

"Yeah, well, that's what Jefferson thought. And look what happened to him," said the boy coming out of the shadows. He had dark green hair that was shaved on one side, highlighting his heavily pierced ear.

Shanders swolled hard preparing to say something about their friend Jefferson who was killed by the Cyberillians.

"Sanders! Brad! Cut it out, you two," said the girl with the fauxhawk. "We are on the same team. Or have you forgotten. What happened to Jefferson couldn't be helped. All we can do is go on in his memory."

Silence hung in the room.

"You're right, Callista. But, don't call me Brad. I'm Axel now. Brad is gone."

Sanders bit his lip so he wouldn't laugh out loud. He remembered when he first met Brad/Axel and how he told Sanders that Brad was the guy that went to the mall and to the country club for golf lessons. But, since that was gone, Brad was dead along with his family. Axel was his new identity in the new world of him being an orphan on the run.

"Yes. Of course, Axel. I'm sorry."

"So are we going to sit here all night talking about our names or are we going to get this done," asked Sanders.

"Give me the drive and I'll make it happen," said Callista.

Sanders reached into his pocket and pulled out a red jump drive about an inch long.

"It's so hard to believe that everything, our key to ending this awful war, is on such a small piece of plastic," said Axel as he watched Callista plug the drive into her computer.

She punched in a few passwords into the program that was running on the screen. Sanders was completly lost. The only experience he had with computers was playing Super Mario Brothers on his Nintendo that he got for Christmas.

All of a sudden, Callista's experssion began to change. Her look of concentration turned to one of confusion and then one of horror.

"I don't get it. I don't know how this is happening," she said.

"What is it," asked Axel?

"This drive should help me corrupt the system that is controlling the Cyberillians. But, instead it is locking me out of all the controlls. It's like it's closing a door and locking it so I can't hack back in. I don't understand this," she said talking faster.

"Slow down, there has to be a mistake," said Sanders.

At that moment a lound bang was heard and the door to the hideout was blown wide open.

The trio looked toward the door just in time to see a canister leaking smoke rolling in.

"Get down!" yelled Axel.

Callista, Sanders, and Axel all dropped to the ground to try and breathe in whatever remaining air there was. It wasn't long before the three of them were choking and gasping for air.

"Look at you three. Crawling around on the ground just like the roaches you are," said a voice in the fog.

Sanders thought the voice sounded familar, but wasn't sure because their speech was muffled, probably from a gas mask on their face.

Two boots stepped into view of Sanders's. As he looked up, he saw through the fog the unmistakable combination of red and blue hair with Liberty Spikes. That is when it clicked for him.

"Jefferson! I thought you were dead," Sanders tried to yell through all of his coughing.

"You never were too smart, were you," replied Jefferson. "You thought exactly what I wanted you to."

Flash Fiction Friday: Musica Emporium

I decided to mix things up a little bit. Instead of doing the "Mysterium"cards like I have done in the past, I wanted to do a roll and write. It works like this. I roll a die and whatever number it lands on that is what I write about. I have four categories so I rolled the die four times to choose my character, time period, place, and conflict.

For this particular story I rolled a 5, 1, 8, and 6. My choices were: a ghost, 1920s, haunted house, and has been cursed. Let's see what happens.

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Jenni walked down the hallway; her heels clicking off the marble floors. She know that when she saw Philip she was going to kill him. How dare he leave her in the Musica Emporium? She said she was going to powder her nose and she would be right back. Now he was nowhere in sight. In fact, the club seemed empt. It reminded her of the time right after last call, but she swore she left just a few minutes ago and it was only 9:30.

She pushed past the heavy red velvet doors and went out into the hallway.

Jenni looked up and down and didn't see anyone. She looked at a clock on the wall and saw that it still read 9:30.

Something was wrong and Jenni could sense it.

She continued down the hallway, past the doors to the club and past the coatcheck and refreshment stand.

When Jenni turned the corner she finally saw someone. Well, she saw her back. It was one of the ciggarette girls. She didn't look like one of the girls that stopped by her and Philip's table earlier in the night, but she was wearing the same emerald green bodysuit and fishnets as the rest of the girls.

"Excuse, me," said Jenni. Her voice sounded even louder echoing in the nearly empty hall. Everything sounded so different without the usual crowd gathered.

The girl stopped moving, but she didn't turn around right away. It seemed like she was trying to decide if she should answer Jenni or if she should ignore her completly.

Jenni thought maybe the girl hadn't heard her. "Excuse me," she said again.

This time the girl turned around. Jenni could see she was pretty and had bright red lips that complimented her perfectly couffed blond hair that was done up in curls.

"How can I help you?" she asked with a perfect smile on her face.

"I seem to be lost, I can't find my boyfriend. We were just listening to the band, and I got up to powder my nose and when I came back he was gone; well actually, everyone was gone. Did something happen that forced everyone to leave?"

The girl starred at her for a moment, not registering what Jenni had said. She looked all over the hallway like she was trying to find the answer to Jenni's question, out there.

"Darling, I'm not sure what you are saying," said the girl with a deep southern accent that Jenni had just noticed. "There wasn't an evacuation, are you sure he isn't still in there? Maybe you missed him. The crowd is jumpin' tonight so that would be easy to do."

Jenni couldn't belive what she was hearing. She looked out in the hallway and it was completely empty. There was no one there except for the two of them.

Fear was starting to constrict Jenni's chest. She thought maybe she was starting to go crazy. She fiddle with the new pinky ring Philip had given to her earlier in the evening. She twirled the emerald around and around on her finger trying to think of her next plan.

Suddenly, music started again.

"The band must be back," Jenni said.

When she turned to tell the cigarette girl thank you for helping, Jenni noticed she was gone. Not knowing what to think, Jenni walked back toward the club following the muisc.

When she pushed open the doors, she saw there was a small crowd gathered in the club chairs sitting at the small cocktail tables enjoying the band on stage. It wasn't nearly as large of a group as was there earlier.

Jennie stood in the back a moment and scanned to see if she could spot where Philip was sitting. He wasn't at their original table, but maybe he had deicded to move.

She looked everywhere, but Jenni couldn't spot him. That's when she noticed it, the band on the stage was completly different than the one that was playing earlier in the evening. Surely, they didn't switch bands already.

Jenni was starting to become irritated again. Nothing was making sense. This time, she knew she had to get some answers.

She walked over to a couple that was sitting at the table closest to her.

"Excuse me," she said.

The couple turned toward her.

"Was this the same band that was playing earlier this evening, or did they have a set change," asked Jenni?

The couple looked at each other. The woman whispered something to the man that caused him to become adgitated. He was so mad, he gave Jenni a dirty look before he got up and walked away.

The woman turned toward Jenni and gave her a kind smile.

"Why don't you have a seat," she said patting a red velvet chair next to her.

That is when Jenni saw it, the same emerald ring she was wearing also on the pinky of this female stranger.

Jenni looked at ring and then back at the woman.

"I can explain a lot of your questions if you have a seat," the woman said again gesturing toward the chair.

Jenni really wasn't sure what else to do so she sat down as the band continued to play.

"I see you noticed my ring," said the woman. "I'm Yvette, by the way."

"Jenni."

The woman took Jenni's hand and looked at the emerald ring on her hand.

"I'm sure you are lost and wondering what just happened. It seems like the whole world has changed hasn't it?"

Jenni nodded.

Yvette sighed and continued, "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you're dead."

Jenni thought she didn't hear Yvette correctly.

"What do you mean, I'm dead?"

"You have been dead for quite some time, I'm assuming. Who gave you the ring," asked the woman?

Stunned, the only words Jenni could say was, "My boyfriend."

Yvette nodded. "Same thing happened to me. You have to always wonder why would someone you love so much do this too you."

"Not to be rude, but what do you mean 'do this to you,'" said Jenni?

"My appologizes," said Yvette. "Whenever your boyfriend gave you that ring he damned you. He cursed your soul to be trapped in the place where he gave you this ring."

Jenni's head began to swim with all the thoughts of what was going on. Dead? She couldn't be. Philip would never do anything like that to her.

"Are all of these other people cursed from the same ring," she asked Yvette.

Yvette paused and seemed to take in the music for a moment before she continued.

"Some are, yes. Others are ghosts because they suffered a tragic death and had such deep connections to the place that their souls welded to the place. I'm sure you never thought of Musica Emporia being such a haunted house, huh?"

Jenni was starting to buy Yvette's story more and more. It didn't seem possible, but how could she explain the sudden disappearance of everyone or the new band.

She sank into her seat even deeper. She didn't know what else to do.

"You better get comfortable," said Yvette. "You are stuck here with us for the rest of eternity."

Flash Fiction Friday: Home Sweet Home

Each Friday, I will blindly pick a picture card from the board game Mysterium , and set a timer for fifteen minutes. When the timer goes off, the story is done.

Aristu was mad.

He was right in the middle of a wonderful dream. He was walking through a beautiful field of wild flowers in the bright sunshine. He could smell his favorite dessert, angel food cake, wafting to him from a nearby cabin. It reminded him of home.

Instead of making it to the cabin he was woken up from his wonderful dream due to a noise that he heard in the nearby room.

He groaned and rolled out of bed and put on his black suit of armor.

"When will these people learn," he said while groaning to reach over and pick up his giant ebony sword.

"I see you have already heard," came a voice in the darkned hallway that Artistu stepped into.

"I did. I'm not happy about it, but what can I do," he replied.

"Well, get on with it," said the voice.

Aristu walked down the hallway and gave a look to a painting of a woman wearing a crown. "You don't have to add insult to injury," he said.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to," said the painting as Aristu huffed and walked down the hall.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Aristu could see the trespasser running down the hall. He was a little man with a shock of white hair on top of his head and a blue jacket flapping in the breeze behind him.

Even though he was far away, Aristu could hear the heavy breathing the man was doing in order to put more distance between himself and the towering knight all dressed in black.

As he ran, the man held tightly to the crystal; his prize.

All along the gallery hall the paintings came to life and tried to stop him. One of the ocean paintings spilled forth and tried to flood the man out, but he dodged around the water. Even Esmeralda, who told Aristu about the intruder, was firing a pistol from her painting,

"Where did she get that gun from," he thought to himself and making a mental note to ask her about it later.

The man dodged the bullet and was even able to run around Emishas' pack of dogs that were snapping and snarling from the painting with salava dripping down from their jaws.

Now Arisut felt even more pressure. He was the last defense in protecting the castle. If this man made it beyond the castle walls with the crystal, they would all be turned to dust. It was the crystal that kept Arisut, Emserlda, Emisha, and the others "alive." Well, as alive as they could be considering they were just enchanted objects. But, to them it didn't feel like they were any less alive than the theif who had invaded their home. They had memories, or so they thought they did. Aristu thought of his mom, and of the field, and of enjoying her angel food cake after his classes at the castle. It always made him feel better after a long day of bullying. He wasn't about to let all of this be taken away from him by this greedy, little man. He never could understand why people couldn't be happy with what they had.

"Aristu!" came a shout that took him out of his head. It was Emisha yelling at him from down the hall. "He is almost there!"

Panic began to bubble in his chest. It was down to him. The man had almost crossed the threshhold. Only a few more steps and they would be dust.

Aristu held his breath, focused on the man and pulled his arm back. He exhaled and launched the sword directly at the man's head, cutting the thick air around him with a whirl.

Flash Fiction Fridays: Waxed Wings

Each Friday, I will blindly pick a picture card from the board game Mysterium , and set a timer for fifteen minutes. When the timer goes off, the story is done.

Ashtor laid back on the couch. The leather felt sticky on the backs of his legs and the noise it made seemed to rattle around in his head. He didn't like the stretching sound of the material. It reminded him of a nightmare he once had.

"Ashtor, you should start to feel the affects of the medication taking place. Just don't fight it. Let it sweep over you like a wave and let it take you under. You are safe. To come back, remember to tap on your wrist three times. Do you understand?"

He searched his mind to try and focus on the voice of Dr. Emmerstein, but he had a hard time clearing away the fog that seemed to not only cloud his vision, but his mind as well.

The last thing he heard before the clouds completely took over was the voice saying, "Don't forget why you are going there in the first place. Don't disappoint us again."

The clouds took over completly. All he could see was fog. Ashtor put his hands out in front of himself and slowly shuffled his feet. They felt very heavy, as if the ground was fighting against him.

Suddenly, his hands hit something hard and gritty to the touch. His fingers carefully caressed the surface. It felt like he was touching rock, maybe even standstone. But, it didn't quite feel as organic, it was too uniform.

Keeping his hand on the wall, Ashtor turned around and could finally see clearly. The fog had departed. He was standing in the middle of the dessert and was touching a wall to what looked like an ancient city. On the wall were round wheels that were connected by differnet colored ropes. He couldn't help but wonder if pulling one of the ropes would operate the wheel.

He didn't have a chance to check out his theory because he felt something crawling over his boot. He looked down and had to fight the urge to not jump back. Resting on the top of his foot was a brown scorpion with bright blue streaks. Ashtor held his breath and quickly picked up his foot and shook it away from himself. The scorpion went flying and disappeared into the haziness of the dessert.

"Serves you right," said Ashtor under his breath.

He looked up for a way of getting into the walled city. That's when he saw it. Blue and gray feathers sticking out over the top of the citadel. Ashtor thought he had problems with the scorpion, but nothing would compaire to what would happen to him if one of these creatres caught him.

He looked for a way to escape. He had to get out of there before the guard saw him. Ashtor looked to his left and saw an archway that lead into the city. He didn't have a lot of time to think about it because he heard a noise coming up behind him. It was a sound like something walking through the sand.

He looked to his right and saw two large poles emerging around the corner of the wall. He knew all to well who they belonged to. He flattneed his back against the wall to try and hide in the minimal shaddows the dessert provided. He quickly and quietly crept toward the archway.

Ashtor knew he shouldn't have done it, but he couldn't help himself. He had to see it. He turned to his right and realized his greatest fears had become a reality.

On top of the tall poles was what could best be described as a man with the head of a bird and large feathered wings. It locked its peiercing black eyes on to Ashtor. He tried to look a way but it was impossible now. Ashtor knew this because he had been here before.

"You barely got out alive last time you tried to invade the Temple of the Guardians," said the voice of the creature that was inside Ashtor's head. "We know why you are here, and now you must offer your suffering."

Flash Fiction Friday: Deep

Each Friday, I will blindly pick a picture card from the board game Mysterium , and set a timer for fifteen minutes. When the timer goes off, the story is done.

The boy stood at the water's edge with fishing pole in hand.

He looked out on the water but he couldn't see the land.

He tossed the rod over his head and with the flick of his wrist,

the line seemed to jump in the air with a dance and a twist.

It sunk down deep into the darkest parts where secrets like to hide,

what the boy did not know was what was trapped inside.

The hook caught onto something big he felt it on the line,

He reeled in the flimsy rod in hopes he would get his treasure in time.

His eyes grew big and his mouth dropped low,

for on the end of his line was a fish he didn't know.

He didn't know how he did it, but he used all his might.

He pulled and tugged until his catch was in sight.

Right on the end of the hook was a rusted and worn cage,

when he saw what was inside he began to fill with rage.

It was a beautiful woman, well that is all that he could see,

she told him to come closer and to help set her free.

The boy was unsure, he thought he lost his mind,

if this was true then this was an even bigger find.

The woman said she was fairy, that was caught by an evil man,

he captured her and her seven sisters and and threw them into the water without a plan.

"Rescue me and my sisters, and I will grant you a wish.

I know you believe that that is a bigger reward than just a fish."

The boy thought for a moment, but it didn't take him long,

he pulled the cage closer and decided to right the evil man's wrong.

The fairy came out and gave him a big smile,

"Please save my sisters, they have been down there for a while."

The boy took his rod and whipped it in the lake,

He pulled up the six other cages, which made his body shake.

One by one, the fairies were all rescued from the deep,

Now it was their turn to show their promise they did intend to keep.

"I wish that I could fish all day, it's my favorite thing to do.

If you could grant this wish, my dreams would come true."

The first fairy smiled, and asked him if he was sure.

With a nod the boy agreed and said "I want nothing more."

The fairy reached into her flowing purple gown,

she pulled out some sparkling dust and told him to turn around.

The boy followed the instructions and did as he was told,

the fairy blew the dust at him and watched as it took hold.

You might see the boy if you ever visit the gardens by the bay,

he stands there with his fishing pole to this very day.

The moral of the story, I'm sure that you have guessed,

Is to just go fishing and forget about the rest.

Book Beats: Hotel Arcadia

Sometimes places can take on a personality. Almost like a person. This is why Hotel Arcadia gets its own playlist as part of the "Book Beats" series.

Lots of people have heard of The Stanley Hotel from Stephen King's "The Shining" or the real life Cecil Hotel in LA where Elisa Lam disappeared in 2013.

Hotel Arcadia has a lot in common with these two infamous places. It's a place where you can rest, but at what cost. The good thing is you have choices. Just choose wisely or you may end up regretting your decision.

"Hotel Arcadia" is the final story in "Seraphim Falls." All of the other stories before have led up to this one. Sprinkled throughout were little bread crumbs leading up to this point. If you missed any clues, go back and look over the other stories. It will be worth it, I promise!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know some of the people from Seraphim Falls through music.

If you already own the book, I hope you enjoy listening to the various soundtracks while you read the stories. If you haven't purchased a book yet, this blog series will hopefully give you a feel for some of the characters that you can learn more about in "Seraphim Falls."

I'm working on a sequel. It won't be a direct sequel, but the story will be told in a "different" way. I don't want to spill any secrets, so I should leave it at that.

Thank you to all of you who have purchased a book. I can't thank you enough!

If you are still looking at picking up a copy you can do so from here.

You can also purchase ebooks and paperbacks from anywhere you can books online.

I hope you enjoy your visit to Seraphim Falls and that you come back; that is if you can actually escape the town.

* Some songs contain explicit lyrics.