Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 149
November 9, 2020
A Bewitching Monday
In the Kitchen with Freida Kilmari #inthekitchen #disastershakes #boozyblends #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/UaPk50CfhNk
Balancing Family and Writing with Titus Murphy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/doFz50Cfhun
The Journeys of a Different Necromancer by James J Crofoot #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/LP7t50CfhS8
Spiritwalker: Some Like It Haunted by Tanith Davenport @TanithDavenport #Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2020/...
The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram @tyler_cram ~ #Horror #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lXWK50CfhK1
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/IvFp50CfhEk
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson - Book Tour + Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/D5ph50CfhB4
Spiritwalker: Some Like It Haunted by Tanith Davenport @TanithDavenport #Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/vL0G50Cfhn9
Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ A Heart of Salt and Silver Elexis Bell @bell_elexis #Supernatural #HighFantasy #Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/7Wke50CfhkE
The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram @tyler_cram ~ #Horror
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2020/...
Guest Blog- Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4M4k50CdnL2
INTERVIEW - DARK SUPERNATURAL - A HEART OF SALT AND SILVER by Elexis Bell #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lAnq50CdnA3
November 6, 2020
A Bewitching Friday
Guest Blog- Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4M4k50CdnL2
INTERVIEW - DARK SUPERNATURAL - A HEART OF SALT AND SILVER by Elexis Bell #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lAnq50CdnA3
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/O78550CdnNY
The Queen of Harlem Commandments by Michelle Smalls #bewitchingbooktours
https://www.tsstuff.net/2020/11/the-q...
The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram - Book Tour + Giveaway
https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2020...
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe C.A. Masterson #bewitchingbooktours
https://midnightmusingswithbertena.bl...
Some Like it Haunted by Tanith Davenport - Book Tour + Giveaway
https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2020...
Excerpt: The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram + giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Lp0K50CdnSc
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson @CA_Masterson ~ #Fantasy #Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/AdEX50CdnJ1
In the Kitchen with Tyler Cram #horror #Inthekitchen #pumpkindessert #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/sopy50Ccifl
The Fifth Horseman The Horseman’s Harem Saga Book One Freida Kilmari #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4FQr50Ccilg
November 5, 2020
A Bewitching Thursday
In the Kitchen with Tyler Cram #horror #Inthekitchen #pumpkindessert #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/sopy50Ccifl
INTERVIEW - BIOGRAPHICAL - THE QUEEN OF HARLEM COMMANDMENTS by Michelle Smalls #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Qlzy50CciAp
INTERVIEW WITH KAYLIN McFARREN (SOUL SEEKER)
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.c...
The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari @EannaRoberts ~ The Horseman’s Harem Saga, Book One ~ Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/I2AO50CciwK #romance #BookTour #book #fantasy
Spiritwalker by Tanith Davenport #PNR #eroticromance #bewitchingbooktours
https://www.tsstuff.net/2020/11/spiri...
Broken hearts and damned souls, magic and death…
All in a day’s work for a demi-demon.
But can she be more?
A Heart of Salt and Silver by Elexis Bell
https://amzn.to/2Tw5Sn1
#PNR #fantasy #supernatural #paranormalromance
#AHeartOfSaltAndSilver #darkfiction #fantasyromance
The Fifth Horseman The Horseman’s Harem Saga Book One Freida Kilmari #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4FQr50Ccilg
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson
https://www.roxannerhoads.com/2020/11...
Virtual Book Tour: A Heart of Salt and Silver Elexis Bell
http://mommasaystoreadornottoread.blo...
November 4, 2020
A Bewitching Wednesday
Interview- Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ui1p50Cbe3P
Interview with Freida Kilmari #authorinterview #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/UhIj50CbdPD
INTERVIEW - EROTICA PNR - SPIRITWALKER: Some Like it Haunted by Tanith Davenport #bewitchingbooktours
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blog...
The Curse of the Mountain Tyler Cram #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/H63W50Cbejl
The Fifth Horseman (The Horseman’s Harem Saga #1) by Freida Kilmari
https://www.mythandmagicbookclub.com/...
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren #bewithcingbooktours http://ow.ly/EgCY50Cbe6u
Broken hearts and damned souls, magic and death…
All in a day’s work for a demi-demon.
But can she be more?
A Heart of Salt and Silver by Elexis Bell
https://amzn.to/2Tw5Sn1
#PNR #fantasy #supernatural #paranormalromance
#AHeartOfSaltAndSilver #darkfiction #fantasyromance
The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari - Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/RHF450CbenH
The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram #horror
https://www.roxannerhoads.com/2020/11...
Virtual Book Tour: The Queen of Harlem Commandments by Michelle Smalls
http://mommasaystoreadornottoread.blo...
November 3, 2020
A Bewitching Tuesday
UF Author Kaylin McFarren: Shares a scary story! + excerpt #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/GT7P50Ca9Fd
Author Interview - The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram #horror #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/AkGm50Ca9aZ
The Queen of Harlem Commandments by Michelle Smalls #bewitchingbooktours
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/2020/...
Release Day Blitz A Heart of Salt and Silver by Elexis Bell
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/6X7D50Ca9cK
Virtual Book Tour: Spiritwalker by Tanith Davenport
http://mommasaystoreadornottoread.blo...
The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari
https://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com...
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson
https://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com...
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa FeC.A. Masterson Genre: FantasyPublisher: Wild Rose PressDate of Publication: October 5, 2020ISBN: 978-1-5092-3351-9 PaperbackISBN: 978-1-5092-3352-6 DigitalNumber of pages: 330Word Count: 82,600Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Tagline: Most families have quirks, but not like Marissa’s.
Book Description:
After Marissa Tahy returns home to Santa Fe, she is haunted by visions and glimpses of danger no one else sees: the spirit of Old Man Gloom in his true form.
For a hundred years, people have burned their troubles in the spirit’s effigy at the Zozobra festival, each year making the spirit angrier and more powerful. This year, Old Man Gloom demands his due. The vengeful spirit targets those Marissa loves.
Even when Marissa discovers the secret history binding her family to Zozobra, joining their forces may not be enough to prevent the furious spirit from burying Santa Fe beneath an avalanche of misery.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/j3HVxC6azcQ
Amazon BN
Excerpt:
The crack between worlds happened before I decided to move home to Santa Fe. Had the thought occurred to me, I’d probably have laughed, a little. Until the memory pushed through, a half-remembered nightmare hidden in an undercurrent of emotion, but
always there, flowing beneath the surface of consciousness. Sometimes it’s better if those feelings stay buried, where they can’t pull you under.
After twenty-four years, here I was. Back in the City Different. Because sometimes, life makes hard choices for you. Otherwise, I’d still be in San Diego, not in my aunt’s house, trying hard to pretend I wasn’t a stranger to my own family. For the last half hour, I’d tried to shake off the odd sensation after Zelda made an impromptu, awkward stop at the site of my childhood home, whatever that was about. No longer commenting
on family social media posts from a distance, instead I was in the thick of things.
“How’s Javi been?” I asked Zelda. My aunt had answered my offer to help prepare dinner by handing me a glass of wine and telling me to relax, she had it under control. I had no doubt. Despite driving me from the airport, she was as cool as a freshly picked jalapeno, and as likely to burn you.
“Wonderful. But you can ask him yourself at dinner.” Her deep, distinctive voice was like smoke pouring across gravel.
“Cool, I can’t wait.” When I’d last spent time with my cousin, we’d been kids. Closer than most first cousins, we shared a family conspiracy, hoping none of our classmates would find out that we were not like any of them. No matter where we went, we didn’t belong.
Zelda’s silver bracelets jingled as she briskly arranged vegetables around haddock fillets. “Phoebe will be excited to see you again.”
“You still have her?”
“Of course. She’s as old as you, which makes her barely middle-aged. Phoebe, dear,” she called, “we have company.”
A squawk sounded from the other room, where sunshine poured across the floor in a welcoming sea of light.
I’d always loved my aunt’s house. From sunup to sundown, daylight flooded through the house’s tall windows. The wood-framed stucco structure was a typical style for Santa Fe, not much different from the others in the neighborhood. What had stood out in my
memory was the tall wooden fence that bordered the yard, painted a vivid shade of blue, with myriad crosses along the top of the front gate.
“Careful,” Zelda said. “She’s testy sometimes.”
“Aren’t we all?” I only half joked.
Before my aunt could answer, I made my way from the kitchen to the sunroom beside it. The glass enclosure looked out onto the back yard and faced the outdoor fireplace. On either side of the tall chimney, colorful painted angels decorated its white stucco surface.
The bird cage, as tall as me, occupied a corner. And as always, the door sat wide open so Phoebe could climb in if she wanted, which she almost never did unless she got hungry. A bamboo perch ran above the cage, between the two potted palm trees that provided shade. There Phoebe sat, eyeballing me. Sunlight caught the green and blue feathers, making their colors rich as jewels.
At my approach, the parrot bobbed its head and danced along the perch. Even a nip from Phoebe’s curved beak hurt like hell, so I kept a few feet between us and cooed my greeting.
Pans rattled in the kitchen. “Be nice, Phoebe girl.”
The bird gave no indication of recognizing me. I didn’t know why I’d expected a different reaction. Because I’d taught it more than fifty words, over two decades earlier? Moving home shouldn’t reduce me to childish notions.
So much for a reunion. I returned to the kitchen.
“Sure I can’t help with anything?”
“When do you start your new job?”
“Monday.” Fluttering in my belly reminded me it was coming up fast. Another long adjustment period awaited me, learning a new job, getting to know all the quirks and qualities of my coworkers. After I’d been hired as the new reporter at the Santa Fe Chronicle, I’d read the online edition every day. The stories helped give me a sense about the writers. Glimmers of their personalities shone through in their word choices, the nearly undetectable spin they gave topics.
“That doesn’t leave you much time for moving in.”
Spooning a marinade over the dish, Zelda flicked up her gaze.
The look hit me like lightning. The cogs were turning in my aunt’s head; I could practically see the rotation behind her eyes. If I didn’t put her off track, Zelda would start commandeering my daily life.
I folded my arms and shifted toward the island, a not-too-subtle body language indicating my need for a barrier between us. “The two guys I hired to bring my stuff are supposed to arrive tomorrow morning. I don’t have much, so they can get everything inside the apartment in a few hours. I prefer to take my time settling in.” All taken care of, my subtext said. No need for Zelda to worry. She could divert those black eyes elsewhere.
On cue, Zelda flashed her Mona Lisa smile and glanced away. “Too bad I gave my extra furniture to Javi.”
I watched my aunt with a mixture of wonder and frustration. All these years, and Zelda still pretended. Spoke with flawless Spanish enunciation, wore her long black hair in a bun at the back of her neck, decorated her house with painted ceramic geckos and metal sun faces, even named her son Javier to avoid question of our true nationality. My parents had committed the same sins of omission and pretense and expected us children to do the same.
About the Author
Award-winning author C.A. Masterson loves stories of any genre. Multi-published in contemporary to historical, fantasy/dark fantasy to paranormal/speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. In 2010, The Pearl S. Buck Foundation awarded first place to her short literary story, Christmas Eve at the Diner on Rathole Street. Her short literary story, All is Calm, All is Bright, was awarded second place in the annual Pennwriters Short Story contest in 2005.
Visit her at http://paintingfirewithwords.blogspot.com or look for her romance stories as Cate Masters at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catemasters
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CA_Masterson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.a.masterson/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423146.C_A_Masterson BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-a-masterson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg1MbHACYX0tLuPiONBzCDg
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari
The Fifth HorsemanThe Horseman’s Harem Saga Book OneFreida Kilmari
Genre: Reverse Harem Fantasy RomancePublisher: Kilmari PublishingDate of Publication: October 31st 2020ISBN: 978-1-9993472-3-9ASIN: B08K83QXWXNumber of pages: 458Word Count: 120,000 words
Cover Artist: Covered Creatively
Tagline: No name. No past. One giant future?
Book Description:
The only thing worse than suddenly waking up in a magical house with the insanely gorgeous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Being the Fifth.
With no memory of who I am, where I came from, or what I’m doing here, I’m thrust into a new life with four people who I might want more from than just friendship. But with no past, how can I possibly plan for a future?
The only clue as to who I am? Four different species' magic resides within me—Vampire, Fae, Shifter, and Witch—and between them, I might be the most powerful creature on the planet.
For fuck's sake.
Look out world, Horseman of Magic coming through!
Amazon
Excerpt 1
He’s tied his shoulder-length white hair up into a knot out of the way, and I get a clear look at his not-frowning face for the first time. It’s aged with years of trouble. I can tell from the frown lines and shadows beneath his eyes, but his face also speaks of an experience the others don’t seem to grasp so heavily. Something about this man draws me in, something dark and twisted. I want to understand his pain, to revel in that darkness with him, to understand what kind of horrors this man can inflict.
Freida Kilmari is an author, writer, and editor residing in south-west England, who loves all things fiction. She has a passion for fantasy, romance, science-fiction, and poetry that runs her life, from her career to her passions.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kilmariskeep
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EannaRoberts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18691662.Freida_Kilmari
November 2, 2020
Release Day Blitz A Heart of Salt and Silver by Elexis Bell
A Heart of Salt and SilverElexis Bell
Genre: Dark supernatural high fantasy romance
Date of Publication: 11/3/2020
Cover Artist: Elexis Bell
Tagline: With eternity on the line, is love worth the risk?
Book Description:
Ness, a demi-demon with a conscience, just wanted a peaceful afternoon in the Forest of Immortals. But Elias, a reckless mortal, went and spoiled it. Not that he wanted to be chased by psychotic vampires.
After saving his life, Ness agrees to help him find his estranged father and his Pack. But that means facing Nolan, the werewolf ex that holds her heart.
Now, Ness must decide. Use Elias to forget Nolan at the cost of his soul or crawl back to her ex and hope he still wants her even though she broke his heart.
But in a world sprinkled with immortals, broken hearts might be the least of their worries.
Fans of gritty fiction, compelling romance, and imaginative takes on magic and the afterlife will love this dark supernatural high fantasy romance.
Amazon
Excerpt 1:
“Unhand us, witch!” the vampire shouts.
The mortals, apparently far smarter than this vampire, remain silent. Even the vampire’s own pledge seals his lips shut. A wave of Nether wafts off him, marking him as a Nether witch.
But fury sparks within me, and a dark grin overtakes me. I lower my arm, setting the blades down gently in the middle of the clearing.
“What was that?” I ask, daring the vampire to repeat himself.
Stupidly enough, he does. “I said, ‘unhand us, witch!’ Let us go quickly, and I might not kill you.”
Arrogant fool.
I laugh quietly, and all the birds fly away, deserting their treetop perches. A dangerous glint shines in my eyes as I saunter within arm’s reach.
“Witch? You think me a witch?”
“How else could a pitiful, puny little woman like you do all this?” He jerks his head at the other two men, unable to move his arms. Cheeks flushed with anger, he draws back and spits in my face, dark eyes flashing, all the while.
Nearby animals sense my anger reverberating on the Nether, and the woods fall completely silent. Fury roils within me, and visions of blood fill my mind. Everything in me demands his evisceration.
Or perhaps the removal of some limbs…
With eyes narrowed, I lift one hand. He flinches, and I smile, baring my teeth. His spit floats into the air, leaping happily from my skin. My spine shivers with disgust and hatred as I force the spit to smear itself over the vampire’s face, over his eyes.
Slowly twirling one finger, I tighten his bonds. Air rushes from his lungs, and his soft face goes red as he struggles to breathe.
“You underestimate me. I don’t know a single witch who can do everything I’ve done without at least three days of spell and potion preparation. Not to mention the difficulty of lugging all those ingredients out here.”
Lifting one average looking fingernail to his face, I trace one of his cheekbones, then the other, splitting the skin wide. A line drawn down the center of his nose, from bridge to tip, releases still more blood.
My eyes flutter as the darkest parts of me savor the sight.
“As for spitting on me,” I whisper, knowing my voice will carry to the others, echoing in their bones despite its low volume, “that was a grave mistake. Most of my kind would have killed you on the spot, simply for the disturbance.”
Voice suddenly a hiss, I say, “You’re lucky I’ve learned patience.”
My soul riots for revenge, and my blood boils in my veins. I fight the damnable words, hating my own weakness before my rage, but still, I say, “But ignorance must not go to seed. Your family line will end with you. You will never again create, or prolong, life.”
And I shift the Nether to make it so.
“Your kind? What are you talking about? What makes you think you can curse me?” All bluff and bluster, the vampire tries to appear brave and defiant.
But I feel the fear leaking off him. I smell it in his blood, acrid and spoiled. I hear it in his sputtering heartbeat, slightly more erratic than those of the others.
Again, I say nothing. Drawing a deep breath, I close my eyes slowly.
Thunder roars through the clearing, rumbling in all our chests. I open my eyes, glittering gold sending light reflecting back at the vampire, and my skin grows paler. Fingernails become golden talons, embedded in black skin which reveals hues of purple as it fades to white just above my wrist. My eyelids are colored similarly, pulsing with the Nether that reaches out through my skin.
Black horns burst from my skull, sticking through locks of deepest red. My horns twist as they taper off, curling back over the top of my head.
The color drains from the vampire’s face, concealed as it is by his blood. Sick glee spikes through me.
“Did you know you would feel my revelation in your blood? Did you know the very air would tremble with it?” I ask, knowing the answer to be a resounding “no.”
“You’re a…” he trails off, unable to speak for lack of air.
“Demi-demon is, I believe, the word you’re looking for,” I say, smiling malevolently. “Now, I’m going to untether you, and you’re going to run. Before I change my mind.”
About the Author: Elexis Bell is a quiet nerd with too many hobbies, including everything from gaming to shower-singing and even archery, weather permitting. She specializes in sarcasm and writing stories that make people feel. She's made a home for herself with her husband, their dog, and a small army of cats.
She writes dark, gritty stories, sprinkling gut-wrenching emotions over high fantasy romance, thrillers, post-apocalyptic romance, and science fiction.
For further information, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or check out her blog on her website.
Website: www.elexisbell.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gnTZwf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elexis-Bell-877360839111331/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bell_elexis
Blog: http://www.elexisbell.com/blog/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elexis_bell
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elexis_bell/
Allauthor: https://allauthor.com/author/elexisbell/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17807452.Elexis_Bell
Nanowrimo: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/elexisbell
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Bewitching Monday
INTERVIEW WITH FREIDA KILMARI (The Fifth Horseman)
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/4GY650C8Yxs
The Markings by Catherine Downen #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/eOx850C8YBW
Spiritwalker by Tanith Davenport #PNR #eroticromance
#bewitchingbooktours
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/2020/...
The Curse of the Mountain by Tyler Cram #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/NOGR50C8Yv7
The Queen of Harlem Commandments by Michelle Smalls #bewitchingbooktours
https://bewitchingbooktours.tumblr.co...
Trick or Treat at Caynham Castle by Jeanne Adams, Morgan Brice, Caren Crane, Nancy Northcott @MorganBriceBook @JeanneAdams @NancyNorthcott @carencrane1 #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/TD0x50C8YII
THE MARKINGS by CATHERINE DOWNEN #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/oM5750C8YAr
Broken hearts and damned souls, magic and death…
All in a day’s work for a demi-demon.
But can she be more?
A Heart of Salt and Silver by Elexis Bell
https://amzn.to/2Tw5Sn1
#PNR #fantasy #supernatural #paranormalromance
#AHeartOfSaltAndSilver #darkfiction #fantasyromance
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren #SupernaturalThriller
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/9Tpu50C8YnK
Trick or Treat at Caynham Castle #PNR #paranormalromance
#bewitchingbooktour
https://serenasynn.blogspot.com/2020/...
October 31, 2020
Release Day Blitz Black Oak : The Loveless Chronicles Chapter 1 by Titus Murphy
Black Oak The Loveless Chronicles Chapter 1 Titus Murphy Genre: Horror, FantasyPublication Date: October 31, 2020Publisher: Cosby Media Production ASIN: B08KRQDCGY
WELCOME TO BLACK OAK!
In the town of Black Oak, nothing is ever what it seems. Besides the wrangling local country-types, the city is marred by a history of indiscretions, murders, and no-named civilians perpetrating as heroes. But beneath the surface of this "run of the mill," Midwestern locale lurks a pervasive past that is about to come full circle: like a blazing blood moon.
Mark is an unassuming trucker who has fallen for a beautiful clerk working at a “Mom & Pop” store named Sharon, and nothing else in the world matters more than stealing her heart. But after making a run into the Bayou to deliver a package, destiny steps in and serves him a plate of "the unexpected," which sparks the flames of wickedness that will set his hometown ablaze. And as the secrets buried in this town begin to unearth, the truth will fan those burning flames until there is nothing left but ashes and chaos.
In the end, the only mystery left to solve will be if this is isolated to one town or involve the fate of the entire world...
FOREWORD REVIEW: "...full of interesting characters who hold attention...the secrets of their home are a binding force that brings the tale together."
CLARION RATING: 4/5 "In the fantasy novel Black Oak, citizens across two ears reckon with strange creatures among them."
Amazon
Excerpt:
“A what?” Sharon laughed.
“You know, a PITA. Pain in the ass?”
Sharon couldn’t contain her laughter. The conversation seemed to be leading to a much more relaxed place for Mark, and that had to be a good sign. Sharon playfully pushed Mark and prodded him on. “Tell me the story your mom told you, silly,” she said. ”What was it about?”
“Okay. Now I know this might sound kind of crazy to you, but she would tell me about these wild beasts in the Black Oaks.”
“Are you serious?” asked Sharon.
Mark nodded. “Very.”
“Well, to be honest, I’ve heard that story over a million times too.”
“Word?”
“Yeah. What, you thought you were the only one it was told to? This is Wichita, Mark. Everyone here has heard that story before. My dad used to tell my cousin and me that story every weekend and virtually every day she was sleeping over during the summer. He said that the forest was run by wild animals with long fangs and claws that could rip a man to shreds with one swing. Said they’d harvest your heart for food and drink your blood like wine.”
“Word? Like werewolves?” Mark asked.
“Yeah. Sorta. I remember how my mom would lean against the threshold of my room, listening with a serious look on her face as if the story my dad was telling us was the truth. And no matter how many times it was told to me, it would always sound the same. Wild beasts, murderous rampages and mysterious sightings in Kansas, especially in the Black Oak Forest. I brushed it off as a myth because it always sounded like some werewolf story to me. But some people say the stories are real because they’ve been told for over a hundred years in Wichita. Who knows, maybe it all could be the truth. But I never have nor do I now give it too much thought. I tend to put my faith in what I can see, and I’ve never seen anything like what my father and others describe in those stories.”
“Me either,” said Mark.
“Well, I tend to live by one rule when it comes to wives’ tales. If it doesn’t happen to me, it’s not real. So since neither of us has ever seen one before, they don’t exist. And that means it was just a story. Something to tell unruly kids, like you and me, to keep us in line.”
Titus Murphy was born and raised on the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. From a small child, there was an overarching desire for Titus to do one thing: win. His drive and determination drove him to succeed. Armed with a strong mind, a quick wit, and a sharp tongue, he set out to emblaze his mark on everyone he would encounter. Unknown to him were the overwhelming obstacles and seemingly insurmountable tragedy he would have to endure. From this devastation came a resolve fueled by an uncompromising commitment that resonates through every aspect of his life. Forced from the city he knew and loved, Titus relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. It was there his desire and commitment came together resolutely to birth a dream that had long been held in his heart. Oblivious to detraction, and beyond all doubt, Titus would become an author. From the streets of New Orleans that marked his life, to the ink-graced pages upon which he now pours his soul, Titus Murphy has come to show the world that he is truly…something more.
https://cosbymediaproductions.com/
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