Y. Correa's Blog, page 8

A Rose of Two Freebies

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

For us, the lovers of the paranormal, fate is preferably manifested supernaturally. That's because for us, fate being embodied in an otherworldly way brings a sense of excitement, mystery and importance to life.However, those who believe that fate is real also trust that it takes place in even those things we consider mundane.Like what?Every day life.
In celebration of short story month, I would like to bring you something old and something new. In both, we will find an exhibition of fate as experienced by the characters in the interpersonal enigma that is life. Join me?


First: The Old


Blurb:

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

Years pass far too fast. This is something that Martina Foxworthy knows all too well. Sitting in her favorite chair, in her favorite place, Martina recollects her life's journey.
Excerpt
"The spring of her eighteenth birthday, Martina felt like a misfit just as she had her entire life. She’d been told that said feeling would change when she got older. Well, she was older now and nothing had changed. She was, for all intended purposes, now an adult. Eighteen; she could vote, smoke, buy alcohol—although not consume it—even go into a bar if she so desired. And yet, that profuse and innate sensation of not fitting in had become such an all-consuming part of her life that Martina didn’t know how not to feel it. Every spring, during the Easter Holiday, Martina and her kin took a two-week hiatus in the family log cabin, purchased an umpteenth million years ago by her great grandfather Martin Foxworthy the Second.If anyone ever wondered how she’d gotten her name, all they had to do was look at the family tree. Her father was Martin Foxworthy who was the fifth in his bloodline. And, since he’d not spawned a son first but a daughter, Martin added an A to the end of the name and blessed their female child with a name that no one would ever want."

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

Lastly, The New


Blurb:

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

Excerpt
"Angelo Esposito sat on the right-hand side of the front porch steps, fourth step up, people watching. On an overcast day, the clouds created a particular shadowy pattern across the passersby faces making them look mechanical. Things like this always entertained Angelo, he never seemed to get enough. Most of the people who strode through the streets were enthralled in their respective cell phones. The rest looked angry at life; emotionless and half-alive. Except maybe for the bum at the street corner who on any given day would assume the job of heralding government conspiracies, or dance for dollars. It all depended on the day.Sitting on the old and tattered, historically profound New York porch step, Angelo was perfectly comfortable. Entertained and amused; a people watcher at his core. He couldn’t help but think how the persons that walked past were missing out on the knowledge of the rich culture of the avenues which they treaded. Every inch of the firmament, replete with history, depth, despair, glee and the essence of lives now gone.Being brainwashed by technology has that effect on people. They miss the enriching simplicities of life. The little things that made life worth living like the kids jumping rope, the hum of a busy city street, the scent of pizza in the air. There was nothing like it. Angelo always felt like life was best enjoyed when appreciating small wonders."

This story has become my newest favorite for two reasons. First, it is connected to my Fate's Endeavor Series. Second, it's heartwarming, relatable and supernatural. An "All-In-One Punch" if you will.In this story, serendipity meets destiny. It feels as though the Universe has planned something accidentally-on-purpose and at the end of the day the one who learns the lesson is not the human but the angel.

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

Official Book Release Day; Earth 8-8-2: Armageddon's Rise

Hello, one and all! Welcome back!
Today is the big day … the official book release day of “ Earth 8-8-2: Armageddon’s Rise ”. I’m so glad you could join.
If you’ve been following the last week you’ve discovered many behind the scenes information regarding The Earth 8-8-2 Saga. You’ve also seen the new covers for the 1st 2 books in the collection. In case you missed it, here they are:

Here are the blurbs …
Book 1: The Genesis Project
Could Science Serve as Salvation?
One-fourth Human.One-fourth God.One-fourth Superhuman.One-fourth Vampire.
For Dr. Scott, the combined strengths of each life form represent the answer to the onslaught of malice and tyranny plaguing his Earth. When his creation—Genesis—begins developing, the lines between scientist and father become blurred. Soon the time approaches where Genesis is expected to fulfill her purpose. Does she go along willingly, or will her rapid evolution obliterate everyone’s best laid plans?
Book 2: Genesis’ Rebellion
What happens when Science’s Instrument of Salvation blazes her own path?
In the second installment of the Earth 8-8-2 saga, Genesis is heartbroken, disillusioned, but most of all … angry: angry that she has no say-so in the narrative of her own purpose. In the absence of choice, the only response that makes sense is rebellion.
As Genesis elicits the intensity of her powers, General Townsen must act quickly to develop a counterbalance to this previous experiment gone askew. Will the General’s army rise effectively against this unlikely nemesis, or will all see the literal overtures of what occurs when powers that be attempt to regulate true evolution?
These are NOT a standalone books. You must read them in order to get the full story.

Now that you’ve been caught up, let’s take a look at book three. First, the blurb.
In the midst of Genesis' emotional Armageddon comes an Armageddon ... of a different kind.
From the residual carnage arises Experiment-8-8-2.1, Project Armageddon. He desperately seeks the answers to his own existence. Upon searching, Armageddon is confronted by the blinding fury of Genesis, which serves as an unwelcome hindrance until the timely interjection of Dr. Anicom Zenit.When Experiment-8-8-2.1's origins and purpose is divulged, will Armageddon continue to rise?Or will the exquisite apex of scientific rebellion known as Genesis remain a formidable deterrent of progress?

Nature VS Nurture: Earth 8-8-2

Nature VS NurtureAnd Revised Cover Reveal
It’s the age-old psychological question … 
What makes a person evil, is it nature or nurture?

For many years psychologists, psychiatrists, scientists of all kinds and the like have been trying to answer this question without a definitive consensus. Some say it’s nature, others argue that it’s nurture. Then there are those who blur the lines and say that perhaps it’s both. So, is the answer black, white or grey?
Genesis, the main character of the Earth 8-8-2 saga also blurs the lines. You see, due to her makeup it’s nearly impossible to know if she was created that way, or if her upbringing turned the tide.
In my eyes this debate boils down to science versus tenet.
Let’s take a look-see and see what you think.

First, The Facts
Genesis was made, not born.Genesis shares DNA from 4 different entities which makes up her own unique DNA.Genesis has feelings but can also be emotionless.Genesis was raised by a scientist, a soldier and 2 women (1 old, 1 young).Genesis had never really experienced heartbreak until she did .The 4 beings that makeup Genesis’ DNA have their own independent characteristics and in many ways those traits contradict one another.Genesis is all-powerful and singularly so.What does all of this mean? Let’s see if we can figure it out.

Second, Pros VS Cons

Bullet NumberProCon1 (Nature)Can enhance the negatives and reduce the positives by bioengineering.Cannot guarantee that all negative traits have been removed.2 (Nature)This can make the being incredibly powerful because knowing from what something is made of, one can predict the overall outcome..However, it can also make the being unpredictable because when mixing things that were never meant to be unified, the risk is run that it can fail horribly.3 (Nature)Being human, we use feeling to help make moralistic and/or intrapersonal decisions.Being emotionless equals being sociopathic, which can lead to violent behavior by choice.4 (Nurture)Having had different human influences in her life growing up could have taught her about the complexities of the human condition. Having been given love could have softened a potentially eroded heart.Being that she is only ¼ human it may be hard for her to understand and properly process these complexities.5 (Nurture)Heartbreak is a common and natural part of being human but the way you are raised can greatly affect the manner in which you deal with heartache. A good upbringing means better coping skills.If not given the proper tools for emotional stability then when heartache comes, instability can rule your emotional response.6 (Nature)Think about attempting to mix the DNA of a bird, a fish, an insect and a flower. This is how contradictory Genesis’ double helix is. These elements were never meant to be intertwined by nature. However, the successful combination of such makes Genesis’ nature extremely volatile. If effectively combined, the mixture of these sources can make for an incredible creation that could launch humanity into an even grander evolution.7 (Nature)Being all powerful can be a great benefit to mankind if the individual is emotionally well prepared for the complications of life.Being all powerful can be a curse if the individual is ill prepared for the intricacies of the human condition.

Third, ConjecturesIn Genesis’ case, Nature weighs a far greater amount in the makeup of her person. The only counterbalance to her Nature are the binary elements of Nurture (Bullets #s 4 & 5). She carries within her a whopping 72% Nature against a miniscule 28% Nurture.Which one can win the battle of her mind? Is the greatness of her Nature unremarkable against the strength of Nurturing? Or is it the other way round?You know what? I’ll let you decide.

The Science Behind Genesis

The Science Behind GenesisAnd Revised Cover Reveal
If you’re an Earth 8-8-2 Saga fan, you already know the gist of the science behind Genesis, the main character. But today I’d like to go into a bit more detail.To do this we have to start with the 4 main elements; human, vampire, goddess and superhuman.However, before I get into that, let me go back and share an excerpt from “Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project” just to help you catch up a bit if you’re not familiar.
Tyranny and malice swept through Earth 8-8-2 and people like Dr. Scott—or maybe not exactly like him—were looking for the means of freeing themselves from the brutality. Unbeknownst to their oppressors, several of The Rebellion had embarked on a mission to visit other earths in order to collect DNA. Many of the earths that had been visited had various types of living beings. All with their weaknesses, but a vast amount with breathtaking strengths. Capabilities far beyond that which 8-8-2 Earthlings, and any like them, could ever imagine.
Earth 7-0-1 was the residential abyss of vampires. These beings lived on a dark earth, and fed on animals—beasts that were a hybrid of human and ape, although actual humans did not exist there. Dr. Scott surmised that if they had, they'd never survive. No blood on any earth was as good or as nutritious as human blood.
Earth 2-5-4 was the home to superhumans. Everyone was extraordinary, bestowed with supreme gifts therefore everyone was the same. It was an average day on Earth 2-5-4 when someone used their laser vision, or atomic breath.
Earth 9-9-1 was the dwelling of the Gods. It was Mount Olympus and Asgard all rolled up into one. Yet no one had an appreciation for one another's gifts as they were all the same.
Earth 8-8-2's Rebellion shipped scientists specializing in intragalactic travels to as many alternate earths as they could. The mission was to obtain DNA from all of the earths that were inhabited by supreme beings. As such, DNA was eventually gathered from Earths 7-0-1, 2-5-4 and 9-9-1. Albeit an extremely difficult mission, it was in the end, successful.
Now that you have a little bit of backstory, we can move forward.
Why , you may ask, these 4 strands of DNA specifically?
Today I will give you the answer.
The answer, as you could imagine, is derived from yesterday’s blog post, “ All About Earth 8-8-2, The Planet ”.
Let’s take a deeper look, shall we?
If you were a human with abundant knowledge who’d been besieged by other humans with extreme knowledge then you would perhaps look for a way to outsmart your fo. At the end it would be the proverbial “battle of the fittest”.
Who could outsmart whom?
Now, given the technology at hand it would be wise to use what is at your disposal, right? Right.
What did Dr. Scott and The Rebellion have at their fingertips? Intragalactic travel.
This job wouldn’t be the easiest to execute, of course. I mean, think about it … regular humans having to gather DNA from the likes of vampires, superhumans and gods …? It’s damn right ludicrous. But, in the end, worth the trouble. Especially if you could use that DNA to create a being that would vanquish the tyranny and free your planet.
In my mind’s eye I imagine that the soldier-slash-chrononauts that went on this mission perhaps came to the conclusion that if they could garner DNA from children and babies, they may have some chance of executing their mission successfully. I envision them going on some sort of top secret, super spy, resurgence mission to break into the homes of the hosts and swab the mouths of the tots. Then, DNA in hand, they go zooming back to Earth 8-8-2 and hand the treasures over to the right parties.

SIDE NOTE: Honestly, what I just wrote above (↑↑↑) is giving me a huge spin-off story idea.Wait for it y’all … it may just happen. LOL

Anyways, before I interrupted myself so rudely ... 
So the question remains, why these 4 strands specifically? Well, the answer is simple …
THEY NEEDED SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT BE DESTROYED!

All right, now that I’ve made you wait long enough it’s time to show you the revised cover to “Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project”, the Earth 8-8-2 Saga’s first book.
I wouldn’t do the new book cover justice unless I first shared the old cover. So, here is it:

Blurb:
Could Science Serve as Salvation?
One-fourth Human.One-fourth God.One-fourth Superhuman.One-fourth Vampire.
For Dr. Scott, the combined strengths of each life form represent the answer to the onslaught of malice and tyranny plaguing his Earth. When his creation—Genesis—begins developing, the lines between scientist and father become blurred. Soon the time approaches where Genesis is expected to fulfill her purpose. Does she go along willingly, or will her rapid evolution obliterate everyone’s best-laid plans?
Presenting the new cover to “Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project”!

Okie dokie, smokie … Hasta la mañana!

All About Earth 8-8-2, The Planet

The imagination is a powerful thing. Like for real, for real.Whether you’re a painter, a sketcher, a musician or an artist of any kind, the imagination is what makes the wheels of that engine roar. And any artist will tell you, roar they must. One can’t be still until the art is purged from your system and made tangible. Believe me, it’s a thing. Every artist has his/her process. For me the process varies contingent on the story.In this, Earth 8-8-2 was no different. World creating, in this case was imperative. I had to make a world that was feasible, somewhat factual, fanciful and believable. Not easy when you’re writing a science fiction story of any kind, let alone a sci-fi mashup.That’s when the premise of Earth 8-8-2 was born.Let me extract a small excerpt from book one so that you have a better understanding of how the foundation of Earth 8-8-2 was established. The excerpt will speak for itself.

Earth 8-8-2 was the 882nd earth discovered by the scientists that ascertained alternate universes. One thousand had been found to date. The Multiverse Theory had been proven and finally accepted by most earths.Whilst there were some earths that refused to accept the findings, nothing could be done about them. Those earths would stamp and seal their individual fates. Moreover, they would remainbanal. Nothing is more upsetting than those who chose to remain ignorant. Yet, that was an entirely different matter than the problem at hand.What scientists proved was the theory which implies our universe is not alone, that there are many universes existing parallel to each other, was correct. Each distinct universe within theMultiverse Theory were called parallel universes—this thesis was distantly derived from String Theory and The Theory of Everything, which were the fundamental beliefs that implied thatall things are connected. There had been a variety of different conjectures that lent themselves to a multiverse viewpoint, however, one remained solid; there were more earths, universes and living beings that spread out to an innumerable amount of macrocosms. More than could be counted.Each group of people from their own respective earth was referred to as their earth's number and the term 'Earthling'. In Dr. Scott's case, he was an 8-8-2 Earthling.

Alright, now that you can see how the theory was laced together in order to form a believable, feasible, and somewhat scientifically accurate foundation let’s talk about Earth 8-8-2 itself.Today I’ll address the following questions.What is the makeup, climate and characteristic weather like on Earth 8-8-2?What do the people look like and/or what are they?Why is the planet terrorized and by whom?How is this relevant to the storyline?Let’s begin.

What is the makeup, climate and characteristic weather like on Earth 8-8-2?
Imagine for a moment, if you will, a desert land. A dry place where life is scant. A planet where life has to fight to survive. Imagine a sort of Venus plus Earth situation and you’ll have a better understanding of what Earth 8-8-2 is like.

On the other end of that, Earth 8-8-2 is also an exceedingly scientifically progressive place when science rules and religion is nonexistent. Their systemic, cutting edge civilization whose methods are unparalleled.
In a nutshell, Earth 8-8-2 is …Dry, torrid, nearly barren, hard to find sustenance, highly technological, incredibly advanced, dystopia where humans strive but just barely survive.
What do the people look like and/or what are they?
Are you a person with light skin and have you ever been out in the sun for too long? If so, you know exactly what happens …
Tah-dah!

Now imagine for a second, if you can, a civilization that through millions of years of evolution have adapted to the calefaction and viscosity of a planet summerced in desiccation. What would that person look like? Well, the answer that most makes sense is red. That person would have evolved to a point where their skin is made up of a thick, cardinal sheath. Where the dermis is twice as thick as ours and the epidermis can absorb temperatures well into the 100s. This, of course, would resonate throughout their entire makeup. It would cause them to have darker eyes so as to absorb the brighter daylight and adjust to the darker night. It would also tinge their hair follicles in a similar coloring so that the hair would not burn in the sunlight.Long story short, Earth 8-8-2 Earthlings are red. Other than that, they’re basically exactly like us—just human. They have feelings, thoughts, likes, dislikes and all that other good stuff.
Why is the planet terrorized and by whom?
Terrorists can be found anywhere. Even on Earth 8-8-2. Put yourself in the mind of being in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a moment.

Imagine if possible all of the people who are tortured, abused, tormented and killed daily just because of a difference in opinion.This too was the case on Earth 8-8-2, only on a global scale. It seems to me that the smarter some people are, the more they think they have the right to rule over everything and everyone. On a planet where the average IQ is well over 120, you’re going to be confronted by myriad individuals who think they can do a better job at governing things. So they try to take it by force. Hence the birth of the tyrants on Earth 8-8-2. The counterbalance to which is The Rebellion which is comprised of several branches of the military, some scientists and the like.
How is this relevant to the storyline?
Long story short, in order for there to be reason for drastic forward movement in the story there must first be a driving force with the conflict. What better force than a world at odds? None that I can think of.

After all, there had to be a reason for intragalactic earthlings to scavenge the multiverse for the DNAs that could be combined to create the ultimate creation.
So there you have it folks, all about Earth 8-8-2. Chat with you again tomorrow.
Peace,

The Genesis of Genesis

I know I’ve talked about this before. But honestly, it never gets old. Now I love talking about this. In the past, not so much. That’s mostly because of how much I disliked the story after I first finished writing it.I’m reminded of this meme …

Me in a picture. At least at the time I first wrote Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project.
Follow me on a trip through the creation of the Earth 8-8-2 Saga.
The first story in the Earth 8-8-2 Saga started off as a potential short story idea for the very first “Concordant Vibrancy” anthology. Since the theme was unity, I thought to myself, how cool would it be to create a science fiction story that unified science fiction with dark drama and fantasy? Perhaps taking elements of both and intertwining them into one creation …? Thus, “The Genesis Project” was born.Immediately the story took shape in my head. I saw the scientist, Dr. Scott, in his laboratory getting busy with his experiment. But, since Dr. Scott was not from this earth, rather from a parallel earth, he didn’t look like us. At least not completely. That was when the concept of the multiverse theory was incorporated into the story. Soon there was this entire universe of meshed theories and ideas compacted into a novelette sized story. Like a whirlwind, “Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project” was written. I finished the whole thing in a day because the idea was burning in my cerebra like a soldering iron.
Here is the funny part.
We’ll call is “#TheWritingRollercoaster”.

At first I was super excited about the Earth 8-8-2. I mean, it fit the subject matter, was a cool idea, had some powerful characters and some awesome diction. I was honestly all in.↓↓ My Face.

Then I read it. I don’t know what happened but after I read the whole thing I suddenly hated the entire story. I was unimpressed with my own writing, couldn’t stand the characters, hated the whole notion. I felt crushed and defeated. The words that reverberated in my mind were, “This is utter shit!”↓↓ My Face.

I was a hop, skip and a jump away from trashing the whole thing. Then my best friend and I talked about it. She was all, “Y, I think you’re being too hard on yourself. I am sure it’s a great story. Send it to me. Let me read it.” My reply was cut and dry, “Okay, fine. But you’re gonna hate it too. It’s a piece of shit.”↓↓ My Face.

In less than an hour she was done reading the story so she calls me. She’s all, “It’s great. I loved it.” My immediate thought was that she was just being nice. I wasn’t all too convinced and told her so. She was like, “Look, just give it a day or two and re-read it. In the meantime, just write a different story for the anthology. Besides, this one is too rich a story to be in an anthology anyway. I can see this being something extensive.”“Sure, if you say so.” I replied, not completely convinced.↓↓ My Face.

Regardless, I took her advice. I wrote the other story, which I did actually really like for the anthology and submitted it, then went back to “Earth 8-8-2” to re-read it.New day, fresh perspective, I guess. Because when I was done reading the story I was suddenly shocked at how good it was.↓↓ My Face.


Just like that the fervor was reignited and I was like, “Hooooly shit! This could really BE SOMETHING!” In that moment everything changed. I was overcome with enthusiasm for the story and how great it could be. Just like that I planned out the entire saga, the titles, the content, the outlines, the whole bit.↓↓ My Face.

Several years later I am now about to release the 3rd book in the saga and I couldn’t be more thrilled.I’m all like, “3 down and 4 to go!”↓↓ My Face.

Okie dokie, smokie … I’ll catch up with you all again tomorrow.

Can I Get a Refund?

I am not liking this free trail offer of 2020. Can I get a refund?

Let me just start by saying that I didn't anticipate that this year would be so hard so far, but low and behold ... I'm not a happy camper and here is why ...

January was the culmination of some issues a few months in the making.
I'd been struggling with my health for several years, but in November of 2019 upon starting a new job with Amazon it all came to a head. Due to the laborious nature of the warehouse job all of the ailments I'd been battling with for some time decided to show out.This caused an avalanche effect which took me far too many visits to my doctor and to the hospital to get addressed. And eventually, by the end of the month, began the forced process of having to apply for temporary disability.I can't complain about my birthday, though. That was very nice. Sending thanks to the bestie for that.

February was a blur. And not in a good way.The process of applying for and waiting on the temporary disability approval had begun. While the days ticked by, stress built. And built some more, and more, and more.Meanwhile, there was no money to pay bills or tend to household needs. Like food, for example.Thankfully, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and between the bestie and I, we found a way to stay afloat.The scramble, however, lent itself to the tussle of trying to find alternate income and a means to acquire it.Job searches, car shopping (without money), tax filing, more job searching, hustle seeking, and so on.I was called in for a few job interviews but didn't really hit on anything during this time.So ... further stress built.Until the receipt of the income tax return. Finally some alleviation could come. Not a whole lot as the return wasn't so large, but just enough to get important things done.When all of the sudden I received some terrible news in the worst way possible. Via Facebook.A good, longtime friend of mine passed away. This hit me hard. He was younger than me. To make matters more complex was the fact that at one point he had romantic interest in me. Throughout the years we'd known each other I found myself time and time again wondering if I'd made a mistake by not accepting his romantic proposal. Many times I thought to myself that he and I may had been married by that point if I had accepted him. I often wondered and speculated on the "what ifs" of him and I. So I guess you can say he was more than just a friend. I cared about him quite a lot.One week later my mother calls to tell me that my grandmother, whom had been battling with cancer for months was given weeks, if not days, to live.In the background CoVid-19 was running rampant.


Then came March. Oh, for the love of God ... March.

So CoVid-19 creeps closer and closer to home in the background as other things happened in the forefront.In the first couple of weeks of March, I luckily was able to get myself a car which would help with making money in some ways. I am knocking on wood for that. I got called in for an interview and was subsequently hired by the same organization on a part-time and temporary basis. Which was also good. I even got the approval letter from temporary disability which was also nice. This meant that soon the funds would be flowing in. It eased the high tensions of monetary instability.But the battle against CoVid-19 had started to flourish with a vengeance here in the US.I was able to work In-Office for my first week at the new gig but by the time the second week had rolled around, we were quarantined. Simultaneously I received the heartbreaking news from my mother that my grandmother had passed away.It hasn't yet been a week since her passing. I am still heartbroken. She was my last living grandparent and a wonderful, kind, caring matriarch.My biggest regret is that I didn't get the opportunity to see her before her passing. As a matter of fact, it had been years since I'd been able to see her. I wish I'd had more time with her. Sincerely. The last time I'd seen her in person was about 20 years ago. Since she lived out of the United States it was hard for me to go visit as often as I'd have liked.I'm finding it hard to believe that she is gone. I can't quite imagine what the family home would feel like without her there for she was the essence of home. I've cried, even talked to her in prayer, yet I still feel a great void. Mostly because though I know she is "here", she is not here . She had a contagious laugh and a kind smile. She had beautiful gray hair that she always kept in a bun. She smelled of roses and home cooking. She had soft hands and a warm embrace. Her faith ran deep and was her anchor. She hummed her favorite hymns as she swept the kitchen floor and washed the dishes. She praised God with eyes closed tight and arms wide open. She was humble and strong. And kind . Oh so kind .I remember the flavor of her cooking. The sound of the metal cooking spoon tapping the side of the aluminum rice pot. I remember her offering me Bosco chocolate milk because she knew I didn't like strawberry. And for some reason she always had Coca Cola laying around in the kitchen "for visitors". LOLI'm going to miss her. Just as much as I miss all of my grandparents that are now gone.

Celia Cruz

I am a proud America Afro-Latina. Yes, all three. I am America, of African descent and Latina.
There are a lot of us out there, trust me.
I love Black History Month because it is the opportunity to learn new things that encourage and uplifts people who look like me. Not a common thing.
However, as an Afro-Latina I've come to realize that we don't speak much of the Afro-Latino's in history whom have also made a big impact on this world.
So in commemoration of the same I've opted to share 4 weeks of Afro-Latino's in History.
I begin this venture with the an Afro-Latina from my time. She was a woman that we all respected, admired and loved.
She was ...

Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname "La Guarachera de Cuba". In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" or "The Queen of Latin Music" due to her contributions to Latin music in the United States.Recording hits such as "Quimbara", "Guantanamera", "La Vida ed Un Carnaval" and "La Negra Tiene Tumbao", Celia Cruz made a name for herself in all realms of Latino Tropical Music.
Celia, however, was not just an amazing and talented voice. She was also a philanthropist. Celia Cruz founded The Celia Cruz Foundation which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for underprivileged students who want to study music. Celia Cruz was a devout supporter of music education in the Hispanic community. The Celia Cruz Foundation is still in existence.
Having been raised in her era I was able to savor the flavor and soul of Celia Cruz' music and character. It was a pivotal part of my upbringing and taught me what it was to have the Latin essence. Today and forever I will be a devoted fan of Celia Cruz, her music, her soul and the imprint she left on all of Latino America, the Caribbean and around the world. She showed me what it was to be proud of my brown skin and my roots. Thank you, Mr. Cruz! 

Book Release: "Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno"

Greetings, one and all!

If you've been following along this past week and a half you probably already know that this is the day that everything has been leading to.

During day one we introduced you to the ingredient of Purpose. Adonis Mann brought up, "Express-Oh".


Day two we took a look at Commitment via Carol Cassada's contribution, "Not Always Like This".


On day three it was all about Consequences; we delved deep into this ingredient via Harmony Kent's story, "The Fireman".


Day four examined Love with Beem Weeks' tale, "The Complications of Fire".


Day five was overtaken by the ingredient of Reinvention as told by C. Desert Rose's story, "Calliope's Inferno".


Day six told us that Tenacity was an important ingredient no matter what the circumstance through Y. Correa's, "Moxy".


Day seven touched on how the ingredient of Risk can be as scolding as any through Synful Desire's, "Antipode".


Day eight cleverly showed how Conviction was as good ingredient as any to keep the fire roaring. Da'Kharta Rising showed us how in "The Chronicles of Aidan".


And last but never-ever least, Queen of Spades indubitably demonstrated how Empathy is the most powerful of ingredients when maintaining our soul's fire burning in, "The Calefaction of Insight".


Now that the picture has become clear and Inferno's stew is bubbling, come serve yourself us a bowl. Come get your copy of, "Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno".




GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

Queen of Spades: The Calefaction of Insight

" Concordant Vibrancy 4: Inferno "Blog Tour Day Nine


The Kindling

The creation of my submission for Inferno stemmed from an unusual place. Unusual in that I was working on a different story for this project. While working on the original story, an event occurred that I concluded only took place in the thick of my poetry writing—I lost the frequency that the story coasted on.
In order to better understand this, I must give a glimpse between what my approach to writing poetry is like versus essays and story writing.
When I write poetry, it’s an unplanned thing. It’s uncaring of the time of day or what else I have going on. When the inspiration strikes, I have to get the words down right at the moment. Flow, meaning, and rhythm can get lost if I don’t complete the process right then and there.
Typically, with essays and story writing, I have an outline and set rhythm in my head. One that I can return to whenever I get ready. All I have to do is sit down and get the words down. I never had to worry about the algorithm going awry … until recently.

It’s comparable to a GPS malfunctioning when one is halfway at the destination. No matter how many times one re-calibrates the machine or how many time it recalculates, you’re stuck with nowhere to go.
On top of that, the area lacks WiFi and one’s cell phone has just two bars.
For the first time in my short story writing career, I declared the original story a no-go but didn’t have a backup on hand to take its place.
This was around mid-April. Mid May arrived. Still no spark to guide me to an answer to the theme question:
What are the ingredients to a sustainable blaze?
In late May, I went on a personal sabbatical to Ocean City, Maryland. Solo vacations serve to be inspirational as well as invigorating. I read a lot of Michelle Obama’s book Becoming. I did some personal journaling, awaiting the arrival of the short story muse.
He (I only call the short story muse He when I’m annoyed) was being ornery.
One June day—Juneteenth to be exact—an image formed in my mind. It was of a person sleeping on his back. The ceiling had a water spot. Condensation was forming.
I opened my word processing application and typed. It came out in present tense, one I had never dabbled in but felt right for what was developing.
Not too long after, a name. Keller.
Up until I finished the story, the working title was Keller. Another staple for me is to already have the title either near the beginning or in the middle.

Nothing about this was my signature.
After doing a preliminary read—immersing in the words as a reader not an author—I thought, “This is a pretty insightful work. Keller experienced varying degrees in his perception of himself and other people.”
Insight … Insight … Insight. That could work as part of the title. Keller’s Insight? It was better than Keller but I still believed there was something missing. I wasn’t accounting for the temperature of his thoughts nor the heat of them.
Hence The Calefaction of Insight.
The Accelerants


The Calefaction of Insight is told in present tense by the main character Keller with bits of independent narration interwoven. Keller is a man who struggles with his weight. He is part of a group whose goal is to encourage him to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
An initial accelerant is “Mr. Jack Off”. A disagreement between Keller and “Mr. Jack Off” is where Keller’s tale begins.


What starts off as an activity challenge blossoms into much more when Keller encounters a woman at the park he refers to as “Goddess”. His interactions with her bring forth positive changes that are noticeable to everyone.
These positive vibes are met with negative accelerants. Some are external forces while others are of his own manufacturing.
The Fuel Which Binds

Overall, The Calefaction of Insight is a mirror on modern day issues (fat acceptance vs. fat shaming, illness and the surrounding stigma, perception of self vs. perception of others) and an ongoing battle of the mind, heart, and spirit.
No matter where one is in life, the presence of empathy is the differential between keeping one’s flame going and having one’s fire dissolve into embers.