Catherine Edward's Blog, page 10

Excerpt - Beyond The Hallow Grave | Mithravathi - The Legend of Mussoorie (EXPLICIT)

 Excerpt - Beyond The Hallow Grave | Mithravathi - The Legend of Mussoorie (EXPLICIT)

Pari Tibba, the land of fairies is home to an ancient legend. Deep in the belly of its oak and pine forest lurks an evil, waiting to be unleashed.
Andrew Garrison is desperate. Driven with sorrow, he sets out to Pari Tibba to seek the very evil whose name must not be spoken of. Disclaimer: Explicit Content. The story contains mentions of rape and non-consensual sexual acts, strong mature language, and graphic violence.
Book Trailer:


Prelude
November 25, 1995Pari Tibba, Mussoorie, India.Hiss…The unsuspecting rodent never saw it coming. A squeak escaped its mouth as it took its last breath. The snake slithered through the bushes, satisfied with its meal, and blended wholly with the surroundings, but another hiss slipped out of its mouth when someone stepped on it.The person in question cursed and hurriedly jumped out of way, barely avoiding its bite. “Shit, that was close.”“Shh.” The other one silenced him, pushed to move forward. The two figures silently moved through the thick vegetation. The silver glow of the moon infiltrated through the gaps of the tall trees, guiding them through the darkness of the jungle. Dead leaves crunched under their feet; sweat coated their brows, their chests heaving. They had been walking for almost two hours now, trekking through the uneven path that stretched ahead. The older of the two staggered when his foot caught on a fallen log. His free arm shot out to hold something for support.“Careful, dad.” The youngest caught him.“I’m fine,” Grabbing his son’s arm he steadied himself, his eyes darted from side to side as he caught his breath. “Are you sure this will work?” “Yes,” His son’s determination rang louder. “Let’s keep moving. Time’s running out.”Andrew Garrison nodded, and they resumed walking again. His fifty-year-old body couldn’t keep up with the twenty-eight-year-old’s pace. Heavy breaths huffed out as they ambled their way through the fallen logs, rocks, and slippery slopes.As they went deeper, the sullen clouds covered the moon, drowning them in utter darkness. With only the dim flashlight and the sound of the chirping crickets as a company, they advanced toward their destination. Andrew had to stop several times to look around before walking again. The odd sounds unsettled his nerves. Something flew to Andrew’s right startling him for the umpteenth time that night. The flashlight fell from his hand as the oldest clutched his chest. “What was that?”Jean Garrison, his son, hastily grabbed the flashlight, “Must be an owl or a bat.” They were deep in the belly of the deodar forest. The sight of coniferous trees with the conic crown, level branches, and drooping branchlets in different shades of green would have been a treat to the eyes in daylight. However, at this time of the night, the permeating scent of cedar accompanied by the dark silhouettes of trees was nothing but ghastly.Andrew nodded, calming his heart, only for it to thunder again when he heard something. His son moved closer, sensing his discomfort, and placed a hand on his lower back. “Dad, you okay?”He eyed the towering trees around them in apprehension. No. He was far from okay. Shaking his head, he held his son’s hand, registering the slight tremble of his fingers. If Andrew had a choice, he would be at home in the comfort of his couch with his beloved wife. But that wasn’t an option. If the bastards were caught and punished as they deserved, he didn’t have to be here. If… if only the mother fucking monsters had stopped with his daughter—Andrew’s mind reeled and he swallowed a sob. His left hand raised to pat the newspaper sat nestled in the safety of his jacket’s pocket. Three weeks ago, when he saw the mauled body of the barely eighteen-year-old girl, he knew it wasn’t a one-time thing. Later, Jean’s deep research pulled a list of five girls murdered over the past five years, including his daughter.“Dad,” Jean shook him again. “It’s close to eleven. We have to be there before the clock strikes twelve.” Andrew shoved the thoughts aside, turning his gaze to Jean. “O-okay. Are we close?”“I think so.”Darkness reigned as far as their eyes could reach. They started before sunset, stopping only to catch their breaths. Exhaustion slowed them, but determination kept them going. “Let’s go.” He patted on Jean’s shoulder.“Water?”Andrew grabbed the plastic bottle wordlessly and took a few sips, just enough to nourish his throat. “Are you sure that we’re not lost?”“Yeah. We’re––” His demeanor changed when his flashlight fell on a tree.“What’s that?” Andrew held his breath as Jean approached the enormous tree.The flashlight illuminated something red. On close inspection, they noticed the sacred silk clothes, threads, and a few other items they didn’t recognize tied to its branches and trunk as some sort of offering. Vermilion coated the trunk as if it were a second skin. Jean reached out, touching the scarlet pigment, rubbing it between his fingers. Andrew recognized the powdered mineral cinnabar widely used by the villagers. He deduced it must represent something important to them.“This is it. The sacred tree,” Jean’s words hauled him out of his observation. His son turned the flashlight off and secured it in his backpack. The moonlight illuminated the side of Jean’s sharp jaw, “It starts from here.”They weren't allowed to use any form of light in these parts of the woods. It was the first warning from the villagers. With only the moonlight as guidance, they moved forward, unsure of the outcome, and hoping to find their destination on time. Fear gripped their hearts, but desperation kept them moving. It brought them all the way from a small town of Wyoming to this infamous village in India. After what felt like an hour later, the trees thinned out leading them to a clearing. The temperature suddenly dropped. An ominous chill crept through his spine. Andrew bent, resting his hands on his knees overcome by fatigue, and beside him, Jean sucked in a sharp breath. Goosebumps erupted all over his skin as the sensation of something unknown crawled over him. Something moved around them. His heart beat faster. Jean latched onto Andrew's arm out of fear.His breath hitched when his gaze noted the rocky structure in front of them. Now that he looked closer, he realized it wasn't just a pile of rocks, but more like a cave. The moon highlighted the ancient ruins that appeared scarier than the one they saw in the old paintings at the village.“We're here.”With a thundering heart, Andrew nodded, his grip tightening on the shoulder bag he carried all the way from his home. As they approached the ruins, the structure seemed to grow in size. His son marched forward with outstretched hands as he searched for the entrance. A couple of minutes later he called out, finding it hidden under a huge rock—a manhole. “It's small,” Jean stated, inspecting its entrance. “We have to crawl inside.”Andrew swallowed his fear with a bob of his head and crouched with his heart leaping to his throat. With a grunt, he followed his son inside. Darkness swallowed them whole. With only their senses to guide, they proceeded.“Dad, hold my leg,” the young one whispered.Andrew did as he was told. He gripped Jean’s ankle for guidance as Jean maneuvered through the tunnels. The rough edges of the rocks abraded Andrew’s knees, palms and scratched his sides. He hit his head on the wall a few times. Pain shot through his body, but he ignored it. The stale air and lack of oxygen made him dizzy. He struggled to swallow through his parched throat but kept going.“We're almost there.” His son’s encouraging words drifted to him but only the dark tunnel stretched farther and farther.Andrew swallowed a hiss of pain when something cut into his palm. His back bothered him because of his uncomfortable position on all fours but still he continued to crawl his way in. His eyes grew heavy and he didn’t think he could keep up longer. He fought the urge to surrender and give into his body’s demand for rest because they were running out of time. Turmoil churned his mind. The bloody, broken image of his daughter flashed in his memory; the painful reminder still fresh like it happened yesterday. His baby girl never got justice. Most of the nights, he lay awake imagining thousands of ways to kill those bastards who ended her dreams. I can’t give up. Motivated by the memories he pushed his debilitated body forward, ignoring the soreness of his limbs and throbbing pain that continued to grow.Just as he thought he was going to collapse, the cold air hit their skin. Their movements grew urgent as a dimly lit space came into view. They entered what appeared like a chamber. Moonlight seeped through the cracks of the rock from the roof ahead. The room was normal-sized, perhaps the size of his living room back home. He couldn’t tell the shape of the room, but his gaze traced the dark line of things littered on the floor. Andrew squinted his eyes to get a better look and felt goosebumps erupt on his skin for the second time that night as something whisked past them. This time it was definitely not a bird or an owl. His body shuddered involuntarily. A sinister feeling crawled over his spine. With his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he thought he saw someone or something in his peripheral. His heart catapulted against his ribs, a silent scream leaving his mouth.“It's okay, dad.” He felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, but didn’t miss the slight tremor of the touch. “Give me the bag,” Jean’s voice wavered despite the gentleness and determination.Andrew’s gaze swept around as he handed his bag to Jean and closed his eyes on impulse when a gust of wind blew past him. Was that a whisper? The maliciousness he sensed right then was something worse than his nightmare.“Please,” he whimpered as his knees gave up. He didn’t know what he was pleading for. Andrew knew it was foolish to beg a malicious entity considering their reason for being here at this ungodly hour of the night. However, he was desperate. The mourning father couldn’t care if he was selling his soul as long as his baby girl got justice. Tears stung his eyes as his son pulled out the materials from inside the bag. Jean hurriedly drew the pattern he had been practicing for over a week on the ground. He then arranged the items around the drawing.“Give me your hand.”He numbly extended his hand, only to stiffen when a small gust of wind blew in his hair. Andrew locked his jaw, trying to calm his hammering heart. His neck prickled with awareness. The small sliver of air moving along his exposed skin resembled the breathing of a person. His heart thundered in his chest.The sharp cut on his palm shot daggers of pain into his system. He clenched his jaw and bit the inside of his cheek tasting blood, but didn't make a sound. Jean squeezed his hand causing more blood to fall into the clay bowl they brought. The son then proceeded to cut the inside of his hand, filling the second bowl.A chill ran through their spine as a deep growl reverberated around the chamber. Andrew’s breath caught in his throat. Nothing had prepared the father and son for this. He caught his son's hand on impulse and held tight as he tried to remember the words of the villagers.“The entity senses your fear. It relishes in it. Never show your fear.”But he couldn't help it even if he wanted to. The pounding of his heart continued to grow louder as a sudden non-existent wind blew around them. He felt a squeeze on his hand and held his breath. It was his cue to start the chant—a four verse mantra taught by a temple priest. Together they chanted the prayer. They must chant for a hundred and eight times without any mistake.Loud inhumane noises ricocheted across the eerie walls of the cave. Leaves and dust circled them, and the heavy wind tried to knock them off balance. Andrew shut his eyes tighter, chanting with a fervor fueled by his pain. Their lips never stopped the words. When the hundred and eighth chant left their lips, the chaos stopped. A deafening silence fell upon them.Andrew opened his eyes, his breathing was coming out in pants. If the ritual was successful, the ancient oil lamp in the cave would light up. However, darkness still shrouded them. Did they do it right? He almost opened his mouth to ask his son when he caught a slight movement in his peripheral vision.A dark, insidious shadow crawled toward them. He pursed his lips, his body trembling like a leaf. Beside him, Jean shuddered. Their grip tightened around each other as the shadowy figure, more apparent now stopped in front of them. Andrew didn’t know if he should thank the darkness because he didn’t think he would survive if he saw the entity in the clear light.Andrew’s eyes shut on instinct, silently praying. The villagers never mentioned this part. A nasty breath hit his face with a slight accompanying growl. “Please…” he pleaded with a cracking voice. “My daughter… my Alina was only seventeen.” Words stuck in his throat as he whimpered. “Help us…”The silence stretched for what seemed like minutes before he cracked open his eyes. The golden yellow glow of the old oil lamp in the center of the room greeted him. A small square-shaped stone painted in red stared at him. Several bowls and personal belongings littered the small room. He swallowed noticing the now empty bowls that earlier contained their blood.The men cried in relief as they grabbed their belongings. Without another word, they hurried out of the cave hoping justice will be served soon.
Available on Amazon now!

The Lycan Trilogy - Qistina | Character Highlights/ Facts

The Lycan Trilogy - Qistina | Character Highlights/ Facts 
The Lycan Trilogy is one of my favorite paranormal series I wrote. This was supposed to be my debut novel, but I ended up writing Randolph Duology first. The character Lucian had always been in the back of my mind for over a year and a half before I penned him.I created a fictional character "Qistina" for this series since I wanted something unique that hasn't been used before. Here are some highlights and facts about the character.
The Gods mentioned in this series are fictional (Characters created only for the sake of this series) and doesn't belong to any mythology or folklore. I didn't want to use Greek or any other mythological Gods since that would force me to change a lot of things.
Read the series on Inkitt.

Qistina:

Meaning - Daughter of Justice and Light The most powerful and dangerous being on the planet Has a protector that shadows her all the time Must maintain a perfect balance of good and evil Responsible to protect and maintain peace among the races Can be killed only by the person she truly loves

Qistina is a feminine name in use in Arabic speaking countries meaning "justice."

Qistina is a fictional character born out of the author's imagination.

The younger God of Justice and Light—Dikaiosýni—created her to suppress the chaos on earth.

A Qistina is born once in every thousand years.

She’s a magical being that didn't belong to the earth or of any universe.

Dikaiosýni made her in a way that she could only be bound by true love.

A curse of fellow Gods bound her to love. Without true love, she will perish.

She’s a perfect combination of good and evil. However, falling in love has suppresses her evil side. So, the readers only see her warm, fuzzy persona for majority of book one.

There are a total of three Qistinas in the story.

Isadora—The Lost Qistina—is the first Qistina to be ever born.

She’s adopted and raised by an evil witch called Guinevere.

Without love, Isadora losses control over her powers and was believed to be disintegrated in the air.

Dikaiosýni saves Isadora from death and locks her into the deepest depth of the sea.

Years later, Isadora is discovered by deep sea explorers and is taken to a secret research facility.

Isadora officially appears in Book 2, Vicissitude—A Beast Within when her subconscious mind finally awakes.

Isadora is drawn to Alexandra's powers thereby finding her in the human realm. She's the first one to warn Alexa about the apocalypse.

Isadora is still weak and is able to connect with Alexandra only for short duration at a time.

Isadora tries to communicate with the others and fail. Nate is able to connect with her and see through her eyes toward the end of the Book 2.

The evil witches learns that consuming a Qistina’s heart will make them invincible.

Witch Gretchen tricks Megara—the second Qistina—to fall in love with her son. He cuts her heart out while making love to her.

Dikaiosýni creates the third Qistina—Alexandra—and hides her in the human realm far away from the evil and the eyes of the other Gods. He chose Lucian—the Lycan and Elf hybrid prince—as her protector and lover.

When the witch Gretchen finds out Lucian is the protector of the next Qistina, she tries to kill him. But her actions bring him straight to Alexandra in the human realm.

Alexandra and Lucian falls in love, thereby allowing her to have better control over her powers.

To be continued...

My Journey with Inkitt 2018-2020

My Journey with Inkitt 2018-2020

Hello all,

It's been a while and hope you're all safe during this pandemic that has forced us indoors. Though I have more time in hands than before, work has also increased considerably in the past weeks and keeping me engaged all the time. The COVID situation hasn't improved here or nowhere near improving unless they found a solution. I hope the hardworking researchers find the medicine/vaccine to this deadly disease. I bow to all of the front-liners who are working hard and I pray for your health. Thank you for risking your health and lives to keep us safe. 

I was writing a chapter to post on Inkitt last week and a thought crossed my mind. It feels like yesterday I joined them, but it's already been over two years. Looking back, I think it was one of the best decisions I made. 

2 years ago in Feb 2018, I wrote a blog post about my experience with Inkitt. If you haven't read that post, you can read it here. I also posted FAQs on Inkitt earlier, you can read it here. 

A lot has changed since 2018. Though I joined Inkitt in mid-2017, I started actively using it only in 2018. 

What has changed during these two years? 

Well, I became their VIP author and Inkitt Icon :) So far, I've had only positive experiences with them. Sure there were a few ups and downs throughout the journey, but overall it is a good experience.

When I started the Inkitt app was still under development and had very minimal features compared to its competitors. However, they have been consistent with upgrading their platform to suit both the authors and the readers. We got to work participate in their regular survey and able to share our feedback on the platform. What made me happy was to see our suggestions being considered and they fulfilled all of our requests.

If you see the web platform, mobile app, or the writing app it's much more user friendly with advanced features. 

The next thing to talk about is my relationship with the staff. They're still reliable and very quick with their responses. I appreciate the effort they put into interacting with me or checking in on me when I go a hiatus. Lol. I do that sometimes when life gets hard. But it makes me feel warm when the staff check-in asking if everything is going well with me. 

Both the support team and the operations team are very professional, yet friendly. I've had a few calls with them in the past and it's great to see many of my suggestions are taken care of. One thing that makes Inkitt stand apart from the others is their level of communication. At least I don't have to get through multiple gatekeepers to contact the HQ. Having them in a close reach offers me great assurance in all aspects.

The next is the community. Many readers had followed me from Wattpad to Inkitt. First of all, thanks to you. It is because of you that I'm able to do what I love to do the most. The community has been great with a more mature audience. Their honest feedback helps me grow as an author.  

I know many authors aren't comfortable posting their drafts online. The authors who write online are often looked down upon. But things have changed a lot for me. I think writing online is what shaped me into who I am today. The readers act as my beta readers and always keen to catch my blind spots. One thing I love is that when I slack off they are always there to remind me that I have a story to write. 

This has helped me with maintaining my consistency in writing and complete stories faster. My publisher was initially wary of writing online, but now they understand. I've heard many authors saying that the traditional publishers turning down their submission because they posted it online. Well, that's not the case with me. Also, Editingle Indie House, a traditional indie publishing house I co-own with my best friend accepts stories that were shared on online platforms such as Inkitt. We have signed a couple of Inkitt authors to be published under our banner.

Inkitt has been a safe place to share my original drafts for the past two years and my opinion hasn't changed. I feel assured with their secure platform and haven't had a single instance where I had to pull my stories off because of plagiarism. As an author, this is the first priority to me and one of the main reasons I'm staying with the platform. 

Inkitt allows me to share my stories to my readers for free, it helps me to communicate with them while protecting my stories. I like their new interface better and wish them better luck for continued success. 

If you aren't following me on Inkitt already, here's a link to my profile. My stories are exclusive to Inkitt and I also post bonus chapters of my published stories here. 

Here's my new guide to Inkitt reading and writing app.

 

Book Review: Red Velvet & Anemones | Pagosa Cliffs Collection

Red Velvet & Anemones by Author M.M. Ward
Bitter or Better?


Summary:
Betrayal always offers the choice: Bitter or Better?

After her sister's death, wedding cake artist Milli Velvet Haywood left her busy life in Vegas behind; Hoping for a new beginning in the small town resort community of Pagosa Cliffs, Colorado. But with a newstart comes challenges. Her attempt to return to her old life brings a different set of dangers. Can she move forward and be better? Or will the bitterness of her life sour her future chances at happiness and love.

This story is all about choices. It is about overcoming versus succumbing.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US | Smashwords | Kobo | Barnes & Nobles | Apple iBooks
Excerpt:

“Excuse me? Are you Milli Haywood?” A thin woman, almost as tall as Marni, asked with a concerned look on her face. “And is that your sister, Marnianne?”

“Uhhh, did you know our parents?” Milli questioned in surprise.

The woman looked in the direction Marni had gone, her expression said she wanted to be anywhere but there, “Oh honey, I am so sorry. I am here to serve you with divorce papers. I have them for you and your sister.”

Milli’s breath caught in her chest, but she nodded slowly. She blinked rapidly in an attempt to staunch the tears from falling. “I knew Edgar was a coward but...I thought Heith... I guess I should have known. Dad always said cowardice and cruelty runs in families. Just give me the papers. Marni’s having a hard pregnancy, she can’t be upset right now.”

The woman’s eyes were sympathetic. “I am sorry but...” She shrugged in a helpless gesture. "I have to give them to you both personally, see them signed, and bring them back. I am so sorry. I don’t normally do this kind of thing. If I had known you were both pregnant, I wouldn’t have agreed to do it. The Rowlings are trying to tie up loose ends and secure the family’s assets.”

Milli’s full lips pressed into a thin line. She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice. “And let me guess, the emotionally unstable, orphaned daughter of two doctors and her adopted mulatto sister are loose ends.”

The woman nodded sadly. “I’m Jean Lasater, by the way. And I’m so...”

“I know, you’re sorry. Please don’t apologize again. You didn’t do this,” Milli interrupted with a wave of her hand.

Jean swallowed, wishing ​she wasn’t being forced into doing this. “It’s just… Well, they told me you were both strippers looking for an easy mark and trapped the boys into marrying the both of you. But this morning, I learned where you both work and I feel terrible. I... I didn’t know about your sister’s condition or yours. They didn’t tell me.”

Milli held out her hand for the paperwork. “They don’t know. Marni insisted we tell them in person, but it’s been months and they never came back.”

The bitterness was choking Milli, She wanted to vomit as she read the papers. There was a quarter of a million dollars in a fund for her if she would just sign the papers and keep quiet about being married to Edgar Rowling. No further contact with any member of the Rowling family ​was the only additional stipulation. Time seemed to stop as Milli read Edgar’s statement on how they met. He had written that she was a stripper who had saved him from being mugged and that her position at the bakery was a side job because she couldn’t make enough money as a stripper to pay her rent. Reading in his words what he truly thought of her was like being stabbed. Her husband did not see her as his heroine, but as his whore. She had given him her heart, her trust, her virginity, and now he was paying her to go away. 

Review:
This is one of the best book I've read in a while. The story starts with Milli Haywood moving to a little town of Colorado with her newborn niece. The famous baker from Las Vegas has gone through hell in her short span of life and once again finds herself at the end of her rope when her husband cheats on her with her sister. Her sister, Marni who has a weak heart condition dies, leaving a newborn in her care. The catch...her ex-husband could be the actual father of the child.
The sisters Milli and Marni Haywood fall in love with cousins Edgar and Heith Rowling while they were in Las Vegas. However, life takes a turn and Milli ends up moving to Colorado with hopes of starting over. But what's a story if the past doesn't catch up? 
The mud headed Edgar and Heith wants their wives back. But what awaits them in Las Vegas is beyond your imagination. I love this book because it serves Karma hot and fresh. Yes, folks...if you love a good story that send your emotions haywire then this is your pick. 
This is such a satisfying read because Karma often takes the front seat with her whip. And the encounters of Karma and the characters is so refreshing. I also loved this a lot because it highlights some of the issues women face in their daily life and it's amazing how the main character continues to evolve despite the challenges she face in her life.
It's motivating to read books such as this. This books talks about child abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence. While this is an emotional read, it also keeps you entertained throughout and makes you laugh harder because Milli got a smart mouth and she doesn't hold back. She's as strong as she can be with a vulnerable side she lets only a few people see.
Another thing I loved in this book are the supporting characters. You can't help, but grow a bond with them as you read. I think this helps you connect more with the story and I'm happy because this is only the first book in the series.
As a person, who have read the other books in this series, I know what's coming and I can say you will not regret reading this series. Congratulations to my dear friend and sister, Mama Magie for this wonderful story. Looking forward to more of your inspiring stories.

YouTube Review:



About the Author:
M.M Ward is a post-stroke mom who writes as part of her recovery. She also writes under the pen name of PenumbraMine. Her stories are for mature audiences and have trigger spots for survivors of life, the cause of which is not wished upon anyone. She advocates seeking help and support.
Her stories are reality turned into fiction as a coping mechanism. A part of everyone's journey, she has built her stories to overcome the bitter truth of life.
An expert in baking desserts that leaves everyone wanting for more, she is better known as Mama Magie amongst her friends and family.
Facebook page | Twitter | Instagram | Website

The Hybrid Queen | Book Teaser | Mia Walter Edwards

The Hybrid Queen | Book Teaser | Mia Walter Edwards
Once upon a time Mia fantasized about the supernaturals.  When she moves to Brookedge, everything changes for her.
She finds herself in the midst of centuries-old war with a thousand year old Vampire King, who’s hot on her heels to claim her as his own. The attraction towards the Vampire King is inevitable and to make things worse, she is already mated to the Lycan King, who is possessive as heck with an uncontrollable beast.
A recent incident unlocks the full potential of magic in her blood, which sends her stumbling into the darkness everyone fears about. A mate's blood can bind her, but only love can save her.

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 4

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 4

Everyone needs some motivation to get through the obstacles of daily life. It's easy to lose your motivation with all that work stress, especially with the kind of responsibility you have to shoulder every day. Here's your daily boost of motivating leadership quotes by famous leaders and philosophers to keep you inspired.
1. "A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together." – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

2. "Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."  — John C. Maxwell

3. "People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." — John C. Maxwell

4. "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." — Jack Welch

5. "Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations." — Peter F. Drucker

6. "Doing what is right isn't the problem. It is knowing what is right." — Lyndon B Johnson

7. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

8. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Harold R. McAlindon

9. "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." — Robert Louis Stevenson

10. "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." — Edith Wharton

11. "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." — William Arthur Ward

12. "Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal." — Vince Lombardi

13. "No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it." — Andrew Carnegie

14.  "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do." — Eleanor Roosevelt

15. "You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go." — Jeanette Rankin

16. "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." — John F. Kennedy

17. "The role of leadership is to transform the complex situation into small pieces and prioritize them." — Carlos Ghosn

18. "Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead." — Pete Hoekstra

19. "Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar." — Orrin Woodward

20. "To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult." — Friedrich Nietzsche

21. "Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want." — Dianne Feinstein

22. "Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out." — Stephen Covey

23. "All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership." — John Kenneth Galbraith

24. "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there." — John Buchan

25. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. — Warren Bennis

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 3

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 3

Everyone needs some motivation to get through the obstacles of daily life. It's easy to lose your motivation with all that work stress, especially with the kind of responsibility you have to shoulder every day. Here's your daily boost of motivating leadership quotes by famous leaders and philosophers to keep you inspired.
1. Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. —General Colin Powell

2. "A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so that they can get on with their jobs." — Robert Townsend

3. "Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned." — Harold Geneen
4. "Look over your shoulder now and then to be sure someone's following you." — Henry Gilmer
5. "Leadership is not magnetic personality, that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not 'making friends and influencing people,' that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations." — Peter F. Drucker

6. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." — Steve Jobs

7. "Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths." — John Zenger

8. "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." — John D. Rockefeller

9. "Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better." — Bill Bradley

10. "The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision." — Ken Blanchard

11. "The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." — Dwight D. Eisenhower

12. "The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." — Ralph Nader

13. "Earn your leadership every day." — Michael Jordan

14. "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." — Bill Gates

15. "You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too." — Sam Rayburn

16. "Those who let things happen usually lose to those who make things happen." — Dave Weinbaum

17. "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart." — Eleanor Roosevelt

18. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." — Abraham Lincoln

19. "Leadership is an ever-evolving position." — Mike Krzyzewski

20. "You get in life what you have the courage to ask for." — Nancy D. Solomon

21. "Leadership is an action, not a position." — Donald McGannon

22. "Don't tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results." — George S. Patton Jr.

23. "Whatever you are, be a good one." — Abraham Lincoln

24. "A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see." — Leroy Eimes

25. "The most effective way to lead is to lead from within." —  Lolly Daskal 

Release Day: Winter's Arrow by Lexi C. Foss

Title: Winter's ArrowCollection: Sinister Fairy Tales CollectionAuthor: Lexi C. FossGenre: Dark Fairy Tale RetrellingRelease Date: May 14, 2020 Winter's Arrow by Lexi C. Foss True love is a myth. A trick. A way to subdue the heroine and take everything from her. Winter SnowMy "true love" conspired with my stepmother to have me killed and stole my throne. But they failed. I've been in hiding and refining my vengeance. I'm no longer the damsel they mistook me for once upon a time. I'm coming for them. And my kingdom, too. Who needs dwarves when you have wolves?Who needs blades when you have arrows?My name used to be Snow. Now they call me the Winter's Arrow. Because I'm here to destroy them all. Kazek FlorI'm not a prince but an Alpha. And I take what I want, when I want it. So when I found an Omega princess dying in the woods, I took her and made her mine. I'll train her. Embolden her. Help her seek the vengeance she is owed. Then, together, we'll take down Winter Sector and the wicked Queen of Mirrors. Run fast, little wolves.Your former princess is about to rise with me by her side. And we're thirsting for your blood. a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Help,” I begged. “Need… help.”Kazek frowned at me. “You’re going into estrus, Snow. I’m planning to help you.”I shook my head, a whine catching in my throat. He didn’t understand. “No knot.” I couldn’t accept it. This had to be part of Vanessa’s plan, to make an Alpha think he could fuck me fully.She’d planned to entice Enrique with this spell, to force him to knot me.That was what she’d meant by having methods to induce the sensations. She’d cast some wicked enchantment that convinced Alphas I could handle them in a rut.Tears collected in my eyes.I’d escaped her clutches, only to fall into the hands of someone so much worse—an Alpha driven by need.She’d won.After all that… she’d still won.I crumpled against him, sobbing beneath the crushing emotions of betrayal and defeat. And worse, arousal.Because I wanted him.

USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi C. Foss loves to play in dark worlds, especially the ones that bite. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their furry children. When not writing, she’s busy crossing items off her travel bucket list, or chasing eclipses around the globe. She’s quirky, consumes way too much coffee, and loves to swim. HOSTED BY:

Do you have a dream?

Do you have a dream?


Every dream start somewhere. There's a moment that influences you deeply. There's a turning point in everyone's life. One such moment that influenced me was when I young and had no clue of what I wanted to become in the future. This person taught me to have my own dream, until then all I knew was to work hard to fulfill my parent's dream. 

I had a dream once. I'm living it now. 

Today, I want to share how and when it all started. 

Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam. This great man influenced me the most. His book "Wings of Fire" gave me the inspiration to chase my dream. The educational section of the newspaper posted his articles frequently. 

I was thirteen and was greatly inspired by the scientist, who launched rockets. I had no interest in science, but was fascinated by his motivational speeches and positivity. Every time I read his words, I would feel that everything in this world was possible.

He always said, "You must have a dream." As a kid, I didn't know what it really meant to dream. 





“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.” – Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 


I asked myself, what is my dream? What is the one thing that doesn't let me sleep? It was also the time I developed the habit of reading fiction. The first thing that came into the mind of that 8th grade kid was writing. I imagined creating my own stories and sharing it with the world. As fancy as it sounded, I dreamt of becoming a published author, a dream at that time I thought was impossible. 

Impossible because, I had no guidance. No one to point me to the right direction. Most of all, I was afraid to tell someone that I wanted to become an author some day. Because becoming an author was never considered as a profession. It still doesn't considered by many as a profession. Let's talk more about that in another post. Now, back to the topic.

There was no internet or any other sources to connect to the outside world. It was a time when owning a personal computer is considered as a luxury. The only thing I had was small bookstores with limited supply of books. 

As years passed, I had to bury the dream and work toward the other things. My responsibilities  swallowed my time. But at nights, when I was alone and thinking I would still dream. I'd tell myself that, "It's okay to dream even if I had no way to accomplish it." Because that dream offered some comfort when life got harder. 

Then came a night when I finally plucked the courage to pen my thoughts. When I finished writing the first chapter, I screamed with joy. The sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me. The satisfaction was something I never experienced before. Creating something from scratch was a pure joy. 

It was then I understood, why it was important to follow your heart. Writing had always been my passion. I wrote because it made me happy. 

The next step was to share my writing. I had no guidance on how things worked in the world of writing. Most of all, I lacked confidence. Self doubt and insecurities ruled me. I blindly posted it on an online writing site called Wattpad. I really didn't expect someone would even read it. But the encouraging comments came as a huge surprise. The number of readers increased day by day. 

I still don't clearly remember how it went from there. All I did was to constantly improve, seek help from fellow authors and readers. I would stay awake at nights and rewrote my first script at least nine times. It caused me to burnout several times. Yet, I did it with a smile because this was my dream. 

Three years, three published and twenty-five unpublished books later...I now understand the real meaning behind his words.


Always have a dream and work hard to achieve it. Nothing is impossible in this world if you put your heart into it.



Don't be afraid to dream. It might feel impossible now, but I'm sure if you worked hard enough, you'll live your dream some day. Never give up!

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 2

25 Motivating Leadership Quotes - Part 2

Everyone needs some motivation to get through the obstacles of daily life. It's easy to lose your motivation with all that work stress, especially with the kind of responsibility you have to shoulder every day. Here's your daily boost of motivating leadership quotes by famous leaders and philosophers to keep you inspired.


1. "You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." –Woodrow Wilson



2. "Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership." –James Humes



3. "A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them."–M. D. Arnold



4. "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." –Kurt Vonnegut



5. "Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you." –Margaret Thatcher



6. "Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work." –Seth Godin



7. "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." –Douglas MacArthur



8. "To add value to others, one must first value others." –John Maxwell



9. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." –Ronald Reagan



10. "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being." –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



11. "The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been." –Henry Kissinger



12. "I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people." –Mahatma Gandhi



13. "When people talk, listen completely." –Ernest Hemingway



14. "There are no office hours for leaders." –Cardinal J. Gibbons



15. "One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency." –Arnold Glasow



16. "I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through–then follow through." –Edward Rickenbacker



17. "The important thing is this: to be able to give up in any given moment all that we are for what we can become." –DeSeaux



18. "Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway." –Eleanor Roosevelt



19. "The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves." –Ray Kroc



20. "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody." –Herbert Swope



21. "Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult." –Warren Bennis



22. "True leadership lies in guiding others to success–in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well." –Bill Owens



23. "Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it." –David Star Jordan



24. "Leaders don't inflict pain, they share pain." –Max Depree



25. "Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50 percent of your time in leading yourself–your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20 percent leading those with authority over you and 15 percent leading your peers." –Dee Hock