Sage Nestler's Blog, page 35
July 15, 2017
Literary Vacation Club and Mental Health
Hello, Everyone!
I am very excited to announce that my book subscription, Literary Vacation Club, was featured on a mental wellness blog! I originally created Literary Vacation Club because I suffer from panic disorder and depression and I found that reading was the only thing that would calm me down in my darkest times. That is why I created Literary Vacation Club, to bring this reading experience to those who also struggle with mental health disorders or just stress in general. I was sought out by Boxed Up, a blog that focuses on mental health focused businesses, and I couldn’t be happier. I hope that you enjoy my interview and review with Boxed Up! Read on to learn more about my mission with Literary Vacation Club.
Much love,
Ashley
July 14, 2017
Book Review: Chemistry by Weike Wang
Title: Chemistry
Author: Weike Wang
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
A luminous coming-of-age novel about a young female scientist who must recalibrate her life when her academic career goes off track; perfect for readers of Lab Girl and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.
Three years into her graduate studies at a demanding Boston university, the unnamed narrator of this nimbly wry, concise debut finds her one-time love for chemistry is more hypothesis than reality. She’s tormented by her failed research–and reminded of her delays by her peers, her advisor, and most of all by her Chinese parents, who have always expected nothing short of excellence from her throughout her life. But there’s another, nonscientific question looming: the marriage proposal from her devoted boyfriend, a fellow scientist, whose path through academia has been relatively free of obstacles, and with whom she can’t make a life before finding success on her own. Eventually, the pressure mounts so high that she must leave everything she thought she knew about her future, and herself, behind. And for the first time, she’s confronted with a question she won’t find the answer to in a textbook: What do I really want? Over the next two years, this winningly flawed, disarmingly insightful heroine learns the formulas and equations for a different kind of chemistry–one in which the reactions can’t be quantified, measured, and analyzed; one that can be studied only in the mysterious language of the heart. Taking us deep inside her scattered, searching mind, here is a brilliant new literary voice that astutely juxtaposes the elegance of science, the anxieties of finding a place in the world, and the sacrifices made for love and family.
Review:
Chemistry is a beautiful debut novel by author Weike Wang. The story follows a young Chinese American woman who has always seemed to have her life planned out before her; however, her life becomes unraveled when she quits her PhD program and her life begins to spin out of control. I found Wang’s writing to be personal, as though she were writing a memoir, and I enjoyed her description of the conflicts her narrator had with her parents. It was clear that the narrator loved her parents, despite how strict they were with her, and Wang’s writing opened up a discussion on what it means to love your parents unconditionally.
Chemistry reads like a disjointed train of thoughts. There are no chapters in the book, only different parts, and the parts are divided up into snippets. Wang seemed to write the novel cold, as though she wrote down ideas as she went, and I liked the spontaneity of her work. However, I did not connect well with the narrator, and I found it hard to care about her thoughts and experiences. The narrator’s thoughts were conflicting and problematic, but they did bring the reader insight on the experience of Chinese American women. Chemistry reminded me of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan in terms of the conflicting relationship that the narrator had with her mother, and I enjoyed reading about that experience. Since the narrator was first generation American, it seemed that she was torn between her Chinese heritage and her responsibilities as an American woman. Once the narrator brought light to the background of the experiences of her parents, their actions were justified. The immigrant experience was well received by me as the reader, and I enjoyed being opened up to this original perspective.
Chemistry is an inventive new novel that focuses on the pressure that young people face today from their parents and society. Wang brought a unique perspective by portraying the Chinese American experience, and her writing educates as well as entertains the reader. Besides the abrupt ending, I found Chemistry to be an easy vacation read (as I read it in two days on my own vacation) and it made me reflect on my own life. If you like novels that read like memoirs with a hint of comedy, then Chemistry is perfect for you!
July 9, 2017
Ashley Nestler on Renee Scattergood’s Blog
I am excited to announce that I was the featured author this past Friday on author Renee Scattergood’s blog! She posted an interview with me, as well as a focus on my first novel Beautiful Nightmare. Beautiful Nightmare was published when I was 18 years old, and it has such a special spot in my heart. Through my interview with Renee, I was able to go in depth about Beautiful Nightmare, and why I write. I hope you enjoy!
I am also posting a link to Renne’s work so that you can further view her own novels!
Much love,
Ashley
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What if your true love was only present in your dreams?
In the dystopian town of Lunamoon, everything is structured. Humans are created by science and everyone is programmed to follow certain regulations; but one girl, Shawneleigh, never lived up to the Council’s regulations. Shawneleigh has the disorder of narcolepsy, a disorder that causes her to fall asleep at random times without warning. Because of her illness, the Council banned her to life in a hospital since she cannot be counted on fulfill other duties. Lunamoonians all receive prophecies for their lives through dreams that the Dream Maker sends to them, but Shawneleigh hadn’t received a dream in years until she found herself falling into a dream during her sleeping spells. It is during these spells that she meets a man named August who claims to be the Dream Maker himself. He also lives in solitude outside of Lunamoon, and they begin to form a bond; however, Shawneleigh cannot control when she falls asleep, and soon August finds a way to manipulate her illness. The only problem is that when he manipulates her sleeping disorder, she continues to grow sicker. But no matter how hard they try, they can’t stay away from one another.
“Beautiful Nightmare: Some Dreams Become Your Reality” is novel about love, life, and the importance of those who care about you.
Love, above all else, is the best thing that we have to give.
Support Renee Scattergood
Get the #DarkFantasy #Serial Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6) free http://reneescattergood.com/books/shadow-stalker-part-1-episodes-1-6/ via @ReneeScatts #MustRead #BookGiveaway #GoodRead #Fantasy #YA #FreeBook #FreeDownload #Kindle
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Peachy Keen Reviews uses affiliate links to monetize their website and keep it running.
Cover Reveal: Fractured Promises by Aleisha Maree
Today I am happy to share with you a cover reveal for Fractured Promises by Aleisha Maree! I hope that you enjoy. Aleisha Maree is a fantastic romance author, and I hope that you enjoy her work!
Much love,
Ashley
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Fractured Promises
I am Knox The Assassin Ambrose. I loved an angel, yet couldn’t keep her. These hands of mine, they make people bleed. They rain down pain upon sweet pain. Break a man’s bones with just one swift southpaw to the jaw. I’m an Assassin of men’s’ bodies and women’s hearts. I don’t do nice. I’m Raw, Rough and Unwavering in my quest to be the best.
I feed on my enemy’s hate, turning it into power and strength. I know how to fight with my fists but I also know how to destroy you without a single touch. I fucking clawed my way to the top and that is where I’ll stay.
No need to seek the warmth of a woman’s arms as I had them all falling at my feet, then like a south paw to the jaw she was there. Stuck in my minds eyes, haunting my dreams and etching in under my skin. The more this new beauty holds my attention, the more I lose of my angel, the one who first saved me. To top it off, she has her eyes, so every time I look at her, I’m reminded of what I’ve lost. She’s taking over my senses and turning my brutal world upside down.
Gone is the Knox my angel loved, instead I’m fighting harder than ever before.
Maybe just maybe I can find that love my soul craves. Miss Blue-James; can she accept the monster I’ve become? She has her own deep, dark secrets and evil is chasing her tail, seeking to bring her down.
But the evil hell bent on destroying her, hasn’t met me yet. I won’t fail her the way I failed my angel. Tick Tock goes the clock.
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July 8, 2017
Box Review: Pretti Parcels – The Petite Parcel – June 2017
Today I am sharing with you a book subscription that is perfect for those who love Victorian classics. This subscription brings you exclusive tea and 19th-century classics! The subscription is called Pretti Parcels, and I am reviewing their “Petite Parcel” which is smaller than their main box. I hope you enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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The Victorian Book and Tea Club
Comes with a book, specialty tea, an online book club and more!
Plan:
$15.99/month + shipping*
Includes tea and a new copy of a novel from the 19th century.
*SHIPS TO THE US ONLY – $4.99/month
I received the June “Petite Parcel” to review, and I couldn’t wait to try it out! I love Victorian literature, so this box is perfect for me.
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The Petite Parcel comes in a cute pink bubble mailer! I like how sweet it looks.
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The box came with a letter from Pretti Parcels! I like how the letter looks Victorian. It was nice to receive a welcome letter to the box as well. The letter made me feel as though I was invited into an exclusive club!
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The box also came with this package of black tea with raspberry notes! I am a huge tea drinker, so I was excited to receive this unique tea. The tea is exclusive for this box, and it smells delicious!
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The book this month is wrapped in paper with twine! The paper has the Pretti Parcels logo on it, and I like that small touch. The care that went into packaging the book is admirable.
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This month’s book is The Awakening by Kate Chopin! I have never read this story before, so I am excited to dive into it. This book also includes various other short stories and a special introduction! I love classics that include these bonuses.
Synopsis:
The Awakening shocked turn-of-the-century readers with its forthright treatment of sex and suicide. Departing from literary convention, Kate Chopin failed to condemn her heroine’s desire for an affair with the son of a Louisiana resort owner, whom she meets on vacation. The power of sensuality, the delusion of ecstatic love, and the solitude that accompanies the trappings of middle- and upper-class life are the themes of this now-classic novel. As Kaye Gibbons points out in her Introduction, Chopin “was writing American realism before most Americans could bear to hear that they were living it.”
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Final Thought: The Petite Parcel is the perfect, compact book subscription! This subscription brings excellent classic picks that may not be as known as other classics, and I enjoy how the tea included is exclusive. If you love tea and classics, then this is the perfect book subscription for you! However, I think that the price is a bit high for what the box includes.
Cover Reveal: A Beautiful Kind of Hope by Cathy Johns
I am happy to share with you a cover reveal from author Cathy Johns for her new novel, A Beautiful Kind of Hope! Cathy Johns is a beautiful erotic romance author, and I can’t wait to read her new book! I hope you enjoy.
Much love,
Ashley
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`*•.¸(`*• COVER REVEAL •*´)¸.•*´
COMING SOON
A Beautiful Kind of Hope by Cathy Johns
“Everyday I’ll find a way to remind you and assure you why it had to be you and no one else.”
Blurb:
I have lived my life without distraction, building a name and an empire in this competitive world, becoming a billionaire as I stayed true to my late mother’s wishes. But all that changed the moment I laid my eyes on her…
Butterfly; that’s what they called her. The woman I couldn’t tear my eyes from as she wooed the crowd, swaying her curvy hips, her nude lingerie leaving nothing to the imagination. The one woman who made me want to break a few wrists when they tried to touch her beautiful mocha skin.
I didn’t know her, and all it took was one taste of her intoxicating scent and I knew I’d never get enough of her.
I needed her in my life to be that ray of sunshine.
To be my beautiful kind of hope.
Author Links:
Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php…
Facebook Group:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/299635910489784?tsid=0.2926992133690156&source=result
Twitter: @AuthorCjohns
Instagram: authorcathyjohns
Website: www.cathyjohns.com
E-mail: cathyjohnsauthor@gmail.com
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Author Bio
I’m a Kenyan based Author who grew up in small village in Africa, one of the most beautiful places in the world. My family means the world to me, my greatest role in life is that of Daughter, Sister and Aunt and I wouldn’t be who I am today without their continued support and love. I had a remarkable childhood not completely without struggle but I consider myself lucky enough to still have good people around me who are still by my side.
My writing started as a healing process, reading and getting lost in the world of words and people’s stories has always been my greatest form of escape. I believe in happily ever after’s and expect to read about intense connections and stories that will leave you hopeful and longing for true love.
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July 6, 2017
Box Review: Hope Box – June 2017
Today I am going to share with you a box called Hope Box! This box was created for those who are grieving or are going through a hard time. They endorse small business artisans (which I love!) and they make sure to send out comforting care packages that do so much more than flowers, which are the traditional grievance present. I am currently going through a rough time because my cat is really sick, and she is going through surgery as we speak. Therefore, Hope Box was exactly what I needed to relax! It has brought me hope, and I hope that it will bring you hope as well.
Much love,
Ashley
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Why send flowers when you can send hope?
Delivering what we all need most… hope! Hope Box carefully selects each month’s assortment of 10+ renewing, uplifting goodies handmade by creative artisans who have their own inspiring stories of hope and healing.
Every box includes a heartfelt, comforting, and encouraging message. Want to write a personal note? Hope Box can help! Hope is on the way.
10+ encouraging gifts handmade by creative artisans
Comforting, encouraging, and personalized message
Each box designed with the next stage of healing in mind
Plans:
Month-to-month: $49 + shipping*
3 Month PrePay: $139 + shipping*
6 Month PrePay: $259 + shipping*
12 Month PrePay: $499 + shipping*
*SHIPS WORLDWIDE – shipping is calculated
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I received the June Hope Box to review, and I couldn’t wait to open it.
I have been struggling health-wise and emotionally recently, so this uplifting box is the perfect medicine.
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Hope Box arrives in a custom box with the logo on the top! I like the relaxing look of the box.
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Upon opening the box, I could feel the care and comfort that went into the packaging. Everything was wrapped up so carefully, and it felt like an old-fashioned care package.
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I love the rainbow “happiness” sticker that seals the tissue paper close! This adds a beautiful positivity to the unboxing experience.
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The box came with a personal letter to me, and it is such a nice touch to add to the box. I love how Hope Box is trying to bring love and happiness to those who are struggling instead of having people just send flowers. They also support so many small artisans, and as a small business artisan myself, I was happy to support this. I support Hope Box’s movement 100%!
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The box also came with a complete list of everything included in the box, where the items are from, and who created them! I always love knowing more about the artisans behind these small business items, so I was happy to get more information on them.
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The first item in the box is a Leather Encouragement Bracelet from Laurel Denise! This bracelet reminds you to be strong, and I like wearing that small encouragement to remind myself of the message every day. Laurel Denise bracelets are designed to help individuals find encouragement, hold onto memories, or move on with strength. I love how much love and thought goes into these bracelets! The bracelet is long enough for me to wear as an anklet, so I am permanently wearing it on my ankle.
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The next item is an Aromatic Cedar Tea Light Holder from Karl Simon Wood Works! This candleholder smells delicious, and I like the message of “hope” that is engraved on it.
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The candle holder also comes with a lightly scented candle from Modern Forestry! The tea light has such a relaxing scent. This is perfect to light while taking a bubble bath!
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The next item is a Luxurious Facial Steam from Aromaology! This all natural herbal steam is perfect to use when you need to freshen your face or clear your sinuses. It has such a strong smell.
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The next item is a set of Glossy Hope Cards from Graceful Sage! This shop is located in Colorado – my home – so I loved seeing them included. These cards are inspirational and small enough to fit in a wallet. If you need a boost of comfort or confidence, these cards are perfect to carry with you!
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The back of the cards have in-depth messages to help you stay strong. I love the positivity that they bring! On the shop’s website it says that you can keep these in your wallet and hand them out to people who might need them. I like how they promote paying it forward!
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The next item is my absolute FAVORITE item in the box! But then again, I am a huge plushie fanatic. This is an adorable little wool sheep from Woolbuddy! These plushies are hand felted and they are incredibly made. Everyone needs a little buddy to keep them company when they are down, so this little guy is a win.
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The next item is an Organic Lip Balm from LENUS handcrafted! This lip balm is cocoa scented, and it smells just lovely. I love how LENUS uses all natural materials to create their products.
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The next item is a set of “bombshell” bath bombs from Kitsch & Fancy! These bath bombs are perfect to use with the candle that was sent in the box. They will make for a relaxing evening.
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The next item is an Organic Moisturizing Lotion Bar by Unearth Malee! My bar is scented with jasmine and mint, which is my favorite scent combination of all time. It smells so relaxing, and it pairs perfectly with the bath bombs and candle.
The last item is a book called Read This Till You Believe It by Compendium! This book is filled with inspirational phrases, and it really helps to strengthen your emotions and self-confidence.
Final Thought: Hope Box is an excellent box to gift someone who is going through a hard time or grieving! It is much better than just sending flowers, and I love how it supports small businesses and artists as well. All of the items that you receive in the box are well worth the price, and your loved ones are sure to love them. Hope Box has won me over, and it really helped me through the hard time that I am going through! Hope Box is a company made up of extremely compassionate people, and I highly recommend them.
July 3, 2017
Box Review: Escape the Crate
I am excited to share with you a box that I tried out called Escape the Crate! This box is like an escape room adventure in a box. Each box holds a different game that goes with a different part of history, and it is like going back into the past! The best part about this box is also that you can playwith just about any number of people since it is meant to be a group game. If you love role play type games or escape rooms, then Escape the Crate is quite a treat!
Much love,
Ashley
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WHAT IS “ESCAPE THE CRATE?”
Escape-the-room games are one of the fastest growing sensations in America! You are trapped in a room with your friends, family, or co-workers and the only way to escape is by solving riddles, cracking codes, and discovering secret objects. As fun as these are, they are pricey…often close to $100 for a group of 4 for only an hour of entertainment. In addition, once you’ve done one…you can’t do it again.
Now you can bring all of the fun of an escape room into your own home…with a different adventure delivered every other month. Imagine escaping from a pirate ship, unraveling alien languages, solving murder mysteries, and defusing time bombs all from your own living room. Work with your friends and family to crack codes, solve riddles, and discover hidden items all while in a beautifully crafted story delivered every other month to you … all for the price of just one person’s ticket at a regular escape room.
Plans:
Bi-Monthly (Every 2 Months): $29.99 + shipping*
Retired Crates: $39.99 + shipping*
*SHIPS TO THE US ONLY – Shipping is calculated
I Received The “Escape The Queen Anne’s Revenge” Box To Review, And I Couldn’t Wait To Try It Out! I Love Escape Rooms, And This Subscription Is Just Ingenious.
Escape the Crate comes in a simple, flat box. The box holds everything that you need to play the game! I love the caution on the front of the box. The purpose of the game is to take you back in time.
Upon opening the box you are greeted with a letter that tells you not to open any of the items until you solve the different riddles. The letter also has a website that you have to go to play the different games! An internet and mobile device is needed for this. Most of the game takes place online, and you are given riddles to complete so that you can open the different items in the box.
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Here is the website that I was directed to go to for this specific game! I had to enter a code to be able to access the website.
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The first page gives you the basic directions for the game, along with your first riddle! There are also hints and a solution given if you need them, but you should try to figure out the riddle before opening these. Once you complete the riddle, you click onto the next page and enter the name of the object that you think the riddle is talking about. That page will tell you if you are correct or not.
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Once you complete the first riddle, you are sent to another screen that instructs you to open the E.M.I.T. packet!
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This is the E.M.I.T. packet! In order to open the packet, you had to guess the correct password on the website.
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Inside of the packet are different puzzles that you have to solve. One of them is to open a trapdoor, another is to open a trunk, and the third is a window that you have to open. Also included is a blacklight and a pirate coin. This packet is your portal to go back in time!
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On the website, you have to click “Time Travel Back to 1718” to begin the game!
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The concept of this specific game is that you are locked in a jail cell on a ship. The website gives you objectives, and you have to solve each of the objectives to complete the game and “escape the room”.
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The bottom of the box physically has a jail cell that you have to escape, and you aren’t allowed to break the bars until told to do so! Even though most of this game takes place online, I love how it still surrounds the concept of escaping the box.
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Final Thought: Escape the Crate is such an original box! It is so much cheaper than visiting an escape room, and it can be played at home. I also enjoyed how there wasn’t a minimum or maximum amount of players who could play the game. The game does work better the more people you have, but it doesn’t have to be done in a large group. The game was also not too hard or too easy. Some of the riddles stumped my group, so we had a fun time working hard to figure them out! Escape the Crate is perfect for parties, classrooms, or family game nights, and I am so happy to see how much creativity goes into this box. I also love the fact that Escape the Crate teaches you history in a new and inventive way. This box is 100% interactive, and it is the perfect way to connect with others!
July 2, 2017
Indie Pride Day – Beautiful Nightmare Sneak Peek
I hope that you all had a wonderful Indie Pride Day yesterday! However, I have decided to continue the festivities through today since Indie Pride Day is so important to me.
To start off today, I would like to share with you a sneak peek from my very first novel, Beautiful Nightmare!
Beautiful Nightmare was published when I was only eighteen years old, and I am so proud that it is the first novel that I ever completed, and that I was able to publish it.
Last August, I redid this novel and released a special edition version of it with an updated storyline, character profiles, and further author insights. I hope you enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
What if your true love was only present in your dreams?
In the dystopian town of Lunamoon, everything is structured. Humans are created by science and everyone is programmed to follow certain regulations; but one girl, Shawneleigh, never lived up to the Council’s regulations. Shawneleigh has the disorder of narcolepsy, a disorder that causes her to fall asleep at random times without warning. Because of her illness, the Council banned her to life in a hospital since she cannot be counted on fulfill other duties. Lunamoonians all receive prophecies for their lives through dreams that the Dream Maker sends to them, but Shawneleigh hadn’t received a dream in years until she found herself falling into a dream during her sleeping spells. It is during these spells that she meets a man named August who claims to be the Dream Maker himself. He also lives in solitude outside of Lunamoon, and they begin to form a bond; however, Shawneleigh cannot control when she falls asleep, and soon August finds a way to manipulate her illness. The only problem is that when he manipulates her sleeping disorder, she continues to grow sicker. But no matter how hard they try, they can’t stay away from one another.
“Beautiful Nightmare: Some Dreams Become Your Reality” is novel about love, life, and the importance of those who care about you. Love, above all else, is the best thing that we have to give.
Sneak Peek
Prologue
A SOUND pierced the prolonged silence as it erupted from a baby girl. It was a scream that Lunamoon had not heard in a long time, and this baby girl was no ordinary child. She was to be the first human to bring in Generation XXI.
The last notable human from the previous generation had died only a few hours before, and in Lunamoon a new generation would begin when all notable humans from the previous generation had passed away. But this time, Dr. Francis had chosen to bring in the new baby by disregarding the usual delay. His intentions had been to produce a more productive generation by cutting the process, but this baby girl had been created too soon.
Children in Lunamoon weren’t created in the ancient way, as penetration and human reproduction no longer existed. Unlike traditional birth, children were created in a laboratory in synthetic wombs. The babies would grow in these capsules and all of their essential nutrients would be injected into the capsules by Dr. Francis and the nurses over the required months. Each injection provided the children the exact amount of nutrients essential for them to form, but since this child had not received all of her injections she would be born prematurely. Unlike all of the other children, her health would not be perfect.
Once the children’s production was seventy-five percent completed, they were transferred to a room where souls would choose them. Once humans died and their souls left their bodies, the souls would be rejuvenated as they travelled the stars. However, the path that the souls took through the galaxy would determine the astrological sign that the new child would represent. This, in turn, would provide the new child with their own unique personality and the symbol for their astrological sign would appear next to their left eye. After Dr. Francis confirmed that a soul had entered a child’s body by confirming the imprint of their astrological sign, they would then return to their specified capsule to finish producing.
But this child had not had the chance to finish her production.
Agatha, a nurse maid assigned to work with the new children picked up the frail baby girl from the wash bin where she had been laid. She put a cloth around her and wiped her skin clean as she examined the symbol etched next to her left eye. It was a symbol of a goat with a tree above it, meaning that she was a Capricorn under the influence of the element of Earth. She was relieved to see that this baby girl did indeed have a soul, but her skin was almost translucent. She shook her head, fear sitting heavy on her chest before her brain cancelled the emotion out. She knew that she couldn’t do anything about her production now, it was too late.
Agatha pressed the child to her chest to keep her warm as she finished cleaning her off. Apart from her fragile skin, the rest of her physical appearance seemed normal. But her true disability was only noticeable in her mind. Within a compartment of her scientifically programmed brain, the wiring had not been completed. It was this section that controlled her sleep habits, and she would no longer be able to control sleep for herself.
The baby’s soft head was strewn with the beginnings of blonde hair and her eyes were a gorgeous swirl of emerald green. As she opened them, she scanned Agatha with curiosity, her brain already generating a file for Agatha in her memory. Agatha melted against her innocence, forgetting the errors that her body possessed as she rubbed her silken cheek. Despite her flaws, Agatha could see that she was strong. The way that she squeezed Agatha’s thumb proved it. She walked to the back of the hospital and into the Desensitizing Room, holding the baby close. The baby squirmed in her arms as though she knew what was to come.
“Your name will be Shawneleigh,” Agatha said, her tone soft as she tried to comfort the child. The child fluttered her small eyelids in return. “Don’t let anyone take your identity away from you.”
Agatha pursed her lips as she set Shawneleigh on the operation table, her movement becoming medical. She couldn’t feel the emotion behind her actions, and this was the only way that she was able to perform so many of these brain surgeries each day.
The Desensitizing Room was where infants would receive a brain alteration so that they wouldn’t be able to feel emotions for themselves. The operation wasn’t always one hundred percent successful, but if the baby were to feel emotion throughout their life they would feel the emotion for a brief moment before the mind was able to cancel it out. This was what Agatha’s brain had done for her when she had experienced a brief twinge of fear. The Council of Lunamoon had invented the procedure when they had observed how unnecessary emotions such as heartbreak, sadness and anger were. They had wanted the best for their people and they had always claimed that the operation would allow all citizens to lead a carefree life.
Agatha should have felt guilty for taking away the aspects of the new children that would make them unique, but she was numb to the emotion. This was the way it had always been and always would be. She would never feel any remorse behind her actions.
The Council would make sure of that.
As Agatha worked on Shawneleigh’s operation, she was interrupted from her work when she heard someone cry out. The cry was representative of that of a baby, but there hadn’t been any other children created in the lab for months. The previous generation had reached its capacity and the Council had stopped accepting new citizens, which was why the sound was so out of place. Without thinking, Agatha left the Desensitizing Room, leaving Shawneleigh on the operation table with her brain exposed. Her anesthesia would wear off soon and her mind would seal itself back together. Once it resealed, it would never be susceptible to being reopened again.
When Agatha made it to the Birthing Quarters, she was struck by the sight of Dr. Francis standing over a grey haired woman on a white cot that had been wheeled in. Her wrinkled face was moist with tears and beside her lay a baby boy. His screams rang out in constant streams.
“I didn’t…I promise…I didn’t do it…” the woman wept as she tried to coving Dr. Francis. Her brain operation had now grown invalid since she was older. Her brain now allowed her to cry and feel shame. She gripped the neck of Dr. Francis’s lab coat with shaking hands.
The doctor nodded his head, eyes revealing nothing. They remained hard and emotionless. However, Agatha knew what he was thinking because she was thinking the same thing. The baby lying next to the elderly woman had been born of natural means, but he had not been conceived through intercourse. Her soul had been selected by the stars to be the mother of the Dream Maker for the new generation. The Dream Maker was always born from a woman whom the stars had chosen, but the Dream Maker was never meant to be born on the same day as the first baby of the new generation.
Agatha knew that Dr. Francis was realizing the mistake he had made by trying to procreate the new generation too early.
All of the babies of Lunamoon were scheduled a specified date for their birth and that date would coincide with the date of another baby who would become their life mate. This connection of the babies would grow inside of them so that once they reached the proper age to enter the Mating Room, they would see one another and understand that the other was their life partner. But the Dream Maker was different. When the new Dream Maker was born, they were born alone. They would not live with the rest of the population and would not have a life mate. The doctor who helped to deliver the new Dream Maker always made sure that they would not see any other children and bond with them. This had always assured that the Dream Maker’s mind would remain clear.
But because this Dream Maker had been delivered on the day of Shawneleigh’s birth, Agatha wasn’t sure what would become of him.
She grabbed a blanket from a stack in the corner and wrapped the screaming baby boy inside as she tried to come up with a solution, making sure that the blanket covered his face. This way he wouldn’t be able to connect with Shawneleigh.
“Take him to the spare room for the time being,” Dr. Francis ordered, his voice sharp. Agatha nodded and scuffled back down the hall. But once she reached the end of the hallway, she heard a soft cry coming from the Desensitizing Room.
Shawneleigh’s anesthesia had begun to wear off.
Agatha knew that she had to get the Dream Maker to the room before he had any contact with Shawneleigh, but she couldn’t leave Shawneleigh alone on the operating table. She made sure the blanket was over the baby boy’s head as she went into the Desensitizing Room and scooped up Shawneleigh. As she juggled both babies in her arms, she made her way to the extra room and set the Dream Maker down on a cot.
As she began to leave the room and turn off the light, she looked back one last time to check on him; but once she did, her stomach began to feel heavy. The baby had managed to pry the blanket off of his head and his eyes were wide open, revealing two gorgeous pools of caramel with an orange swirl. He was staring right at Shawneleigh.
Gasping, Agatha pulled Shawneleigh’s blanket over her head to block her view and turned away from the baby boy, closing the door behind her.
Sweat began to roll down her back as stress took her over. Even though her mind would cancel out the emotion, it wouldn’t be able to stop the sweat from falling.
No one will know, she tried to convince herself while placing Shawneleigh in the Recovery Room. Her small green eyes began to drift off to sleep as though she hadn’t seen the Dream Maker at all. The babies won’t be able to remember this; they are much too young.
Closing Shawneleigh in her room, Agatha hobbled back to the Birthing Room and stood next to Dr. Francis. He was motionless next to the sleeping elderly woman. His back was to Agatha and he would not meet her eyes when she tried to get him to look at her.
“His name will be August,” he said in a low, choked voice.
“Who?”
“The Dream Maker, the baby boy.”
“But we cannot choose names for the Dream Maker, they choose their own later on,” she said, shaking her head. She didn’t want there to be anymore change, it was all too dangerous. He turned to her then, his hard eyes staring into her own.
“In these circumstances it only seems fit that we create his personality for him.”
Agatha played with her freckled hands. The names given to the children did define them and the personality that they would have. However, she didn’t think that the Dream Maker would fit the mold they tried to fit him into anyway. He wasn’t like the other babies; he hadn’t been crafted from molecules.
“Okay…I will go document the babies into the register then.”
As she slid down the stairs to her office, she glanced out of the window at the grey, motionless color. She felt as though the sky were threatening to consume her in its endless existence. Somehow, those who went against regulation always disappeared whether they meant to rebel or not. She had made a mistake that night by allowing the babies to create a bond, and it wouldn’t be long that she was able to hide it.
Something had changed that night. None of the previous Dream Makers had created a bond with other citizens, and Agatha feared that she had just changed the course of their entire world. She had shattered the regulations and now they would all come down like dominoes. Her fingerprints were all over this disaster, and she wouldn’t be able to hide from it. Her one duty in life had been to properly take care of the incoming Lunamoon citizens, and she had failed.
Failure was not an option when it came to the Council.
© A.M. Nestler, 2017
July 1, 2017
Into The Fog Sneak Peek
It is now time for a sneak peek of my novel, Into The Fog! This is the second novel that I had published, and I am currently redoing and re-releasing a longer, updated version of it. I plan on releasing the updated version through my new publishing company, Midnight Society Press, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!
Much love,
Ashley
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“A murder, a choice, and an eternal destiny. Welcome to the untold story of sixteenth century England.
Darielle couldn’t be happier and more in love with her fiancé, Prince Tarum, until the eve of their wedding announcement when Tarum is murdered. Following the tragedy, Darielle is thrown into a life filled with despair as strangers enter the Tower and change her way of life. However, she begins to find herself drawn to Harlisisle, the new guard for Queen Estelle. Something about him makes her feel as though she has known him before. This attraction ends up unraveling past events in her life that she had long forgotten, and she soon discovers the true circumstances surrounding Tarum’s murder. The truth makes her question the love that she once had for people that she thought she knew.
‘Into The Fog’ is a roller coaster ride of historical romance and fantasy elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat and asking only one question:
‘What if death isn’t an ending, but a beginning?'”
Prologue
DARIELLE could feel herself changing, but it wasn’t because of the child that was growing inside of her. What she was feeling now was far too powerful.
Darielle walked into the woods past the stone archway that separated the trees from the Tower, allowing her long gown to drag in the mud behind her. As Darielle looked down at her body, she found that she couldn’t recognize herself. The sapphire and gold gown that Darielle was wearing now was the last article of clothing that she should have chosen to wear. Darielle undid the laces on the bodice and stepped out of it, leaving her crème colored underdress as the only clothing to conceal her. The fog claimed Darielle’s body as she continued on, but she wouldn’t let it steal the freedom that she felt inside.
Once Darielle reached the clearing, she stopped. Standing in front of her were Lamia Hecate, Addanc, Sebastian and Nessora – the being who had once been her best friend, Varity. They all looked at her with expectance. Lamia’s icy eyes pierced through Darielle’s flesh, a smile pulling at the stern lines of her lips.
“Darielle, are you ready?” Lamia Hecate asked, her words a statement instead of a question. Darielle put her hands to her abdomen and took in a deep breath as she shifted her eyes to Addanc. Addanc could see right through Darielle and the baby that she was carrying; however, Darielle now belonged to him regardless of who the baby’s father was. Darielle stepped closer to Addanc, but Lamia Hecate came towards her first. Lamia Hecate grabbed Darielle’s hand and pulled her deeper into the forest.
Once they had reached the huddle of trees where Darielle would be changed, Lamia Hecate turned to Darielle and took Darielle’s face in her hands. Lamia Hecate’s long, silver nails piercing Darielle’s skin, revealing marks of red.
“You are a part of us now, Darielle. You must understand that you can never go back.”
Darielle nodded and Lamia Hecate let go, allowing red streaks of blood to drain from Darielle’s pale skin. Darielle should have felt pain, but she didn’t. Darielle’s anxiety numbed everything. Darielle looked over at Addanc, Sebastian and Nessora before she closed her eyes and zoned them out. Lamia Hecate was the only person she allowed into her vision as she reopened them, and a small smile bloomed across her lips. Darielle’s smile matched Lamia Hecate’s, but none of them could see the intentions behind her it.
“I am exactly where I need to be.”
© A.M. Nestler, 2017
