Meg Collett's Blog, page 10

Faith S. Lynn

Meet Faith S. Lynn!

I am a New Adult author. From Lies to Promises is my debut novel! I am wife to the best husband of the freaking universe and mother to 3 majorly awesome kids! Reading, Xbox, cooking and WINE just barely scrape the surface of who I am. Everyone who knows me will say I am a nerd… and I would agree. Want to know a secret? I am a super hero. True story!

I have an obsession with anything people consider odd and I think learning is the bees knees. I have an Associates degree in Business Management and was an accountant for 7 years. I know, boooring! But I like having a problem and seeing a solution.

Maybe, just maybe, this is why I enjoy writing so much!

 

When did you start writing and why?

I have been writing stories since I was little. It was the most creative way to get my overactive imagination out in the open.

How long have you been writing?

A couple years ago I started to write a book and never finished it, because my kids were still so young and I have a full time job. Around this time my mother was diagnosed with cancer. So between hospital visits, working, taking care of the kids, cooking, and keeping the house (somewhat) clean I lost interest. I quit my job in March to spend some much needed time with my kids during the summer. I started writing From Lies to Promises at the beginning of August, when the kids started back to school. Also, my mother is now a survivor of cancer and is doing Great!

What was your inspiration for From Lies To Promises?

To be honest the story line was something that came to me one day out of the blue. The characters on the other hand are inspired by the closest people in my life. Katrina’s story is on the rough side and for her to overcome everything she needed a team of people strong enough to help her through it. So I used the best personalities for the job. Each one adds their own type of love for Katrina.

How do you find time to write with three small children?

They’re amazing is how. My son who is 9 is still in shock mode that I am writing a book, and most of the time is more than willing to help me get something done faster in order for me to get back at getting my words in. My twin daughters are just 5, but I promise they are just as awesome. They are at school until the afternoon and that helps, a lot.

What are your publication goals? Do you plan to trad publish or self publish?

I plan on self publishing most of my books. I like being in control of everything. So to be able to write my book at my pace, and how I want it to be written is one of the main reasons I started writing again. Self Publication has giving authors a way to get out from under the wing of publishers. It is hard work seeing as you have to be the one to get it all done. Book covers, marketing, and in between actually writing the book.

When would you like to see your book published?

I plan to hit that publish button on January 4th!! I still have a lot to do between now and then, but it will happen. My son is using reverse psychology on me, betting me it won’t happen. Or at least I hope that is what he’s doing. o_O

What is your support system?

Too be honest my support team is fantastic. I have my husband and children cheering me on, but I also have some really great friends that listen to me talk about ideas all the time. I am surprised that they haven’t gotten tired of it yet. They are also my beta team/editors. Too be honest these friends and the love of my life are what keeps me going when I think I can’t. I also have other family members and friends that are supporting me along the way, rooting me through this. I would have to say though without my mother being such an avid reader I would have never found myself where I am. Reading I got from her, and from that my love of writing has expanded far beyond from what I did when I was younger into some really great stories in the future (I hope).

Talk about some the highs and lows you have encountered during your writing journey…have you ever wanted to quit? If so, how did you overcome that?

I have decided to give up on several occasions. I get discouraged when I hit a wall and don’t know where the story should go. But with the fantastic people that I talked about earlier I push through it and keep going. It is going to be a hard path with self-publishing. I find new things out every week that I need to know and do. That also gets to me, because I realize it will be harder than I thought, but with this book, Katrina has a beautiful journey and I push on if not just to get her story out there.

Check out the blurb for From Lies to Promises:

“With a past buried and left behind, Katrina changes her last name on a search for a normal life. But what is normal, really?

Three years, two amazing friends, and a new future, she thinks she has finally secured it. That was until Ryder. With him she was able to forget her fears completely, to feel more normal than she ever has.

But when her past comes crashing into her present, will he think her past is all lies, and abandon her like everyone else that she thought loved her did. Or will his promises bring her above the dark that surrounds her life.”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

http://faithslynn.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FaithSLynn?r...

https://twitter.com/FaithSLynn

Guest Post by Sweta Vikram

During the week of June 14-17, I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship to attend the Wesleyan Writers’ Conference. It is a program that offers the opportunity for people to meet fellow writers and learn from some of the best in the field, and I was ecstatic. But a dear friend, who is privy to my day-to-day madness, asked me, “Do you have any energy left to participate in a conference? Aren’t you editing your second novel?” She made me a cup of ginger tea and added, “Won’t the conference distract you?”

To understand where she is coming from, you’ll need a little background information. In the first quarter of 2012, I finished two books: the first, a nonfiction book called Mouth Full, due for an October, 2012 release; and the second, a full-length collection of poetry entitled No Ocean Here, due for a March, 2013 release. I sent them both to their respective editors. After sending in those two books, I took a few days off and began to re-work my second novel, which is due to my agent by the end of this summer. Aside from the fun of juggling home life, client projects, teaching commitments, a never-ending line of houseguests, and volunteer work, you would think that writing deadlines spread across three genres would make me pull my hair out. Until my friend brought it up, I had never seriously thought about why that hasn’t happened to me.

I left New York City wondering if the fact that I wear multiple writing “hats” is what keeps me sane as a writer. The more I think about multi-genre writing, the more I am intrigued by the many possibilities that it presents.

Benefits of Multi-Genre Writing

Eliminates Writers’ Block: Working with poetry, fiction, and nonfiction means that if you hit a roadblock with one, stepping away does not mean barren days for a writer. You could switch genres and work on a separate project altogether. That would also reduce any guilt arising from procrastination.

At Wesleyan, I signed up for a poetry consultation. As far as my brain was concerned, poetry uses a completely different slice of the right side. Exploring a different genre meant that, upon my return, I was able to look at my novel with a fresh set of eyes so I could iron out the wrinkles. So, while I did take a “break” from fiction and my characters, I didn’t take a break from writing. It was much easier on my freelancer conscience.

Engaging: Working on different projects provides for personal and creative expression. It allows writers to expand their skills in a variety of different mediums. For instance, long lines and a complex, Whitmanesque style of poetry could extend into a narrative in either a fiction or a nonfiction manuscript. Likewise, flash fiction or micro fiction can function as great writing prompts for poets looking for help in generating ideas.

Recycling: Instead of erasing work that you are not satisfied with, multi-genre writing allows these rejected pieces to be used in an entirely different project. Material never goes a waste: it is recycled. When I was editing my first novel, I followed my editor’s suggestion to remove some parts that had rich language in order to avoid sensory overload. I saved the deleted material in a separate folder, and revisit it when working on a new poetry collection. Those nuggets of information, metaphors, imagery, and symbolism I had tucked away under “recycle” come in handy.

Provides Emotional Recovery: Sending a book out into the world can create an emotional imbalance: a mix of post-partum depression and empty nest syndrome. After having lived in the world of your characters for an extended period of time, there is a feeling of grief and loss. Having a project or a deadline in an unrelated genre helps you to heal faster.

When my novel, Perfectly Untraditional, came out in August of 2011, I did a three-week book tour and gave several talks around India. It was exciting! But right after the book promotions were over, I felt empty and lost. Thankfully, though it was exhausting, I had a poetry chapbook called Beyond the Scent of Sorrow, due for an October, 2011 release in New York City. That meant I had to stop sulking and focus my full attention on the new book. Since I was working with poetry instead of fiction, I wasn’t reminded me of my characters or the storyline.

Helps Set Feasible Goals: For those of us who are overly-comfortable with assigning and evaluating goals (okay, obsessed with it), multi-genre writing is brilliant, because it does not allow you to over-commit (for the most part). You know there is only so much time for each project/genre. In some ways, there is not only less pressure, but also far more instant gratification.

Distracts From Failure: On the first day of the Wesleyan conference, award-winning novelist Amy Bloom gave a talk suggesting that writers should “embrace the idea of failure.” Failure makes us improve and do better next time. It struck me that I had not considered failure as an option. Not because I consider myself undefeatable by any stretch of imagination; it’s just that I don’t have much time to obsess about my fears. And even if I do, it is for a very short period of time. Because I work across multiple genres, the fear of failure of one project is subdued and overpowered by the hope (often pressure) of succeeding in another project from a different genre. There are just twenty-four hours in a day, so I can either mope about what didn’t work out, or I can use the energy to create something vulnerable and raw with the rejection.

 

This post was originally published by Women Writers, Women’s Books.

Author Bio: Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com) is an award-winning poet, writer, novelist, author, essayist, columnist, and educator. She is the author of five chapbooks of poetry, two collaborative collections of poetry, a novel, and a nonfiction book. She also has two upcoming book-length collections of poetry in 2014. Her work has also appeared in several anthologies, literary journals, and online publications across seven countries in three continents. Sweta has won three Pushcart Prize nominations, Queens Council on the Arts Grant, an International Poetry Award, Best of the Net Nomination, Nomination for Asian American Members’ Choice Awards 2011, and writing fellowships. A graduate of Columbia University, she lives in New York City with her husband and teaches creative writing across the globe & gives talks on gender studies. You can follow her on Twitter (@ssvik) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Words.By.Sweta).

How To Write A Novel: Write, Revise, Repeat – Guest Post by Amira Makansi

A year and a half ago, in March of 2012 my mom, Kristina sat down and typed out the opening chapter in what would eventually become The Sowing, the first book in the Seeds trilogy. She emailed it to me and I realized I liked what I was reading. It was an idea with promise, I thought. I could feel the energy in it. So I sat down at my favorite coffee shop, plugged in my headphones, and five hours later I had written chapter two.

Spring came, and we wrote some more. My sister, Elena, started writing chapters as well. By June we had thirty thousand words. By August we had seventy thousand. By December, we had almost one hundred and twenty thousand words, a rough draft of a still-untitled novel that we believed in, loved, and wanted to share with the world.

But there were some problems. Lots of problems, actually. The biggest one was that our protagonist, Remy Alexander, had superpowers, and none of us were able to explain why. In one scene, she mysteriously zapped someone with a bolt of electricity, and in several others, she was able to see wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye. Why? We had no idea. Mostly, I guess, it was because we thought it was cool. The other problem was that we had originally wanted our book to be about genetically modified food and the ways scientists could use that food to manipulate and influence people. We wanted to use it as a way to talk about the problems with the modern day American food system, but in our first draft, we didn’t talk about food much at all, let alone genetically modified crops!

And so, ultimately, “because we thought it was cool” wasn’t a good enough reason for Remy to have superpowers, and we had a ton of restructuring to do if we wanted to incorporate food and genetic modification into our story. Not to mention the countless other things that were wrong with our first draft – we had too many characters, we had characters who disappeared and never came back, we had characters who showed up without explanation or justification. Our ending had a lot of climax but no resolution, and ultimately, we really weren’t sure why our bad guys were really bad.

So, in January of 2013, we sat down and started to revise. We junked whole chapters and re-wrote them, added entirely new chapters, tossed out some characters and created one or two new ones. We made the bad guys really evil. We wrote new scenes with food and genetic modification, killed Remy’s superpowers, and created a puzzle for our characters to solve that perfectly encapsulated the overall themes of the book. We turned a story with missing pieces and broken machinery into a working engine that would drive the novel from beginning to end.

Even after all that, there were still problems, so we went back in and fixed those. Then there were more problems, so we fixed those, too. Write, revise, repeat. We did that at least fifteen or seventeen times, down to the most minute of changes, a comma here, a dash there, a word change here, until the final edition of The Sowing was published in September of 2013.

Without the original bare bones draft, we wouldn’t have had anything to improve. Without words on paper, we wouldn’t have had problems to solve. Without characters to work with, however flat or two-dimensional, we could never have turned them into people you could imagine living and breathing. In order to write a great story, you have to write, period. Write, revise, repeat. It might take you three revisions, or eight, or twenty, or sixty-two, but eventually, you’ll have a novel. More than that, you’ll have a great story, a piece of art, and at the end of the day, that is what writing is all about.

Meet Amy Good

I. Am. So. Excited. To feature Amy Good this week! She has such a wonderful, exciting story to tell, and I can’t wait for you all to read it. Check, check, check it outtttttt…

 

1. How did you get your start in writing? And how long have you been doing it?

One of my earliest memories is wanting to write. I wrote stories and little picture books before I could even properly spell. I bought a secondhand grammar book and studied it for hours on end, even on weekends! I read the dictionary and made exhaustive synonym/antonym lists. I spent my summer vacations learning Microsoft Word. My childhood really doesn’t sound very exciting, does it?

And really, it is kind of a boring story, because I never had that epiphany moment of realization that I wanted to write. I’ve been pursuing this dream for as long as I can remember – which is basically my entire life – and it just feels so amazing to finally share my work with the rest of the world!

2. What was your inspiration for “Rooted?”

A lot of “Rooted” came from my homesickness for Seattle. My first year in Ireland felt like one solid year of winter –icy, rainy and wholly unwelcoming – and we even had snow right up until Easter weekend.(Oddly, my first year in Ireland mirrored my first year in Seattle!) So I channeled all of my love for the Pacific Northwest into “Rooted,” and specifically into the main character, Chloe.

I was also a new mom, which heavily inspired the book. I started thinking of my own teenage years, and what my daughter’s adolescence might look like. I read an article about a young girl who’d lost her parents, and then was bullied so badly that she ultimately took her own life. I couldn’t imagine how hard that was for her, and she became part of the inspiration for Chloe. Teenagers today, it seems, are living very public lives – with their mistakes, missteps, abuse and harassment enshrined on the internet – and I wanted to explore that. It almost makes our world into a dystopia, don’t you think?

Around the same time, I watched a marathon of MTV’s Teen Wolf and by the end, I knew I wanted to write a story about werewolves! Shapeshifters just don’t get a lot of love in most fiction. They’re not as sexy as vampires or as tortured as wizards/witches. They’re not as beautiful as fae or as creepy as ghouls/zombies.Seriously, how many times does the werewolf get the girl (over the brooding vampire)?

3. Is that the first novel you’ve written?

No, but thankfully the other books I’ve written are hidden in a deep, dark vault without any digital backups!  Seriously, they were awful.  AWFUL.  The important thing was that I finished them – because I think it’s so important for a writer to finish projects – but they will never see the light of day! NEVER.

4. What has the road to publication been like for you? “Rooted” is self-published correct? Sorry for my ignorance on that question!

Yes, “Rooted” is self-published! All in all, it’s been a pretty quiet journey. After I’d finished a few drafts of the book, I started putting the final edits of each chapter on my website. A few friends read it and the feedback was cautiously positive. Once I finished the last chapter, I made it available for download right from my webpage. A Twitter friend put “Rooted” on Goodreads after she read it and loved it – I hadn’t even planned to do that! Another Twitter friend asked me to post it on Wattpad, so I did. Yet another Twitter friend asked me to upload it to Smashwords, so I just posted it there around the first of October, and from there it’s been pushed out to Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo and a few other ebooksellers.

And unless someone asks me to post it on another platform, I’ll probably just leave it at that. One of the joys of not being able to earn money on my work is that I’m not overly concerned with maximizing distribution, or marketing my book by gathering reviews and hopping on blog tours. Yes, I don’t have a large publishing company behind my book, but that also means I have no boss! I don’t know about you, but I like being able to set my own pace and my own expectations!!

5. Why did you choose to self-publish as opposed to traditional publishing?

Being in Ireland on my husband’s Visa means I don’t have permission to work or earn any money, so traditional publishing is not an option for me right now.  It was a choice between waiting five or more years, or throwing caution to the wind and putting my work out there anyway.  Because the universe had already conspired to show me the true cost of waiting, I decided to dive in head first.  And I’m really glad I did!  Sharing my work has given me newfound confidence and my fans mean the world to me.  At the end of the day, it’s so much more fulfilling to put my work out there instead of hiding it away on the vague hope that a publisher might want it!

6. I see you are in Ireland, and omg I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOU! I have never been, but it is one of my goals. How did you find your way over there?

Through my husband, actually. He had a job opportunity over here, and so we moved from Seattle to Dublin last year. It was kind of a whirlwind move, but ultimately one of the most exciting things I’ve done in life! Moving to Ireland provided the spark I needed to write “Rooted” and it continues to be an amazing adventure. I’ve made several large moves in my life, but Ireland is by far the best!

7. I saw on your website that you can’t make any profits off of “Rooted” because of your Visa. What is up with that?

I know, right! We moved in such an extremely short period of time that I never had time to do the needed research to find out how I could earn a living out here in Ireland. Apparently, I would’ve had to stay in the U.S. and earn a good living as a writer for at least a year. Only then would I be able to submit the paperwork needed to earn a living in Ireland through writing.

Is it hard for you?Oddly, not really! It’s a very Western concept to assign value to a thing depending on how much money it makes. So not being able to earn money on my book has made me completely rethink what I value and how I assign worth. So when someone messages me, either through Facebook or Twitter, and tells me that “Rooted” affected them, or that they loved it and connected with the characters, it gives me such a stronger sense of value and worth than money ever could!

8. What has been a struggle in your career? How did you overcome it?

I have aphasia(a language disorder that can affect a person’s ability to comprehend and/or formulate words) from a brain injury. It makes writing extremely difficult, and I doubt I will ever truly overcome it. But I’m stubborn, so I just keep plodding along regardless!

9. Who is your support system?

My Hubs! Without him, I really don’t think any of this would be possible. Not only is he tech-savvy beyond my wildest imagination, but he also supports my dream and is my biggest fan. Without my Hubs, I doubt I’d have finished a book while still in my thirties!

10. I will take a moment to say that you are an author who I aspire to be like. I think your connection with your followers is so amazing. Not to mention your writing is wonderful! What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to be successful in this business?

Awww, thank you!! You’re making me blush… I’m sorry, what was the question again? The only advice I can give – to any aspiring writer, really – is just to keep writing. Don’t let negative criticism (or the super-harsh voices in your own head) stop you! As for being successful in this business, I really have no idea how that happens… But if anyone has any pointers, I’d love to hear them! Seriously. Anyone?

 

Amy Good is a writer from the U.S. currently living in Dublin.  She writes part-time, but only when her tyrannical toddler allows it!  When she is not writing, she tweets about the joys and troubles of being a writer, a geek, a toddler mom and a non-native Dubliner.Her first book, Rooted, is available (at no charge) for download at http://www.amicgood.com.

Find Amy at:

www.amicgood.com

http://www.facebook.com/amicgood

http://amicgood.tumblr.com/

http://twitter.com/amicgood

 

Rooted Blurb:

Rooted is the story of Chloe Chastain, a not-quite-average teenage girl living in the Pacific Northwest.  Chloe is a tree spirit doing her best to avoid the local werewolf pack,and she’s determined not to get caught up with the werewolf hunters that have descended upon her small town or fail her sophomore year of high school.  Or get stuck in detention.  Again.  But just because she wants to keep a low profile doesn’t mean she’ll be able to! Soon Chloe’s friend is turned into a werewolf, she attracts a dangerous stalker, and she finds herself investigating missing girls and murder.  It turns out there is so much more at stake than her permanent record.

 

Meet Jana Grissom

I cannot wait to share Jana Grissom’s story. I was blown away by what an inspiring, strong woman she is. So everyone meet Jana Grissom, author of One Prince, Two Kingdoms.

 

“Imagine a magical world where anything is possible; that is where I want to be! I am a mom of two amazing teens, married to Roy, my high school sweetheart (Yes ladies, fairy tales do come true!), a middle school teacher, an advocate for foster children and at-risk teens, and a never-ending student!

I hold a Master of Education in Administration and Policy Studies and I’m chasing my doctorate in Special Education. Currently, I offer professional development in bullying identification, prevention, and intervention and I am available to speak to students at secondary schools about the writing process or bring a message that challenges them to S.T.O.P. bullying and suicide. Oh, and one more very important detail: I love CHOCOLATE!” – Jana’s bio from Goodreads.

 

1. How did you get started writing? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

Who doesn’t dream about becoming a rock star? (In my mind, authors are rock stars.) Rock on!

2. How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since l learned how to spell. I made up stories and sometimes believed them. My entire teenage experience is documented in a locked diary. Some of it is true and some of it I made up because real life was boring. I have always loved telling and writing stories. They make the unimaginable become reality!

3. Do you write full time or do you also have an adult job?

By day I am a 7th grade science teacher, by night I am the creator of imaginary worlds! I love both of my jobs. Plus I am a mom of two teens and married to my high school sweetheart! Did I mention my doctorate courses?

4. What inspired you to start writing “One Prince, Two Kingdoms?”

One Prince, Two Kingdoms came about in response to the disturbing nightmares my two foster children at the time were experiencing. After several nights of being awakened by their screams and running to comfort them, I had an idea – write a story and let their imaginations defeat their fears. The children were excited to hear stories of magical worlds and powerful celestials sent to guard them. Each night before bed, I would add new scenes and more adventures. After a few weeks, the nightmares were replaced with excitement to hear the next chapter read.

The children are now with their family, but their pictures remain on my walls. “One Prince, Two Kingdoms” is dedicated to them and all the foster children who have been in my care, as well as my past and present students; my family, my two amazing teens, Kaylee and Cody, and my husband and best friend, Roy. I hope “One Prince; Two Kingdoms” will encourage teens in a place of transition to have hope and never give up.

5. It is coming out soon I see! Are you freaking out? What is the biggest hurdle you’ve had to overcome as a writer on the road to publication?

Editing! The editing process is grueling. I am learning that ultimately it is up to me to make it perfect. Talk about scary! So, I am taking my sweet time to make sure it is perfect. I want everyone to love every part of One Prince, Two Kingdoms. In reality, you can’t please everyone but I am going to try!

6. Was there any moment where you felt like you were about to give up? If so, what pulled you through?

Giving up never crossed my mind until the editing started. I have doubted my ability more than ever before. Part of me is afraid no one will like it. My wonderful kids and students won’t let me quit. They believe in me and I refuse to let them down.

7. Is there one moment from your career where another writer/editor/blogger/industry person gave you encouragement or kindness that really stands out to you? And one you will always remember?

There have been so many authors that are so supportive! I am pleasantly surprised by the tight nit community in the literary world. J.P. Lane has been a wonderful mentor. Krissi Dallas has been a sweet friend/author who has introduced me to local authors and pushed me through the editing process. I genuinely admire and look forward to developing life-long friendships with the authors I have met and will meet!

8. Why did you go the small publisher route?

Honestly, I didn’t know anything about publishing. My students encouraged me to publish. I submitted my manuscript as a class project to teach them about the writing process. Boy was I surprised when my manuscript was accepted for publishing with a small press! I had to call my husband and tell him what I did. He was so awesome and supportive. I am here today because of my students and family!

9. I see you too feature a lot of authors on your blog! What was your inspiration for that?

One thing I am learning about the literary world is that authors support authors. We are not in competition, we are a community. I love to spread the word about authors and provide advice along the way. It is a small way that I can give back!

10. What is one adjective you would use to describe writing?

Bittersweet

 

 

A Hero’s Sadness – by Nicol Bowen

The sun began its ascent above the horizon; fiery orange tendrils reached out across the ruins of the warehouse. As its light bathed the wreckage in a golden hue, it drew the focus on my greatest failure, my greatest shame. Smoke continued to rise from the shattered stone and twisted steel. It seemed the very soul of the building was leaving and making its way toward Heaven.

There was one soul that I wished would remain on earth. One smile I wanted to see just one more time, but it wasn’t possible. Where I stood was once a nondescript warehouse that now served as a grave marker, a final resting place for someone I held very dear. I had fought so hard to protect her. She had trusted me, believed in me.  I had failed her. I let her die. The Joker took her, and I didn’t get there in time to save her.

Bowing my head, I closed my eyes, bringing her image to mind. What came to mind was a reel of my favorite things about her, the many beautiful reasons why I love her. Her grey blue eyes always seem to have a kind glint to them, even if she was glaring at me. That glint told me no matter what she’d never be truly mad at me, upset maybe but never truly mad. It killed me to know I made her upset so I found a way to make her smile. Sometimes it took me a while but I found a way. Her smiles always blew me away, when she turned them on me. Her smile was unlike any smile I’d seen before, and I had seen a lot in my day. When Rachel smiled, it didn’t just reach her eyes; her whole body smiled. A glow seemed to form underneath her skin; lighting her up like a firefly and it was so contagious. I found myself really smiling, which was rare.Her smiles were never enough; I was and still am a selfish man. When I got a smile out of her; I took things one step further and made her laugh. When I tickled her in just the right place, she laughed, and it was a deep belly laugh. It wasn’t high pitched and lyrical, it was deep and real and one of my favorite sounds in all the world.

Rachel. No woman challenged me quick like she did. Honestly, I couldn’t say no to her, not when she looked at me with that determined smirk on her perfect lips. I really couldn’t say no when she put her soft, smooth hand to my cheek and looked right into my soul. When she touched me, not only did the contact ignite every nerve ending in my body, it opened me up. I never let anyone in, but with Rachel, all she had to do was touch me and I opened myself up to her. With her hand on my face and her eyes staring into mine; I opened up my soul and she looked right into it and didn’t even blink. The man I was deep down never bothered her and I was always thankful for that.

In those moments, I was simply Bruce Wayne. Not the billionaire playboy. Not the CEO of a company. Not even Batman. I was just a man who was head over heels for one woman. One who always kept me on my toes and never put up with my crap. Swallowing against the lump forming in my throat, I fought against the tears burning the back of my eyes. Now I’d never get to see her again, our future was gone; stolen from us; her life was stolen from her and it was my fault.

Opening my eyes, I looked across the fallen debris and wondered what her final moments were like. Was she afraid? Probably not. My Rachel wasn’t scared of much. Even when she was, she kept up a brave face.

When I stormed into that warehouse thinking that it was her face I would see, I won’t lie and say I was not disappointed when Harvey’s face came into view. However when I heard her voice, the relief that colored her tone made me proud to know her. Even in the face of death, Rachel was thinking about others, concerned that they would live. In her final moments when most people would be making peace with their maker, Rachel was concerned for Harvey. She died knowing that I got him out of there and that he would live to see another day.

 How I loved her, my Rachel. 

My vision began to swim as the tears welled within my eyes and I quickly blinked them away.  Rachel wouldn’t want me to cry, she’d want me to continue the fight, to stop the Joker and save Gotham once more. For her, I will do just that but what about when the fight is over? What do I have left to live for? I was finishing what I started so that she and I could be together. She told me the day Gotham no longer needed a hero would be our time and I had almost achieved that.

I had been so close.

The sound of a snap brought me out of my musing. A wind had picked up and caught my cape in its fingers, sending it swaying back and forth as if it was flag at half-mast. Even my batsuit was paying its last respects to Rachel, if only she could see it.

Looking around, I watched a few of the city workers picking at the wreckage and knew my time with Rachel was ending. Looking down a glimmer caught my eye. Bending down I brushed away some fragments of stone and found a coin sitting among the ruins. Picking it up, I turned it back and forth in my gloved fingers. One side damaged while the other looked good as new. I knew this coin from some place.

I continued to turn it repeatedly as I remembered where I had seen it. Not seen it, Rachel told me about it. Harvey had a thing about luck and so when he needed to make a decision he flipped his special coin with two heads. He always told Rachel he made his own luck. He must have given it to her when he saw her last. Feeling the familiar knot of tears form in the back of my throat, I fisted the coin and brought it to my chest. It was as if Rachel was giving me a sign, telling me what I needed to do. Even from the grave, she was trying to tell me what to do and I couldn’t fight the grim smile that came to my lips.

Placing the coin in a safe place, I took one last look around the space that once was a warehouse. I committed every piece of debris to memory. One day when things calmed down, I would come back here and pay my respects to Rachel once again. Maybe I would buy the space and build a building in her honor; something that she would have wanted. For now though, I would burn the image in my mind and use it to fuel my fight against the Joker. He would pay for what he did to the city but he would pay to me and no one else. This fight was personal now and I wasn’t going to stop until justice was served. For his crimes, The Joker’s punishment would come by the hands of Batman. His crime was snuffing out one of the brightest lights Gotham city had ever see.

With each step that led me away from the ruins,heaviness settled on my heart and with each step, it threatened to suffocate the life right out of me.  When I finally returned to my vehicle, I felt as though a weight was pushing the air from my lungs. I had found purpose in Rachel’s death but the reality of it all was beginning to slowly press upon me. Tears threatened again but I refused to cry, Batman did not cry. He is the face that causes criminals of Gotham to cower and flee. If they looked upon the face of their demise and saw tears they would laugh and Batman’s image shattered.

I have to keep it together.

I have to remain stoic.

This is Bruce Wayne’s battle, not Batman’s.

Taking one last look at the wreckage, I realized they served not just as a burial ground for someone I loved. They were a representation of my life. My life was in ruins and it was up to me to put them back together again. Tough times were ahead of me but if Rachel taught me anything in my life, it was never give up, even if everyone around me was.

Rachel’s life ended far too early but I would make sure that she did not die in vain. The pain and sorrow weighing heavily on my heart would drive me forward. It would fuel the fire that ignited inside of me when the building exploded.

For Rachel, I will carry on and complete what I set out to do in the first place. For her The Dark Knight will continue to fight against crime. He will stop those who oppress and prey on the weak. It is for Rachel that I will not let this overtake me and drag me down.

Mounting my bike, my eyes moved across the ruins, letting the sight stoke my desire for justice.

I will find the Joker and I will make him pay.

For Her. For Me. For Gotham.

 

Meet Nicol

I met Nicol a few weeks ago, and I was immediately struck by her kindness and sincerity. She is a talented aspiring writer with a heart of gold, and I jumped on the opportunity to profile her on my blog. I believe her story is one that many will share. We all struggle with confidence in our writing at some point, like Nicol. And like Nicol, we all find the support we need to overcome our self-doubt. So when Nicol told me she writes fan fiction for Batman, I knew I had to work in some epic Dark Knight moments.

I hope that Nicol’s profile will inspire someone who is struggling with their own writing. And tomorrow I will be posting a piece of Nicol’s Batman fan fiction. Enjoy

Batman: Sometimes the truth isn’t good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded…

I have always been a writer. When I was ten years old I had plans to write a story about my Aunt’s horse Diamond. I know it’s kind of lame, but I wanted to tell the story of an amazing animal, at least in my mind. I actually wrote all the chapters out and everything. My aunt said she knew a publisher, but it never actually took off. I think that was when I got the writing bug. After that I was invited to a writing seminar at the local college. I was about 12 or 13 at the time. Some big wigs critiqued my story and told me I had talent, which was like a dream come true for me. Those words have stuck with me for quite some time. Looking back on it now, they could have just been saying that. Regardless, it really helped me, and I did continue writing.

Bruce Wayne: People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne, as a man I’m flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed, but as a symbol, I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting.

My goal is to paint a colorful picture with my words. I want to suck the reader into the world I create, like other authors have done for me. Reading to me is an escape, an epic adventure I get to go on. I am not simply a college student or a daughter or a friend, but suddenly I am a bad ass angel, a feisty shadowhunter, or a vampire. I am drawn into an adventure that I wouldn’t get to normally be on. That’s what I want to convey with my writing. I want to help my readers experience adventures and things that they don’t get to in reality. I want to introduce them to a world I created while bringing them a little historical knowledge as well. I believe that someday I will do that, I just have to keep on believing and praying and leaning on my family and friends for support. I know it won’t be easy but this is really important to me. It’s my dream and I am not going stop. For now though, I am going continue working on short stories, finish school, and write on my blog.

Bruce Wayne: You know that day that you once told me about, when Gotham would no longer need Batman? It’s happening now. Harvey is that hero. He locked up half of the city’s criminals, and he did it without wearing a mask. Gotham needs a hero with a face.

Much of what I have written has mainly been fan fiction. I wrote a lot of AU stories for Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. My friend at the time was a talented artist so she drew characters and scenery for me. Together we kind of brought our fictional stories to life. I always loved adding my own characters into the books/movies because I liked seeing where the story would go from there. I did write a few Batman themed fan fictions as well, mainly from Bruce’s point of view. One of them was the scene from the Dark Knight when he’s standing on the ruins of the building that Rachel was in when she died. When I saw that scene I imagined what Bruce was feeling and decided to put it into words. I have spent most of my time writing fan fiction.

Harvey Dent: The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.

The reason I wrote fan fictions is because I never had faith in my own writing skills. I didn’t think that any of my ideas would be worth reading. I have dreamed of writing something epic and seeing it in print and hearing people rave about it, but I just didn’t have the confidence to back it up. Through lots of prayer and encouragement from my family and friends, I decided to finally give it a try. My initial idea was just to write short stories, ones that I completely made up on my own. However, when I sat down to do that I got an entire novel idea…well the start of one.  It was time for me to take that leap of faith and jump into the unknown. I have a story to share.  I have a world I want to pull my readers into and that is worth giving my novels a chance. It won’t be an easy journey but I know that in the end it will be worth it.

Batman: A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.

Recently a contest had opened up by one of my favorite authors. You had to write a fan fiction based on one of the books from a list and while I wrote it, I found myself itching to write more. I wanted to do something original, something of my own. All of this happened the same time I met Meg, and seeing her journey inspired me. If she can write a book and get it published why can’t I? I have been told I have a talent, now it’s time for me to believe it. A friend of mine really helped to encourage me as well. She read my posts on my blog and told me I had a unique writing style that pulled her in. Her words affected me more than she could ever know, and it helped push me to begin the process. I have no idea what I am doing. I am just a 25 year old woman who is in school and works at a gas station. What could I possibly write about? I realized that authors are normal people with a story in their heart, they aren’t some kind of super solider, and this helped bolster my courage and take the plunge. I am graduating from fan fictions and moving into something new and original.

Bruce Wayne: They told me there was nothing out there, nothing to fear. But the night my parents were murdered I caught a glimpse of something. I’ve looked for it ever since. I went around the world, searched in all the shadows. And there is something out there in the darkness, something terrifying, something that will not stop until it gets revenge…me.

I love to read; one summer all I did was read over 150 book. As much as I love reading, I felt an ache for something more. I want to write something as epic as the books I have read. I want to make someone laugh, cry, and get angry at a character. I have read a bunch of different genres but my favorites have to be paranormal, dystopian and historical fiction. Recently I have read a series by Jennifer Armentrout, it’s called the Covenant series and it got the wheels in my head turning. I love Greek myth and after I finished, I turned to the myths of Ancient times and all these “What If?” questions began to pop into my mind. Her books inspired me to do some research and try and come up with some ideas that had yet to be seen before, or give the reader a different view of these famous characters from myth, one that hadn’t seen before.

Joker: You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you? You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.

In doing some research and just reflecting on the things I liked, two really good novel ideas hit me. They actually hit me so hard they are a part of me and I can already feel the characters growing and building in my mind. It’s truly amazing. One of my novels is going to be centered around Greek myth and it’s going to put two gods in the spotlight, two that one wouldn’t expect to see in a story. The other novel idea is about angels and demons but in a way I have yet to see them portrayed. I don’t want to give two much away because they are still very new ideas but I don’t mind teasing people. Being in school makes it hard to really get these ideas fleshed out, but I will be writing short stories to help get the creative juices flowing. I look forward to teasing future readers and seeing what they think of the worlds I want to create.

James Gordon: He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him because he can take it, because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector…a dark knight.

I haven’t written anything yet but it’s coming, so prepare yourself to see teasers from me very very soon. For now I am working on getting my school work done and posting on my blog. It’s called Being Tested By Fire. It’s an “everything” kind of blog. I post about things I am going through, book reviews, eventually I will be posting short stories and other writer things like that. It’s just a space for me to express myself and get all my thoughts out there. I have a voice, I have things on my heart that I want to say and my blog is where I can do that.

beingtestedbyfire.blogspot.com

 

Thanks, Nicol, for sharing your story! Don’t forget, tomorrow I will be posting a piece of Nicol’s Batman fan fiction.

Meet Elaine Calloway

Meet Elaine Calloway! I had the chance to ask Elaine some questions about her career and the Elemental Clan series she pens. Elaine has lots of good advice and experience, so you will want to read this one! Enjoy

 

1. How did you get your start in writing?       

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love writing. Even as a kid, I’d break open the dictionary, copy 20 random words into a notebook, and then try to make stories out of those words. In high school, I did journal writing. When older, I did short stories, but I always wanted to try tackling a novel. Stephanie Bond, who writes romantic suspense, once said at a writer’s meeting, “You learn a lot about yourself when you finish writing a book.” I wanted to find out what she meant, so I pushed through and finished my first. Then second, third, and so forth. And by the way, Stephanie was right!

2. How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing book-length fiction for ten years. Before that, I wrote short stories, magazine articles, etc. I like the book-length stories because I can add in subplots, interesting side characters, etc.

3. What was your inspiration for the Elemental Clan series?

*Racks brain* You know, people ask me that all the time and I really don’t have a definitive answer. Like so many things, it was a combination of factors all congealing at once. I remember “The Fifth Element” being on TV around that time. I also attended a few writing meetings where they spoke about how the theme of Fallen Angels had become increasingly popular in fiction. I’ve always been fascinated by Fallen Angels and the choice they made, how it affected them. Plus, the ‘good vs. evil’ is a subject I’ve always enjoyed, and so I decided to combine all those things. Water’s Blood (Book One) introduces all 4 Elementals, so their stories began to form when I wrote that first book in the series.

4. What has your road to publication been like? Why did you choose to self publish?

The road to publication has been a learning journey. Do I wish it would have taken less time? Yes. However, no regrets as I have learned a great deal. If my first book had been published right out of the gate, it wouldn’t have helped me. It took writing several books, rewriting and polishing, to learn what process works, what doesn’t, and how to push through the doubt. I do still intend to revamp and polish those manuscripts I wrote, and I’m glad I waited because they could really use some editing!  

Back in 2008-2009, when the Kindle spawned the popularity of ebooks, I remember keeping my finger on the pulse of self-publishing even though I wasn’t ready to try it yet. I continued to write books, even if the previous one hadn’t sold. That is the most productive and educational thing I could have done, and that is what I would tell writers to do. Keep writing. You learn more and more, you never stop learning.

The rejections I began to receive (from agents and editors) eventually morphed into compliments on my books, telling me they loved my stories, but that they had no idea how to market the book and therefore couldn’t take the project on. Once I knew that industry professionals liked my work, but it was a matter of not knowing which hole to place my book in, I decided to self-publish. I figured I could figure out the marketing and where to target my books.  

5. What has it been like to release two books in your series? Is it what you hoped it would be?

I love that the readers of Book One (Water’s Blood) were excited and kept waiting to find out when Book Two (Raging Fire) came out. And now they’re clamoring for Book Three (Earthbound) which I aim to release by the end of the year. The response kept me going on the blah days.

The only thing I would do differently next time (Hindsight 20/20) would be to write all 4 books first, then release them closer together. I think the marketing plan for that kind of schedule would be worthwhile, but aside from that, no regrets. I’m still releasing 4 books within 18 months, which is still a rapid schedule and better than what I’d have if I were traditionally published. 

6. Were you discouraged at any point?

Many, many times! If any writer tells you otherwise, newbie or bestseller, they’re lying! Discouragement can come from external as well as internal sources. While writing my first book, my brand new laptop died. I had a few back-ups, but I wound up having to retype 100 pages (from a printed out backup) and completely retype/recreate 60 pages. I felt sick, almost didn’t go back to writing. But, lesson learned. Back up frequently; keep on writing.

Discouragement can also come from within, and many times this is harder to defeat. When it strikes, I try to read a book I love, see a great TV show or movie with excellent characters, dialogue, all the things I love about books. Sometimes, take a day off. But always write. That is the rule that somehow keeps us moving forward. There may be successes, there may be failures, but if you quit you’ll never know. Never quit. Take time off if you need to, but make it limited.

7. Who is your support system?

I’m fortunate to have several sources. I’m a member of Georgia Romance Writers, which is a sub-chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). Both organizations have tremendous speakers, mentoring, conferences, etc. for writers.

I also have some great writer friends, beta readers of my books, and friends and family. I think it’s especially helpful to have an understanding spouse or significant other. Make time for family priorities, but guard your writing time.

8. Is there one moment of support/kindness shared to you by another author/editor/agent/blogger/industry person that will forever stand out to you in your career?

Yes, though at the time I didn’t realize it! A literary agent I met at a conference requested a partial of my work, then requested a full, then she called me on the phone. I was so excited to see the 212 area code appear on my cell phone, but she was actually calling to reject me over the phone. Now, that certainly was a downer, but she said she wanted to call, wanted me to hear her voice when she told me how much she loved my book but she was a small agency and didn’t know where she could sell the story, so she couldn’t chance taking me on. That was my first real encouragement, even though it was so disappointing to have an agent call, then reject! But, all in all, it was better than a form letter rejection, so I’m glad she did it.

9. What words of advice would you tell another aspiring writer who is struggling with their work?

Always keep writing. That’s the key.

Writing is solitary, so find ways to network with other writers, whether in person or virtually via Twitter chats, etc.  

Every writer has bad days, those days when we think our work sucks. Push through, keep going, and when you reach “The End” it will all be worth it.

Don’t take the self publishing route lightly. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Make sure you hire an editor for your work. Don’t just slop something up on Amazon because you can – - it will come back to haunt you.

And always keep writing!

 

Thanks for having me here today! Learn more about The Elemental Clan Series books on my Web site here . (URL is http://www.thewriterscanvas.com/books...)

Elaine Calloway writes paranormal/fantasy books with romantic elements. She grew up in New Orleans with a love of gothic architecture, tall steeples, and artistic cemetery headstones. When she isn’t writing The Elemental Clan Series or novels about ghosts, she enjoys movies, reading, and spending time with friends and family.  Connect with her online at www.elainecalloway.com .

 

Here is an excerpt from Elaine’s novel WATER’S BLOOD, Book One of The Elemental Clan Series.

“Brooke clunked two shot glasses down on the bar, grabbed the chilled Patrón, and tilted the clear bottle to pour drinks for the regulars. Organization was the key to managing a bar—and keeping her Elemental identity well-hidden. Within this Mid-City neighborhood, nestled amongst shotgun houses with fern-clad patios and canopies of live oaks, her locals knew each other by name, ran a tab, tipped her well, and didn’t cause trouble. Unlike the Minare Fallen Angels, who reaped innocent souls and made dark dealings during witching hour.

The chimes to the Armand’s entrance made a tinkling sound. Brooke glanced up, only to notice a somber Alex enter the pub.

Alex? What was he doing here? Especially on a Saturday night, when he knew the place would be busy?

He walked over to a corner stool and kept a roaming stare of the place, probably to gauge their level of privacy. A natural trait for a cop, Brooke had learned. He could scan a new place and sense what didn’t belong within seconds, a rare trait that spiked her attraction to him. Along with those piercing green eyes that could penetrate her soul.

 “She found the chalice,” Alex whispered.

Brooke’s throat tightened, but she forced her facial muscles to remain stoic. She didn’t want her customers knowing anything about her private life. To do so would be too dangerous. She grabbed the Kahlua and mixed a White Russian for one of her elderly regulars.
“I know,” she said, using her best nonchalant voice.

Alex’s eyes widened. “You do? How?”

Stay casual. Not an easy task, given her wrenching insides. She meandered to the other side of the bar to pour refills and gather used shot glasses. If her customers were occupied, she and Alex could talk without anyone overhearing them.

Privacy was essential, and life in Armand’s was never private. People honed in on the local gossip quicker than she could say Tabasco. The secrecy of her relationship with Alex had taken its toll over the years, but she couldn’t risk anyone knowing she had a daughter, or that she loved Alex with all her heart. In the public’s eye, they were acquaintances. With her Elemental priorities, she wondered if they could ever be more.”

Meet Bebe Knight

Hey everyone! This is Meg. Thanks for stopping by to read Bebe Knight’s guest post! Stay tuned at the end for a blurb from her book. Enjoy! -Meg

From Bebe,

When I sat down to write An Element of Time, I didn’t have any concept as to what it would take to become a published author. It was just an idea I had brainstormed for my NaNoWriMo challenge and I thought it would be fun to try writing a full length novel. Sure, I had dabbled a bit with short stories and plays, but nothing as daunting as a 100K word manuscript and nothing close to being worthy of submitting to agents or publishers.

As I typed ‘The End’, I realized this might actually be something worth pursuing. After many rounds of editing, a name change or two and a major plot twist added, I finally felt ready enough to start submitting. If you’re like me, then the next step was not only the hardest, but scariest: The Dreaded Query Letter and Synopsis.

No joke, I think it took me longer to write the synopsis than it took me to write the first draft of my novel. I’m an over thinker. I re-read and revise all the time. I’m doing it right now. I changed my query letter after every five rejection letters. You know, just in case it was the letter’s fault I was rejected and not my masterpiece.

It took me a year and a half of on and off querying to find my publisher. There were times when I decided to give up for a bit and there were times when I barreled through the aggravation. Trying to get your work published can sometimes be an emotional rollercoaster. One day you’re ecstatic because an agent/publisher requests your full manuscript and then the next day you’re depressed because one of your dream agents/publishers turns you down.

If you’re just starting to write or your journey through the query process, remember this: Tomorrow is another day. There will be highs and lows in your writing career, just like everything else in life. Don’t let the system overwhelm you to the point where you’re not having fun anymore. Always remember why you started writing in the first place and never let anything or anyone keep you from following your dream.

An Element of Time

Eternal Flame Series: Book One

By: Bebe Knight

Released September 24th, 2013 through Solstice Publising

A vampire and a slayer walk into a bar… Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but for Veronica and Mackenzie, it’s the beginning of the rest of their lives…

The world has seen its fair share of evil, but Veronica Chase had no idea such monsters truly existed. Werewolves, poltergeists, witches… even vampires. Ignorance was bliss. But her reality was crushed on that horrid day her family was taken away from her. Now, Veronica has devoted her entire life to hunting those very creatures, searching for the werewolf pack that murdered her parents in hopes of finding her abducted sister. Nothing will get in her way of settling the score for the hand she was unjustly dealt. That is until her newest assignment brings her to her knees.

After one hundred and eight years on earth, Mackenzie Jones thought he had seen it all. With the exception of daylight of course, but that’s what comes with the territory being a vampire and all. Perpetually damned to live his life as a bartender in the shadows of the night, nothing has sparked his interest lately. Just once he wished something exciting would happen in his mundane life. Little did he know, his wish was about to come true. Walking through the door to his bar, and into his heart, Mackenzie allows love to take the wheel for the first time. There’s just one slight problem. She’s there to kill him.

Author Info

Bebe Knight, author of the Eternal Flame Series, lives in Upstate NY with her husband and son. Writing has always been a part of her life whether it be books, plays, or handwritten letters to friends and family. It’s a dream come true for her to be able to share her stories with others.

http://www.bebeknight.com

http://www.readinguntilifallasleep.com (Blog)

https://www.facebook.com/BebeKnightAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/Bebe_Knight

http://www.twitter.com/Bebe_Knight

http://www.cafepress.com/theeternalflameseries

 

BUY LINK: http://amzn.com/B00FDXZYIM

 

 

Heaven’s War

Heaven’s War

We all stood around the courtyard, too stunned to do anything but listlessly mill about. I stood with Uriel and Zarachiel who talked in hushed tones. I vaguely paid attention to their conversation. Mainly, I kept my eye out for your return. More and more angels of all choirs were filing in, crowding the first level of Heaven. I had never seen this many angels gathered together in one place at one time. It was stifling.

They were here because you were making your decision about Lucifer’s punishment. And like moths to the flame, we all wanted to see his reaction.

The gates to Heaven were open. They were never open. Our eyes kept shifting past the gates to the dusty plain of Purgatory beyond. Lucifer sat out there, a shadow in the haze, on the Edge’s Wall, where the limits of space met the edge of Purgatory. He was hunched over, waiting as we all waited, for your decision.

Finally, I saw you. The others immediately noticed too. This could only mean one thing – you had decided. The angels around me squirmed with anxiety and anticipation. The tension stilled the air, making us pant shallow breaths.

Your wings opened and in one swift motion, lifted you into the air. Above our heads you sailed, searching and scanning the vast crowd. We all watched your flight with heads turned to the skies. You flew through the gates and across Purgatory. You landed silently but quickly at Lucifer’s side and immediately started talking to him in a hushed voice.

Slowly, he turned towards your voice, like he cared little for your words. You both were too far away for any of us to hear, and no one ventured closer to eavesdrop. Undulating lights from the space storms far below illuminated Lucifer’s face so that even from our distance, we saw his emotionless expression.

You, on the other hand, spoke with vehemence and intensity. You stood close to his shoulder with head bent, focused only on him. The conversation looked too intimate to have such a large enraptured crowd as an audience.

When you finished delivering the news of his punishment, Lucifer continued to stare emptily into your eyes. You paused, confused. You struggled to gauge his reaction; we all did.

With an easy motion, Lucifer eased off the wall and stood before you. You refused to step back from his close proximity. He leaned in even closer, ducking his head to your ear, and placing his hand on your arm. His words caused your mouth to drop in shock. Your eyes darted to his, searching for the truth of his words. You stood paralyzed.

Lucifer looked over your shoulder. He stared into the crowd of people, like he was looking for something. I watched him tuck his pointy chin to his chest in the slightest but deliberate motion of a nod. He was signaling something.

Instantly, my blood spiked through my veins. An internal siren went off in my head. For a split second, my muscles froze me into place. In that second, my attention refocused solely on you.

You reacted the same way. Reaching out, you grabbed Lucifer’s arm and shook your head. I couldn’t make out your words or even feel what you were saying to him. He looked at you coldly and jerked his arm away.

And then all hell broke loose. They appeared out of nowhere. They came from the shadows behind us. They came from the friend standing next to us. They came from everywhere and they attacked us.

Many of our fellow Holy Angels turned against us, their own blood.

Mass chaos broke loose. People shouted and struggled all around me. Everyone was caught off guard. We didn’t even defend ourselves at first. But we soon realized the other angels’ intentions. We had to fight back.

Zarachiel was yanked backwards onto his back. Uriel screamed and lunged toward him only to be thrown violently into the column next to her by a burly looking angel with a strange, excited fever in his eyes.

In one step, I closed in on him. Before he could defend himself, I brought his face crashing into my knee, crumpling the bones. As he stumbled backwards, already healing, I brought my foot to his chest, kicking him back into the crowd. Swiftly, I turned and started moving in your direction. Every step of the way I had to fight against bodies of a mob that struggled and grasped at me in fear and attack. Punches and kicks landed hard against my body. I ducked and dodged what I could, but I felt more blows than I deflected. I hardly noticed the pain or the angels fighting around me. I focused only on you.

Our eyes met for a second. I had somehow reached a break in the bodies, managing a clear view of you. You didn’t fight, which surprised me. You stood utterly still, taking in the mutiny before you with glazed eyes. Lucifer moved away from you, slipping into the crowd as the fight spilled through the gates and into Purgatory. The crowed, like a tide, carried me closer to you.

Finally, you saw me, and your face crumpled. Tears threatened your bright eyes. Our world literally crashed down around us as columns fell and tiles crumbled beneath our feet. Our dearest friends ripped and tore at each other. I knew how awful it must have been for you, because I knew how awful I felt inside.

Your reverie snapped, and you noticed Lucifer’s stealthy and timely retreat. You spun around, springing after him. Within the second, you were at his back, dragging him to the ground like a panther after its kill.

And with that final glimpse, I lost sight of you. I was hurled backwards by a foot slamming into my gut. Viciously, I landed on the ground, sending up a plume of dust that choked me. Between the fists that rained down upon my body, I saw the face of the angel who beat me. His eyes were no longer clear as glass. They were smoked over, completely black from hate and malice. I didn’t recognize him.

I yanked his face down. The sudden propulsion made him stagger. I used his momentum to flip him over my head. My wings spread out beneath my back and pressed me into the air. Without breaking my hold, I somersaulted through the air above him, landing with my feet on either side of his body, hands grasping his face. I lifted his torso far enough off the ground to slam his skull back down. I felt the sickening sensation of his head crushing beneath from force. But I didn’t stop. I pounded at his face with my fists. All I could see was the broken look that had filled your eyes. Like I could beat that look away, I pummeled the angel’s face even more unrecognizable.

I don’t remember much after that. It was all such a blur of bodies, screams, and devastation. But at one point, I clearly remember looking down. My feet stuck in muck and filth. There was no more dust, because the ground was wet with our blood.

Feeling sick, I looked at my own body and saw cuts and holes throughout my skin that oozed the golden blood of our kind. It streamed to the ground in torrents from everyone’s bodies. I looked like a warrior statue dipped in gold, not like an angel.

We all, good and bad, stopped dead in our tracks, when we heard the horrible metallic screeching sound come piercing through the air.

I clamped my hands over my ears, forgetting the fight. Others fell to their knees in agony. The sound split through my skull, and rattled everything around inside. I thought my eyes would pop out of my head. I tasted the bitter sound in my mouth. The sound seemed to set the air itself on fire, burning a horrible stench that gagged us.

Immediately, we found the source of the sound. It wasn’t hard to miss. We stood aghast, stunned, mouths gaping.

You had Lucifer pinned against the Edge’s wall, chest pressed against the hard crystal that made up the wall. His arms gripped the edge, clinging. He stretched so far over the wall that his head hung face-down into the nothingness. He screamed in agony. But the horrible metallic sound was because of you.

You stood behind him. One leg was planted in the center of his back, viciously pressed between his struggling wings. Your firm grip held a wing in each hand. At first none of us understood your attack.

But with a quick, horrifically powerful jerk, his wings tore from his body with a spray of gold blood and gore. They twitched slightly in your hands. You stood for a moment, victorious, above him as he crumpled at your feet.

The moment passed and you tossed the great, bleeding, broken wings over your shoulders. With one swoop you pulled the struggling Lucifer in your arms. At first, I thought you were embracing him. Instead you swung his prone body over the Edge. He was completely exposed to the void now.

I thought you had let him go at first. He would fall to the earth, broken and shattered, forever unable to fly. But then I realized you were still struggling. He clung to your arm, yanking you against the wall, begging for mercy.

In an instant, I realized what would happen. You couldn’t shake him off. He would pull you down with him. I started sprinting towards you, shoving shocked angels out of my way, leaping over still forms at my feet. I was the only one moving. Everyone else looked like horrified statues.

“Michaela!” I t was reflex. All my instincts forced me to get to you. But I physically could not. So, I flung my words out to you.

You were distracted by my panicked tone. No doubt your hard-wired reflexes had you jerking your head around in my direction. But Lucifer saw your moment of weakness.

He reached his other hand up and wrapped it around your neck. It was all too easy for him then. With one strong jerk, you tumbled over the edge into the oblivion with him. Together you both disappeared, falling into nothing.

As I saw you vanish over the Edge of Heaven, I wanted to die. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I knew you were physically still capable of flying. But I also knew Lucifer’s tenacity and the hatred I had heard in his screams. He would stop at nothing.

And he was taking you down with him.

I sprinted to the edge of the wall. Without slowing even the tiniest fraction, I leapt onto the edge and soared into the air. Arching my body into a streamlined dive, I fell after you.

For a moment, I was scared. I didn’t know what was happening back in Heaven. I didn’t know what was happening below me as you struggled in Lucifer’s hating grasp. I was scared because I knew I was going to lose one of the two – you or Heaven.

It was a sin, but I prayed it wouldn’t be you.

I didn’t even pay attention to the fall. I’m sure it was horrifically beautiful to watch the cosmos flash by, to see space up close, zooming by at the speed of light. But I was honed in on your disappearing shadow. I only felt the air rip into me, rushing past my skin, across my body, through my wings.

The earth came into view as we all crashed closer and closer. The light from the sun illuminated and burned us all. Now I saw you clearly as you fought with everything you had.

Lucifer was desperate. The huge gaping wound at his back added to his fanatical strength, fueling his rage with pain and the salivating desire to bring you down with him. He got one good hold on you, and that was all it took. He snapped your right wing, breaking it like an old door dangling from its hinge.

My scream matched your own. I felt your pain as the heat soared across our right shoulder blade. It felt like the bones were being set on fire and slowly burnt down to molten liquid. I screamed for your pain. You screamed in rage.

You pounded into Lucifer. He had never stood a chance against a warrior like you. He had just gotten lucky. Now, he didn’t bother trying to escape your sadistic embrace. Weakened from the blood pouring out of him, he merely braced against your blows.

You both crashed into the soft earth a moment or two before me. Ironically, we landed in a field eerily similar to ours in Heaven – the one where I had first awoken and met you. That time felt like lifetimes ago, like it had happened to different people, not us. We were so far from that moment now, I could barely recall it. Our landing left smoking, burning holes in the ground.

The landing jarred you two apart. Before you could stand and before I could finish racing to your side, Lucifer was up and running away. Once a few feet away from your attack, he dove into the earth, making the ground shake and crumble.

I reached your side. Carefully, I tucked your shattered wing firmly against your back. I’m sure it must have hurt you beyond compare, but you didn’t say a word. You just stared blindly at the hole left by Lucifer’s escape.

The rest of Lucifer’s fallen angels were not far behind me. I assume they had been cast out or beat their own hasty retreat after your ferocious excommunication of Lucifer. But either way, they were showering down around us now.

You wanted to follow them into the hell they created with their burrowing, clawing hands. But I held you back. I shielded you the best I could, pushing us into a crouch close to the ground. We were completely vulnerable and isolated with no form of defense if the others chose to attack.

Real rain followed the fallen angels to the earth. It was like the skies had opened up and let everything fall out, including its angels. The deluge came down harder and harder. The sky was black and hard from the drilling storm. Thunder and lightning sounded across the heavens. The terrible storm shook and rattled the earth.

I couldn’t believe how many angels Lucifer had managed to recruit. We watched some of our closest friends disappear into the earth –  into Hell. I felt your heart break more and more beneath my hands as each different angel passed.

Once the storm was over, I lifted your shattered body in my arms and flew into the air back to Heaven. I didn’t know what we would return home to, but I knew things were forever changed.

Most importantly, though, was that I had you. And I couldn’t find any more room in my head or heart to care about anything else.

It didn’t take me long to return us. You didn’t say much. I wanted nothing more than to glue you back together. But you were broken in more ways than one. I was devastated, so I held you tight to my chest, which probably only caused your wing more pain.

I reached the limit of the skies, easily ascending the Edge’s wall and stepping into Purgatory. Everyone left was gathered in the main courtyard inside the gates. At the sound of my wings, they all turned weary, battle-worn eyes to us as I flew us through the gates. When they saw it was you, relief poured over them like a baptism. I sat you down and you immediately walked toward the angels that remained.

You broken wing hung awkwardly behind you. You tried so hard to look brave and commanding. But with each step, you winched in excruciating pain. You didn’t feel brave. I felt the question in your mind. You tried to smile reassuringly at everyone, but it faltered. You didn’t bother to speak.

We mourned together. Standing in the ruin of Heaven, we realized a war had begun. We were all worried about what would become of us.

In that moment, I clenched your hand. The feeling I would lose you was stronger than ever. I felt that I would fail you somehow. That feeling would forever me haunt after Lucifer’s fall.

It haunted me until the day it became true many years later. The day was very similar to the one we experienced with Lucifer’s fall. It was the day Lucifer returned to Heaven. You made a horrible, awful mistake and let him in.