The very contrary fairy sure has a lot to say about what she must do each
day. But when she decides to run away, will she make it home in time and
stay?
About the Author
When not writing books, hosting the Emmy nominated television series,
Selling Knoxville, hosting her podcast, ConnectTheKnox, or Brokering her
office, Julia can be found camping with her family, snuggling with her dog
Ripp, or cooking a gourmet meal with her best friend and partner for life,
Joe. Julia can be contacted via email at julia@justhomesgroup.com.
Dayal Singh is brilliant, quirky, & has Asperger’s. Son of parents
trafficked to East Africa from India just before independence, he knows he’s
Sikh, African, and calculus is the evidence of God.
He becomes fascinated by a broken piano. and is offered a piano to sell,
buys it and learns to play.
Mentored by his older brothers, he follows them to Singapore to further his
education, then goes to Switzerland.
He falls in love with the granddaughter of the man who bought his father.
She tells him that the situation is impossible, and that he must stay in
school as long as his way is paid.
His youth is fraught, being an other. In Switzerland, he is constantly
proselytized to, which only defines for him how he wants to live. He’s
studying physics and engineering, but finds peace in playing the piano. He
meets other students, they jam, and suddenly they are rock stars…which
Dayal never imagined could happen.
He agrees to meet Sita, the daughter of a Sikh man his father met, and
Dayal thinks they are both in agreement about how they will live and raise
children, but things gradually go downhill. When Dayal learns Sita hasn’t
been truthful with him, he has to make a decision.
Excerpt
The song I wrote, “Is This OK?” was a hit. We got it out as a
single, and added it to shows. We started in Boston and zigzagged through
large cities in Canada, the USA, and Mexico, then to Spain and France. We
broadcasted live shows to theaters around the USA, San Jose, Lima, Buenos
Aires, Sydney, Perth, and Brasilia, and Japan. I wrote the Glazer girls, but
there was no way I could see them.
At the end of the tour in
August, I flew to Dubai for a week. We hadn’t seen each other since
December! I couldn’t imagine where Sita got the idea that there was so
much to do in Dubai. Was she comparing it to Mumbai? I noticed the town was
growing. There were triple the number of buildings, many quite tall. We got
out to the desert for camel races, where I saw my first Salukis. I thought
they looked like Mara’s dogs. They ran a few races, and were so
graceful. We went out to eat, saw movies, strolled the mall, the beach, met
her girlfriends (she knew no guys and did not socialize with the
girls’ brothers or husbands), had dinner with Baba Makkar’s
other family, and we talked more about our expectations. Again, I asked her
if she had explored birth control methods, and hit a road block.
“You know, a lot of
women use the rhythm method based on their cycles and it works,” she
said to me.
“Do you know how it
works? I will use condoms, but you need to know your options.”
We had no arguments, but
our conversations were never about anything controversial or deep. She
wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup anymore, at least not when I saw her.
She told me she had started saving her allowance, and was even going through
her wardrobe to decide what clothes she would really need, as the weather
would be different in Europe.
We weren’t sleeping
together in Dubai, but we could bring each other to orgasm, and I was happy
for that.
I asked Fatima about how
the wedding planning was going, and she told me she was thinking of next
March.
Seven months more?
“Why are you delaying this?”
“Your
horoscopes… .”
“This is nonsense.
We’ve known each other over a year. I have a school break in November.
Make it for then.” I found this irritating, but when I was stressed,
and back then, it was almost all the time, everything was irritating.
I really wanted to see my
parents. I was halfway there, being in Dubai, so I asked Fatima and Sita to
come with me. Mr. Makkar agreed to pay for their flights if I would pay for
a place for them to stay, which was at Mr. Curtis’s hotel. A few other
small hotels had been built, but Curtis’ place was still the
nicest.
I surprised my parents (I
did send a telegram). I sent Sita and Fatima on several safari runs,
suggested they have my tailor create some clothes for themselves, and took
them around in the truck to see Alfred. I brought him a solar lantern, a few
books on alternative energy, and a football and badminton set for his three
children, who were giddy about the gifts.
Fatima and Sita were
surprised at how far out from Arusha Alfred lived. When we pulled into their
compound, Fatima asked me, “They speak English?”
“Alfred was in
primary school with me, and he often guides safaris, so I know his English
is good. I’m not sure about the rest of his family.” I spoke to
his wife and children in Kiswahili.
Alfred and I discussed
putting in a rain catchment system on his house. He had managed to build a
burned brick house with a cement floor and tin roof, but still had his
rondoval. His wife and daughters still had to fetch water. I told him
I’d loan him the money if he agree to pay it forward.
Sita and Fatima seemed
uncomfortable with the goats, chickens and dogs approaching us in their
curiosity. Alfred’s mum offered us chai and mandaazi, which is a fried
pastry. I saw that Fatima and Sita were hesitant, but I whispered to them,
“Everything’s boiled or fried. You won’t get
sick.”
On the way back to town,
we stopped at a Maasai encampment. I just wanted to greet them, and I had
bought them a few plastic buckets. We didn’t stay long. The flies were
too annoying, and there was no place to sit.
On the drive back to my
folks, Sita and Fatima commented how remarkable it was that people could
live like they did and be so happy. Sita asked me, “How is it you have
a relationship with such primitive people?”
Her question shocked me.
“They aren’t primitive. They’re just poor. You know, they
haven’t had the advantages we’ve had.”
“What do you
mean?”
“The Maasai like
living the way they do. They are free. Their children do all the chores. As
for Alfred, I had my older brothers to help me learn. Alfred was the eldest
child. He had nobody to help him. Also, his father had two wives, so
resources for the children were spread thin.”
My parents were cordial
towards Sita and Fatima. However, I knew from the way they were acting, that
they weren’t comfortable. There was a real class difference between us
and them. Baba pulled me aside and asked, “They knew they were coming
to Africa. Why didn’t they dress more simply?”
I remembered the time Avi
and Sodhi came home after guiding safaris one day, and were counting their
tips in various foreign currencies. Sodhi remarked that most of the tourists
on his lorry were French, and Avi responded, laughing, “Today mine
were all Italian. They always dress like they’re going to a photo
shoot. The women, always silk shirts unbuttoned to show cleavage and gold
necklaces, tight silk pants that look painted on, and stiletto heels. Not
just high heels—pointy six inch heels. They tottered and had to be
boosted into the lorry. I can’t imagine what they were thinking. That
the ground would be hard so they wouldn’t sink in?”
My future wife and
mother-in-law were dressed as if going to a business luncheon, and I
wondered if they owned any clothes that didn’t need to be dry
cleaned.
“Baba, these people
live in a tall building. They don’t even have a garden. These are
their ‘simple’ clothes.” He understood this because he had
visited my brothers.
I had been living in
Europe as a European and just accepted that some people never did any real
work. This was also why I took time to address expectations with Sita.
Hassan had brought one of his wives to live with him, and she was helping
Ama with baking. Fatima expressed surprise that my mother could bake such
amazing things over a grill in a covered pot.
About the Author
I am a retired dog groomer and have titled dogs in performance and
conformation. I didn’t go to college until I was 30 and took CLEP exams to
avoid prerequisites. I have a degree in anthropology with concentrations in
African & Indian studies and a master’s in urban planning. I was
a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. I have had several short stories
published in literary journals and the pet industry press.
Long enough to get Violet through the worst, then send her through it
again. When her new husband and his friends go grave robbing, they dig up a
legend. They recover a thousand-year-old ring with a curse. When she finds
it she uses it to her advantage like the last ring she owned, and her
husband confesses to her how he obtained it. The magic flees from the ring
after killing the people it sees deserving, but when it attacks her, Violet
knows what she must do. It’s go back to grandma’s, then Misty
Falls.
When she goes back her curiosity gets the best of her and she goes with a
friend to investigate a murder in the haunted forest. Soon the forest is
haunting her, and she is met with the killer, who wants more young blood.
Though born on Friday the 13th, she believes in herself. Is she able to
escape a streak of bad luck?
Excerpt
Curtis and his friends split up into three motel rooms ten minutes away
from the cemetery they wanted to rob. They couldn’t bring them on the
plane, so they had to go to a local store and get a shovel for each of them.
The plan was to rob Jessie’s grave first and look for the famous ring
that was fashioned in hell. “I want to see this ring,” one of
them said. “I hope it doesn’t say made in hell or I will
run.” They snickered at his joke except for Curtis. All their rooms
were right next to each other. After hitting Jessie’s grave that night
they would look through other graves and the mausoleum afterwards because
there was no digging with those, then they’d go for the bigger graves,
because the families may have had more money to pay for them.
After a quick dinner it was darkening. “Can
we go now?” Curtis asked.
“It’s supposed to be late, but we will
all take the rental car and be there in about thirty minutes. It’s
getting darker at this point. I don’t think anyone will see
us.”
“Have you done this before?” Curtis
asked.
“No, I’ve stolen but not from a grave
and this will probably be the only time.” By the time everyone was in
the car it was darker, and they left. They had shovels and gardening tools
in the back.
A red glow of light began to come from over the
horizon. “I thought the sunset was over,” one of them in a black
leathery jacket said.
“It was,” said the dark blond who
appeared to be the leader. He had the most experience stealing and did not
spend one day in jail for anything.
As they got out the red seemed to get bigger.
After opening the trunk, they then got out shovels and began looking for the
one grave with the ring. There was a large, rounded tombstone straight ahead
with some fresh flowers there half dead. The leader went for that one and it
read Jessie the name they were looking for. He had died almost ten years ago
and there was a card against the stone. It was about how someone missed him
so much and how she loved him but never told him enough and it was signed
Tess. It was from his girlfriend. The leader left it open and put it back.
His friends began to dig but Curtis wandered around looking for graves to
start digging. “Go to the mausoleum,” the leader told him, and
Curtis went that way glad Violet had no idea where he was.
As the guys dug Curtis tried opening crypts with
the shovel but they didn’t come open. When he found an old one with a
big crack he decided to try that one. This person had died in the
1920’s. He hit it hard a few times with the shovel and the right side
fell off. Sliding the coffin out and peeking in he could not see well but
there wasn’t anything buried with him of value. He put it back and
tried to find another one. He kept looking for older graves because if they
were buried with anything old it could be valuable.
Curtis stepped out of the crypts and saw that most
of the sky had turned red accept a circle of black in the middle. They all
stared at it. “What makes the sky like that?” One of them asked.
No one responded.
“Guys I don’t like this,” Curtis
said.
“We are almost there,” the leader
said, and he made deep holes with his shovel. “Go look for crypts to
steal from.” Just then he smacked into the coffin with his shovel.
They dug it out and opened it. Curtis came to see. “There he
is.” Exactly, Here lies Jessie just like the tombstone said. Curtis
glanced up and the whole sky was red. It seemed like an omen to him but
there were still pretty twinkling stars shining through. The leader pulled
the ring of his finger. Examining it the design looked like hell fire and he
check on the inside. It said made in Hades. He wanted to throw it but
pawning it would be a better idea. He put the ring in his pocket, and they
began reburying Jessie.
They kept looking around the graveyard for ghosts
and zombies coming to get them for revenge, but they didn’t. If
anything, Jessie would have been glad the ring was gone and being the good
person that he wouldn’t hurt anyone. They finished covering the grave.
“Don’t worry. We’ll pawn it as fast as we can,” he
told Curtis.
“If and when we find a pawn shop,” one
of them said. Curtis was the only one uneasy and they couldn’t drive
away fast enough. He would never do this again and was sorry he broke the
man’s crypt marble.
The sky had stayed red for the rest of the night.
When morning came it seemed like a dream but they needed to find food and a
pawn shop. There were still days left in their stay in Michigan to do as
they wished after finding what they needed.
After Curtis called Violet the leader wanted to
tell them his decision. “I easily found a pawn shop in the phone book,
but it’s not close. So, I have decided we have more to steal, and we
can pawn that before we go back to Canada where we won’t get caught.
Is that ok?” he asked Curtis.
“That’s fine. It’s only a ring
and I’m not even staying with it,” he responded.
“Yes, and it must be worth so much. We can
split it just tell your little lady back home your business was doing
well.” Curtis nodded in agreement. They spent the day looking for
places to rob and eat.
While they ate Chinese food in a motel room the
leader made his announcement. “We will rob an old mansion. It’s
old but they look like they have money. Tomorrow me and Anthony will go and
see if there’s an easy way in and what they leave open or
unlocked.” All they could do was nod. “Then we’ll come
back when they’re gone and get you Sawyer. Curtis we need someone to
drive the car. You can get out, but you need to be ready to drive. Hopefully
these people are going on summer vacation. How’s that sound?” he
asked Curtis.
“Sounds fine. If we go in through the backyard
it’s harder for people to see what we are doing,” he
suggested.
“Good idea,” the leader Tristan said.
He turned on the TV while they had a beer and relaxed. “It’s
funny how rich people like to come out here thinking that it’s nice
and peaceful and then get robbed.”
About the Author
Martha has studied writing with Writer’s Digest and has an
associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and
songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes
getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase
and read Martha’s books a review on this web site will be greatly
appreciated. She can also be found at http://www.marthawickham.com.
Genre: YA SciFi Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror
Dive
into this fast-paced, suspenseful Sci-Fi fantasy novel that melds
sizzling romance, action, heart-stopping horror, and a high-stakes
battle to save humanity.
Changing
Tide
by
Robert Joncas
Genre:
YA SciFi Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror
“Changing
Tide,” 2023 Book Awards:
*Maincrest Media Award,
Winner, YA Fiction (2024)
*Outstanding Creator Awards, Best Fiction Book of 2023,
2nd Place
*Royal Dragonfly Awards, Honorable Mention, Best Cover, Sci-Fi,
Fantasy & YA Fiction
*American Fiction Awards, Finalist, Romance – Paranormal:
Supernatural
*American Writing Awards, Finalist – Science
Fiction
*Halloween Book Festival, YA Horror – Honorable
Mention
*Literary Titan Book Award – August 2023
A
wild adventure that takes you on a journey from the California coast
to the depths of the Grand Canyon. Dive into this fast-paced,
suspenseful Sci-Fi fantasy novel that melds sizzling romance, action,
heart-stopping horror, and a high-stakes battle to save humanity.
After her father’s tragic
death, eighteen-year-old Skye Conner and her mom visit her Nana on
the California coast. There, Skye stumbles across a mystical conch
shell in the surf. Suddenly her dull, empty life takes on a thrilling
and terrifying turn.
Skye has had to endure a
despondent mother drowning in grief, living in a private world of
darkness. Nana is a feisty, intelligent, take-no-bull grandmother
with a flaming sense of pride and heart of gold. Then comes a
handsome, mesmerizing alien on a mission to save the Earth. But are
his intentions sincere, or does he have another agenda?
Skye has finally found someone
to love, but can he be trusted? Changing Tide is a witty,
original page-turning thriller that will make you look at First
Contact in a whole new way.
“…simply
elegant…from the plotline to the characters to the action to the
humor… (and) a story for anyone, young adult or adult, who enjoys a
good science fiction novel with some romance thrown in. I would
recommend the book to everyone.”
-FEATHERED QUILL BOOK REVIEWS
“…truly a breath of fresh
air! …A sci-fi romance like this was exactly what we needed.
…despite dealing with things like loss, coping, and mourning this
book is surprisingly fun and lighthearted…reading like a Disney
script.”
-OUTSTANDING CREATOR REVIEW
“Anyone who enjoys sci-fi
horror thrillers will find plenty to love about this book.”
-READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK
REVIEW
“I thoroughly enjoyed every
moment spent reading this book and was genuinely sad when it came to
an end.”
-ONLINEBOOKCLUB.ORG REVIEW
“…an enthralling fantasy
novel that immerses readers in Skye Conner’s captivating journey…”
-LITERARY TITAN
“…traverses science
fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery seamlessly, entertaining you
with thrills galore.”
-READERS’ CHOICE BOOK REVIEW
“Nothing is as it seems… a
speculative sci-fi page turner that will keep you on the edge of your
seat. …brings in sci-fi and fantasy elements of magic seashells and
aliens to create a call to adventure.”
-INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW
–snippet
of a review from OnlineBookClub.org–
“Robert
Joncas has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the
edge of their seats. The pacing is well-balanced, and the author’s
ability to evoke a wide range of emotions is commendable. Skye’s
character development is particularly noteworthy, as readers witness
her transformation from a grieving and vulnerable girl into a brave
and determined young woman.
….Changing
Tide is a remarkable book that grabs the reader’s attention from
the very first page. With its compelling characters, intriguing plot
twists, and seamless blending of genres, it is a true page-turner. I
thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent reading this book and was
genuinely sad when it came to an end. Without a doubt, I highly
recommend picking up Changing Tide by Robert Joncas and
awarding it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
–snippet
of a Review from Literary Titan–
In
“Changing Tide,” Robert Joncas masterfully entwines an evocative
narrative of a young girl, Skye, wrestling with her personal turmoil
while being swept into a journey far beyond her understanding.
Haunted by cryptic dreams and grappling with the tragic loss of her
father and her mother’s spiraling depression, Skye’s world is
painted with a brush of melancholy. However, a glimmer of hope
emerges as she rekindles a connection with Paul, an alluring figure
from her past, previously known for his childhood mischief.
Robert
Joncas showcases an exceptional ability to portray raw emotions and
delicate sentiments. His narrative is an intricate tapestry of
romance, familial bonds, suspense, and an unmistakably human touch
enveloped in a mantle of science fiction. The characters are vividly
constructed, each contributing a unique hue to the narrative palette.
Nana, Skye’s vivacious and fearless grandmother, was a particular
standout, embodying a captivating blend of loyalty and audacious
spirit.
The
narrative is particularly successful in illustrating Skye’s
internal struggle – her battle against emotional turmoil and her
hesitant forays into new friendships. The character development of
the alien entity is equally commendable, with its adaptation and
backstory revealed in a layered, compelling manner.
“Changing
Tide” is a warmly recommended read, particularly for young adults
who yearn for a slice of relatable, yet enchantingly fantastic,
reality. This novel embodies the essence of heartfelt storytelling
interlaced with an adventurous spirit, ensuring a riveting reading
experience.
Robert
grew up in Southern California and has worked as a Real Estate Broker
in Flagstaff, AZ, for many years. He has a BS in Health Science and
graduated with Distinction from the prestigious UCLA Writers’
Program, where he studied under Author Lynn Hightower in her Master
Novel Classes. He is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors
and the Horror Writers Association.
M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧ 