From My Soul to Yours by Christian Howard This collection of poems, written in 1971 during a decade-long mystical journey, captures the soul’s dialogue with the divine. Deeply influenced by the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and the Self-Realization Fellowship,...
It’s summer, and I’m stretched out on a windowsill in my bedroom with the sunlight warming the fur on my back. It’s quiet except for the drone of traffic on the Henry Hudson Parkway and the occasional whir of a helicopter flying along the river.
I once shared this bedroom with my friend Gato-Hamen, the High Priest of Amun-Ra. He and I had fled ancient Egypt on his magic boat. It was only supposed to carry us to a foreign land, but it took us through time as well as space here to Elena’s house in twenty-first century New York City.
Elena’s late father had been a renowned Egyptologist, and she immediately recognized us as ancient Egyptians. She was surprised we were speaking English. We explained that the prayer which had launched the magic boat also gave us the power to speak the language wherever we arrived.
She was also surprised that I, a cat, could talk and walk like a man. That would be explained later. Overjoyed at the prospect of excitement in her life, she invited us to stay with her.
Now the High Priest shares her bedroom, and I share this one with their child, who’s the reincarnation of the Pharaoh I loved thousands of years ago. He’s on the floor, playing contentedly with his building blocks. It’s hard to believe he’s already a year old.
Elena is reading and keeping an eye on him. “Wrappa-Hamen, are you recharging?” she asks, as she always does when she sees me basking in the sun. “You lazy old cat!”
“Lazy, yes. Old, not yet,” I reply, too drowsy to say more.
About Featured Book: The Tempests of Time, Ages of Malice, Book IV by Lloyd Jeffries Ages of Malice Series Sale April 14 - May 14 @ $0.99ea. Time Turns Deadly. A mind-bending thriller with spiritual stakes. The world unravels in chaos, and for Emery Merrick and Rhyme...
Smart Production Systems by Semyon Meerkov This book is intended to offer a solution to this problem by making production systems smart—i.e., capable of self-diagnosis and autonomous design of continuous improvement projects—leading to the desired and rigorously...
Water is filling my ears.
“Useless beast. I should cut . . . tail. Drowning’s too good . . . you . . .”
Egyptians revere cats, but there are exceptions.
A week ago the brute snatched me from the streets, put me in a sack, and brought me on board to protect the load of grain he’s taking down the Nile to Waset.
Cats hunt rats, but there are exceptions.
Which the brute realized this morning. He picked me up by the scruff of my neck and threw me over the side.
If I never see a boat again it will be too soon . . .
I swim toward the river bank. Exhausted, I lie on the shore and let my fur dry in the warmth of the sun. Now that I’m free, I intend to resume roaming from village to village, seeing new things, meeting new cats, tasting new foods. But first I’ll eat the perch I caught during my swim.
I’m licking the smell of fish off my paws and face when I spot a pyramid in the far distance. I’ve heard a lot about them, but I’ve never seen one before.
I can’t take my eyes off it. It seems to be beckoning me.
It’s my destiny to go there!
Tail on high and a heart full of expectation, I begin walking.
Summer, 1277, deep in the rain forest of the Chivit Continent
It wasn’t my best day.
I tore through the curtain of cobwebs like they weren’t even there, then bolted for the doorway. The doors were still open, but the wood I had jammed between them and their doorframe wasn’t going to last long. A pathetic groan echoed through the ante-chamber around me, followed by the staccato sound of wood splintering.
Correction, those wooden braces weren’t going to last another few seconds. I ran faster.
Stone dust was like a fogbank. My clothes and hair were stiff with it and seeing past it felt like a bad joke. Specifically, on me. Gulping down air, I lengthened my stride, sprinting like a madwoman for the only way I knew out.
Then I was through. Past the stone dust, thick cobwebs, and pale-skinned, giggling, scrambling nightmares with too many arms. Little things that were all too eager for me to sit and stay awhile. I threw myself forward into the wall of heat and humidity that was part and parcel of Anestri’for, the ‘Great Jungle’ on Chivit.
Landing on my hands and knees, I drank in the smell of wet grass and foliage. The feel of damp earth was a delight. Best of all? The sound of the stone doors slamming shut on the writhing mass of bodies with too many arms trying to follow me. They weren’t giggling as the doors shut in their face, but snarling.
I hauled my aching body into a sitting position, then placed a dust-covered satchel in front of me. Thunder rolled around in the clouds overhead. I glanced up.
“Hourly thunderstorm. Right on time. At least it’s not a magic storm.”
“Good job, Tela.” I congratulated myself. “Alive, limbs in one piece, and you found it.”
Shaking my head, I reached for the flap on the bag to check the condition of my find. The last thing I needed was to get it back to Ishnanor in a thousand pieces. I didn’t manage to open the bag. A yell to my right gave me better things to think about.
A man dressed in mercenary leathers, and a belted tunic had shoved his way out of the underbrush. Dirty, mud-stained, he leered at me like a prize or fresh caught prey. I shot daggers back at him with a glare. Sad to say, he didn’t seem impressed.
“Here!” he bellowed. “She’s here! Tell Vargas! I’ve found the Windtracer! She’s got the relic!”
“Hells!”
I was on my feet and past a stand of briza-taeda ferns to my right before the mercenary took another step. Shouts filled the Anestri’for jungle air behind me. I ran faster.
Tell us about yourself: I am Tanisha Singh, 17 year old, 12th grader , I have been a part of 30+ Anthologies and have published 5 solo books along with it , I have recently completed my diploma from Stanford University and Harvard Medical College. Where did you grow...
Tell us about yourself.: I'm a digital marketer turned author, passionate about creating books that entertain, educate, and spark curiosity—from puzzles and games to practical self-help tools. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I...
Tell us about yourself.: Sheldon D. Newton is an author, Institute Lecturer, pastor, and Inspirational Speaker. He has written over forty books, mainly non-fiction, along with three novels; Genna's Fight, Genna's Ghost, and Thrown Away. He enjoys reading,...
Everyday Leadership for People-Pleasing Introverts by Melissa Jenner The Introverted Leader’s Guide to People-Pleasing is a powerful playbook for anyone who leads with empathy but struggles with burnout, overcommitment, and self-doubt. Designed especially for...
About Featured Book: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor by D R Berlin In a busy outdoor market, in broad daylight, an apparently ordinary woman is gunned down by a professional assassin. Twelve years later, the killer is back with a new target – and a mysteriously...
Zoe Dawson lives in North Carolina, one of the friendliest states in the US. She discovered romance in her teens and has been spinning stories in her head ever since. Her heroes are sexy males with a disregard for danger and whether reluctant, gung-ho, or caught up in the action, show their hearts of gold. Her imagination runs wild with romances from sensual to scorching including romantic comedy, new adult, romantic suspense, small town and urban fantasy. Look below to explore the many avenues to her writing. She believes that it’s all about the happily ever afters and always will be.
About Featured Book: Single Mom's Rough Ride by Kai Lesy Three Dangerous Silver Fox Bikers. One Fierce Single Mom on the Run. “We swear to defend you and your daughter—no matter the cost.” I thought my daughter and I finally escaped my ex. Then the Steel Brotherhood...
Marc Sercomb was born in Salinas, California. He grew up in Southern California and attended California State University, Northridge, where he studied Journalism and English Literature. He currently resides in the foothills of Los Angeles with his wife, Robin. He has been a teacher for 23 years.
He wanted to write a book about the miraculous resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected kindness of strangers and enemies during dark and dangerous times. Of “Picasso’s Motorcycle” he says, “This story kind of haunted me for a while. That’s how I knew I had to write it.”
Paul Willson is a fantasy author with seven published books.
He began writing after being made redundant from his IT job during the Covid pandemic. This was short stories at first then he began attempting longer fantasy novellas. It was then that the fantasy action romance, “The Dance of The Blacksmith and The Huntress,” trilogy was born and Ophelia and Doyle began their eternal dance. Not long afterwards, “The Demon and The Raven,” come to fruition which has received 5* ratings on Amazon.
This year his first full-length fantasy book, and the first book in the “Gods and Runes series”, “The Fall of Cadoria” was released.
About Featured Book: The Bone Trap by Tormod Cockburn Free on Amazon 19-23 Feb. With 1700 5-star reviews, 'The Bone Trap' kicks off a nine-book series. Reviewers say it's a thrilling novel with a hint of the supernatural. A struggling scientist holds a potential...
About Featured Book: THE FIREWORK FILES by Cee Cee Evans On New Years Eve in 1999, Micky 'Thunder', a notorious, debauched rock star hosted a massive party attended by hordes of revellers, including four overnight guests who attended university with him in the 80's....
Tell us about yourself.: Like my protagonist, Rectum Leviticus, I prefer to maintain an air of mystery. Let's just say I'm a keen observer of life's absurdities. I spend my days ruminating on the meaninglessness of existence and hone my auto-amusement...
Jean Luntz always wanted to be an author, penning her first novel in fifth grade. Winning the Atlantic Monthly writing contest and being published encouraged her. She continued writing, creating short plays, short stories, poetry, and published several magazine articles. After attending Northwestern University, and the University of Texas at Austin, Jean rounded out her education with a Master in Library and Information Science. She writes novels using historical settings that contain ghosts, mysticism, suspense, and fantasy elements as well as characters falling in love. In addition to writing, she trains dogs for competitive dog sports such as agility, scent-work, and obedience.
About Featured Book: Sexting the Don by K.C. Crowne When I slipped a note to the ruthless billionaire... I never expected a text back—or his dangerous demands. Ezno: Years in the mafia hardened me. Made me untouchable. Until her. Mandy—a waitress with curves that...