Ruckus by Zoe Dawson For U.S. Navy SEAL, Bowie “Ruckus” Cooper, going on a mission into the most dangerous place on earth wasn’t new, neither were the orders to tag and bag an international criminal, but when Bowie finds a captive American reporter, that wasn’t...
About Featured Book: The Eye of Nefertiti: A Pharaoh's Cat Novel by Maria Luisa Lang Now a New Yorker, the Pharaoh’s cat--the ancient Egyptian feline with human powers--travels back in time to free Egypt’s legendary Queen Nefertiti from a horrific curse, discovering...
About Featured Book: The Pharaoh's Cat by Maria Luisa Lang Suddenly talking and walking upright, a stray tomcat in ancient Egypt becomes the young Pharaoh's intimate and, when accused of his murder, time travels to New York City and learns how to raise him from the...
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.
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.
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.
When I first met the Pharaoh, he was sixteen, and I was a stray tomcat. I’d wandered into in a looted tomb and was kicked by the Vizier, his uncle. I spat a cat amulet at him, hitting him on the forehead. He accused me of trying to kill him. The High Priest arrived and tried to reason with him.
Then it happened. I suddenly had human powers! I stood upright, walked over to the Vizier, and debated with him. The Pharaoh entered the tomb to hear me wise-cracking and laughed for the first time since his parents’ death. He took me to live with him at court, and we became inseparable.
A year later the Vizier poisoned him and accused me of the murder. He was going to put me to death when the High Priest rescued me. We fled Egypt on the magic boat and ended up in Elena’s living room . . .
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.
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.
Zoe Dawson lives in North Carolina. 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.
Aria Emend writes stories that are close to her heart—stories that are diverse and culturally rich. She’s always had a passion for reading, and dreamed of someday writing her own books. That dream came true with the publication of her first novel in the Forbidden Love Series, The Forbidden Love Affair in early 2022, and continues with her latest publication The Regrettable Decision.
Born in the Cape Verde Islands, Aria traveled to the US at age eight. Though she currently resides in Massachusetts—and has for the last forty plus years—she adores her Cape Verdean roots and cherishes her rich, traditional family values. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she’s passed those values on to the next generation and continues to teach that love conquers all. After all, love is diverse and beautiful, and our literature should be too.
About Featured Book: Sold to the Silver Foxes by Laylah Snow I sold my soul to three devils in designer suits… For one entire month. It was either auctioning off my virginity to three billionaire brothers... Or risk losing my sister. I didn’t have to think twice. But...
About Featured Book: Brokenness and New Beginnings: A Story of Hope For Those Facing Separation and Divorce by Francis P. DeLellis A survivor of separation and divorce, Francis P. DeLellis opens his heart and all the pain it held for the world to see, with the hope of...
About Featured Book: My Brother's Best Friends by Natasha L. Black "There's zero chance of knowing who the father is. Identical triplets share almost identical DNA." The words slam into me like a freight train. Oh. Hell. How did I let this happen? After losing my job...
About Featured Book: Silver Fox Daddies by Liz Archer Three silver fox bikers. Two pink lines. One drunk voicemail. And zero clue who the daddy is. I’m a librarian. But one drunk voicemail later, I lost my v-card to three bikers twice my age. Now I’m pregnant… And the...
About Featured Book: Claimed by the Deputies by Kai Lesy One moment I’m alone, fantasizing about the grumpy silver-fox next door. The next, my vibrator explodes. Then... He. Shows. Up. Sheriff Lucas Riggs. My next-door neighbor with a hero complex and a jawline made...
About Featured Book: Dennis Gilfeather, Southpaw by Dennis Gilfeather Dennis Gilfeather a young Scottish pugilist who practices the noble art of boxing.... "There seemed to be a huge gaping hole inside of me. I wanted some answers but didn’t know where to look. I felt...
About Featured Book: Mind Unleashed: Mastering Your Mental Potential by Np Chambers Master the Inner Workings of Your Mind Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your mind and transform your life? Dive into a compelling journey of mental mastery with Mind...
About Featured Book: Shine a Light by Nicky Corcoran My book ‘Shine a Light’ is an updated version (Updated in May 2025). The paperback is written in English and is priced at £5.50. It is also available in kindle unlimited for free. ‘Shine A Light’ puts a spotlight on...
About Featured Book: His Son's Ex by K.C. Crowne Crashing my ex’s wedding was for closure… Until his plastic bride called me fat in front of everyone. Three hundred witnesses. Dead silence. That's when the Mafia king put her in her place. Dante Bellacino. Devil in an...
Tell us about yourself.: I teach marketing for people who hate marketing with a passion. As a translator by trade who built two highly successful businesses from the ground up, I love helping fellow introverts translate their natural qualities into marketing...