WHAT A GODLY PRIVILEGE TO BE BORN A MAN

What a Godly Privilege to Be Born a Man
by Tabitha Biel Luak

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GENRE: FICTION / African American / General

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BLURB:

This book is inspired by true events.

Chosen from among the mob of her boyfriend’s girlfriends, married in the most secure, respectful, and honourable way known to the people, Nyayang Jock, a girl born without a brother, won the race, defeating her top co-girlfriend, Sarah, by being the youngest over Sarah born with brothers. At the least, unlike ninety-nine percent of the girls of her generation and how they were married, it is safe for Nyayang to say she was married for love to Chuol Malual, a businessman who was born into a big, rich family.

Nonetheless, unlike the expectation of her in-laws, the unattended attitude of the nature secretly stabbed Nyayang in the back, leaving her to fail and creating the family Chuol and his family fundamentally paid the forty cows for. After waiting for what seemed like a decade for her to get pregnant, she gave birth to a girl, a thing that only fueled the resultant ager. Taking a long time to get pregnant and only giving birth to a girl when she should have birthed a boy called for a quick search for another wife. For Chuol’s parents, this was a search for a working womb, but for Chuol it was just a search for wife number two, which he found hard now that he realized most girls showed many of the characteristics Nyayang had shown; however, eventually all displayed some problem.

But that all changed when he accidentally stumbled upon Sarah again, who instantly restored his manhood. Sarah not only filled Chuol’s life with the boys he had been looking for, but she had her chance one more time to not only show Nyayang that it is the woman born with brothers who wins, but that the woman who has the ability to birth boys is the ultimate winner. But values-setting, worth-determining, and love are all weaknesses in society. There is only one true winner, and that is the neighbor, the seasonal enemy, the chaff buyer, the Murlen man.

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EXCERPT

NBTM: What a Godly Privilege to Be Born a Man by Tabitha Biel Luak

FICTION / African American / General

There is a famous saying among the Nuer people which goes a little like this: “Every family has its way of talking and eating.” I don’t know what thoughts may pop into your mind upon hearing this saying. Personally? I see it as a universal family description—or perhaps the nature of these two things, “talking and eating,” are indeed that which differentiate us, the human race, universally.

Of course, there are other differences amongst people. And although one of the obvious differences is the colour of skin, there are also things formed with conscious intentions for the purpose of them becoming our ways of life. In most cases, although this can’t really be said about skin colour, there are persuasive goals set prior to forming a way to live. For instance, we teach children how to do well behaviourally so tomorrow is a bit clearer for them. However, within a formation, a tendency is developed. Sometimes, these tendencies come in the form of beliefs, which influence what and how we teach them.

Take this belief from the place I call home. Where I come from, in South Sudan, it is overwhelmingly believed that there is a difference between a male child and a female child. Of course, there is a difference. And so this difference is often exhausted and exploited to identify potential inequalities between the two. Unfortunately, the further this persists, the more limits we place on what we consider males and females to be capable of.

Nevertheless, humans are known to loathe dwelling in a valley of non-competitive spirit. Therefore, the only way forward is still to lean iii strongly toward one side and confidently unwrap the other side as if someone was there when she was all assembled.

It has always been the belief here at home, exhaustedly theorized and relentlessly practised, that one thing must be different from another. Often, to roll out one thing is enough but the other is not. In a remote way, this perception unconsciously brings us to inherently believe one is the product while the other is the producer. In other families, this way of reasoning may look a bit different; nonetheless, the derivation of the tendentious tendency in this family walks its way persistently from a claimed, precise understanding of fullness that can only be explained in four ways.

These involve precise understanding of the structural beauty of appearance, the strength of the structural body, the enormity of the group to which one belongs, and the sophistication or smoothness of the tongue. As a result, every response, every act and every performance revolves around these four things. Therefore, how each family teaches the two is different, for each family believes the two exist for different, unbalanced reasons. And that, unlike other families, this family eats and talks differently.

The stories you are about to read, with the exception of names and certain places, are real people’s stories, which, to this day, are still happening. As you flip through the pages, I urge you to ask yourself the following questions: What, then, is human? Who is human? And what does it mean to be one?

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tabitha Biel Luak is a South Sudanese-Canadian author. Tabitha was born in South Sudan, Africa. She relocated to Edmonton, Canada in 2011. Tabitha is a mother of two beautiful girls. She is currently taking her bachelor degree in Psychology. She is very passionate about helping her community grow. She is involved with youth in helping them reconnect to their roots by learning about where they come from. Tabitha is a gospel singer who also writes and sings songs about social issues.

CONNECT WITH TABITHA BIEL LUAK

WEBSITE https://tabithabielluak.com/

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070181181965

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/authortabithabielluak/

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21733664.Tabitha_Biel_Luak

TWITTER https://twitter.com/tabithabiel?lang=en

YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLocipq1VzLO7xWepXZKfzQ

PURCHASE LINKS for WHAT A GODLY PRIVILEGE TO BE BORN A MAN

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228851858

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228851858

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-a-godly-privilege-to-be-born-a-man-tabitha-biel-luak/1139976565

SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1097942

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Tabitha Biel Luak will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Author Questions

Tell us about you as a person.

My name is Tabitha Biel Luak. I’m a South Sudanese-Canadian Author. I’m a student and a mother. I’m a gospel singer and a poet. I love reading. I also love helping my community. I’m current running a nonprofit organization that serves to bring back our youth to our roots.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

This famous person is no longer with us, but I would needfully hang out with Nelson Mandela. I don’t even know if one day would be enough. But since one may be all there would be, I would hang out with him and make use of that day. The former South Africa president, Nelson Mandela was a man of some mystery ability. He was prisoned needlessly under a case that involved racism for almost three decades. However, 27 years later, he came out and reached out to all who made his life difficult. I would hang out and ask him one important question. And that would be: how did you do it without the need to retaliate what was wrongfully done unto you?

What’s the story behind your latest book?

Really, the story behind this book is about the current mindset toward women in my belove nation as we are talking. Girls are for the following reason: to be married and thereafter, give birth and serve men. Like many male-dominated societies, girls are considered second citizens of these places and have no right to education, to choosing to love or to knowing who they will spend the rest of their lives with. They are to be commoditized and exchanged for things men rather value.

What is your writing process?

My writing process begins with a prewriting or an idea. I normally do not plan or outline how I’m going to write; however, I do consider whatever I write first as the first draft and keep redrafting and eventually revise it all together.

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role(s) and why.

Thanks God this is going to come true one day. I would want both Eddie Murphy and Lupita Nyong’o to play the lead roles. I feel like they would bring out the emotions of the story.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

The first thing you must know is that the first existing part of writing is accomplished already by you. And congratulations on that. First, let people know about it. Speaking to people who may have not known you have written a book is the first step in spreading the news. Word of mouth spreads very well. People love to help. Once you told others, they will tell other people they know and so on. Second, use social media. Many people are on social media. When you share the news about your project, people get it instantly. People, even the ones you don’t know have ways to see what is being shared and always desire to pass it on to those they know. Third, bring it to bloggers like CA Milson. This is one of the ways your work can get in the hands of professionals.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

My current bucket list consists of the following desires:

• To finish my current project
• To exercise regularly
• To eat healthy
• To read my current choice of books
• To study hard for my studies

In what way do you think that this current pandemic has changed the book & publishing industry?

This current situation has sure changed the way the book and publishing industry works. I’m not exactly sure in what way it has changed as far as negative or positive since we are still in it. In general, however, this pandemic has taught people that, norms can be threaten at any given moment and that people must be opened to adapt to new ways. I believe, since it happened, companies have adapted new skills and technologies and book and publishing companies are no different.

Any final thoughts?

Thank you for asking these questions and thank you for giving me this chance to share my thoughts on your websites.

HOW TO CONTROL AN ENTIRE PLANET

How to Control an Entire Planet
by C.D. Hill-Lavalle

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GENRE: Religion / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth

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BLURB:

A STEP-BY-STEP ACCOUNT OF A PLANET’S “TAKEOVER”

Written under the guise of a Sci-Fi thriller, this little book ends up revealing more than just a riveting exposé. It soon reveals the very mysteries our civilization has been searching for, for centuries!

The “five steps” (narrated by an ancient and technologically superior race) tells how they easily set up their control and indoctrination of the planet’s populace to fulfill their sinister agenda. Initially seen as a detailed and prophetic set of instructions, the reader will soon suspect: this vague reference to another time and place, to an unknown and primitive world, is too familiar, too real and too foreboding.

All darkness will come to light as you journey down the “rabbit hole of the Matrix”, soon revealing the very “Who, What, How and Why” to every major event occurring globally today. More importantly, you’ll discover the “simplest” solutions to gain back and enhance your personal freedom, prosperity and future happiness!

It may just change your life and it may just change life as we know it on this planet!

“Fantastic…stimulating!” “One of the most interesting books I’ve ever read, second only to the Bible!”
— Ms. .J. G. Shuker
Great-grandmother & native elder to 14
children, and a retired pharmacist assistant.

“In her new book, Cheryl brings a unique and intriguing viewpoint on the world we live in today.” “Thought provoking!”
— Jessica Busch, Program Manager
Women’s Own Resource Centre

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EXCERPT

How you use the facts presented, I will let you decide, based on whatever stage of enlightenment you find yourself in. Whether you are an ambitious human wanting to conquer a less evolved race, a lover of mysteries, crimes and intriguing tales, or someone who is seeking answers to the meaning of life—this book will surely satisfy.

In this time and era of “No More Secrets”, where controversy and scandals are becoming the norm, I offer you a new exposé, a “Planetary Exposé”— one filled with mystery, corruption, intrigue and plenty of “food for thought”.

At the very least, I present these words to plant a seed in the minds of the inhabitants of this little blue planet, a planet that represents merely a tiny speck among the many universes that exist today. Our planet is the youngest, with a human population described by many other life-forms as: “uneducated bags of mostly water, primitive and savage in their current evolution.”

Under the guise of a science fiction, the first five chapters reveal an actual planetary takeover and the steps that were used to set up control of its populace, narrated (in italics) by one of the ancient and dark race of beings who had been involved with two, attesting to their proficiency in this process. One planet, after years of their control, exhausted its life—a physical legacy of a doomed culture. The second planet (a more successful takeover), this alien race will now refer to—one still under their control, and one that has been for thousands of years.

From the sixth chapter forward, I take the story in a new direction, revealing more important history, secrets, discovery and channel—offering powerful solutions to aid our own planet in its present day survival and ways to improve the health, safety and prosperity of all human beings. Note pages are added with the hope as you make your discoveries, it may inspire you to make a difference in your own life, or that of others. You may even discover more of your past within these pages—stifled memories of a distant yet forgotten ancestry.

Written to educate the inhabitants of our own planet, this five-step process is also a confessional of sorts, by a dissenter one could say, of this alien race. I’ve heard that he is one of many of his kind who is tiring of the control and deceit they have perpetuated. In its telling, there may be hope for our own understanding: that all souls, aliens and humans alike, can evolve, absolve their misgivings, and seek forgiveness. This is something we as humans would do well to master for our own peace and evolution.

This book, I’ve also found, has some divine “magic” within its pages. Every reader will discover a part of this story that is especially dedicated to them; and once read, then randomly opened with intent, each reader will find a valuable message for that day.

I hope that it will not only inform, but inspire, long after its completion— helping you gain the wisdom and power to not only enhance your own life, but all life on our planet.

Follow this journey and decide for yourself.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born of humble beginnings, Cheryl could be seen as just an ordinary person; but she’s an “old soul” who has had some extra-ordinary experiences in her life. This, her first book (written in a love for humanity), is an accumulation of over fifty years of research and study, validated through personal experience and a host of miraculous events. Initially, this research was for her own personal healing and evolution – to “make a difference” in the world. It now facilitates her gifts as a quiet channel and intuitive healer (hoping to re-open a nature and healing retreat again).

Born with a passion for business, she became the sole income-earner during most of her twenty-seven years of marriage; however, through that experience and business success she also witnessed much injustice, abuse and discrimination, fueled by our current systems. Life eventually took her to see and experience the “other side of the tracks”, meeting thousands who were struggling with poverty, illness and addictions—all trying to cope with (or “escape” from) a system that has plagued mankind for centuries, and now, threatens the very planet we reside upon.

She is compelled to share her knowledge and discoveries with the world and “Right the Wrongs” done, so humanity can learn the truth of their existence and their potential for change. After six years of compiling information and unforeseen challenges, this writing has now emerged at what may be considered the perfect time – a time when the world is in massive fear and chaos, with people “questioning” more than ever before, realizing what’s really important in life and wanting solutions for their own peace, healing and prosperity. In this “Time of Awakening”, it is hoped that many will discover: that ALL life matters and everyone has the potential to heal, prosper and evolve
“naturally”, and with grace.

She is hoping, as this book is shared and distributed globally, that she can in some way make the difference she has sought for humanity and for life on our planet, and help others who wish the same.

CONNECT WITH C.D. Hill-Lavalle

WEBSITE https://cdhill-lavalleauthor.com/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58791625-how-to-control-an-entire-planet-in-5-easy-steps

PURCHASE LINKS for How to Control a Planet…in 5 Easy Steps: A Planetary Exposé to Empower Evolving Humans

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228834287

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228834287

BOOKSHOP https://bookshop.org/books/how-to-control-an-entire-planet-in-5-easy-steps-a-planetary-expose-to-empower-evolving-humans/9780228834281

INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/how-to-control-an-entire/9780228834304-item.html

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-control-an-entire-planet-in-5-easy-steps-c-d-hill-lavalle/1138021977

BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/How-Control-an-Entire-Planet-in-5-Easy-Steps-C-D-Hill-Lavalle/9780228834281

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

C.D. Hill-Lavalle will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Author Interview

Tell us about you as a person.

I am a youthful 70 year old woman (“going on 50”) who’s had a lifetime of experience, hardships and challenges—all in order to gain the mastery I sought and the wisdom I taught. I am in perfect health (in spite of my bad habits), because I know who I am and practice what I preach. However, I’m “far from perfect”, as I still fall into fear and worry for all the innocents and loved ones who are suffering needlessly today from all the hype and promotion our media and world leaders are propagating.

Even as a young child I was a “people-person”–highly curious, social and eager to learn the “Why” of things. As I aged I experienced abuse and ridicule that eroded my confidence; however, I was always driven to succeed in life, so I continuously read and learned all the self-development information I could and learned much through my many personal experiences. I’d always been a “worker”, taking the traditional “male role” of being the sole provider during much of my 27 year marriage (while my husband chose to be a “stay-at-home mom” to our beloved daughter).

I gained success in the business world; but only through hard work and a great deal of sacrifice, working 20 years with a very patriarchal international organization that offered the best products and service for families, but didn’t believe in hiring women in their sales division, let alone allowing one to gain a position in management (of which I accomplished “both”, but at an extreme cost).

I often saw how the quest for profit corrupted so many people, how many would sacrifice real “service” to gain it, abuse others to increase it and lose their morals and integrity to maintain it. I learned that it was a system that was cleverly conceived and slowly enhanced over the centuries to control humanity. All our
educational systems were designed to promote its continuance (while it hid the grandest potentials we all possess). I’ve also seen the consequences of this system of control–how much destruction and hardship it has created, not just for the millions suffering and living in poverty around the world, but the destruction it has caused to our wildlife and our environment—all to gain “maximum” profit. I saw how these systems create division among people, create conflict, prejudice and condemnation of others; and how these end up causing widespread illness and pain.

I love people, love nature and all wildlife and just “had” to write about it, in hopes people could realize the truth of who they really are and their potential to change their future, before it’s too late.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

Steven Spielberg. He could make a tremendously successful “Science-Fiction” movie from the first five chapters (even if he related this to Mars, where it all started). I could fill him in on all the historical details and the actual characters that were involved in this history (who I’d “purposely” left out of the book). I initially wanted to keep it a “mystery” and not risk increasing any racial prejudice, before the “real” culprits were revealed. The truth in my book echoes many philosophies expressed in the Star Wars movies and the Star Trek series and movies, channeled and created by Gene Roddenberry, (“as TRUTH, after all is UNIVERSAL”) so it could attract that following. And, he could easily call it: “The BEGINNING of The Matrix” (it actually could be, with what’s happening today!), capitalizing on that fan base as well.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

It starts out relaying what took place thousands of years ago (before Christ’s appearance), as told by one of the alien race who’d been involved in various planet takeovers in the past (eventually exhausting them of life and all their natural resources). It initially gives humanity “someone to blame” (other than another country or fellow human being)–something too many of us are violently condemning each other of today due to this created pandemic–causing an increase in needless suffering and destruction.

It then takes what may initially be seen as a hopeless situation and turns it into our eventual triumph, by discovering who we really are, our potential to easily change things and that it really is the “systems” we’ve accepted that are the problem. It then gives the simplest ways to bring healing, justice, freedom and prosperity to “EVERYONE” in the world (from God’s own words).

What is your writing process?

Not good, as I’m a slow one-to-two finger typist that has to constantly look at the keyboard to type, glancing up every so often to check my work. I am also a bit of a perfectionist and my worst critic—so careful that everything I write about is “factual and proven”, and worded in a conversational style so everyone can easily understand it and follow along. I do not use all the “flowery” descriptive language most fiction writers capitalize on, or the highly detailed and technical language some non-fiction writers use. I want to have it understood by regular people and those who seek truth and inspiration for their life. The first five chapters; however, were fast, just flowing out at lightning speed (why I knew it was “channeled”). The balance of the book took years to complete, as I had to provide the examples to prove it and the answers I’d personally experienced, validated and authenticated. I also had to have assurances from Spirit that it was a “safe” time for this truth to surface.

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role(s) and why.

I would leave the characters up to the filmmaker, as it initially occurred back in biblical times and would depend on how they wished to portray it (or were “allowed” with big money censoring so much these days, wishing to keep people submissive and “in the dark”). However, it could be a blessing for people to see it (even as a “SCI-FI”) as it would spark an awareness in people (especially our gifted youngsters today that are concerned for their future and were fans of “The Matrix, Star Wars and Star Trek” movies). It could help activate their understanding and potential for needed and beneficial change in the world.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

Unfortunately I have little advice at this time; because this is my “OWN” greatest challenge—especially for writing exposes or dangerous truths that big money wants hidden. I have found it takes a great deal of money, promotion and computer skills to get beyond today’s censorship (unless someone is well-known, famous or has amassed a large following—all of which I personally lack)–even having the support of a dedicated spouse or marketing team would help.
“Live” presentations and interactions (I’ve found) have always worked best for me, but now are impossible with all that is going on around the globe today.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

• Connect with my “Other Half”–one who is evolved enough to understand what is going on in the world today, wants to help and support my cause and have some fun, joy and passion along the way.
• Sell enough books to amass a large enough following of people to find those on an evolutionary path wishing to “Make a Difference in the World”–to create a team, to coach, counsel and heal thousands of people in need and grow a lucrative business.
• Amass the funding or opportunity to start a home-based nature retreat again (like I’d had in the past, but lost in a costly divorce), where people could come for healing, rejuvenation and personal transformation.
• Meet and help world leaders to bring peace to the world, by first creating a “New and Improved” United Nations.
• Oversee the creation of a unique and impressive “International Center”, depicting a blend of Eastern and Western ancient philosophies and healing modalities for education, personal healing and enlightenment—to aid in mankind’s evolution and attract millions of visitors around the world.

In what way do you think that this current pandemic has changed the book & publishing industry?

It has certainly pushed “ALL” businesses “Online”, much to the disappointment and frustration of many seniors and those lacking computer savvy. Customer service has also hit an all-time low, blaming “everything” on this pandemic. This was done “purposely”–to get everything bought and sold through our computers and internet, where all customers can be monitored, controlled and exploited. It allows the largest profit-makers to gain a greater control and monitoring of all consumer activities—keep them spending more and saving less, and keep them distracted from personal growth and what’s really important in life.

Because more people were in isolation, more books have been written (saturating the market) and have increased competition where only well-known authors, celebrities and those constantly promoting their works are selling.Also, because of the pandemic and today’s move to tighten control on information, any book exposing or revealing too much truth (like my own) is subject to additional restrictions—like ad censoring and getting resellers to drive up prices and restrict sales (what I just discovered happened to me with my own book at Amazon—where it had been priced under $20.00 for a paperback, yet is now available only through resellers for over $50.00! Hardcovers are still reasonable there, but I’m hoping Barnes & Noble and the other legitimate booksellers are keeping their prices down, so more can be sold.

Any final thoughts?

When my book finally got published, the pandemic was just getting underway; unfortunately, killing all my plans for live presentations, trade shows, book-signings and group settings. The ONLY advantage was: I was able to discover how this started, who was involved and why. It was not until later that I learned about the simple “cures” being suppressed (that could have saved thousands from dying), the misinformation that was coming from our news media, our governments and our institutions, and how dangerous these experimental vaccines were.

My heart has gone out to hundreds of well-respected and well-known doctors, scientists, virologists and humanitarian leaders that I’ve heard from—ones who have been working on the front-lines, seeing the evidence, researching and documenting all their conclusions–trying to get their information out to government leaders and the public at large, trying to save lives and now being discredited, censored, ridiculed and having their sites closed down, many losing their funding and even their ability to continue. They are all wondering “WHY” and praying for a solution to end the deaths and suffering (my book covers it all, yet I’m unable to connect with them). These are not deaths from this created pandemic (as there has been few from this according to researched statistics), but deaths resulting from all the unnecessary restrictions, isolation of families, fear-mongering, lock-downs, and now the “MASS Vaccinations” that are creating “Variants” (proven by a virologist in 2020). All done for profit and control.

People need truth. It is the only way to regain our freedom and our health, and save our very planet. The way is clear, as we all have the potential to “awaken”, enhance our lives and the lives of others, by getting out of fear and showing compassion for one another.

Those who have read my book all agree: “Just ONE CHAPTER may be all you need to heal, be inspired and enhance your future.” The chapters are listed for all to view on page 2 of my book’s website at: “https://cdhill-lavalleauthor.com”.

Thank you for hosting me today and for all those visiting, reading and commenting. Namaste, Cheryl

VBT – Playing Doctor

About the Book

Title: PLAYING DOCTOR; PART TWO: RESIDENCY: (Blundering along with imposter syndrome)

Author: John Lawrence

Ready to learn how (not) to be a doctor?
Well, neither was John.
John’s adventures in medical training continue with this insightful, often hilarious, self-deprecating medical memoir of bumbling into residency with a severe case of imposter syndrome. This second part in the series brings John’s unique, irreverent and candid med-school storytelling to the world of residency training.
Initially, John penned email blasts while being held captive on-call nights. His descriptions of the escapades, mishaps, disorder, and terror that surrounded his training, led several friends to enquire if he has broken into the hospital pharmacy. Eventually, someone asked to publish the stories, so John replied that he’d write down the whole adventure of becoming a doctor from medical school through residency.

Author Bio

John Lawrence was born in New York, grew up England, and attended Georgetown University where he told his career advisor that the only thing he did not want to be was a doctor. He subsequently survived medical school and residency training in Utah.

John was not the typical medical student, sneaking out of the hospital whilst on-call to audition for television shows; writing film scripts (also available on Amazon!) and overcoming imposter syndrome. He went on to work as a doctor for 20 years in both traditional western medicine and functional medicine.

John’s varied non-medical resume includes river rafting guide, ski race coach, bagel baker, screenwriter, film director, and expedition doctor climbing Kilimanjaro with Olympic Hall of Fame athlete Chris Waddell.

Links

Visit the author’s website: https://johnlawrencewriter.com/

Buy from Amazon

Book Blast – STOKING THE FIRE

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Men Wanted—because sometimes love matches need a little magic.

Andrew ‘Duff’ Wagner goes straight to the gods to get his love match made. He relies on Men Wanted, the matchmaking service run by Apollo, Artemis, and Eros to find his perfect match. He’s in love with a certain lawyer, but there can’t be enough magic in the cosmos to get them together, right?

Christian Foley knows exactly who he wants as his match, but he works with Men Wanted to find the perfect partner. He’s got a thing for Duff Wagner and won’t rest until he gets a date. Christian and Duff might have a chance if only Duff’s ex would stop butting in. When he finally hooks up with the sexy shop owner, they have to decide if their passion will go up in flames or start the fire to last forever.

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Read an Excerpt

©Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved

“You look happy.” Mary, his secretary, arranged the files on her desk, then rolled away from her computer. “Hot date?”

“Actually, yes. I’m heading to the baseball game.”

“You?” She folded her hands on her lap. “You aren’t into sports.”

“I love baseball.” He normally kept his private life to himself, so he didn’t discuss that he’d gone to the game the night before.

“Since when?”

“Since I went to my first game when I was six. My dad took me and it was bat day. I still have the bat, too. I fell in love with the sport, and I’m a devoted Cincy fan. Good or bad, I’m a fan.” He checked the stack of his messages. “I’m out. I need an evening with no law and lots of relaxation.”

“Why do I have the feeling you get emotionally involved in your sports? Are you going to see the Grinders game?” she asked.

“I do get invested.” The tips of his ears burned. “But I’m finally going on a date, so there’s that.”

“You are?” She applauded. “Good. I hope it works out and leads to something great.”

“Me, too.” He winked. “See you in the morning.” He strolled out of the main office to the parking lot. The firm wasn’t big and was rarely full. That’s what he loved about Mooresville―it wasn’t a big city. Everyone knew everyone else. Within hours of him going out, everyone would know he’d chosen Duff. Good. He wanted them to know. He wanted to shout to the whole world he’d picked this man.

He unlocked his car and slid behind the wheel. He should go home and change before attending the game, but he didn’t have time. He drove across town to the park. The Grinders weren’t a major league team, but they were popular in Mooresville. Their ballfield was part of the city park, meaning there was a lot of parking and seating. He wanted to be visible, so he parked under one of the lights and waited for Duff. A few people were already there, and the teams were on the manicured turf, stretching.

“You made it.” Duff strolled along the sidewalk. “I thought you’d change your mind.”

“Me? Nah.” Not a chance he’d forget to be here for this. “You’re here.”

“Did you think I’d leave you without a word?”

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

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VBT – INTENTIONAL

Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully
by David Amerland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Non-fiction/smart book

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BLURB:

Live your life the way you want to. Manage stress better. Be more resilient and enjoy meaningful relationships and better health. We all want that. Such life leads to better choices, better jobs, loving romantic partners, more rewarding careers and decisions that are fully aligned with our aims.

What stops us from getting all that is the complexity of our brain and the complicated way in which the external world comes together. The misalignment between the internal states we experience and the external circumstances we encounter often leads to confusion, a lack of clarity in our thinking and actions that are not consistent with our professed values.

Intentional is a gameplan. It helps us connect the pieces of our mind to the pieces of our life. It shows us how to map what we feel to what has caused those feelings, understand what affects us and what effects it has on us and determine what we want, why we want it and what we need to do to get it.

When we know what to do, we know how to behave. When we know how to behave we know how to act. When we know how to act, we know how to live. Our actions, each day, become our lives. Drawn from the latest research from the fields of neuroscience, behavioral and social psychology and evolutionary anthropology, Intentional shows you how to add meaning to your actions and lead a meaningful, happier, more fulfilling life on your terms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Whether we realize it or not, we all feel the need for this kind of guidance that gives us a deep sense of purpose. Because we are born physically helpless we have evolved to latch onto and work hard to understand our immediate environment and the people around us. This makes us, as we grow older, intensely pro-social. At the same time it provides us with a ready-made set of expectations, rules and guidelines to guide our behavior that arise from the collective behavior of those around us.

That behavior is the culture we experience and the traditions we abide by. The problem with this is that rather than defining for ourselves what is important to us we accept that which is given to us. That which is given to us is rarely what we want, but it can very easily become what we settle for.

Settling is an evolutionary-programmed trait. Let me explain: Life is hard. It really is. Even if we happen to have the extraordinary luck to be born into a very rich family whose legacy gives us everything we need to live comfortably for the rest of our life, maintaining that fortune and navigating through life is going to be fraught with risks, traps and constant upheavals.

We need other people. Other people need us. That is a truth. But the reasons for this mutual need are usually contradictory or, at the very least, sufficiently at odds with each other to make trust an issue and turn cooperation into a risk-assessment exercise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

David Amerland is a Chemical Engineer with an MSc. in quantum dynamics in laminar flow processes. He converted his knowledge of science and understanding of mathematics into a business writing career that’s helped him demystify, for his readers, the complexity of subjects such as search engine optimization (SEO), search marketing, social media, decision-making, communication and personal development. The diversity of the subjects is held together by the underlying fundamental of human behavior and the way this is expressed online and offline. Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully is the latest addition to a thread that explores what to do in order to thrive. A lifelong martial arts practitioner, David Amerland is found punching and kicking sparring dummies and punch bags when he’s not behind his keyboard.

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Reach David via email: davidamerland@gmail.com

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Represented by The Knight Agency

For Goodreads Reviews and where to buy the book follow this link: https://davidamerland.com/seo-blog/1429-where-you-can-buy-a-copy-of-intentional-how-to-live-love-work-and-play-meaningfully.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview With …..

Tell us about you as a person.

I’m an oddity, even to myself. I am a hard-sciences student (I studied Chemical Engineering and did my MSc on Quantum Mechanical Perturbations In Laminar Flow Processes) who loves to write. I’m an academically inclined writer who loves to popularize and demystify complex subjects. And I am the arch-outsider who found himself working with some of the world’s biggest corporate entities. To be OK with myself I had to learn to be comfortable with discomfort, although at the time for me this was simply a personal survival strategy. By the time I was 40 I’d lived in five countries on three continents and each time I had to re-learn how to fit-in, socialize and function in a manner that added value to who I was and what I was doing. The insights I gleamed along the way inadvertently influenced the choices I made, as a writer, in Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully.

These days, I am a lot less sensitive about being wrong which means that I have, hopefully, matured enough to not need the constant, external validation of always being right. This makes me more adventurous in my speaking, writing and public commenting. It also allows me to listen a lot more carefully to comments and responses and learn from them.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

In my career I’ve had my share of positions of power and I have been closely associated with people who were either famous or had some sort of position where others looked up to them to know that we are all fundamentally flawed and truly capable only within the narrow context of our unique skillset.

Hanging out with someone famous used to be a 20th century fantasy because we fetishized celebrity and social status and wanted to feel, even briefly, what it’s like. We also, secretly, hoped that spending a day with the would give us a glimpse of some secret recipe they used to gain their success.

We know a lot better these days. We understand that hard work is not enough if you don’t also have access to opportunities and possess some talent. We know that success is something you engineer when you plan your steps from the present to the future you want to attain. Still, it’s fascinating to hang out with someone famous just to see if they can maintain all day the perfect public façade they usually project and to determine if they are truly as likeable as we think, in our imagination, they are.

With that in mind I’d love to spend a day with stand-up comedian and television host Seth Meyers. I find his particular brand of humor really connects with me and getting to know him as a person, even for a day, would be rewarding.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

How do you know how to behave? Like, truly? How did you learn? How do you know it’s the correct way to behave? And, does it change from one moment to the next depending on context? And if it does, then are morality, ethics, beliefs and values equally fluid and relative? These are the questions that became the prompt for Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully.

Of course, this is a glib answer that’s obvious only in retrospect. The seeds for Intentional were sown while I was writing my last book: The Sniper Mind which is a guide to making better business decisions under pressure. During many interviews I had with military and ex-military personnel and research neuroscientists it became apparent that some things which we take for granted, like the ability to behave in specific circumstances and engage in actions that lead to specific outcomes is not as easy as we think it is. Those who have been trained to do it better or have learnt to behave better by observing people who are exceptionally good at it, have a distinct competitive advantage when it comes to succeeding in life. Intentional then became an effort to level the playing field.

What is your writing process?

This is the most common question I am asked by writers and aspiring writers. I suppose the reason most people ask is to get a hint of something that will help them also in their writing, be it on an aspiring professional basis or something that is occasional. I plan my books but I let the research I do create the plan.

So, basically, I come up with an idea, usually a question like “How do we behave in every different situation we encounter so that we can succeed in life?” which is the basis of Intentional, I research to see what else is out there that might be covering the same topic. If there are competing books the deciding question is what’s the unique angle I bring to it? The publishing world is too competitive to adequately support purely derivative writing, no matter how good the writing might be. Once I have a skeleton outline in my mind, I carry out the preliminary research that shows me just where the science that supports what I want to write is at. I have a scientific background so I find my way around most research studies published. When I am in doubt or have follow-up questions I reach out to the researchers.

This is a process that can take anywhere from a few months to a year. I then check with my agent to see if she feels she can sell the idea and the manuscript that’ll follow it. She gets back to me quickly at this stage. If the answer is no it’s fine. Although I might have spent up to a year on it I have always learnt new things and have fresh ideas as a result, plus, these days I’m wise enough to never work on just one idea at a time. So, I will shelve that idea and send her the next one.

If the answer is yes then I write up a sales document that fleshes out each chapter and its contents, do several drafts and send it off for my agent to shop around. I make it sound easy but this also may take up to six-eight months and a few drafts will go back and forth. By the time the manuscript treatment is finished I will have written probably more words than the book itself. Once an editor says yes I get down and start to write.
That’s the easy bit. I start each day with an hour’s exercise and then I write for three hours straight, take a break to play some video games or watch a film and then write for two more hours. During the writing process I find gaps in my knowledge or understanding of something and that necessitates more research and more interviews.

I edit what I have written once I have finished everything and that makes the editing process for my editor a little easier too. Start to finish a book takes me up to three years to complete.

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role(s) and why.

Hah! Well, it’s non-fiction so with some notable exceptions like “the best little whorehouse in Texas” which started life as an article published in Playboy magazine, and “The Perfect Storm” that has passed its title into mainstream language now, non-fiction books translate into film adaptations with difficulty, especially when the subject matter is self-development and, as in the case of Intentional, modular in presentation, which means you can read the book from any chapter you want.

Nevertheless, if I was allowed to dream I think Ryan Reynolds would be perfect because he is just incredibly versatile and manages to combine both comedic and dramatic roles in the same persona and still have you believe in the role he presents. How to be more intentional in life is not without its risks and it requires a growing-up of sorts in the maturity of the person.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

A book, once picked up, will stand or fall on the quality of its writing but until the moment it gets picked up it needs to be seen. Getting that visibility today is really, really hard. A publisher does do a lot but despite that, unless they’ve paid a six figure sum for the advance the marketing budget will be small and the marketing team will be shared with a great many other titles that come out at the time. So, it is up to the writer to do all the heavy lifting.

You need to leverage what you know, what you’re passionate about that reflects the title of the book you’ve written and work to promote it. Use every platform available to you and be prepared to spend up to eighteen months marketing your book.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

These days, my bucket list tends to be both personal and modest.

• To get to sprint 100m again in under 12 seconds
• To meditate every day for a year
• To spend more time helping friends with their problems
• To improve my Greek which I struggle with still
• To start writing fiction before I am too old to do so

In what way do you think that this current pandemic has changed the book & publishing industry?

This pandemic has done what every major, global stressor does: it stripped us of our pretenses (because they’re truly superficial and valueless) and it has focused our mind on things we truly value which also tend to have lasting value. So, relationships and authenticity, honesty and transparency have come to be more than words we pay lip service to. They now represent attributes and concepts we actively hunger after because we truly value them.

This has changed the books that are popular right now and the way the publishing industry works. It’s not just fresh voices that are needed, for instance, when writing a book. You also need to resonate with the reader at more than just an intellectual level. This is making writers focus on more than just the craft of writing. We need to also focus on the truth of our words.

I can’t stress this enough. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction we must now absolutely abide by Hemingway’s golden rule of writing: “write one true sentence”. It is no accident that Hemingway was himself writing in a post-global stressor period, after WWII.

Any final thoughts?

I wrote Intentional: How to Live, Love, Work and Play Meaningfully to help my readers change their lives. The lives we live are made up of moments. If those moments are full of meaning then our lives become meaningful. On our own, none of us amounts to much no matter how brilliant we may be or how talented. It is in our connection with others that we begin to thrive, to acquire value, to matter. That connection however has to be intentional, guided by our own beliefs and values. Then it too acquires meaning. Meaningful connections with others change our behavior. It is our behavior that makes the world what it is.

Book Blast – MIRRORS AND MYSTERIES

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre in the epic conclusion of this fairy tale romance!

Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex. It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?

Secrets are revealed and feelings explored in this epic conclusion to the story of Dex and Grayson!

Read an Excerpt from TOWERS AND TITHES

Grayson

Bonk, scrrrrrratch.

Bonk, scrrrrrratch.

I awaken to the unmistakable noise of a forest harpy knocking at my window. Again. That’s the third time this week.

And it’s the single best part of my day.

Yawning, I slide out of bed, cross the room, and open my curtains. Sure enough, a four-foot-tall creature hovers on the other side of the glass, her wings flapping in a steady rhythm. She has the head of a woman and the body of a hawk. Classic forest harpy.

I wave. “Are you here about a wolf pup?” Harpies act tough, but they have a soft spot for a certain baby animal. So do I, for that matter.

She caws. “Yes, I seek a healer.”

“That would be me.” My pulse speeds. I love holding and healing new pups. “Meet you by the front door.”

The harpy frowns, a movement that shifts all the dainty feathers covering her face. “You’re an elf healer?”

Here we go.

This happens all the time. Harpies are overprotective, especially when it concerns a baby version of their favorite animal.

And honestly, this chick should wonder about me.

About the Author:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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Monster House Books

Mirrors and Mysteries, Book 9 of Fairy Tales of the Magicorum 

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Towers and Tithes, Book 8 of Fairy Tales of the Magicorum 

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Christina Bauer will award a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. In addition the author is running an additional giveaway to celebrate this cover reveal.

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Book Blast – SOFT HEART

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Can two broken souls be repaired with a lot of love and a little power from the gods?

Leto, the goddess of motherhood and womanly demure, wants to be anything but bashful. Working in Las Vegas in the music business has proven she can’t be coy if she has desires, but the man she loves isn’t available. What’s a goddess to do?

Help break a curse, that’s what.

Tommy has loved Leto since the day they met, but he never thought she’d want to be with him. He’s also got a girlfriend. When his girlfriend leaves him for his brother and curses him, it’s up to Leto and Tommy to admit their deepest desires—they want to be together.

There’s just the matter of breaking that pesky curse…

Read an Excerpt

©Megan Slayer, 2021, All Rights Reserved

Hera sighed. “I’ll need to contact Zeus to get this fixed. Keep an eye on him and I’ll get the security team to move him inside, too.” She left Leto alone with Tommy.

Leto spread her hand on his arm. Unlike when Hera touched him, he felt this contact. Her touch, warm and inviting, seeped into his skin. He looked into her eyes. What’s happening to me?

She smiled and kept her hand on him. “So, here’s the problem. You were cursed. I don’t know how it happened, but you were. I can’t fix it right now, but Hera can.” She stroked his arm. “You’re not dying, but it’s like you’re being frozen.”

The revelation wasn’t very comforting.

“Who hates you so much that they’d curse you?” Her brow crinkled. “I learned the hard way that no one should be punished this way.”

He wished he could tell her the truth, but without his voice, he was helpless.

“I’ll make sure you’re in our suite, so I can keep you company.” She yanked her fingers away. “Sorry. I shouldn’t touch you without your approval.”

I don’t mind. He liked the way she touched him with reverence. Like he mattered. I wish you could hear me.

She tipped her head, then frowned. “When I left you out here, Missy passed me. She had a guy with her. I don’t know him.”

Of course she didn’t. He refused to subject Leto to Duncan. He might be Tommy’s brother, but Duncan was a rotten man. Duncan couldn’t handle not being on top and Tommy couldn’t lose Leto, especially not to him.

“I’ll fix this,” she said. “I refuse to let you stay in the stone. Promise.”

When she said those things, he believed her. He trusted Leto, too. When she smiled, he saw her in a different light. She could be his salvation.

Right now, she was his only hope.

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

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Book Blast – BEHIND THE MASK

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Seventeen-year-old Jesse has a babysitting gig at the Linderman’s house on Halloween. He loves watching Christie and Dylan and is thrilled to see them dressed up in cute, creative costumes. When he arrives at their house, Jesse knows it will be a fun-filled night of pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating.

But Jesse quickly realizes Halloween is not only about candy, pumpkins, and scary costumes. It’s known for tricks and ghoulish things and can bring out crazies. While trick-or-treating, he notices a strange person wearing a glow-in-the-dark mask watching him from the shadowy street.

The rest of the night turns into a cat-and-mouse game of survival. Strange things start to happen at the Linderman’s residence, setting Jesse on edge, making him apprehensive somebody might be taking the spirit of Halloween too far.

Will Jesse survive the things that go bump in the night, or will he become just another tall tale this Halloween?

Read the Excerpt

I leaned my forehead against the doorframe and closed my eyes, waiting a beat. When I opened my eyes, I watched the vehicle reverse and slowly pull out into the street, braking for children running by. The headlights bounced up and down as the vehicle’s wheels rolled downhill along the raised trajectory of the driveway.

As I watched the car drive off, its red taillights blinking as if in warning, my chest tightened like a clenched fist for some indeterminate reason, and an uncomfortable heaviness settled inside me. I let the curtain fall from my slippery fingers back into position, and I leaned against the wall to catch my breath and bearings.

I climbed the stairs and relieved Christie, telling Dylan he had to dry off, dress, and get into bed. He turned on his brotherly charm and debated with me about bedtime. “Your mom and dad were strict about what time you had to be in bed,” I told him.

“Just go to bed, Dylan,” Christie yelled from her bedroom.

Dylan sat on the bathroom floor, pouting and wrapped in a towel, as I drained the tub and put away his toys. “I’ll read you a story before I turn out the light,” I said.

“Batman, please,” he begged.

“Dry off and get into your pajamas.”

He stood and stomped out of the room.

“Stop being a baby!” Christie yelled from down the hall.

“I ain’t a baby!” Dylan shot back.

“I’m not a baby,” his sister corrected him.

I stepped out into the hall to referee their sibling mudslinging. “I can skip story time,” I said to both of them. “Is that what you want?”

A unison of “Nos!” shot out into the hall from their open bedroom doors, the only unanimous decision they’d made as brother and sister that night.

…

I read to Christie, who couldn’t keep her eyes open for more than five minutes. I gave Dylan a glass of water and set it on his night table. I ran my hand through his floppy brown bangs that had been spared from the vomit, and he fell fast asleep from the steady, relaxing raking gestures of my hand in his hair.

As much I enjoyed story time with the kids, I couldn’t wait to delve into my quiet corner of the house with a cup of tea. I wanted to start on my homework, especially after Dylan’s stomach-churning episode.

I pulled the comforter up around his back and reached over to shut the lamp off. I left the Godzilla nightlight lit up across the room and cracked the door open ajar. I checked on Christie one last time before heading downstairs. I poked my head into her room to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. After I’d finished reading Dr. Seuss to her, she told me that she didn’t sleep well when her parents were not home.

I told her that I’d be downstairs, and if she woke up scared to come down, I’d fix her a glass of milk. She felt safer with the door wide open, she told me. I wished her goodnight and crept downstairs to the kitchen.

I microwaved a cup of water and brewed one of Mrs. Linderman’s decaf black tea bags for five minutes while I rummaged in my bookbag for my math homework. Before sitting at the kitchen table, I plated three chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Linderman’s fresh-baked stash.

I blew on the hot tendrils of steam wafting up from the teacup and dunked a cookie. My empty stomach growled at the aromatic chocolaty smell. I looked around the silent kitchen, chewing and dipping. Peace and quiet, finally, I thought, resting my elbows on the tabletop and sitting hunched forward under the yellow globe of light from the stained-glass ceiling lamp hanging overhead, savoring the deliciously sweet dessert.

Without Christie and Dylan talking and nagging and carrying on about something, I felt my thoughts winding down, the wheels in my mind slackening to the speed of a snail. My heightened anxieties dwindled like the setting sun. I worked on the half dozen Algebra questions for class, showing my work on separate pages in my notebook, and struggling with a few questions when a sound from outside jerked me out of my reverie.

I looked up and stared down the hall leading into the living room. Shadows danced beyond the drawn lace curtain on the front door. I thought I heard footsteps on the porch steps, but it was the wind tugging on the screen door, yanking it open, and slamming it against the side of the house.

I thought I had locked it.

About the Author:

Thomas Grant Bruso knew at an early age he wanted to be a writer. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since he was a kid.

His literary inspirations are Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Ellen Hart, Jim Grimsley, Karin Fossum, Joyce Carol Oates, and John Connolly.

Bruso loves animals, book-reading, writing fiction, prefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles.

In another life, he was a freelance writer and wrote for magazines and newspapers. In college, he was a winner for the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition. Now, he writes and publishes fiction, and reviews books for his hometown newspaper, The Press Republican.

He lives in upstate New York.

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