Born into obscurity, poverty, and indifference in the 1960s in the heart of
the African wilderness, Kisemei Kupe experienced neglect, hunger,
loneliness, misdirection, abuse, and danger to a degree that very few in our
Western culture could imagine. Reaching out for help, he devoted himself to
Islam only to find himself in acute despair and hopelessness. Yet in the
midst of these crushing circumstances, Kisemei experienced a dramatic
encounter with the vision of a man he had never met and whose name he
didn’t know. It was an encounter so genuine and a metamorphosis so
drastic that it would set in motion a series of events that would lead him
to face certain death for his actions. He was once a warrior for his
village, but now a new warrior had emerged. This is a story that many of us
need to hear today—a story that transcends the jury of society, an
abiding story of truth and hope for us all.
About the Author
Clark Wiginton is a physician, entrepreneur, and writer who lives in west
central Texas with his wife, Stephanie, and their five children. He is a
personal friend of the subject of this book.
The Pursuit of Wisdom, Knowledge, Spiritual Power, and the Minds of God
Through Multiplism
Nonfiction / Spiritual / Self-Help
If art imitates life, this book imitates the artist’s mind.
Specifically an artist that has surrendered most of their natural born life
to the arts. As the decades change so does the style of the art and their
philosophy of how they approach their medium. This book follows the
artist’s transformation and expression of that art in correlation to
the influences, both external and internal, over a lifetime of study. The
influence is sometimes physical and direct, other times more seemingly
abstract and metaphysical. And it continually revisits the question, how in
control are we, or is there something bigger at work? Are we bound to repeat
history or do we always have the power to change our path? The author
provides anecdotes that seem to answer the text's questions directly, and at
other times stir the ambiguity. At the same time, the format of the book as
an anthology allows for it to rest on any coffee table and be cracked open
at any page to enjoy a slice of the larger thought-pie.
The Immortal Kiss Dark Fantasy Romance Series is ON SALE for $0.99 for a
Limited Time!
Centuries ago ten powerful vampire gods first walked the earth; their blood
thirst knew no boundaries. The destruction of mankind was inevitable.
Recognizing their weakness, they selected twelve wise human beings to
transform with their godly blood. These twelve, known as The Old Ones and
The Council, govern The Ten. A blood lottery appeasing The Ten’s
hunger was set forth into the human world and passed down every fifth
generation, continuing into the present day.
All of Beth Ryan’s life a mysterious mist has watched over her; a
mist she believed to be a vampire. On a cold winter night, Philippe Delon, a
700-year-old vampire walks into Beth’s life. She is drawn to him,
certain he is the vampire behind the mist...but is he?
Beth and Philippe cannot deny their love for each other, nor do they try to
fight it. Within days of their encounter, Beth accepts Philippe’s
invitation to move into his mansion. The mansion unlocks the door to the
vampire world and exposes secrets from Beth’s past. Within its walls,
she learns the true identity of the mist, her link to the blood lottery, and
betrayal of her loved ones. Surrounded by lies, Beth stands before The
Council begging for resolution.
Five years crawled by at a painfully slow pace for young vampire, Beth;
each year more agonizing than the next. The powerful unyielding spell which
masked Amon’s whereabouts showed no signs of weakening.
Influenced by the binding ritual and Amon’s blood surging inside her,
Beth will stop at nothing, and risk everything, to find him and turn the
tables on Osiris, Isis, and Hathor. In foggy streets of London, lives
are threatened by a new breed of hunter, and nothing is what it
seemed. Beth once again finds herself surrounded by betrayal. In
the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Philippe and Amon
– knowing that her decision will change one life forever. But whose?
Brandon Cass is not your average teenager. He has a taste for
blood—human blood. For sixteen years, he stumbled through life without
a hitch until the enigmatic aroma of blood awakened something dark within
him. Visions of a beautiful young woman with chocolate brown hair and ocean
blue eyes haunt his mind, yet her identity is a puzzling mystery.
His hunger for blood strengthens, and the cravings become too powerful to
control. No one is safe, not even his family. To safeguard all he once found
dear, Brandon sets out on a quest for answers. In an unfamiliar city, he
comes face-to-face with the beautiful young woman, confronts the dark force
which controls him, and learns what he must endure to reclaim his soul.
LAURA DALEO is known for capturing vampiric persuasion in her Immortal Kiss
series. This book takes an interesting spin on the Egyptian pantheon, from
which vampires originated. At present, she is working on Once We Were
Witches, the fourth book in the Immortal Kiss series.
Immortal Kiss, Bound by Blood, The Vow, The Vampire Within, The Soul
Collector, and The Doll are among her published works.
She grew up in San Diego, California, and currently lives with her two
dogs, Rose and Cooper, in Tucson, Arizona.
“Why do I get the feeling that Christopher is the type of man that would make the perfect husband for any woman and, at the same time, the perfect wife for any man?” Laura says shortly after Christopher begins his new job at the TV station. Laura’s statement would turn out to hold more truth than she could imagine. No one who meets Christopher, especially not Laura, as well as David, a gay man he meets at a party, understands what it is about him that draws them to him. They also don’t realize that Christopher is searching for something, a search complicated by their desires for him.
Excerpt
I began to question accepting Laura’s invitation when I heard the noise coming from the backyard as we approached the house. I disliked crowds, and it sounded like an immense crowd was on the other side of the gate.
People were everywhere—seated on lounge chairs scattered around the patio or at the rectangular dining table or milling about in various groups—talking loudly over the blaring music. Laura’s voice broke through the noise.
“I don’t see Peter anywhere. He might be inside. Shall we find him?”
“By all means. I would feel uncomfortable attending his party without meeting him.”
I followed Laura into the house. As we passed through the living room, my eyes fell on a few framed photos of a handsome couple on the wall.
In the kitchen, a solitary male figure was removing a tray of croissants from the oven.
“Hello, Peter.”
As he turned around, I recognized Peter as one of the men in the photos. Tall and slender, with dark hair and a mustache waxed into handlebars, there was a dapperness to him that I found pleasing.
“Hey, Laura. Lovely to see you!”
After setting the hot tray down, Peter hugged her.
“Peter, I want you to meet Christopher. He just moved here from Seattle and works with me at the station.”
“How do you do, Peter?“
Having grown used to the reaction my presence caused, I smiled patiently as Peter, unable to speak right away, shook my offered hand.
“I hope you do not mind my crashing your party. Laura assured me that you would not object to her bringing me.”
“No, of course, I don’t mind.”
The words tumbled out one on top of the other.
“Is there anything we can do to assist you?”
“No, I have it all under control, thanks. Please help yourself to the food and drinks out on the patio.”
“We will. Thanks,” Laura said, taking my arm and steering me back through the living room.
“Peter is very nice,” I commented as we stepped through the doors and headed towards the drinks table. “Can I make you something?”
“A mimosa, thanks. Yes, Peter’s a sweetie.”
We stood sipping our drinks as I scanned the crowd of mostly men, a mix of young and old, before Laura took me around, introducing me to the people she knew.
I instinctively searched their eyes for the essence of another while ignoring Laura’s scrutinizing gaze.
Laura needed to use the bathroom, so she left me standing under the large Ficus tree where we had sought shade from the sun. Within minutes of her departure, I was surrounded by a large group of people vying for my attention. Carrying on multiple conversations was challenging, but I did my best to make each person feel they had my full attention.
He caught my attention on the periphery of my vision: tall and well-built, resembling the small statue of the god Mars that sat on the table in Joseph’s shop. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart skip a beat, seeing something flash in his eyes. Smiling hopefully, I extended my hand to him.
“Hello, my name is Christopher Dunn.”
As he shook my hand, I took the opportunity to search his golden-brown eyes. My initial hope turned to disappointment, for while something was there, it was not another’s essence. Though disappointed, I was intrigued.
“Davidmartelli.”
He slurred the two names into one in his haste to get the words out.
As I gazed into his eyes, the feeling of a purpose to our meeting appeared—first Laura and now David.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, David Martelli,” I said, saying his name distinctly.
David blushed attractively, causing a twinge in my heart.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He looked so crestfallen when I held up my cup that I was tempted to down my drink and ask him for another.
“Oh, you have one.”
“I do, but I appreciate you asking.”
I gave him a smile to back up my words. It was apparent that David was struggling to find something to say, the frustration evident in his handsome features. I wanted to get him away from the people surrounding us and talk to him alone, but I did not see how I could do so without offending everyone else.
Conscious of the eyes watching us, David blushed again and backed away.
For some reason, I knew that this behavior was out of character for him. Watching him walk away, I hoped we would meet again as I wanted to discover what I saw in his eyes.
About the Author
Stephen Hardy was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. His career as a fashion designer took him back to San Francisco before he headed to New York City, where he met his husband of twenty years. Tiring of the hectic pace of the fashion industry, Stephen gave up his career to become a stay-at-home dad for his and his husband’s two adopted sons and a quiet life in Connecticut. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, and with the kids grown, Stephen returned to university, where he rediscovered his love for writing. His focus is on contemporary fiction, examining social issues regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships. Search for Complete is his first novel, and a sequel is expected in early 2024.
Originally
from the Pacific Northwest, I currently live in Phoenix, AZ with my
husband of 20 years. We met in New York City and then moved to
Connecticut where we adopted our two sons. The boys were 6 & 7
when we adopted them from the foster system and are now 20 & 22.
I began my writing career 4 years ago and Search for Complete is my
debut novel. I did try the traditional route of publishing, but my
novel is a difficult one to categorize and I decided to self-publish.
The first of a planned three book series, I have book two written
with plans to publish at the end of the year and book three is about
halfway written with plans for a summer 2024 release.
How
long have you been an author?
4
years. I began work on my first novel in the summer of 2019
What/who
inspired you to start writing?
I
was inspired to begin writing Search for Complete after a
conversation I had with some friends. A statement was made which got
me thinking and the story just flowed out of me.
Tell
us about your new release. What inspired you to write it?
As
I mention above, the inspiration came from a conversation. My husband
and I were having brunch with another couple, who are straight, and
the husband made the comment on how similar his wife and I were to
the point that he would hear me say something and think it was his
wife saying those words. Out of this came my protagonist,
Christopher, a young man in possession of both a male and female
essence. He is asexual but attracted to both men and women. Because
of who he is, Laura, the other main character says, “Why do I get
the feeling that Christopher would make the perfect husband for any
woman, and the perfect wife for any man?” And that is Christopher,
if sexual intimacy were taken out of the equation.
How
did you decide on the title?
The
title came from one of the main themes of the novel. Christopher,
though complete in essence, is searching for something that will make
his female essence have a physical presence, thereby making him
physically whole again, as his earliest ancestor, a creation of the
moon had been.
What
are you working on at present? Would you like to share a snippet?
I
am beta-reading book two in the series, entitled The Price of
Happiness, and writing book three, When the Sun and Moon Meet. Book
two continues the story of Christopher and Laura, picking up a few
months after the birth of their twins. The twins bring so much joy to
Christopher, but not to Laura, who begins to feel resentment towards
Christopher. He got everything he wanted, but she feels like she
didn’t. The story follows their journey as a couple co-parenting
twins, but more importantly, Laura’s journey of self-discovery. In
addition, I have another novel about an eighteen-year-old gay man who
is on the autism spectrum, looking for love during his first year at
college. I was inspired to write this story after watching the
Australian docu-series Love on the Spectrum.
What
is the hardest part of writing any book?
The
hardest part for me is editing out scenes I may love but which don’t
move the story along.
Are
there any genres you prefer to write, and if so, why?
I
feel it is important to write what you know. As a gay man, I write
stories that are inspired by my experiences and observations of being
gay. As such, while not all of my characters are in the LGBTQ+
community, I prefer to write in this genre. Ideally, though, I would
like to think that my writing crosses genres and would appeal to a
wider audience.
What
novels do you adore/re-read?
My
favorite novel of all time is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I
love her character development and insightfulness into human
behaviors. I have been working on and off on a prequel to this novel,
told from Mr Darcy’s point of view. It is a slow process as I am
attempting to write in Austen’s vernacular.
Which
other writers do you follow?
Kyle
Scafide, who wrote Angel on My Corner.
Are
any of your characters based on you or people you know?
There
is a lot of me in Christopher, and I based the minor character of
Peter on my husband. But the others are an amalgamation of random
people I have known in the past.
Do
characters and stories just pop into your head, or do you take your
time thinking about and planning them?
I
experience both methods when writing. Search for Complete just popped
into my head and I began writing without an outline or a preconceived
outcome. The story evolved as I wrote. With the sequels, I did take
some time thinking and planning the story lines, as I had to figure
out the principal character’s journeys based on where they had been
at the conclusion of the first book.
How
often do you write? Do you have a schedule?
I
try writing every day during the week for a few hours. Weekends I
tend not to write so I can spend time with my husband. Occasionally,
I plan writing weekends where I rent an Airbnb in Flagstaff or Sedona
and get away with no distractions. I usually do this when I am
editing a first draft or struggling with the initial draft.
What
are your writing and personal goals for 2023 and beyond?
My
writing goals for the rest of this year and beyond is to publish the
second book in the series by the end of this year, publish the third
book in mid-2024 and then finish the novel about a gay teenager on
the autism spectrum looking for love during his first year of
college.
Are
you a cat person or a dog person? Tell us about your pets.
Definitely
a cat person. I grew up with them and my husband and I have three,
all siblings, two girls and a boy. They each have very different
personalities and quirks. Zen, the boy is like a dog in that he likes
to follow us around the house and greets us when we come home. Abby
is the loving one, likes to sit right next to us and cuddle. Zoe is
a bit more independent, but lets us know when she wants attention,
Her preferred spot in hanging over our shoulder and being carried
around.
If
you had access to a time machine just once, is there anything you'd
go back and change? Either on a personal level or an historical
event?
I
like my life now and am afraid of going back in time and changing
anything personally for fear of altering my life now. However, if I
could go back further in time, I would like to be part of the
Versailles Treaty committee and convince the allied forces not to
seek retribution from Germany after WWI. Had they not crippled
Germany’s economy, WWII might never have happened.
If
you could go anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would
you go, who would you take with you, if anyone, and why?
I
would take my husband on a round the world cruise, stopping off at
many ports to see as much of the world as possible.
Reed Barton is a millionaire who can have anything he wants, except the one
thing he desires most. His first love. He’s spent years trying to
recreate the night they met in a San Francisco bathhouse. The image of the
beautiful Filipino man who took his virginity is never far from his
thoughts.
Reed’s life is turned upside down when his long-lost love reappears
-- and not in a good way. Joseph Castro is not quite what he seems. Time and
experience have changed both men, and there’s no going back. But
maybe, together, they can go forward.
Excerpt
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Reed Barton had last minute jitters about going to the bathhouse. The men
might be old and creepy. His visit might get back to his family. The list
went on, but they were just excuses, soon cast aside in favor of discovering
what he’d been missing.
Nineteen, almost twenty, and still a virgin. He had little experience with
sex. Educated at authoritarian male boarding schools, there wasn’t
much time for fooling around. Lessons started early and finished late, and
afterwards the boys were kept busy with homework, sports, and dinner until
bedtime. Still, he’d witnessed a few incidents. He’d seen one
boy sucking another’s penis in the bathroom. At the time, Reed had
been appalled, but titillated as well. He pictured himself on his knees,
forced to suck another boy’s cock, and longed for the reality, but no
opportunity presented itself.
In college, Reed felt the inexplicable draw of chemistry, but only toward
other men. To his family he presented a picture of heterosexual
“normalcy” but in fact, he took to visiting a bar where gay men
hung out. He engaged in several hurried blowjobs in the bathroom, but
nothing more. One of his nameless encounters told him about the bathhouse.
Bathhouses had once been a rite of passage for gay men, but many had closed
through the years. Somehow, this one had survived and Reed was determined to
take advantage of whatever it had to offer.
The taxi deposited Reed in a downtown Frisco area known for muggings. Many
of the buildings were abandoned and there were no signs or addresses.
Confused, Reed questioned the driver. The man pointed down an alley and held
out his hand for the fare.
A few working streetlights cast eerie shadows as Reed entered the back
street. He felt uneasy, but the sense of danger excited him as well.
He’d always been tempted by the forbidden.
A sudden downpour pelted Reed with stinging drops. He picked up his pace,
ignoring the beer cans and fast food containers underfoot, and spotted a
heavy wooden door with a small sign affixed to it that read Rock Hard Gym.
Relieved, Reed pushed the door open and entered a small foyer.
A young man sat behind a window. He scrutinized Reed carefully before
selling him a membership. “Do you want a locker or a private
room?”
“A locker. I don’t know how long I’ll stay.”
“Fifteen for the membership. Five for the locker.”
Reed exchanged a twenty-dollar bill for an ID card, a white towel and a
plastic wristband with a locker key.
“There are condoms and lube in the locker room.” The clerk
buzzed Reed through another door.
The heady scent of sex intoxicated him. He didn’t care that the
floors were old and slippery with water and body fluids. The lockers were
rusty and the walls badly in need of paint, but Reed couldn’t see past
the naked male bodies.
Men stood, sat, and lingered in stages of undress, manspreading on changing
benches, tiny towels intentionally parted. Reed found it hard to look away
from the smorgasbord of flesh so openly exposed.
While searching for his locker, he became aware of the lingering looks he
attracted, but none of the men appealed to Reed, not even in the dim
lighting. He wanted to explore and he made quick work of undressing.
Wrapping the towel around his hips, Reed left the locker room. There was a
gym, small and ill equipped, but a gym nonetheless. Reed bypassed it.
Straight ahead he encountered an area where men of all ages and sizes, naked
except for their towels, stood around and watched gay porn. He watched the
film for a few minutes, then he moved on, entering a series of corridors
where men prowled the hallways looking for acceptable partners.
He passed door after door, some closed, many open. Grunts echoed from the
shadows. Reed caught glimpses of men grinding and thrusting. Moans filled
his ears. Hushed words, frightening and thrilling. Blood rushed to
Reed’s dick. It was electrifying to be surrounded by so much
sex.
Reed stepped around men who didn’t care about getting a room. Heart
pounding, he watched them giving blowjobs or having anal sex in the hall. A
few invited him to join in, but he wasn’t ready -- yet.
About the Author
Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her
nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and
pencil.
Ann and Rhonda continue to deal with guests at The Beach House Hotel on the
Gulf Coast of Florida, including Bobby “Bugs” Bailey, a star
player in the NFL. At the Vice-President’s suggestion, Bobby’s
coach has sent him there to work to help adjust his behavior after
Bobby’s life of fame gets out of control. There’s no one better
to handle someone like that then soft-spoken Ann and outrageous Rhonda, who
declares it’s time for Bobby to wake up and smell the coffee.
Tina Marks, the movie star Ann and Rhonda helped earlier, arrives with her
two children and, Sydney Harris, her nanny who Tina has taken in after a bad
family situation.
Another of Judith Keim’s series books celebrating love and families,
strong women meeting challenges, and clean women’s fiction with a
touch of romance—beach reads for all ages with a touch of humor,
satisfying twists, and happy endings. Be sure to check out her other
delightful books and series that readers adore.
Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both
has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels
about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and
find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling
books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and
on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and
realistic settings her many loyal readers love.
She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and
now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two
dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family.
While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young
age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library,
or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the
books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid
imaginations.
Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their
enthusiasm for her stories.
This wonderful rhyming story about two little girls born as twins and the
magic of that special bond and their magnetic love that lasts forever.
Whether together or apart, they can see, sense, and feel each other's
feelings hardwired to their hearts. The colorful illustrations bring a
unique feeling of love, care, and kindness.
Mr. B's Books by Michael Barnes - Rhyming books that teach kindness and
compassion, making the world a happier place.
