Amethyst - a short story

Amethyst 

By 

JoAnna

Santanen

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” whispered my best friend, Daphne. She was several paces behind me, frozen in her place.

Her words were a warning, yes, but at the same time, almost a taunt.  The urge to disobey her was there, bubbling under the surface of my mind.  I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist.  I crept closer to my target, as quiet as a cheetah on the prowl through golden, Savannah grasses, ready to pounce. My breath grew quick at my anticipation.  As I drew nearer, I reached my small, chubby-fingered hand outward toward it.

 Her beautiful, long-lashed lavender eyes twinkled as she met my brown-eyed stare.  She blinked once slowly, in recognition of my presence and my intention of touching her.  I was holding my breath at the awe of the moment as my hand touched the soft fur covering her body.  I ran my palm over her long, thick neck that felt surprisingly soft and velvety.  She puffed out a loud snuff from her nostrils, cooing for more affection.  She was ethereally angelic, her body glowing white as snow against the dark forest.  She was a magnificent statue of strong muscles over sturdy bones. 

Her long, spiraled horn shone bright light into the summer’s pitch black night.  She was magical beyond my wildest imaginings, and most importantly, she was real.  A real unicorn was allowing me to touch her, to draw myself near to her magic and be forever blessed by its power. 

I couldn’t believe that the stories were true.   Unicorns were so rare no one ever saw them.  They were legends never confirmed by anyone in our tiny village or from any other place.  My father thought unicorn stories were probably just fictional tales passed down through the ages until everyone had accepted them as truth.  I knew the stories were true in my heart, whether he believed or not.

“It’s been a long time since I saw a human.” A gentle woman’s voice said from seemingly nowhere.  There was no mistaking that the voice did not belong to my friend Daphne, who was still standing silently, utterly petrified behind me.

“Who said that?” I asked, looking around for someone else nearby, keeping my hand on her steady so she didn’t spook.

“I did, of course.” She replied, while nudging me with her giant nose, brushing up against my side with a well-meaning gentleness.

I jumped back from her, too shocked to speak.  I opened my eyes wide at her in my disbelief.  I brushed my long brown hair back out of my face so I could see her better.

“You can…t-talk?” I stammered.

“Only telepathically.” Her voice resonated back to me like the hum of a finely tuned cello.  Her tone was deep and rich as dark chocolate, but soft as a feather.  

 “I never heard of a telepathic unicorn.” I replied.

“You’ve heard of other unicorns?” She asked.

“Yes. I know about unicorns.”

“Well, I am not likely to be the same as all other unicorns.  My name is Amethyst.  I am guardian of this forest and many beyond it.  And what is your name, child?”

“It’s uh…Tempest.”  I could hardly speak to her.   I felt unworthy of her greatness.

“What have you heard?” She blinked her sparkling eyes at me.  Her divine soul showed through their depth.

“That if you can find a unicorn, they will bless you with some of their magic.” I said somewhat bashfully.  The request seemed a bit demanding of me, knowing how spectacular her presence was compared to my meager, childish existence.  I was only eleven, after all.

 “Tempest, do you know how you would earn my blessing?” Amethyst asked.

“Yes, I do.  I must solve your riddle.” I said aloud, as I ran my hand down the length of her side, as high as I could reach her.  She towered over me with her massive size.

“Do you feel you are capable of meeting such a challenge?”

“Maybe.” I replied, truthfully.  “But I must at least try.  Your blessing would help my family.”

“In what way?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions.” I declared.

“Unicorns are naturally inquisitive.” She answered.  “Now, why does your family need my blessing? I must warn you, blessings are not for the selfish, so choose your answer carefully.”

“My sister, Patience, is sick.  I came looking for you because you’re her only hope.  My friend Daphne tried to talk me out of it, but I made her go with me instead.” I said, pointing to Daphne, who ducked behind a tree as soon as I said her name. Daphne was always a scaredy-cat.

“You two young girls ventured out deep into the forest, at night, alone?”

I bowed my head.  I was ashamed of my poor choice to put myself and my friend in danger.  “We needed to find you and unicorns can only be seen at night, right?  I brought a spear in case we needed it for protection from predators.”

“You believe you could fight off a jaguar with a spear?” She laughed at me as she asked.

I nodded timidly and looked down at the lumpy earth beneath my old, leather shoes.   

“Your bravery is commendable despite your foolishness.  Your  reason to ask for my blessing is honorable.  You may attempt to solve my riddle, if you wish.”

“I can?  Thank you!” I exclaimed without hesitation.

“You are confident you will accomplish the challenge?”  She asked coyly.

I walked around the front of her to look her in her crystalline eyes.  “I must solve it, for my sister.  I believe I can.” I said with conviction.

“I believe you will, Tempest.”  She took a few steps around in a circle, lifting her legs high in her prance before turning toward me again.  I knotted my fingers together behind my back and stood up straight and  tall at her attention, like my mother would tell me to do during lesson time.

She bowed her head to me deeply, and her horn shone brighter than anything I’d ever seen before.  I had to look away until it dimmed again.

“What is all around us, but has no mass, can be channeled but never seen, can be felt but never touched, can be known but never heard and is non-existent for those who do not believe?”

I considered my options for a moment.  I had three choices that sprang to mind and I wanted to be certain of the right one.  I decided to consider each individually, hoping to rule out the wrong ones.

First, I thought about the Gods.  My mother’s lessons about the Gods could be non-existent if I didn’t believe her teachings, but the ancient stories recall plenty of instances where each God was seen by a human.  The Gods could not be the answer.

Second, I considered energy.  Energy was a sacred teaching also.  Energy existed everywhere and ran through everything, but could never be seen.  It had no mass but was all around us.  I could feel energy in the warmth of my mother’s hugs and hear it in my little sister’s voice before she got sick.  I could feel energy in my body after a good meal, too.  I did when my father brings home a large kill and we can eat the meat until we are stuffed to the brim.  And, your energy will cease if you don’t believe you have any. 

You can feel the energy of fire or water by touching them, so that could not be the answer, either.

My final answer for consideration was magic.  My family believes that magic is an unending spiritual energy that exists in everything.  It cannot be seen, but is all around us.  It has no mass, so it cannot be touched, but can be felt within us all.  It can be channeled into spells and rituals, but dies if you do not believe in it.  I could think of nothing to contradict it.  The answer had to be magic.  It made perfect sense, considering that unicorns are said to have been made from pure magic.

“At the risk of being wrong, I am ready to give my answer, Amethyst.” I said proudly, hoping that by seeming sure, I could feel more certain of myself and my ability to solve the riddle.

“I will ask you again,” she said as her horn glowed brighter, “What is all around us, but has no mass, can be channeled but never seen, can be felt but never touched, can be known but never heard and is non-existent for those who do not believe?”

“My answer is magic.” I said, crossing my fingers behind my back.

“Your answer is…correct.” Amethyst said with a smile in her enormous horse eyes.  “I knew you could do it, Tempest.  You were always worthy of my blessing, even if you didn’t think you were.  You braved the forest at night with only a spear to protect yourself, knowing that big cats roam these woods.  Your motives were selfless because you came only to save your sister, even at your own peril.  You found me only because you believed with all of your heart that my magic is real.  Had you had even the tiniest doubt of my existence, you would have never laid eyes upon me.  I am the guardian of this forest and all who seek my help for pure reasons.  Your wish has been granted, Tempest.  Magic will cure your sister.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks with joy.  I’d done it, I’d saved my sister.  She will live on and my parents will not know the sorrow of losing a child.  I ran towards Amethyst and wrapped my arms around her gigantic neck.  I buried my face against her toned muscle covered in fur softer than a rabbit’s.  I cried from my relief, grateful that I would not have to carry the burden of my sister’s death.

After a few moments, I calmed myself.  I stepped away from Amethyst.  I knew it was time to say goodbye.

“You will have a safe journey home.  You needn’t worry.  Now, return to your family and see the glow of health in your sister’s rosy cheeks again.” Amethyst said.

“Thank you.  Thank you so much, “I said with a big smile, as I wiped the tears from my face.

Amethyst’s horn glowed brighter than it ever had.  I shielded my eyes with my arm and turned away to keep the light from blinding me.  When it dimmed, I turned to look for her, but Amethyst was gone.

“Come on, Daphne. She’s gone.” I said as I turned to walk back toward home. 

Daphne stepped out from behind a tree trunk.  “That was amazing.” Daphne whispered.

“Aren’t you glad you came with me? Come on, let’s go home. I can’t wait to see Patience.” I said, wrapping my arm around my friend as we walked back through the forest towards our village.  The walk home was quick and easy, unlike the trek into the dark forest had been when we’d left home hours ago.  We knew that Amethyst was watching, and that her magic would see us home safely to our healthy, happy families.

Delusions

A dear friend of mine suggested that I write about mental disorder on my blog, considering that it's the main theme of my books.  What a novel idea (pun intended!).
I have been fascinated by mental disorder/the human psyche for as long as I can remember.  I took psychology 101 three times just because I really liked it (once in high school, twice in college).  I find it intriguing that each person's psyche is all their own, despite the similarity in terms of anatomy.  I could go in depth into nature versus nurture, but I'm not a scientist, I'm a novelist.
I like the idea that while we rely entirely on our perception of the world around us, that perception can be altered by a number of things (drugs, illness or exhaustion, to name a few).  The most interesting part of altered perception is when it has been changed, one might not even be aware of it.  This fact creates an impenetrable foundation on which sanity is based, though it could be a complete sham, and really, one would have no way of knowing.
Most people consider themselves sane, for obvious reasons, but truthfully, many are completely delusional.  I'm not referring to the scary mental patient who believes he's the reincarnation of Hitler (though he'd make for a supremely fascinating character, if you ask me!), I'm speaking more toward the man who thinks his "recreational" daily drinking habit isn't going to cost him at least his health, if not his life, or the teen girl who believes she's fat even though she's twenty pounds underweight.
People that live under these lies they tell themselves are delusional, but don't consider themselves to be so in the clinical sense.  Maybe their mental disorder will affect their lives for years, but without a dramatic enough effect for them to change.  Maybe their conditions will eventually force them to seek treatment before costs them their lives, or maybe not.
Based on that concept, does that mean that everyone is a little crazy? Probably, but the big difference is that not all delusions cause detriment, or interfere with daily living.  Some delusions are utterly harmless while others can devastate emotional well-being.
I see the mystery of the human mind as being a debatable topic.  The medical field often questions the validity of studies of the human mind, despite the many years since Freud and Jung.  What appeals to me most about the mind is the opportunity to draw my own conclusions about how it all works, because ultimately, it's all subjective.  You believe your delusions, and I'll go on believing mine.

Restless Mind in depth

Restless Mind is a suspenseful, rollercoaster ride about one woman's struggle with mental disorder.  Jenna Cooper is the heroine, and though she spends much of the book in total bewilderment, she's easy to like.  Jenna is slightly reserved when it comes to matters of the heart, and fairly independent, with the exception of her relationship with her best friend, Debbie.  Her attachment to Debbie is stronger before the story begins, and when Jenna recognizes that she is having psychological problems, she gently pushes Debbie away out of shame and fear of institutionalization. 

As we come to know her, Jenna is leading a successful life as a real estate agent in Portland, Oregon, despite her young age of twenty-five.  She owns a beautiful, but modest home, and is devoted to her career.  She dates, but not seriously, as she makes her career - and her fear of commitment - top priorities.  Jenna is an only child, and an orphan, having lost both of her parents by age twenty.  Jenna's only living family member is her mother's brother, Doug.  Jenna hasn't spoken to Uncle Doug since her mother's funeral five years ago.

As Jenna leaves Debbie's home one evening, a drunk driver collides with her vehicle.  Jenna is significantly injured in the crash, suffering a laceration on her face above her eyebrow, a minutely-fractured arm, and most importantly, a three-day-long coma.  When she wakes, she hopes to return to her life as quickly as possible.  Much to her chagrin, her mind has been irrevocably altered.

As Jenna begins her recovery, her new, somewhat-casual boyfriend, Elijah, longs to aid her in the process.  She's reluctant to accept his help, but relents at Debbie's urging.  Her relationship with Elijah becomes a pivotal one for her as she learns to trust him.  Despite her reluctance, his tender caretaking, unconditional acceptance and selfless sincerity cause her to fall for him, albeit slowly and carefully.

Before long, Jenna notices that she can't remember things.  She realizes that blocks of time are blanked out from her memory.  Her amnesia quickly escalates to whole days of missing time.  Every time she wakes, she has no idea how long it's been since she was last "present" in her own life.  Her disorientation is amplified by waking in bizarre places and situations, having no idea how she arrived there.

Just when Jenna is treading water to stay afloat in her own psyche, she discovers that she was viciously attacked, but cannot recall even the smallest detail about the event.  As her suspicion spikes, Jenna's trust is suddenly broken.  Everyone is suspect, even Elijah.  Jenna is reluctant to report the incident for lack of details but knows she should at least try to apprehend her attacker so others won't suffer the same fate.  After talking to the police, Jenna learns that her attacker might also be her stalker.  Terror dwells inside her over the ordeal.

Through research and the discovery of a few important clues, Jenna realizes that she has dark secrets tucked away behind locked doors in the corners of her mind.  Terrible things from her past that she had long since dismissed, but not forgotten.  Jenna's determination to understand her condition grows with each new tidbit of information from her childhood, culminating in a devastating epiphany that sends her straight to the psych ward - one of her worst fears actualized.

Click to read Restless Mind on ebook:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236953

Fishbowl On Sale!

Considering that Halloween is coming, I thought I'd run a special on Fishbowl (which is a suspenseful, dark story).  For the next week, the ebook is on sale for 50% off! If you've been meaning to download this one, now's the time! Use coupon code: SU76Z
Get your copy at:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/244229
You don't have to have an ereader! You can read it on your computer or your phone!

A Letter For You

Dear Readers,
I have been thinking about what I should blog about all day.  I even kept the write-post window open for hours just in case an idea popped into my head.  It seems that when you just expect the words to come, they won't.  Nothing seemed to stand out in terms of topic choices.  Another character dissection? A new short story, just for fun?   Or just pontificate about celebrities like Megan Fox, Angelia Jolie or Kim Kardashian?  (Yeah, um, no.  I love me some celeb gossip - but I don't think the world needs one more person talking about those ladies).
If I were going to critic anyone about anything, it would likely be someone like Stephanie Meyer (The Twilight series, as though I even need to reference) and how she was able to turn a G-rated love story about vampires into a zillion dollar industry.   Oh, that would be a great blog post, wouldn't it?
But here we are, half way into a blog post that tells you nothing but "I don't know what to write about, so I'm  rambling."
Allow me to pick a subject and go with it:
Web traffic.
Yep, that's our subject today.  Surprised, right?
I have been maximizing my self-publishing knowledge lately.  I have spent much time studying all kinds of technologically savvy options out there.  Google has been a real treasure.  I feel like, even though I have been using my computer for years, I am only now starting to understand it's full potential.  I have found a new toy which I will share for those of you who might like to play with it:
The Alexa Ranking system shows you all kinds of cool info about a website when you install this toolbar:
http://www.alexa.com/toolbar
It allows you to better understand web traffic.  You can tell how popular a site is based on its rank.  You can also see how many other sites link to the site you're on.  This toolbar is an excellent marketing tool for my fellow writers, but also for anyone who wants to know more about the sites they visit.
I was recommended this toolbar by Where Writer's Win, a blog that I subscribe to, which is about, you guessed it, writing.  Their site is www.writerswin.com   Writer friends, please check it out.  You won't be sorry.
Another thing about web traffic that I would like to note is SEO, or search engine optimization.  This little prize is how search engines find and rank your page's relevance to a given search.  The more often your page is found, the higher its likelihood to be found the next time (i.e. the higher on the list you get, trying to get to that first page of options).  So, I'm giving it a try.  I included some references in this post that I think might pop up  in search tools on yahoo! or bing as well as google.  My experiment here is to see if including those keywords in my post will allow people to find it easier.  I wasn't random in my choices either - I picked references that my target readership would be interested in (and hey, if they like my blog, then fabulous!).  I hope that it works, and more people stumble upon my blog, enjoy reading it, and maybe come back again.
I think it's worth a shot.  I will let you know how it goes!
Much Love,
JoAnna

Getting to know Caleb

Caleb Nichols is the hero of The View From The Fishbowl.  Caleb's story is one of anguish, certainly, but there is a glimmer of hope and triumph.  Writing Caleb's character was a fun experience for me in that I was able to write from the perspective of a 23-year-old man.  It goes without saying that a thirty-something woman thinks and interprets the world in an immensely different way.
Caleb's back-story is an important aspect of the novel.  He wasn't privileged, entitled or even loved; and his early life sets the stage for Caleb to be reserved in his emotional connections throughout the novel and conversely, overly dependent on some relationships. As I understand it, it's not uncommon for individuals with difficult upbringings to have life-long social challenges.  Part of the appeal of Fishbowl is the journey that Caleb takes in order to wade into the negative feelings that plague him, rather than run away from them, through to his eventual growth in learning how to cope.
Another aspect of Caleb that I find intriguing is his ethereal love for his ex-girlfriend, Leah.  Though Caleb and Leah's relationship happened before the start of the story, his love remains the same for her.  The romantic in him longs for her love, even if he is unwilling to truly admit it to himself or anyone else.  From him, her love is the most pure, real source of affection he has ever known.  That fact makes Caleb more attached to her than anyone else, even his best friend, Travis.
Caleb's friendship with Travis is another crucial element in his story.  Caleb views Travis like a brother, sees Travis' family as his own, and behaves accordingly.  Caleb's connection to Travis stems back to boyhood, and the longevity of their association creates a permanence that Caleb had not known previously.  Travis becomes a living version of a security blanket for Caleb, something to hold on to and never lose sight of, through everything life throws at him.
These emotional attributes of Fishbowl are only a small piece of the greater pie.  I hope that you'll read Caleb's story, The View From The Fishbowl, and enjoy discovering him as much as I did!

Julia's Perspective

I have been thinking a lot about love, attraction, infatuation, promiscuity versus virtue and pretty much all things involved in what makes a relationship spark and thrive in order to articulate it through my character, Julia.  I am creating a woman so immensely different than who I am that I feel it necessary to really consider things from an entirely different perspective.  I have a rather traditional view of what’s right when it comes to matters of romantic love, but my character might not.  I think about how she would interpret situations in an often opposite way from how I would.  What would entice me might repulse her, and vice versa.  When offered the apple, would my Eve take it?  I think she might.

It’s quite a fun exercise: I get to entertain the devil-on-my-left-shoulder’s opinions, but not act on them.  I can play a whole scenario out through writing but never have done anything even remotely wrong!  And as a bonus: others can enjoy reading about it.  I think it’s a win-win, don’t you?

(Drawing courtesy of Rae to the Gina's blog)

Fishbowl Reviewers

I am looking for people to review The View From The Fishbowl.  Anyone interested will receive a free copy of the ebook in exchange for their review! Send an email to joannasantanen@gmail.com to sign up to review Fishbowl.  Thanks in advance!

Vices and Temptation

I know I have far too many vices and often think about what ramifications I will have to suffer if I don't change my indulgent ways.  I don't like to think that my hedonistic, instant gratification lifestyle will likely cost me later in life, but in reality, there's no escaping it.  It doesn't really matter what your vice - drinking, smoking, drugs, eating, gambling, shopping - any vice in excess is cause for concern.
Knowing full well that I seem to have an addictive personality, I frequently yo-yo back and forth with my little guilty pleasures.  I'm sure I'm no different than others in this way.  Basically, I'm either quitting something or giving up on "quitting" something.  Its a vicious cycle.  Right now, I'm fighting to quit smoking (for the thousandth time).  It's horrible, but not for the reasons you might think.
I don't know what it is about lifestyle change, but when I make a major alteration in my life, it seems to be followed by a period of insomnia.  This backlash drains me of my energy and makes the task of adjustment that much harder.  After a few days without sleep, my determination wears down and the temptresses of convenience and ease seem all the more appealing.  Self control is not an easy thing to come by, especially when you're exhausted.
In addition to insomnia, periods of adjustment depress me.  I'm sure it's natural for this to happen, but they make it seem like the joy of life has been sucked away by an antagonistic vacuum bent on making me feel like hell.  While I know the dip in mood is only temporary, and I will quickly overcome it, the waiting around for everything to feel "normal" is rather irritating.  To pass the time until all is well again, I'd like to take naps.  But then - I can't sleep. Grr!
I try to appreciate the fact that I even bother with limiting my over-indulgences.  Many people don't try to exercise self control very often, if at all.  I'm not worldly enough to know whether the gluttonous way of living that most of us participate in is strictly an American affliction, but I doubt it.  I wouldn't assume that our capitalist ideals are the blame for my addiction to tobacco.  I think that removes too much of my personal responsibility for my choices.
As difficult as self control can be, success is within my grasp.  I know that I have the will to do whatever I set my mind to if only because I'm stubborn.  I have been successful in the past, and I will again.  I just hope that I don't think later on that since I conquered my vice before, that I can have it again.  That's where I always go wrong.  When you're nearing the end of the race track, you don't turn around and run back the other way.  That's just counterproductive.  Bearing that in mind, I'm resolving to find my new normal and stay there.  Wish me luck!


  

Gratitude

I sit here in my office at just past eleven knowing full well I should be in bed at this hour on a Sunday night, getting as much rest as I can before starting another week.  Sleep can wait.  When inspiration strikes, I like to take full advantage before it slips away as suddenly as it came.

I guess today's thought is gratitude.  I am so grateful for the life I lead, albeit a modest one.  My life is one of my own creation.  I fancy myself the master of my own universe, in the literal sense, as opposed to the spiritual (that discussion is for another day).  I like to believe that all that I am, all that I have, all I will be, are a direct correlation to my decisions, the experiences I have grown from and the effort I put forth.  I can only hope that someday, I'll get to where I want to go based on this idea.  I am going to keep trying as best I can.

Many people have contributed to my life along the way, and I am grateful for them, too.  I love, and am loved in return.  I am happy to love those I keep in my life, and wish the best to the ones I have had to let go.  I have no ill will towards any who have hurt me, as holding on to regret will get me nowhere.  And frankly, I hope they aren't wasting time regretting anything either.

Gratitude.  I am grateful, and I hope that you are too.  I hope that your time is spent doing what you love, as much as mine is, even if what you love is simply petting your cat.  Life is a precious commodity and should not be taken for granted.  I know it's cliche, but it bears repeating.  Live gratefully and find happiness.
I don't know who said it but there is a quote that has stuck with me through my life:
Happiness cannot be sought by those who do not appreciate what they already have.

Well, I appreciate everything - my family, my friends, my health, my home, my pets, my belongings (even that hunk of junk I drive to work everyday).  I am content, comforted and truly happy, and will continue to be so long as I am grateful.

Having it all

I don't know about you, but I feel this pressure within myself to do something great with my life.  It's not enough to be the best person I can be, a dependable friend, or a nurturing mother who loves and takes care of her family.  Though these things are very important to me, they don't fit this particular bill.
I am not sure if it's because my father passed away young (he was only 28, car crash) or if it's simply ambition, but there's this bizarre need within me to fulfill my potential beyond the average person. I'm not saying that I'm going to be a NY Times Bestseller (but hey...that wouldn't be so bad!) but I still want to do more with my life than the typical grind of going to work, raising a family and retiring in Florida.
In fact, most of my spare time is spent working towards this end.  I stopped wasting my time on Facebook games (gasp!) and started finding a way to make my lofty goals a reality.
Obviously, writing and publishing my work were two major checks off my bucket list.  However, publishing my writing isn't enough, despite the fact that I thought it would be.  Now, my attention (and determination) turns to marketing my books and making them a success.  Easier said than done.  I didn't realize how involved this process would become, or how I would have to "create a brand" of myself.  I struggle with the idea of shameless self-promotion.  Truthfully, it feels conceited.  I'm striving to separate my "persona" from my actual personality, so that I can feel like I'm still humbly me.
Who knows where my efforts will lead, but I'm hoping that writing is my way of fulfilling my potential.  Though I have been writing for many years, I can always improve and I like the idea of growing as an author.   Hopefully, someday, I will look back on my life and be proud that I poured my heart and soul into my passion for writing, and that will be enough.

And now for something completely different...

In the past, I've only posted about the announcements related to my books.  In an effort to make my blog more fun, I've decided that I will start writing about different topics.  I figure that if you're going to read my blog (and a big thank you to everyone who does!) it might as well be more than simply updates on the publication of my books.  Feel free to comment about my posts, as I would love some reader input! I hope that you will enjoy my blog and keep coming back to see what we'll talk about next!

Fishbowl COMING SOON!

My second novel, The View From the Fishbowl will be released on 10/11/12! It will be available for purchase as an ebook through Smashwords (which distributes to various ebook retailers) and in print on Amazon.  Fishbowl has a far more complex story than Restless Mind, and one that I hope you will find to be fun, suspenseful and exciting the whole way through! I can't wait for reader feedback on this novel. I'm pretty confident that you're find it to be unique and hope you'll tell me what you think of it! :)
Look for it next Thursday!  Happy reading!

Restless Mind IN PRINT!

I am very pleased to announce that Restless Mind will soon be available in print for those of us who still love a physical book even though the ereading revolution has been thriving for years.  I like the font/size reader customization that you can only get with an ebook, but I enjoy the smell of ink on a page even more.  I am in the works with Amazon to get Restless Mind set up and for sale on Amazon.com in the US and their European website.   I will announce a release date for the print version of Restless Mind very soon! :)