New Cover for Book One?!

Had some fun with book one cover for friends! AND worked on edits for book two...great weekend!

Go Team Immortalis!

Our company is participating in the GCC Global Walking Challenge. One of the guys on my team knows about the Immortalis series I’m writing and asked if we could use that for our group name. How cool is that?! So, here we are, ready to take on the world. Go Team Immortalis!! :-)

A Fairytale: For my Dear Friend, Teresa Cerna and her Knight, her new Husband, Michael Cerna (Congrats!)

The Charmed Life

 
            Once upon a time, there lived an enchanted tree deep in a twisted forest. It was said that this tree would yield fruit for a story. Every day, the young king would risk the perils of the steep hills and dark forest to share a story for food. He gathered the crimson apples and made his way back to the village where he distributed the goods to his people. Unlike others that visited the tree, however, he did more than just share a tale. As he told his stories, he would always tend to the tree, giving it water, nutrients, and the like.

            One beautiful day, the young man found himself telling the tree of his hopes and dreams. He had not realized before, but something about the graceful tree reminded him of a young maiden of long years past, one he had never dared to share his true feelings with, and suddenly, he felt lonely. This time, instead of just the plump red apples dropping to the ground, a golden one fell amongst them too. It was strangely warm and so beautiful that he could not bring himself to part with it. He took it home and placed it on the windowsill so the whispering breeze gliding past carried its sweet aroma inside.

            The next morning, instead of the apple on the sill, there sat a charm in the shape of a puppy, yet his home still smelled of sweet apple. He put the charm in his satchel and made his journey up the steep hill, through the barbed thicket, and to the tree. He told a story he heard from the whispering winds the night before, embellishing it with the idea of restoring his land. Again, the ground was speckled with many delectable apples and one golden one.

            He held the golden apple to his chest as he gathered the remaining apples for the village. Once more, he set the apple on the sill, anxious to see what it would bring the following morning. Eventually, the lulling whispers on the wind soothed him to sleep. The next morning he found a beautiful birthday cake charm. He smiled as it reminded him of birth, new beginnings, and the hope such things carried as he tucked it safely away.

            Over again, the king visited the tree. Rain fell and the tree sheltered him. The wind picked up as he thought aloud and cleared away vines from the tree. He spoke of love and a family, and of having a strong, courageous son. One by one, the apples fell and finally a golden apple toppled to the ground. While he gathered the treats, the tree curled its branches to protect him from the storm. In the morning, he found a shiny badge on the sill. Curious, he thought as he made his way outside and up the hill.

            Thinking of a son made him long for grandchildren and so he spoke of his wishes to the adoring tree before returning to the village. In the morning, warm rays of sunshine streamed in and glimmered off two charms sitting on the sill. It seemed strange to the king, for he only had but one golden apple the night before. To the king’s delight there sat one charm of a little boy and one of a little girl.

            The king could not wait to visit the tree. “How,” he asked, “how can any of this ever be when my kingdom struggles under a curse and I have no love?” He gathered the apples, thanked the tree, and headed for home. To his surprise, the next morning was something special, a tiny replica of his crown made into a charm! He discovered a newfound determination for his people, his kingdom, and his dreams.

            Of course, he could restore the land; he came from a strong bloodline of courage and determination, love and nobility. He would find a way to break the curse! As the young man provided for the tree, it provided for him, and he delighted in hearing the whispering on the winds through the lovely leaves. Early the next morning, as expected, the king found a new charm. He added the tiny key to the rest of the charms residing in his satchel and made his usual journey.

            While clearing undergrowth from around the tree-roots and telling another story, he found a key, much like that of his miniature key charm. To his amazement, he saw something he had not noticed before. In the tree was a lock embedded in the bark. He could hardly contain the unexplainable excitement as he put the key in the lock, the heart of the tree, and found it to be a perfect fit. Leaving the key, he gathered the apples and went back to town.

            Unable to sleep the king sat watching the golden apple. At first light, a guardian angel appeared. She held out her hand and gave him a charm, one of herself. Being she was gentle and kind and he now knew her to be the one that had been whispering on the winds, he gladly accepted. She whispered a blessing in his ear and was on her way.

            This time, when the king revisited the tree, it was he that was bearing gifts. He had created a stunning chain-wreath, inlaid with the precious charms gifted to him and hung the wreath on the key in the lock. He bowed, and returned to his home.

            With no golden apple on the sill, it astonished the king to find a charm glinting in the early light. Before he could retrieve the treasure, it was announced that he had a guest. He quickly grabbed the queen bee charm and made his way to the grand hall. In the doorway, stood the fair maiden he had adored so long ago. Her insight was astounding, her beauty unrivaled. Her voice was like that of an angel. But, it was her kindness and grace that stole his heart.

            “How is it you have found me?” he asked.

            “But Sir, it was you that found me.”

            The guardian angel explained, “Your souls touched and you freed each other. And in turn, because neither took for their own sake, both giving of their own free will for the sake of others, I was able to lift the curse on these lands. So you see, both of you restored your kingdom.”

            On the queen’s wrist was the wreath he gave to the tree, and in her arms, a puppy. Standing next to her, was her son, and with him, his children. They were now a family. Before the guardian left, she handed them one last charm … a tree.

            They married at once and their kingdom flourished. The blessed couple revisited their lush meadow on every anniversary, professing their love in the now blossoming forest, and yes, they lived happily ever after!

The End

 

 

-By Leah P. Lozano

11/23/2013

Need an Editor?

Judy Beatty

In the spirit of passing on a good deed to another, I’d like to introduce you to a Shining Star that I am honored to know. She is my personal Editor. She is BRILLIANT! How she does it, I don’t know, I just appreciate her magnificent gift. The bonus … she is a lovely Lady!

She is currently working for several Published Authors (including but not limited to Deb Baker, JB Stanley, and Elizabeth Spann Craig) but welcomes new Authors as well. Please be sure to give her a heads-up a week in advance before sending your work so she can ensure it is returned by your deadline.

If you are in need of an Editor, please contact Judy Beatty at judyedits4u@att.net.

IMMORTALIS: A Story from the Multiverse

Light and Dark were separated, one from the other, creating two individual beings. The two entities have fought since before the emergence of time. Every thousand years they reincarnate, creating mystical creatures of every kind—both known and unknown throughout history—for the sole purpose of building their armies to destroy the other.

The Stars watch, but do not intercede, only hinting at the Prophecies that others will document, and granting wishes to those who truly believe. When a group of Stars grows bored with watching history repeat itself yet again, they begin to meddle, drawing the Immortalis world in. It is here that the realm of legends, Immortalis: The Calling begins....

As she struggles to deal with the loss of the only family she has ever known, twenty-year-old Lina’s strange visions catapult her into the midst of a war on the other end of the universe. Torn between two men—the unnamed, midnight-eyed man who exists solely in her visions, seemingly refusing to follow suit and materialize like her other visions, and Archos, who was sent to protect Lina, but who has his own agenda and makes her intuition scream danger despite his gentlemanly ways—Lina must save herself from a rebel force who believes she is the dangerous answer to their prophecies, find the truth of her own origins and inner strength, and prepare to battle epic forces of evil as she has unwittingly become the center of the Immortalis world.

A Fairytale: For my Dear Friend, Jessica Oswalt and her Knight, her Fiance, Drew Shelnutt

 

The Soul of a Woman

 

            Once upon a time, there lived a pure white owl in a deep, dark forest. It was said that the owl was cursed; no one dared approach her for fear of falling prey to her estranged enchantments.

            One beautiful day, a young man found himself lost in the tangled forest. He had no choice but to spend the night in the thicket.

            In the middle of the night, a snowy owl swooped in. Where others before had swatted her away, he instead sang to her as she sat on a branch. The owl gently pecked his right cheek, gave him the Emerald of Wisdom, and glided off.

            On the second night, the owl swooped in as the young man ate. As before, the majestic bird settled on her branch. The young man went to her and held out his hand with several delectable morsels of food. After eating, the owl softly pecked his left cheek, gave him the Ruby of Passion, and glided off.

            During the third night, the owl settled again on her branch. As the young man made his way over to her, a kitten curled about his ankles and he lifted the little fur ball to his chest. The owl delighted in their company. She gingerly pecked his lips, gave him the Diamond of Love, and glided off.

            Early the fourth night, the owl swooped in and settled on her branch. The young man fetched water from the living-well and gave her some of the mystic water. She lightly pecked the crown of his head and gave him the Pearl of Purity. However, this time, she did not glide off. She pulled only the golden feathers that lay amongst her snowy white ones and laid them in a trail to guide him out of the forest.

            The young man made his way back to his castle; for you see, he was a prince. That night, when he went to bed, he had a dream. He saw a beautiful white owl glide gracefully by and land on a hanging branch. Intrigued, he watched the magnificent bird with its entrancing eyes. As the sun began to set, the golden rays played tricks on his eyes and he thought he saw a young woman in place of the bird. Then he awoke.

            Unable to go back to sleep, he called on those of great talent to advise him as he weaved a stunning crown of golden feathers inlaid with the precious gems gifted to him. With the North Star to guide him, he made his way back to the snow-white owl. When he found her, he laid the crown before her, bowed, and returned to his home.

            As the sun set that evening, it was announced that he had a guest. At the gate stood the fair maiden from his dream, outlined in gold from the sun’s rays. Her knowledge was astounding, her beauty unmatched. Her voice was like song. But it was her kind, soulful eyes that stole his heart.

            “How may I serve thee?” He asked.

            “But Sir, you already have. When I was distraught, you comforted me with your words of wisdom in song. When I was famished, you shared with me your passion fruit, though you had not much. When I was lonely, you gave me all the love you had and more. And when I grew thirsty, you brought me the gift of pure life. All of this from a humble man with a noble and worthy heart. Your soul touched mine and you freed me. In turn, I share with you my kingdom, my wisdom, my passion, my love, my life. Upon the princess’ head was the gold crown he gave to the owl and in her arms, the kitten.

            They married at once and their kingdoms united and thrived. The blessed couple revisited their tree on every anniversary, professing their love in the now blossoming forest, and everyone …

                                                                                                                                                                                     … Lived happily ever after.

 

The End

 

Sneak Peek!

"Where I am dark, you see the light in me." #Immortalis