One thing about growing older is if you worked hard and was careful with the money you made, you can take a few vacations. I just returned from the Mayan Riviera. Most people would say I went to Cancun though I’ve never seen the city. We go to the Moon Palace, an all inclusive, I’m glad to say I’ve never been disappointed. The beach sand is different than the beach sand of New England. I love to walk shoeless along the beach knowing my feet won’t burn. I watched the birds, smaller than my fist, and I’m a small person. They played with the tide, digging for food when it rolled out, running away as the waves once again crashed against the shore. It reminded me of how we spend so much time crashing into the waves life throws our way. Some of us run. Others stand still, fighting a future we can’t change and others work with the water hoping to make the waves wash away past hurts to bring a better world for those who will follow. I’ve run. I’ve stood still, feeling the water break around my toes only to see it return unchanged as I step away. Now I walk into the crashing waves, floating on its roiling surface, hoping my movements help the children playing on the shore. I hope their sand castles last longer than those I made. I can’t fix the past, neither can I determine the future, but with each step into the sea, I can make a difference. It may be a difference only one child will feel, but to that child it may be the difference giving her or him, or them, a life worth living. In my books I try to show how our decisions, even those that seem inconsequential, can make a difference.

It’s hard to say goodbye to characters/people you love. Though it’s been a long time, the journey has been worth the time invested. It will be difficult to say goodbye to Kahill, Peter, Becarra and Rebecca but mostly to Spirit and all the animals I’ve tried to represent. As an ambassador, I hope I haven’t failed to represent the world of those who don’t speak the languages we speak. Mere words can’t convey what a simple swish of a tail can. We take them, the beauty of a tree reaching to the heavens, as something to be expected. In my heart I know we don’t see the forest for the trees. I believe they are meant to remind us of our place. The world is larger than we imagine. A long time ago a child lay upon a boulder sitting in the woods outside her house imagining she was sailing on a ship to places where others didn’t care how expensive her cloths were. A chid who thought her sister was the strongest person on earth, her father the tallest, bravest man she would ever meet. This child couldn’t imagine a safer place than her mother’s arms. I knew with out doubt my dog would die in my defense, and I in his. I did try, but that is another story. Difficult as the concept is, I believe we are but a small part of the world we see as ours. I hope when you read the books I’ve written you see yourself in the girl, remember those who made life less difficult and those who made you feel safe. Sister World, three is coming. With my friends you’re safe.

It’s almost time to watch out how we date our correspondence. I’d say checks but less people use them now. Just remember that on this coming Sunday it’ll be 2023. You might remember, then again you might be too young, how we were told the world would end when the new century began. We’re still here. Our computers didn’t lock up, the ICBM’s didn’t fly and all the other date sensitive things worked Just as well the day after New Years Eve as they did the day before. We had time to prepare, plan and make needed changes.

It’s taken me time to prepare, plan and create Terah, to introduce those you’ve come to know to those living on this new world, that you have yet to meet. Though Terah exists only on the pages of my book, I want you to feel, you’ve taken the journey, joined me, Kahill, Becarra, Peter and Becky as we create the last chapters of Sister World.

To those both local and those within an hours drive, I’m once again inviting you to come to the Exeter Craft sale. I’ll be there along with some very excellent crafters. That’s my reminder.

For those waiting for the third and final installment of my Sister World trilogy, all I can say is I’m working as hard as I can. I’m also reminding myself that writing is a passion not a job. I love words. I always have. I love speaking through my characters. What they say is what I hope to pass on to those who enjoy my stories, grow to love or hate the people I help create. I only help create them, they’re walking beside us every day. Though I put those I write about in places I would not willingly go, they are still people I know, love, hate or wish to be. Sometimes, I’m still sitting on my mother’s lap learning about the world from the books she read to me. Other times I’m watching those around me, wishing I could be them, finally learning many wish they could be me. It’s been quite a journey and as the journey continues, I hope to take you with me.

Dark Night of the Soul introduces us to a man, taken as a boy, who is fighting for more than his life. Marcus, looking at the woman offering her love, has a difficult choice, one that brings all that he is, was and could become into question. Will he choose passion and love over a nearly all consuming hunger for blood. It’s a question he must answer and there are only moments to choose.

I was interviewed by Max Bowen of Citywide Blackout Interviews along with Keith Carreio, and Evelyn Audet. Below is the link to the interviews.

https://citywideblackout.podbean.com/e/rhode-island-author-expo-preview-evelyn-audet-keith-carreiro-and-debra-zanelli/

For a number of reasons, this past weekend will always be special to me. One reason is I was with my fellow authors. They made each hour fun. Another was sharing my table with Keith Carreiro, who is not only a great author but also someone who helped me and made me laugh. My son and husband came to assist. I’m very happy to say they helped me set up and brought me food(that’s a big deal). I also sold the entire collection of both my Darkness and Light and Sister World series, twice. I met my editor, face to face, and I did a lot of laughing. Many people signed up for my quarterly newsletter and I was interviewed by Max Bowen, who besides making me laugh, helped me express myself better than I ever have. My first novel has so many messages, so much a part of what I feel is in those pages and he brought out what it means to me. I’ll be posting the link to in the next few days. One of the best things was when a woman came to my table, saying she was looking for me. Last year she bought Dark Night of The Soul and now she wanted to buy the rest of the series. There is no greater compliment. Having record sales capped off a great weekend. Look for me and the many authors making up the Association of RI Authors at our 10th annual author expo December 3rd at the Crowne Plaza Ballroom, Warwick, RI. Free parking, no entrance fee, lots of authors and Santa Claus will be waiting for you.

Martha Reynolds Writes

Rhode Island Authors Showcase – Featuring Deb Zannelli!

Martha ReynoldsNov 4The Rhode Island Authors Showcase is back! Each day in November, I’ll be featuring a different RI author. Each post features a giveaway – a book, an anthology, or something else! All you have to do to be eligible for the daily drawing is leave a comment on the blog post. I’ll use a random number generator to pick a winner one week after the blog post (to give you time to catch up).By commenting on each post, you’re also entered to win our bigger prizes: GRAND PRIZE is a $250 Amazon gift card, BONUS PRIZE is a $100 Amazon gift card, and the CHEER UP YOU WON SOMETHING PRIZE is a $50 Amazon gift card. The big prizes will be chosen, again using a random number generator, on December 7.Debra ZannelliI wanted to know more about Deb. I asked the usual questions!Where is your hometown? Exeter, Rhode IslandWhat have you written? Darkness and Light series: Dark Night of the Soul (2016), A Darkness Descending (2018), Where There was Darkness (2019), Darkness and Light, Hunter (2021), Darkness and Light, Vampires (2022). Sister World trilogy: Sister World, The Arrival (2019), Sister World, The Fight for Earth (2020). Peacedale (2018).And what genre(s) are your books? Horror, Science Fiction, FantasyWho are your favorite authors? Ken Follett, Stephen King, M.M.Kaye, Colleen McCulloughWhat were your favorite books growing up? A Tale of Two Cities, Lord of the Rings, The Far PavillionsWhat do you like best about writing? Examining the emotions of the characters I write, it makes me examine mine. I love research and including facts with fiction. For example, my science fiction contains lots of science facts. I’ve worked with a physicist, the director of emergency management for the town of Charleston, and an expert on indigenous plants of various climes, just to name a few. What do you find most challenging about writing? Setting aside time, and finding a way to put my very real emotions into situations others will understand and feel a connection to.Where do you draw your inspiration? From my own experiences, the dreams hopes, disappointments of my youth  and the challenges and victories of the life I’ve lived. I use fiction to bring these things to life. I watch the world,  especially the young, looking for what motivates and determines both our actions and responses to the actions of others, and adding a good sized helping of what brought me to where I am now.You’ve just been given the chance to collaborate on a book with Stephen King! What’s the title going to be? The King’s BetrayalFind out more about Deb and her writing at her website: https://drzannelliauthor.com/Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debraroseauthor Deb has generously offered a copy of the anthology Green, published in 2021 by the Association of Rhode Island Authors. Her very poignant short story is included in this compendium. To be eligible to win a copy, just tell us your favorite green thing.

I spoke of this before, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately. It could be due to the too quickly passing of time. Finding out I had a brain tumor brought more than fear. In some ways, it was a gift. Waiting for surgery was easier than you might think. I was sure I’d wake but then, when I did, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. I heard the doctors. They were concerned I hadn’t opened my eyes, or answered their questions. I was awake. I knew the answers. I just wasn’t ready to leave the hazy freedom of not having to answer them. I thought about living forever. Would I want to? How could I watch everyone I love grow old and die. What would I do with the power to decide who should live and who should die? Marcus, the main character in my Darkness and Light books was born with my eyes closed, ignoring the too bright lights of the recovery room and the questions of those standing beside the bed. I’d spent many years listening to others, working so hard to be what they expected. Marcus, like must of us, was trying not to be what he’d been told he was. His path, his choices, are far more difficult than mine, yet in many ways they are the same. When I opened my eyes, I became the person I’d always wanted to be. The person I was died that day. If you have the time to read Dark Night of the Soul, I hope you see the part of us all buried within the heart of a tortured soul. Remember, we can’t do this alone.