Tag Archives: Catherine GV

A Blog Tour For A Noble’s Path

Hello, cherished folks!

So, I've got thrilling news: I'm taking part in a blog tour for the book A Noble's Path by I. L. Cruz!

It's my first ever blog tour, so I am ecstatic!

You'll be able to read an excellent and intriguing author guest post along with an excerpt from her novel on the 14th of March on this very blog. 

Also, the blog tour started yesterday. Have fun visiting other blogs and Web sites for the event as they have great content as well!

Here are the blog tour dates:

Tour Schedule

I can't wait to share what we have in store for you, folks!

Enjoy.

See you next post, lovelies!

Twisted Reunion: A Book Review

Twisted

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Indigo

Audiobooks.com

Goodreads

 

Genre: Horror, Dark Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 280

ASIN: B016PVWZBY

ISBN: 9781938475177)

Format: eBook (Kindle), Hardcover, Audiobook

Publication date: December 22nd, 2015

Publisher: Vincere Press

Type: Short story collection

 

*I received a free eCopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to dear Mark Tullius and BookTasters!*

 

Introduction:

 

Last year, I started reading horror. It's a new literary genre for me, although I watch a lot of horror movies. But to this day, I yet hadn't reviewed a book in this genre. So when I saw Twisted Reunion, which offers 28 dark and creepy short stories, I figured it would be the best entrypoint into reviewing horror. Short stories read well and fast, and to be honest, the descriptions of a few of his stories really drew me in. His characters seemed all so different, raw, and his stories indeed twisted and intriguing. I am so glad I received a free eCopy of Twisted Reunion!

 

The Blurb:

 

Plunge deep into disturbing darkness with these 28 short stories. Explore heartache, fleeting happiness, and horror in this fascinating collection.

 

Experience chills as you read these creepy stories and more:

•            A pornographer's horrific early morning ritual

•            A beautiful baby boy who knows what he wants

•            An engineer sees life on the other side of the tracks

•            A drug run goes awry

•            A family's unique Christmas tradition

•            An artist whose paintings become reality

•            A man who longs to rid himself of an annoying companion

•            A child terrified by things that slither and ooze in the night

•            Come join a soldier on the run in the jungle

•            An old man's quest for the perfect photo

•            A woman who sniffs out killers

•            A life coach whose own brand of “therapy” goes way beyond cruel and unusual

•            A young man who can't let go of the past

 

(Seriously, this blurb is everything. These are just a few of his weird, unique ideas which make up his fantastic short story collection.)

 

The Positive Sides:

 

First of all, his ideas are really original and creepy and well-advertised as twisted. Each of them either gave me goosebumps or made me feel a weight in my stomach. I love them! Plus, all the situations and characters are so varied! I will definitely read more by this author. Speaking of characters, most of the main characters are likeable and relatable in some way. But gosh, do I freaking hate his villains and antagonists! They are despicable, believable, true to their awful character, and so well done. I also noticed and loved the diversity present in this book! There are people of colours and LGBTQs, among others. It's a really nice touch for minorities to be in stories, and it stays true to us (at least I can say so from the LGBTQ's POV). His characters are of all ages too, which makes the reading even more interesting with a lot of flavour. (It reminds me of BBQ, flavour… Hmmm, BBQ.)

As for the writing itself, I have high praise for him. All of his short stories are expertly structured with the clues cleverly disseminated throughout. They were a pleasure to read, the rhythm was great as well. I loved it! Plus, his dialogues feel natural. They're a lot of fun to read and flow smoothly, back and forth between the characters with ease. It's as though we're eavesdropping. But don't tell them, shhhhh! 

 

Finally, there are a lot of surprises sprinkled in the stories! I had such a blast reading this book. Mostly, when I finished a story, I kept reading another and another and another… just because I wondered "What would he pull out next?!" That's how great this collection is.

 

The Negative Sides:

 

Despite all these great points, I've noticed two things that bother me. The first is how in the story "Out There", the name Mike keeps changing to Matt then back to Mike. It's rather annoying and confusing. Also, while his stories are twisted and creepy, they're not scary per se (except for the second one in the collection, this one gave me the creeps, haha!). I think it should be marketed as twisted and dark only, with a dose of horror without it being classified as horror, maybe? But don't get me wrong: they're EXCELLENT! I've enjoyed Tullius's stories a lot, I just think the book isn't labeled correctly. Or maybe it takes a lot to scare me. I'm not sure about which one is the right way to go. Either way, I'm not taking any stars away for this, I just figured it was worth mentioning, that's all.

 

In Conclusion:

 

With all these positive sides, such as the originality and creepiness of the stories, as well as the diversity of the characters and the sheer FUN I had reading his book, I give Twisted Reunion by Mark Tullius a rating of 5 out of 5. You can't go wrong with this book, I assure you. It was better than I expected and I was expecting a fun time already. I was surprised, enthralled, shocked, amused, creeped out, and so many other glorious emotions. If you love anything dark, twisted, horror… Give this collection a try, really. Like I said earlier in the review, I will definitely read more by this author, and I think you'd do yourself a favour by doing the same.

Cinq

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Instagram (mark_tullius), Twitter, Amazon author page, Facebook, and Goodreads. Love podcasts? Listen to his. You can also add Twisted Reunion to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

 

**Please note that there are affiliate links in this post. This means that I make a percentage off your purchase, but it doesn't cost you anything more than the price you pay for your purchase. Thank you very much! 🙂

Oblivion Song: A Book Review

Oblivion Song

Image Comics Web Site

Indigo

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Goodreads

LibraryThing

 

By Kirkman & De Felici, Volume 1

Genre: Science-fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 144

ISBN: 9781534306424

Format: Paperback, Kindle

Publication date: September 18, 2018

Publisher: Image Comics

Type: Comics, Graphic Novel

Issue(s): 1-6

 

*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to dear Edelweiss+ and Image Comics!*

 

Introduction:

I’ve got to be honest here: the cover art drew me in with its darkness, beautiful colours, and mirror effect. Then, the blurb did it for me. I can never resist a story about parallel dimension, even less comics about that topic! I was thrilled when they granted my request to review this graphic novel. And I was even happier with how good this book is!

Let’s explore it together!

 

The Blurb:

Ten years ago, half of the city was crushed and has been lost in Oblivion, a parallel dimension invaded by monsters. There are those who can do the “transference” and travel to the parallel city. Nathan Cole, along with a small team, goes into the other dimension to rescue people stuck there since the tragedy occurred. They will have to fend their way through a city covered in slime and weird plants while fighting against a group of survivors.

 

Positive Sides:

Let’s jump right into what’s obvious to the eye: the colour palette used what with its beautiful colours with gradients is lovely. And even though the drawing style takes a while to get used to… it’s similar to the first comics in a few aspects. Yes, I’m talking about dear old Batman in the ’60s and such. With a modern spin, of course.

The characters are another thing that is definitely worth discussing. The realism of the relationships between the characters and how we’d all react may it be from a societal to personal POV is SO well depicted! But that’s not all: there is a lot of diversity in this book! Nathan’s girlfriend, Heather, is black and also looks Latina (it’s not clear, but she’s a POC), Duncan’s wife is Asian and Duncan himself is black! This is really cool and inclusive. Speaking of which, I found the book to be inclusive on another level: on body shapes. Now, hang on, there’s a squared and muscular woman dating a slender man. That is rarely seen in stories, and even less in comics. Love, love all this diversity and realism!

But what about the story itself? I must admit it is quite intriguing. And it starts right into the action! I’m a fan of such beginnings. We also encounter a few fun surprises along the way… before the mega ending of WHOA SURPRISE UPON SURPRISE! I adored it, really! Also, please note that the story and details we’re looking for during the reading, well, are NOT supposed to make sense… at all… Why? Because our questions are inherently linked to the plot ending. There’s a reason why if you stick with it and while a bit uncomfortable at first, it’s genius in the end! Moreover, EVERYTHING is linked! I mean it, when I look back and think about it, all the details matter. Amazing!

 

Negative Sides:

The only negative point is how the story is a bit too vague for a long while, which confuses us until we get about half into it or so.

 

In Conclusion:

I recommend this book whole-heartedly! It might have a slightly annoying negative side, but the whole story is engrossing, unique, and the drawings are beautiful. It offers us many positive points such as diversity, vibrant colours and surprises! For all these reasons, I give Oblivion Song a rating of 5 out of 5! This graphic novel is too good not to give it a perfect score.

 

GOOD 5-star rating

 

If you want to learn more about the Robert Kirkman, you can visit his page on Image Comics, you can also follow him on Twitter and Goodreads. If you want to learn more about Lorenzo De Felici, you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. You can visit their publisher, Image Comics. You can also add Oblivion Song to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Sea: A Book Review

The sea

Amazon.ca *

Amazon.com

Goodreads

 

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Dystopian

Pages: 75

ASIN: B082WQ21TT

Format: eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: February 7th, 2020

Publisher: Self-Published

Type: Novella

 

*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to dear Sophie Jupillat Posey and Book Sirens!*

 

Introduction:

As a new reviewer on Book Sirens, I was browsing the books available for review and this cover caught my eye. It looked grand and dangerous-two things I love in a book. Its title held my interest as a big fan of nature herself. So, why shouldn’t I pick it up? No reason, exactly!

I went through many states and emotions reading this novella, but I’d go through them again if I had to. Read on to find out why!

 

The Blurb:

Forty-year-old Amos Heinig avoids family, society, and emotional conflicts. People bring far too much drama, as if he doesn't have enough of his own. The ultra-realistic nightmares he's been having for as long as he can remember have made his isolationist existence nearly unbearable. After each bizarre, visionary dream in which the wild, untamed ocean rises up and destroys humanity, he wakes in his bed, drenched in seawater. All he wants is to forget the dreams and avoid the sea at all costs.

Surprising himself, he attends his nephew's birthday party and reconnects with his relatives. During the party, he learns that his sister not only knows about his strange visions, but that the gift runs in the family. In his worst nightmare, Amos discovers his own unique legacy as the lines between dream and reality become muddled. He alone recognizes the dire omens for humanity. Amos’s empathy is tested in the most terrifying way possible and a new, urgent purpose catapults him into action.

Can a force of nature, subject only to time and the tides, ever be patient, persuaded, let alone subdued? Or will Amos's efforts only delay the inevitable desolation and ruin of the entire human race?

 

The Positive Sides:

The main character, Amos, is entertaining. I like his apathy and fear, which makes him interesting to me. His sadness and depression are quite apparent in the way he speaks. I love it! We hear HIM. And he’s so cynical and snarky… Bad boy. Haha! I think the other characters were realistic and intriguing enough in their own right, mostly Tivana his sister), his nephew, and the sea (she talks to him and it’s amazing). I enjoyed Amos and Tivana’s relationship; it is hard, rocky, and toxic, even dark.

Speaking of the sea herself, she talks and communicates with Amos. It is beautiful and enchanting! It made me squeal with awe. Imagine if that happened! Also, this story has good morals for humans and a strong respect for nature-how could I not love it? The effects of climate change and how we mistreat water and the Earth in general are well informed. The author did her research as to how it would look in the future because of humans… One word: bad. There were really good surprises along the reading! And everything is connected to the sea and drowning in one way or another; it feels like a whole and it’s wonderful.

As for the writing, the descriptions and showing of emotions and sensations are great! I even admired the words she chose because I was all: “Yes, she’s so right, that’s how it feels!” Plus, this book has been well proofread. I couldn’t find a mistake, which made me so happy. It was damn right pleasant, okay?

Moreover, I enjoyed Amos’s nightmares; they were lush with descriptions and impending doom. Although I would have preferred them a bit scarier for full effect. And what about him waking up all wet with water pooling near his bed and smelling of salt?! I mean, this detail is very intriguing and original! Despite the slow first half of the story, it starts being thrilling halfway through. And the ending? OH MY GOD! SO WEIRD! To be honest, it’s the weirdest story I’ve ever read-I had goosebumps. BUT I loved it because of its weirdness. Sure, some people will be put off by this, but if you like oddities a bit, read this book! It won’t disappoint!

 

The Negative Sides:

However, the negative side is a bit too present not to notice it. There is too much exposition and telling which could be best used as flashbacks and other techniques, in my opinion. I took one star away from the rating because it was rather annoying and unfortunately didn’t help the story. May I suggest showing vs telling classes? (I am taking some myself, so this is a friendly suggestion)

 

In Conclusion:

I am grateful that The Sea is so inclined on respecting the sea and nature. It touches me. Plus, the weirdest ending just got under my skin (and I welcomed it). It was so intense. Sophie Jupillat Posey’s book might use telling too much, but it was overall a great experience. For all these reasons, I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Copy of GOOD 5-star rating

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Website and Goodreads author page, you can also follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page. You can also add The Sea to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links indicated by a * next to them. If you purchase through my affiliate link, I receive a percentage of the sale, but it doesn't cost you anything more! Thank you. 

 

How to Read More Pleasantly

Introduction

Hello, folks!

Reading in itself is already fun, but what if we could make it an even more pleasant time for ourselves? There are ways I found which can accomplish that. How about I share them with you so we can all enjoy reading even more?

Here’s what I love to do.

I hope you pick a few to try them out and find more pleasure in reading.

If you're interested in learning strategies to read more, you can find them in my article How to Read More This Year

 

Reading Socks

I discovered these on Indigo about a year ago. They are pricey, but so gorgeous and they look super comfortable! Since I didn’t want to pay that price, I told myself I would go on a quest to find a cheaper, but as cute and comfy pair of reading socks.

Then, I stumbled upon a cute kitty pair at Ardène and fell in love right away. They were 12$, cushioned and adorable. What’s not to love? Obviously, I took them home and tried them on with a book in hand.

IMG_1291

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2020)

Let me tell you that it’s what I call bliss: a good book in hand (hopefully) and cozy reading socks! My feet were warm, and I felt all fuzzy, comfortable. I was genuinely happy and content all around.

Since then I forget that I’ve crossed the time limit I gave myself and just… read for hours. Due to my job as a translator and editor and serious health issues, I’ve got little time to read. But I swear the reading socks make me read longer! That’s how great they are.

Get a pair for your own sake!

 

Candles

This one is particular. I haven’t tried it yet, but I yearn for a good scented candle while I read. There are even thematic ones based on your tastes (like the scent of an old book), stories (Charles Dickens’s or Harry Potter’s), characters (Katniss Everdeen or Clary Fairchild), and so on. Seriously, I want one of those!

I’m a big fan of dinner at candlelight. Whenever we lose power, I’m so happy because I spend time under the candlelight; it imbues the air with mystery and a cozy sensation, which I crave. Hygge, here I am!

If you can, try this tip. You’ll smell a good scent and it’ll put you in good spirits to read. And bonus points if you turn off the lights and read at candlelight, all the cozier for you!

 

Bed/Cushions

I’ve got the habit of reading when I go to bed, either with a physical book in hand or on my Kobo. It’s the only time I found to read, so I take it!

I’ve noticed how fun and comfortable it is to read with an eReader in bed: you’re all wrapped up in your bed sheets, warm and tranquil. It brings peace of mind, or at least you’re just feeling calm and happy to read. If you read in the morning or during the day, try it a few times in bed, too. You might just enjoy it! If not, no worries, just go back to mornings and days, haha.

As for the cushions, this is a long story which I’ll make short. Whenever I read with a physical book in my bed (do you notice a reading pattern? Haha!), my back and arms hurt so damn much! So I keep changing positions until I’m so annoyed and tired I stop. It’s sad because more often than not, I stop reading not because I’m done reading, but because I’m aching all over. I found a cushion with arms I thought I could put against my bed wall and read with no aching.

 

IMG_1289

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2020)

Fortunately for me, I received it as a Christmas gift! (Thanks, mom!) I kept complaining about how I couldn’t read as much as I wanted in bed… So, I tried this cushion with arms and joy to the world, it works! My lower back still aches a bit, BUT it’s overall very comfortable and I don’t have to switch positions anymore!

Want to hear the best part? I can read for how long as I want with this cushion, no need to stop because I’m sick and tired of the pain!

If you’re having similar issues or just want more comfort, please try such a cushion. It will either save your reading time or upgrade it.

 

A Clean Space

This might sound obvious, but a clean reading space will bring you more joy. If you’re stuck tight between boxes, objects and so on, you will grow annoyed and angry and will stop reading-or at least it will be miserable.

I suggest cleaning three feet around you so you feel like your personal bubble isn’t invaded and have all the space you need to settle comfortably.

I know cleaning’s not so fun, but this is a genuine trick. A messy place can ruin your pleasant time by turning it into a lame experience as you keep thinking about the mess and how squeezed you feel.

 

Plushy Friends and Accessories

Now, this tip is not for everyone, but I know a lot of us love cute character plushies and Pop! figurines and other merchandise of our favourite stories and characters. I’ve got a few plushies (Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Hermione, etc.) and Funko Pop! toys like Jasmine, Mr. Burns, and Aladdin. I’ve also got a big Elsa cushion.

Okay, but what does it bring us to? Well, remember the clean space I mentioned above? Clean it, then choose which accessory and plushie you want near you while reading. It’ll make your space even more personal and you’ll appreciate it even more as you read, surrounded by what you love.

It might be silly sounding, but it genuinely works and you’ll feel good, safe even.

And who doesn’t want a safe reading haven?

 

In Conclusion

Whether you choose a candle, cushions, reading socks, or accessories in a clean space (or all of these!), I’m sure you’ll find your reading time optimized and more pleasant.

It’s all about treating yourself well and finding things you love which make you feel at ease. That way, reading will be a breeze and you’ll wonder where time went.

I wish you a good reading!

Please leave me a comment about what other tips you find useful for better reading times. I’d love to discuss those with you.

See you next post, lovelies!

A Quarter Into My Novel (My Writing Journey)

Hello, folks! I’ve got great writing news today: I reached a personal goal in my Miranda Kane novel, Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence! I gave myself the goal of finishing the first draft by August 31st for personal reasons. I’ve got another open heart surgery coming up… and I want to make sure I come back from it again – I had one when I was four years old and died thrice until I came back to life, clinging to my less than 10% chance of survival. And this time, I wanted a huge reason to come back if something went wrong… I wanted my book. So I know it’s ready to be edited and published when I wake up. See?

SO, I reached a milestone in that overall goal, which is…

 

I Reached a Goal!

I’m 25% done in my novel! 😀 It’s a quarter of it written. *THROWS CONFETTI* I’m so happy and proud!

In order to celebrate this achievement, I decided to make graphics for Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence as well as publish it on Inkitt (it’s similar to Wattpad). And yes, you’ll be able to read it. 🙂

Who Wants Graphics?

This graphic is the one I made specially for reaching 25% written in my novel. It features my sweet heroine Miranda Kane (a.k.a Feather) and my dear Thomas Lance, villain with a big heart who started Miranda’s journey as a superhero.

Rise of a Heroine_ Resurgence

As for this one, it’s the cover I made for my story on Inkitt. I used real objects I had at home as well as my professional camera. When I saw the mask I could only think of my Miranda/Feather, so I bought it. As for the Batman comics, it’s this specific one that is quite important in my story. It all makes sense when you read it.

Rise of a Heroine_Cover

Where You Can Read My Novel

Speaking of reading, are you interested in reading Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence?

Head over Inkitt here: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence

I upload a new chapter each week so you’ll always have something to read. I hope you’ll like it and stay on Miranda’s adventure of becoming a superhero and her fight against evil!

 

In Conclusion

I’m so glad I reached the 25% milestone! I managed to do it in two months, which makes me even prouder. Here’s to the next 75% by August 31st! *Raises her iced coffee*

I hope you’ll stick around and walk this journey with me. It’s always better with company.

Are you working on a project of your own?

Is a big event (like my upcoming surgery) a motivator for said project?

Leave a comment below and let’s discuss!

See you next post, lovelies!

Oh, Outline, Outline… (OLD POST)

As you probably have guessed from the title, I’m currently outlining my new novel in the NaNoWriMo Prep, titled The Stranger: The Rise of a Heroine. I have the beginning and the middle, but the ending has yet to be found… I’ll update you when it’s complete! For now, I’ll need a

Divine move

P.S.: Dylan O’Brien is my faceclaim for my deranged Thomas Lance, one of my two main characters. I think he has his potential and energy, along with his sense of humor, which clearly show in his roles. Thank you, Dylan, for being my Thomas’ appearance and source of inspiration along with my imagination.

Let’s Celebrate 100 Followers!

YAY! I reached 100 followers! THANK YOU.

Do you remember my post back in October? I mentioned a gift to celebrate all you folks who choose to support and motivate me. I’m so thrilled you’re here!

Here’s your gift: a free short story written just for YOU.

Enjoy!

Crashing into the Veil

Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2019

‘’This is ridiculous.’’

Martin sighed and shook his head at the traffic in a well-trodden suburban road. Patience wasn’t one of his virtues and he had a wife and a little girl of 4 to get to. It was late enough with evening plain to see outside the car windows. Work had drained him and he wasn’t quite in a… good mood. He grabbed the wheel and turned it in a brisk movement, his foot hard on the gas pedal.

He could’ve sworn there was no one else in the left lane, but some jerk cut in from the third lane and crashed into him. The first car barreled into two others on the right and caused a pile-up.

As for Martin, he gasped and cussed as fear froze him to the bone, making him let go of his wheel. When the cars hit, all he saw was his hood being crushed and pushed back, and his head hit the wheel with such force he thought he heard an awful cracking sound.

But then, all movement and sound ceased around him for what seemed like a second.

He blinked hard when a policeman directed a flashlight in his face. Someone must have called the 9-1-1… He couldn’t have been out that long, could he? The young officer talked to him through the window. Martin opened his mouth and tried to tell him he couldn’t hear. He was struck by the absence of pain, but his rational mind told him it was due to adrenaline. Of course. Instead of opening the door and saving him, the officer straightened up and walked to his colleague, discussing what he saw, no doubt.

Irritated by this obvious lack of compassion for someone in need, Martin pushes with much strength on the car door. He ends up tripping out of his car instead.

Okay, that was… strange. He filed this occurrence in his mind for later, though. It was a consequence of the accident.

He needed to focus on what’s important and help others since he was still able-bodied. No?

Without deigning to take a glance at the officer, Martin rushed to the nearest victims of the crash. A poor middle-aged woman lay on in the middle of the road, croaking with pain and blood oozing out of her mouth. Martin reached her and tried to hold her hand, but it slipped through. Shocked, Martin focused on his own fingers and flexed them; they still responded. So what the hell was that? Was he dead?

The dying woman turned her head an inch in order to face him. Her eyes were glazing over, but still she said in one last breath: ‘’You’re my angel, aren’t you?’’

Martin couldn’t reply as a paramedic walked through him to take the woman’s pulse. A cold, rippling sensation flooded him. He grimaced and touched himself. Why, he felt solid… to himself. Obviously, he was not.

Terrified, and piecing the puzzle together, Martin ran back to his car. Paramedics were doing CPR, trying to keep him alive. But the more they tried, the better he felt.

‘’Stop. He’s not coming back,’’ the older paramedic says to the youngest, putting a hand over his arm in a compassionate gesture.

‘’No! NO!’’ Martin shouted, though he knew no one here would hear him.

Panic was eating away at him. His body (or whatever it was now!) shook with force, his teeth gritting. He hugged himself, eyes roaming the horrendous scene, taking in all the tragedy.

His daughter? It would be hell not to see her grow up and become a woman. His wife? It would be torture to live without her… wherever he was going next.

Death had come and stolen his life away like the worst thief. Because he knew he was dead, all right. But what happens now? Is he left alone to wander the world without playing any part in it? Is it truly the end of the road? Surely there has to be more answers to these incessant questions, if not in life then in death!

A shrill scream tore through his dark thoughts. He spun around and saw a woman standing near a shape under a white sheet… The dying woman! Though now she looked beautiful; no blood, no wounds, and her vintage clothes weren’t torn.

Martin went to her. ‘’I know,’’ was all he said, nodding. Nothing could comfort her. That he was certain of.

Then, the whole area shudders and ripples. They both jerk their head up. ‘’What the-’’

It’s all gone in an instant.

Martin looks down and sees he’s not on a road anymore. In fact, it’s quite as though he’s floating as there’s nothing under his feet! All there is is a gray mist all around, above, and under them both.

‘’Wh-where are we?’’ the woman asked, her eyes bulging out of her face.

“Welcome to the land of the dead.”

There was nothing else to say; they needed to keep going. Perhaps they’d find the answer to all this at the end of the invisible path. And so they went, hand-in-hand, for God knows how long.

But he sure pondered. And most unsettling sensation was the growing freedom in him as they walked. Freedom…

Is this what it means…

Death?


If you enjoyed this short story (and I genuinely hope you did!), you’re more than welcome to leave me a comment or share your thoughts with me on Twitter.

See you next post, lovelies!

Let ‘ s Celebrate 100 Followers!

YAY! I reached 100 followers! THANK YOU.

Do you remember my post back in October? I mentioned a gift to celebrate all you folks who choose to support and motivate me. I'm so thrilled you're here!

Here's your gift: a free short story written just for YOU.

Enjoy!

Crashing into the Veil

Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2019

‘’This is ridiculous.’’

Martin sighed and shook his head at the traffic in a well-trodden suburban road. Patience wasn’t one of his virtues and he had a wife and a little girl of 4 to get to. It was late enough with evening plain to see outside the car windows. Work had drained him and he wasn’t quite in a… good mood. He grabbed the wheel and turned it in a brisk movement, his foot hard on the gas pedal.

He could’ve sworn there was no one else in the left lane, but some jerk cut in from the third lane and crashed into him. The first car barreled into two others on the right and caused a pile-up.

As for Martin, he gasped and cussed as fear froze him to the bone, making him let go of his wheel. When the cars hit, all he saw was his hood being crushed and pushed back, and his head hit the wheel with such force he thought he heard an awful cracking sound.

But then, all movement and sound ceased around him for what seemed like a second.

He blinked hard when a policeman directed a flashlight in his face. Someone must have called the 9-1-1… He couldn’t have been out that long, could he? The young officer talked to him through the window. Martin opened his mouth and tried to tell him he couldn’t hear. He was struck by the absence of pain, but his rational mind told him it was due to adrenaline. Of course. Instead of opening the door and saving him, the officer straightened up and walked to his colleague, discussing what he saw, no doubt.

Irritated by this obvious lack of compassion for someone in need, Martin pushes with much strength on the car door. He ends up tripping out of his car instead.

Okay, that was… strange. He filed this occurrence in his mind for later, though. It was a consequence of the accident.

He needed to focus on what’s important and help others since he was still able-bodied. No?

Without deigning to take a glance at the officer, Martin rushed to the nearest victims of the crash. A poor middle-aged woman lay on in the middle of the road, croaking with pain and blood oozing out of her mouth. Martin reached her and tried to hold her hand, but it slipped through. Shocked, Martin focused on his own fingers and flexed them; they still responded. So what the hell was that? Was he dead?

The dying woman turned her head an inch in order to face him. Her eyes were glazing over, but still she said in one last breath: ‘’You’re my angel, aren’t you?’’

Martin couldn’t reply as a paramedic walked through him to take the woman’s pulse. A cold, rippling sensation flooded him. He grimaced and touched himself. Why, he felt solid… to himself. Obviously, he was not.

Terrified, and piecing the puzzle together, Martin ran back to his car. Paramedics were doing CPR, trying to keep him alive. But the more they tried, the better he felt.

‘’Stop. He’s not coming back,’’ the older paramedic says to the youngest, putting a hand over his arm in a compassionate gesture.

‘’No! NO!’’ Martin shouted, though he knew no one here would hear him.

Panic was eating away at him. His body (or whatever it was now!) shook with force, his teeth gritting. He hugged himself, eyes roaming the horrendous scene, taking in all the tragedy.

His daughter? It would be hell not to see her grow up and become a woman. His wife? It would be torture to live without her… wherever he was going next.

Death had come and stolen his life away like the worst thief. Because he knew he was dead, all right. But what happens now? Is he left alone to wander the world without playing any part in it? Is it truly the end of the road? Surely there has to be more answers to these incessant questions, if not in life then in death!

A shrill scream tore through his dark thoughts. He spun around and saw a woman standing near a shape under a white sheet… The dying woman! Though now she looked beautiful; no blood, no wounds, and her vintage clothes weren’t torn.

Martin went to her. ‘’I know,’’ was all he said, nodding. Nothing could comfort her. That he was certain of.

Then, the whole area shudders and ripples. They both jerk their head up. ‘’What the-’’

It’s all gone in an instant.

Martin looks down and sees he’s not on a road anymore. In fact, it’s quite as though he’s floating as there’s nothing under his feet! All there is is a gray mist all around, above, and under them both.

‘’Wh-where are we?’’ the woman asked, her eyes bulging out of her face.

“Welcome to the land of the dead.”

There was nothing else to say; they needed to keep going. Perhaps they’d find the answer to all this at the end of the invisible path. And so they went, hand-in-hand, for God knows how long.

But he sure pondered. And most unsettling sensation was the growing freedom in him as they walked. Freedom…

Is this what it means…

Death?


If you enjoyed this short story (and I genuinely hope you did!), you're more than welcome to leave me a comment or share your thoughts with me on Twitter.

See you next post, lovelies!

The Queen of Justice – My First Published Poem

 

Hello everyone!

Today I have the most wonderful writing news to share with you!

You have been diligent and adventurous companions on my writing journey for years now. I have shared with you poems, short stories, and excerpts from my novels, my hopes and dreams as well as my temporary setbacks. I have always let you know when I participated in contests, classes, workshops, and the likes.

Though it seemed I wasn’t making much progress, today I haven been proven wrong. Why?

I have the pleasure of announcing to you, dear fellow adventurers, that I am finally published!

Yes!

As of today, my poem The Queen of Justice is published on the lovely Selcouth Station Web site. Simply click here to read it (it’s free!) – I really hope you enjoy it!

Don’t forget to browse the site afterwards for there are other interesting pieces on there too.

Now, here’s that poem’s funny backstory: I started writing it in French over a year ago. Yep, that’s right. About two weeks ago, I stumbled on it again and I found the inspiration to finish writing it! I wrote a line here… then a line there… and I swear I was lying in bed and I just couldn’t stop writing it in my head! However, I was too tired to actually get up… so I took my phone off my nighttable and I wrote all of it on the tiny screen! But, ladies and gents, am I glad I did.

I have been aware of the Selcouth Station Web site for months due to my sometimes discussing with the team on Twitter (they’re very kind and amusing!). I thought: ”Hey, why don’t I translate this kickass poem into English and try to get published on Selcouth Station?!” I had high hopes because, in my opinion, it is my best poem yet. I wanted them to say yes so much!

Thank you Selcouth Station for publishing my poem, thank you!

I am so proud and I hope you guys and gals see the progress I’ve made. I might be as fast as a snail, but I am getting there. Thank you, fellow adventurers, for supporting me.

Again, if you wish to read my poem, here it is: The Queen of Justice.

Did you enjoy it?

If so, why?

What emotions did it invoke in you?

If not, why?

Thank you for reading, as always.

See you next post, sweethearts!