Excerpt from "Jason Caroll and the Olympians Book 1: Incarnation of Apollo" by Solomon Merid

An exclusive excerpt from "Jason Caroll and the Olympians Book 1: Incarnation of Apollo" by Solomon Merid

"I understand what you are saying," said Zeus, looking intently at the young, solar physicists. "TV and radio transmission all over the world have been disrupted. Aurora borealis and aurora australis have been lit like giant, Christmas trees."

"You are right about it, Archmagus Zeus," said N’krumah. "Solar storms generated by the corona stream through space at speeds as high as 800 miles per second. They had disrupted their television transmitting satellites and had also temporarily altered the Earth’s magnetic field."

"There were problems with computers and the Internet too," said Indira. "Power transmissions in various parts of the world were disrupted. Huge power blackouts had sent many cities into complete darkness."

"Let me have a look," said Zeus and headed to one of the solar telescopes which used special filters in order not to damage the eyes.

Zeus brought both his eyes to the binoculars of the solar telescope. He saw huge, coronal loops, known as fountains of fire, writhing like giant, celestial snakes of fire. There were so many of them close to each other. "O Holy Presence!" he exclaimed.

Apollo went to the solar telescope and looked at the sun. He saw giant, coronal loops suddenly touching each other and causing a huge solar flare. "O tempora! O mores!" he exclaimed.

"What is it? You just saw two coronal loops fuse together," said Zeus.

"They are coronal loops which have just touched each other and short-circuited each other," said N’Krumah.

"They are frightening, those coronal loops which short-circuit each other," said Shapiro. "
Come and look through this telescope."

As Apollo took a step or two toward Shapiro Zeus put up his hand, "Stop! First we must see baby Jason and his mother in the hospital," he said. "Come over here, Apollo."

Apollo went and stood near Zeus. Zeus pointed his staff at the wall-sized screen in the lab and a huge golden-yellow image of Sol in ultra-high definition lit up on the giant, holographic screen. The screen showed the huge, writhing, coronal loops on the sun in 3-D.

Shapiro, N’krumah, Indira and the three Olympians stood in a bunch and watched the strange, mesmerizing sight on the surface of the sun. Sol looked like some strange lifeform of fire. Zeus and Poseidon stood side by side. They looked like identical twins.

"Go ahead, Poseidon," said Zeus.

Poseidon pointed his trident at the screen and said, "Delia’s hospital room" in a soft voice.

The screen split into two. Sol appeared on the left side and the image of Delia and Avatar Jason appeared on the right side. Athena and Ares were standing outside the door of Delia’s room. Ares wore a stylish, black suit by Giorgio Armani. A white shirt, a flowery purple tie and dark sunglasses completed the attire. Athena wore a black, leather overcoat with imitation fur collars. Athena and Ares vanished as two nurses appeared in the corridor leading to Delia’s room.

Zeus waved his staff in the air and said, "Zoom in!"

The image of baby Jason lying in his crib suddenly jumped onto the right side of the screen. Suddenly baby Jason’s face turned red as beetroot. Lines of rainbow colors flitted over his face intermittently. A golden-yellow halo formed around his head. Athena had placed a Sleeping Charm on Delia and she was sound asleep as usual. All of them stood inside the Astrolab and observed Sol and baby Jason projected side by side on the screen. The coronal loops on the surface of Sol were so close together that they short-circuited and produced a solar flare every five minutes or so. They observed something astounding. Whenever two coronal loops short-circuited each other and produced a solar flare baby Jason had an attack of hiccups and he burped loudly. The instruments also showed an increase in Jason’s heartbeat.

"Great galaxy!" Poseidon shouted. "It appears that Jason’s physiological conditions are working in synch with solar phenomena on Sol."

"CORRELATION OF FLARES AND BODY FUNCTIONS OF JASON DETECTED," said the speakers of the supercomputer.

"I will be damned! What is going on, Zeus?" asked Apollo. His eyes were riveted on the two halves of the screen.

"SOL AND JASON ARE IN SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP." said the speakers of the supercomputer.

As if in answer a huge coronal loop on Sol appeared on the left side of the screen and waves of psychedelic lights undulated around baby Jason’s head.

The speakers of the supercomputers blared again. "CORRELATION OF SOLAR FLARES AND JASON’S HICCUPS AND BURPS ASCERTAINED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT."

"Holy Presence!olyHolhhhh" Poseidon exclaimed.

"SOL AND JASON ARE IN SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP. THEY ARE COMMUNICATING BY MEANS OF FASTER-THAN-LIGHT PSI WAVES," said the speakers of the supercomputer.

This author is currently working on publishing the book, and we hope to have news of purchasing outlets soon!

Extract of "The Rain Never Came" by Lachlan Walter

In a thirsty, drought-stricken Australia, the country is well and truly sunburnt. As the Eastern states are evacuated to more appealing climates, a stubborn few resist the forced removal. They hide out in small country towns – somewhere no one would ever bother looking.

Bill Cook and Tobe Cousins are united in their disregard of the law. Aussie larrikins, they pass their hot, monotonous existence drinking at the barely standing pub. 

Without the slightest warning, a raging noise blew in – a roar that tore through the night and shook the earth. The dogs out the front of the pub started howling. Conversations faltered as everyone fell quiet. The noise kept on, steadily growing louder. Tobe and I turned, scanning the sky, seeing nothing. I looked over at him – he was already running for the road, heading for the hill behind the pub.

I followed, unexpectedly clearheaded, taking everything in as if it had been laid out on display.

Everyone ran with us. Sheldon huffed and puffed, cursing his old body. Louise jogged next to me, smiled at me, rapidly overtook me. The Veidts hurried along, somehow making the process look dignified. Max and Maxine moved fast yet made it look like they were taking it easy. Cathy Ng half-limped and half-ran, clutching at her dressing gown, trying not to catch herself in it. The Kumari Kid darted back and forth, circling the crowd, urging everyone to move faster. The First Country captain led his people on, trailing well behind, watchful and wary.

We kept running. We crested the hill. We all stood in silence, raggedly trying to catch our collective breath.

The wind started, furnace-hot. Its screaming whine and the roar that tore through the sky were the only sounds in the world. From the corner of my eye I saw someone lick their finger and hold it up in the air. I heard someone else say: “It’s coming from the west, dickhead.” And then the word rain seemed to be falling from everyone’s lips.

A flash lit up the horizon, staining the sky dull-orange and crimson-red. Someone started yelling: “Light! Light! Light to the west!”

For a moment, it burned too bright, blinding me. It soon faded away, only to then happen repeatedly. I looked around; everyone seemed to have their eyes shut and their fists clenched.

The world shook again.

We waited, all eyes fixed on the horizon, everyone saying the same word over and over: Rain! Rain! Rain! But none came. After a while, people started drifting away and the only sound left was their angry mutterings and disappointed sighs. I turned my back on the horizon as well. Like everyone else, I stared at the ground as I walked. No one wanted to look anyone else in the eye.

To purchase "The Rain Never Came" click here.

To learn more about author Lachlan Walter click here.

Teaser for "Enden" by David Kummer

Enden by David Kummer

Prologue

The Siege of Moslow

Moslow, Ormdel, In The Far West

With a roar, he swept his axe low, cutting off the legs of his opponent. The screaming

soldier tumbled off the wall, falling into the crowd of troops below. Lord Dargu raised his axe

again, staring at the large and barbaric man directly ahead of him.

It was the main point of a long war, a strategic point on the Saic River. Oldon was

crushing down on the small, nation of Ormdel. The city was their final hope. If they lost the city,

their homelands would be open to pillaging and death. The majestic, towering city of Moslow

rose up from the plains, standing against the dark forces. Now, it was covered in soldiers like

ants, as war raged inside it and on the walls. Ormdel’s final hope.

Men screamed as they surged forward on the walls of Moslow. They raised their swords

and swung, cutting through skin and sinew. Blood poured like a waterfall over the side of the

stone walls, staining every inch of the glorious city. The soldiers glinted in early sunlight as

metal beating against metal sent clangs and crashes up from the battle.

Lord Dargu, dwarf king of Ormdel, charged forwards, leading the battle on the wall. They

were trying to retake the city and win a losing battle. He led the rush of soldiers, crushing

against the enemy. They were forcing them back, inch by inch, as they took back their walls.

The Oldon soldier ahead of him was waving a heavy sword with both hands, squaring up

against the king of Ormdel.

“For Ormdel!” the king screamed, rushing at the enemy soldier. He jumped in the air,

bringing his axe down on the man’s head. There was a disgusting, cracking sound as the

enemy’s skull imploded and brain specks flew out, smothering the axe.

“Press forward!” Lord Dargu shouted. “Drive them off our walls! Win back this city!”

Even as he struck another soldier dead, his own men swarmed around, protecting

him. With the group of friendly fighters in front of him, he relaxed for a minute. Lord Dargu

was about to thunder forwards into the battle, when he heard somebody shout his name

from behind.

“Lord!” cried the hoarse voice again.

His own soldiers were now pushing the enemy far back, so Lord Dargu turned around

and away from the battlefront. There was a small dwarf, holding his axe tightly. The man’s eyes

were exhausted and his skin sweaty, but his features gave the sense of urgency.

The king stepped forwards and clasped arms with his fellow dwarf. Lord Dargu’s long,

dark beard rose as a smile formed across his face. “It’s great joy to see you, friend,” he said with

a deep voice.

The dwarf nodded, but spoke in a hurried, jerky voice. “Yes, my lord. But look, lord! Bad

news!” He gestured out at the horizon and squeaked, curling his arms against his chest

fearfully.

Lord Dargu turned and peered across the fields in front of their city. The Oldon army was

routed, fleeing from Moslow. But in the far horizon there was a great cloud of dust. Storms of

men were heading over the land in their direction. It was an army too great to be numbered and

too dense to make out. Like one swift disease, it was spreading towards their homeland.

“What is this?” Lord Dargu’s shaky voice faded, even as the cheers of victory went up

from around them.

“Navarro has brought them all, lord. The king of Oldon is here, with his army.”

“We don’t stand a chance,” said Lord Dargu, wiping sweat from his forehead. Praying to

all the gods he knew, he asked for mercy on their doomed souls. “How long until they arrive?”

“Our scouts say a few hours. My lord, when they get to the city, they will burn it. We have

to leave, don’t you think?”

Lord Dargu did not answer at first. He gazed back at the remaining soldiers in the city.

They were celebrating and cheering, because they could not see the army on the horizon.

Across the walls, however, all the troops were terrified. This high up, they could also see the

Oldon soldiers, the doom that was coming to their country.

The king bowed his head. “Yes. We must leave.”

“On boats?” the dwarf asked. “We could sail to the south of our kingdom and regroup

there. If we hold out long enough, we might get help from the human nations.”

The Saic River ran alongside the city of Moslow, flowing out to the west where the

enormous Omega Sea lay. The river watered their crops and citizens. It was the sole reason

Moslow had flourished over the last many years. But this time, it could not save them.

“The river is close…” mused the king. “But no. We must retreat by foot. If we go through

the mountains, we will be quicker than them. We can stay in Wursburn in the south.”

The king focused on the steps a bit ahead that led down to the city ground. He directed

his steps towards them as the smaller dwarf tripped after, trying to keep up.

“Won’t they follow us there? They might attack Wursburn then!” The dwarf groaned,

throwing his hands up. “This is hopeless!”

“They may follow, but we can send a message to Kelormen. They share a border with

Oldon, and could help us attack,” the king said, approaching the staircase.

“The human kingdom?” the dwarf asked incredulously. “They’ll never help us, and you

know it.”

“They might.”

The dwarf sighed. “But what if they don’t?”

The king stopped when they reached the ground. “Then we are truly doomed.”

Within minutes, the order was given to flee. Every citizen would gather their families, and

then in one long line they would leave the homeland.

Evacuating the city was quick work, but at times the people fell into panic and trampled

each other. They were all pushing to get out of the back gate, which pointed south and towards

their destination. Possessions were mostly left behind, although some people brought what they

could carry in their arms. The livestock was set free to roam, all the horses brought along to load

supplies on, and any food wrangled from the city was put in pouches and bags.

The possibility of starving in the mountains was very real and very sobering. Despite this,

Lord Dargu insisted that they had to travel by foot. They had the advantage of quickness and

experience, knowing much more about the mountains than Oldon did. If they chose to travel by

boat, there was the danger of an Oldon fleet. It would be just like Navarro to set up his own

boats and then wait to kill them as they tried to escape. They would have surely been sunk. For

all these reasons, it was better to go on land.

As the herds of humans and dwarves were flooding out of the gate with soldiers

attempting to keep them in line, Lord Dargu sat quietly on his horse observing. His general,

Templeton, sat beside him, glancing around at the city. He was drinking in the homes soon to

be burned, and the walls that would crumble within a day. The whole city would be ashes, the

battlements fallen to the ground, the crops raided and gone. Moslow would fall, and Oldon

would have opened the gateway to victory.

“It’s the worst part of war,” Lord Dargu said simply. “I hate seeing your friends die, your

home burned, and all the treasure you’ve gathered burned to dust.”

“If we don’t move quicker, the army will overtake us,” said the general. He nodded

vaguely as the crowds of people. “They will slaughter us and them.”

“Fear can do many things,” said the king. “If they understand what is coming, they will

move faster and we will be fine.”

“But do they understand?”

“They will.”

Silence enveloped the two companions, as they sat in the morning sunlight. Last night’s

battle had taken its toll on both of them. Exhausted as they were -exhausted as they all were they

had to move.

It was a dirty move by Oldon. They attacked by surprise in the middle of the night. If not

for the quick speed of Ormdel’s scouts, they would have been caught entirely off guard and

massacred. As it was, they had prepared enough to withstand the first surge of the army. When

the iron gate had finally broken, they fought their hardest and gained the victory. Now, despite it

all, they were once again retreating, once more running from a foe they could not defeat on their

own.

“These are dark times, friend.” The king folded his arms, burdening to keep his head tall.

It would have been easier to fall forwards and lean against his horse, or even more to ride back

and fight to the death. Dying was terrible; retreating was worse.

“They are, yes. Our country is doomed, it seems.”

Lord Dargu shook his head. “Not just us. Enden as a whole is seeing dark times, more

than any in our life. Kelormen is weak, Byrum is lazy, and we are fading quickly. Unless

something changes, there will be nothing left.”

“I really like this city,” General Templeton said thoughtfully. “I like the gigantic walls, the

gleaming buildings, the way the sun sets over the plains.”

“Get your last glances then, friend. We won’t be back here. This is all we have had, and

we are leaving it behind.”

“You’re quite the dramatic type,” Templeton joked. He smiled feebly, but it was gone in

an instant.

“Am I dramatic or is this war?”

“Now isn’t the time for one of our theological discussions, my lord.”

The king sighed, wrapping a hand in the reins of his horse. “I suppose you’re right. And

it’s almost time to go, anyways.”

Their chestnut horses began a steady walk out of the city. The last of the citizens had

passed through the gate, and so they went ahead. While Templeton remained facing forward,

the king peered around with the wonder of a small child, drinking the in the hauntingly empty

sights of the city. He wondered how close the Oldon army was now.

“Do you really think there’s hope for us, Templeton?” the king asked quietly.

“I was about to ask you the same.”

A birch perched above them on the city wall. It was surrounded by its fellow clan of

poultry, until they flew off into the sky. Yet the one bird remained, standing alone defiantly on the

wall. Lord Dargu scratched his beard absentmindedly and smiled to himself.

“I never thought I would leave this place for good.”

“We will return,” the general assured him.

“No,” said Lord Dargu, “I don’t think we will. This very well could be the end, Templeton.”

“We have gone through much together, my lord.”

“No need to call me that,” the king grinned. “I am not your lord. We are friends, who find

themselves presently on the brink of death, and have fulfilled all of their lifelong dreams.”

He chuckled, but as they passed outside of the city wills, a tear rolled down the king’s

face mixing into his beard.

“Not all of them,” Templeton said.

“What haven’t we done?”

“You still haven’t beat me in a swordfight, friend.”

Lord Dargu chuckled as they passed out of the city gate and into the warm sunshine. Far

behind them in the distance, the army of Oldon was roaring.

*Enden comes out January 1st, buy it here. 

Excerpt from "The Synopsis Treasury" edited by Christopher Sirmons Haviland

I wasn't able to review this collection, but it seemed too interesting to not showcase somehow. Here is the description from the publisher:



"The Synopsis Treasury" is a collection of actual story proposals submitted to publishers by grandmasters, award winners, international bestsellers, and rising stars of science fiction and fantasy, including H.G. Wells, Jack Williamson, Andre Norton, Robert A. Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Terry Brooks, Joe Haldeman, Orson Scott Card, and many others.

In addition, "The Synopsis Treasury" includes editorial feedback by the legendary Frederik Pohl and Damon Knight, and an Introduction by Betsy Mitchell, former Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey, who has evaluated thousands of synopses in her career.
 
This is an unprecedented new book that will be a must-read for writing students and fans alike!


Excerpt:

TERRY BROOKS
A writer since the age of ten, Terry Brooks published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara, in 1977. He has written over thirty best-selling novels, as well as movie adaptations of Hook and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and a memoir on his writing life titled Sometimes the Magic Works. He has sold over thirty million copies of his books domestically and is published worldwide. His Magic Kingdom series is currently under option at Warner Brothers with Steve Carell attached to the project as producer and star. The Shannara series has been optioned by Sonar Entertainment and MTV and the first season will air in 2015. The author lives with his wife Judine in the Pacific Northwest. 

The core of the plotline for Magic Kingdom for Sale (once upon a time known as Holiday’s Magic) came from Lester del Rey, my editor back in the early ’80s, who by the way also changed the title to its present form. He gave me the idea on loan for one year. The understanding was that if I wrote the book, the idea was mine. If I didn’t, he got it back from me. It seemed a fair deal to me, so I took it. Of course, two such diverse minds ended up going in opposite directions. Lester envisioned the book as a sort of Piers Anthony Zanth (sic.) story with lots of jokes and humor. I saw it as something much darker. I kept thinking about how desperate someone must be to buy such a ridiculous item out of a catalogue. A magic kingdom? Really? Why would anyone do that? Flying home from New York after deciding to write this book, I found myself wondering who would be so desperate. Clearly someone who was very dissatisfied with his life. The mind goes where it wants to, and mine began to mesh the story of Ben Holiday with my own. I was a lawyer, not happy in my life in almost every respect, desperate to leave it behind. Holy cow, I thought. This is my story! A year later, the book was published, and I had left the practice of law and moved to Seattle to write fulltime. I don’t often talk about how I see Magic Kingdom as autobiographical. But this is how I wrote my way out of the practice of law and into a writing life. That’s as true as it gets. 
—Terry Brooks


Magic Kingdom for Sale
By Terry Brooks

How much would you pay for a magic kingdom? Not one with a Disney logo and a lot of mechanical rides, but the real thing—a land that you once believed only existed in fairy tales? 
That’s the question facing Ben Holiday. It isn’t the money that gives him pause so much as it is the preposterousness of the idea that such a place could even exist.
But there it is, all spelled out in black and white in the current edition of Rosen’s, Ltd.

Christmas Wishbook: 
Magic Kingdom for Sale 

Landover—Island of enchantment and adventure rescued from the mists of time, home of knights and knaves, of dragons and damsels, of wizards and warlocks. Magic mixes with iron, and chivalry is the code of life for the true hero. All of your fantasies become real in this kingdom from another world. Only one thread to this whole cloth is lacking—you, to rule over all as King and High Lord. Escape into your dreams, and be born again. 

Price: $1,000,000. 

Personal interview and financial disclosure required. 

Inquire of Meeks, home office. 

A high-powered trial lawyer with nothing to lose and everything to gain, Ben Holiday is tempted. The deaths of his wife and unborn child in a car accident and his disillusionment with the practice of law have left him ready for a change. But this kind of change seems impossible. There must be a gimmick, even though the offer is advertised in the catalogue of one of the most highly respected department stores in the business. Places like Landover don’t exist. Places like Landover can be found only in children’s books.

Ben decides to find out anyway, wanting to believe, hoping that maybe there is just enough truth to the ad to make it worth his while. So he goes to New York and a meeting with Meeks, the intimidating old man who is invested with the power to decide if Ben should be given a chance to make the purchase. To Ben’s astonishment, Meeks decides that he should. To his further astonishment, he decides that he will.

Abandoning his law practice and his life, Ben goes off to the magic kingdom of Landover and discovers that it does exist and is indeed what was advertised in the Christmas catalogue—a place out of time and dreams, a fairytale come true. 

Unfortunately, it is a few things more, as well, and none of them are good. Ben is a King in name only. His court consists of an inept wizard, a talking dog, and two monkey-faced kobolds with sharp teeth. The treasury is depleted and the army disbanded. The castle that serves as his home is falling apart. No one in all of Landover cares whether Ben is King or not, save the Iron Mark, the Demon Lord out of Abaddon who has made a practice out of disposing Landover’s Kings for the past twenty years. 

Ben has been tricked into making a bargain that will either cost him the money he has paid (along with a good chunk of his self-respect) or his life. He is threatened at every turn—by the Lords of the Greensward, who prefer life without a King to rule over them; the River Master, who commands the fairy folk and thinks the King an anachronism; the witch Nightshade, who hates Kings of any kind and Ben in particular; and the Dragon Strabo, whose power is exceeded only by that of the King’s champion, the Paladin.
 
But the Paladin has been absent since the death of the old King, and no one thinks he exists anymore.

Then he appears several times after Ben arrives in Landover, twice saving his life, and opinions begin to shift. When Ben decides not to quit, as Meeks had intended he should, but to stick it out, even with his life at stake, opinions begin to shift further. A journey through his kingdom persuades him that he has found a place worth fighting for. He finds an unexpected ally in the beautiful sylph Willow, who tells him on their first meeting that she is destined to be with him forever, even though she turns into a tree every twenty days or so. He wins friends in unexpected quarters, some better than others, some truer of heart. One by one, he confronts all those who stand against him and whose allegiance he must win. One by one, he wins them over. 

But, in the end, it takes a battle to the death with the Iron Mark to take the measure of Ben’s determination and to reveal to him the truth about what it really means to be the King of a Magic Kingdom.


Buy it on Amazon

Excerpt from "Beyond the Gardens" by Sandra Lopez

As an indie author, I know how tough it can be to get the ball rolling. When Sandra approached us for a review, we had to unfortunately decline as it's not something we review. However, we wanted to showcase her work somehow. Let us introduce to you "Beyond the Gardens" by Sandra Lopez.


 
Summary
At the age of 18, Esperanza Ignacio begins her college years at an upscale Los Angeles art school, where she studies to fulfill her long-term dream in Animation. But she soon learns the truth to the old folktale: “you can take the girl out of the barrio, but you can’t take the barrio out of the girl.” Even though she’s getting financial aid, Esperanza works a part-time job during her break from classes just to make ends meet. Her roommate, Anna, is what she calls a “chicana from Beverly Hills” because of the rich daddy and the new car she got for her quinceañera.

Things get a little confusing for Esperanza when an old friend comes looking for her, hoping to start a meaningful relationship. But is Carlos the right guy for her? She never even considered him to be anything more than a friend since high school. Then comes Jake, a gorgeous mechanic, who shares her passion for books and loves her for who she is. What’s a girl to do?

Strength and determination help pave the way for the future. And, as she approaches her graduation, she is faced with a difficult decision: should she leave Los Angeles and leave behind her family, her home, and everything she’s known? Ever since she was born in the California barrio of Hawaiian Gardens, she’s always had to look over the fence, wondering what she’s been missing. Now she’s taking a flying leap over to see what’s beyond the little barrio. What’s beyond her family, her friends, and her past? What’s beyond the little nothing town, where dreams don’t exist? What’s beyond The Gardens? Is it life, love, a future? The story of Esperanza is finally concluded in this wildly entertaining and heart-warming sequel.
 
 
Excerpt: Chapter 1

As the evening sun was settling over the small hills, I steadily hiked along the concrete path that led into the center of the campus quad. I hung to the strap of my book bag with a light wind sweeping through the air, then walked past the student store and the food court. The garlic aroma of chicken chimichangas was overwhelming and floated around seamlessly. My god, did it smell good. I almost wished I had five bucks to waste.

 

Instead, I ignored the aching grumble in my stomach and moved on. 

 

The dorms were located on the outskirts of the school next to a highway that was often busy at this time of day. When I reached Da Vinci Hall, I passed along a few students bundled in a corner with large pads sketching the scattered trees on the forefront of the breaking dawn. I had missed the elevator going up just as the doors were closing. Damn. Exasperated, I punched in the button for the next one. But the wait was so long I decided to just forget it and 

took the stairs instead. 

 

Crossing down the hallway, I fumbled inside the withered pocket of my jacket for the keys. I unlocked the door and then stepped into a tiny cubicle, where I hit my knee passing by the end table. At that point, I couldn’t decide whether the furniture was moving closer or the room was just shrinking. I limped across the room and dropped my bag on a nearby chair. Then I took off my cap and tossed it aside. Oh, what a day, I thought while my fingers stroked through the thick strands of my dark hair. I couldn’t believe I stayed up half the night to study for a quiz the teacher decided not to have after all. What a shame. I was really looking forward to it, too. 

 

After spotting my bed just a few feet away, I fell on top of it landing on a soft pillow that cradled my head. Humble sighs trickled through as the evening sun cast a mild afterglow through the shiny window, shadowing the room with a tinted orange. I yawned while the soothing warmth poured across my tanned face. Then I closed my eyes as a tranquil slumber soon began to take its course. Suddenly, the door quickly slammed open, and I instantly 

bolted upright. 

 

“Hey, good news you lucky people, I’m here!” 

 

“Jesus Christ!” I yelled, responding to the triumphant arrival of my roommate, Anna. 

 

She looked at me with cavalier naïveté. “Oh, were you sleeping?” 

 

“No, I wasn’t,” I answered. “I was just trying to, that’s all.” 

 

“Well, as long as you weren’t sleeping.” Casually humming, she sauntered back into the hall and returned with several large shopping bags. Most of them looked like they weighed more than she did. 

 

“Been to the mall, lately?” I asked. 

 

“Just for the last half hour.” 

 

“And that’s all you got?” 

 

“Well, I couldn’t really get much because I had to come back for a class.” 

 

“Oh, of course.” I watched as Anna closed the door behind her so she could peek at the mirror nailed in the back. She twirled around a few times, checking out all the angles of herself. 

Then she fluffed her short, reddish-brown hair, which was decorated with bright, silver streaks. Under closer inspection, she turned from side to side and caressed the light, 

delicate skin on her face. She checked out everything from the straight arches in her eye brows to the rich, glossy color of her lips. Oh, brother, I thought as I reclined back 

into position. 

 

There was just no doubt about it. Anna Zapata was the “Chicana from Beverly Hills.” She, technically, came from Orange County, but she was possessed by someone in Beverly Hills. Note: Anytime you see the word “hills” in a city name, you just know it’s a fancy, ritzy area packed with people, who just have too much money. For example, Anaheim Hills, Woodland Hills, Chino Hills, Beverly Hills. Need I say more? 

 

“Do you think I need to add another streak?” Anna asked suddenly. 

 

“Another streak?” 

 

“Yeah, right here near my bangs.” 

 

“Well, I don’t know,” I answered. “I think you wouldn’t look any different.” 

 

“Would you get up and look,” she insisted. 

 

“Why, I can remember what you look like.” 

 

“Will you just look.” 

“Okay, fine,” I said with a roll of my eyes. With a discouraging grunt, I hoisted myself up and leaned on the tips of my elbows. I cocked my head in her direction, straining to give her a glance. My face crinkled in confusion as I attempted to drum up an opinion. 

 

“Well?” she persisted. 

 

“Well, uh—” 

 

“Be honest.” 

 

“Honestly……you’d look the same.” 

 

“Oh, no I wouldn’t.” 

 

“Yes, you would.” 

 

“No, I wouldn’t.” 

 

“Yes, you would.” 

 

“Oh, what do you know?” 

 

I collapsed back on the bed with a loud murmur under my breath. 

 

“Can’t you see that one streak will add balance to my bone structure?” 

 

“No, I clearly don’t see that,” I said. 

 

“Obviously.” She looked back at the mirror. “Maybe I should just start all over with a brand new color. What do you think about that?” 

 

“Why don’t you just go back with the color God gave you?” I asked. 

 

“Well, that kinda presents a problem,” she said. “See, I sorta forgot my original hair color.” 

 

“Are you serious?” 

 

“Nope, I’ve been dyeing my hair for years, and it just sorta slipped my mind.” 

 

“Well, why don’t you ask your mom then?” 

 

“Are you kidding?” she responded. “Who do you think taught me how to dye my hair? My mother couldn’t find her own roots if she was digging for gold.” 

 

“Okay, point well taken,” I mentioned. At least now I knew where her obsession with hair started from. 

 

“Ya know, I think I will add that extra streak,” she said. 

 

“Whatever you say.” 

 

“And while I’m at the salon, I’ll get a manicure, pedicure, and a facial,” she added. “I’ll just beautify all this even more.” 

 

“Are you sure you’re Mexican?” I asked once again. 

 

“For the last time, I am Mexican,” she replied in defiance. 

 

“Yo sé hablar español y todo. I just don’t listen to Spanish music or eat spicy foods. Why, don’t I sound Mexican?” 

 

“Nope.” 

 

“I resent that,” she said. “I would stay and fight you on that, but I gotta go get my facial, manicure, and pedicure.” 

 

“So, back to the mall you go?” 

 

“That’s right,” she said. “Oh, and while I’m there, I might as well get that cashmere blouse I was thinking about buying but didn’t. See ya.” With giddy excitement, Anna glided out of the room. 

 

Finally! Now where was I? Oh, yeah, I was trying to relax. 

 

I lied there and closed my eyes, gradually reacquainting myself with the peaceful and quiet sounds around me. At some point, I actually wondered whether or not I went deaf. But I didn’t. There was absolutely no noise. Wow, this was nothing like home back in the barrio, I thought. Back home I had the raucous sounds of police helicopters flying overhead to lull me to sleep. But not here. 

 

Sounds of the barrio didn’t exist. I haven’t heard screeching tires against the harsh gravel of the streets, or the sounds of drunken cholos clashing with shattered beer bottles. Up until now I figured I’d be stuck with those noises for the rest of my life. It was amazing. I mean, I’ve heard about lawns being greener on the other side of the fence; but it’s another thing to actually sink your feet into that beautiful grass and wiggle your toes in it. Could I really have done it? I wondered. Could I have gotten myself away from the other side and made it all the way here—at the Atkins Art Institute, the place I’ve been working so hard to get 

to ever since I saw Bugs Bunny as a kid? Could this be a dream? Yes, it was a dream—it was a dream come true! After conquering the world of high school as a kid and cherishing the last few moments of summer with the people who meant the most to me, I can now say that I had finally made it. I did it! I was here, standing in the middle of a whole new adventure, ready to begin the grand odyssey of college life, ready to discover the answer to the question that’s been nagging me for years: What’s beyond The Gardens? 

 

Ever since I was born in the small town of Hawaiian Gardens—a California barrio that a lot of the locals referred to as The Gardens— my life always had barbed wire around it, and I just couldn’t get through. I was caged like a raggedy, flea-infested dog, always snuggled in 

a dirty corner while surrounded by the foul stench of that filthy pound. I would look at the world through steel bars, wondering what it would be like to be on the other side. Was there some other life beyond those gates? Was there something better over that fence? I never knew; I’ve always just wondered. And I kept on wondering even when we moved to East L.A., where I was only transferred from a smaller cage to a bigger one—my curiosities still the same though. I knew I was going to die if I stayed right where I was. I knew it was never going to get any better unless I got out. Well, now, I was a dog that had gone free. I finally 

escaped my cell. I have passed the gates of limitations, running every step of the way, ready to discover what I have been missing all my life. I was now going to see this new world through fascinated eyes and finally mark my territory wherever I go. What changes await me? What will I find? Who will I meet? How will the next chapters of my life going to end this time? Or were they going to end at all? Maybe my ending will turn out to be a brand 

new beginning. I couldn’t wait to find out! 

 

 

 

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