Viper: Chapter Excerpt

Chapter Six

After several attempts to reach Rio by phone, I run to the guest room where Kevin had taken refuge, phone, wallet and box in hand. The door was locked, no surprise there so I break the knob clean off and push the door open. He jumps off of the bed in shock and disbelief. “Ay man, what the fuck are you doing?” I hand him his wallet, and his phone, and shove the box in his hands. I am not sure if I have enough energy to do this (and I pray that I can bring this man out in one piece), and grab him by his shoulders and dematerialize without a second thought. He screams his lungs as I drag him through the molecules, and because I am traveling with more than just myself I struggle to maintain that form as we move at almost light speed back to California. The fact that this man is nearly twice my size in weight, not to mention the stress of knowing that someone has located us and was bold enough to flex a move, mixed with Kevin just acting like a straight up pussy, I barely manage to poof us to back to Rio’s townhome in Baldwin Hills.

We collapse in a heap on the manicured lawn, and I can feel the slight tingle and burn of the sun’s rays cresting over the horizon. I have less than forty minutes to find Rio and get myself to safety. There was also the slight complication that I need to feed. I tried to be patient and give the man a minute to orient himself, but as he blinked several times at me like a blind man given his sight for the first time, I picked him up the collar and drug him to the front door, where we were greeted by his personal guard. With the sun’s rays less than an hour from burning me to a crisp and knock both men down, and force my way through, dragging Kevin with me. The house goes into an uproar, I find myself and Kevin surrounded with guns drawn, and with the surge of adrenaline building, I eye the thick blue-green vein pulsating in the broad neck of the white body guard that was built like a brick house. He will definitely do. Just as the shit is about to get real with every last one of the men (except for Kevin) becoming a part of my breakfast, Rio comes strutting down the stairs, dressed in a black silk robe followed by a woman who was a least ten years his junior following behind in a similar garb. His face is beet red, and his nostrils flare and as I watch every muscle in jaw flinch in anger, I wonder if he will ever have enough nerve to drive a stake through my heart.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” He roars, bypassing his men and leaving his plaything for the night at the base of the stairs. “Are you fucking insane? He is supposed to be In Miami! He has a show tonight and two nights from now, he has a meeting with the press!” “Well if you had not been so concerned with getting your dick sucked you would have answered my calls,” I retort sharply. I turn towards Kevin, whom was standing a little too close for comfort next to me, and ask for the box. “Someone was kind enough to send us not only his cell phone and his wallet, but the eye of his road manager.” Kevin inhales sharply upon receiving word of his manager and what I could assume long time friend’s demise. His sudden grief saturated the air, with a heavy, dewy scent and although not much moves me anymore I motioned for Rio to let Kevin pass and find solace in another area of the house while we discussed what needed to be discussed.

Once Kevin was out of sight, I hand the box over to Rio and he reluctantly accepts it. Once he opens it, the smell of the decaying contents was enough to make him toss it to the side, nearest the stairwell. He smoothed his broad hands over his bald head, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He motioned for his guards to take refuge elsewhere and then beckoned for me to follow. His little play thing decided that she should come too, but was quickly reprimanded and sent right back to where she belonged: the bedroom. He led me to his office where most, if not all of our arguments have taken place, and closing the door behind me, he plopped down on the cream colored sofa, his robe sliding up his thighs and bunching into his more “private regions”. I really wish the man had put some pants on at least. We are close, but we are not that close.

“What happened?” He finally said through clenched teeth, and once I gave him the rundown, his expression grew more serious by the minute. When I was done, he got up and punched a hole in the wall facing the sofa. “This is all the way around fucked up.” He said with a hint of exhaustion. “I know.” I say nodding my head. “I don’t have many options left Viper.” He adds softly. “I know.” He sighs and moves over to his desk, and reaches into the bottom drawer and pulls out a .45 and several hallow points and took a seat on the leather office chair, and stares at me intently from behind the desk. “This could be the work of C Dollas. I have not spoken to him, haven’t been able to reach him…” “C Dollas works for Lucas,” I anxiously reply as I march over closer to his desk. He looks at me in disbelief, and to be honest, I could not believe it myself. But whatever Lucas was up to, it was something big because C Dollas was no rookie in the industry or in the streets. “I found out that one of the promoters from the Kevin’s former record label invited Kevin and his crew to the mansion. C Dollas doesn’t deal with anybody that he is not in cahoots with.” “Maaaaaaaan Viper…goddamn!” He groans, massaging his temples. “Cancel the press conference,” I say firmly. “Send out a statement stating that it did not work out between you two professionally and you are hereby releasing him from his contract. Therefore, to most of the other record labels would see him as a free agent…or better yet tell the media that Kevin has opted to go independent, and in the mean time we can quickly stage a dummy record label under his name to give the world the impression that he is in fact independent.” I hold my breath as I let my suggestion sink in. “I don’t know Viper,” he said warily. “Neither Lucas nor C Dollas is gonna buy that. When I found Kevin he was completely broke and on the brink of eviction from his landlord.” “For all they know Kevin could have been stashing whatever money he was paid…” “And what exactly is that going to do?” “Buy us, better yet ME some time.” He stares at me with a mixture of defeat, regret, confusion and something else I cannot exactly pinpoint. “You know what Viper,” he begins slowly. “I told you that I wanted to retire. I am tired of all this street shit and even when I was really at the top of my game, I ran my organization with a plan: to leave it for the next man hungry for a come up and start my label and go legit. I think I have done more than my fair share of making good on my word: I gave you Lucas’ brother. I fucking handed him to you on a silver fucking platter and you still bring this bullshit to my door. Look, I tried to convince you to just in some shape or form to move on, but since you insist on embarking on this suicidal plan that is going to not only get you killed, but Kevin killed too, I don’t want any more parts of it.” The long silence that followed as I processed every single word that this selfish and greedy former Brazilian kingpin had to say and if it wasn’t for the that blasted sun I would have- “I have to go Rio,” I say urgently. “The sun is rising which means you have 12 hours to figure out what the hell you are going to do. You are in this shit as deeply as I am and for all of the bodies that I have drained, murders I have cleaned up, men whose lives I have ended on your behalf, I would have thought that your balls would have been a bit bigger at least on the strength of loyalty. But I see, loyalties like people change. Good day Rio.” With that I dematerialized myself back to my Hollywood apartment, unfortunately leaving Kevin alone with Rio to sort out the mess.

If Rio is thinking what I know he is thinking, then he will have more than one reason to fear the night.

http://septembershope.wix.com/author-delizhia

NEW WIP: VIPER

I only have one rule: don’t touch me.

There is only one man I have and will ever listen to, and that is my boss Rio. And for the record, he is only my boss because I allow him to be. He promised me he would help me get revenge on the CEO and founder of Drug Money Records/mob boss Lucas Barnes, in exchange for my services as his body guard and hired assassin. I have no problems with death. As a matter of fact I thrive in it: it is in that cloud of darkness that I find myself at my best. I have not only tasted death, I have devoured it, bathed in it and now I am one with it. I am the Grim Reaper.

Once I have accomplished my mission of watching Lucas choke on his own innards after impaling him on a nine foot stake surrounded by my infamous pitt vipers, I am exiting stage left of this cursed life that was forced upon me 20 years ago, and maybe, God will have mercy on me and grant me the peace that I desperately need and deserve. Lucas Barnes is my end game.

They call me Viper, but in the shadows I am recognized as the Pitt Assassin for reasons that you will come to understand in due time. I am a goddamn myth in these streets. I am the reasons why hustlers and gangsters alike fear the silence of the dead of the night, why the slightest bristle in the wind forces them to shoot their own body guards in a nervous panic. I hunt them just like they hunt those that they prey on: the weak and the desperate. I do what I will with them and then I feed them to my pet vipers.

I hate what I do, the reasons why I do what I do; I hate what I am and most importantly, I hate the man who did this to me. So let me reintroduce myself to you: They call me Viper. I am an assassin. And I am a vampire. My maker: Lucas Barnes. My mission: kill Lucas and everyone he has ties with and put an end to a tragic story that should have ended 20 years ago.

He raped my mother.

He killed my father.

He killed my sister.

He killed my mother.

He made me watch.

And then he turned me into a monster.

If it is a monster he wants, then it is a monster he gets. And whatever you do, don’t get in my way.

For more excerpts please check out my website at: http://septembershope.wix.com/author-delizhia

Nubia Rising: Black Moon Excerpt

Chapter 1

Kitara ran her hands through her thick locks as she struggled to work the laptop Naomi had bought for her. It was strange this world, though she had never physically left it. It was supposed to be a mental thing. Just a few days of nothing; not using her powers; no sword; no communication with her sisters. Not 500 years. How did she manage to roam every corner of the earth, and not acclimate herself to the ever changing times? She was a stranger still in old lands like she was in Nubia. Her sisters had managed to do it; and they did it well, except…Sage was going to have to explain what “twerking” meant, even though she somewhat got the gist of it. She pushed the control key on the laptop. Nothing. Why did anyone need to “surf the web” when there was so much more to do? Syrene was still trapped in the Osirian realms. It had been over a month since the showdown in Bermuda. Isis was dead, after several millennia it finally came to an end. Osiris had risen, and Kalima was out there somewhere plotting her revenge and then soon, Lilith would have to be addressed. Kitara had never had a run in with the she-demon considering there were other entities out there much more problematic to contend with. But, now that the dust had settled, Lilith had proved to be a bigger problem than she had initially thought.

Kitara gently folded the black HP and placed it on the mahogany coffee table and lolled back into the love seat. It was early in the day, 11 a.m. to be exact and she was alone. Again. Everyone else had lives outside of that of a Destroyer. Sage was back in Los Angeles doing some private detective work for one of her clients; something about a strange death. Celeste said she needed a break from everyone for a little while and took off to Mexico to perhaps unwind at one of the many sandy beaches to escape the mental drain that came with being a Destroyer. On top of that, Kitara had to assume that part of it was due to unresolved issues with Naomi. And, speaking of Naomi, she thought that no one would figure out that she was secretly visiting Jose periodically. Kitara shook her head at the thought. It was none of her business but then again, yes it was. That poor boy had been through enough: he had barely escaped Isis’ grips with his life intact. He was finally free of the spiritual bondage that he and his family had suffered from for generations. He was free: free to live his life to the fullest and just…live. Naomi was going to do nothing more than endanger his life once again just because of who and what she was. Kitara understood that it was his choice and it was not like he didn’t know what she was and what he would face by being with her. But, Naomi should be more responsible. She knew and understood the risks firsthand and it would not be fair to purposely put this young man’s life at risk just to satisfy the longings of the heart. Still, it’s their lives. They have the right to do and say and whatever they please and Kitara had her own issues to concern herself with.

Feeling slightly agitated and restless she got up and made her way to the fridge for another bite of those snack wings Naomi introduced her to. There were still quite a bit of leftovers from last night and Kitara found herself addicted. Lemon pepper and honey barbeque were now her favorite-with some ranch dressing of course. Is this where life would lead her to? A modern contraption that froze large amounts of food just for her to eat away her problems? No wonder people of today were so…obese. The decadence and the availability of a surplus of fattening foods that exploded in one’s mouth with so much… flavor. She grabbed a wing out of the oversized box that held over 30 something wings and drumsticks, biscuits and the like and took a big bite. There was no need in her using the microwave; she had spent centuries eating unheated food so this was nothing to her. It was still juicy, flavorful and…delicious! She grabbed another one and another one and shamelessly stood in the kitchen gobbling down wing after wing when she heard the soft pattering of footsteps. Tossing the remains of her last piece of chicken in the Hefty bag that was tied to the one of the long cabinet doors, Kitara turned to face the one person she could always turn to for support. Oblivion stood in her true angelic form; standing at almost ten feet tall, her waist length hair a platinum white; silver irises illuminating a brilliant light. It was strange seeing her like this; her normal earthly form was a sword, and one that Kitara kept closely guarded at her hip unless it was summoned back to the last Atlantean pyramid or back to the heavens for safe keeping. And the first time that Kitara witnessed her in her true form, Oblivion’s light burned almost as brightly as the sun; so much so that at the time Kitara almost had to shield her eyes. But now, the only light that shown was through her irises. Oblivion had managed to maintain a healthy peachy skin tone. She looked almost completely human. “Did I wake you Oblivion?” Kitara asked with concern. “No,” her voice was still as soft as an echo in the wind. “I awoke on my own. I feel as if I have slumbered for much too long. It has been an adjustment being in this form. I didn’t know how important sleep was for mortals…” “I think the density of the earth plane is taking a toll on you dear friend. Michael and Zedkiel said you would adjust soon enough.” Oblivion sighed. “I know…” Oblivion focused her gaze on the Hefty bag that had splashes of barbeque sauce around its edges and chuckled. “I see you have been indulging your senses again.” Kitara glanced over at the bag and smiled slightly. “Uh, yes. I have enjoyed those snack wings entirely too much. If I keep on I will be as big as a house!” Oblivion laughs heartily and takes a seat on the section in front of the television. “They leave us alone to fend for ourselves like toddlers,” Oblivion sighs. “They do,” Kitara agreed as she takes a seat across from her on the love seat. “What ails you Oblivion. Share your wounds with me as I with you. Let me help you at least this once.” Oblivion hesitated before answering. She did not want to burden Kitara with her troubles. She was sent to be of help to the Destroyer and not the other way around. However, what they shared transcended friendship; they were spiritually tied to one another like the stars to the universe. The universe in all its magnificence and wonder would be silent and dark without the twinkle and dance of the multitudes of stars and that was their relationship. They needed each other. “Kitara, my purpose has changed as did yours. I myself am a weapon, and the first and last of my kind. Instead of aiding you in your battles as a sword, Michael said I am to fight by your side now. I feel…concerned that my lack of skill may jeopardize future battles. I don’t believe that I can live up to the expectations that my brothers in Heaven seem to have for me. I am so ashamed!” Silver tears began to streak down her creamy smooth face as she buried her face in her hands. Her white wings slowly unfolded as she covered herself in her own feathery down. Kitara got up and was by her side in an instant, embracing the angel and sharing her pain. “You know that I know what it is like to doubt one’s own abilities,” Kitara said softly. “You know that I have questioned my purpose and the reasons for my seemingly endless existence. But a warrior is not always fighting technique and skill…most of the time the warrior is from within. And, you have to trust that God did not create you to be a burden and there was a reason you were secreted away in the heavens; not because you are weak but because you are a force. The Darkness fears you. Why do you think your name is Oblivion? You just don’t have the ability to destroy gods; you were created to destroy something stronger than that. I think that right now Michael just wanted you to have time to adjust to living on earth in a human form.” Kitara continued to stroke Oblivion’s back with hopes of sending comfort into the wounded soul of this ethereal being. “Things have changed…for the Almighty to send you down here so close to the Armageddon it must mean that something great is at stake.” “That is why I love you dearest friend,” Oblivion sniffled while wiping her tearstained face and slowly unwrapping herself from the soft feathery embrace of her magnificent wings. “Not only are you courageous but your heart is pure and kind. And I agree, something has changed and I should not allow such frivolous thoughts make stronghold in my thoughts. Surely all will be revealed and our purposes defined. I should stop doubting myself. Our Father never leaves us ill equipped when we have a destiny to fulfill.” “No, He does not,” Kitara agreed. They shared a smile. It was during moments like this that solidified their bond. Oblivion may have been a Destroyer angel, but to Kitara, she was her Guardian Angel.

Blind Salvation: A Quick Overview

“And so the light fell in love with the dark, even though it was the light that could not see and it was the dark that bathed in the sun…”- Blind Salvation

The first installment of the Dark Royals Series, Blind Salvation is an interracial, 80,000 word paranormal romance novel about a vampire prince who finds his soul in the heart of a blind woman. Damien is being forced to marry through the will of his father, Hadrian, The Great Vampire King of their bloodline due to a prophecy that he perceives to be a threat to the races’ survival. Kennedy, legally blind since birth, is an African American woman nearing her thirties has spent the last five years of her life alone-her only companion, an incredibly intelligent Golden Retriever by the name of Hubert, is rescued by none other than Damien one evening from a gang of thugs and as fate should have it, he connects with her instantly. Awed by her independence despite of her obvious handicap, Damien is smitten by her and desperate to protect her from what should have been an ordinary and mundane existence of a blind person. Unfortunately, his kind are being hunted by a relentless Slayer by the name of Rothbart all because of a misunderstanding orchestrated by his older sister Lucinda, in the quest to protect his family and the new love of his life, Damien and Kennedy discover that she is an heir to the “lost” Fae King and as the story unfolds both of them fight against time to find the salvation they both had been searching for all along.

Coming soon…

Happy Valentines Day

As we all rush out like madmen to purchase cards, chocolates, sexy lingerie, and toys to create magic in our otherwise mundane love lives it should take one day to make the person that you care about feel special. I have never really cared for the commercial holiday; it has always been just another excuse for men to get laid and for women to acquire an often cheap piece of jewelry and a dinner date. And let’s face it, after 50 Shades of Grey, no man alive can compete with a fictional character whose sexual prowess and romance skills are on an unachievable level. So I will keep this blog short and straight to the point: book boyfriends are so much better.

Love At Last is now available starting at its discounted price at .99 on Amazon Kindle. Trey will never disappoint.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-At-Last-Delizhia-Jenkins-ebook/dp/B00QLHC612/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423928352&sr=8-1&keywords=love+at+last+by+delizhia+jenkins

An excerpt from Redemption, a book from the up coming Dark Royals Series

Chapter Six

Terri

I cannot believe the nerve of that arrogant bastard, Terri continued to fume as she finally slipped her key into the lock and turned the knob to the apartment that had been her permanent residence for the past year. After fighting almost forty minutes of traffic thanks to a three car collision nearest the freeway, all she could think about was ordering a pepperoni pizza, with bread sticks, some fudge brownies and washing it all down with a nice cold glass of Coca Cola before climbing into bed. She pushed the door open and to her surprise and horror Mr. Thomas was sitting on her couch with a bouquet of red and white roses, a Dior gift bag and she could be wrong but a remorseful expression. She didn’t know if she should attempt to run for her gun or just run period. The bastard had broken and entered into her home and had the nerve to be sitting on her couch waiting for her. He stood up and quickly approached her before she had time to bolt down the hallway and back to her car. He closed the door behind them, forcing her to back into the corner like a cornered animal. “I just wanted to apologize for what I said. My intentions clearly did not match my words and I am truly remorseful for the anger that I caused.” He said, his mouth inches away from hers; his big brawn hunched to her level, both hands pressed against the wall behind her and his eyes intensely fixed on hers. “In order for me to properly accept your apology, I think you should give me some physical space.” She breathed, her heart racing a mile a minute from just being in such dizzying close proximity to so much man.

He straightened his posture, and only backed away just enough to give her some breathing room…but not much. He had made it painstakingly clear that he was not allowing her room to get away from him, and Terri reasoned that if he really wanted to hurt her, he could have easily done so. But, he needed to know that annoying the hell out of her would be the quickest way for him to get his feelings hurt. “So do you?” He asked, or better yet demanded. “Do I what?” She asked, finding herself once again annoyed by his demeanor. “Accept my apology?” “For being a pompous ass? Sure. Now could you please leave?” She stepped around him, and dropped her purse on the dining room table and then kicked her shoes off leaving them right by the table and chairs as if totally unbothered by his presence. “I annoy you don’t I?” He asked following her to the living room and watching her take a seat by her answering machine and pressing play to gather today’s unanswered messages. “Yes, you do. Why? No one has ever told you that you ‘oh great one’ have an annoying presence?” She almost laughed at the sight of his jaw actually dropping at her comment. He looked downright astounded. “No woman has ever told me that I annoyed them. They have always enjoyed my presence.” “Well there is a first time for everything,” she mumbled as she hit the play button to her answering machine. He went to say something as she motioned for him to be quiet as she listened in on the dozen or so messages that were waiting for her. The first five were from Lee: “Terri, I know I wasn’t always a good man to you but we can work it out.” She didn’t bother to finish listening to them, she just erased his pathetic pleas for second chances, all the while reaping the benefits of a heat seeking gaze coming from Luther. If she hadn’t known better she would have sworn the man was jealous. But that was ludicrous, they just met. The rest of the messages came from her attorney explaining to her that the court date had been moved up and basically all she needed to do was sign and then she was free, and then of course there were bill collectors demanding payment. When she was done, she realized Luther had taken a seat on the couch, clearly demonstrating the fact that he was going nowhere.

“I came all the way down here to apologize, just for you to tell me that I annoy you,” he said with a hint of sarcasm. “Well that is your problem. You have this way about yourself that irks the hell out of me. I am done dealing with men who are assholes.” She retorted. “And how am I an asshole?” He demanded with his nostrils flaring, and his jaw set so tight she thought he would break a tooth. “It is your demeanor,” she replied coolly. “You act as if the world owes you something and everyone in it is born to worship you. You know that money talks and therefore provides you with great amounts of power over people that you carelessly flex and I refuse to be a part of it. I have enough issues of my own and I don’t have to deal with a man who would treat me any less than what I demand and what I deserve. You can’t buy everyone. At least not me.” “I don’t want to buy you,” he said appearing somewhat defeated. “You challenge me and I like it. At least let me buy you dinner and to prove to you that I am not always such an arrogant prick, I will bring you safely back home, see you to your door and leave like a perfect gentleman. Please.” “Dinner?” She mocked with a raised eyebrow. From her limited experiences with men, she had concluded many a time that when men typically bought a woman dinner, there was an expectation of a returned favor that did not involve food. “Yes, dinner. That is why I came over.” “You broke into my house-“ “I entered the same way that I did last night, so technically I did not break and enter.” The stared at each other in a sort of silent stand-off until Terri relented with an “Ok.” It took Luther a second to comprehend that she actually agreed without much of a fight when she said, “But only one these conditions: you stick to your word-no funny business. You asked me, I did not ask you and so I owe you nothing. And, you have to honestly explain to me how the hell you ended up on my couch last night.” He smiled, flashing those dazzling bright whites that could light up a room. “Fair enough.”

Redemption: New Storyline Following Blind Salvation

Luther

Luther awoke to the blurry vision of the chamber of a gun pointed millimeters away from his face. The last thing he remembered was the cave of Kinatara collapsing around him after he was zapped by a werewolf before he jettisoned himself to where he is now: on the couch. The woman that glared at him with her gun pointed directly in his face made it clear that he was an unwelcomed guest in her home and one wrong move would be the end of his life. As his vision cleared, he waited for her to speak but she said nothing. She just gave him a hard stare, her perfectly arched eyebrows burrowed in a deep frown, lines perhaps from stress and countless nights of lack of sleep became more defined when she all but snarled at him for blinking. I am going to have to change that, he thought before quickly changing his mind on that lustful thought. She was a human and whatever female that he allowed into his heart would be of Fae origins, even though at the rate his life was falling apart the latter may never happen. But still. He needed to get out of her cramped and horribly decorated place before he lost his mind.

“Are you actually going to shoot me or are you just going to continue to pretend that you are,” he finally sighed. She lowered the gun just below his eye level and growled, “So you speak more than just two barely audible words. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a man who popped out of thin air into my living room and onto my couch.” He almost laughed. “Put the gun away so that I may be on my way. I promise I will disturb you no further than what I already have.” He nonchalantly pushed the gun away from his face and quickly sat up, the comforter that she used to cover him as he slept came tumbling off as he stood to his full 6’8” height. She took a few steps back, alerting him to the fact that he had overwhelmed her with his height.

He eyed her carefully, the way any man would appreciate the vision of an attractive woman, and the woman that stood before him made him…remember things he thought he had long forgotten. It was definitely time for him to depart. “So you’re just going to pop in my house like a rabbit out of a hat and then leave? Don’t you think I deserve some sort of explanation?” She demanded as she marched right up to him and even going as far as to poke him in the ribs with her index finger. He glared at her but then once again found himself slightly amused by her response. “None of what you witnessed concerns you woman,” he stated firmly as if he were addressing one of his soldiers. “Uh yes the hell it does! And besides, how far do you think you are gonna go barefooted?” She pressed, jabbing him again with her index finger and increasing his already high level of irritation even higher. He gently grabbed both of her hands and held them in place. He fought the urge to caress the smooth texture of her dark and delicately supple skin, and when she gasped in shock at his sudden move, he wanted to hear more of it as he pleasured her with his body. “I can get pretty far in the nude if I have to,” he said again surprising her. “So don’t you worry about that.” He released her and then walked passed her to the door, unlocked it and said nothing more before he was gone. He heard the fast pace of her footsteps behind him when in a quick wave of his palms, he opened The Veil and disappeared through it, landing right in the center of his secluded penthouse.

And strangely enough, just as quickly as he left the demanding woman in her apartment, he longed to return and fall slave to every last one of her demands.

Three Months Time

Three months ago I said I was not going to submit to anymore agents or publishers. I said I “was not going to wait for someone to tell me that I am good enough”, but three months ago I had just barely stepped into the ring, joining the legions of self-published authors swimming against the tide to claim the title for “Best Seller”. I had no idea that there was more than agreeing to the terms and conditions that Amazon required before one’s book was live and ready for purchase. Writing the book was easy. The hard part is marketing and building a platform. I am a part of Lord knows how many Facebook author/writer/blogger/editor groups my news feed is a long list of confusion. And, in each and every one of those groups that claim to offer support and advice to authors is just another place for authors to saturate news feeds with their latest works, and it makes it difficult for anyone to make any sense of it all.

Then, there are the authors who consider themselves established because they are selling more than $1.50 a week, and their noses are so up their own behinds they hardly want to offer any advice to a newbie author for reasons that are more than obvious. Self-publishing has become a cut throat swamp of authors who only think about themselves-which they should to some degree because the hard work as well as the costs fall on their shoulders, but still. Authors should support each other because who is better suited to understand the highs and lows of writing? So unless one can quit their day jobs and live lavishly off of their work, there is still much more ground to cover and it doesn’t hurt to at least throw someone who is new to the game a bone.

Three months ago I did not have anything else in completion that I could believe in again that would capture the attention of an agent or a publisher. Now I do. I finished Blind Salvation two weeks ago, spent hours working on my queries, synopsis, outline and researching potential agents and publishers that might spend less than 15 seconds on my submission and I decided to give it another go. Self-publishing is fine…its perfect for those who want 100% control over their work but I could not go another year writing something that I am in love with without trying to see if an agent would love what I had I had devoted a great portion of myself too. 11 agents and 13 publishers later, so far I have been declined by four, which is fine and I am waiting to see what the others will have to say. In three months I will know if I will be offered a contract, or if I should go back to the drawing board or just focus on developing my career in self publishing.

In the mean time I am working on four additional works to keep my mind off of sitting around checking my email every 15 seconds for a reply. In the mean time I have also created a personal website, an author page, and I have been offering my services to other independent authors to help promote their newest releases. I have also scored a book on self publishing to help me further understand what I am up against and in three months time when I reflect on this blog, I will be much more in tuned with myself as writer, as a business person (because let’s face it, the books that we authors create are our brands), and should a newbie author ask for a bone, I will give him or her a whole dinner plate. I guess I should use the quarter system to evaluate my personal growth: all I need is three months time.

BLACK GIRLS LIKE ROMANCE TOO: F*CK A THUG, GIVE ME A FAERY

Romance novels bring in millions of dollars in sales per year which is big indicator that the need for a little romantic fantasy is alive and well. Within recent years, Paranormal romance has saturated the market, taking the need for romantic fantasy up a notch and onto another level; giving vampires or werewolves the leading man roles and becoming every woman’s sexual fantasy. I was never really a fan of romance until I would say around 2009 when my mother introduced me to J.R. Ward, author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and let me tell you I fell in love after the first page of reading Lover Revealed and now I have the entire series and I am waiting with tremendous anxiety for her release of The Shadows. And then, in September, a close friend of mine introduced me to another author whom has been around longer than what I initially assumed with her Highlander books, Karen Marie Moning, and now I am completely hooked on her stuff and I am desperate to begin her Fever series. So, now I have a deep appreciation for the romance/paranormal romance genres and as a writer, I find myself headed over in that direction. I mean, what woman does not want to read a story that has a great plot, juicy sex scenes and a man that you pray to the stars above to grant you one wish of making him a reality? Which leads me to this:

So far, I have yet to stumble upon a series of romance/paranormal romance novels where the leading lady is black (hell, I will even take Hispanic, Asian, whatever just so I don’t just make it a “black thing”). Do interracial and/or African American romance novels just not appeal to traditional readers? Unfortunately, too many black writers are fascinated on Street Sagas: you know, the stories involving drugs, prison time, death, snitching, promiscuous and scandalous women, and the sex scenes resemble something out of a cheap porn video? Yes, those. Now I will admit in my younger years I was into it because the stories were juicy and intriguing, but now that I am older, my tastes have changed. I want something different. I want love making and not fucking. I want a chivalrous and valiant man to come to my rescue even over something as small as what am I going to eat for dinner. I am a black woman and I like romance too.

What is even worse is that after Googling (is that a word? lol) black authors of romance novels, quite a few of them used white characters. I don’t know if it is just their thing and it’s just easier for them or if they think that is the only way that they can sell their books but I did not like it one bit. Why should anyone of color feel like the only way to sell their stories is to create an all white cast? Or, the leading man is black but the leading lady is white? What is so wrong about creating a strong, sexy, intelligent female character that happens to be black? I am tired of what is labeled as “Urban” fiction. My first novel happens to be of the urban fiction genre but not because that is where I saw myself but because the story simply came to me and I had to write it down, BUT my leading man Trey, was positive. He was romantic and most importantly, he and Danielle had a happy ending. The point is, I have spoken to a number of my friends and associates who happen to be black, and they have shared an interest in reading paranormal romance/romance. White women are not the only ones who want those Fairytale happy endings with a man who is built like stallion and possesses the stamina of a god. Publishers and agents alike should see that there is a market for interracial, and African American romance/paranormal romance. Not all of us are into the street sagas.

I will conclude with this : F*ck a thug and give me a Faery (a vampire or werewolf will do ;)). I want to tap into the wild side of the supernatural and the paranormal. I want to wake up on the other side of reality where the man in the mirror is my destiny or the vampire, desperate for redemption needs only my love to save him. Yes, give it to me please. I hope that this blog simply gives you readers something to think about and I look forward to whatever comments you have to share.

Nubia Rising: The Awakening Sample Chapter

Kitara could feel the energy from Atlantis burning through her veins as she allowed its power to fully engulf her. She was one with the pyramid now, and even as Isis sent out blasts of dark magic from her palms none of it could touch her. It was not long before Isis realized that she had no other alternative. Her plan had failed. Thousands of years of planning, scheming, and killing and it all had went down the drain. But, one thing was for sure even if tonight she and her husband could not harness the powers of the lost city of Atlantis, she was sure as shit going to get her husband back. She could feel the Osirian realms slowly opening up and it was a matter of time before the world was reintroduced to the greatest god ever created. And, Isis couldn’t wait to see Kitara’s face when Osiris came walking out of that hell hole that Naomi sent him to looking as grand as ever. And the best part of it was that even without Atlantis, the two of them together would be unstoppable.

Kitara’s natural golden stare became solid silver as the rest of her body began to illuminate that same glow. Unsheathing Oblivion from her casing she pointed the angelic sword to the sky and sent out an electric blue current that not only lit up the midnight sky with a silvery blue but sent a sonic blast that for a split second caused all of the fighting to cease. Sage gazed into the distance where Kitara hovered over the ocean , her thick locks sizzling and crackling with electric blue white light and her sword pointed straight into the sky, appearing to be temporarily frozen in time. And then it happened: Millions of glowing white orbs poured out from the heavens and instantly began to take form as robed men with swords and gigantic wing spans . Angels of the warrior class had come to join them in their fight. They scattered across the sky and spread out beyond the far reaches of the horizon. Isis had opened up hell portals with her spell all across the globe, and now evil entities and spirits of the damned are creeping through and wreaking havoc on innocent people. Dark forces are now converging, and as Sage continued to look on in amazement, she could feel the dark, shadowy presence of not one but several ancient entities rising. Isis may have thought that she was resurrecting her husband, but Sage was willing to bet that whatever else was coming, Isis surely did not bank on that being a part of the package deal. Sage could only hope that was what the warrior angels were after; well that and everything that was coming out of the lower gates of hell.

With the power of Atlantis now fully activated inside of her archenemy there was nothing for Isis to do but flee, as she had always done. She needed just a little more time before she and her true love could be reunited, but something was off. His dimensions had opened up but he still had not manifested yet…and then it hit her: The body! How the hell could she have missed the most important part of the ceremony? Time, she needed more time. But it was too late to focus too much more on that because Kitara now charged at her like a missile and plunged into her, sending both of them into a free fall into the depths of the Pacific. Their collision created a tidal wave of monolithic proportions, and just as Sage thought she was going to be swept away she was pulled through the spiritual veil by Celeste and then pushed out a second later just as the gigantic wave crashed down and swept away several islands of the Bahamas.

Kitara could hear the cries of drowning innocents even as she and Isis were submerged hundreds of feet beneath the earth surface. She remembered being told by Zedkiel that the animals would respond to her command so she sent out a mental telegraph to every single pod of dolphin and orca and other forms of marine life in the neighboring areas to come and help. Isis began swimming as fast she could towards the surface, while at the same time summoning up her powers and cursed the ocean, causing the water to turn to blood. “NOOOOOO!” Kitara screamed as she could feel the sea life begin to choke and suffocate and struggle to breathe that now toxic waters. Disgusted and infuriated, Kitara spread out her hands and sent a wave of pure white light into the waters, returning it to its natural, watery blue , removing the curse, just before the sea life was permanently destroyed. She could hear the whimsical calls of dolphins and orcas closing in in response to her SOS. Go!! Help the humans, she told them as she jettisoned herself out of the water.

Isis had made it to the top steps of the pyramid. She knew there was a way inside, Osiris had told her. She still needed to retrieve his body, but she had at least four hours before daybreak. But, she needed to create a distraction to keep Kitara busy while she went to recover her fallen husband’s body, and the best way to do that was to free whatever was inside the pyramid. Moving quickly, she removed the amulet that she wore around her neck and placed it on top of one of the many Egyptian ankh symbols that decorated the surface of the door. The amulet turned a bright violet color and she could hear the clicking sounds of the door unlocking itself.

Kitara, not wanting to be deterred knew that this was the last opportunity to stop Isis from accomplishing whatever it was she was now up to and using her kinetic abilities sent a ball of white hot energy straight into Isis’ back knocking her off the steps. Isis tumbled, and rolled, and thrashed and crashed until she bounced off the last step like a hard rock before landing again with a hard thud. Kitara took a flying leap onto the top step of the pyramid and unsheathed Oblivion once again. As Isis struggled to regain her bearings , she clumsily threw a dark energy blast that missed Kitara and chipped off some of the building structure of the pyramid. Disoriented but nonetheless enraged the goddess summoned all of her strength and energy and out of the nothingness she constructed her own sword that closely resembled Oblivion, from the black charged energy and went racing up the steps to fully engage the waiting Kitara. Blade met blade, causing thunderous sounds of metal meeting metal. Kitara swung Oblivion hard while at the same time landing a round house kick to Isis’ abdomen. Isis’ doubled back and swung her blade, barely missing Kitara’s chest. “I will end you Destroyer!!”Isis seethed between clenched teeth. “I have been around longer than your pathetic lineage. I have witnessed the creations of kingdoms as well as built my own. I have control over the elements and I am the queen of magic and you think that you and your little sword is enough to defeat me?!!” Back flipping into a warriors’ stance, Kitara ignored the angry threat. All she needed was a split second opening…just one little flaw or distraction and this would be over. After a series of kicks, punches, and near misses Kitara finally got her chance when she kicked Isis’ blade clean out of her hands. Isis’ sensing that it was over for her proceeded to do what she did best: bargain. “I can give you your life back,” she began. Kitara strengthened her grip on Oblivion’s handle and cautiously continued to advance towards her opponent. Beads of sweat dripped down her midnight skin, her eyes still glowing silver and narrowed in a tense gaze as the memories of her very beginnings with this she demon flooded her vision. “I can give you your life back,” she said. “Your mother Aisha and your brother Nayeem I kept safe…” “You may have built kingdoms,” Kitara began, her tone hard but barely audible. “But you were the cause of the fall of many. You may have ruled over an empire that was once noted as the greatest in human history, but you have damned countless souls…souls like my mother and brother…and you still challenge the one who sits on high by even attempting to claim something that is not rightfully yours…you hope to make a perversion of humanity just so that you and that incestuous husband of yours can be eternally worshipped! No, you cannot give me back what you have taken from me you miserable, worthless bitch!!!!!” “NOOO! Please Kitar-“ Kitara plunged Oblivion deep into Isis’s chest cavity. Blue blood began to spew forth as Isis dropped to her knees. With her mouth agape in shock and disbelief, a single tear trickled down her left cheek. Kitara held Oblivion steady, not fully ready to release her, stared down at the entity whose shadow seemed to have loomed over her like a dark cloud for hundreds of years. It was finally over. The amulet that she wore, the same amulet that she used to trap her mother and brother’s spirits shattered, and Kitara could see not just her own family but hundreds of others ascending into the heavens where they belonged. Kitara’s mother, Aisha, drifted toward her as a spirit now. She radiated golden light like Zedkiel and gently touched her daughter’s face and gave a sad smile. “I am so proud of you my daughter,” she said softly. Kitara unsure of what to do, struggled to fight back tears as her mother glanced in Isis’ direction, frowned and then returned her loving gaze back to Kitara. “I love you mother,” Kitara whispered. “I love you too. I will see you on the other side of the light,” Aisha said as she gently kissed Kitara’s cheek and continued with her ascent. Angels without wings had appeared and were guiding these spirits home with welcoming arms and loving smiles and one of them turned and gave Kitara a knowing smile. And in a flash, they were gone. Kitara pulled Oblivion out of Isis’ chest and watched as the deity collapsed onto the floor in a heap. The remaining life in her still flickered in her eyes as she struggled to speak. “You and I have the same father,” she wheezed. “He is through that door,” Isis continued and raised a trembling hand and pointed in the direction of the entrance to the pyramid. “Well, there won’t be any family reunions today,” Kitara added as she raised Oblivion high into the air before sending her crashing down on Isis’ neck beheading the goddess. As soon as the deity’s head was separated from her frame, her body lit up in blue white fire. The goddess’ spirit cried out as the flames consumed every inch of her until there was nothing left but her ring with her insignia on it. Kitara stared down at what was left of Isis, not sure how to feel or what to do next. “You did it!” Oblivion shouted with joy. Kitara looked at the angelic blade and shook her head. “No, WE did it.” Kitara looked down at the ring and gently picked it up. “I think I will hold onto this for safe keeping. If this finds its way into the wrong hands, the world will most definitely have something to fear.” “Wise choice Kitara,” Oblivion beamed. “But there is still much to do. Osiris is waiting to be released. Naomi is on her way to his body, but she is not alone. And I have received word that Jose is alive and my brother, Raphael is guarding him in the spirit world. Reconvene with your sisters while I shall take refuge in my thoughts. There is a lot to discuss.” Kitara nodded and returned Oblivion to her casing. She sent out a mental telegraph and received an immediate response from Celeste and Sage, whom were located on the other side of the pyramid. Isis was gone and there was still much to do. This was only the beginning.

Lilith cackled with delight as she watched her arch nemesis completely obliterated by Kitara. So her sword was an angel, huh? Daddy-O would be very pleased to know that little tid bit of Intel. Lilith and her protégé had decided that it would have been conducive to their survival that they remain hidden, especially having witnessed the warrior breeds come out. Fortunately, they were busy fighting demon emissaries and low level entities that simply had wanted to come out and play. With Isis out of the way she can continue on with her steps in preparing the way for the Anti-Christ. Now she can find another suitor, and by the looks of it Osiris was now a widower…an available bachelor. If Durga could get to his body in time, Lilith had a few ticks in store for him. But if not, men came a dime a dozen and she still had enough time to prepare. She could now unleash her vampires, establish the NOW, the world was literally hers for the taking. And now that humanity was in a state of panick, it was time to implement plan B into action. She and Kitara would meet soon enough…and as for that Sage, what Anastasia had concocted was brilliant. Simply brilliant. Lilith really, really loved Puerto, Rico.

Naomi hated the desert. It reminded her of her mother’s side of the family and their way of life. Even though she was of royal blood, still the desert did not bring back good memories for her. As she bypassed the city areas of modern day Lebanon and into the deserted areas of scattered trees, rocks and sparse amounts of foliage, in this midday sun, this was no walk in the park. She knew exactly where the body had been hidden, and even after a millennia, due to his godhood and having not met Oblivion, his body was going to be in a well preserved state. The only thing that she had to do was retrieve it, take it back to Kitara so she could finish him off and then they could go on with their lives.

As she approached the encampment of what is believed to be a group of the world’s oldest living trees-having survived the flood-she could sense that something was off. Just beneath the roots of one of the 16 Sisters, Naomi picked up a vaguely familiar and quickly fading trail. It had the signature of someone very old. “Oh God no!” she muttered to herself. Underneath the root of that tree is where both she and Kitara buried Osiris’ head and it was missing! She ran another twenty five feet away to another one of the 16 Sisters and the trunk of the tree that was supposed to have been sealed was completely torn open, and his body was missing too. “Shit!” she exclaimed. “Who the fuck else would have known about-“ Naomi stopped short instantly remembering who the culprit was…Kalima, The Dark Destroyer. But how did she get free? Naomi thought to herself. But, why now? There was no way to answer that question right at this moment. She needed to get back to the others. It was quite clear that Osiris’ body was gone which meant that he was sure as shit about to be resurrected. She closed her eyes and hoped like hell that Kitara was not in the middle of fighting Isis but she needed to know immediately. Kitara, this is urgent. Osiris’ body is gone…and I picked up a very familiar energy trail, one that you wouldn’t believe. It’s Kalima, she is free and its bad Kitara…really, really bad. Naomi didn’t bother waiting for a reply. She simply casted open a shadow and proceeded to shadow walk back to the Bahamas. It was quick and easy and Kalima, wherever she was, was not about to follow behind her.

****Nubia Rising: The Awakening is now available for download for just .99.***

http://www.amazon.com/Nubia-Rising-Awakening-Delizhia-Jenkins-ebook/dp/B00OY64L38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420513850&sr=8-1&keywords=Nubia+Rising%3A+The+Awakening

Miss Jenkins Books

Where Magic and Melanin are One

Tag: African American