Miraculous Treatment

Let me breathe!

Remi's chest constricted painfully as she struggled to breathe. Rushed to the hospital, she received mysterious treatment due to a medical error, which miraculously stopped the asthma attack and restored her breathing. While she felt healthier than ever before, along with this astonishing recovery came peculiar abilities and Remi couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding. This miraculous healing may have come at a cost that she wasn't prepared to pay. 

A short excerpt from the story

The flashing lights of the ambulance illuminated the night as it came to a stop at the entrance of the bustling hospital. The doors flew open, and they wheeled in Remi on a stretcher.

A kind-looking nurse with blonde hair approached them with a warm smile. “Hello dear, my name is Anna,” she introduced herself before leading them to Bed B.

With gentle hands and a sense of urgency, they carefully transferred Remi onto the bed as Anna immediately began assessing her condition. She listened intently to her lungs, checking for any signs of distress.

As Anna worked, the paramedic gave his report, and she quickly started an IV line in Remi's hand. Meanwhile, a nurse's aide unhooked Remi’s oxygen tube from the tank, connected the tube to the central connection, and attached the cardiac monitor electrodes to her chest.

The heavy curtain that separated the beds was suddenly pulled aside with a loud swoosh. In its place stood a tall man with thick, salt-and-pepper hair. He swept his gaze across the small cubicle before fixing his attention on Remi. Introducing himself as Dr. Schwarz, he took note of the discarded nebulizer pipe lying on her bed before directing his piercing blue eyes to her face and hands. “Let me listen to your lungs,” he said in a no-nonsense tone, holding out his stethoscope.

Remi nodded weakly and struggled to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain in her chest. The doctor placed the cold metal against her skin and listened intently to her lung sounds, his brow furrowing in concern. After a moment, he asked, “How long have you been dealing with asthma?”

“Since...as far back as I can remember,” Remi gasped out between ragged breaths, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. “I take preventive medications and usually use my nebulizer during sudden attacks, but I didn’t have any solution and the inhaler didn’t help.”

The doctor's expression turned sympathetic as he nodded understandingly. “We'll get you taken care of,” he assured her before turning to the nurse.

“It’s my fault!” Emily informed the doctor with tears in her eyes. “Remi is staying with me while her parents are in South America with Doctors Without Borders, and I didn’t know she’s allergic to cats.”

“It’s okay,” Dr. Schwarz spoke in a soothing voice. “We’ll make her better, but I’m afraid, you need to get rid of your cat.”

“It’s not mine, just cat-sitting for a friend, but I’m going to call my other friends right now. I’m sure one of them will take the cat,” Emily said and pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll be in the waiting room,” she flashed a nervous smile at the young girl and hurried out of the room.

The doctor turned to the nurse. “Anna, let’s give her 125 Solumedrol, hook her up for continuous nebulizer, and get a portable chest X-ray as well.”

The nurse nodded and left the room. The doctor smiled, pulled the curtain that separated Remi’s room from bed C, and greeted the patient. “Hi Konrad, are you ready?”

“Yes,” sounded a young boy’s voice.

The doctor stopped for a second, thinking, and then turned back to Remi. “Do you speak German by any chance?” he asked.

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Remi hesitated before responding. Despite having learned the language from her nanny since she was a toddler until high school, she decided against admitting it upon seeing the doctor's peculiar expression.

“No, but I speak French,” she replied.

“Never mind, I just thought... because of your last name, Hansen,” he mumbled, stepping out of the room, and pulling the curtain closed behind him.

That was strange. Why did he ask me if I speak German? Perhaps he doesn’t want me to know what they’re talking about in the next cubicle. Remi wondered, listening to the conversation coming from behind the curtain.

“Are you sure you want it done this way?” Dr. Schwarz asked, speaking in German, and continued. “Don’t worry, the girl in that bed doesn’t understand the language.”

Remi heard a boy's and an older-sounding man’s voices answering, “Yes, we definitely want the treatment.” And the older voice continued. “My son is sixteen, and with cystic fibrosis and rare blood type, finding a cure or donor is close to impossible. He might have a year left. But with your treatment, he could live a full, healthy life.”

She heard the doctor’s sigh, as he said, “I want to make sure you understand what will happen after the treatment.”

Konrad assured the doctor, “We thought it over very carefully what you said, and I fully understand the benefits. And...” he hesitated. “And I accept the obligation that comes with your treatment as well.”

“We took the necessary precautions as you instructed, and his handler will arrive tomorrow to discuss more details with us. Everything is ready,” The older man said.

“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute,” the doctor replied.

Remi wondered what that treatment was. Poor Konrad. He’s my age and it sounds like he doesn’t have long to live. That’s terrible. Remi though, feeling so much empathy for the boy. But why didn’t the doctor say medication or something specific? He repeated the German word behandlung, which means treatment. And because we’re in the hospital it must be medical treatment.

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ON AMAZON

The Guest of Honor

 A short story by E.V. Emmons

A tale of two families: One family’s halcyon life is tragically disrupted, while another plans the perfect Halloween party. Evil is a point of view.

Life on a farm is hard and if not for family, it would be lonely too. We cherished life in the fields, breathing in the rich, loamy smell of the tilled and mounded earth. We celebrated the sun and rain alike because we understood that both nourished the land, and what was good for the soil was good for us.

Months in the sun had turned our skin leathery, but we wore it proudly as a mark of devotion to the fields. At night, we were content to sit under the moon and soak up the warm ambiance from the porch lights.

Some nights, the sky would rain stars, and we’d sit and marvel at the celestial light show. The cricket songs lulled us into an easy rest until sunup when we’d do it all again.

One day, we noticed that the warm summer air had cooled, and turned the maple trees flanking the lane from green to shades of gold and red. In the orchard, the apples were ripe and round and shone like rubies. The animals feasted at their troughs, munching the dried corn. Abundance surrounded us, and we were thankful. All that remained was to relax and celebrate autumn and the coming winter, or so we thought. We had no way of knowing the horrors that lay ahead.

They came just before dark. One by one, with knives digging into our skin, they plucked us from our beds. Large, powerful hands crushed to our faces kept us silent. We squirmed and fought, hoping to get free of their vice-like arms.

Father, with his thick and burly body, wriggled loose. 

“Get ‘im, boys!” One man hollered. “Show that fool who’s boss.” 

In seconds, they had Father pinned to the driveway, the pea gravel crushed into his cheek. Jeering and laughing, the three men took turns at his belly and sides with their steel-toed boots, and when that weren’t enough to keep Father still, a crushing blow to the head stilled him forever. Pale, hard crumbs and guts oozed from the ruined flesh amid a rising fog of limestone dust. 

“Load ‘em up. Let’s get outta here,” one of them barked.

The thick burlap bags they shoved over us kept us paralyzed as they slung us into the back of the heavy-duty farm truck. They slammed the creaky gate shut and bolted it tight. Darkness smothered the truck bed, which smelled like rotten beets, manure, and cabbage. 

Mother lay slumped atop a thin bed of straw, her body shaking under the burlap. After gathering the small ones close, we huddled beside her, hoping that somehow, we’d be of comfort to each other.

My insides quaked. With Father murdered and left behind to rot in the sun, what would become of us? He deserved so much more than to be brutalized and left for dead. He would never know a proper burial, a return to the earth he so loved. Visions of crows picking at his corpse and tugging at his entrails haunted me in the darkness.

Read the full story

In the What If #4 Halloween Edition Anthology

https://books2read.com/u/mq5qNO

Demon Child

 A story from the What If? #4 Anthology

Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. His sister’s once gentle and curious nature had been replaced with outbursts of rage and violence.

The Cunninghams had been blessed with a new addition to their family: a little girl they named Rebecca. She was a small bundle of wonder with inquisitive eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of an old soul.

As the Cunninghams gazed down at the sleeping baby, their hearts overflowed with love. They marveled at how perfect she was, with delicate features and soft, downy hair. Just looking at her brought a sense of peace and joy that they had never experienced before. As they watched her sleep, they knew that their love for her would only continue to grow with each passing day.

From the moment she was born, every member of the Cunningham clan was captivated by her, but none more so than her older brother, Lucas. Lucas was only six years old, but he took his role as a big brother seriously. He watched over little Rebecca with unwavering dedication, always eager to lend a hand or a comforting hug. In his young mind, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep his little sister safe and happy.

As Rebecca grew, her bond with Lucas only strengthened. They shared a room, and every night before bed, Lucas would read Rebecca her favorite stories until she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

It was evident that Rebecca and Lucas shared an unbreakable bond that transcended time and space. They were more than siblings – they were kindred spirits who were meant to be together.

Lucas, as big brother, was always eager to teach Rebecca new things and protect her from any harm. When she took her first steps, he was there to cheer her on and catch her when she fell. When she started preschool, he stayed with her every day until she felt comfortable enough to make friends of her own.

And through it all, Rebecca looked up to Lucas with admiration and adoration. To her, he was the bravest and most caring person in the world. She knew that no matter what happened, Lucas would always be there for her.

Their parents watched with pride as their children’s bond continued to grow. They were grateful for the beautiful relationship between their children and tried their best to foster it in any way they could.

But as much as they loved each other, like most siblings, Rebecca and Lucas had their fair share of arguments and disagreements. However, no matter how upset they got with each other, they never stayed mad at each other for long. Because, at the end of the day, they knew that their love for each other was greater than any argument or difference of opinion. They may have been different in many ways – Rebecca outgoing and adventurous while Lucas quiet and reserved – but overall, there was a perfect balance between them.

As years went by, Rebecca grew into a strong-willed child with a passion for learning and exploring. And through it all, Lucas remained her constant companion and protector.

But something happened on the eve of Rebecca’s tenth birthday. Lucas was suddenly awakened by a loud noise that shook him to his core. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He jumped out of bed and ran to his sister’s room and panic set in when he realized that the window had blown open and the shutters were violently slamming against the walls.

He ran toward the window and struggled against the force of the wind to close it; his heart was pounding in his chest. As he managed to shut the window, he turned to see if Rebecca was okay. His eyes darted around the room frantically until they landed on Rebecca’s bed. Relief washed over him as he saw her sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

Just as he was about to go back to his room, he saw Rebecca sit up with her eyes still closed. She started murmuring nonsensical words under her breath. Lucas couldn’t understand what she was saying, but it sounded like a language he had never heard before.

He watched in astonishment as a faint glow appeared around Rebecca, casting an ethereal light across the room. The wind outside seemed to intensify as if responding to Rebecca’s words.

Suddenly, without warning, every object in the room began to levitate – books, toys, even furniture. Lucas’s eyes widened in shock as he watched everything floating around Rebecca’s bed. Before he could even process what was happening, everything came crashing down with a loud thud as Rebecca slumped back onto her pillow.

Lucas stood frozen for a moment before rushing over to check on his sister. He shook her gently, but she didn’t stir. Because her face and body seemed relaxed and her breathing even, Lucas retreated to the corner and sat in a chair, staring at Rebecca until sleep claimed him.

The next morning, Lucas woke up with a feeling of unease in his stomach. He turned to look at Rebecca, hoping that last night’s events were just a dream. But as soon as his eyes landed on her, he knew something was wrong. Her once warm brown eyes were now a piercing blue, almost crystal-like in their clarity. It felt like a stranger was looking back at him, cold and unfamiliar.

Lucas recoiled in shock and fear, his heart racing as he scrambled out of the room. He ran toward his parents’ room, frantically knocking on the door. “Dad, Mom! Wake up! Something’s wrong with Rebecca!” he shouted, his voice shaky and panicked.

Read the full story and more from talented, various genre authors:

https://books2read.com/u/mq5qNO

What If?

 What If? Anthology Series

When a collective of talented authors merge their literary skills and unleash their imaginations, a series is born to delight readers who crave thought-provoking stories and aren't afraid to ask the question, "What if?"

With each turn of the page, readers are transported to fantastic worlds where anything is possible, and every twist and turn leaves them eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

This collaboration of creative minds brings to life a captivating journey for those who dare to question the boundaries of reality and embrace the possibilities of the unknown. Each story is a treasure trove of imagination and creativity, showcasing the authors' diverse voices and talents.

https://books2read.com/u/b5wDEA

The stories in the book:

Lost in the Woods by Erika M Szabo

A young police officer enters the woods to find a missing woman, but it takes all her mental strength to deal with what she finds.

She Waits by Lorraine Carey

During a class field trip to a historical site in the Caribbean, a curious student encounters a lonely ghost who does not want her to leave.

The Treasures of Grandma’s Attic by Erika M Szabo

Sixteenth birthdays are special, but something they find in Grandma’s attic will make sure they’ll never forget this party.

Church of the Sentient System Ascendant by R.A, “Doc” Correa

A civil servant who is deeply devoted to his faith. By accident, he learns the truth about his religion, and the malevolent A.I. behind it.

Genie in the Sporran by Erika M Szabo

A device cloaked as an everyday item makes all your wishes come true. But Blair and Rhona find out the hard way that everything has a price.

I Scarecrow by Alan Zacher

A troubled man is cursed by a gypsy woman, and the scarecrow he built makes his wishes come true. All is good, but he might get more than he bargained for.

Don’t Look Out the Window by S.S. Bazinet

Growing up in a house with a cursed window, Hank has to find the courage to look out its glass panes, even if it kills him.

The Spirit of The Rattlesnake by S. M. Revolinski

In the spring of 1889, civilization with railroads and cattle ranches moved into Wyoming. However, the Indian Spirit was not finished. Into this, Alice Potter begins her trek.

Will You Wait for Me? By Erika M Szabo and Lorraine Carey

Fate gave her one year of happy marriage, but although losing her husband and unborn child devastated Gladys, she'd find a way to live a full life. Will they meet again?

https://books2read.com/u/mv9Pxj

The stories in the book:

Mysteries of the Wetland by Erika M Szabo and Lorraine Carey

Join Ava Jenson on vacation in her grandmother’s old country when all mysterious events are connected to an ancient legend about a cursed church bell.

The Zanna by David W. Thompson

A potential stepmother and stepdaughter seek common ground at the family's rustic retreat. Will the past return to haunt them? Only Zanna knows...

Forbidden Love by Erika M Szabo

They knew their love was forbidden, but they couldn't help the way they felt. Their love for each other was too strong to ignore.

A Well-kept Home by Toi Thomas

Everyone knows how special the Fields Family Farm is. Some say it’s haunted. Some say it’s enchanted. But only those who dare to stay the night really know.

Don’t Whistle Back by Erika M Szabo

Milena visits her grandfather in Mexico and wonders why he has a rope with seven knots tied to the door. She finds out soon enough!

J.A.C.K.S. by R. A. “Doc” Correa.

What is a human? According to the cybernetically enhanced officers of the U. S. Army’s Joint Advanced Combat Knowledge System program, they are the only real humans.

She Decided to Be a Vampire by Erika M Szabo

Every kid in town knew that old Mrs. Robbins was a vampire. What they didn’t know and are about to find out, will change their lives forever.

T’is Was The Night by Alan Zacher

This Christmas tale is about a family coming to “terms” with the alleged existence of Mo-Mo, aka, “The Missouri Monster”; aka, their own Bigfoot.

W.I.DG.E.T.S. by R. A. “Doc” Correa

The U. S. Army pursues the technologies “improving” Soldier-Machine Interface for Future Combat Systems. What are the consequences for humans?

The Unlucky Number Four by Erika M Szabo

In China, the number four sounds like the word death, making the number highly unlucky. Hua is the fourth child in her family.

Push by David W. Thompson

Leona is a missing mother and Sergeant James is on the hunt. When family secrets are revealed, he must find her, or it will be the cadaver dog's turn.

Bravery Has a Price by Erika M Szabo and Lorraine Carey

After boasting to her twin brothers that she is braver than they are, Emma immediately regrets it. Is proving her courage worth the price she must pay?

https://books2read.com/u/m27NQd

The stories in the book:

Midnight Murder by Erika M Szabo

Emma’s trust in her psychic abilities solidified and she learned an important lesson about blind trust – even in those who she thought were closest to her.

Unexpected Trip by Lorraine Carey

A teacher faints at an Egyptian exhibit and has a vivid dream in Pompeii during the volcanic eruption. Was it a dream or did she travel through time?

Thy Sister’s Blood by David W. Thompson

Friends on a haunted creek uncover ancient relations. Magic and mystery drive this journey of self-discovery with the enduring power of family.

The Ominous Sound of Stiletto Heels by Erika M Szabo

The sound of Madame Chloe’s red stiletto heels in the hallways would quiet the students and teachers. When she walked by, an icy chill filled the air.

The Way to a Man’s Heart by Shebat Legion

A Siren demonstrates her full vocal range, much to the dismay of a man caught in a trap of his own design.

Shadowman by Erika M Szabo

Their ultimate goal is a brighter future for all humanity. A world free of destruction and chaos.

Careful What You Wish For by David W. Thompson

At last, Victor finds his dream girl! But is it a match made in heaven or a far darker place? Love conquers all... or the dream becomes a nightmare.

Happily Ever After, and After by Shebat Legion

A woman revisits memories that are all too real, or are they? What makes a memory real?

I Love You Forever by Martha Perez

Can their love endure? Nicole, battling cancer, finds hope with Noah. Will they overcome life's challenges and keep their vow to love forever?

Jimmy’s Clown by David W. Thompson

Brothers stick together, and childhood pranks are soon forgotten. But old grudges can fade slowly or swell with age like the nose of a clown.

Eye of the Jaguar by Robert Allen Lupton

An explorer falls onto an altar stone. He wakes to an ancient nightmare of Mayan jaguar worship. Can he save his humanity and return to modern times?

Unsung Heroes y Erika M Szabo

If people knew what the biker gang did and were not expecting any reward or recognition, these unsung heroes would be celebrated by many.

The Prodigal Daughter by R.A. “Doc” Correa

Cassandra Lynn Anderson, a haunted young woman, learns the terrifying truth of her origin.

https://books2read.com/u/mq5qNO

The stories in the book:

Burdens of Immortality by Erika M Szabo

She didn’t want to live for centuries. All she wanted was one happy life.

The Guest of Honor by E.V. Emmons

A tale of two families: One family’s halcyon life is tragically disrupted, while another plans the perfect Halloween party. Evil is a point of view.

Bitten by R.A. “Doc” Correa

In the days of the Roman Empire, a French peasant and thief learns the true horror of what it means to be bitten.

The Doll That Had It All by Lorraine Carey

A woman finds a spell to restore her youth but awakens a dark force. She must pay the price for meddling with magic. What is she willing to sacrifice?

Demon Child by Erika M Szabo

Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. His sister’s once gentle and curious nature had been replaced with outbursts of rage and violence.

Area Code 666 by James Harper

Steve Hyatt’s job, chauffeuring mentally challenged clients to voting booths to swing elections, gets complicated when he receives phone calls from somewhere that should not exist.

Haunting Memories by Erika M Szabo

Spraining his ankle on a stormy night when an oddly familiar stranger helps him home, John’s mind is flooded with long-forgotten memories.

He Watches by David W. Thompson

An ancient creature and an ancient love meet newlyweds John and Evelyn Barrow. Can their love survive Halloween’s heartbreak and a promised destiny?

The Last Resort by Shebat Legion

A grieving woman meets a mysterious stranger and learns a valuable lesson.

An Elder Race by Karen Over

In the mists and moonlight of Halloween, be careful who you mess with. That kid you called a liar just might be telling the truth.

Organs for Sale by Erika M Szabo

After discovering that the Witch’s One Stop Shop is selling organs, a group of kids are struck with fear. In response, Jack decides to become a vegetarian.

Fallen Angel by Martha Perez

Isabella is a fallen angel, paying for her mistakes in hell under the watchful eye of Satan enduring constant torment from creatures and critters. Will she survive?

The Pumpkin’s Curse by Martha Perez

A spine-chilling, suspenseful thriller. Scarlett and Mom have nowhere to hide from the pumpkin’s curse; they’re desperate to stay alive.

Master Brahm’s Studio by Shebat Legion

A master seeks to teach his students valuable lessons, but in the end, who will be the master?

Broomsticks and Chocolate

Trick-or-treating, a Halloween tradition, works because its unspoken rules are rigorously observed. If those rules are violated, who’s better to defend Halloween traditions than real witches?

Late Delivery by Erika M Szabo

It’s All Hollow’s Eve, but an inconsiderate last-minute pizza order must be delivered, and Memy Yagen’s legend becomes a chilling reality.

Headless by Karen Over

When it's Halloween along Foxfire Creek, you'd best not roll your eyes about the local haunt. Especially when you're messing with one of Miz Flora's girls.

Fall Market by Victoria Adams

Elenore lives a life in the shadows, hiding from a haunting past. Then one sunny fall day she is seen. 

Unbroken Curse

https://books2read.com/Unbroken-Curse-by-Erika-M-Szabo

This really made my day!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

https://www.authorerikamszabo.com

 

Restless Heart

 New Release

Preorder: https://books2read.com/u/b5X7A7

Born in a brothel in Paris in the early 1700s, Madeleine's future had been decided by her courtesan mother and Madame Claudine. Her innocence at age fourteen would be sold to the highest bidder. She’d be treated as a usable and disposable toy to fulfill her patron’s every perverted desire until he tires of her. Then she’d become a courtesan to entertain anyone who visits the brothel.

Madeleine dreams of a better future. She runs away and finds temporary refuge in a convent, but she doesn’t have too many options when she turns eighteen. Either going back to the brothel, becoming a servant with an uncertain future, living her life as a nun, or becoming a filles à la cassette, one of the King’s Casket Girls, since no reputable man would marry her in France with nothing to her name. To escape her gloomy future, she sails to the New World with hopes for a better life.

What will her future hold? Will she find happiness?

Hophop's Alphabet Tree

 New book by Erika M Szabo

A fun, rhyming picture book for children 2-7

Available in eBook and paperback:

https://books2read.com/Hophops-Alphabet-Tree-by-Erika-M-Szabo

A fun, rhyming picture book for children 2-7
Hophop, the little bunny, is sad because he can't read his book.
"Did you like the book?" Ollie asked Hophop.
"I never learned to read." He sadly sobbed. 
"Oh, my. I will teach you!" Ollie sighed and replied.
"Can you really?" Hophop’s smile was bright and wide.
Ollie, the wise owl, shows him the entire alphabet and teaches him to read the fun way.
Armadillos can roll into a tight ball.
Bears eat lots of berries in the fall.
Cats have fun playing hide and seek games.

Dragons blow steam and sneeze hot flames.

CONTINUE READING:

https://books2read.com/Hophops-Alphabet-Tree-by-Erika-M-Szabo

Books by the Author:

The Ghost Cat

Read the post at The Author Gang

We lived in a city apartment, and the time of planning, packing, job searching, and organizing the move to a country house was stressful for everyone. Months before moving day, my young daughter had overheard our conversations and sensed the tension.

We wanted to ease her anxiety, and because she’d been begging to have a cat, we adopted a silver-haired Main Coon. His name was Sir Lancelot on the adaption papers. It took quite a few days before the cat got used to his new home, but eventually, he wandered out of his safe place, that being my daughter’s closet, and discovered every room in the apartment. The shy, timid cat quickly turned into a playful, happy playmate, chasing mice made out of rabbit fur all over the apartment. A few weeks later, when he seemed to be feeling safe with all of us, we took him for his checkup.

CONTINUE READING the ghost story by Erika M Szabo, member of The Author Gang 

Superstitions

 Read the post at The Author Gang

Stevie Wonder had a hit song back in the early seventies called Superstition and it was a huge hit!

A few of the lyrics included:

When you believe in things you don’t understand

Then you suffer

Superstition ain’t the way.

Well, it may not be the way for most folks, but many still are superstitious and have superstitions which they may have inherited from their ancestors or a certain culture.

READ THE POST by Lorraine Carey, member of #TheAutorGang

Common and Uncommon Phobias Part 1 - Re-blogged

Phobias can be debilitating

Imagine being afraid of dogs

Or being afraid of eating in a restaurant

Watch more here:

https://www.goldenboxbooks.com/the-author-gang/common-and-uncommon-phobias-part-1

 

Our Last Post

 The Author Gang is saying goodbye to this blog

It has been a long run with many authors participating in the blog with 792 interesting blog posts since 2017. The blog had 379,998 visitors who left 1248 comments.

However, three of our blog posts had been reported as malicious content and removed yesterday without warning the admins of the blog and without explanation. There is nothing wrong with censuring and flagging dangerous or malicious content, God knows there are plenty on blogs and social sites. However, when the authors don't even have a chance to find out why their posts had been removed without warning and what could have been offensive about the posts, it goes a step beyond censorship. It also really takes the fun out of writing new blog posts.

Although the posts had been reinstated, our enthusiasm to connect with readers on this blog is gone.

Enjoy our posts!

The Author Gang

Erika M Szabo

WEBSITE

Erika became an avid reader at a very early age, thanks to her dad who introduced her to many great books. Erika writes epic fantasy, alternate history, sweet romance, romantic suspense, dystopian and cozy mystery novels, short stories, as well as fun, educational and bilingual books for children ages 2-14 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them.

Cindy J. Smith

BLOG

Cindy has written poetry, and with every experience in life, she has found inspiration. Wife, Mother, and Grandmother, she has a myriad of beautiful memories to draw from. Never having been good at playing the part of "starving artist", she has had many careers, but her current one, an over-the-road truck driver with her husband, Dave, has provided amazing opportunities for inspiration in her later years.

A.L. Butcher

WEBSITE

British-born A. L. Butcher is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as ‘evocative’. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.

Alan Zacher

AMAZON

After many years of being a "struggling" actor in LA, I turned to writing. I have had several novels published: "I'm No P. I."; "A Ghoulish Good Time"; "The 13th Hour"; "Being a P. I.--Again". I have had MS for serval years now; I know physical and mental pain; so I need much laughter to endure it. Hopefully, my novels do just that--give much laughter.

P.J. Mann

WEBSITE

Paula J. Mann lives a double life. She is a geologist by day and a novelist by night. She's best known for writing psychological thrillers and crime fiction. She also writes historical fiction and paranormal suspense. She loves traveling and shares her experiences on her blog: http://paperpenandinkwell.blogspot.com

Christina Weigand

AMAZON

A writer, wife, mother of four, and Nana to five. She lives in Pennsylvania and has three published YA novels, a woman’s Bible study, and two MG Fantasy.

A.J. Park

AMAZON

A.J. Park has embraced a lifelong passion for writing and reading. There is nothing better than a really good story, and she feels compelled to keep creating. Fantasy has always been her favorite genre, because it represents the world of imagination in fiction.