Enter the darkness in Book One of this intriguing dark fantasy. Meet johnny: a seductive, vampiric, magical, time-bending being who wreaks chaos on earth. For over nine hundred years he has answered the conscious and unconscious call for destruction. Meanwhile, the Shen, Jenséa, a naïve embodied angel (who believes herself merely human), is tormented by her compulsion to paint violent scenes, which unbeknownst to her, are premonitions of her future. Bored from lack of challenge, johnny invites himself to be her guardian devil to help her survive what is to come, and to teach her about her angel power. He is challenged at last, for her power, when activated, could burn him to oblivion. Confusing matters are the changes they incite in each other, including a magnetizing romantic love.
Told from Jenséa's point of view, this is a story about life's gentler side unconsciously seeking balance with the tougher aspects of being. Thrown into a fantastic adventure with her diametric opposite, Jenséa begins to learn the deeper meaning of life, surpassing everything she ever deemed true. Contrary to conventional plots that pit good against evil, this plot unites good and evil to transform both. This brilliant tale touches the deepest yearnings in every human, yearnings that are lifted to a startling resolution.
The Dark One pushed himself toward me with vehement endurance. I couldn't believe it! This might be it then. The Dark One might win. If I was going to die, I wanted to die next to johnny. I moved backward toward him, still shining my light beam mixed with johnny's energy, straight between the Dark One's eyes. But then I tripped on a large rock and fell on my side. Still shining light, I scrambled to my feet. I looked to johnny. I had to make it to him. My back was thumped hard. I fell forward, face down on burnt grass. The Dark One kicked my ribs over and over, again and again, popping bone like popping corn. A monstrous agony thundered through my body. I wept. The pain. Oh, the pain. But still, I shined. How could he endure? Could I?
My sobbing screams of, "Angels! Help me!" became the song of the night. My voice rasped hollow horror, loud as ever, while growing deaf to the human ear. Shining . . . shining. My body turned. I didn't turn it. My back touched ground. A fist grew large to my slit eyes and blurred as it came closer. Pain hit my nose, then my cheekbone, and my cheekbone again, and . . . again. My face disappeared in blood. I wished he'd killed me before the beating began. But it was as johnny said of Tazmarks, `Prolong death, heighten satisfaction. The greater the challenge, the slower the kill.'
My mouth stretched wide for blasts of air to exit that should have been screams, but my voice had abandoned me. Even so, I kept shining. What kept me conscious I cannot say--johnny's fire, perhaps.
The Dark One snapped my arm. Ungodly pain speared and throbbed. Hot tears flooded my bloodied face. But I kept shining.
He snapped my other arm with his hands, then my legs. Low guttural voiceless screams exploded from my lungs, laying claim to all of Zeke's meadow. Such pain had no right to exist.
But I . . . kept . . . shining.
He spilled my blood with his violent blows until I was numbed, a watered down spider with shriveled legs, refusing to go down the drain. But he wouldn't go either.
Anyhow, I was grateful I couldn't feel anything any longer. johnny's energy still poured through me, but I began to faint, going down the drain, after all. An odd delirium set in. Somewhere over the rainbow, dreams come true. The rainbow says, Then die. I could shine no more. Hush-a-bye now, no more.
About the Author
Susan D. Kalior, M.A. in Education-Human Relations and Behavior. B.S. in Sociology. Extensive experience as a psychotherapist, a facilitator of self-discovery workshops, public speaking, and a background in the theater. Her experience excels in metaphysical exploration through meditation and 'drug free' altered states of awareness. She has aided in the psycho-spiritual healing of many.
I was born in Washington State, raised in Phoenix, AZ, and currently reside in Oregon. My first profession was a psychotherapist (individual, marriage, and family counseling) treating those suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, sexual abuse, family violence, and severe mental illness. I employed therapies such as communication skill building, relaxation training, systematic desensitization, bioenergetics, and psychodrama. I have also facilitated stress management, parenting, and self-discovery workshops that have aided in the psycho-spiritual healing of many. Education and training include an M.A. in Ed. in Counseling/Human Relations and Behavior (NAU), a B.S. in Sociology (ASU), and ten powerful months of psychological and metaphysical training in a Tibetan community. I've been a social activist from time to time (very hard) in educational matters, for women, and for Native Americans. Sometimes a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do!
I have two grown children, a son and a daughter, now in college pursuing their dreams (my daughter is an author too), while I happily live out the second half of my life, doing what I love: teaching self-discovery workshops, writing, and meditating.
With a background in college theater, my experience as a psychotherapist, and my profound interest in freeing the individual from unsavory sociological influence, I write entertaining and sometimes educational books that facilitate personal growth and transformation. I enjoy mixing it up by writing in various genres blending psychology, philosophy, fantasy, dark fantasy, romance, and even horror. I have been writing for twenty-five years, and I plan to write until I die. Writers block? Huh, what's that?
My interests (aside from writing) are facilitating self-discovery workshops, composing songs, singing, meditating to classical music, metaphysical realms, philosophical exploration, deep meaningful conversations, playing in the ocean and rain and snow, walking through tall forests, sitting under the stars, (I am so not a party girl), traveling to foreign countries, genealogy, history, quantum physics, and cats. I have four lovely felines (yes, I am the cat lady). I love fairy tales, going outside the box, and reading between the lines. I strive to see what is often missed, and to not miss what can't be seen. There is such a life out there, and in there--beyond all perception! So I close my eyes, feel my inner rhythm, and jump off the cliff of convention. And when I land, though I might be quaking in my boots, I gather my courage and go exploring.
Through travel, study, and work, I've gained a rich awareness of cultural differences among people and their psychosocial struggles. I have discovered that oppression often results from the unexamined adoption of outside perceptions. The healing always has been in the individual's stamina to expel out-side perceptions of self and and constructively exert one's unique core being into the world. I am driven to facilitate expanded awareness that people may separate who they are from who they are told to be. Embracing personal power by loving our unique selves in our weaknesses and strengths, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse . . . forever--is a key to joyous living.
This review is from: Johnny, the Mark of Chaos: An Urban Dark Fantasy (Tazmark Dark Fantasy/Horror Series) (Paperback)
This is one of the best dark fantasy books I have ever read. Very scary. The mystery slowly unfolds with an incredible amount of depth. The dark psychology of human nature, and the chaotic side of life are featured in a stunning fashion, and interestingly reveal powerful insights about natural law and the balanced design of life itself. This is also a fascinating read for any who have had scary or harsh life experiences. There is a lot of mystery, romance, and even humor folded into the fabric of this story. Hard to put down!
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This review is from: Johnny, the Mark of Chaos: An Urban Dark Fantasy (Tazmark Dark Fantasy/Horror Series) (Paperback)
The idea is refreshing and original. The characters are well developed. An absorbing read.
My only question is: how could johnny be of Spanish and Chilean blood, be called Juan, and been born in 1099?
Anyway, I highly recommend this book.
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