Thank you so much for being a subscriber! So much has happened this past month, and I can't wait to share it with you all. Some exciting news...all my (current) physical copies have sold out, so stay updated for places you can purchase a copy of Mysticlinian Secrets: Quest for the Rose Diamond. The second book is still a work in progress--with a shift in houses, exams, and life in general, it's been hard narrowing down on work, but I'm chipping away at it, one paragraph at a time. No more new paintings this month, but I did get the chance to draw some of my friends for their birthdays, so my art life isn't completely stagnant. :) I've also gotten very engrossed in a book series I used to binge back in Intermediate: The Gone Series. Look out for a review of the nine books below. And lastly, remember to share this newsletter with friends, and subscribe (if you haven't already) by clicking the button at the bottom of this page. ❤️ All the best, Samuela Noel Dsouza --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Writing...is discovering." - Robert Frost |
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What's in this Newsletter: |
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Read about this month's highlights, the results of the July-August short story competition, a series review, and more. ❤️ |
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"Fantasy Forest" Short Story Competition results: |
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Last month I announced the "Fantasy Forest" themed short story competition, which was open genre, and closed on the 15th of August. From all the entries, this one stood out. This young author has written a fast-paced, compelling story about a girl who feels drawn to the woods near her cottage. The 15 year old writer builds up tension well, and ends her exciting story on a cliffhanger. Congratulations to: KERISHA SINGH for her piece, THE THORNED DESTINY. Read it below: |
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THE THORNED DESTINY By Kerisha Singh Celistina had always lived a simple life. She lived with her parents in a cottage in the woods. However, ever since she was a child she always felt a connection to said woods, her parents had forbidden her from venturing there, and for 25 years of her life she had lived with a longing for the woods, until that one fateful day. On Celestina’s 25 birthday, the call to the woods had strengthened, so in the dead of night, with her parents fast asleep, she threw on a coat and followed the longing feeling that had been a bother her entire life. Celistina took her first step into the woods and she felt a light breeze tickle her skin. The further she went into the woods, the more she kept feeling a force pulling her into a certain area of the woods, her head kept aching and started getting flashes in her mind, and then they suddenly stopped when she came upon an area of the woods that was almost completely barren, no trees, no flowers, nothing, except a single red rose, curious she slowly walked towards it, she felt the force once again pulling towards the rose. She picked it up, turned it and inspected it, though she accidentally pricked her finger on one of the thorns and dropped it. Celistina started to feel lightheaded and heard voices, she stumbled back, grabbed her head and hissed in pain, her eyes started to droop shut and fell onto the dirt, the last thing she saw was the moon in the night sky. And in a bright flash of light, the forest was completely silent. |
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Poem Published on 'Awa Wahine': |
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This month I had the honor of seeing my poem published on 'Awa Wahine.' It is titled, 'Ephemeral,' and put up on their korero/blog. My centralized theme was the pulling away of humanity from Earth Mother, otherwise known as Papatūānuku. The poem follows her children as they set off on new enterprises that cause harm to their home, forgetting their roots in a mad race for power. Check it (and their other work) out here, or through my social media links {Facebook/Instagram}. |
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Putting your book up in a bookstore can be a daunting and tedious process (especially for a teenage author), so I was pleasantly surprised with how The Women's Bookshop (Best Independent Bookseller Award 2005 recipient) handled everything. They made the process smooth, convenient, and fast, so I had no stress whatsoever. The whole team was really helpful and sweet as well, and extremely willing to impart advice upon a budding writer. I'd highly recommend visiting their store in Ponsonby. Meeting everyone and seeing it in person was a wonderful experience. Come check out 'Mysticlinian Secrets: Quest for the Rose Diamond' in-store (if you live in Auckland) or order it online here. |
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Next month, expect more updates, poems, and art. Stay posted to receive these, and have a wonderful August ahead. :) |
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BOOK/SERIES REVIEW OF THE MONTH: Unlike the other times, the 'Gone' series wasn't something I stumbled upon. I'd been reminiscing about all the old books I'd read one day (after re-reading a 'Doctor Who' book from my younger days), then suddenly remembered 11 year old me browsing through the school library at my old Intermediate (Kadimah), and finally settling upon a promising title with a black cover and neon letters. The plot had been fuzzy in my head...all I remembered was that there was a world without adults, a boy called Sam, and superpowers. But what stood out to me the most was the memory of enjoyment. Whatever the storyline, my younger self had devoured these six books. So I figured I'd find and read these again. After ordering (and counting down the days to collect) these books, I sat down with the first title (and namesake) of the series. Although it dons a relatively mild beginning, the Gone series had me hooked halfway through the first book. In a world without anyone over the age of 15, chaos ensues, and what started as an ordinary week soon turns into the survival of the fittest. Nobodies in the real world rise as kingpins in this twisted teenage kingdom, and when certain kids start developing powers, a power struggle between freaks and humans takes place. Bigotry, fear, and anger riot through the addled streets of the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone), and all the while starvation and madness creeps up on the young survivors of the horrorscape. Despite the eventual threats and terrors of this new world, the kids adapt and strive through the harsh environment of the FAYZ, battling plagues, hunger, terrorism, and gang wars. Through it all, however, an alien rock bides its time underneath Perdido Beach, manipulating the strings. In this stunning, action-packed series, the children discover who the pawns are, while major players remain hidden from sight. The enrapturing world of the FAYZ draws you in and refuses to let go (I read these at breakneck speed), and is continued in a sequel trilogy, where we realize that the lines between monster, villain, and hero aren't so distinct after all. I would highly recommend these books to thrill-seekers, or fans of science fiction and action. The 'Gone' series will have you reading well into the night. |
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