Story Behind The Book
Excerpt: I left the room unexcused and made my way to the ladies’ room. I hoped a few splashes of water to the face might awaken me from this strange dream but it didn’t. Okay. So the flowers had really arrived, the demons had really disappeared. I still had little clue as to who assassinated President Fleming. And now I braced myself as to the whereabouts of my partner, the person I equated with a sister. Was she part of this strange equation? I didn’t believe Wiccans could classify themselves as anything other than human. But what if Briana held a dark secret? I had, and still did. It wasn’t that much of a stretch. I held my breath as the phone rang. She picked up on the third ring. Thank goddess! She did not acknowledge the leading news story, breaking into a rant about attempting to make the locator spell work. I sighed. I had had an argument with Chuck today. He was responsible for making the spell work by obtaining carpeting affected with the residual contaminants of teleportation. I would apologize and thank him later. Right now, I implored Briana to stop whatever she might have started. Something told me that whatever she might be locating could very well be connected to the demon disappearance and be very dangerous. A small voice in my head countered the argument, rationalizing that if the demons were gone and if one had assassinated President Fleming there would be no being to locate. But Briana’s tone was excited like an investigator who about to break a lead and she insisted the spell was about to come to the point of revelation. I assumed that to be the equivalent to the foaming head on a mug of beer. Something that hadn’t been there a second ago would suddenly materialize. She might be facing a killer in mere seconds. I squeezed my hand around the cell tighter and tighter feeling helpless. “Please Briana, hold on.” I kept mumbling it, realizing she was ignoring me, maybe even under the throe of her own spell. I knew she had to see what was there. I could no more stop myself if in her situation. What could I do to assist her? Briana gave me the go ahead to speak again. I demanded she explain what was happening in detail. “Energy has been gathering at specific coordinates over water. I am certain I will find a doorway to where our perpetrator has exited – meaning it might give us a clue as to where all the demons have gone – or, if I’m lucky, it might even bring the President Fleming’s killer to bear.” “What do you mean if you’re lucky, Briana? What means do you have to defend yourself?” I knew Briana carried a weapon only because of Bureau policy but bullets are often little use against demonic entities. My love for Briana demanded I take action. Her locator spell invited disaster. Picture it this way, it was almost as bad as inviting an estranged spouse to dinner to meet your new lover. What if whatever she uncovered was responsible for the demon disappearance? Something that powerful would be worse than any ten angry demons. I could think of only way to stand by my partner’s side, if only in spirit. Briana’s spell had taken her to Chesapeake Bay. I knew for sure no one else would be on the beach but her. Summer had passed more than a month ago. She needed me. “No Caitlin, you know I don’t like those types of spells. They are dangerous and draining. You might get injured.” “We have no time to argue, Briana. You should have taken me with you. I am equipped because of my telepathy to endure such magic. There. I hope all that guilt welling up in your brain will make you see my point.” She acquiesced. “I will only do this because I’m still waiting for the energies to coagulate.” I likened that to waiting for a pot of water to boil. A watched pot never boils… “You can disconnect the call. It will disrupt the magic.” I obeyed. Seconds later I found myself clinging to a countered sink to maintain balance. Fortunately, all the good little bureaucrats were still attending Seals’ bore fest. I had arrived at her destination. The wind whipped at Briana’s hair. Long strands of strawberry blonde locks curled up at my chin. I was seeing through Briana’s eyes. My hands still gripped the countertop to tell me where my body was grounded, but every intangible piece of me floated. It must be what one feels during astral projection. I waited alongside Briana, attempting to ignore instinct, lying that nothing would transpire. All the demons were gone and she would reach a dead… The appearance occurred just above thrashing waves. It arrived in a wink, in a bubble, in fashion I had never seen anywhere but in history books. It walked toward shore, ignoring the waves crashing against a protective bubble shell which was made visible by sun rays bouncing off of it and into our eyes. A piece of Briana’s clothing obscured my view. She was shielding her eyes. I wanted to scream for her to run, to get out of there. But I didn’t sense a telepathic connection. It dawned on me every circuit of my brain was enslaved to this magic. In order to see through Briana’s eyes, all my paranormal gifts had been taken offline. It was one of the reasons Briana didn’t want to share sight. But because she once admitted gifted beings share vision just like they do conversation, I was helpless to become anything other than the moth to the flame.
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<p>5 stars!</p> <p> <a class="txtlarge gl3 gr4 reviewTitle valignMiddle" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R16GSVYCGKXWWV/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00HMZRU4A&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text"><strong><font color="#0066cc">Science Fiction, Science Fact - And Then Some</font></strong></a><span class="gry valignMiddle"> <span class="inlineblock txtsmall">March 9, 2014</span> </span></p> <div class="mt4 ath"><span class="gr10"><span class="txtsmall"><span class="gry">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1DEBPKR4F0H3I/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><font color="#0066cc">Karen Brees</font></a></span> </span></div> <div class="txtsmall mt4 fvavp"><span class="inlineblock formatVariation"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle Edition</span></span></div> <div class="mt9 reviewText"> <div class="drkgry">For those of us SF readers who cut our teeth on Asimov and Heinlein, SF has opened a portal into a world or worlds of possibilities. Think back to the original Star Trek series. What were just ideas then - total body imaging, instant communication, etc. - have become facts. Even the world of immutable physics has been turned on its ear. What hasn't changed is the vision of writers to imagine what could be - The Other.<br /><br /> Starta has done just that. He's created a believable heroine who, in whatever iteration she exists, has the reader rooting for her. Is Caitlin an FBI agent? Instrument of Isis? Murderer of the President of the United States? Yes. And No. With 9 Incarnate, Strata has resurrected, pardon the pun, the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt and involved them in a tale where they threaten the very existence of humankind on Earth. For example, is Hathor or her reincarnation really the psychotic goddess wanting to dominate the new world order? Can Isis stop her? Should she? After all, she's residing in one of Caitlin's existences.<br /><br /> If you love mixed genres - SF, urban fantasy, mystery, and romance, this is one tale you won't want to miss. Kudos to Starta. I was hooked from the getgo. There's some real science here as well as speculative fiction. It's a read you won't want to put down until the satisfying end. Looking forward to the next work by this up and coming talented writer.</div> </div>