Big And Small Beauty And Where To Find It

December 29, 2022December 15, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 13 Comments

In this world of hectic, where everyone seeks out the fast-paced immediate success, the rush of whirlwind development, the work, the term ‘too busy’, and where burnouts, heart attacks, strokes and stress-caused nerve-wrecks are the order of the day, we don’t have time for beauty anymore…

Beauty is all around us, sometimes loud and huge, like the eternal snow on mountains…

The Matterhorn

Or the ‘Jungfrau’

Breathtaking monuments of Nature’s powerful snow decorations… Of course, these are two mountains, located in Switzerland, parts of the great European mountain belt, the Alpes. The breathtaking mountains you might think of could be everywhere in the world.

However, beauty doesn’t have to be monstrously ‘jumping’ in our faces. It can be smaller, elegant, in form of a breathtaking horse:

Or even unobtrusive, quiet and blended in, like a unique Lynx

Normally we wouldn’t meet such a rare creature in our every day life. But maybe, sometimes we should just take the time to wander off… break out from our day-to-day routine and take a chance to see something extraordinary.

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What if we can not do that? What, if something hinders us?

In this case, we’ll have to open our eyes… we are surrounded by scenery, more beautiful than we can dream of.

It’s sometimes just a little bird, a butterfly, or a flower… but still, we don’t see it anymore. We are too focused on ourselves than to realize what we need to mend our heart is right in front of us.

How about the Goldfinch:

The Zebra colored swallowtail:

The Magnolia:

It isn’t difficult to discover beauty all around us, just hold still for a moment, open your eyes and take it in… Try it! It doesn’t need a lot, just a few minutes of your time. The time that is so valuable that you don’t use it to enrich your life anymore.

Merry Christmas 2022

December 22, 2022December 11, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 17 Comments

I’m old-fashioned, and I’m a lady on the edge of her Zenit, which means all my life, I have been wishing strangers ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of the nowadays politically correct ‘Happy Holidays’. You know this is no longer a matter of making other people feel comfortable or offended… I never intentionally hurt or insulted anyone, and I don’t plan to do so. But Christmas is a Christian Holiday, celebrated in the entire world by people of very different backgrounds and heritages. There is no reason not to wish someone Merry Christmas OR Happy Holidays, whatever makes you happy! And despite ‘political correctness’, I hope you’ll forgive me for the ‘Merry Christmas’ wishes.

Writer’s Treasure Chest is growing and gaining more followers, Readers, and Friends.

Thank you very much for making my writing adventure so much fun again!

Enjoy a fun Christmas time and welcome Santa Claus to your home.

Now I wish you and your loved ones:

Night Or Day?

December 19, 2022December 12, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 5 Comments

Are you more of a night or a morning person? Society apparently knows two different people, ‘Early Birds’ and ‘Night Owls’.

I think, we all know the difference. Early Birds rise with the sun, they’re happy, bubbly and wide awake before the horizon gets orange… but they’re also exhausted by early evening and barely can’t keep their eyes open at dinner, despite their everyday activity.

Night Owls have a hard time getting their engine running… they stay up late, and most of them say, they’re most creative when it’s dark outside, everybody else went to sleep and they got some peace and silence to ‘work’.

New studies show, that there’s nothing wrong with being either one… but also, Night Owls can live quite unhealthy.

According to KeckMedicine.org Night Owls are often missing out on physical activities, which they, of course, don’t feel like practicing, after darkness. Consequently, in addition to often a severe lack of sleep, poor eating habits, missing Vitamin D, poor physical exercise and often increased unhealthy snacking and alcohol consume, their chances of suffering diabetes, a cardiovascular disease, or a stroke can severely add to their poor health. (Source: https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/does-being-a-night-owl-affect-your-health/)

About 20% of the population are Night Owls. Some studies claim, these people are more intelligent, but science has yet to prove that fact sufficiently and believably.

Many authors are Night Owls, at least on the weekends. Now, why is that?

There is only a handful of authors who are able to live off their writing and their books. The majority has a daytime job. Very often that doesn’t leave them too much time to write… with a full-time job, and the attention they need to provide to the family, forces them to write in the evenings, after everybody else is in bed. They have to make sure, they will get some sleep before going back to work in the morning. It can be horribly unsatisfying to be forced to interrupt an interesting flow in the middle of a thrilling chapter, so they decide to stay up late on the weekend to ‘finish’ their books.

Does that now make writers more intelligent than other people? I’m not so sure, actually, looking at me! Working a full-time job, writing at nighttime or on the weekends, publishing stories apparently barely anyone ever reads… If that doesn’t qualify me to have the IQ of a glass of water, I’m not sure what does…

Now… what is your experience? Are you staying up late? Or do you belong to these obnoxious happy people who jump out of bed, fresh like a showered violet…? Let us know in your comment, we’re curious.

Books As Christmas Presents

December 17, 2022December 12, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

Give something useful!

It’s Christmas Time!

Books make the best presents!

A. J. Alexander’s Books

SOUL TAKER

After long years in the line of duty as a ‘Soul Taker’, Kate is worn out.

When she gets a new job offer from the ‘Powers Above’, she accepts her new job as a Guardian gratefully without knowing that her teacher is one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Archangel Raphael.

Along with Raphael, she takes on her new task and the connection between them grows.

Raphael helps, protects and supports Kate, but suddenly, she becomes a target for the Demons of Hell.

Raphael realizes that Kate means more to him than he expected, which causes him to fight furiously against danger. If he fails, Kate’s future will contain eternal darkness, evil, and torture.

SUNDANCE

Sundance is a promising young Warrior Angel, the first in centuries to join the Divine Army. With the help of one of the most powerful Archangels, her skill and talent develop, allowing her to master some of the most difficult tasks that face her kind.

Sundance, under the supervision of the ‘Council of Twelve’ seeks to prove that she deserves her unusual gifts in the eternal fight between good and evil. Follow her adventures as she discovers love, fights the good fight, and finds herself in the heat of battle trying to keep her wings from being singed.

DEMON TRACKER

Zepheira is the best Demon Tracker working for the Good side. With her unusual looks, her phenomenal sense of smell, and her bravery, she quickly draws ‘The Big 7’s attention to her talent. They hire her to find one of them. Leaving her familiar surroundings and regular work environment unsettles Zepheira at first. But the challenge to prove herself and to increase the reputation of her infallibility tempts her. She is convinced she will be a great asset to ‘The Big 7’. Little does she know she will be a much greater asset in Heaven’s fight against Evil. Zepheira suddenly becomes more than a hired tracker. She finds herself an important pawn in the game of love, heat, and fire. Will her courage and sacrifice be sufficient to dance with the flames?

Bounty Hunter

When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.

Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.

Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…

Dream Walker

Koyu thought she had done her duty, but deep inside she knows it will never be over. She is bound to her master forever and will have to execute his every command. But when he demands she’ll invade his sworn enemy’s dreams, she chooses to rebel.

Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master’s orders.

Koyu knows she’ll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?

Smashwords End Of Year Sale!

December 15, 2022December 12, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 9 Comments

Hi!

I’m excited to announce that all of my books in ‘The Council of Twelve’ series, will be available as part of the Smashwords 2022 End of Year Sale! This is a chance to get all of them, along with books from many other great authors, at a promotional discount.

You can find the promo here: https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos

If you wouldn’t mind lending a hand to me and the other indie authors taking part in this sale, you can share this promo with your friends and family. Just forward this email to anyone who would love a chance to find their next favorite book!

Thank you for your help and support!

Happy reading!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2022 AND JANUARY 1, 2023

THE COUNCIL OF TWELVE SERIES EBOOKS ARE 50% OFF ON SMASHWORDS!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Soul Taker: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/911964

Sundance: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/953202

Demon Tracker: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1014830

Bounty Hunter: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1065921

Dream Walker: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1170474

Angel For A Day (A Post About Depression)

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 6 Comments

Definition

Depression

Feeling sad is a healthy, normal part of life. For some people sadness comes out of nowhere, triggered by something as simple as a song that comes on the radio. It ebbs and flows. But for others, feelings of sadness won’t go away and the origin of the sadness is hard to discern. It is not something they can “snap out of” or control. It causes feelings and thoughts that won’t go away. Many lose interest in normal daily activities, lack energy, and have trouble concentrating. These are all signs of depression, a mood disorder also referred to as clinical depression or major depressive disorder.

If you or someone you know suffers from depression you are not alone. Over sixteen million people in the United States experienced depression last year. While serious, depression is a treatable condition and help isn’t too far. (Source: Depression – Mayo Clinic)

There are times life doesn’t work the way we planned it… sometimes, we are sad beyond measure and we don’t know where it comes from. We forget times, and all of a sudden, the hours, the days have passed without us even noticing. We are ‘shoved’ through room and the endless light years of instability and insecurity of the future… which causes anxiety.

Other times we are expected to ‘perform’… no matter where we are at work… in retail, at the office, in meetings, on stage, in concerts, or even at court…? And we need to show what we’re capable of. We’re expected to give our best – and we know, there are people there, people who judge us, who are prepared and ready to tell us off, to give us a bad review, ruin our reputation and trample onto our emotions, feelings, and pride. It’s a huge, hungry monster of a crowd, waiting to swallow us whole and then spit us out, a crumbled mess of self-pity…

Sometimes you hear a song on the radio and sing along… and you feel sad, listening to the words and feeling that highly depressed lyrics is just describing you and your life; and you burst out into tears.

And then, at a stop light, you don’t realize the guy next to you at the traffic light sees you crying and comes over, knocking on your side window and asking, if you’re okay – and without even realizing, you yell at him to mind his own f$%&ing business… deeply ashamed someone saw you acting up like a baby… – But when you see the hurt expression on his face you feel bad, and you ask him to please wait, and you apologize… Finally, you end up in a café, talking to this stranger you have never seen before… only to find out, he’s got it far worse than you… having lost his wife to illness and his daughter to suicide…

On the way home, you know, maybe you weren’t the one who needed to talk that day, maybe you were the one who needed to listen, maybe this day, you were the one who helped, and didn’t need help…

Sometimes, you just need to become someone’s angel for one day…

Picture courtesy of https://afremov.com/angel-of-love-palette-knife-oil-painting-on-canvas-by-leonid-afremov-size-24-x30.html

National Suicide Lifeline

STOP! THERE IS HOPE!

No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living.

By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

For more information or to chat live with a crisis counselor, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

I recently lost one friend who thought there was no help for her. Other friends of mine lost their son. There is help! This blog post is dedicated to Sheridan and Tim. R.I.P.

Nobody Knows That I…

December 8, 2022December 7, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 17 Comments

… am going out partying several times a month.

Several people who know me will now be flabbergasted, I’m sure. “But you’re such a calm, down-to-Earth, house-bound, slightly rounded person… how can that be?”

I’m telling you how:

Because I need ideas for my book characters? – Maybe!
Because I want to collect some experience for a new book plot? – Could be!
On a dare? – Possible!
Because I suffer from ‘Multiple Personality Disorder’? – Absolutely not!
None of the above? – EXACTLY!

How can that be that a house-bound writer in her… uhm… best years… is going out partying, and nobody ever talks?

Well, first of all, it would need an expert to recognize me. Different outfits, different hair, expert makeup… Makeup and Hairstylists are an inexhaustible source of knowledge! There are tips and tricks to show a person in a completely different light, and I learned from the best!

One night you’ll see a cool, elegant black-haired beauty in a dove gray cocktail dress, in high-heels, holding a clutch… another night you’ll find a hot brunette in a denim corsage, leather leggings, and over-knee boots, playing pool. One night you’ll watch a fiery redhead flirting at a club – and again, one night you might meet a sexy bombshell who dances a goose bump hot tango and sips Martinis… And you have no idea, that you didn’t meet four women… you just met the same woman four times.

To answer your never asked question: Yes, I’m sure I don’t have multiple personalities inside of me. I’m just doing this for the fun!

Of course, I won’t tell you about my hunting grounds, where’s the fun in that?

And: Just to make sure I’m clear: I’m dancing, and flirting, laughing, and having fun – I’m using different names, of course! My IDs? I know a guy, who knows a guy… you know how these things go… Beautiful names, exotic names, elegant names… Olivia de Jung, Denisonde van Cortlandt, Lilliane Stuyvesant, Angeline de Mondt… I am an author, after all, I’m quite practiced in creating a personal, a character… a persona.

I have outfits and wigs, makeup and accessories that would make any stage actor jealous… And still… despite the fun, despite the thrill… it’s never more than a game, a secret dream, a fleeting moment in my life… appreciate, stored, remembered, but not taking over, controlling, or steering my very self.

History of Wigs | LoveToKnow

Now, several times a month I prepare one of my secret outfits, get ready, put my wig and makeup on, dress up, and leave the house, to be picked up by a driver. Then my night starts with a cocktail, sometimes even dinner, a club, a bar, a pub, whatever I feel like.

You might ask: “Have you never been in trouble? Have you never faced a dangerous situation, going out by yourself, pretending to be someone else?”

And I will answer: “No, of course not! It’s very simple… I’m an author… and sometimes I dream away, like today, when I was debating what to write in my blog post.” And then I’ll laugh and crow: “Gotcha!” I’ll leave the secrets and the fake personas to someone else, and rather cuddle up at home with my kitty, reading or writing a good book. But let me tell you: I had tons of fun writing this!

What are you dreaming of sometimes? Do you have a secret wish you could theoretically turn into reality and don’t, because it’s completely against your nature? Tell us about it in the comments. We’re curious!

Dream Walker’s First Five Star Review

December 3, 2022November 26, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

I’m over the moon! I learned that Dream Walker got its first 5-star review, and of course, I’m walking on clouds! I’m so excited that this book, too, is liked!

Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

Koyu Bellamy is a succubus like her mother and sisters, she is a seducer, destroyer, and demon but unlike her family, she has a conscience. Koyu has always regretted what she was and what she was called to do and when she sits outside a book store she finds out that the owner is Alfred, a Cherub. Alfred is a messenger whose job it is to report her to the Council of Twelve and he did. Fearing that she has gone from hunter to hunted she knows there is nowhere she can run.

While sitting with Alfred she is called by Asmodeus the third prince of Hell and her Master, a call she has no way to refuse. He calls and she comes running only this time he wants her to seduce Santanael an Archangel who is known for being immune to seduction. When asked if she will accept the task, she answers that she is up for the challenge. Somehow saying challenge made a difference and once again she finds herself zapped only this time she is back where she started from.

Koyu begs Alfred to get help and Andreas from the Council of Twelve comes. She reveals everything that Asmodeus demanded from her and begs for someone to help Santanael. Once again, she finds herself in a strange place and this time Santanael is looking down at her. She is in Heaven and he is well aware of the fact that she is unlike all the other demons, she has a conscience. He promises to protect her from Asmodeus but even Heaven can’t stop him from hurting her. It becomes a chess game; Angels against Lucifer and the pawn is Koyu.

For hundreds of years Koyu followed orders, destroying lives, only when the life she destroyed was a man who deserved it was she content. She also has the ability to dream walk into her victim’s dreams setting them up for what would follow and what would follow was would become a nightmare.

Like all the previous books in this series this one was amazing and I read it in one sitting. Angels, demons, Lucifer, constant battle between good and evil and love. A story of redemption, a demon in Heaven there’s hope for us all, lol. I loved the fact that we catch up with everyone from the previous books, all the woman we met before, and that is why I totally recommend reading this series in order, well one of the reasons because there are so many.

Dream Walker

December 1, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ Leave a comment

Thank you very much, Glorious Books for participating in the ‘Dream Walker Blog Tour.

Books Glorious Books

RELEASE WEEK BLOG TOUR:

Dream Walker by A.J. Alexander

Dream Walker is book 5 of The Council Of Twelve Series

Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master’s orders.

Koyu knows she’ll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?

Available on Kindle!

https://books2read.com/u/b5j087

The award-winning, YA fantasy ‘The Council of Twelve’ series currently contains four books, Soul Taker, Sundance, Demon Tracker, Bounty Hunter and the newly awaited Dream Walker. There are more books to come. Each book introduces you to additional characters whom you will fall in love with. Stay curious.

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BLOG TOUR: Dream Walker by A.J. Alexander

December 1, 2022November 26, 2022 ~ aurorajeanalexander ~ Leave a comment

Dream Walker is book 5 of The Council Of Twelve Series

Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master’s orders.

Koyu knows she’ll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?

Available on Kindle!

https://books2read.com/u/b5j087

You can find the first 4 books in the series below:

Soul Taker, Book 1 https://books2read.com/u/m2roOj

Sundance, Book 2 https://books2read.com/u/mgGGeX

Demon Tracker, Book 3 https://books2read.com/u/3yEx6l

Bounty Hunter, Book 4 https://books2read.com/u/mgzd5X

Series Amazon Link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BR7YM6R

What are readers saying about the series?

A fascinating tale featuring filled with intriguing characters, mystery, and the promise of future installments that will leave the readers eager for more. – Kindle Customer

Angels and demons take center stage in this straightforward and dialogue-rich story about family, destiny, and the evil that surrounds us all. – L.Z. Marie

A. J. Alexander has created a wonderful world here. Her writing is soft and poetic fantasy personified. – JannyC

With Zepheira AJ Alexander has created an exceptional character I almost instantly fell in love with. She is self-confident, interesting, quick-witted, and holds a healthy amount of sarcasm as also humor. – Jasmin

I would suggest that this series be read in order just for your own enjoyment. – Linda

AUTHOR BIO

A.J. Alexander is a fantasy author working on a paranormal romance series, called ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series,

She has written short stories and poetry in the past. Some of her poems can be read on her blog ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest.

A.J. Alexander is also a talented classical musician who has won several music contests in her youth. She is an accomplished skier and loves to swim, amongst other sports.

She worked for a global corporation as a part of the management team and travels a lot, as well nationally as also internationally.

A.J. Alexander lives in Upstate New York with her beautiful active and demanding senior Maine Coon cat. In her rare free time, she loves to meet friends or go for long nature walks.

A. J. Alexander learned reading and writing at the age of four and realized quite early in her education that she loves painting pictures with words. During her school time, she won poetry as well as short story contests. Later on, she participated in writing and poetry workshops to learn the craft. During her time at university, her education as a writer turned toward creative as well as journalistic writing. A. J. published several poems and short stories under a pen name. Currently, she is working on ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series; her first book in the series, ‘Soul Taker’ was published on December 15, 2018, the second book, ‘Sundance’ has been on the market since August 2019, and the third book in the series, Demon Tracker was published in April 2020. Book four, Bounty Hunter was published in April 2021, and the latest book Dream Walker’s release date is November 25, 2022. Writing fantasy books has always been her dream, and she looks forward to sharing her work with her audience. The need to write a novel had been nesting in her head for quite some time.

To fulfill her dream of seeing many unique places in the world, Aurora Jean started traveling in her early twenties. She spent some time in Europe where she visited Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, London, Berne, Berlin, Athens, and Santorini. Also, she took an extended break a few years later and drove across the U.S. from Chicago to Santa Monica and across the South to Florida.

A.J. Alexander descends from an internationally extended, politically, and entrepreneurially active family and was privileged to enjoy an excellent international education. In her spare time, she volunteers for charity events, fights for animal rights, and, when needed, serves as an interpreter to help great causes.

A.J. Alexander Social Media

Website: https://www.aurorajeanalexander.com

Blog: https://aurorajalexander.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AuthorAJAlexander/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A.-J.-Alexander/e/B07KVQCHVZ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuroraJean_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurorajeanalexander/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-j-alexander-1051e4da-dbd9-4505-9423-a3a7bf9c88dc

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorauroraj/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurorajeanalexander

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/authorajalexander

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorajalexander?_t=8XgxFooWEmo&_r=1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AJAlex

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AuroraJeanAlexander

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