Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The Shadow Realm Chronicles: Maeve


 


Many years ago, a creeping, insidious darkness tore apart the very fabric of existence, fracturing the delicate peace between the realms. This cataclysmic event was later known simply as the Great War. It was a conflict of staggering magnitude, a blight that touched every single world and every realm within them. The air was thick with the stench of iron and ozone, and the ground continually trembled beneath the tramp of massive, opposing armies. Both sides—the defenders of the light and the forces of the shadow—grew their legions with ruthless efficiency, their sole purpose the annihilation of the other. The cost in lives was immeasurable, the casualties so heavy that entire generations were wiped out in the span of a single battle. Yet, out of this horrific bloodshed, new alliances were forged, desperate pacts between unlikely companions united by the common enemy, even as ancient, trusted alliances crumbled into dust.

No world suffered a more profound and tragic transformation than that of the Faye. Their iridescent realm, once a bastion of peace and ethereal beauty, became shadowed by the madness of its king, Julian. Once, the name Julian evoked a memory of a benevolent, loving ruler, whose laughter was as bright as the dawn. Those times were a distant, agonizing memory now. The chronicles written about him in the present day were stained with accounts of unbridled rage, sickening bloodlust, and a searing, relentless hatred. This hatred burned fiercest for his own children, the very offspring who, watching his descent, had grown to love others more than their terrifying father and, ultimately, chose to revolt against his tyrannical rule. His wrath extended to his wife, the queen, who, with a broken heart but fierce resolve, had fled with their children to protect them. And, finally, his hatred encompassed all the realms and worlds that dared to remain outside the terrifying sphere of his domination.

Julian's obsession with his children was not rooted in paternal love, but a deep, primal need for power. Each of them was a living conduit, a master of one of the four foundational elements: the swift, invisible power of wind; the deep, transformative force of water; the immutable, grounding strength of earth; and the volatile, all-consuming heat of fire. With his children's powers under his control, Julian believed he could become an unstoppable, singular deity of destruction.

Despite the deep resentment and profound hatred his children harbored for the monster their father had become, a fragile thread of memory remained. They, and perhaps only their exiled mother, were the sole beings who still remembered the flicker of goodness, the shadow of the man he once was, before the darkness consumed his soul. This lingering memory was both a weakness and a source of fierce strength.

Julian was not alone in his conquest. He commanded the allegiance of two immensely powerful, deeply manipulative figures: Marius, the ancient, cunning leader of the vampire clans, and Jonathan, the formidable, enigmatic ruler of The Shadow Realm. The three men were bound by the Great War's common goal but fueled by separate, treacherous ambitions. They fought side-by-side, yet a profound, palpable distrust permeated their every interaction. Each of these three dark sovereigns was relentlessly scheming against the other two, each certain that he alone deserved to emerge as the ultimate victor, the undisputed ruler of the ravaged worlds.

Jonathan, in particular, was a maestro of machination, his mind a labyrinth of meticulously planned plots. Yet, every single dark design, every intricate web of conspiracy, ultimately revolved around one person: Maeve. Maeve was a Faye, a creature of light and magic, but she lived a deceptively quiet, almost unremarkable life within a peaceful, unassuming world—the one world that, by some miracle or powerful ward, had been entirely protected from the ravenous violence of the Great War. Jonathan cared little for the petty squabbles or grand ambitions of Julian or Marius, so long as their actions did not interfere with his paramount plan involving Maeve. Alas, interference was the very essence of their nature. Jonathan harbored great and terrible plans for Maeve and her unsuspecting family, plans he believed would be the key to his dominance. What he failed to fully grasp, however, were the profound, deeply rooted connections Maeve secretly held to the very heart of Julian's estranged and powerful family.

The Great War had finally, mercifully, reached an uneasy conclusion, the remnants of the conflict smoking across the devastated realms. Yet, the peace was a brittle, temporary illusion. Another, perhaps even more devastating, war was already coiling in the shadows, its terrifying genesis hinging entirely upon the fate of a quiet, lonely mother named Maeve.

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

A Bug's Life (1998) - Just One Ant

Navigating Emotional Pain in Relationships

 

Navigating Emotional Pain in Relationships

I built a bridge of patient, weary years,
A silent span of quiet, chosen words,
The mortar set with dried and vanished tears,
A testament to battles, not rewards.
My hands I offered, strong and open wide,
To hold the weight of your erratic sphere,
To stabilize the chaos you supplied,
Yet only met a storm, a boundless fear.
My effort was but dust upon the breeze,
Against the wind of your profound unease.

When your world tilts and loses all its grace,
The guttural cry of "holy hell" defines
The atmosphere of this abandoned place,
No longer haven, but a field of mines.
A sudden, unexpected fire starts,
Consuming fragile things that stood its test,
Leaving behind a jagged, broken heart.
With cruelty, you push me to the crest,
The edge of sanity, my failing might,
Expecting me to hold while you ignite.

I tried, desperately, to be the ground,
The immovable foundation in the shake.
I absorbed the shocks where steady peace was found,
Withstood the tremors for your troubled sake.
But now the space between us is a void,
A profound, echoing, desolate expanse,
Where kindness's tender seed has been destroyed,
And understanding lost its saving chance.
Now only the choked vine of unyielding rage,
And your consuming need across this stage.

I've studied your map of pain for far too long,
Memorized the texture of each emotional scar,
Anticipating where the wound would throng,
An unwilling cartographer of your war.
But in that process, I forgot my name,
Eclipsed by roles I was compelled to fill:
Your punching bag, the target of your flame,
Your safe harbor, your shore against the chill.
But that era's ended, clarity now bright,
I won't be your refuse, your emotional blight.

The door to this shared history is heavy now,
Weighted by expectation and old despair,
But it is closed, with a final, solemn vow.
The work I poured is starkly laid out there—
Not as a failure of a loving mind,
But as an investment that was misguided, deep.
I failed no duty, I was not unkind,
I simply chose myself, the promises to keep
To me. I recognized the point of no return,
And in that closure, finally, I learn.

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd



Monday, January 26, 2026

Once Upon a Superhero

 

❄️ Stuck Inside? Escape into the World of Make-Believe! ❄️

Writer's ever have writer's block. RP is a great way to keep being creative and writing. It has helped me come up with ideas, create characters and really see what they are like. And of course, no writer's block.

The snow might be piling up outside, but the stories are just heating up in our Roleplay & Writing Group. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just looking for a new way to express yourself, there is a seat at the table for you.

Why Join Us?

Creative Escape: Leave the cold behind and enter worlds of your own making.

Build Your Craft: Practice your writing, character development, and world-building with a supportive community.

Make New Friends: Connect with fellow writers and roleplayers who share your passion for storytelling.

Total Freedom: From epic fantasy to cozy modern life, the only limit is your imagination.

What We’re All About

We believe that writing is better together. Our group is a space to collaborate, forge new friendships, and turn "being stuck inside" into an adventure. Let’s turn those blank pages into breathtaking stories!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/onceuponasuperhero

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd



Sunday, January 25, 2026

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: A New Thrilling Adventure


 


Stay safe and warm inside today! ❄️ If you're trapped by the snow, it’s the perfect time to dive into a world where the stakes are even higher.

In Zombie, by Nancy Ann Creed, the world changes overnight when a relentless virus sweeps the globe. While the snow piles up outside your window, follow the harrowing journey of Selda, Edmond, Edith, and a group of resilient survivors as they navigate a landscape where the dead have begun to walk.

From the eerie silence of a high-rise apartment to a fortified middle school sanctuary, these survivors must band together to face a nightmare that feels all too real.

Why you’ll love it:

  • High-Stakes Survival: Watch a group of students and adults transform a school into a fortress.
  • Unforgettable Characters: Experience the apocalypse through the eyes of those who have lost everything but refused to give up hope.
  • A New Kind of Terror: These aren't your typical movie monsters—they carry fragments of their former lives and memories.

Bundle up with a blanket, grab a hot drink, and get lost in a story of grit and resilience.

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Winter Wonderland at Rivers Peak: A Cozy Guide

 https://youtube.com/shorts/JhS-8c2r8uw?feature=share

Stay warm out there, Rivers Peak! ❄️✨




The snow is officially on its way, and it looks like it’s going to be a big one! We are expecting a significant accumulation that will likely turn our town into a real-life winter wonderland (or a very cozy fortress) for the next few days. 

As a fairy, I’ll be staying close to the fireplace—my wings definitely aren't fans of the freezing temperatures!  Whether you’re a human, a witch, or just someone who hates shoveling, now is the perfect time to hunker down and get cozy.

If you’re looking for the perfect companion while you’re stuck inside, don't forget you can still order the e-book of The Shadow Realm Chronicles: Maurelle. Dive into the mystery of the Marks family and the secrets of the Faye while the storm passes by outside. 

Stay safe, stay warm, and happy reading! ☕📖

#RiversPeak #WinterStorm #SnowDay2026 #CozyVibes #WinterWonderland #TheShadowRealmChronicles #Maurelle #IndieAuthor #FantasyReads #KindleReads #ParanormalRomance


https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd





 

Friday, January 23, 2026

The Way Back to Us

 gun batimi

Photo by Burak Bahadır Büyükkılınç on Pexels.com

The Way Back to Us

The silent, turning tide of life
Has stretched the maps we knew,
The seasons shifted, ground gave way,
The ties between us drew

Slowly apart, a creeping drift.
Demands attention, energy,
Like water through the sand,
Leaching the solid ground of time.

There was a time, not long ago,
We were each other's stay,
The anchors holding fast and sure
In storm of early day.
We held the secrets, deep and bright,
The wisdom time had wrought,
Our days marked by the shared, full laugh,
The tapestry we caught—

Before the world turned bright to cold.
I feel the sharp ache of the miss,
The ease we used to share,
Where we could simply be, no need
For any word or care.
That ease is gone; the quiet now,
The profound, long silence cast,
Has tragically become the sound
Our relationship held fast.
When air grows thin with struggle's breath,
I seek those mirrored faces still.

I’m reaching back through the gray blur
The passing years have made,
Refusing that demanding life
Will keep the things that fade.
The miles that stand between us now
Are lines on charts that lie,
Meaningless compared to the depth
Our history lifts high.
Our memories, no fading echoes—
But brilliant, fixed stars in the night.

With will and concentrated hand,
I clear the tangled brush,
Desperate to find the path again
Beyond the isolating hush.
A clear, resounding call I send

Into the lonely void.
My friends, I want you now to know:
I’m here, steadfast, unalloyed.
I want us back—the kind of bond
That bends but will not break,
No matter what the wind may bring.
It is the time our circle wakes.

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed




Sunday, January 4, 2026

Maeve

 




https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

The Shadow Realm Chronicles Maeve 🩸🧚‍♀️ New Read Alert! Dive into "The Shadow Re alm Chronicles: Maeve" by Nancy Ann Creed!

If you're looking for a dark, compelling story about love, betrayal, and the fight for your soul, this book is for you. Meet Maeve, once a loving mother and fairy , whose life is shattered when she is turned into a vampire by Marius. The story follows her journey from desperate mother to a formidable figure entangled in the plots of the rulers of the realms.

What Awaits You: A World Torn by War:

The story is set against the backdrop of the devastating Great War, involving all the realms. A Twisted Love Triangle (and more!): Maeve is the wife of Hunter Marks, who turns on her when she becomes a vampire. She is later given to the mysterious Shadow King (Jonathan) as payment for an undead army, and he is deeply in love with her. Family Secrets and Betrayal: The narrative delves deep into the complicated Marks family, including Maeve and Hunter's son, Alexander, and their grandson, Matthew. Hidden dangers lurk, including the mad king Julian Fairchild and the secrets surrounding Matthew and Maurelle's son, Shawn (Justin). Darkness vs. Light: Maeve struggles with the monster she has become and the persistent light of her former self, especially in her connection to Hunter and her children. She amasses her own army of forgotten souls, led by her trusted friend, General Maxwell Lincoln.

Will Maeve succumb to the darkness or reclaim the light and her family? Which side will win? You'll have to read to find out! 

Overcoming the Challenges of Securing a Literary Agent

  The quest to secure a literary agent often feels akin to a mythological challenge: a near-impossible task of trying to bottle lightni...