Who is Figure Eight?

Cover by Cover Couture 

Figure Eight was published almost two weeks ago, and my nerves are just now getting under control.

I want to thank EVERYONE— whether you're a reader or a blogger—THANK YOU for spreading the word. I know I tackle a subject that can be controversial, and so it means so much that you've all given Selah's story a chance.

The last time I was this anxious about a book was with Unravel. While that story wasn't my truth, I knew that there was someone out there that experienced Naomi's trauma. It needed to be written. Good and bad.

Figure Eight is based off a true story in my family. Something that I've thought about quite a few times as the years have gone by. Especially in the past year while I was fighting my own demons.

I won't go into details because if I do, then I'll spoil the whole book for you. :)

It was incredibly cathartic to write Figure Eight. Selah's story was created in early 2015. She was flawed and broken, and I've always found that fascinating thing because we all are in a lot of ways. But we don't become that overnight. Something or someone—and sometimes our own decisions—create those flaws. As the story progressed, I quickly realized that I was becoming emotionally invested. A writer does with every character, but I found myself relating with Selah on many levels.

When I reached the end, it felt like a giant weight was lifted off my chest and I could finally take a deep breath. It was right around then that I realized that was able to incorporate a piece of my truth in the story. I know that the underlining meaning of Figure Eight is going to be hard for some people. They might believe it's not necessary. But I do.

If you give Figure Eight a chance, go into the story blind. Nothing and I mean nothing, is as it seems.


Read Figure Eight for FREE on Kindle Unlimited!!

2017

At the start of every new year, I like to give an update on what I'm writing on. This is always one of my favorite things to blog about; all the stories that I've been working on I finally get to let out into the book world. Well, details. Not all of it. :)


 I'm happy to say that I finished my 'secret book'.

I've been calling it my secret book for awhile. It has a title but I haven't said it yet. Guys, I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH. Words can't describe how obsessed I am with the characters and the meaning behind the book. It challenged me as a writer and while that can sometimes be stressful (okay. A LOT stressful) it's also incredibly gratifying. My heart was pumping as I got closer and closer to the end. Even though I knew what would happen I still questioned if the characters would make a 180 on me.

This story is different from what I typically write. I love romance, but I needed a break. There's only so many sex scenes you can write before it becomes a bit redundant. :)
Is all romance gone from this book? NO! It's threaded throughout, but this story is purely a psychological thriller.

I've been consumed with this book for a while and now that it's done I can't wait for everyone to read it. I'm still in shock that it's finished. I keep thinking about Selah (the main character) and everything that happens. I think it's because my favorite kind of characters to write about are the ones that are unreliable and broken. The ones that you can never figure out. And Selah is no exception.

I'll be saying this probably a thousand times before this book releases: I can't wait for you all to read this story!!



LACHLAN'S BOOK!
I don't have many books that are sequels. But it's safe to say that you absolutely have to read UNRAVEL to understand Lachlan's story. This book has been a long time coming and I have to say, I kind of like it that way. I've been able to think of the storyline without rushing and because of that the story grew organically.
Opening up his manuscript is kind of like meeting up with a close friend that you haven't seen in ages— we picked up right where we left off!
All the questions that remained at the end of UNRAVEL will be answered in this story.


Reagan's story:
You met Reagan in UNHINGE. I have loved her from the start. Her whit and lack of empathy are both refreshing and alarming. She says and does things that most people with a conscience wouldn't dare dream of.
I'm going to take my time with her story because I knew when her character came to life that she, out of all the characters, had the most twisted past.


I'm really excited about these projects and I hope you are to!


-Calia

What's in store for 2016?

At seven months pregnant, I'm slipping into that lovely nesting stage where I want everything organized and ready for the baby. Somehow, that has extended to my characters and their stories because I know that I'll be useless when the baby arrives. I go into hibernation and don't emerge for a good three months.

So to ring in the New Year's right I wanted to talk about what books will be published and what I am or plan on writing.

First up? 

UNHINGE releases in DAYS.

Nine Days to be exact. (But who's counting?)

That's terrifying to me because I tend to be more attached to the Fairfax cast than most of my characters. I'm obsessed with their flaws and the inner workings of their minds. They always feel so real to me.Victoria is no exception. Like Naomi, she feels trapped in Fairfax. She's starting to realize that she doesn't belong there. Yet in order to leave she has to uncover the past and find out what led her to Fairfax in the first place.

Her story, to me, was equally as heartbreaking as Naomi's but for completely different reasons. I remember when I first wrote about her in Unravel. Even then she was very compelling to me. Who was this beautiful woman, walking around in full make-up, pajamas and that fur coat? Why was she always humming to her baby? Why did she speak in riddles and always look like her head was in the clouds?

She was enchanting yet I knew that there was something gruesome in her past and I HAD to find out.

I'd be the biggest liar if I said Victoria's book was easy to write. It wasn't. There were so many layers to her story and I had to flesh out every single part. Even the parts that were extremely dark.

But I'm so happy in how her story turned out. I hope you all enjoy her story. And I hope you're excited to walk back down the halls of Fairfax!!


Up next?

LACHLAN, LACHLAN, LACHLAN! 

Yes, he has a book. :) For the past year I've been outlining and working on scenes for his story whenever I had the chance. And while there's a huge part of me that is so ready to go back to the characters of Unravel, I'm also scared out my mind.
Naomi gripped ahold of my heart while I wrote her story. It's easy to connect with her but hard to detach from her. And she plays such a HUGE role in Lachlan's story.

There's not much I can say without spoiling the story, just that Unravel started it all. Unlock will end it.

Not the cover. Just an image that reminds me of Lachlan's story. :) 

LASTLY..
I'm extremely excited to start digging into The Surviving Trace.
I love this story with all my heart. When I open up the manuscript or even do research, my pulse picks up because there's something so special about this book. There's many elements as to why. One being that at the beginning (seven years ago) this story and characters were once part of Unravel. About six months before I published Unravel I cut this HUGE chunk out. I'm talking 50k worth of words. (Yeah it's just a number but believe me, it kills a writers heart.) There was just SO MUCH already going on in Unravel. It would've been too much storyline.
But I couldn't delete this other half of the story. It had less to do about the amount of words but the worth of them and what they meant to me. So much about TST made my heart race and screamed at me to finish.
So I put it away, determined that at some point I'd open the manuscript back up.

Every day I work on this story I find something different to love about it. It's unique and that's a breath of fresh air for me.  

Fairfax stories present their own challenges, like not revealing anything too soon. And The Surviving Trace has the same vibe— I have to watch how I introduce certain characters or how a scene plays out. TST has mystery and suspense, but at its core it is nothing but a love story.

I can't wait for you all to meet Serene and Étienne!! (If you look through the first chapter of Unravel you will see the smallest glimpse of them. ;) )

2016 may not seemed horribly packed, but I like it this way. 2015 was filled with nothing but comparisons. Of me watching other authors publish, publish, publish while I was trying to finish just one story. I want to slow down and really appreciate my characters. I only have one chance to enjoy their stories and it's so easy to forget that.

UNHINGE cover reveal!!

We're about six months away until UNHINGE releases, YAY! The golden question I'm asked these past few months is: "Who is Victoria?" 

We met her briefly in Unravel.

Oh, Victoria. I can't wait for you to meet this woman, yet I'm terrified. Like Naomi, I want to protect her and hold onto her story for as long as I can. There are so many intricate pieces to Unhinge I could write a novella about it. But I'll spare you and instead reveal the unofficial blurb of Unhinge and the cover. Which I'm so excited about!!!!!

"They say my name is Victoria. 

They say I'm twenty-seven. 

 They say I've been in this psych ward for over a year. 

 They say my husband is dead, and that my daughter is too.

 But.

 Wes visits me almost every night, and I hold my daughter every day. 

 They say, they say, they say...

 I say, it's time to untangle the past, and uncover the truth."

I should mention that UNHINGE is not a sequel to Unravel. The only thing the two stories share is the location: good ole' Fairfax!

Are you ready to go back?

PREORDER UNHINGE:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DfbIaz

iBooks: http://apple.co/1BiD6YA

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Axqyf2

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zj5B2w

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1AcUacT

ADD TO GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1DvHe6J

NAOMI DAY

"I press my forehead against the window and breathe on the glass..."

Okay, so it's not actually Naomi's birthday. But today is pretty close runner up.
Today is  UNRAVEL's first pub birthday. Which seems crazy to me. I feel like this last past year has been a big blur. Really great things have happened. All because of this book and because of the readers.

Leading up the release of Unravel was nothing but anxiety and fears that her story wouldn't be accepted. I knew a story like Naomi's was non-existent in the Indie World. There was no one category that it fit into. It wasn't New Adult. Certainly wasn't contemporary. Suspense or thriller? I didn't know.
Publishing is a game of Russian Roulette. The minute you send the book out in the world is the second that you resign yourself to fact that your beloved story may do great.
Or really, really bad.
But Naomi's story was embraced. People started talking about it, spreading the word. Dissecting the story, going back and re-reading to find the truth in her words.
And to see that was amazing.

Seven years ago I was prowling through the bookshelves. I would stop in the R section, right next to Nora Roberts' books, and envision one of my books there.
In August, I got to actually see that happen. Thanks to you, the reader. A really phenomenal agent that saw it's potential, and amazing team at Ballantine!

Turkish Version of UNRAVEL—Published by Yabancı Yayınları. 

"Listen closely. Hang onto every word. But most of all, please believe me." 

I get a lot of questions about UNTANGLE. This book is separate from Naomi's. Although you did meet Victoria in Naomi's book. I WANT to say more, but just like Naomi's story, I'm keeping my lips zipped. :)
Something I can talk a little bit about? The cover. I've seen it and LOVE it. I can't wait for it to be revealed. The picture chosen for the cover is 100% Victoria and fits her story perfectly.

And we can't forget Lachlan. He does have a story, and it's definitely not a retelling of Unravel. His book will pick up where we left off in Unravel, give or take a few months.
I've outlined and worked on a few chapters here or there. Just from those few scenes, I can see that Unravel was just scratching the surface... ;)

News!!

UNRAVEL

UNRAVEL

UNRAVEL

This story is truly a labor of love. Naomi is my very first character. Six years ago she popped into my head and since then she's been a consistent character that would not leave me alone. From the beginning, she's had this quiet strength that intrigued me and scared me.
This, without a doubt, is the hardest story I've ever written. It's pushed me in ways I've never thought possible.
I want to say so much more about Naomi...Unravel...all of it. There's a big part of me that can't wait to press publish, just for the fact that I can TALK about this storyline. FINALLY.

So with all that being said, I can finally announce—with a huge smile on my face and a slight nauseous feeling—that Unravel will be released FEBRUARY 17th!

RUIN YOU COMPLETELY

I'm working on this right now. If you stalk me on Facebook, like I hope you do, then you've been seeing me gush like a psycho path about this story. I'm having so much fun writing it. I can't wait for everyone to read this. Release WILL be Spring 2014. I am aiming to press publish in May.

AND March 10th will be the cover reveal!! The cover is stunning and matches the theme of the series so effortlessly. My cover designer, Regina did an amazing job!

And then there's this other story... Like Unravel it's been with me for a very, very long time. It's something that I constantly think about. I've seen a bit of the cover and it's amazing. I can't wait to share the title, synopsis...everything!!!

Sneak Peek at Unravel!!!

I'm so excited today because The Autumn Review has the first CHAPTER of Unravel!!!

*deep breaths*

I am working on this twisted story right now, and I'm so, so, so anxious for everyone to get a glimpse into Naomi's world. 
I don't even have the right words to really describe this book. 
It has me shaking with excitement. Makes me anxious to write and scared to see what happens next!!

So go! Go read the first chapter and tell me what you think! 

Click here for the First Chapter!

Book updates!

Yesterday was really exciting for me. The cover for Unravel and it's blurb was revealed!!! YESS! This book has sat, and sat and sat on my laptop for years.

Before the Sloan brothers, there was THIS story. It has a extremely special place in my heart.
I'm SO excited about this story because it's so different from the Sloan's. It's dark, twisted, angsty, and has a romance that should have never happened.
Not forbidden.
Not wrong.
Just impossible. 

Everything in this book revolves around time. The blurb? It describes the book perfectly.

What is next?

First thing is first...the release of Breaking the Wrong.
Deep breath.
You guys' have made this release AMAZING. I read EVERY review and all of them make me tear up because I was so scared over this story. I was playing with fire by having my main characters two characters that weren't exactly golden at the end of Every Which Way. But you guys' GET THEM, and that means so much!

So many stories are in my head. It's not even right!! But each and every one has me so excited and I can't wait to share more with you about them!!

But here is what I'm working on RIGHT NOW: Mathias' book, Ruin You Completely. I like that each one of these Sloan brothers gives me a challenge and pushes me to go further than I'm comfortable with.
But we all know Mathias is the most challenging brother. Thayer, Macsen and Mathias all have hidden layers to them. (Like we all have.) But I think Mathias has WAY more than I really expected.
Next month I plan on posting his synopsis but I can't wait for everyone to really get to know Mathias and to meet Katia. These two... these two already have me shaking a bit.

After Mathias' book, Thayer gets a book. I didn't plan that. I thought he was done in Every Which Way, but when I started outlining and writing out Mathias' book, I started to think, "What if these two (Sev and Thayer) were tested? Would Severine stick around or would she bail?"
Yes, they've been through a lot. But I think this is more than a test. Thayer's the golden boy, and throughout everything that's happened in the Sloan Family, he's been pretty resistant to those changes.
But I'm seeing him differently now that everything is CHANGING for him. And I kind of love it!!

After Thayer, I hope to work on Lily Partlow's book (Remember Severine's best friend?) Her story has been weighing on my mind for months. I see it over and over in my head. I just need to sit down and write it out. Or there needs to be more time in a day. :(

ANDDD. Then there's Chris Bresloff. I've read your messages and comments and YES, Chris definitely has his own book. He's too crazy NOT to have his own story. :) You've been introduced to the girl in his story already. His book will be out in 2014.

Emilia's siblings: Aniston and Eden? Those two will have their own stories. Yesterday, Aniston's story came to me and I was frantically writing everything down before I forgot because it's GRIPPING me. It has some nasty layers of reality and the truth of what's really out there that we turn our cheek to. I'm so excited about it!!

And that's what I'm battling over writing right now, Mathias or Aniston.. Mathias or Aniston.
Either WAY, I love both stories so much.



Check those bold words. You might find the title for the last Sloan brothers novel. ;)

Breaking the Wrong is Finished!

YESSSS!
I'm having so many feelings right now because last Friday, I finished Breaking the Wrong—the book that has had my heart for the last few months.

I'm so happy I could jump around screaming. But I'm also really sad to say good-bye to all these characters. I sound crazy, but it really feels like I just dropped my whole family off at the airport and I won't see them for a long time.

Crazy, but true.

This week I'll be working on re-writes like a maniac. Next week it goes to my amazing editor and then, NEXT MONTH it's yours to read!! 

And I'm so excited because I loved this story. I think every story I write has a special place in my heart but there is something about Emilia's story...

I see the light!

At least I think I do! 

Writing Breaking the Wrong has made me want to rip my hair out, bang my head against the wall and sometimes, I have simply wanted to delete the entire thing! I had a good idea of how I wanted the book to go when I first started it, but there have been so many changes and twist and I love where it is going.

It's pushed me to go a bit further, but now I'm seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and it's looking so good! This is the best and most exciting part, moving past those bumps along the way and really getting into the story! 

But we probably need to send out prayer requests to my betas as they read through BtW and I stalk them with questions. Seriously, I'm driving a few bonkers I'm sure. 

Some other exciting news! Breaking the Wrong's cover is getting a big make over! The first cover is gorgeous and stunning, but I found a photo that is EMILIA! 
Who is excited with me?!?!

It's getting closer everybody, and soon Breaking the Wrong will be in your hands! I can't wait for February to arrive because I'll start posting teasers that will either make you lurve me or really, really hate me. :) 

A small reason to celebrate!!!

I've been really working on Breaking the Wrong since last month. And I swear, this book is destroying my emotions.
I could fall back on my sarcasm with Severine's book and with Emilia's story it's a whole different route. I love the challenge it gives me, but it also terrifies me.

So, I'm excited to say I'm HALF-WAY DONE!!!! 
(YES! Victory is mine!!)

I'm really hoping that within the next few weeks I can hand it over to all my beta's. Before you know it, Breaking the Wrong will be in YOUR hands!!!

Brain. Is. Fried.

After Every Which Way was released, I was on this book high. I didn't know what to do afterwards. I kind of just roamed around my house like it was the first time I was ever seeing it. 
Probably because I was getting frustrated. Fast. 

I was working on Breaking the Wrong, but not at the speed I wanted. When I started Severine's story it really didn't stop until I typed, "The End." The second book is coming along, but it's practically making my emotions bleed out. 
Maybe that's really good or maybe I need help. :) 

But then I started thinking about Unravel... I've been pushing that poor book aside for the last few months. On my desk, Unravel's cover is right next to the Sloan covers and I really started to miss my characters from that series. 
So I started looking through it. And then I started taking things away, and adding parts in and I started to fall back in love with my first little brain child! 

Chances are, I'll probably release Unravel before Breaking the Wrong. I'm pushing for a release date of spring 2013 for Breaking the Wrong. I don't want that to change. 

But that means my brain is so fried. 
I've never written two books at once. For me, it's strange to switch from one set of characters to another. But I really can't get either story out of my head!! 

Soon, I want to give you all a snippet of Unravel. I want to show you Naomi, Ezra, and Alexander. I want to show you why I've had this story tucked tight to my heart for so long. 

-Calia 

Published.

I think everyone has dreams. We all have something we hope we can achieve. I know I'm not the only one who allows those to get swept under the rug.
Life kinda scatters things and makes you distracted.

But this past week I did something I've waited for...YEARS! Today I accomplished MY dream!
I pressed publish.
The past few days have been kind of amazing. Some days I wanna vomit because I know Severine's story is out there for the world to see, but then I remind myself that I followed through with my dream.
Very rarely I can say that. I'm the girl that VOWS she's gonna work out every day for her New Years Resolution but then the next thing you know I'm watching Pride and Prejudice and I'm attacking a plate of cookies with a gusto. (True Story)

I was giddy the minute I sold my first book, it went crazy after that and now I'm in complete shock.

So, if you read my book. Thank you! Danke, danke, danke!! You've made one my biggest dreams come true!!
I've read every comment on Fb page. Every single one makes me tear up with happy tears.

THANK YOU!!

Every Which Way Wednesday.

Earlier today, I had a freak out moment. Tomorrow is the first day of November. 
Freaking November. 
In 3 weeks Every Which Way will be in the readers hands!!!! AH!

So while I grab a paper bag and do breathing treatments, enjoy this teaser of Severine and Thayer, on The Indie Bookshelf!!! 


Click here for the snippet!

Every Which Way Wednesday!!

It's EVERY WHICH WAY Wednesday on, The IndieBookshelf!!!

Tonight it's all about secondary characters which I kind of LOVE!!!
So who is Severine with tonight?
The OLDEST Sloan brother, Mathias.



CLICK HERE! To read the snippet!! 

Every Which Way Wednesday

Today is the first Every Which Way Wednesday on The Indie Bookshelf. For a few weeks, there will be snippets (so many yummy snippets) , pictures of the characters, and what songs motivated a certain scene!! 

I'm so excited about Every Which Way, and can't wait to show you the WHOLE book!!  So while Severine's story is with my editor, enjoy the snippets coming your way!!! 

Click here for snippet!! 

Teaser Two of Every Which Way!!

In celebration over the fact that I'm handing over Severine's story to my editor... (Let's all jump up and down at the same time!!! squee!)
I'm giving you all small, small teaser!!
Enjoy!!!

“Do I need to ask you?” Macsen asked with a playful grin. His light-green eyes were bright. They were going to raze her until there was nothing left. Severine was okay with that. He could get as close to her as he wanted. There was no need to run from him.   

  “Yes,” Severine said in a hushed tone. 

  “See me outside of class, apart from all this bullshit. I want to see just you.”

  Her smile slightly dimmed over his words. Macsen grinned, grabbed her fingers, and held them loosely within his grasp. His words took her off guard. Something furled around in her belly. It spread and reached for her heart, each time never quite grabbing on. 

  “Yeah,” she said slowly. “I’d like that.” 

  Something was languidly forming between them. They were starting to fit together. She was going to remember this moment. It was going to stay with her, without end. 

  The two of them walked back towards their table. Thayer’s eyes seemed to be waiting for her before she had rounded the corner. They always seemed selected in her direction. 

  Call it vicious, but she held his eyes. Right now, she was involved in the world’s longest staring contest. She was going to win. All of her attention was on Thayer. When Macsen's palm touched her lower back, she barely registered the contact. 

  What was worse than being around two Sloan brothers? Having one physical touch her skin, and the others gaze sear her to her very origin. He was too far to know or realize, but his gaze felt more real than skin-to-skin contact. 

  Thayer’s eyes flicked away from her body and back to his computer screen. He repeated the process five times. Each time she felt it rattle her body. 

Teaser of Every Which Way!!!

I'm working very diligently on Severine's book. I promise!!! 
To prove it, here's a little teaser!! 

Thayer’s hand firmly held one of her own. Severine wasn’t going to look away. It was time to confront her biggest fear, perhaps her biggest desire, directly.

  He was simply a guy. But the way he was starring at her lips made him so much more than simple.

 “Can I tell you something?” Thayer asked quietly. 

Severine barely heard him. She nodded her head, and he smiled back lazily. Even drunk, he was gorgeous perfection.  

   “I saw you first.” He rasped out deeply.  “Remember that. I saw you first.”

  Severine, trying to keep the conversation light, smiled weakly. “At the coffee shop?”

  His head shifted back and forth, while his eyelids drooped down. Severine was waiting for him to pass out and drift off into a deep sleep. He shifted slightly. “I’ve seen you many times before that.” 

  She swallowed loudly, “When?” 

  “Around campus with your friend, Lilly. At a couple of parties.” Slowly, his lips rounded into a small smile. Instinctively, Severine held her breath. “You know, you’re like no other girl I’ve ever met? I love that you don’t put up with bullshit.”  His eyes poured out all of his secrets. Her heart was ruined. Without trying, she was falling for him. “You’re rare Severine. Just like your name. It’s impossible to forget you.” 

  She blinked over and over. Severine couldn’t reciprocate anything worth while. Her brain was mush. It was melting fast.  

 “Can I tell you something else?” 

   No, no, no. 

  Severine sucked in her cheeks tightly and nodded stiffly. “I stole Macsen’s phone, and texted you tonight.” 

  “So I was talking to you.” 

  “Would you have came over if you knew it was me?”

  Swallowing felt painful. “Honestly? No.” The truth had never tasted so bitter. 

  “Then you can’t be mad at me for being deceitful.”

  As she sat there in a state of confusion, Thayer drifted to sleep. Severine shifted away from his bed and reached over to cover him with a blanket. 

A little sewer, a whole lot of writing....

Sewer and a book... sounds about right for my first blog post... ever. 

I promise the rest of my posts won’t make you want to dry heave... Follow me here, I’m onto something... 

My first book idea came from two things..

1.Conversation with my dad.

2.Ancestry. 

Inspiration number 1:

Have you ever had a conversation and thought, ‘How did we go from talking about the weather, to THIS?!’ 

Don’t lie. We all have. 

I’ve had those types of conversations with my dad, my whole life. He can strike up a conversation with a barn, fire hydrant, cashier at True Value. <----- That’s actually happened.... 

Yet I love him for it. 

Our conversation got the wheels in my head turning... A conversation about sewer...

You read that completely correct. 

Sewer.

We were driving when I commented on how bizarrely neat it would be to go back in time.  To see how everything was: their way of life, fashion, hairstyle, phrases... 

And then my dad said: “Calia, I don’t think that would be fun at all.” 

Me:”Why?”

Dad: “Well, think about it. They probably didn’t have sewer systems back then. So their waste was probably just floating down the street.” 

(He paints a pretty picture.. doesn’t he?)

We moved onto a different topic, but I retained my desire to see different eras in my mind, and simply kept it there. 

Too late though! The damage was done. After that, I spoke with Joshua, and he encouraged me to write my idea out. I’d tell him all about my concept and he’d add in his suggestions, and support anyway he could. 

I tossed everything we discussed in my head like a hacky sack. I tried to find the viscous cons over the pros. Cons always win. But my curiosity shoved the negative thoughts out of the drivers seat and took complete control...

Inspiration number 2:

Ancestry

I love that word. 

No! I take that back. I’m obsessed with it. I realize that 100% solidifies my status as a complete loser. But I wear my loserism like a shiny little badge. 

My parents would rift through old photos. You know, the ones that are so old they’re yellow and have the distinct smell of moth balls..THOSE old photos. They’d go through them and answer my gazillion questions of: “Who’s that? What’s that persons’ name? What year was this?” 

I’d then proceed to stare at the picture, soaking in everything in front of me.  

As I delved deeper into my family’s history I found out some amazing things. Things I had never known! I also discovered some not so pretty facts and stories. A lot of tragedy. 

And I thought to myself, “What if I could go back and stop them?”... What if I could tell he/she, “Don’t do this! It’ll bring you so much heartache!” 

I’d love to have that button now. I’d probably have to go back 5 billion times in my own past......

That bright red time-travel button will never be created. However, my imagination can create whatever I want to see. So I took the two thoughts said above, and ran like a maniac.... 

So, here’s to my journey in discovering my stories, and weaving them the best way I can. Or in Naomi and Alexander’s case...  UNRAVELING them the best way I can!

-Calia