Category Archives: Authors of the Week

Manuscript – SNOW

30 Monday Apr 2018

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SNOW

Sitting on the park bench, feeling the wind blowing through my hair, I am stuck somewhere in my mind, between my surroundings and another time.  It now seems like a lifetime ago, and it even tricks me into believing it had never been my life at all.

There are days when my life seems as if it isn’t real, but as if I am a character, in a movie and I am watching it over and over again.  I don’t want to continue this madness, but what choice do I have, but to proceed with the events that are impossible to delay.

The memories will always come, I can’t deny them, for they were my life at one time.  I have lived them and they aren’t going away, no matter how much I wish them to, they are a part of me and I must find a way to embrace them.

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photograph By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright:  April 30, 2018

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Excerpt from Manuscript – The Revision of Julian’s Voice

14 Saturday Oct 2017

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Excerpt from Manuscript – The Revision of Julian’s Voice

“Chris, don’t you dare hang up on me!  Are you there?  Damn it, he hung up…”

“No, I’m still here.”

“What are you going to do?  Are you going to tell your mom?”  She asked.

“Of course not.  She will freak.”

“But, how are you going to hide it?  Don’t you know that you’re not supposed to cut where anyone can see…especially not on your arms.”

“I know, I’ll just wear sweatshirts to school.”  Chris replied.

“But, Chris…it’s over a hundred degrees all week.  That will be obvious.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Why did you do it?”  Why did you start cutting again?  It’s been almost a year that you’ve been clean.”

“I don’t know…I just get so depressed some days.  It’s the only way I feel that I am still alive…I feel so dead inside, you know what I mean?”

She did know what he meant, sadly to say, she did.

 

THE JEWELS’ ANGELS FOUNDATION, INC.

A NON-PROFIT 

 

 

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photograph By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright April 20, 2017

 

EXCERPT FROM MANUSCRIPT – SNOW

27 Sunday Aug 2017

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Excerpt from Manuscript – SNOW

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Autumn, a time when the leaves change from green to yellow to orange and then red. The days are warm in the mornings, as the nights escaped into the most certain chill.

This time of year had always been January’s favorite. Moving to San Francisco had been his idea, but now that she had warmed up to it, she too loved the quaint city with all its undying charm.

Standing out on their balcony, with her faux-fur coat wrapped around her body, fighting to keep her warm, but desperately failing, she watched the city lights flicker in the distance. Jack seemed to be spending more and more time away from their home and from her.

She perniciously had too much time on her hands to think. She didn’t like when her mind drifted over to the darker side, but it had been hard not to lately.

She missed him so much that her heart ached. She knew in her heart that she was losing him, but she couldn’t compete with this. She had to let him go, but she didn’t know if she had the courage to do so.

She had always hated that stupid saying, “If you love someone set them free and if they are yours to keep, they will come back to you.”

“Dumb saying.” She thought, despairingly wiping away the tears.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: JCW
Copyright: October 12, 2016

Excerpt from Manuscript – Julian’s Voice

13 Sunday Aug 2017

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Excerpt from Manuscript – Julian’s Voice:

Ms Mandi Photo 1

The singing voice enveloped her, making her feel safe, peaceful and loved. Although, she was presently alone, she had an overwhelming feeling that she was not alone. She felt a presence around her and inside of her. She felt no sadness, no guilt, no regret, and no pain. She just felt comfort and peace.

She felt the cool, soft sand squashing in between her toes. It felt nice to be walking on the beach barefoot. The sun was set right overhead with its resonating reds, intensifying oranges, and cheery yellows. The early afternoon was cool, even though the sun was so bright

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright August 13, 2017

A MONSTER UNDER MY BED

01 Saturday Jul 2017

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A Monster Under My Bed

Sometimes, as I sit in class, surrounded by other kids just like me, I close my eyes…letting my thoughts take me to a better a place.

A place where I can be myself and not pretend to be somebody I’m not. A place free of judgments. I like it here…I feel safe.

Suddenly, I’m startled out of my trance by the bell. My peers hurry out the door.

Slowly I drag myself out of my seat, grabbing my backpack, thinking… “I can do this…I can make it through another day.”

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright November 21, 2016

Excerpt from Manuscript: Julian’s Voice

28 Friday Apr 2017

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Kate flew back to Brigham Young University the next week. Jeff continued to work long hours, as his mother’s health continued to deteriorate. Within the year, his mother died in her sleep, as the doctors told him that she had a weakened heart for years.

Jeff didn’t agree with the doctors, but respected their theories. He believed differently, since he had witnessed it himself. His mother had literally died in her sleep from a broken heart.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright 2015

Excerpt form Manuscript – Julian’s Voice

20 Thursday Apr 2017

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Excerpt from Manuscript – Julian’s Voice

“Chris, don’t you dare hang up on me!  Are you there?  Damn it, he hung up…”

“No, I’m still here.”

“What are you going to do?  Are you going to tell your mom?”  She asked.

“Of course not.  She will freak.”

“But, how are you going to hide it?  Don’t you know that you’re not supposed to cut where anyone can see…especially not on your arms.”

“I know, I’ll just wear sweatshirts to school.”  Chris replied.

“But, Chris…it’s over a hundred degrees all week.  That will be obvious.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Why did you do it?”  Why did you start cutting again?  It’s been almost a year that you’ve been clean.”

“I don’t know…I just get so depressed some days.  It’s the only way I feel that I am still alive…I feel so dead inside, you know what I mean?”

She did know what he meant, sadly to say, she did.

 

THE JEWELS’ ANGELS FOUNDATION, INC.

A NON-PROFIT 

 

 

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photograph By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright April 20, 2017

 

Suicide Prevention Website

16 Sunday Apr 2017

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Teen Depression Websiteoctober-2016-169

I wonder if this is how she felt…

Everyday is a constant struggle just to stay alive, nothing makes your happy, tired of trying to be happy, can’t imagine this dull pain inside your heart forever…with the hopelessness.

The feeling that you are all alone even though you know you have people who dearly love you.

There is help and you are not alone

The Jewels’ Angels Foundation, Inc.

Suicide Prevention Hotline:  https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright 01.19.2017

Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

15 Saturday Apr 2017

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Excerpt from SNOW:

8th Grade Dance 006

The sun was beginning to set behind the grayish-blue, Sierra Mountains. The murmurs of the afternoon voices continued to echo in her ears.

It had been an eventful afternoon, but January was exhausted. She had waited twelve years for this day and now it had finally come and gone, as if in a blink.

“Congratulations Young Lady.” Her grandpa extended out his shaky hand, suffering from chronic arthritis for most of his adult life, but obviously proud of his only grandchild.

“Thank you, Grandpa. I’m so happy you and Grandma were able to make it.”

“We wouldn’t have missed your graduation from high school…not in a million years.”

January smiled, politely dismissing herself.

She was distracted. She hadn’t seen Jack since the ceremony ended, almost thirty minutes earlier.

As she wondered out to the parking lot, she heard a car’s brakes screeching. She held her breath, waiting in anticipation for the final part, the sound of metal as it crashed into another car, or the thud the car made as it hit something or someone. She waited with batted breath, but nothing.

She relaxed, letting her breath out. Suddenly out of nowhere she heard footsteps coming up behind her.

Startled, she turned around, ready to scream out…”Jack! what they hell! You scared me to death. Where have you been…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, as he pulled her roughly into him, passionately kissing her with all the desire and wanting he had building up inside of him.

“I love you baby…that’s all I wanted to tell you.” Quickly extending his arm forward, revealing the most gorgeous dozen red roses she had ever seen.

“Oh, Jack! They’re beautiful and so are you. I love you too…more than words!”

“You can prove it to me tonight. Now go home and get pretty for me. I’ll see you tonight at eight.”

January watched with a smile upon her lips, as he ran down the street, jumping back into his white 1967 Camaro, that he had left idling in the middle of the street, and took off in a hurry down Main Street.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright July 26, 2016

Julian’s Voice

13 Monday Feb 2017

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I’ve decided to re-write Julian’s Voice for Jewels.

Julian’s Voice:

Ms Mandi Photo 1

Hysterically, Jewels cried when she found out the news. They said they had found over twenty different pills in her system.

The County had chalked it up as, she had simply forgotten how many pills she had really taken. In addition, they had found alcohol in her system.

This too surprised Kate.

Mona was dead.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright: December 2015