Many-a-years in the making and I published What it Took to Realize/ Voodoo in paperback and for kindle thanks to Createspace and Amazon’s wonderful self-publishing programs.
Please check it out, inspired of course by Alexz Johnson and her amazing song Voodoo.
What It Took To Realize
Morgan never really fit in at school. Besides her abnormalities due to the fact that she was half-human half-mermaid, she was the school’s biggest outcast. Her number one tormenter being the head cheerleader and a pixie. Other than being a mermaid who lives with her water-nymph guardian and trying to keep it a secret in a school of mortals and mythical creatures, she lead a pretty uneventful life. That is until Leroy, the school’s hot new quarterback and vampire, asks her out on a date. Suddenly life is becoming more complicated and all the new events in her life raise up old questions like: Who are her parents? Where did she really come from? What’s up with the nightmares? And why is the new girl, Emmaline, being so friendly?
Voodoo
She is immediately drawn to Morgan the moment she sees her reflection in the review mirror of her Volkswagen Beetle. “Voodoo” by Alexz Johnson was playing over her radio, and if not for Ginger’s whining, it would have been a movie-made moment. Emmaline doesn’t think much of it the first time “Voodoo” begins to take control of her stereo, but when she begins to hear the song every time Morgan is around, she knows it’s no mistake. Pretty soon she learns her and Morgan are destined; that she is destined to save Morgan, but how or from what she has no idea. How is she going to save Morgan if she doesn’t know what she’s up against? As she gets closer to Morgan will she be able to control the desires to be with her?
Oh, how the years have flown by
How many things have changed with time
But certain things remain the same
My love for you has never changed.
Yeah I’ve lived and seen enough
To know I can’t escape this love
‘Cause it seems like no matter where I ran
You were like a ghost, always hauntin’
{chorus}
Now it’s raining hearts
And I watch as they crash on the sidewalk
Stepping through puddles of blood
I reach to the sky for love
How naive we used to be
Who am I kidding?
Look at how naive we are
Guarding our hearts
Like they won’t get bruised
But that’s no excuse
To hide what I feel
You feel it too
So just pull back the peel
And admit the truth
deviantart.net
{chorus}
Now it’s raining hearts
And I watch as they crash on the sidewalk
Stepping through puddles of blood
I reach to the sky for love
I reach in your chest
Will you let me take the rest
Of this beating organ
If it’s broken
I can help you heal
If you let me
You don’t have to deal
Alone…
{chorus}
Now it’s raining hearts
And I watch as they crash on the sidewalk
Stepping through puddles of blood
I reach to the sky for love
It’s raining hearts
The clouds swell as the storm rages on
I throw my head towards the sun
As the rain falls down with love
Another very old song, I’m surprised I never published. It’s one of my favorites. A friend of mine was going to rap the verses as I sang the chorus ^-^
I’ve been waiting
For you to finally see
That you’re the only one for me
Got me on my knees
Begging you silently
Please just open your eyes.
Here I’m standing
Right in front of you
Pouring out my heart
But it don’t get to you
I’m screaming out your name
But you don’t hear
Please just open your ears
Come to me, oh, come to me
Come to me, I’ve been waiting
Follow my voice
To the shore
Hear me now
I’m waiting at your door
I can see a storm brewing
Over the sea
Can you see what I see?
I’ll protect your heart
I’ll never tear it
I will keep you safe
You can trust that
I will keep you dry
When it rains bad
Please, open your heart to me
Come to me, oh, come to me
Come to me, I’ve been waiting
I can’t keep waiting
For you to notice
I love you
The way she doesn’t
I won’t wait forever
Please don’t take much longer
To realize we were made for each other
So come to me, please come to me
I’ve been waiting, I am begging
I’ve been waiting for you to finally
See that you’re the only one for me
~~
I re-wrote Waiting for Out of the Ocean, the sequel to What it Took to Realize/ Voodoo (inspired by Alexz Johnson) which is available for Kindle on Amazon. I had written a different song for Out of the Ocean, but I wasn’t very fond of it. That was when I realized I had a perfectly good song already written, so I took Waiting and personalized it for the character so it would fit the story!
I am leaning on you, my prince
Bathing in your light of happiness
I am still a broken, twisted mess
I’ve always been the damsel in distress
You may have slayed the dragon
Woken me with true love’s kiss
But I’ve already been shattered to pieces of glass
Such a silly little damsel in distress
You may be the sun warming my skin
My hope, my beacon
But I am a long way from being anything more than human
And I want to take this journey with you, my prince
Learn to heal and fix this mess I’ve become
Yes, I am ready to begin this test
So I can stop being a damsel in distress.
I was blind, stuck deep inside this cage where I confide
Overlooked, never took a second to open my eyes
But you were here, I felt your warmth, just could not tell
That you were the one I sought, so I fell deeper still.
I was stuck in a dark place, you brought me out of the maze
Your hazel eyes, take me to the lush forest of your soul
When I’m kissing you, I can taste the sweet spring on your tongue.
You’re skin’s on mine and your heat is turning me on
We’re so close we are one, but we’re not close enough
And now I can’t breathe it’s like I’ve been drowning in my sleep
This is my awakening.
Acting shy, but I was high on happiness
Held a cry, as our lips collide, it was our first kiss.
With a sigh, we said goodbye, I watched you drive away
Try not to choke on the three words I did not say
I was lost in space, you were the shooting star guiding my way
Your hazel eyes, take me to the lush forest of your soul
When I’m kissing you, I can taste the sweet spring on your tongue.
You’re skin’s on mine and your heat is turning me on
We’re so close we are one, but we’re not close enough
And now I can’t breathe it’s like I’ve been drowning in my sleep
This is my awakening.
I didn’t think I could let anyone else in
Not when there was so much to explain
But when you take my hand you melt all the worries away
Even when you’re gone you’re the one I taste.
I was lost at sea, you came sailing after me
Your hazel eyes, take me to the lush forest of your soul
When I’m kissing you, I can taste the sweet spring on your tongue.
You’re skin’s on mine and your heat is turning me on
We’re so close we are one, but we’re not close enough
And now I can’t breathe it’s like I’ve been drowning in my sleep
This is my awakening.
What it Took to Realize/ Voodoo, my baby, has been self-published for Kindle on Amazon.com. I have waited to make this announcement for some time with many excuses, but really I am just scared. Like I said, this is my baby, and I want people to love it as much as I do. So I invite my fellow bloggers to, please, check it out and leave me with some feedback (constructive hopefully). You can review on site or shoot me an email (authormercedes@hotmail.com).
What It Took To Realize:
I was relieved to sink into the back of the room where I settle into my seat, grateful to lose myself in my art once again. I was comforted by the symphony of light brush strokes, pencil scrapping against uneven canvas, lulled breathing and soft hearts’ beating. I let myself once again, be swept away by the memory of my mother as her unfinished portrait sat in front of me. Her blond locks danced around her soft face curling and uncurling around each flawless curve of her head, as if each strand were alive. Her thin, light brows pinched together ever so slightly as we said our silent goodbyes. Her emerald eyes, which resemble my own, gazed down at me with love and worry. My itsy-bitsy fingers reached for the shell which dangled from her neck, her name May scrawled on hers, much like mine that says Morgan.
Voodoo:
“Voodoo” played in the background.
I watched Morgan run down a dirt path, when she suddenly stopped and turned to face me. Her azure lips spread into a smile as her eyes locked with mine. I smiled back at her, a warm sensation filling my chest.
Suddenly a dark figure appeared behind her. I tried to warn her but my voice wouldn’t work, I could only watch in terror as it moved closer and closer towards her.
Then the music stopped. Morgan was gone. Save her, a voice whispered from all directions. Protect her from him.
From who?
What it Took to Realize/ Voodoo were greatly inspired by Alexz Johnson‘s song “Voodoo”. Actually, her music has inspired the last book of this trilogy, but I don’t want to give away too much. This is a story I have literally been working on since I was in middle school. And now it has turned into a series that I hope to share with all of you. ❤
I used to think sadness was love That needing someone was the same as longing for their touch I used to think I would never be good enough
For anyone because no one could make the sacrifices I was
Stuck outside, ready to rust away
When you came by, sheltered me from the rain
You looked in my eyes and said it would be okay.
And for the first time, I wasn’t worried.
I used to believe pain was happiness
Because feeling anything was better than the emptiness
I used to believe I was destined for loneliness
Because no one would let me inside of them
I was stuck outside, ready to rust away
When you came by, sheltered me from the rain
You looked in my eyes and said it would be okay.
And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.
For the first time, I’m not alone.
For the first time, I have hope.
For the first time…
For the very first time…
I was stuck outside, ready to rust away
When you came by, sheltered me from the rain
You looked in my eyes and said it would be okay.
It had been all night, was sure I’d rust red
When you brought your light, taught me to shine instead
You took my heart inside of your hand
And for the first time I know what happiness is.
He found himself at her door. Like so many times before. But he couldn’t remember how he got there. It seemed all roads lead to her.
It was a warm but cool night. He could taste its humidity on his tongue.
Had he walked? Did he drive? He couldn’t remember. Nor could he tear his eyes off of the front door to look for clues. It stood before him tall and looming. The white paint glowed in the darkness like a lantern. He couldn’t even bring himself to knock.
Would she answer if he did? She was probably in her room, all alone, asleep. She probably wouldn’t even hear him.
He whispered her name.
She could feel his call lingering like a sigh through her bones.
She could hear his heart thumping like a jack-rabbit just beyond her front door. If she laid still enough, maybe he would leave. Leave her home. Leave her memory.
“Cecilia.”
She found herself unlocking the front door like she had been in some sort of hypnotic trance.
Their eyes met.
Her heart stopped.
His heart slowed down.
It felt better just to see her face again. Calmed him. And he told her this. “I’m sorry,” he added.
He was wearing his best apology, but not even that was enough. Not after all the times she had let him in, just for him to leave. Was it worth risking another heartbreak?
He knew every promise he had made in the past, he had also broken. Anything he could have said, she would have perceived as a lie.
“Can I come in?”
She didn’t answer but positioned herself in the middle of the doorway, a hand ready to smack that front door right in his face.
“Please.”
She adverted her eyes from his. His crystal eyes always made her weak. She needed strength.
“The last time I let you in, you shattered my grandmother’s porcelain vase.” Her words weren’t grudgeful or sad. They were light and heavy all at once. Just like the night’s summer air.
“I know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Again, he pleaded, “Will you let me in?”
She closed her eyes. The way her long lashes fluttered over her rosemary cheeks made the flame in his chest dance. “How long has it been this time?
“Four months.”
She scoffed. “How do I know I can trust you?”
He spoke so low even he couldn’t hear himself whimper, “That’s not fair.”
“Not fair?” She laughed, but her face twisted into a knot. She laughed, but tears streamed from both of her eyes. She laughed. She sobbed. And right before him, she was breaking. There was no where for her to hide or for him. No other reasons why, just the two of them.
He broke. He was at fault, he knew. And he knew he never wanted to be the reason she didn’t smile. Be the reason she cried. “I will never hurt you again,” he swore. “I’m done with that stuff for good.”
She collapsed to her knees. Her auburn hair fell before her face like branches of a willow, shielding herself from him. This is why he was surprised when he knelt down next to her and put his arm around her, that she folded into his chest. She gripped onto his shirt with her fists and cried so hard her entire body shook against his and her throat started to become raw. With a gasp for air she said, “This is the last time I’m asking you, put my name at the top of you list.”
“Of course.”
She calmed down slightly afterwards. Tears fell silently off the point of her chin and her heart still struggled to get back to its smooth rhythmic beat. Between hiccups she repeated, “This is the last time.”
He helped her to her feet.
“This is the last time.”
He lifted her so that her head rested in the nook between his head and his shoulder.
It’s like my first winter
I’m happy and carefree
No one can bring me down
Because you keep me smiling
Just the thought of you
I am see-through
I think I like you
Not used to feeling the way I do
I think I like you
The sky has never been so blue before
I was walking in the dark
but not anymore.
No one understands me
Except when you’re around
It can’t be that crazy
How everything makes sense now
I know you feel it too
You are see-through
I think I like you
Not used to feeling the way I do
I think I like you
The sky has never been so blue before
I was walking in the dark
You were the fire to my spark
You brought my out with one simple remark
You said:
I kinda like you
No one makes me smile the way you do
I kinda like you
I am happier than I have ever been before
I was walking in the dark
