A disturbing thought

A disturbing thought kept me awake. My two novels are floating among the many millions of books lost in the Amazon ocean. A sudden wave of thought gave me back my deprived sleep. “It should concern you not, if the books aren’t the bestsellers, or earn you millions. It should please you, when your stories touch the hearts of a few ardent readers.” I felt content, but today, this line of thought is creating doubt. Should I pursue to make my books the bestsellers and reach more people? I would then achieve both goals. But it means hard work and I should instead focus on writing. I am a storyteller and not a good marketeer; so I am in a checkmate! Both books are available for download on Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.in/MYSTIQUE-ISLE-Book-Mystique-Isle-ebook/dp/B098P92MXD

Hi, everyone, Mystique Isle Book 1 is available for free download on 30th-31st January. Follow the trail of an adventure seeker. He created an earthly paradise on a haunted island. You will hear many untold true-life tales. Trail them as they explore a life of adventure, love and the supernatural. Mystique Isle family saga comes in 3-series; here is the first part, to whisk you from reality to fantasy.

REVIEWS MYSTIQUE ISLE BOOK 1 - Sarena Hash

 

MYSTIQUE ISLE BOOK 1 Sarena Hash

 

AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEWS

 “Sarena Hash is a consummate story teller. Mystique Isle spins a story of compelling characters, Rose and Ramona. Extraordinary family saga, love, life … and unexpected story on paranormal. It’s refreshing and can't wait for her next book” – (USA) Amazon customer 

“A brilliant and captivating novel that will immerse you in the lives of the characters of the book. The story reveals the innate good qualities which we all possess and adds a touch of fantasy and mysticism. A great and uplifting book to read.” - Yan Pok Lim, (USA) Amazon customer  

“I was tremendously entertained. It has the ingredients; love, hatred, family values, martial arts. The setting itself is a mystery. The characters are well described; if this is made into animation or mini-series with lovely cinematic and surrealistic sound track it may succeed. I wish the author all the best.” - Reezan Khaer (Singapore) 

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

“It reads beautifully, the grammar and tone are perfect and engaging. I also really like the adventure plot and general storyline. I do have some general comments. The central message seems to be anti-freedom. My question is, how well will this message resonate with most readers in the West? Freedom is idealised nowadays.” Dr Sue (Academician UK) 

 "A multi-cultured community living as one big happy family. The characters impress me. Aeron is an idealist. No way will I give up a luxurious lifestyle and confine myself to an island. The storyline is interesting, fast-paced, the supernatural intriguing, Ramona the psychic, is dynamite." P. Pasha – Author – Odyssey, Publisher – Index Manpower, Cinematographer. 

Under eye cream

Nee Rose My Precious - Sarena Hash (Mystique Isle Book 2)

Today, I begin year 2022 with a bang, and introduce Nee Rose, the cheery, vibrant, innocent teen. She is the ideal girl everyone wishes to have as a daughter or granddaughter. She inspired people by her mere presence. Optimistic, she was about life despite the odds stacked up against her. 

Trail her while she took her journey from puberty to womanhood. Observe how she handled the man of the world with her wit and wisdom. Fun-loving, caring and unselfish; she was; you will adore her. She revealed in subtlety ancient secrets of her forefathers on health and mysteries of nature. The story is fresh and untold from anyone. Pick up the book on Amazon or read on Kindle Unlimited; have fun!

VILLAGE TEEN MEETS A MAN OF THE WORLD 

NEE ROSE MY PRECIOUS–Mystique Isle Book 2, is a continuation of the 3-part family saga of adventure; a sweeping tale of courtly love, camaraderie, healthy living, with a touch of mysticism, inspired by true-life events. 

Nee Rose, the first-born child of Mystique Isle, of Eastern and Western descent, blossomed into a

picture-perfect teen, multi-cultured and multi-lingual. Her granddad, Doctor Aeron Adams, a philanthropist, created a splendid haven on the Isle. They lived in isolation and followed the traditions of his ancestors to gain inner peace for longevity. There were restrictions living amongst nature. When they rescinded pledges, it turned the place into a living hell. Ramona, a psychic, came to their rescue and restored peace. 

https://amzn.to/3qcRsZW

(Link to AMAZON)

Her folks groomed Nee Rose with skills and knowledge of her forefathers, taught her the rules of nature, pampered her with affection but deprived her of exposure to the real world. She learned about life from books and hearsay, and longed for freedom to relish life outside the confines of the Isle. She rebelled not, but at 14, she had a vivid dream of meeting her ethereal man; he haunted her thereon, night and day. Life on the Isle was then inadequate to overcome the longing for a life she never had. She believed the man of her dream was waiting for her in the real world. 

On her 17th birthday she had a brainwave that stunned her folks, changed her grandpa’s mind-set and earned her freedom to leave for an afternoon getaway with her Uncle Tobey. Destiny presented her with an even better freedom, but challenged her with threats, snatched her uncle away, and strayed her to the place where horror awaited. But it compensated her with a new life she yearned, and she gained new friends. She met Ramona, who predicted the impending future. 

A year went by; Nee Rose matured emotionally and spiritually. Trials and threats that came did not complicate her life; she sailed through. Then a surprise arrived at her doorstep; the long-awaited ethereal man turned out as a reality. Hera, was a man of the world with vast knowledge and experience, while she was a virtuous village girl. Was the challenge ahead insurmountable?

Mystique Isle by Sarena Hash - Book Trailer

Mystique Isle - Book 1

MY STORY

AUTHOR PROFILE

 

I am but a storyteller; I talked long before I took my first step. At age five, I wrote my first essay, padded it with fibs and tales, which made me wonder who wrote it for me. When writing, I strayed into the world of fantasy.

Fast forward; writing songs, drama scripts made me alive. I enjoyed pulling legs and dared myself to write comedy scripts for my TV musical-sit-com series; this became hit series.

All said and done; there was yet one last thing I needed to pull through to realize my dream; I wrote three novels concurrently. Now, I stare at the first book in my hand, pinch myself to believe this is for real. Anxious, I am for readers to meet Doctor Aeron Adams to know more about health and nature; these are weaved in between the plot; to pick up from Ramona the intricacies of the paranormal; admire Nee Rose for her gutsy determination, beauty and brain.

So, trail them and begin your journey from reality to fantasy with 'Mystique Isle' (Book 1) discover more secrets as the story unfolds in (Book 2 & 3). Meanwhile, browse for some goodies in this blog.

Thanks for dropping by."

AUTHOR PROFILE

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WELCOME TO MYSTIQUE ISLE

A HAVEN OF TRANQUILITY ALONGSIDE THE UNKNOWN

Mystique Isle is a fiction, untold by anyone. It speaks of heroic determination, of how Doctor Aeron Adams, an Anglo-Indian millionaire philanthropist unfolded his dream and transformed a notorious island into an earthly paradise.

He delivered to life, long-buried secrets; trained his people to harness the finest from the environment for vigor and longevity. They flourished in symbiosis with nature and lived in harmony. Nee Rose, his teenage granddaughter, proved herself right; knowledge of the antiquity she conjoined with the contemporary; she was far richer than many. Ramona the psychic, brought to light, shocking theories on paranormal.

Here, in the blog are few valuable tips Aeron taught his people, on the Isle.

Scents and aromas

 

The sweet scents of blooming flowers, perfumes, salty sea air, freshly mowed grass, dense forests on rainy days, and yummy, the aromas of hot steamy food, trigger memories of the past. 

Today, my story relates to scents, setting the stage for two most favored flowers - the rose and jasmine, and my impressions of them.

ROSE - the flower of the Heavens

The rose takes me back to the innocent childhood days;  I see flashes of rose shrubs meticulously lined in the garden of my grandfather’s home; sweet scents permeated the air.  

I touched the rose out of curiosity and regretted when the thorn pricked my tiny finger. Days later, I caught sight of my mum and aunties with the rose tucked to their hair, I did the same; the traumatic incident vanished from my mind, the rose became my most favored flower.

Roses come in various colors; red is my favorite. They are best adorned in the garden to bloom and whither naturally. When we cut and remove them from the natural habitat, they dry up; a waste it is they serve no purpose other than as a decorative piece. A bouquet delivered to the door conveys unspoken words of appreciation and affection. The rose is a mysterious and delicate flower; when mishandled, the petals drop, it loses the charm, like a beautiful, sensitive woman. Read on, you will discover other plus points to make better use of the flower.

In ancient times, they referred to roses as the ‘Flower of the Heavens.’ I learned this from my grandfather; he was proficient in medicines, both contemporary and the alternative. People used roses for spiritual work; the petals, when immersed in water and sanctified with prayers, said to cleanse the ethereal body from negative energy and impurity. They said the rose incense drove away evil spirits, ward away charm, and evil eye. Roses were often used to decorate the bridal suite; petals scattered over the bed enhanced the ambience on the wedding night.

The rose has a unique scent; people use the oil in aromatherapy; rose perfume mingled with perspiration creates a unique and mysterious scent. Rose water is often added to bakeries to gives an unusual scent and flavor to pastries.

How to make your own rose perfume

I learned this in my teenage years. It is simple; you may create your own original brand of rose perfume. Choose roses preferably fresh from the garden or from florists, any color will do. You may use water or oil as a base. Experiment, and decide whether to let the mixture stand for longer or shorter period. You may use other flowers; when done experimenting - bingo, you have your own brand of floral perfume. Store it in a cool, dry place in your bedroom. 

Rose perfume with water base

Here’s what to do; choose roses that are not in full bloom. Remove the petals, and place them in a container. Crush the petals with a spoon. Cover the container, and let the mixture stand for a few hours. Pour the fluid content (minus the crushed petals) into a glass perfume container, and you are ready to spray! This is a fast and simple method.

Rose perfume with oil base

Fill an air-tight glass jar with odorless oil. Remove the petals and drop them altogether into the jar and close the lid quickly. Leave the jar in a cool dry place for 7 days. Pour the oil, minus the residues into an empty perfume bottle. Don’t touch the contents with your hands. Spray - hurray, your rose perfume is now ready.

JASMINE–a mysterious flower

The flower is common in many countries, often used to make garlands for weddings, and wreathes for coffins. In ancient time women braided their hairs with jasmine flowers. The sweet aroma of jasmine lingers for hours until they rinsed hair. Jasmine oil and incense sticks are often used to enhance spiritual vibration in homes. It has many practical uses; for aromatherapy, perfume, tea, and potpourri. 

Jasmine's scent gives me the creeps; a sadistic relative enjoyed frightening poor 4-year-old me; she pointed to a jasmine tree nearby and said a female ghost was waving at me. She roared, seeing me in fright curled up like a piece of ball.

To add to my terror, I saw a movie showing a female ghost creeping out from a jasmine tree. I often wondered why they associate jasmine scent to female ghosts? Could it be that jasmines bloom at night? I wonder why people use jasmine flowers to make funeral wreathes? Does it ward away evil spirit or entice it? I also wonder why a public figure in Myanmar decorated her hair with jasmine flowers when she attended public functions?

How to make jasmine flavored tea

Be sure the jasmine flowers you choose are not poisonous; there are many varieties and some are poisonous. Take a clean dry towel, better white; place it on a flat surface. Pluck several fresh jasmine buds in the early morning, place them together with fresh tea leaves. Cover the contents with the towel and don’t open it. The buds will slowly open and by evening the tea would have absorbed the sweet aroma. Remove the flowers, and your homemade jasmine flavored tea is ready.

Prologue

Follow me to Mystique Isle, pick up more ancient secrets from its founder, Doctor Aeron Adams, in Mystique Isle (Book 1, 2 & 3).

Time

 

I stared at the words written on the cover of a notepad;  instant flashes of my past years stirred my emotions. I wonder who wrote the beautiful piece and imagine the person had gone through the taints and emotional aftermath of bitter sweet experiences.

Life, I believe, is akin to a pile of stacked up memoirs of experiences, collections of triumphant and ecstatic moments, disappointments and emotional scars. Inevitably, these experiences are necessary for emotional and spiritual growth.

As we sail through life, stormy, calm, and sunny weather confronts us. Riding through rough times while remaining steadfast and focused is our test of faith and endurance. Unfulfilled dreams trigger remorse, but for lack of trying and taking life for granted, we have ourselves to blame; this, a wise old man told me, in my childhood days.

TIMES OF OUR LIVES 

“Time and tide wait for no one.” I know this not just by hearsay, but from experience. Time had its schedule and mercilessly moved on. There were moments when I could not catch up.

Childhood 
Yes, time can really do so much in people’s lives. I remember the time of the year when the monsoon season was a fear factor in my childhood. One day, three adventurous kids below 10 ventured to a nearby beach on their own and told a white lie; I was one of them. A sadistic relative terrorized us by saying thunderbolts would strike children who told lies. Each time when thunder roared above our heads, we raced and took cover under tables and chairs. We felt doomed for having lied and believed we sealed our fate.

Of course, like the weather that came and glided away, although time then seemed to crawl. Time took its toll and along with it, our innocent years.

Adulthood
We moved along with time, and then came the next phase of life. We experienced the process of change and time took away the people who were important in our lives, including our sadistic relative. Somehow, time seemed to move much too quickly, and we could not keep pace. We pursued our dreams and goals in life, and sometimes cried out ‘there’s not enough time’. We were angry, that time was hasty and ruthless, for having left us behind.

Golden years
Then comes the golden years, when we have all the time in the world. But then, it seems like our time is running out. Our anxiety makes it move even faster than our heartbeat. Yes, time can be merciless, for it again took away the people we loved and what mattered to us in life.

THAT ONE MOMENT IN TIME
Time continues with its persistent journey. We can only ride along, but still need to catch up with its pace and momentum. We yearn for that ‘one moment in time, when we are more than we thought we could be’. When that one moment comes, if we let it slip away, that moment in time is no longer a gift to take.

Whitney Houston with her rendition of "One Moment in time".

 

                               

Whitney was the most powerful female vocalist I’ve heard in my lifetime. Not a singer in the world could deliver this song the way she did. Whitney had her wish for that “one moment in time” she asked for. Her memories will linger, as she delivered her pledge of “eternity”, with this song!

Epilogue

Follow Nee Rose, the lead character in Mystique Isle, (Book 1, 2 & 3); only 17, yet she persevered with time, challenged confrontations, and believed that time would unveil reasons for everything that happened to her in life.