Publication date: November 12th, 2024
Synopsis:
Nada and Kani, two sixteen-year-olds with secrets as deep as the ocean, are about to face the truth. Nada, an orphan hiding her ability to read sound waves despite being deaf, has kept her powers buried for years, fearing rejection and isolation. Kani, who seems like a typical popular kid, also harbors a secret, he can sense and manipulate vibrations around him, a gift he's never fully understood.
When a string of unexplainable attacks turns their world upside down, Nada and Kani are thrust into a hidden war between ancient forces. Atlantis, the legendary lost civilization, isn't just a myth: it's their destiny. Together, they must unravel the mysteries of their origins and confront mythical creatures determined to stop them. With the survival of Atlantis, and possibly the world, on the line, Nada and Kani must face their fears and inner demons. But can they rise to the challenge and prove they are the champions Atlantis has been waiting for? Or will their secrets be their undoing?
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Excerpt - Chapter 1
December 21, 2012
NADA
I can feel the gritty sand under my hands as I hit the ground. My battle partner lies still beside me, his chest barely rising and falling. I reach out, my fingers brushing through his blood-soaked hair, feeling the ragged rise and fall of his breath. The creatures' footsteps grow louder, the sound of their approach heavy and unrelenting. We wait for the final blow, completely spent. Every movement sends a fresh pulse of pain through our battered bodies, blood seeping steadily from our wounds. I shut my eyes and think, Mom, forgive me. You told me to run, but I didn't listen. The world around me starts to fade away.
September 3, 2012
Sunlight steams through the windows, cutting through the pool's surface, highlighting the rhythm of my strokes. I love swimming early, before the chaos of the swim team arrives. With my eyes closed in the water, it feels like I'm at the center of the universe, my universe. I don't need to open my eyes to know I'm nearing the edge; I just feel it, flip, and head back. My body glides, my arms break the surface, pushing through the pliable liquid, brushing my thigh, rising into the air, and starting over again. The rhythm of my breathing, alternating between water and air, sets a gentle beat for my heart. It's comforting, especially today. Lately, I keep having that weird feeling, like when it seems like someone is watching or following you and my sleep's been a mess. Maybe it's the loneliness making me paranoid. This morning swim helps me relax and lifts my mood a little.
Suddenly, everything changes, and chaos erupts. I reluctantly pull myself out of the water. I sit on the pool's edge for a moment, water dripping from my fingertips, then turn to grab my towel. I keep my goggles on, hoping they'll at least partially shield me from the cacophony of noise coming from the rowdy crowd of swimmers.
As I'm trying to make my way out as quickly as possible, I sense someone behind me, reaching for my shoulder. I spin around, instantly on the defense.
"Hey, hey, hey! Easy..." my friend Carrie laughs, raising her hands. "Is it possible you never hear me when I call out to you?"
I exhale slowly, not realizing how tense I'd gotten, smile at her, and gesture for her to wait a second. I pull off my swim cap and remove my earplugs.
"Sorry C, I forgot to take these out... What's up?"
She shrugs and then nods toward the windows above the pool that overlook the school hallway.
"Did you see who just arrived? I heard he starts tomorrow... and he's ridiculously cute!" Carrie gushes. When it comes to guys, she's always enthusiastic.
I cautiously turn and spot the principal talking to a couple of parents standing next to a tall, lean guy with dark hair and an easy smile.
Carrie shifts, turning her back to the pool so we can sneak a look.
I sigh, watching as she effortlessly adjusts her perfect curls, which frame her smooth, deep-toned shoulders. Her confidence is something I can never quite understand. I can't help but wonder, once again, why someone like her would want to be friends with someone as plain as me.
"Who is this guy, anyway?" I ask, not really interested.
"His dad is the famous Hawaiian artist Kalai Kekoa, and his mom is the Japanese author Riko Shirabe. I know you like them both!"
"Oh, right... Well, you know how this is gonna go. The school's royalty will pull him into their clique, and he won't give us a second glance without their approval. At least, he won't notice me, but you seem to have caught McAllen's attention, haven't you?" I say, giving her a wink.
She giggles, a little embarrassed, and lowers her eyes. "I know you don't trust that group, but they're not so bad when you get to know them... They're just kids who haven't figured out their place in the world yet."
Gosh, she's so sweet! I smile at her. "I think you picked the right major, you're going to be an amazing psychologist! I just worry they might hurt you. Like my mom always says, a confused kid can be unpredictable..."
She laughs. "Nah, you're just too suspicious!"
"And you're too trusting! Together, we make one balanced person." I laugh.
I glance back at the guy, and something unexpected catches my eye. He's talking to the principal, but the waves coming from his voice and body are unlike anything I've ever seen before. They're bright, almost glowing, and take on a strange shape. I can't make sense of it. Mom warned me, right up until the day she died: If the waves ever turn to images, run. But these aren't images, they're something else, and they terrify me.
Because, in the end, I'm proud of what I've become. After all the hard work, it's important to recognize when you've earned your reward. I've battled with dyslexia and ADHD my whole life, often feeling like I wasn't good enough, like I was foolish or constantly falling short of others. But over time, I realized that the struggles I faced, the unique strategies I developed to solve life's challenges, have become my greatest strengths.
If someone had told me 30 years ago that I'd become a psychologist--or even more surprisingly, a writer--I would have laughed out loud. But here I am. I graduated, I published a book, and I'm about to publish two more.
Now, let's talk about that first book--oh yes, it did find its fans! But it was inspired by a more traditional style of writing that doesn't quite resonate with modern tastes anymore. So, I made the tough decision to pull it from the shelves. One day, I hope to dust it off, give it a fresh new look, and reintroduce it to the world. I learned so much from that experience, and for that, I'm incredibly grateful.
These days, I've found my groove writing Young Adult fiction, and I'm excited to release my upcoming novel this November. If anyone is interested in being a beta reader or receiving an advanced copy, feel free to reach out! I'm happy to send out the ebook to the first few who contact me. I'm also launching a newsletter on my website, and the first 100 subscribers will receive the ebook for free.
I'm also thrilled to announce a new adventure I've embarked on with my friend and translator, Sandra Ortu. Together, we are working on a project to rediscover and bring attention to forgotten Italian female writers. Our second book, which I'll be publishing soon, is a testament to that journey.
As a reader, I'm an avid book lover with a passion for Young Adult fiction. But my first loves were the works of Terry Brooks, Isaac Asimov, Hermann Hesse, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, and others. Over the years, I've devoured countless classics and discovered that there's always something new to learn from every genre. I can't wait to share my thoughts, exchange recommendations, and connect with fellow readers here on Goodreads. Let's explore new worlds together!
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