Guest Post by Jamie Haden
Who is Talisa Santiago?
This is never an easy question to answer because who we are
changes, sometimes on a daily basis. It is often customary to hear a person
say, "I'm not the same as I was back then," or "I'm different
now." Although this may be the case, what I have come to learn is, our
thoughts about ourselves, and our thoughts towards others, can certainly
change, yet, in the end, our essence remains true. That is what I tap into, to
fully understand and appreciate Talisa. I had to get her essence.
Just as the spirit of the soul lies hidden, so were the secrets of
Talisa's childhood. She was born in the Mexican desert, the granddaughter of a
shaman, yet she fled with her mother at the age of seven and escaped to America
in hopes of finding a new, safer life. In an attempt to shield her daughter
from her past, Talisa's mother refused to speak of their history in the desert,
her ancestry, and all things Native American. Only bits and pieces remained in
the young girl's memory. Horrific as well as enchanting recollections consumed
her, but dissolved through time with no explanation. Life proved to be
difficult, and Talisa found herself isolated and alone.
She was different from other kids.
Indeed, the very core of her being separated her most because she
was born, not just the granddaughter of a shaman, but with a direct connection
to the spirit worlds. Even though some would argue her gifts were hereditary,
it would still prove to be a long and arduous crossing simply because her
childhood, where she came from, was a mystery.
Nevertheless, the obscurity of it all was enticing. It kept Talisa
lost, yet hoping, wondering, if maybe one day, she would be found.
From the very beginning, when I first began to think about Talisa,
I knew I wanted a strong female protagonist. Not necessarily physically
powerful, although I do appreciate the girl who can kick some serious butt, I
am talking internally so, awakened. Such a state of being in a seventeen year
old is rare, a treasure to be adored.
This was also an end. A place Talisa had to get to, after she
walked a very long and winding road, for the desire to become aware of our
inner selves is a journey most of us inevitably take at some stage of life.
To fulfill this goal, this end, I wanted to develop the character
of a girl who wasn't consumed with materialism. I envisioned a world of
seclusion—first a barrier island of the coast of North Carolina, and then, a
remote Indian reservation deep within the Great Smokey Mountains. Yet,
throughout it all, Talisa, as well as all the other characters, had to be
relatable. They had to go through being teenagers, the hell of it all; they had
to be real.
Ultimately, Talisa would have great burdens to bear, feel
tremendous heartache, go against all odds, fall, be betrayed, betray, and face
the dark night of her soul. There was no other way around it. She had to lose
it all in order to know what losing it all felt like; then and only then would
she be able to rise.
In the end, I admire the person who can honestly say they live
with no regrets, because the choices they made, even the ones they regret, made
them stronger in the end. They are the ones who transform through change. By
living in the present, they aren't captive to the past. They reclaim their
spirit and inspire others. People such as this are worth writing for, and that
is Talisa.
Jamie
Haden
Wilmington,
NC August 2012
ILLUMINATE-ALIVE, SHE CRIED a novel by Jamie Haden
Some say the concept of rebirth is simply a
metaphor for living a better life, a holier life. For seventeen-year old Talisa
Santiago, such a resurrection is anything but a metaphor. It is her reality.
Talisa knows she can communicate with the spiritual
world. She is the granddaughter of a shaman and going between two different
worldly dimensions is something she realizes she is destined to do. However,
what she doesn’t count on is what fate has in store for her.
After surviving the first hurricane of the season on the
island where she lives, Talisa learns that her life is in grave danger. She
must leave immediately and retreat to live with a secretive clan of Indians on
a remote reservation deep within the Great Smokey Mountains.
Her blood
brothers, three shifters who have the desires of both man and animal surround
her, promising everlasting friendship and protection. Now, Talisa will put her
life in their hands, depart from her mother, and begin the journey of a
lifetime. However, the majestic mountains hold many secrets and danger lurks in
the night. There are evil tricksters everywhere that want her dead. As Talisa
falls prey to the confusion of her own sexuality, she unleashes an untamed
passion that may get them all killed.
Jamie Leigh Haden is the author of Spirit Seeker, a young adult fantasy. Jamie lives and writes near the seashore in North Carolina. She has a Bachelor's degree in philosophy. Jamie is currently working on An Unimagined Life, the sequel to Illuminate-Alive, She Cried. Get Illuminate-Alive, She
Cried on Kindle here or in paperback here.
BUY LINKS:
JAMIE’S SOCIAL NETWORKING LINKS:
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting with us today! Your story sounds so fascinating and unique.
May your muse never be far away!
Rionna
Rionna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support, my friend.
Peace and Blessings,
Jamie
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were able to stop in! We are always so happy to help!
Peace and Blessings to you to, my friend.
Rionna
Wow! I'm entranced already by Talisia... and her journey. What a great concept, Jamie. So jazzed you shared with us here. Thank you!
ReplyDelete