Resist & Triumph Anthology Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hi guys! We have the anthology Resist and Triumph stopping by  today. A collection of authors have come together to write an anthology for charity in resistance to the oppression that has risen up in the wake of the last US Presidential election. The authors have written positive stories of hope and love, so lets support these amazing authors and enjoy some wonderful man on man loving ;-).

We have guest post from Maria Siopsis as well as an excerpt from her story Leto of The Ionian Sea and there’s an awesome giveaway with 4 different prizes, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~ 

Resist & Triumph

(Charity Anthology)
by

Perci T. Brooks, Tucker McCallahan, Mandi Ware,
Carol Pedroso, Shane Morton, Maria Siopsis, Vicktor Alexander, Helen Dupres, Grace R. Duncan

As 2017 opened, the United States took several steps back in the progress toward equality. In response, a group of authors has stepped up to offer positive stories of hope and love. In an effort to help fight and support those groups who are facing even greater challenges, we wrote these stories to offer a small amount of aid.

Stories of hope, resistance, and ultimately triumph fill the pages of this anthology.

All proceeds of the anthology go to The Trevor Project and GLAAD to help fight the effects of the dark times we’re facing.

Breaking Ties with the Bully by Perci T. Brooks

Consummation by Tucker McCallahan

Fighting the Alpha, the Omega Way by Carol Pedroso

Get Off of My Runway by Shane K. Morton

Leto of The Ionian Sea by Maria Siopsis

Red, The Mo Shíorghrá Saga by Vicktor Alexander

The Respect of Love by Mandi Ware

Small Victories by Helene Dupres

White Rabbit by Grace R. Duncan

Maria Siopsis!

Thank you for hosting me, us, on your blog.

I, as well as my fellow authors, tried to present an inclusive anthology that focused on a variety of social issues. However, within the stories there is courage, love, and struggles that enhance, and highlight the human spirit. All the authors employed the craft of writing as a weapon to lessen the propaganda, and governmental views that disseminate doctrines that have the potential to destroy what we accomplished as a society.

Further, the authors created works that I am certain readers would love. Of course, our message of social fairness is important but the concept of love is equally as significant. My story, Leto of the Ionian Sea, is full of emotions, amour, and secret rendezvous. Leto, the main character, hides her relationship and the truth because her own people could not and would not embrace it. Yet, she rebels and shouts her nonconforming relationship to everyone. She declares her longing for equality and a new state hoping that her people will grasp the importance of such a concept. She failed to see that humans are full of nothing. Higher notions are too controversial to utter or even think.

Is humanity lost? Are doctrines dead? Unequivocally no, and as long as people desire to see civilization in a more perfect setting, humanity and doctrines will survive throughout the centuries. Leto is one of those unique voices who sacrifices her existence to accomplish social catharsis and the establishment of equality.

Below is an excerpt of my story where I introduce Leto’s doubts about her unjust society:

Excerpt!

Her gaze followed the first pair of suitors who were at the center of the arena with their swords drawn. The hard steel sparked as soon as the two swords met and the sounds of the union filled the open air. There were two thousand spectators yet no one talked, and even their breathing was silent. Leto wanted to end it. She thought that love was supposed to bring people together and not separate them. One of the suitors was on the ground now with his sword a few yards away, and his demise was fast approaching. She attempted to get up but her mother grabbed her arm. When she looked at the center again the sword had penetrated the skin and the spectators were on their feet screaming the victor’s name.  

“I don’t want that,” Leto said desperately at her mother.

“It was your idea. Let them settle it.”

The blood stained the skin and the soil underneath the dead body. Leto looked away when the victor approached and bowed to her. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was the sole victor. Eirenaios was well known for his skills, and his arrogance would give him the edge, she was sure of it. The second set of suitors appeared from the opposite gates of the arena, and then the third and fourth. Leto stopped watching, and what unfolded in front of her were shadows without substance. That was the only way to remain calm before she stood up and screamed. She realized that she was unfair and unjust like her own society. How did this happen? She only wanted to love Melpo. Why it was wrong to love another human? Why did she have to deny her heart? It was unnatural and the gods would be offended her mother said. The love she had in her heart was unreal and she could only love a man. If her mother was right then why did she hurt so much? Her soul was wounded and no matter what she did she couldn’t repair it. Melpo talked about her land where everyone was equal and free to love whoever they chose. They followed their heart and they were happy. She talked about men loving other men, women loving other women, and men loving women. Was Melpo’s society in complete disarray? Was it unnatural and an abomination? Yet, Melpo said it herself, they were happy and equal. It appeared to Leto that her own society was the one that needed to be amended and fixed. They were slaves under her command, men thrown in the dungeon of her palace, and suitors fighting to death.

About Maria!

Maria Siopis possesses a MPA in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She completed her dissertation, “Avian Influenza (H5N1): The Doctrine of Social Disassociation, Quarantine, and Emergency Preparedness,” in 2006 tackling a non-fictional theme. Other than writing she obsesses over climatic or manmade catastrophes and continuously attempts to conceptualize needed actions. Her first novel, The World That Will Never Be, was published in 2017. The author lives in New York and is currently working on her second novel, The Music Hall of Dreams which will be released late in 2018.

Links:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | msiopis46@gmail.com

Giveaway!

Win a Paperback Copy of Resist and Triumph!
Win a $30 Amazon Gift Card!
Win a Grace R. Duncan Backlist eBook!
Win a Backlist book from Maria Siopis!