Anthony Palacios

Two decades ago, Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" bewitched me. I discovered a world where stories hid within stories. It was my first taste of a book baring its soul, inspiring me to write.

This creative act was liberating. I harbored unspoken emotions, weaving texts that were a vain attempt to mask my vulnerability. Yet, amid the jumbled words, concealed among grievances, lay bits that stirred something within-a rawness that stemmed from feeling rather than thinking.

The idea of piecing together these fragments teased me, yet fear, an irrational and formidable power, held me back. Each attempt at writing spanned a few pages, barely. Excuses became my refuge, halting progress as life mirrored this erratic journey-moments of slight advancement juxtaposed with years of dormant dreams suffocated.

Numerous failed attempts culminated in a pivotal moment-an ultimatum. Confined in a room, my fear and I determined that only one would emerge victorious. Armed with a resolve that screamed "now or never," I shed justifications and began to write. Something sublime happened, an awakening where characters, once slumbering in a far corner of my mind, came alive, whispering their tales.

I yearned to pen these stories for an eternity but lacked the audacity. Now, this is me embracing the unknown, finally daring to confront my destined path.

Welcome to the Celestial Mysteries.