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Excerpt:
Wordlessly, Lexi grabbed her purse and darted for the exit. She needed to see it. She had to know for sure.
The midnight sky was pierced by jagged red veins. A thousand burgundy fingers tore through the stratosphere like lightning etched in the wrong color. Puffs of smoke dotted the horizon, mushroom clouds rising toward the ominous red ether. From the descriptions and images in Lexi’s VirtuAlarms, it appeared Santa Fe had gotten off easy. Other cities looked like they’d been struck by an atomic bomb.
The world was blazing. The sky was breaking apart in pieces.
AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, I didn’t see your texts ‘til just now. They’re grounding all planes immediately? Scary stuff. Wish I was there with you. Where’s your plane landing?
With a rapid-fire double blink, Lexi sent the message.
Jorge’s response flitted across Lexi’s cornea. His words felt frantic. Can’t get down. Capitol Hill is burning. Dense population, nowhere to land. 80 miles from Dulles Airport. I don’t think we’ll make it.
Lexi read the last sentence and crumbled. She fell to her knees on the hot New Mexico concrete, sirens blaring in the distance and meteors crashing to the ground with a fiery scarlet vengeance.
“No,” she begged the universe. “Please, no.”
Her vision blurred. Lexi ached to rip her skin off her body, inch by inch, melting into a heap of exposed veins. It was so enticing. She wanted it so badly. It was what she deserved, truly.
She should’ve been on that airplane with Jorge. Self-reproval flitted through her mind on an endless loop. Should have, should have, should have, you worthless idiot.
She gasped for air.
AutoScan—Colin Brennan, dial right now, she instructed, calling her brother via electrical impulses connected to her cranium. Five beeps sounded in her ear, then the line went dead.
Tears rolled down Lexi’s cheeks as she mentally composed another note to her best friend at SkyLine.
AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, don’t talk that way. You will land safely. Reagan International probably has space for diverted aircraft. You’ll be fine. I promise.
As she waited for Jorge’s reply, she dug her nails into her leg, reopening the wound on her thigh.
She picked at it, forcing the gash to widen. It was the size of a dime, then a quarter. She kept pulling, peeling, exposing her insides. She wanted her entire soul to leak out.
“Don’t leave me, Jorge,” she whispered. “Don’t you dare leave me.”
Colin tried to leave all the time. Lexi couldn’t handle another loss. She needed Jorge. He was her partner in crime, her other half. He was the best thing about being a flight attendant.
Words appeared in front of Lexi’s eyeball. Her chest tightened.
I don’t think we— Jorge began.
“What?” Lexi murmured aloud. Her hands fell to her sides, limp. “What is it, J.R.?”
Lexi craned her neck toward the red-streaked sky. She shouted, pleaded, implored her buddy bidder to write back. She wanted to hear details about his safe landing, after the pilots found an open runway someplace in Maryland.
Arms clasped around Lexi’s waist, dragging her back into the restaurant. She kicked and screamed, fighting to stay outside. She wanted the sky to collapse on her and drag her into the deep black unknown. She didn’t deserve the safety of four solid walls and a roof. She didn’t deserve to be in a city that had received minimal damage from the celestial hellfire.
Lexi began to chuckle as she was forced back inside the restaurant. She could barely breathe from laughing so hard. Through narrowed eyelids, Lexi saw customers and staff staring at her in disbelief. She continued flailing her limbs. She laughed with all her might, a deep guttural guffaw that echoed through the bar.
When a VirtuAlarm informed Lexi that two planes in the Northeast had been struck down, she was convinced she’d dreamt the whole thing. The aircraft she was supposed to be on that night had not burst into flames. No way, no how. Jorge was not dead. Lexi would wake up soon, she knew. She would call him. They’d talk about her silly nightmare, her tendency to imagine the worst possible scenario, her bizarre fear of erupting into laughter during a moment of crisis.
Lexi would wake up and chat with Jorge for hours. And she would not swap out of their next scheduled airline trip.
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Lisa Wilkes . . .
How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
I’d like to think my writing is stirring and insightful, with a heavy emphasis on indestructible bonds between friends. All my novels thus far (Mid-Flight is my second published novel, but the fifteenth one I’ve written) have included an airtight best-friendship, a lifelong connection that perseveres even in times of extreme hardship.
As an empath, I’ve always felt quality relationships outweigh material wealth or career ambitions. I love smooth, free-flowing communication among pals. There’s magic in that playful banter, which provides a sense of familiarity, warmth, and acceptance. Maybe that’s why I became a flight attendant and social worker. Both jobs rely heavily on communication, and they’d quickly unravel if a person was standoffish or disconnected.
My books and short stories emphasize the power of kinship, which extends far beyond genealogical ties, in my opinion. Community takes center stage in my literary works.
My first novel, Flight Path, was told in the first person. Mid-Flight utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective. However, they’re both sentimental novels. My goal was to incite emotion among readers. I aimed to capture the close-knit relationships that have shaped my protagonists, as well as the growth these characters experienced through each precious alliance.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
I like to dream up the plot and iron out most—if not all—details before diving into each book. I allow ample time for the story to swirl around in my mind. Often, I consider alternative endings and secondary characters. Before writing my first novel, I let the plot ruminate in my head for several months. There was a sizable delay between the time I conjured the story and the moment I officially put pen to paper.
Also, I usually read several books in that genre before I begin writing. This allows me to select the tone and recurring themes I want my novel to contain. I’m a genre chameleon; over the years, I’ve written romance, science fiction, thrillers, fantasy, and one memoir. I enjoy delving into new terrain even though that shift certainly comes with challenges.
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
Currently, I have several projects that are unrelated to writing. I do a ton of animal rescue, through my airline’s animal transport team and also in conjunction with local nonprofits. Over a three-year period, I fostered 19 cats, two dogs, two birds, and a bunny. Thankfully, all these animals went to amazing homes where they are now living their best lives! My dream is to start my own 501(c)(3) nonprofit someday. I’d love to open an indie bookstore where the profits go to rescuing pets from the Hillsborough County shelter, which has a high euthanasia rate, sadly.
In February of 2023, I created an Etsy page to sell personalized items which raise money for animal rescue missions. Currently, I offer personalized pet tags (for animal carriers, backpacks, or luggage) as well as themed clothing and accessories. Crafting is quite therapeutic for me, so I figured I could use that hobby to raise money to help homeless dogs and cats.
In terms of writing projects, I’m thirty pages into my next novel. It’s about a flight attendant who is dating a chemist. The chemist stumbles across a chemical compound believed to open our brains to various dimensions. When the chemist goes missing under suspicious circumstances, it’s up to the flight attendant to figure out what really happened to her beau.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
This year, I am focused on the release of Mid-Flight, my first futuristic sci-fi novel. Mid-Flight was released on March 31st. I partnered with a local nonprofit, Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, Inc., to raise money in support of their amazing mission. For the first few weeks following the release of this novel, I donated all proceeds (every penny of my royalties) to Rags to Riches. It’s been exciting to merge my passion for writing with my lifelong love of animals.
I want to build my presence online to reach a broader audience. Indie authors know it’s hard to stand out in a saturated market, so my goal for 2023 is to really expand my reach. The more people I can connect with, the greater the odds that someday I can fulfill my dream of running a literary-themed animal rescue nonprofit.
Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so, what? If not, what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?
I’m a lifelong insomniac, which is definitely beyond my control. There’s a special kind of misery that comes with being unable to rest, even when exhaustion threatens to consume you. My body gets tired, but my mind does not.
Anyone with chronic, extreme insomnia can tell you that the tricks/tips most medical professionals offer are ineffective. I’ve tried them all, from turning off the lights an hour before bed to limiting caffeine intake to leaving electronics outside the bedroom, etc. I’ve done yoga and meditation, both of which I enjoy! But they haven’t impacted my sleep, unfortunately.
After 38 years on this planet, I’ve grown familiar with my ongoing inability to sleep. In some ways, it’s given me an advantage, although I can’t say I’m thankful for the condition (tossing and turning all night can be brutal, especially when I have a big event coming up). I wrote my first full-length contemporary fiction novel in college. The bulk of the writing was completed late at night, while the rest of my dormmates got much-needed rest. I try to make use of the extra time and channel my energy into something productive.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
True to character, I’d spend a year surrounded by rescue animals on a private island. I’m a huge fan of the tropics! I lived in Trinidad during my twenties and loved every minute of it. Currently, I live in Tampa, a couple miles from the shoreline. Warm weather is my scene. It inspires me and fuels my soul.
I’d need a ridiculous amount of money on this private island, because I’d build a massive sanctuary for rescued animals. I would also run a bed & breakfast for animal-lovers seeking a tropical vacation which supports a great cause. I’d rescue all the cats and dogs facing euthanasia at the shelters in Hillsborough County. Then I would charter a plane to take them to this gorgeous island which would become their new home. I’d set the plan into motion with a way to sustain revenue, through vacationers visiting the island and touring the massive animal sanctuary. This way, when my year was up, there would be income to keep the sanctuary running. Oh, and I’d probably write a few books during those twelve months. As always, my stories would include a rescue animal or two. Or five.
Thanks for hosting me! This has been fun. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you & your followers.
Website: https://www.lisamichellewilkes.com
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