The Beginning Is the End: Jezebelโs Island. Jezebel’s Island: A Psychological and Mystery Thriller
Wishing everyone a glorious week ahead. I have been asked to explain what Jezebel’s Island: A Psychological and Mystery Thriller is about. Below, please find my description and several cover concepts. Please vote for the cover you like.
The Beginning Is the End: Jezebelโs Island
In an era of fleeting digital ephemera, my latest work, Jezebelโs Island, arrives as a deliberate act of literary preservation. It is a descent into a dark landscape where the atmosphere is thick with the scent of saltwater and ancient, unatoned transgressions.
The island is a study in brutal duality, a fractured terrain defined by two distinct poles from which information is incessantly transmitted: the elusive, enigmatic presence of Jezebel and the formidable Lady Swartley, whose reach is as absolute as it is chilling. These two figures operate like a duo in a dark noir fairytale, their influence seconded by a pair of men, David and Esteban, whose own shadowed secrets add new, impenetrable veils of mystery to the narrative. Caught in this harrowing transmission is Anastasia, the receptorโa young woman whose internal architecture begins to crack under the weight of the signals she receives, eventually transforming her into a living mirror of the islandโs catastrophic history.
Across the islandโs divide, in the landscapeโs hidden places, with flowers and purposely placed images of elegant rooms, sins were committed in the name of power. These are not merely historical echoes, but active, haunting remnants that define the islandโs very soul. Here, I have woven a vein of dark, serrated humor into the psychological dread, a necessary irony that illuminates the absurdity of the characters’ entrapment. It is within these suffocating, labyrinthine halls of manipulation that Anastasia finds herself slowly undone, forced to navigate the blurred, treacherous lines between her own identity and the pervasive toxicity of a place that thrives on the corruption of the spirit.
This is not a novel constructed as a linear progression in which a perpetrator moves from point A to point B and is discovered at point C. It is a non-linear haunting; a circle of obsidian cinematic clues. In this narrative, the beginning is the end. I have navigated these psychological depths with lush language at times and with sparse language at others, refusing to offer easy answers in a space where the boundaries between memory, reality, and illusions are as shifting as the tides. For the reader who seeks to confront the sophisticated, the haunting, and the enduring, Jezebelโs Island is a profound, atmospheric meditation on the devastating cost of the choices we make when we are forced to bear witness to the abyss.
A short excerpt from Jezebel’s Island
“The clinical silhouette of the Interior Minister surfaced in my memory: tall, skeletal, with a tuft of chin hair of an ambiguous, shifting color. He had traveled extensively through every sovereign territory of the Continent, yet he returned from each tour proudly declaring to the ministries how uniquely fortunate he was to reside on the Island. The man was not a complete fool, but he lacked the smallest, microscopic spark of comprehension for any world outside his own programming. He would perpetually remark to the Captain: ‘How incredibly lucky we are to possess the legal right to happiness here.“
Cover Concepts for Jezebel’s Island
Thank you to the exceptional photographer Andrei Marin for allowing me to use his original work in developing the cover concepts. The girls in the picture are real models.
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Gabriela Marie Milton, Author and Founder of Literary Revelations Woman of the Month (May, 2026), at P.O.W.E.R Magazine One of the 60th Womenโs Entrepreneurs to Watch for in 2026, New York Weekly
Good day, my dearest followers. If it is morning, have a productive day; if it is night, may it be magical for you.
I am going to use this space today to remind everyone who reads my blog that my publishing house, Literary Revelations, is on the verge of publishing a superb album of fine art photography (monochrome) and poetry entitled LULLACAPES IN LIGHT AND SHADOW by Japanese artist Naoki Kimura.
Please stay tuned for more news!
Lullascapes in Light and Shadow
Technically, the album measures 8.27 x 11.69 inches and is printed on premium paper.
Substantively, the team and I at Literary Revelations are honored to bring you such a collector’s piece.
For those eager to journey deeper into the heart of Japanese culture, there is no more resonant path than one illuminated by the fine art photography and poetry of a preeminent Zen photographer. The album is more than a collection of images or mere wordsโit is an invitation to see with new eyes, to listen with a still mind, and to experience the world as a fleeting, exquisite moment.
I did the last quick revision of the album last night. When I finished, my hands were trembling. So much beauty…
An invitation to the in-between. When the last ray slips beyond the frame, we stand unguarded, ready for duskโs gentle benediction.
Naoki Kimura…
More information about our artist Naoki Kimura
ARTIST STATEMENT
Nagikei: The Lullscapes Embracing the Resonance of Stillness The title โNagikeiโ (ๅชๆฏ-Lullscapes) encapsulates the profound sense of tranquility and harmony inherent in โNagiโ (Lull), blended with the nuanced appreciation for subtlety and evanescence conveyed by โKeiโ (scenery or emotional landscape). This collection invites you to rediscover those serene moments and ephemeral beauties often overlooked in our daily lives. My choice of monochrome expression stems from a profound belief: the interplay of light and shadow, with its intricate gradations, can most authentically articulate silence and its profound depths. This minimalist yet dignified approach accentuates the delicate textures, structures, and tonal variations brought forth by chiaroscuro. It aims to evoke the subtle โfluctuationsโ (yuragi) inherent in nature and the poignant sensibility of โmono no awareโ โ a gentle melancholy at the transience of things. Japan, with its rich tapestry of tradition and aesthetic consciousness, serves as a timeless realm that conveys both serenity and warmth. The tranquility and natural allure permeating this land resonate deeply with the quietude and acceptance of impermanence central to Zen philosophy, offering visitors a unique space for calm introspection. It is my sincere hope that through this album, you will experience a profound resonance with these works at the crossroads of time and space. The emotions embedded within the theme of โNagikeiโ are inextricably linked to, and deeply resonate with, the consciousness of a โsustainable future.โ In an increasingly digital world, we often lose sight of the โtranscendent synchronicityโ that these moments reveal. Furthermore, the inherent human capacity to perceive the โ1/f fluctuationโ waves present in nature and to embrace โmono no aware,โ transcending eras and cultures, I believe, reawakens our fundamental aesthetic sensibilities. This is not a return to origins, but rather a quest to rediscover the unique stillness and momentary beauty often overlooked in our contemporary digitized environments. I believe this endeavor is a meaningful pursuit for enriching our inner lives as we navigate towards a future society. It is my earnest wish that these works, which focus on โbeingโ and โfeelingโ within stillness and simplicity, will offer viewers profound introspection and healing, serving as a catalyst for re- evaluating their environment and way of life. Should you find yourself sharing in this world of โNagiโโa space for experiencing the quietude of the heart and an instinctive appreciation for โessential beautyโโit would be my utmost fulfillment.
LIST OF EXHIBITIONS Solo & Group Exhibitions 2025 Naoki Kimura Exhibition โ Nagikei โ Lullscapes in Light and Shadow, Hilton Tokyo (with Nespresso and Earth+ Gallery), Tokyo 2024 Naoki Kimura Exhibition โ Nagiei โ In Praise of Shadows as Lullscape, Cha no Ma, Tokyo 2024 Naoki Kimura Solo Exhibition โ A Time Flies as Lullscapes, Kyoto Tsutaya Bookstore 2023 Naoki Kimura Exhibition โ Echoes of Silence / Harmony with Noise, Shimokitazawa Spicy Stories 2023 The Tranquility as Lullscape โ Nagi โ In Praise of Shadows, Sho+1 Gallery, Tokyo 2022 Nagi on the Edge of Milestone, Fireking Cafรฉ, Tokyo 2021 Reality and Virtuality, Sho+1 Gallery, Tokyo 2019 Architecture and Light โ Six Photographers Intersecting with Architecture, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2018 Naoki Kimura Exhibition โ Nagi: Anecdote (curated), Ginza Soei Gallery, Tokyo 2015 Through the Window โ Light Accumulating, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2014 Publication Commemorative Exhibition โ Nagi, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2013 Directorโs Choice Vol.3: B&W, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2012 Directorโs Choice Vol.2, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2011 Portrait, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2010 Silent Monochrome, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2009 Nagi โ Rising, Ephemeral Moments, Emon Photo Gallery, Tokyo 2006 Fine Print Auction 2006 Exhibition, Viewpoint Gallery, California, USA 2005 ML Collaboration Project โ Photography as Interior, Cassina IXC Aoyama, Tokyo 1993 3 Days in Chinatown, Exposure (Shibuya PARCO), Tokyo 1992 IL Concerto / Naoki Kimura, Sala dโArte della Casa Editrice Cantini, Florence, Italy 1991 Lโatmosfera, Stephen Albier Gallery (Burberry New York), USA 1988 Dรฉjร Vu the Shadow, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University, USA 12 Art Fair Participation 2024 Art Collaboration Kyoto 2024 Art Fair Tokyo 2022 Art Stage Osaka 2022 Art Fair Tokyo 2017 Daikanyama Photo Fair 2012 Tokyo Photo 1993 Frankfurt Book Fair Selected Collaborations, Commissions & Auctions Lobby artwork, Heritage Place Boston, USA (1989โ1991) Advertising image for Thai Dynasty, Interior Design (USA), 1988 Boutique decoration images for Burberry New York, 1993 Selected by Cantini Editore (Italy) for Frankfurt Book Fair, 1993 Original photographic goods for Tokyo International Forum collaboration with Rafael Viรฑoly Architects (New York) โ Postcards, memo blocks, notebooks, letter sets (Art Print Japan), 1997โ Branding management & imagery for Blanco Elegante Beauty Salon, 2002โ 2005 Exhibitions & auctions at Viewpoint Gallery โ Photographic Art Center, California, USA, 2007โ Image contributions for Yohaku Gallery, 2010โ2014 Image production for Aio-n Ginza, produced by Masayuki Tsuchiya, 2009โ Title background imagery for Art Stage โ The Feast of Beauty by Painters, TOKYO MXTV, 2014โ Slide show collaboration for Sound Collaboration LIVE โ Light Mellow Vol.1.5 / Future City-Pop Edition, KIWA Tennoz Isle, 2019 Selected for Nagi-Wa project โYell for Art! Tokyo Projectโ, 2020 Exhibited and sold works via OIL by Bijutsu Techo, 2022โ Exhibited and sold NFT works via MakersPlace, 2022โ 13 AWARDS & RECOGNITION Black & White Portfolio Contest Awards (USA) Annual Awards 2006 Merit Award Black & White Spider Awards 3rd Edition (International), 2007 Annual Awards Nominee Black & White Spider Awards 19th Edition (International), 2024 Annual Awards Nominee Photo book โNagiโ YPP Graphic Arts, 2014 YPP Award Photo book โNagiโ 56th National Catalog & Poster Exhibition (Japan) Encouragement Prize
BIOGRAPHY Naoki Kimura, a fine art photographer and poet, was born in the historic weaving district of Nishijin in Kyoto. In this enclave, centuries-old threads of tradition and artistry are intricately intertwined. Kimuraโs work is shaped by the subtle grandeur of Japanโs ancient heart. This cradle of craftsmanship, with its iridescent silks and quiet temples, instilled in him an early reverence for the grace found in both everyday moments and the painstaking work of artisans. In 1987, driven by a yearning for broader horizons, Kimura embarked on a pilgrimage to the United States. By 1990, the creative current of New York had claimed him. New York became both an anchor and a launching point, enabling him to traverse Europeโs storied landscapes. Naoki Kimuraโs first album, NAGI, emerged as a radiant homage to the Renaissance that once swept across the heart of Europe. Yet, despite the lure of the world, there remained an inexorable pull toward home. In 2017, with the wisdom of years and an increasingly profound artistic vision, he turned his gaze back to Japan, establishing Tokyo as his creative hub. Here, amid the contrasting rhythms of ancient temples and neon-lit avenues, he embarked on a new chapterโa return not only to his country of birth but to purpose. At the core of his photographic meditation lies an exploration of mono no awareโthe tender awareness of impermanence and the gentle sorrow that accompanies it. Through his unique sensibility, Kimura distills this concept into what he calls โNagiโ: a profound, resonant calm. It is a stillness that is not emptiness but fullnessโan echo of all that once was and might yet be. Each photograph, whether of a fleeting shadow on stone or the hush before a storm, seeks to capture the tremor that arises when moment and place convergeโa fleeting qualia, the ineffable felt quality of existence itself. His art is, in essence, the patient recording of these thresholds: the pause where time lingers, suspended in the interplay of light and shadow. Through careful observation, Noaki Kimura makes the invisible manifest; his images invite viewers to inhabit silence, to contemplate the spaces between breath, thought, and sensation. This singular vision has garnered him a devoted circle of collectors, not only in his native Japan but across the Americas and Europe. To encounter his work is to be reminded of the fragility of beauty, the sweetness of melancholy, and the immense depth that resides within the most unassuming of moments. His photographs are not records of the world, but portals to its soulโeach frame a meditation, each composition an invitation to dwell, if only for an instant, in the presence of stillness. Naoki Kimuraโs newest album, Lullascapes in Light and Shadow (Literary Revelations, 2025), is a testimony to his exceptional art and a symphony of refinement and restraint. His Japanese art embodies quiet contemplation and presents the world with a vision where the fleeting and the eternal converge. GABRIELA MARIE MILTON Editor in Chief and Founder of Literary Revelations Publishing House, USA
Skies, imperishable yellows coiled around your finger.
Under the coldness of your eyes, a flower blooms.
Prophesies melt in the waters of a changing time.
UPDATE:
Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce that we have finished the selections for Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. If we selected an author, we selected the entire block of five haiku the respective author wrote. We included over 240 authors. This week, you, my dearest contributors, will receive an email of acceptance/and, regretfully, some of you of rejection. Please stay tuned.
My books (Only English) #1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis) #1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)
Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books. Please read other reviews here:
Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller โDrowning Ruth.”
โWith lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela Marie Milton. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.โ Christina Schwartz
Edited Collections: #1 Amazon Bestseller, Hidden in Childhood (Literary Revelations) #1 Amazon bestseller,Petals of Haiku (Literary Revelations) #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (EIF)
I want to share with you the foreword of the book. I hope you enjoy it.
Have a great morning/evening!
Cindy Georgakas is not just a wellness therapist; she is a beacon of hope and creativity through her exceptional poetry. Celebrating the profound impact of her written words, we find that her beautiful verses resonate deeply with those who seek to overcome obstacles in their lives. Each poem serves as a reminder that itโs possible to celebrate success, regain trust in yourself, and ultimately embrace love and happiness.
Cindyโs book, Celebrating Poetry: A Companion Guide to Re-Recreate and Celebrate, speaks directly to the heart of human experienceโovercoming grief and restoring trust in oneself. Her poetry acts as a guiding light for those navigating their own journeys of healing. Reading her poetry is more than just an act; itโs an immersive journey that encourages introspection and growth. Through her verses, Cindy helps others find solace and strength in their struggles, proving that even the most challenging paths can lead to renewal.
Cindy Georgakas stands out as a beacon of inspiration in the world of poetry. Each beautifully crafted verse invites readers on a journey to regain trust in themselves, overcome obstacles, and embrace hope.
In a world where many feel lost or disconnected, Cindy Georgakas offers not only words but also a chance for readers to reconnect with their inner selves and rediscover joy amidst adversity. Embrace the opportunity to explore her work; you may find that within each line lies the key to your own healing journey.
tonight I will come to your room from the ocean of a forgotten autumn you will be asleep on the left side of the bed; in the morning your chest will smell salt a cardinal will trill dreams of me.
My dear friends, at the hour I write, Full Moon Confessions by Tracey Anne – published by Literary Revelations – has maintaining its #1 Top Release in various categories in the US three days now and … it became #1 Top Release in Japan. Congratulations to Tracey Anne!
A few Words on Tracey’s Poetry:
You can get Tracey’s book here:
Thank you everyone for your support. Have a great week.
The moonโs right-hand pours soul into my flesh pigeonsโ wings bring scents of lilac blooms the air gets drunk with poetry statuary women of the water flaunt their hair within the loneliness of you my heart rotates five equinoxes on a wooden spindle your eyes pour flesh into my soul my body germinates the sounds of growing leaves I wash my hands into the waters of Guadalquivir in the scented night of those who never sleep I say I love you and in one single breath our wedding is transformed in an enraptured death was it the moon? was it the morning dew? perhaps it was the miracle of you
Fuiste tรบ el milagro
La mano derecha de la luna vierte alma dentro de mi carne, los aleteos de las palomas traen aromas de lilas en flor, el aire se emborracha de poesรญa, imaginarias mujeres del agua, sirenas, alardean de cabello. Dentro de tu soledad mi corazรณn rota cinco equinoccios cual uso de madera, tus ojos vierten carne dentro de mi alma, mi cuerpo germina los sonidos de hojas que brotan, lavo mis manos en las aguas del Guadalquivir en la perfumada noche de aquellos que nunca duermen. Digo โte quieroโ y en solo un respiro nuestra boda se convierte en un morir de รฉxtasis. ยฟFue la luna? ยฟFue el aroma de mayo? Quizรกs fuiste tรบ el milagro.
Literary Revelations recently published Echoes Lost in Stars by PS Conway. The book reached Top New Release on Amazon in all categories: poetry about nature, poetry about love, and American Poetry. It’s a splendid poetry collection. Thank you to everyone who helped us. I am humbled by your support. Those of you who still want to check the book out you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Lost-Stars-Poems-Conway-ebook/dp/B0CW1HRHB5
Gabriela Marie Milton 2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Books:
Below please find my reading of the poem “Dedication” included in Echoes Lost in Stars, by PS Conway. Literary Revelations is proud to publish Patrick’s book on March 17, 2024.
For now I hope you enjoy this poem.
DEDICATION
dedicated to my Susan my Muse when the sun refuses to enlighten me heighten my senses see things more bright even midst the depths of night when stars remind me that all is lost that all is empty and bare she takes my hand guides me to a place where loves lies hidden seductive and deep she keeps my heart secure in that darkness my angel ~ my Elpis safe evermore in her care
Gabriela Marie Milton 2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Books:
Happy Monday. May you have a fabulous week ahead. As some of you may know Literary Revelations will publish Echoes Lost in Stars, a wonderful poetry book by PS Conway, on March 17, 2024.
Below is my reading of the poem “gentle” included in Echoes Lost in Stars. I hope you enjoy it.
gentle, the night breeze sighs warm upon my cheek breathing short and gaspt along my ear sliding soft and tender โcross star-bared shoulders eyes close lips part
gentle, the night breeze sighs full into my soul pleading long and thick upon my heart searching hard and ancient anent my source eyes widen spirit departs
i am, the night breeze sighs
Please follow me at Literary Revelations for more updates, poetry, short prose, interviews, art.
Gabriela Marie Milton 2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Books:
A bird flies over the tower of the church. A boy tries to bring it down with a stone. I gave you one single tin soldier. You grew thousands of them. Led by you there is now an entire army trying to keep every soul away from me. As though love for one soul requires the destruction of all others. In the end, the boy brought down the bird. Hurt, she falls in the sand.
Please do not forget that on March 17 Literary Revelations will publish a fabulous poetry book by PS Conway – Echoes Lost in Stars
Gabriela Marie Milton 2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Books:
