The Beginning Is the End: Jezebel’s Island. Jezebel’s Island: A Psychological and Mystery Thriller

The Beginning Is the End: Jezebel’s 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: Jezebel’s Island

In an era of fleeting digital ephemera, my latest work, Jezebel’s 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 receptor—a 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 island’s catastrophic history.

Across the island’s divide, in the landscape’s 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 island’s 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, Jezebel’s 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.

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 Women’s Entrepreneurs to Watch for in 2026, New York Weekly

My books (Only English)

#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)|
#1 Amazon bestseller, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art – co-authored with Hikari (Literary Revelations)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Portland Book Review
Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Manhattan Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings in San Francisco by Gabriela Marie Milton in San Francisco Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings by Gabriela Marie Milton In Manhattan B

From My Desk to Times Square: A Note of Gratitude and Glamour

Sometimes, the journey of an author feels like a deep, introspective echo—it resonates in the countless hours spent honing a line of poetry or in the profound solitude of searching for that elusive word. Yet, it is with immense excitement that I share a truly surreal moment: thanks to the generous recognition by the Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized (P.O.W.E.R.), which has honored me as Women of the Month (with an interview to be featured soon in their magazine), my work is set to shine bright on a billboard in the vibrant heart of Times Square this September!

It is a glamorous, bright stage, a stark contrast to the quiet, introspective spaces where my books are born. I find myself feeling deeply humble.

I see this achievement as a remarkable milestone, yet I refuse to regard it as my final destination. Rather, I perceive it as a powerful moment of visibility for the profound themes I have passionately delved into in my books:

“Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings” (contains poems translated in Italian by Flavio Almerighi)

“Woman: Splendor and Sorrow”

“Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art” coauthored with Hikari

“Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller” upcoming in late June, early July.

These works were never intended to be fleeting. They were written with the hope that they might contribute something lasting to the cultural record, finding homes in your bookshelves. That these themes will now be reflected in the vibrant, kinetic light of Times Square feels like a beautiful, unexpected bridge between the quiet of the page and the noise of the world. Hikari’s paintings and tanka in “Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art” help so much my career and I am deeply grateful to her.

The Real Achievement

The true honor, however, transcends the New York Times billboards and the cherished “Woman of the Month” title—though my gratitude for these accolades runs deep; it resides in the unwavering love and support of the remarkable community that has passionately rallied around my work.

To my readers, to those who have bought my books, to my collaborators, and to the followers who engage with my writing every week: this is your celebration as much as it is mine. Without your curiosity, your time, and your belief in my voice, these milestones would have no soul. You have allowed me the privilege of moving from the isolation of the writing desk to a stage as public as Times Square, and for that, I am endlessly thankful.

As I prepare for the launch of Jezebel’s Island late June, I carry this gratitude with me.

Gabriela Marie Milton.
Author and Founder of Literary Revelations Publishing House.

Please follow me: IG @gabriela_marie_milton; X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller – Excerpt 4

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton

My beloved subscribers and followers, Happy Weekend and an exhilarating New Week to each and every one of you! To my cherished subscribers, my heartfelt gratitude for your loving emails and your wonderful wishes that warm my soul.

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller is coming late June/early July at Literary Revelations. Stay tuned for cover reveals, character teasers, and official release dates by subscribing to the my blog!

What do you think lies waiting on the island? Let me know your theories in the comments below or in your wonderful emails!

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller – Excerpt 4

I had a maid to care for the house, to cook and wash. I still remember the scent of pine that drifted through the open windows. Ingrid sent postcards with short messages: All is well, Jezebel. She played my role better than I did myself. It only proves how often we are more others than ourselves. She loved a pair of my shoes—antelope leather, turquoise, with high heels—and once confessed that, unable to wear them in public, she put them on at home while smoking cigarettes she rolled herself from the Captain’s cherry-scented tobacco.

We soon reached an impossible moment, when one of us had to disappear. Together we decided it would be the Captain. You remember, Anastasia, what Armando told you: that what he could never forgive me for was my failure to carry out the plan to kill him. He was right. I know he told you. He confessed it to me himself.

I know you have doubts. I know that life beyond the mountains has become an obsession for you. Let us speak of it. Please come and see me.

With love,
Jezebel

Anastasia jumped like she was electocuted.

This video was optimized for IG. Please excuse the loud sound.

Literary Revelations’ Latest Publication Haiku for Soulmates is still topping the chart in various Amazon Market. You can check out the book here.

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 3

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 3

My dearest followers and subscribers, I am thrilled to bring you again a short excerpt from my upcoming novel Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller. Tentative publication date: end of June.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Jezebel to Anastasia

….You will have to find a new axis mundis, a new explanation of our life. You will have to take from God the thick garment of misery with which the present civilization has dressed him. You will have to tear off from his face that repugnant mask that those who pray that business will go well, that they will recover the lost money or the long lost power have stuck on him. He must remain the God of the oppressed, the God of the sick, the God of the mother who loses her child.

Make him shine again, Anastasia, turn on the light of the lamp to the God the Creator, take him out of the swamp where he has been thrown, from all kinds of obsessives, who claim him in the name of doubtful pains and by virtue of a single phrase, “I will”. Whoever affirms that will is the privilege of the superior man, is a madman. Will has its role, of course, but it should not be taken to the extreme, nor should it be divinized.

Anastasia felt a horrible pain in her stomach. She was suddenly afraid, and she wanted David to be beside her, to explain, to tell her the whole truth. The truth? Hadn’t she gone mad like the others? Who could know the truth? And where had Esteban and David disappeared to? They had probably vanished earlier in the day through some secret door in the bush. Alone. They had all left her. It seemed to her that she was sitting in a pile of skeletons. She tried to shake off that horrible image.

About Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton

At the far edge of the Island’s circulation stands Anastasia, witness, recipient, and actor—her presence poised between necessity and chance. As the curtain lifts and the first figures Anastasia, Jezebel, David step into view, readers remain in the dark, their biographies concealed, their stories unwritten. The narrative unfurls like a film reel abruptly set in motion, and at its heart is a woman of haunting beauty, gradually awakening from a nightmare that lingers, stretched across the threshold of reality. In this twilight of memory, other figures rise each bearing identities veiled in uncertainty, summoned from the depths of recollection into the shifting light of the present.

M.B. R.L.

Haiku for Soulmates is coming soon at Literary Revelations. Please stay tuned for more news.

Gabriela Marie Milton,
Author and Founder of Literary Revelations.

IG @gabriela_marie_milton and on X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 2

My dear followers and subscribers,

Happy weekend! Today I would like to share with you another excerpt from my upcoming novel Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller. Literary Revelations plans to release this novel at the end of June. Thank you for reading.

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 2

…

– In this part of the Island, Anastasia, they have not limited our freedom of movement at all. Only our freedom of thought. And what time is there for free thought anyway? One has so much to do. So many brands of bags and socks to choose from. Here everyone thinks they live their own lives as they please, without realizing that in reality they live only what they are allowed to live.

…

In the living room, Anastasia’s gaze fell on a photo. She paused for a moment, staring blankly. A heavy, golden frame held a photo of a young man, wearing a white T-shirt with vertical green stripes, Polo brand. Anastasia had been to Jezebel’s house several times, but she had never seen that picture before. Behind him, she could see a field where three golf cars had been abandoned. The photo had been placed on a lemon-yellow wooden console, near which one had to pass to get to the other rooms of the house. It was impossible not to have noticed that picture.

She shivered, feeling like a piece of ice was running down her back, and experienced again that cloudy feeling, still incomprehensible, about Jezebel.

From the foreword

….The question remains: Why Anastasia, this young woman saddled with so great a name? Why has she become the obsession of two figures of the ruling class? Perhaps because her passivity and incuriosity have not brought her into solidarity with her fellow citizens, who share her discontent, but rather have made her an ideal vessel for the plans of the elite.

But what plans? Yet another mystery. There must be, the reader thinks, more to Lady Swartley, more even to Jezebel, who is already so much. And what about the servant Armando, who seems to be much more than a servant, or the archaeologist Esteban, whose presence almost seems to bait and tease Anastasia along some path occluded to all others?

Brian Geiger, Former Editor Vita Brevis Press

Follow me for more updates on Jezebel’s Island.

IG @gabriela_marie_milton and on X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Gabriela Marie Milton: Named Among the Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs of 2026 by New York Weekly

LINK;https://www.nyweeklymagazine.com/blog/top-30-women-entrepreneurs-to-look-out-for-in-2026-0

In a world that often measures success by the sheer volume of output, choosing a path defined by curation and artistic integrity can feel like a quiet rebellion. At Literary Revelations, we have always operated under a singular conviction: that quality is the only currency that truly appreciates over time.

It is with deep gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose that I share some news. I have been honored by New York Weekly as one of the Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs for 2026.

The Vision Behind the Venture

When I founded Literary Revelations, the goal was never to follow the standard commercial models of high-volume publishing. Instead, I envisioned a “digital salon”—a space where poetry, cinematic journalism, and high-art could intersect without the pressure of mass-market compromise.

Being recognized among such a formidable group of women entrepreneurs is a powerful reminder that there is a profound hunger for prestige and depth in the modern cultural landscape. Whether through our global anthologies or my own multimedia reportage, the mission remains the same: to bridge the gap between traditional excellence and the digital future.

The Strength of Community

Success in entrepreneurship is rarely a solitary endeavor. This recognition belongs equally to the authors, poets, and readers who have championed our high-art aesthetic. It belongs to the collaborators who understand that a well-crafted tanka or a meticulously edited journal entry carries more weight than a thousand “instapoems.”

As we move further into 2026, this honor serves as a springboard for what’s next. From our upcoming global anthologies to the expansion of our digital presence, we are doubling down on the belief that beauty and substance are not just luxuries—they are essentials.

Looking Ahead

Thank you, New York Weekly, for acknowledging the work we are doing to elevate the literary and cultural conversation. And thank you to my community for your unwavering support.

The journey of an entrepreneur is one of constant refinement. Today, we celebrate this milestone. Tomorrow, we return to the craft.

Gabriela Marie Milton
Author & Founder, Literary Revelations

Please follow me on IG @gabriela_marie_milton and ob X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – A Presentation

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – A Presentation

My dear readers and subscribers,

I want to take a moment to present my upcoming novel: Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller. The book will be released by Literary Revelations in late June or early July.

Step onto Jezebel’s Island, a shadowy realm where reality twists and nothing is as it appears. In this world cloaked in secrets and deception, truth flickers just out of reach, while unseen danger stalks your every move. Who was Jezebel—a ruthless murderer, or a misunderstood victim? The stories whispered across the island contradict themselves, leaving chilling gaps and unanswered questions.

Unravel the tangled web of intrigue: Was Steven truly the son of the former governor, or merely a pawn in someone else’s sinister game? Does Anastasia carry the fate of the island, or is she doomed to repeat its darkest legends? Each answer uncovers deeper enigmas, as betrayals and hidden motives emerge from the shadows.

Prepare for a haunting journey, where every clue uncovers another secret and every revelation brings fresh uncertainty. Coming late June at Literary Revelations—stay tuned for the truth behind the crimes, the endless deceptions, and the mysterious inhabitants of Jezebel’s Island. Who are these enigmatic figures populating a dystopian world, and what destinies entwine their fates? The answers may be more disturbing than you ever imagined.

From the Foreword

….But what is it? We see only glimpses of it, here and there. Our characters never grasp it permanently or totally. It is always a dawning, impartial, and intermittent recognition, symptoms that point imprecisely behind themselves to some hidden origin. It concerns the City’s ultimate sickness, rooted first in the great crime through which it was founded, second in its effort to neutralize, if not forget, this history, and third, in the fresh crimes it commits in Anastasia’s day.

The latter are the softer crimes of established and abundant societies, those crimes of the spirit, freedom, and truth which occur when citizens no longer push for the society that could be, and instead accept the one in which they find themselves or fantasize about a return to an older status quo.

The question lingers: How will Anastasia live up to her name?

Brian Geiger, former Editor, vita Brevis Press

Announcement

Literary Revelations is still reviewing submissions to Haiku for Soulmates. Once the selection is ready, we will send an email to everyone who submitted. We appreciate your patience.

Gabriela Marie Miton,
Author, Editor, Founder of Literary Revelations

Please follow me on IG @gabriela_marie_milton and ob X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton and an Update on Haiku for Soulmates

Poetic prose by Gabriela Marie Milton

I remember the call from Brussels like a wound that never quite closed. Your voice trembled.

“Jacques ignored us the entire evening,” you said.

“The only thing he talked about was you. He seemed… obsessed. With everything about you.”

The line went dead.

I stood there, breath caught somewhere between my chest and my throat, and then I walked—no, I fled—to the closet.

My fingers found the white dress before my eyes did. I pulled it out like it had been waiting for me, like it knew. The fabric slipped through my hands, soft and familiar, still carrying that scent—Hypnotic Poison. His perfume. His gift. His presence.

Something inside me snapped.

I grabbed the scissors.

The first cut was hesitant.

The sound—sharp, final—echoed louder than it should have. Then came another. And another. Faster now. The blades tore through silk and memory alike, each slice a refusal, a protest, a scream I couldn’t voice.

Gabriela Marie Milton

Updates on Haiku for Soulmates

To those of you who submitted to Haiku for Soulmates:

Please be patient. Due to the overwhelming response we have received, we are diligently navigating through the selection process. Rest assured, we will notify everyone via email regarding your acceptance status. To ensure you don’t miss a moment of this exhilarating journey, please follow Literary Revelations for timely updates!

Thank you

Gabriela Marie Milton
Author, Editor in Chief, Founder.

Please follow me on IG @gabriela_marie_milton and ob X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Dawn Pisturino – Poetry Book Review: “Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art” by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton

My dear followers and subscribers,

I want to thank my beloved poet and author, Dawn Pisturino, for her review of Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese art, a poetry-and-art album co-authored by Japanese painter Hikari and me.

Dawn has posted numerous reviews on her blog, spreading love and bringing people together.

Poetry Book Review: “Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art” by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton

by Dawn Pisturino on March 11, 2026

(Graphic created on Canva by Dawn Pisturino)

Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton (2025). Available on Amazon.

My Review

This book is so exquisitely beautiful! Every page has been carefully crafted to deliver an elevated experience. Hikari’s colorful artwork transports the viewer deep into the heart of Japanese culture. Masterfully composed poetry stuns the reader with its divine perfection. This literary masterpiece deserves all the accolades it has received.

If you’re looking for peace and serenity in a turbulent world, you will find it in this book. I give it 5 stars plus!

Learn more about the publisher, Literary Revelations, which has earned international recognition for its aesthetic melding of Western and Eastern cultures.

Gabriela Marie Milton, a Pushcart nominee, can be found on her blog, Short Prose.

Hikari is an internationally acclaimed Japanese artist who grew up in France. Her deep understanding of Western and Eastern cultures has markedly influenced her creative efforts. She can be found on Instagram.

Please visit Down’s blog here

Dawn is an extremely accomplished author. Her books are gorgeous, and she deserves all the accolades she has been given and much more.

Gabriela Marie Milton
Author, founder, editor in chief of Literary Revelations

Please follow and subscribe to Literary Revelations, IG, and X @lr_publisher.

Please follow me on IG @gabriela_marie_milton and ob X @shortprose1

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

A poem by Gabriela Marie Milton, and a beautiful acknowledgment of my blog

A Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton

In the summer’s lethargic haze, waves cry on my skin,
burying our slow afternoons where roses bloom between humid lips.

Tides pull us under their sensual drift,
reviving your thorned kisses in liquid memory.

A Beautiful Acknowledgment of my Blog

Best Poetry blog to read in 2026

Blog To Read

•March 2, 2026•3 min read

The top poetry blogs to read, follow, and share in 2026 are listed here. — *Best Poetry blog to read in 2026*

The blog that you find worth reading poetry in 2026. We have come up with the best poetry individual category blog to read and share across the web in 2026

Best Poetry blog to read in 2026

1. I Don’t Have My glasses on

I don’t have my glasses on: Beth, a cupcake maker, an enthusiastic dater, a lover of the arts, and a teacher, is the main voice behind this beautiful blog where she talks about everything but poetry.

2. Short Prose

Short Prose: Gabriela Marie Milton, a 3-time Amazon bestselling poet, award-winning poet, and internationally published author. Her poems are brief but profound.

Thank you to Lukesh for selecting my blog, and congratulations to Beth!

Best Poetry blog to read in 2026

Gabriela Marie Milton
Author, founder, editor in chief of Literary Revelations

Please follow me on IG @gabriela_marie_milton and on X @sholrtprose1

Please follow and subscribe to Literary Revelations, IG, and X @lr_publisher.

My books (Only English)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

The Beginning Is the End: Jezebel’s Island. Jezebel’s Island: A Psychological and Mystery Thriller

The Beginning Is the End: Jezebel’s Island

A short excerpt from Jezebel’s Island

Cover Concepts for Jezebel’s Island

My books (Only English)

Like this:

From My Desk to Times Square: A Note of Gratitude and Glamour

The Real Achievement

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller – Excerpt 4

This video was optimized for IG. Please excuse the loud sound.

Literary Revelations’ Latest Publication Haiku for Soulmates is still topping the chart in various Amazon Market. You can check out the book here.

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 3

About Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton

Haiku for Soulmates is coming soon at Literary Revelations. Please stay tuned for more news.

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Excerpt 2

From the foreword

Follow me for more updates on Jezebel’s Island.

My books (Only English)

Like this:

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – A Presentation

Announcement

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Poetic prose by Gabriela Marie Milton

Updates on Haiku for Soulmates

My books (Only English)

Like this:

Poetry Book Review: “Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art” by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton

My books (Only English)

Like this:

A Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton

A Beautiful Acknowledgment of my Blog

Best Poetry blog to read in 2026

1. I Don’t Have My glasses on

2. Short Prose

My books (Only English)

Like this: