The
School of Ministry
The Windgate
Book 1
Book 1
Braxton A Cosby
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Keith Publications
ISBN: 978-1-62882-002-7
Number of pages: 367
Word Count: 114K
Book Description:
TO CHOOSE, IS FATE!
A young man named Ziv
struggles to find his place in life after both of his parents are
murdered. Orphaned and alone by the age of six, he bounces in and out
of foster homes hopeless and afraid, wondering if he will ever find a
path to happiness. He resolves to accept a life of depravity, until
one day he discovers he possesses the gift of sight: to see creatures
from the afterlife, but not angels...demons!
Ziv is recruited by The
School of Ministry, a secret society that promises to help him find
his best friend Stephanie, who has gone missing. But there is one
catch: he must agree to join them in their quest to eradicate evil
and protect the weak. Ziv learns that he is a "Conduit,"
which allows him to cross over into the spirit world and transcend
time itself.
When he is partnered with
two other young men who have similar gifts, the unlikely trio is
trained in the mastery of weapons and the art of Shouting, during
treacherous challenges of the tortuous Quad in preparation for their
mission: to secure the Windgate. Ziv becomes entrenched in a quest of
identity, love, and will, until he comes face to face with pure evil
itself--Akabod, the spiritual prodigal son to the School of Ministry
and a master of talents.
Excerpt:
It's Miss Evans!
I approach the tank
and investigate it, looking for signs of movement from Miss Evans.
She floats lifelessly in the water. Her hair flows, carried by the
waves and her face appears angelic. I notice the softness of her
eyelids and the elegant curve of her mouth as she floats. But the
beautiful view is interrupted by a dramatic jolt of her body as her
eyes open and a cluster of bubbles escape her mouth and nose. She
stares at me and thrashes, eyes bloodshot as she slaps at the glass.
I gaze back at her powerless, examining the tank for locks or levers;
some way to release her from the watery prison.
I'm helpless as she
continues to struggle for air. Then, an image flickers from the
corner of my eye as a side door opens and Maxwell walks out, holding
a staff of his own.
"Maxwell,"
I plead. "It's Miss Evans. Please help her!"
He shakes his head
and lifts his staff in his hands, twirling it in a circle as he
begins to slowly walk sideways, circling me like a predator, encasing
me in a hedge of danger.
"Hold your
ground. Make a choice: fight or flight," Maxwell bellows.
Miss Evans' banging
on the glass behind me blends with the pounding of my heart. I lift
my staff and spread my feet, turning my attention to Maxwell. As much
as I'm afraid for my own safety, I find it impossible not to focus on
Miss Evans. Her muffled scream comes from the tank and I look away
from Maxwell to check on her. Her hands clutch her neck. Her face is
bright red with a tinge of blue around her lips.
"No," I
scream, stepping back away from the tank.
Raising my staff
above my head, I crank back and rip it down, slamming it into the
side of the tank, as I yell. The water explodes from the crack in the
tank and glass shards crash to the floor below. I swing once more and
this time the entire tank shatters, launching Miss Evans into the air
toward me. I catch her in my arms and the force of the water propels
us backward onto the floor. She coughs, gasping for air. I hold her
in my arms and caress her head. Her sobbing brittles me and I'm
relieved to see her skin color returning to its natural tanned shade.
We're here, an odd
place, an unfamiliar place. But as I hold her delicately in my arms,
it makes me feel like I'm heading back home. Not the place where I
live now, but the place where I used to live, when mom and dad were
still alive. The way she rests in my arms beckons me to a time when I
used to hold my kitten, Priceless. She'd climb into my lap during the
thunder storms. I was her comforter. Priceless would purr when I did
it. And now, so many years later, I find myself feeling the same way
as I hold Miss Evans. Her soft body pressing into my skin—warming
me—calls me to hug her even closer with each passing second. The
times when I needed someone to hold me reflect in my mind like a
mirror as I stare at her. Her chest rises as her heart beat quickens,
mixing evenly with her breaths. As warmth returns to her body, a
subtle tremor comes over her; like a purr.
I can't resist. I
have to do it. I must do it. I hug deeply, ignoring the senseless
urge to pull away.
"Bravo!"
praises Maxwell, exiting the room as the lights come back on.
Miss Evans resting
in my arms and I comfort her, caressing her hair. She finally looks
up at me and mouths, "Thank you."
About
the Author:
A graduate of the
University of Miami, Cosby earned his bachelors, masters and
doctorate in physical therapy. He also is certified by the American
Physical Therapists and is a Certified Sports Nutritionist.
And now he’s getting you
in shape. “I feel that God has given me a calling to help people,”
said Cosby. It was through his own injury that taught Cosby about
“getting people back to their prior level of function.” He said
he want to motivate “people to stay on the course” so they can
meet their own individual goals.
Cosby is a personal
trainer, nutritionist and physical therapist and is using his talents
and knowledge to help bring attention to the health issues and
disparities such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
He was the featured
keynote speaker at the 2012 Atlanta CARES STEMFest for Children and
Young Adults event. He also was a presenter for Mercer College School
of Medicine and the Louisiana Medical Society’s Focus on Exercise
and Fitness. He has partnered with Emory University as a clinical
instructor and worked with a major rehabilitation company in
geriatrics.
The host of a weekly radio
show – Ask the Fat Doctors, Cosby also is an award-winning author
and has been seen on CBS, Fox and Atlanta Live. He’s teamed up with
retired offensive lineman and NFL analyst Jamie Dukes to create a
workout video for men called Chachersize (C_4).
Ask the Fat Doctors is
where Cosby, Dukes and radio personality Tee Foxx where they cover a
variety of topics from current events to obesity to disease
prevention. Cosby also shares tips on how to lose pounds.
Cosby’s
goal is to share information on how to create healthy habits and how
they can counteract serious health ailments. His articles can be
found in “OMTimes Magazine” and “Skinny Limits”. Cosby also
posted regular workout tips on his YouTube page.
As the nephew of actor and
comedian Bill Cosby, Dr. Braxton A. Cosby has charted his own path,
but embodies his uncle’s creativity and vision for a healthier
America. “Of course” he was an influence, the younger Cosby
said. “He taught me how to develop a passion for what you do.”
And Dr. Braxton A. Cosby
has a passion for fitness
@Cosbykid_fatdoc
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