Wildly Human: Quirky and Empowering Stories

By Christina Barnes

Imagination runs wild in nineteen short stories designed to hit a nerve, a funny bone, and finally, the heart. The idea of taking back the power you’ve given away is intoxicating, inspiring, and will encourage your soul to smile, wink, and say, “Whew, finally, let’s take the joyride to the unknown!”

In the end, it’s all good. If you don’t think so, it’s not over yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Oct 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781982213244

Christina Barnes

Christina Barnes is a self-taught artist living in Arizona with her dog Cleo. She can be contacted by e-mail at [e-mail].

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 Christina Barnes.

Interior Image Credit: Christina Barnes

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1323-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1324-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911636

Balboa Press rev. date: 10/01/2018

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Contents

Endorsements For Christina Barnes’ Book:

Chasing Bliss

The Forever Coma Bomb

A Burden, A Gift, A Purpose

SKYVAC 1.1

Choices

Can I help? Wait, Never Mind.

Synco-Pal

The Gifts of a Terrible Day

Castle Of Love

Always A Race Horse

Dance To Your Own Kettle Drum

Table for One

The Stuff

Arabian Dreams

Hearing Without Listening

Some Love Stinks

Awesome

Illusions

The Forest Cats

Dedicated to the art of loving yourself.

Unconditionally.

ENDORSEMENTS FOR CHRISTINA BARNES’ BOOK:

Christina Barnes book encompasses empowerment & wonder all wrapped up in fantasy filled whimsical journeys through deep truths. Her short stories & the art that correlates to them, reminded me that I am a sovereign woman in control of my destiny.

— Olivia Peterson, Singer-Songwritter

This is a unique and beautifully illustrated book containing short stories with marvelous life lessons. I felt the complete range of emotions from fear, hope, joy and love along with the characters as each experienced their brave journey within and without their beautiful lovable selves.

The easy to relate to tales are a combination of simple, pure, touching and profound at the same time!

— Sean Parsons

Such a thought provoking read with some very creative & smart perspectives. You can feel the writers heart propelling you to choose well on your real life journeys! This light hearted book has some amazing conclusions that encourage its readers to pursue a life that brings true happiness & joy!

— Kellene Groshong

The Hidden Gem Design Co.

Phoenix, AZ 85037

Christina Barnes is able to uniquely bring a voice to deeply emotional experiences through the endearing stories with animals and analogies. You just get it and can relate. Her stories bring you from the depths of despair to hope to growth to self-love and self-actualization with all the emotions along the way – all in a short story!

— Karry Callanan

I absolutely loved this book! The format was so inspirational from the pictures to the quotes to the stories themselves. After reading it through I find myself picking it up in moments when I need some inspiration and am amazed how often I open it to a page that is meaningful for what I need in that very moment. It’s amazing how much wisdom can be imparted in just a few pages. My kids love it as well, I have a daughter who is struggling through some personal issues and this book has been an inspiration and she has shared it with others who can use some words of wisdom. The art is absolutely amazing, I have never seen anything like it before. From cover to cover I would recommend this book. On so many levels it is captivating and something you will share with others and go back to time and again for a boost of insight.

— Joy Thomas

Great book. This book was so good I could not even stop reading it. The author really kept me engaged for the whole book, I will actually be reading the whole book again very soon, it was that good, give this book a try for sure.

— Jane88 | 5.0 out of 5 starsEmpowering Book | October 15, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I found this book to be very innovative and enlightening. I loved each one of the characters and their outlook on life. It made me ponder some of the aspects of my own life and how I could have handled them just a bit differently. I also gave this as a gift to one of my friends and she also loved it! The pictures are a main feature of the book and are done so beautifully!! This is truly a book anyone would love.

— Carol N — Maricopa, AZ 9-15-2018

In her disarming collection of short stories, Christina Barnes explores the strength and resilience of the human spirit. This book will resonate with anyone who has experienced trauma and found the courage to move past it to a place of healing.

— Nichole Steed, Psychotherapist, New York

Chasing Bliss

S he’d been in the back of the truck outside the bar for hours. He would come out at some point, drunk. It smelled like snow was on the way, and Dahlia was cold. She had always waited in the truck; her job was to guard the truck. It was not a loving relationship with her master. He loved his truck and beer, not her—she could be any dog. Dahlia felt uncertain about her future as she stood in the bed of the truck, shivering. She was getting older; the situation was very predictable and never going to get better. She could have felt hopeless and full of despair, but Dahlia’s imagination was her best friend. Suddenly she was gripped by an unexpected urge that excited her so much, she almost couldn’t contain herself. So she didn’t.