Autor: Rosemary Ness Bitner

It was in memory of a dear friend that I wrote THE SECRET BUTTERFLY SERIES™. I tried to imagine what her life might have been like had she been born into wealth before choosing her path in life, like the Marty character in the SERIES. Through Marty, I imagined my friend came back to me and followed her dream of becoming a star of intimate artistry. Her soul now lives with mine. It moves forward through time in the personas of Series“ characters Barbara, Sheila, Cecilia, Connie, Jo Anne, Linda, Pattie, Sandra, and the others. The soul that arose in my friend has long walked alongside humanity“s progress. It blessed humankind from across the millennia when it assumed the personas of Astarte, Sarah, Jessabelle, Salome, Cleopatra, and the others. It was present when Moses consigned his family to the Nile crocodiles and when Salome had her nemeses, John the Baptist, beheaded.The history of the Series“ secret jewels traces their escape from Nazi Germany and intersects with the lives of Series characters Marvin, Susan, Marty, Bob, Jen and Thor. Human life, debauchery and depravity intertwine as the jewels change ownership. Reflecting on what I wrote, I wonder whether characters Susan and Marvin“s choices project justifications for my own choices? Could Susan“s soul“s quest actually be my own? Why was I compelled to describe Marty“s explicit feelings while she seduced? Why was I so descriptive of her rapture while she murdered? Reaching my friend“s soul required learning how spirits relate to humans. They do communicate with us through the butterflies! It“s true. I“m certain of it. Bertie“s character illustrates this phenomenon. It happened with me as it did with her character. By relating to my friend“s spirit in this straightforward way, I brought her soul into mine. Now I can see her again and embrace her. We are together and happy again.