The Celestial Assignment by Theresa Braun
Publisher: Gorgon Blood PressPublication Date: February 14, 2020
Goodreads Synopsis:
After a sudden death, Will, a misguided angel, is tasked with protecting a baby girl. Watching over her as she grows up and navigates the world appears a harsh punishment for his past failings. Can he redeem himself, or will he fall further from grace?
Angels Among Us? Behind “The Celestial Assignment”
with Theresa Braun
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of angels, no matter what kind. Give me cherubs. Give me fallen angels. Give me everything in between. You don’t necessarily have to be religious to consider we might have guardian angels watching over us. It’s actually an extremely comforting thought. But it also lends itself to the question: to what extend can they interfere with our lives? I mean, many people claim to have been inexplicably saved from certain death. Even a select few describe celestial beings appearing to them in visions or in dreams, offering important messages. And why not? Countless classical mythologies and artworks portray just that. So, why in the modern world wouldn’t we have the same experiences? If we’d just be receptive to this, perhaps we’d have our own stories to share.
Those of you who’ve seen movies like City of Angels with Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage have experienced how fictional stories have blurred line between mortal and immortal. A quick summary for those who’ve missed this 1998 flick. Cage plays an angel who essentially falls in love with Ryan’s character. Consequently, he gives up his otherworldly existence to become human so he can be with her. Every time I think of the ending, I grab some tissues. What a tear jerker. Anyway, it’s the ultimate romance. A supernatural being sacrificing it all just to be with you? Talk about the ultimate compliment. Just heavenly (sorry, I couldn’t resist). And, I think it’s safe to say that he (or she) would definitely be a great catch—none of the human flaws that could sabotage a romantic relationship. Sure, there’d be other issues… but wouldn’t that be half the fun?
The movie Meet Joe Black (another 1998 release) also toys with the pitfalls of mortality and what it means to be human—but from the POV of Death. Storytellers have been matching up mortals with immortals since the beginning of time. Just revisit Greek and Roman mythology, or even the Old Testament where the ‘sons of God’ impregnate the ‘daughters of men’. Yeah, that’s some spicy stuff right there.
In the end, I’m a huge fan of these stories, which is probably why I wrote one of my own. “The Celestial Assignment” supposes that maybe some of us, when we die, get to become guardian angels. A removal from the human world forces a certain objectivity. While no none can really see or hear you, you’re adrift in your own thoughts. That’s what happens to my character Will. His metaphorical hands are tied while he watches a new baby blossom into a young woman. Can he finally self-reflect on his past incarnations on earth, while remaining emotionally detached enough to look out for her best interests? You’ll have to read to find out if he can redeem himself for his past mistakes. Or if he can offer us all some hope and understanding of what it means to graduate from the school of life. And, is there such a things as earning a set of angel wings?
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