Braids

What if every lesson, every heartbreak, every joy, and every choice you've made-across lifetimes-was part of something bigger than yourself? What if your soul remembered... everything? Braids is a sweeping work of literary and historical fiction that interlaces nine self-contained stories and poems into one powerful, interconnected narrative. Moving across continents and centuries-from ancient Egypt to modern-day New Jersey-this novel explores reincarnation, ancestral memory, and the invisible thread that binds us through time. Though the characters never meet, their lives echo one another. Each chapter follows a distinct soul navigating love, loss, identity, betrayal, and belonging, yet together their stories form a greater whole. As one spirit journeys across lifetimes, Braids becomes a meditation on healing, generational trauma, and the evolution of the soul. Richly layered and inclusive, Braids affirms the spiritual intuition so many carry quietly inside. It gives voice to women who have lived and loved across generations, cultures, and lifetimes, bridging the mystical and the mundane. The novel holds space for grief, reclamation, and personal transformation, especially for readers navigating identity, ancestry, and healing. With lyrical prose and emotional depth, Braids is both intimate and expansive. It resonates with spiritually attuned, emotionally curious women who seek fiction that validates their inner knowing and catalyzes growth. Therapists, coaches, and book clubs will find in its pages a catalyst for deep, soulful conversation about lineage, identity, and what it means to heal. More than a novel, Braids is an invitation: to reflect on the threads of your own life-what you carry, what you inherit, and what you choose to release. It reveals that healing is not linear, that the soul remembers more than we realize, and that wholeness comes from weaving every experience across time and space into something sacred. Readers will leave this book feeling seen, stirred, and spiritually reawakened. Perfect for readers who enjoy: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - historical fiction infused with female agency and spiritual awakening Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - narratives of ancestry, identity, and trauma woven with speculative depth The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - metaphysical explorations of choice, memory, and alternate lives The evocative storytelling of Elizabeth Gilbert, Rebecca Campbell, and Alice Walker Key Themes: Reincarnation, soul journeys, and ancestral memory Women's lives across cultures, centuries, and identities Healing generational trauma and reclaiming lineage The intersection of love, betrayal, identity, and belonging Spiritual awakening, personal transformation, and emotional truth The invisible threads that connect us across time and space

About the Author :
Carla Cornick is a multidisciplinary creative, storyteller, speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur whose work bridges art, authorship, music, and community leadership. Based in South Jersey, Carla's creative journey spans decades and continents, with a body of work that explores themes of identity, agency, ancestral memory, and healing.Born in Okinawa, Japan, during her father's military service, Carla's life has been steeped in cultural richness and global perspective from the very beginning. She studied music and theology at a small Christian college in Delaware and went on to serve for over 18 years as a worship leader, musician, and choir director-traveling the world to share her gift of music in Japan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, every province in Canada, and across the United States. In addition to performing, she helped develop music and A/V departments for growing congregations and founded choirs and chorales that remain active today.Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged in 2013 with the launch of a handcrafted online boutique, pioneering satin-lined hats for the Black hair care market. That same year, she rediscovered her love for performance through community theater and became an advocate for local artists, eventually joining the board of the South Camden Theatre Company in Camden, NJ.From 2017 to 2019, Carla served as the award-winning Creative Studio Coordinator for Joann Fabrics in Mt. Laurel and North Philadelphia, honing her fiber arts skills. During the pandemic, she sewed over 3,000 masks for first responders and local communities-an act of service that sparked her passion for quilting. Her first exhibit, Covid Quilts, debuted in February 2021, and since then, her art quilts and watercolors have been exhibited, collected, and celebrated for their vibrant storytelling. In October 2024, she held her first solo exhibit at The Hunter Gallery in Merchantville, NJ.In 2025, Carla released her debut novel, Braids-a deeply woven narrative merging history, healing, and soul resonance. She sees her writing, art, and music as threads of the same tapestry: vehicles for connection, resilience, and transformation. Through Braids, her speaking engagements, and her platform Be Your Own SHERO, Carla encourages others to embrace authenticity, reclaim agency, and find beauty in their own stories.Whether through a quilt, a painting, a satin-lined accessory, or a story shared from the stage, Carla's heartbeat is the same-to inspire, to heal, and to help others remember who they truly are.She lives in Burlington County, NJ, with her husband, Henry McClendon, serves on the board of the South Camden Theatre Company, and is represented by The Hunter Gallery in Merchantville, NJ.

Review :
"Braids took my brain on a wild ride! I became emotionally involved and felt the pain, the sorrow, and the love of all the women I met throughout the journey. Their soul thread intertwined in such a magical creative way! I've never read anything like this! This book is amazing, thought provoking, and definitely leaves you wanting more!" - Jessica Breve "The book delivers... had my nerves on overdrive. I really couldn't put it down." - Kelly Patterson "Carla Cornick's debut novel Braids will take your breath away. It is a stunning and lush burst of passion that sweeps us through centuries, with wit and wisdom, guided by a soul that alights in the precarious lives of women built of beauty and resistance. Not only will you feel like you are in the room with them, but your heart will beat along with theirs, I promise." - Gabrielle Corsaro "The descriptive imagery in this book is fantastic. Every sentence I read I can literally just see it in my head." - Devon Coblentz "Braids is a true must read book... truly amazing and realistic... the characters come to life as if you are right there with them... you will not be disappointed." - Kathrerine Mcneil "The author's style of writing in Braids by Carla Cornick is deeply lyrical, witty, lush, emotionally resonant, bordering on poetic.... the result is a novel that is both epic in scope and intimate in detail - voices and experiences braided together with artistry and heart, simply a WINNER." -Raysa Figueroa "...This is a wonderful read and I can't wait for the next book in the series." - Dr. Sharon Hunter Nikolas "Such an immersive story. The narrative style made it feel as though I was watching the story unfold like a movie. Connected in ways I didn't expect... thoroughly enjoyed." - Tanea hoffman "Braids is a spellbinding weave of history, heart, and humanity. Cornick threads to