Sorrowful Soul

Let’s all welcome Harmony Kent to Entertaining Stories. She’s a dear friend, and one of my Story Empire colleagues. She’s here to tell us about her newest publication. She’s also a huge supporter of the indie community, so don’t be afraid to use those sharing buttons. I’m sure she’s done it for most of you.

The floor is yours, Harmony.

 

Hi, Craig.

Thanks so much for hosting me today.

It’s always wonderful to visit with you.

Here’s a little bit I’d love to share about my latest book of poetry, Sorrowful Soul. Full of freestyle poems, which provide company and compassion through the devastating journey of grief and loss and onward, this heartfelt collection shows us we do not travel this lonely road alone.

Since Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s excellent book on the stages of grief, we now have an established set of seven stages to the grieving process. Although these stages are non-linear and can be revisited at any time, it’s helpful to have a rough idea of what we might expect during this difficult period of transition. The first stage is commonly known as Shock & Disbelief or Numbness.

Here’s an extract from poem about the effects of shock …

From Part 1: Shock & Disbelief

(From Too Much)

Gravity fails

My stomach rises

To a tight throat

Lungs constrict

Blood slows

In thickened veins

Vision tunnels

Black edged

Ears fill

With deafening

Desperate silence

What effects of shock have you experienced in your life? Have they manifested physically, mentally, or both? Chat with me in the comments. I hope you enjoyed this poetic excerpt and would love to know what you think. Thanks for reading 😊

BUY NOW: https://mybook.to/SorrowfulSoul

About the Book:

If we’re lucky, we meet twilight at the front door and old age creeps in on the night breeze.

Even if we make it to our twilight years, the more we age, the more loss we must endure as part of the cycle of life. Many of these poems lament death, but they also relate to broken relationships, severed friendships, and the loss of youth. This book of grief poetry is as much about saying goodbye and working through loss as it is about death and love split asunder.

This heartfelt collection provides company and compassion through the devastating journey of loss and shows us we do not travel this lonely road alone. Within these pages we share shock, numbness and denial, catapult into anger, bargaining, depression, loneliness, and guilt, and—eventually—make the seismic shift into testing the possibility of a new normal and finding acceptance.

AUTHOR BIO:                                                                                                                                                                          

Harmony Kent spent 13 years in a Zen Buddhist monastery, where she faced her demons and overcame devastating low self-esteem and found freedom. After a life-changing injury, Harmony returned to the world at the tender age of 40, and her life as a writer began.

Harmony is an award winning multi-genre author, and her publications include: 

The Battle for Brisingamen (Fantasy Fiction) AIA approved

The Glade (Mystery/Thriller) AIA Approved/BRAG Medallion Honouree/New Apple Literary Awards Official Selection Honours 2015

Polish Your Prose: Essential Editing Tips for Authors (Writing/Editing) New Apple Literary Awards Top Medallist Honours 2015

Finding Katie (Women’s Fiction)

Slices of Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 1)

Life and Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 2)

Sorrowful Soul (Soul Poetry Series: Book 3)

Interludes (Erotic Short Stories)

Interludes 2 (Erotic Short Stories)

Moments (Short Stories and Poetry)

Jewel in the Mud (Zen Musings)

Polish Your Prose (How to Self-Edit)

Creative Solutions (Creative Writing Inspiration)

Backstage (Erotic Romance and Thriller)

FALLOUT (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia) BRAG Medallion Honouree

The Vanished Boy (Psychological Thriller)

As well as being an avid reader and writer, Harmony also offers reviews and supports her fellow authors. Harmony is always on the lookout for talent and excellence, and will freely promote any authors or books who she feels have these attributes. 

Harmony’s Website

twitter: @harmony_kent

Goodreads: Harmony Kent

BookBub: Harmony Kent

Story Empire (co-authored blog): Harmony Kent

Harmony’s Amazon Author Page: author.to/HarmonysBooks

The Poetry of D. L. Finn

Today, I’m lending my space out to D. L. Finn to promote her new poetry book. You guys make her feel welcome, and D. L. the floor is yours.

***

Thank you, Craig, for having me on your blog to celebrate the release of my first poetry book, “Just Her Poetry Seasons of a Soul.”

Finn Facts:

1. I’m always searching for wisdom in the chaos.
2. I have strong Type A tendencies and have spent a lot of time working on my patience.

Blurb:

Take a journey with D.L. Finn as she blends her love of nature with her deepest emotions. Sit with her on the forest floor observing its tranquil beauty, or stroll along the ocean’s shore admiring the vastness of its horizon. Here in these peaceful moments you’ll be able to experience her thoughts and feelings in the light—and in the darkness. This is a thought-provoking collection of poetry that invites the reader into all the seasons of a soul.

Excerpt from BONUS POETRY:

THE OLD WOMAN

The old woman follows the night.

Quietly submerged in amethyst…

As her robes stroke the hard ground.

The stars are her guide.

The changing moon is her light

As her eyes pierce the darkness.

Her feet are safely wrapped in leather

She keeps moving forward.

Her walking stick is strong and sturdy

She follows the untouched path

Through the hushed frozen forest

She maneuvers the terrain.

She might trip or fall over the obstacles

But that doesn’t stop her

She always gets back up

Because her destination awaits.

She knows the bearded old man

Is making the same journey

In another time…

In another place.

In that moment when they meet

They will both be home.

But, the old woman’s journey

Has only just begun.

So, without stopping or resting

She keeps walking…

Bravely into the darkness

Toward the promised bliss.

Amazon Purchase Link

D.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books, but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventures with an open invitation for her readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Fairies, Myths, and Magic – all for 99¢

Colleen Chesebro has a new book out. Check out the promo, then check out the book.

Step into a world where fairies, dragons, and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by the celebration of Litha, the Summer Solstice.

Meet Drac, a dragon cursed by his own poisonous deeds, and two pixies who help an old man remember a lost love. You’ll meet a pair of fairies with a sense of humor, and a young girl who fulfills her destiny after being struck by lightning. Learn what happens when a modern witch’s spell goes terribly wrong. Meet the Sisters of the Fey, a group of Slavic Witches who sign a pact with the Rusalki Fey to preserve their magic for the good of all.

Atmospheric and haunting, the prose and poetry, will rewrite the mythologies of the past bringing them into the future.

From the Summer Solstice Eve through International Fairy Day, (June 20th – June 25th) the veil thins between our existence and that of the fairy realm. This is the best time of the year to experience magic in all its forms.

On International Fairy Day, we honor these supernatural creatures who have enchanted us for generations—the fairies, the fey, the sprites, and pixies of lore. Everywhere you look, fairies have permeated our culture through movies, stories, and even in our gardens!

In my research, I’ve discovered that fairies or some similar creature appear in the written and oral traditions of most cultures. Often there is a connection between the good or evil deeds the tiny beings to perform. The fairies, sprites, pixies, brownies, all fall into the category of mischievous little beings. The myths and legends are filled with sightings of these ethereal creatures performing both good and bad deeds.

Almost like parables or myths, fairy sightings were also used to teach lessons. Many a mother warned their offspring not to venture near the creek alone or the fairies would get ye! In reality, the warning was meant to scare children away so they wouldn’t drown.

My own experience in meeting a swamp fairy is recounted in Fairies, Myths, & Magic. I believe they reveal themselves to us for a reason. Fairies are elementals, the protectors of nature. As humankind wreaks havoc on the environment, these beings are alerting us to the damage we have caused. Their message is clear—fix the destruction before it is too late. An apropos message for the times, wouldn’t you say?

Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Novelist of YA fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. She loves all things magical which may mean that she could be experiencing her second childhood—or not. That part of her life hasn’t been fully decided yet.

A few years ago, a mystical experience led her to renew her passion for writing and storytelling. These days she resides in the fantasy realm of the Fairy Whisperer where she writes the magical poetry and stories that the fairy nymphs whisper to her in her dreams.

Colleen won the Little and Laugh Flash Fiction Contest sponsored by the CarrotRanch Literary Community.com in November 2017 for her piece, called “The Bus Stop.” Her debut novel, The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy won gold in the 2017 AuthorsDB.com cover contest.

Colleen lives in Colorado with her husband, Ron. When she is not writing, Colleen enjoys spending time with her husband and friends. She also loves gardening, reading, and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art. You can learn more about Colleen at www.colleenchesebro.com.

You can find Colleen in all the usual places. Drop by anytime.

colleenchesebro.com Author Blog

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Twitter

Facebook Author Page

Sisters of the Fey Group Blog

Pinterest

Google+

Instagram

LinkedIn

And here is that all important purchase link: Smarturl.it.FairiesMythsMagic

Meet Natalie Ducey #RRBC

As part of the Rave Reviews Book Club, I occasionally get to host authors on their spotlight tours. The most supportive authors are chosen for this spot, and Natalie is a super supporter. I want you guys to give her a warm welcome, and don’t be afraid to use those sharing buttons at the bottom.

***

Thank you for joining me today on this fourth day of the “Spotlight” tour!

Today, I’d love to share an extension of my poetry that is very near and dear to my heart.

When passion and purpose collide.
Did you know that the simple act of piecing together a jigsaw puzzle can offer therapeutic benefits? It can, and the promising findings were impossible to ignore. While stimulating the brain, it also acts as a form of meditation, allowing the mind to relax. This simultaneous action has shown promising findings for people living with dementia, and can be a valuable source of reprieve for individuals living and coping with mental illness, including PTSD.

My twin sister (Nicole) and I are both proud wives of long-serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We didn’t plan it that way. But we are blessed beyond measure.

We all know the devastating impact of PTSD.  It hurts everyone. The man or woman suffering with it, their spouses, partners, children, parents, siblings, friends, relatives, and even their pets. Everyone is impacted.  Many of those who are suffering with PTSD are military, police, paramedics, and firefighters. They are our first responders. In their selfless acts of service, they have suffered. It’s painful to see.

We have immense respect for those who serve, those who suffer, and those who struggle to find peace in their minds and hearts. If we can contribute even a small piece of peace, it is our privilege and honour to do so.

It is this inner call to action that Peace by Piece Puzzles was born.

We both have had fulfilling careers in business (Nicole) and counselling (me). Through our work and personal journey, we have witnessed the remarkable power of the human spirit. Equipped with empathy and compassion, we are eager to make a difference. We believe that every act of kindness, every gesture of love and understanding, is an infinite gift of grace. Let’s never underestimate its power, for it is a precious and always timely gift.

What is a Peace by Piece Puzzle?

Along with a beautiful, tranquil image, every Peace by Piece Puzzle carries an inspirational verse, a message of hope and love. The verses are written by me and come from a heart of gratitude. Through my words, I aspire to offer solace and hope, love and understanding.

In our face-paced, dynamic, and often complex lives, a gift to oneself or a loved one is special.  A Peace by Piece Puzzle is a gift from the heart; it is permission to quiet the mind alone, or come together with a loved one in a shared experience. During those moments when words are sometimes hard to find, a Peace by Piece Puzzle can be your voice.

There are eight verses/puzzles available:

o A Mother’s Love

o A Father’s Love

o Mighty Heart

o Into the Light

o To My Sister

o From Me, To You

o Our Story

o Still Me
Today, I would like to share with you the verse “Mighty Heart.” I wrote this piece as a tribute and testament to the power and resiliency of the human spirit. This poem is included in my second and recently published poetry collection, The Heart’s Lullaby.

I believe mental wellness should not be a convoluted concept; it’s an essential piece of our lives. A daily promise to ourselves that we are worthy to be free of inner turmoil, free to love and be loved. Piece by piece, step by step, we can do this. We are all in this together.

Please visit our website, view our puzzles, and share with others.

www.peacebypiecepuzzles.com

Mighty Heart

We admire another’s courage

While doubting our own

Yet we’ve prevailed mighty hardships

Battles waged and won.

We hold no trophies or medallions

No headlines speak our name

We rose from the ashes

And piece by piece we built again.

Our scars tell a story

We braved the fiercest storms

For we’re both the pioneer and vessel

That ventured into the unknown.

We are not of myth or legend

Our hearts know the burden well

We bore, sustained, and survived

For into the fray we sailed.

Fear shall not cage nor define us

Here we stand on vast, shaky ground

So, let’s never doubt our courage

Dare this mighty voyage … both noble and proud.
© Natalie Ducey

***

In celebration of my “Spotlight” tour, I’m delighted to say my second and recently published poetry collection The Heart’s Lullaby is currently available for .99 cents!

With a BA in Psychology, Natalie has worked in the Counselling field for 15 years. Through her work and personal journey, she has witnessed the remarkable power of the human spirit. Now, as an author and poet, she is passionate about stories that touch the heart and awaken the soul. Through words, she aspires to offer solace and hope, love and understanding. Natalie is the Co-owner and Writer of Peace by Piece Puzzles. She is the Owner/Writer/Designer of Whispers of the Heart (printable art/poetry/verse). She was born and raised in beautiful Newfoundland, Canada, with her two brothers and twin sister. She now resides in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, a Soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, and their little dog, Bella. She loves kayaking and the freedom and serenity of being one with water. She is an avid reader, passionate writer, and seeker of tranquility along life’s mystifying journey.

You can connect with Natalie on:

Website/Blog – www.natalieducey.com

Facebook – Whispers of the Heart

Twitter – @NatalieDucey

Pinterest – Natalie Ducey

Author Page – Natalie Ducey

Google +1 – Natalie Ducey

GoodReads Author Page – Natalie Ducey

LinkedIn – Natalie Ducey

Janowyn, the Elvish bard, on Lisa Burton Radio #RRBC

 

Welcome to another edition of Lisa Burton Radio. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl.

Today we’re talking with Janowyn, an Elvish bard from The River Kingdom. “Welcome to the show, Janowyn.”

“Guren linna gen cened – in my language, I’m telling you that ‘my heart sings to meet you and your friends!’ I’m very happy to be here, Lisa. Please, call me Jano.”

“Thank you, Jano. Now, we’ve had elves at the writing cabin before. They showed up when Craig wrote The Cock of the South. In fact, the enchanted beer horns were a mistake made by a young elf at one time. I think it’s fascinating that you were raised by humans. What can you tell us about that?”

“Sounds like those elves spent far too much time with the dwarves! Goodness… where do I start with being raised by mortals?! Well – in some ways it’s true that elves and humans have a close connection, but, for most elves, the gulf between mortal men and the elven is huge, even insurmountable.

“How can I put this… mortals are just so… transient! I know that there’s this underlying romantic attraction, especially between mortal males and female elves, but quite frankly the guys just wear out so quickly – get all wrinkly, grumpy and have aches and pains, and then you’ve got at most – eighty years before you’re left on your own? Most Elves mate for life, so it’s reeeeeally devastating to face eternity without your one beloved.

“As for the children…

“Jano, I find it really interesting that your parentage seems to make you a half elf, and yet you are fully elven. Was there something going on with the postman?”

“Erm… well, I’m kind of a one off and there was deep, dark magic involved when I was born that turned me into a full blood elf. Half-blood elves unfortunately aren’t immortal, unless they’re born into a family of destiny that has a special deal with the Shining Ones.

“Even then, I had so much hassle growing up – we take twice as long as mortals to come to bodily maturity. I had three younger brothers and with the two eldest – when they were almost grown men, I looked like this little six-year old pest, with a smart mouth, who could run as fast as them and was much better at climbing trees and stuff.

“With my youngest brother, Jaenald, it was even worse! He was fifteen years younger, so, when he was a young teen all his friends thought I was his cute, slightly younger sister… Can you imagine being thirty years old with spotty great hormone-factories mooning around after you all the time? That was just awful!

“The worst though, was when my brothers grew grizzled and old and I was still looking young – younger than their children, and grandchildren, even. That was just… horrible! Everyone I loved with all my heart, aging in front of me and dying… It got so I used to say I was a distant relative of my ‘uncles’ and cousins – like I was my own daughter, or grandchild. But the people who knew my family well called me a witch, or an evil changeling – in the end I had to leave because it was so painful for them, as well as me…”

“That’s so tragic. Everyone thinks it would be awesome to live forever, but there is a downside that rarely gets explored. When you moved to the River Kingdom things changed for you. Tell our listeners about that.”

“That was a huge step for me – it took me about a hundred years to work up the courage to do it I was so scared, because I was so cut off from any immortal community. I was lucky that my mother told me lots of songs and tales of the old days, when Elves and Mortals were close allies. Anyway… because I loved old songs and stories I was drawn to the Bards Guild and practically lived there, listening to them play instruments and recite the histories. I got a job, cooking and serving in the bards’ tavern and gradually I started to sing some of the mortal songs I knew for them.

“I got into that almost by accident really. Elven songs tend to be quite… high brow. Lots of bell-like, ethereal voices and harpists and such. But one day, Daemen overheard me singing a folksy song my mother used to sing to my brothers when they were little – a riding song, and he started to play along on his lute… He said I ought to sing more for the bards – that they’d be interested in mortal music, because it was more… more, gutsy and earthy than theirs!

“Anyway – turns out that they loved it! Silen ( he’s my true love), says it’s because it’s such a change to hear the emotion all raw and honest – and loud and raucous as well. He loves to wild dance with me, but then, he can’t keep his hands off me half the time!”

“That’s too funny. I would love to see the look on their stodgy old faces when you hit them with something like Pat Benetar. So how did you adapt?”

“When I arrived I felt like this really unsophisticated country bumpkin. My wilderness gal look – the buckskin and pants looked so out of place when everyone else was wearing fine cloth or fancy silks, just for everyday things. Even the men wore long flowing robes some of the time! Their taverns are like palaces really, so people usually dressed even finer when they went out and all the ladies were in these gorgeous, floaty gowns – I had to upgrade my wardrobe pretty fast!

“My guard-brother Daemen helped a bit with what I should wear, but my behavior was something else… Elves have much better control over their emotions and can be a bit… aloof. Buttoned up, you know? They’re much better at not being angry, or excited. I was forever embarrassing him by laughing too much, or bursting into tears at the sad songs. He said it was like going around with a six-foot baby. – Silen likes that I’m so demonstrative as he calls it, but sometimes I’m too spontaneous, even for him.”

“I think you should be whatever you are. You shouldn’t have to change to fit some mold they want you in. Humans come in many favors, there are aggressive ones, passive ones, goofy ones. It’s no surprise that you were influenced by your upbringing.”

“Really, the only elf I’ve met who understands about open emotions is my so-called boss, Telly. He’s head honcho with the FWAT squad in the River Kingdom Foo police and they recruited me in a hurry when they saw how I could handle the pesky little fairies and sprites that are always hanging around the Vale, luring unsuspecting elflings into being all silly and giggly. You know the sort – the tricksy, or even malicious little spirits with their magic mushrooms and daft flowery hats. They’re a real problem sometimes, and the Lords hate it when they disrupt festivities and suchlike.”

“It looks like we have a caller. Hello and welcome to Lisa Burton Radio. Do you have a question for Jano?”

“What the fo… Jano? You know we’re not supposed to use seeing stone lines on the mortal coil – dumb, doll troll! Sheesh!”

“Oh… hi, Telly. Don’t get all prickly – you said to make sure I left a forwarding contact.”

“Don’t sidetrack me, you freak! What have you been doing with the My Little Unicorns? They’re all throwing up and off their sugar-oats!”

“Don’t you dare blame me for that! You said last week to let them out down by the pebble ford and have a little frisk…”

“Last week!… Not yesterday! It was a new moon yesterday!!! Some Don’t Care Bears moved in near there and they’re always diggin’ up the shallows that phase…”

“Well, nobody told me, you big lump!”

“Well I’m tellin’ ya now – Froo-Froo head! Get back here soon as ya can – I have puke-stains all over and the big house and kitchen staff’re getting all snotty about the icky smell!”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Just let the poor little horsies have a lick of your brandysnap and lovage lollipops and they’ll be right as rain in no time! I’ll be back soon… Gotta go, babe! Bad line…”

 

“And they get on you for being emotional? Hanging out with him probably makes you look stable in comparison.

“Jano, a couple of years ago, I downloaded some guitar lessons and chords. I have an old Fender. Do you think maybe we could tackle some Bonnie Raitt when we get off the air?”

“Oh! I love her singing ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ – that was me when I was trying to get with Daemen… With Silen, it’s more like ‘Everything Little Thing She Does Is Magic’ all the time! I do love that Elf, and he adores me!”

***

Janowin appears in a new book, coming soon from Sîan Glírdan. A Freebooter’s Fantasy Almanac is due to hit virtual bookshop shelves in early June 2016.

This is poetry, wrapped in fantasy, within a memoir… Or, to put it another way, it’s a true tale that might well apply to many fantasy fans and gamers, who can’t be bothered with keeping their realities separated from their more lurid imaginings.

In my case, this is a sort of ‘real’ cyberspace profiling, during a phase of my life when roleplay truly did need to be therapy, because what was happening around me for real was not what I wanted to participate in. So, buckle up your swash and prepare to witness a titanic battle played out on the field of sanity – where what happens in your head is the only truth that matters.

 

 

Sîan Glírdan is the fusion persona of the elven roleplay character, Janowyn, High Bard of the River Kingdom and her ‘real world’ creator, author, Jan Hawke. Glírdan is the elven word for ‘songsmith’, and Sîan is a Welsh variant of Jan (in case you were wondering!).

When it became obvious to Jan that Jano had a far better handle than she could ever have on writing in the fantasy genres, Sîan was born, fully formed and raring to go. A Freebooter’s Fantasy Almanac, which is basically the manual on how Jano was brought into being and developed, is Sîan and Jano’s first official collaboration. They’re currently working hard on an epic future fantasy series, loosely based on the ancient Celtic world. The first volume should reach the shelves at the end of 2016.

You ca catch up with Jan, and/or Sîan at the following locations:

Blog

Twitter – @SianGlirdanBard

LinkedIn

Facebook

 

Presenting the Amazing Nonnie Jules

Nonnie Jules is the president of the Rave Reviews Book Club. This club has done a lot for me and my writing career. She has a new book out, and stopped by to tell us about it.

The “CELEBRATING POETRY AS LOVE” BLOG TOUR

Thank you all for allowing me to celebrate INTERNATIONAL POETRY MONTH with you by introducing my first co-authored poetry book “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” The Poetry of Forbidden Love. Here is a bit of the book’s introduction below:

“Ever read poetry that was so soothing, so mellow, and just so perfectly sweet, you felt it should have been a love song? “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” is just that kind of poetry…but it’s also poetry written about forbidden love.

Back in the summer of 2014, I was approached by an up-and-coming author by the name of Giani Jordan. Giani said that he had been following my writing for over a year and was extremely impressed. He was reaching out to me because he wanted to collaborate on a poetry book. Well, since I didn’t know Giani and wouldn’t attach my name or my writing with just anyone, I asked if he would send me a few samples of his work, and he did. I was blown away by the intensity and the depth of this man’s writing, and wanted to know more about this person he clearly was in love with and was writing so fervently about.”

In summation, Giani was in love with a woman {Christine}, who belonged to another, and to make this situation even more complicated, he, himself was also involved in a relationship.

Take a look at the trailer for “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…”

BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/g2gNns8ZVFI

If you’d like to read these love songs without music, and if the trailer peeked your interest even a little, I invite you to pick up your own copy of “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” The Poetry of Forbidden Love on Amazon. I’d also like to invite you to follow previous stops on this tour as each day, at each stop, snippets of poetry were left behind. When you read them, you will find even more reasons to fall in love with your lover, and Poetry, again. If you aren’t in love when you start reading this book, you will go seeking a love afterwards.

Please visit my complete tour line-up HERE, and at each stop that you leave a comment (including this one), your name will be entered that number of times, into a random drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!!

Thanks to my awesome host for today and thanks for stopping by, dear Guests. I hope to see you every day throughout this amazing tour to help keep Poetry alive!!! Always remember, that Love IS Poetry…they are truly one in/and the same.

Author Bio:

Nonnie Jules is a mom, a wife, an author and also President of Rave Reviews Book Club. Her passion is children and her advocacy lies in supporting others and encouraging others to do the same. She has authored other fine books such as: “The Good Mommies’ Guide to Raising (Almost) Perfect Daughters,” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND (A Novel),” and “Sugarcoatin’ Is For Candy & Pacifyin’ Is For Kids!”

Although Poetry should be celebrated every day of the year, the month of April has been set aside specifically to lift it up, and so this is why Nonnie has embarked on this blog tour to keep it alive and bring awareness to the fact that Poetry is a great medium for release and expressions of all kinds.

BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/g2gNns8ZVFI

PURCHASE LINKS:

THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS: www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP62O56

DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND: www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLM2VVM

SUGARCOATIN’ IS FOR CANDY & PACIFYIN’ IS FOR KIDS: www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRIA014

CONTACT:

Twitter: @NonnieJules

Blogs:

www.BooksByNonnie.wordpress.com

www.Nonniewrites.wordpress.com

www.AskTheGoodMommy.wordpress.com

www.RaveReviewsByNonnieJules.wordpress.com

“This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.”

 

Almost Busy Friday

I’m off work today, and allowed myself to sleep in. I promised myself that everything could wait until I was damned good and ready to start. So much for the almost busy part.

I got a very kind remark on Twitter about Panama. This made my whole week. The purpose of my publishing is to entertain, and it sounds like I accomplished that. Panama could use a bit more love, but I believe it will get there eventually. Holding onto a bunch of older stories before publishing may have been smart, because it allows me to show a volume of work quickly. The downside is a group of stories without reviews. Right or wrong, that’s what I did. (Hint: link on the right hand column)

I caught up on the overnight blogs for a couple of hours, and caffeinated myself to life. Then it was time to tackle the poetry critique.

I whined about this one, and held it for last. Like most things in life, reality isn’t nearly as bad as my imagination makes it out to be. I know I can’t be much help to the poet, but I caught a few things that might be helpful. Most of it involves my novelist filter, and may not be much use to a poet. As an example, a bunch of cowboy miners are drinking scotch. This never happened in real life. It was hard enough shipping booze from Kentucky, shipping it from Scotland was unheard of.

Scotch is the rhyming word. The whole stanza croaks if they drink rye. I think he’s probably correct – as a poet.

The funny thing is that I may have learned something from the poetry. I knew it, but maybe it added a bit of cement. I enjoy a slower start to novels. This is the character in his natural world from the hero’s journey. I want to know the character before I can worry about him. (Or her. I write plenty of female characters. You know about the sidebar, right?)

I’ve always been down on explosions on page one. I’m not invested in the character, and it might be cool to watch the dinosaur swallow her. I’ll broadly refer to this as action, and I try to avoid it.

The poetry brought a great bit of hook to some of his pieces. Not all of them were this way, but those with hooks were the ones I enjoyed. One was about a long nighttime drive and a lost love. I wanted to know more.

One had a Creepypasta feel to it where the character didn’t know if he was digging treasure or his own grave. I wanted to know more. This one worked really well as a novel opening, but resisting backstory would take a real effort.

My takeaway is that long breakfasts or exploding pit bulls isn’t the way to open a story. Establishing stress, tension, intrigue, or suspense works much better on page one. I knew this, but like I said, a bit of mortar on the cracks of my theory.

We go over our critiques at 4:00 this afternoon. That leaves me with several hours for editing.

I’m going to hammer my way through some more of The Cock of the South. I’m using my Stipula Gladiator fountain pen today as inspiration. It has a gladius for a clip and the coliseum as a band. What else would you use on a Greco Roman fantasy?

Hail Cobby

Time to start other projects

My critique group meets Friday afternoon. There are five of us, so I have four submissions to go over. Maybe I can do one every evening.

If I plan it right, I can still do some more editing before the weekend. I’m a little nervous this go round. One of the fellows submitted some poetry this time.

I’m not a poet, and just don’t get most of it. (Did that rhyme?) He’d be better off asking almost anyone else. The last time I read any poetry I understood, it involved Sam McGee in ’73. (That’s 1873) Okay there was a brief flirtation with girls from Nantucket. Oh, and a short bastardization of The Raven for a blog post about the raven named Doubt.

The point is that I’m out of my element here.

I’m torn between just admitting it, and giving my best effort. I’ll probably do a bit of both, but I need to confess up front for fear of doing any damage. He’s going to give me his best effort, so I owe him something.

I’m fairly certain I’ll work up all the other submissions first, ’cause that’s how I roll. That way I can dedicate more time to whining about it. No sense spoiling a good funk by doing it first.

What about you guys? Do you ever go outside your strong zone with beta reads or critiques? Are any of you romance writers who critique war stories? Science fiction buffs that get asked to critique erotica? What do you do about it?