Napowrimo Day 17 Poem: Hello to Life With a Teenaged Boy

Prompt: A poem of greeting.

April 17/13

Hello to Life With a Teenaged Boy

It's hard to know exactly when it happened,

When my wide eyed little boy

Turned into a teenager -

A sleeping in,

Showering every day,

Feet bigger than mine,

Can look me in the eyes,

Striving for privacy and independence,

Fashion conscious teenaged boy.

His sarcasm cracks me up.

When in doubt, he has the answer.

Life is like a roller coaster,

Soaring and falling

With the cracks in his voice.

Friends are a lifeline,

Girls are interesting,

Though fart jokes are hilarious.

'I'm bored' is altered with

'Look at me, look at me,

I'll annoy you until you pay attention to me.'

He doesn't know it,

But he's reminding me to

Keep it fun,

Don't take everything so seriously,

Laughter is a good reaction.

Because otherwise,

I might want to strangle him.

I've changed too,

I'm now the mom of a teenager,

Waiting up,

Backing off,

Yet being present.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

Let the adventure begin.

Book Blast: Captive Spirits

 

Captive Spirits Aztar is a planet where no one remembers a time of peace. Fear of those who wield a mystical cruelty holds people as CAPTIVE SPIRITS. All that remains is the waning belief in a savior who will someday come to restore peace to a blood soaked land. Zmeria, an ancient text recovered, brings a Prophecy to life. The leaders of each Region come together with a plan to reunite Aztar's divided people and make way for their savior. They arm themselves with the recently discovered revelation of peace long past. A dream is born and legends revived as Aztar’s people determine to fight the evil and Reclaim Aztar. The Evil’s grasp is strong on the CAPTIVE SPIRITS of Aztar. Leaders know this battle to free the will and spirit of the people will not be easily won. They decree a King must be chosen. One man of the entire world stands out from the rest. Si, the firstborn son of the house of Volcum, is well known for valor and victories in battle. A kingdom must be established. As the center of his kingdom, Si Volcum decreed an ancient, long deserted castle far to the north that contained the lost records of Aztar’s forgotten glory. He accepted his chosen bride, Alexis, unseen from a house as old as his own. Si ruled and the land prospered for fifteen years while evil silently waited. The King did not know when evil struck it would be personally against him or that the price would be so high. The people of Aztar chose well in their King. Si will not hesitate. The King will pay the price. From his love and chosen path, the Saga of Aztar begins with the legend of her first King, Si Volcum. “Reclaim Aztar,” will be their battle cry.  

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Author M.A. Adair Mary A. Adair is an Amazon best selling author of Native American Romance. CAPTIVE SPIRITS is her first Young Adult Fantasy. It is the beginning to a Young Adult Fantasy series that can also be enjoyed by all adults. Mary's other works include Passion's Vision and Passion's Price, both are Best Selling Native American Romance. Mary did extensive research on several Native American tribes in the time period of her books. One of her many sources for learning about the rich Native American culture of that time period was a book written in the mid. 1700s by one of her husband’s ancestors, James Adair. PASSION'S VISION, a story filled with romance, excitement and danger. This story features James Fitzgerald, an agent in the court of King George II and New Moon, sister to Chief Dancing Cloud. PASSION'S PRICE is a poignant love story with a twist of humor. It is a next generation story filled with adventure and determination as well as self-realization and of course Romance. PASSION’S PRICE continues with James's and New Moon's daughter, Golden Dawn.

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Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/30/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing Wednesday: Thinking of Self Publishing

I feel like the end might be in sight for finishing my Antigone: The True Story manuscript. Soon, I will have some decisions to make - primarily, whether to start sending out query letters or to self publish.

I always thought I'd go the traditional route and send out queries. Self publishing sounded like too much risk, work and expense. But, obviously, things are changing.  A lot of great articles about self publishing have come across my path lately and they have started me thinking. This one, in particular, was good: Hugh Howey: Self Publishing is Good - And Great for Writers. A lot of what he says makes sense. I know that I've certainly softened my views on self publishing. That and there are some great self published books out there.

Of course there is the fear and overwhelm about being on the hook for everything - cover design, editing, proof reading, formatting, marketing. However, there is also a certain excitement with this as well.

I know how important good editing, copy and book design are and I don't have a lot of experience in these things, nor do I have a lot of money to spend on them (though I firmly believe in paying people for their work, but bartering is good too).

Has anyone out there self published? Do you have resources or stories to share? Ideas? Advice? I would love to hear from you so please comment or link up your blog/website.

Napowrimo Day 16 Poem: Life is Too Short to Fold the Socks

No prompt, though the line "Life is too short to fold socks" jumped out at me from my journal today.

April 16/13

Life is Too Short to Fold the Socks

I keep my socks in a small, blue laundry basket.

Actually, socks for the whole family live there,

Unsorted and unmatched.

I used to pair them up, fold them nicely and put them away,

Until, three kids later,

There wasn't time,

Or I didn't have the energy,

Or just didn't feel like it.

When my son asked me why I stopped,
"Because life is too short to fold the socks,"

Flowed from my mouth.

And I'm right.

Think about it:

They don't get wrinkled,

Or creased,

Or suffer in any way from not being

Sorted and folded.

In fact, they may benefit

From being part of the adventure of an

Unmatched pair on someone's feet.

Who said they have to be the same in the first place?

My daughter, at least, goes out of her way

For mix matched socks.

And I love tossing them in the basket.

If it bothers someone that much,

They are free to fold the socks,

But, so far, no one has.

I'm sure when I look back on my life,

I won't regret having unfolded socks,

Or wish I spent more time doing laundry.

There are so many things I'd rather do...

Read a book,

Write poetry,

Go for a walk,

Play with my kids,

Stare into space.

All more worthy pursuits,

Than having folded socks.

Napowrimo Day 15 Poem: A Pantum

Prompt: Write a pantum - consists of rhymed quatrains (abab), with 8-12 syllables per line. The first two lines of each quatrain aren’t meant to have a formal, logical link to the second two lines, although the two halves of each quatrain are supposed to have an imaginative or imagistic connection.

April 15/13

Butterflies with their colours so diverse,

Flutter by, no care whatsoever.

Fairies dance on my keyboard, finishing the verse,

I only hope they write something clever.

Book Blast: Helga, Out of the Hedgelands

 

Helga: Out of the Hedgelands Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride. Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently. Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.  

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Book Trailer  

Author Rick Johnson I am a native of the Great Plains, having grown up on a farm in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska. I love the wild beauty of the Plains and nearby Rocky Mountains--the too hot, too cold, too empty, too full of life extremes. Typically, the awesomely diverse and the awesomely stark are much the same, even as they are different. Although I have lived in Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, the western plains, mountains, and desert are in my heart. As my day job, for over thirty years I have been a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Teaching broadly in the liberal arts, including creative writing, my professional publications include educational materials, poems, and 28 stories for young readers. During my spare hours, I have also collected and carefully studied the records of former times upon which the Wood Cow Chronicles are based. It is my privilege to bring this astonishing saga to light. ​ The Wood Cow Chronicles have been researched and written with the irreplaceable assistance of Barbara, my beloved wife of more than thirty-five years, and our children. Indeed, the essential research into the history of the Wood Cows has been conducted during the odd hours of family reading and storytelling "around the campfire" as we say--even when there is no campfire! This research continues and grows richer as our family expands across generations and continents.  

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   Book Blast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/1/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Napowrimo Day 14 Poem: Wonder Woman

Prompt: Write a character poem in the persona of a super hero or super villain.

April 14/13

Wonder Woman

I am an Amazon princess,

Disguised, protecting humans

From nefarious villains.

I right wrongs, fight for love, uphold peace.

Without a second thought,

I chase the bad guys down,

And watch their stunned expressions,

As I steal their weapons with my unerring Lasso of Truth,

And their bullets ricochet off my impenetrable wrist bands.

My flowing black hair is held back with golden tiara,

Which doubles as a weapon.

My transportation? An invisible jet.

They never even see me coming.

All six feet of my

Curvaceous, muscular frame is

Ready to strike at a moment's notice.

No one dares to mess with me.

Or, if they do, they live to regret it.

I show the boys that I can hold my own,

And more.

I am strength,

I am power,

I am a femme extraordinaire,

I am Wonder Woman.

Napowrimo Day 13 Poem: Walking With Tundra

Prompt: Go for a walk and pay attention.

April 13/13

Our dog, Tundra, who loves her walks.

Walking With Tundra

As I go to the drawer and take out the leash,

Gentle Tundra, hops up and down

Channelling her inner puppy,

Though she's now fourteen

With a greying beard and cloudy eyes.

Bounding down the stairs to the ally,

Where the leash is for show in my hand,

Her excitement is palpable.

She bursts out of the gate to the fence across the way,

The dog behind it goes crazy.

My dog pees, every time,

Oblivious to the commotion she's causing.

Deafness can be fun.

Off we walk,

And I use the term lightly,

It's more of a meander,

To the other side of the alley,

To pee in another designated spot.

I play with the leash and

Contemplate the garbage strewn around

When the truck hoist the bins

And fails to capture their full contents,

Then look up and enjoy the mountains,

Happy to live so near the river.

Tundra used to run on the beach for hours.

Down a few more houses we go,

Time to stop and sniff another fence,

This one housing three big dogs,

Whipped up into a frenzy.

Tundra taunts them from freedom side of the fence.

Again, she declines to hear them,

As I nudge her to keep going

And leave the dogs in peace.

Soon Tundra tires,

Her arthritic joints are getting sore

As she stops and looks at me,

Time to turn around.

First, another pee.

Back up the ally we go,

Passed the three dogs in the yard,

Though this time we don't stop,

We toddle along,

Sniffing the garbage,

I avoid the mud puddles,

Tundra walks right through them.

Soon we are back home,

Leaving a trail of worked up dogs in our wake.

My faithful Tundra, saunters through the gate,

And into the house,

To sleep.

Napowrimo Day 12 Poem: Be Gentle

Prompt: What you wish you could say to someone.

I wrote this one to myself. If you've been following my poems this month, you'll see that several of them deal with anxiety. I've been using my poetry to work some things out. It's been hard to put my poems out there publicly because it feels so self centred and scary, but I'm doing it anyway. Maybe it will help with the stigma or help someone understand or realize they're not alone.

April 12/13

Be Gentle

Be gentle with yourself.

Hardness creates gruff edges,

Jagged teeth and prickly moods.

Not even you can stand yourself then.

Really, there is nothing that can't be solved,

That doesn't have a silver lining,

Or work out for the best,

In the end.

Though, if you look, usually it gets better

By the middle.

But if the worst does happen,

You have friends and family,

Amazing people,

Waiting with a helping hand.

It's not a weakness to

Rely on them when need be.

And even if it is, so what?

Everyone needs help,

Especially when they are ill.

This is simply a different kind of sick,

One that doesn't involve fevers or rashes,

Broken bones or any other outward sign.

Clenched up panic and fear,

Stomach churning, heart pounding tension,

Tears, headaches and feeling blue

Are Real.

They don't make you less worthy, important, amazing.

So be gentle with yourself.

Do a little bit everyday

And that will be enough.

Baby steps are the way to go

So long as you are true to yourself

And follow your dreams.

But most of all,

Love yourself for who you are.

Napowrimo Day 11 Poem: The Library

Prompt: A tanka ~ a five line poem/stanza based on the syllable pattern 5-7-5-7-7, and works best when the last two lines are unexpected or funny.

April 11/13

The Library

At the library,

Feeling love from endless books,

Search the dusty stacks.

Still, I go to the bookstore

And I drain my bank account.