Monday Poetry

So, it’s Saturday

I know that I missed all last week.

I have been struggling with files for four anthologies. Trying to get it all to shine. I have been fighting my own self doubt. I have been working on trying not to feel like I have to do it all.

That is probably the worst thing about me, that feeling like I have to do it all, like I can’t lean on anyone else or I will burden them. Because I am, in my own mind, never good enough. I work extra hard to attempt to be seen as even half of the capable as the others around me. And then I end up intimidating the ones that I admire. Intimidating and hurting, because they end up feeling that they cannot possibly do as much as I do. While I am feeling that I am a screw up because I am dropping balls that I should have never tried to carry at all.

Balls bounce, and I can often grab them in rebound, but the hurt… I regret that. I try to be a good person. I try to do everything right… Even though I often do not have a clue what right actually is. So sometimes all that I can do is see the balls drop, and apologize for causing the hurt.

I read somewhere that the truest apology was changed behavior. This is where I truly fail. I try. But in some ways it is like an addiction. I have to put myself in that mess. I have to try to be the one that is doing the overwhelming of myself. It is my toxic trait.

Because I want to be seen as amazing… And there is the voice in the back of my head that is always going to tell me I am not.

That voice we all have. It’s mean. It bullies us into believing the lie… AND it is a lie. I am not worthless. I am talented and I am loved. I have been improving at art, writing, cover design, and publishing. I have been improving with all of my skills that have been a struggle… Except for dealing with interpersonal relationships.

I am sorry for those who I hurt when I am dropping the balls. I am sorry for the heartache that I cause in those who love me. I am not going to say that I will try to do better, because I should not lie, even to myself. However I will say that when I am struggling with the mental gremlins, and fighting for the strength to share the load… I am so very grateful that I have you all in my life.

You are amazing. You all keep me going. And I only hope that my own stubborn nature will not end up pushing you away.

Releasing Soon! Preorder!

#NIghtmareWhispers PRE-ORDERS ARE HERE! Nightmare Whispers Volume 1: The Darkness Within releases on October 31st 2020, but if you act now you can pre-order yourself a copy of the books for the discounted price of $5.#NWTheDarknessWithin #Anthologies #Horror- Pre-Order Here: http://www.books2read.com/Nwthedarknesswithin

#NIghtmareWhispers PRE-ORDERS ARE HERE! Nightmare Whispers Volume 2: Madness Echoes releases on October 31st 2020, but if you act now you can pre-order yourself a copy of the books for the discounted price of $5.#NWMadnessEchoes #Anthologies #Horror - Pre-Order Here: http://www.books2read.com/NWMadnessEchoes

#NIghtmareWhispers PRE-ORDERS ARE HERE! Nightmare Whispers Volume 3: What Remains releases on October 31st 2020, but if you act now you can pre-order yourself a copy of the books for the discounted price of $5.#NWWhatRemains #Anthologies #Horror- Pre-Order Here: http://www.books2read.com/NWWhatRemains

Wordless Wednesday

Cal for Submissions – personal.

Ok. I am doing this as a personal project. I am putting together my grandmother’s stories and poetry my boyfriend’s grandmother wrote. But I want it to reflect the wisdom of all grandmothers. So here is my request.

Do you have a story that you remember your grandmother (abuela) telling? Or a bit of poetry they wrote that you would love to see in print? Try submitting it for this anthology. I am busier than I have any reason to expect – so I am setting the deadline for December first with a expected publishing date of the first of January.

I am also accepting art. I only ask that it is from your grandmothers. And that you are able to give consent for me to publish it.

To submit email the creation and a small introduction (preferred with a picture) of your grandma who created it. The address for this is authorpoetpatriciaharris@gmail.com

The above image will be the cover. I realize that this is gender biased. I feel like I have more from the amazing women who I am decended from than I do the men. And since I have been wanting to honor my maternal grandmother… This was born. Maybe I will someday do a call for grandfather lore… But first I need to do this.

Also… Notice that this is not a Fae Corps Inc project. There is a couple of reasons. One – this is a very personal project. I have been wanting to do it for a little while. Two – Fae Corps Inc has projects planned for the next two years. I will be posting the next call for submissions for them in November. The deadline for it will be after the first of the year. I want to release this with the new year.

Tuesday Tunes

A day for me to discuss music

Lyrics Hello? (Hello? Hello? Hello?)Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?
Come on now
I hear you’re feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again
Relax
I’ll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I’ve got that feeling once again
I can’t explain you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numbI have become comfortably numbOkay (okay, okay, okay)
Just a little pinprick
There’ll be no more, ah
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do believe it’s working, good
That’ll keep you going through the show
Come on it’s time to goThere is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb

My 2Cents
the weather is changing, so I am fighting a seasonal cold. That includes meds that make my head feel like it is filled with cotton. This song has always seemed extra trippy to me. So since I am trippy on cold meds regardless of my desire to have a functional head….I figured it was a good one to share with you.

Coffee house writers The poet

https://coffeehousewriters.com/the-poet/

Monday poetry

Books That Matter: Hood Feminism (Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot) by Mikki Kendall

braveandrecklessblog's avatarIndie Blu(e) Publishing

Reviewed by Candice Louisa Daquin

I would not want to debate Mikki Kendall. Because unlike other authors who write from their perspective, Kendall is aware of all the perspectives and can reduce them down and go back to her point effortlessly. This isn’t easy to do given the complexities of feminism as a canon. Typically, feminism is one of the most impenetrable subjects at higher levels because it seems the canon has been deliberately complicated to justify itself. Kendall doesn’t do that; she talks plainly and eloquently without having to hide behind metaphor or create new words to codify feminism. For that I appreciate her.

It was with trepidation I reviewed this book. The subject dear to my heart, but I knew I would struggle with anger and recriminations Kendall was bringing up. That of intersectionality and the duality of the feminist experience depending upon race. For me, this is…

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Ephemera

Every story has a lesson…

…Every lesson has a story

Edited by Cait Marie and published by Unicorn Nightporium, LLC., Ephemera: Life Lessons Learned is an anthology like you’ve never seen before!

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Blurb

Every story has a lesson.

People constantly learn throughout their lives. It creates history. It defines the future.

Is the grass greener on the other side? Do the ends justify the means?

Eleven authors have come together to bring you tales of adventure and romance, loss and gain, family, friends, and everything in between. From arranged marriages to dates in haunted houses to androids infused with human memories. Fairy tales, dystopians, apocalyptic worlds.

Every lesson has a story.

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Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CSWBHLN/


Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54448027-ephemera

The Authors and Prompts

Cait Marie

Genre: Steampunk

Lesson: You don’t have to win every argument

Random word/phrase: Park bench

Heather Dowell

Genre: Fantasy

Lesson: The grass isn’t always greener on the other side

Random word/phrase: Waterfall

Victoria Anders

Genre: Enemies to lovers

Lesson: The truth always comes out

Random word/phrase: Snow

Marissa Allen

Genre: Dystopia

Lesson: Good things never come easy

Random word/phrase: Poppy

Charles Kelley

Genre: Apocalypse

Lesson: Respect is earned not freely given

Random word/phrase: Nuclear

Abigail McCarty

Genre: Near future sci-fi

Lesson: Don’t take anything for granted

Random word/phrase: cat

Steph Wyatt

Genre: Post apocalypse

Lesson: Every storm has a silver lining

Random word/phrase: Mother

Najela Carter

Genre: Cyberpunk

Lesson: Be true to oneself

Random word/phrase: Memory

Xander S. Lee

Genre: Murder mystery

Lesson: The ends don’t always justify the means

Random word/phrase: Gruntled

Rebekah Olson

Genre: Paranormal romance

Lesson: Family isn’t just shared DNA

Random word/phrase: Trampoline

B.L. Koller

Genre: Fairy tale

Lesson: Befriend someone a little different than you

Random word/phrase: Rose

Release Party

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Join the authors of the anthology and several guest authors all day as they share about their books, play games, and do some giveaways! There will be a big grand prize with a gift card and around a dozen ebooks as well! The event is taking place in Cait’s Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caits.inner.circle