Artsy Fartsy Thursday

I got into a creative spike the other day. Me and my sketchbook had fun.

Wild Wednesday

I want to talk about writing children’s books.

Especially writing for either self publishing or indie/small publishing firms. When you think of children’s books…the first thing that comes to mind is golden books. Trust me…that is an unrealistic view of what you will be able to publish.

Amazon has the strictest regulations here, but the others are not far from it. In order to have even a Paperback book you need 24 pages. That is not as easy as you think. For Hardcover the requirements jump to 75 pages. For a kid’s book that is nearly impossible.

This is done I am sure due to the cost of printing each book. You also need to consider the cost of each book if you were to set it up as a Hard back. That often adds a factor of almost $10 to a book. How many parents are going to be willing to buy a book from a new author at such a high cost?

Sometimes it is better to start smaller and work your way big. Paperback for an initial release if it is done right can still look nice.

Tuesday Tunes

A day for me to discuss music

Lyrics-

They cry in the dark
So you can’t see their tears
They hide in the light
So you can’t see their fears
Forgive and forget
All the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child

Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn’t have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh

It’s all so confusing this brutal abusing
They blacken your eyes and then apologize
Be daddy’s good girl, and don’t tell mommy a thing
Be a good little boy, and you’ll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell from the swing

Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn’t have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh

No, hell is for children

Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children

Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children

Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children

Hell is for children
Hell is for children

My 2 Cents –

Was struggling to find a song for the week and this came across my dash. It’s unfortunate… But I feel this. Childhood should not be something you have to heal from…but for many of us it is.

Monday Poetry

In case you were curious…

I do have a reading list set up (and I keep it Updated) with all of my books on it.

There is also one for Serena. (Which is also kept Updated)

And a separate one with all of the Catalogue for Fae Corps. (Also Kept Updated)

I update each as the books are available. So these reading list links are always going to be good for keeping track of what each are doing.

Another Book release

I don’t often do Nonfiction. Still when I started Fae Corps I did some writing classes for the groups we did. I decided to compile it and release it as a book. There is world building, character development, writing poetry, and children’s books. This is a quick help guide to all writers. It is currently on pre-order with a release date of October 13th. Get your copy Here.

Xactly Poetic

It’s available for preorder with more places being added as they are available.

Artsy Fartsy Thursday

I love exploring various art apps on my phone. This is from an app called Glow art…

Wild Wednesday

When I talk about poetry what do you think of?

Personally, I write Free Verse. My reason is simple… I hate dealing with the rules. Other forms require the poet to be aware of syllables or the syntax of the poem. Some require certain rhyme schemes.

I’m working on a volume of poetry entirely done with forms other than free verse – Xactly Poetic.

I am so frustrated with it at the moment. I am at 60 poems. I started with the idea that I was going to do 50… realized that I was being lazy because I always do 70 poems in each volume and I got mad at me.

So I am going to do 70. But it is not as easy as it is for the regular volumes. And I am irritated with myself for wanting to quit.

I have set a self imposed deadline/release date of September 15… that is a I have to get it done and published by that date. Which means I have to get it written by August 15. And I have 10 poems left to write. Ugh. Not normally a problem… so I am hoping that I can get it done.

Tuesday Tunes

A day for me to discuss music

Lyrics-

Well the key to my survival
Was never in much doubt
The question was, how I could keep sane
Trying to find a way out?
Things were never easy for me
Peace of mind was hard to find
And I needed a place where I could hide
Somewhere I could call mine
I didn’t think much about it
‘Til it started happening all the time
Soon I was living with the fear everyday
Of what might happen that night
I couldn’t stand to hear the crying
Of my mother, and I remember when
I swore that that would be the last they’d see of me
And I never went home again
They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he’d say
He sat me down to talk to me
He looked me straight in the eyes
He said
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
“You walked out, you left us behind”
“And you’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
Oh, his words how they hurt me, I’ll never forget it
And as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
But where should I go and what should I do?
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
But I came here for help, oh I came here for you
Well the years they passed so slowly
I thought about him everyday
What would I do, if we passed on the street
Would I keep running away?
In and out of hiding places
Soon I’d have to face the facts
We’d have to sit down and talk it over
And that would mean going back
They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
But I rang that bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he’d say
He sat me down to talk to me
He looked me straight in the eyes
He said
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
“You’re no son, no son of mine”
“When you walked out, you left us behind”
“And you’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
Oh, his words how they hurt me
I’ll never forget it
And as the time, it went by
I lived to regret it
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
But where should I go and what should I do?
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
Well I came here for help, oh I was looking for you
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine oh”
“You’re no son” ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah
“You’re no son, you’re no son of mine”
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
You’re no son of mine (oh, oh)
(Oh, oh) You’re no son of mine (oh, oh)
You’re no son (oh, oh), you’re no son of mine (oh, oh)
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
You’re no son of mine (oh, oh)
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

My 2 Cents –

This is a song that caught my attention in high school. It sparked my empathy then, and really still does. Not all survivors of abuse are the same, but we all know what it feels like…