"Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness"

Since Blogger has been down for maintenance, I feel like I'm finally getting a chance to share new developments with my readers finally. I actually ended up sending in my new story for "Chicken Soup for the Soul" on May 9th, three days before the deadline. Here is the story I submitted to share with you:

Truly “Chicken Soup for the Soul”

This year, I started submitting stories to “Chicken Soup for the Soul” because I’ve always enjoyed the books as a reader, and felt a bit of jealousy because I wanted to be included very badly as an author. At first, I didn’t think I had anything worth sharing, but then I came across a “Chicken Soup” book that made me relive some of my own life experiences through other people’s stories. That got the wheels turning to start thinking if I’d be any good at it. Then, a friend of mine submitted one of her own stories, was accepted and asked to submit more in future books, and that gave me the push I needed to find out how to do it, too. I already have a couple books under my belt that have been self-published, one which I co-wrote with a friend, and have had mixed reviews about but mostly good.

When I came across a book topic on the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” website called “Devotional Stories for Tough Times” I knew I just had to try, and submitted one of many stories I had to choose from. I had recently lost my father after a battle with prostate cancer, and have come to rely on my Heavenly Father to fill the void. My only problem that I had was to cut the story down to the required word length. That started me on a road I am now revisiting: finding my happiness.

There was an unexplainable joy that filled me when I was typing and submitting that story, which I titled “An Answer to Prayer.” It brought back a special memory I’ll always cherish, and one I’ll be grateful to God for giving me. I am my happiest whenever I am writing, especially when I’m writing about my faith. I thank everyone behind “Chicken Soup for the Soul” for giving me the opportunity to share my stories, love on my God more, and find my happiness.

Matthew Nolan Book Reviews

I thought I'd use this entry to share my friend, Matthew Nolan's poetry books and my review of them on Amazon. com.

"Crumpled Paper Dolls: A New Orleans Poet"

Matthew Nolan's attention to detail in "Crumpled Paper Dolls: A New Orleans Poet" left me wanting more, and also yearning for a love that was lost. A love I know I can have again if I took the risk. The book was very hard to put down, and made me reminisce back to the days when I read Sylvia Plath's "A Bell Jar," "Ariel," and some of her other works. I identified with a lot of the poems because I had similar experiences, and I really didn't pity Matthew Nolan but it left me wanting to know him more as a person. I've also never wanted to visit New Orleans more in my life. To see it through his eyes, now I want a chance to see what he sees. I know I don't have the means to travel now, but I hope to make a trip in the next year or so.

I too am a "Crumpled Paper Doll," and I just hope my own poetry has the same effect on readers as Matthew Nolan has had on me, and my life.

"Exhuming Juliet: A New Orleans Poet"

I had the privilege of reading "Exhuming Juliet: A New Orleans Poet" back to back with "Crumpled Paper Dolls." I think I enjoyed this masterpiece of Matthew Nolan's a bit more than "Crumpled Paper Dolls" because I'm a romantic at heart. Again, the pain felt by Nolan in this post-Hurricane Katrina world left me wanting more, and I closed the book hoping someday Matthew Nolan would find a Juliet to stick by his side forever.

What really opened my eyes was the poems about Hurricane Katrina. Living on the opposite coast of the United States, and away from the wreckage of altered lives, I never took into account the feelings of those left homeless by the natural disaster. I believe Matthew Nolan is a phoenix rising from the ashes, and his uses of words made me long for New Orleans like I've never felt before. I'm so glad he was able to return to the town he loved, and was actually left hoping I could have that kind of feeling for my hometown. I even fantasized about visiting New Orleans, bumping into Matthew on the Street of Dreams, and possibly sharing my own poetry with him. He would make an excellent tour guide!

Even if you're not a poetry lover, Matthew Nolan can make a believer out of you! Please give him a chance.

Backing Away...

I've finished my second poetry book, Second Thoughts, with this newest addition:

The Confession (2)

What if a life lesson

was learned through a false confession?

One character found out the hard way

what could all change in one day.

One guilty man is dying free

while an innocent man is waiting to see

if his final hours are truly his last,

or will death row be a thing of the past?

John Grisham pulled me in once more,

and eventually settled the score.

What was he thinking

when he was bringing

the characters to life?

Why did an innocent man suffer such a cruel end to his life?

Now, it's happening in real life,

but will the outcome truly suffice?

Will a life be spared,

or will a similar fate be shared?

With that, I'm backing away from writing poetry for a bit. I have other writing projects that have been on the back burner I'm wanting to work on some more. The next story submission for "Chicken Soup for the Soul's" newest book is May 15th, so I'll be working on that for the next couple weeks. After that, who knows?

I'm not sure when I'll publish "Second Thoughts," but I'll keep you posted on when and through which publisher.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul" Update, and One New Poem

After almost a full month of nothing, the creative juices are slowly trickling again. Before I went to bed last night, I grabbed my notebook and pen and wrote a new poem for the first time all month long. Here it is:

John Grisham

From lawyer to author to sometimes lawyer again,

John Grisham is treated like a long-lost friend

when a new book is opened

that I don't want to end.

I impatiently wait for another to come,

and my world brightens some

when an email is sent

about the upcoming event.

Then I countdown the days

I can pre-order the newest book on the way.

John Grisham is a common name

uttered in my home some days.

Do I pay the rent,

or wait for the next book to be sent?

I'm glad I don't have to choose

between the two because the bills won't lose.

I just wait for the day

I can splurge on a copy,

but sometimes I'm library bound

when a new Grisham book comes around.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul" Update

I looked at the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" website a while back, and found out the book I submitted a story to will be published in October 2011. I haven't heard from them yet if my story's been chosen, but that would make an excellent birthday present~my birthday is in October.

I still haven't started another story for submission, but I will very soon. The deadline is coming up pretty soon for the other "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book I want to try to get into. I think it's due in June, but I have to double-check the site to be certain.

Two New Poems

Before I get to the new poems, an update on what I'm reading. I'm 3/4ths of the way through Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass," which is part of His Dark Materials series. Next up to read, "The Subtle Knife," and eventually complete the series with "The Amber Spyglass." They've made "The Golden Compass" into a movie, but I am left wondering when or if they are going to convert the other two books into a film.

The Confession

I've finally done it,

and all I know is I may regret

giving him a second chance,

but I think our relationship deserves another glance.

I like to think

our love never died, and is on the brink

of renewal.

It just needs refueled.

A new life chapter is beginning,

and I don't if I'm winning

or losing until a fresh start

makes its way back into my heart.

What a confession to be faced with,

a possible reconciliation instead of a fist

used to punch him,

and open arms to love him again.

A Fresh Start

I've decided to listen to my heart,

and give a fresh start

to the man who tore it apart.

Two hearts on the mend

are ready to begin again

despite what may be said by family and friends.

My family and friends love me so

that they will support me as a whole.

So far they've been happy for me,

but not everyone knows what is happening.

It's a big problem to try and hide

a relationship with my guy,

but the truth is complicated to discuss.

Especially when someone makes a fuss

about my guy telling me he loves me so,

and they still don't know

about the fresh start,

and the man that still holds my heart.

I have another plan to take my notebook to Starbucks today, and while away the hours with pen in hand until I come up with a masterpiece even more grand than what you see here. I plan to move my readers to tears.

Writing Immersion

I was able to be the stereotypical poet in Starbucks with my notebook, pen, and coffee with my partner in crime on Tuesday. The time spent produced a poem, but I'm not sure I'm truly finished with it just yet. I'll post it as soon as I think it's done. Life has been getting in the way of things!

I've had quite a day with getting up in time to rush as I dressed while my ride was waiting to take me to my mom's to play bingo. A five minute break during the game turned into half an hour when my mom face-planted and an ambulance was called to take her to the hospital. She got a gash on the bridge of her nose from her glasses digging in, a cut and bruise on her forehead, she sprained her knee, and pulled a muscle in her arm. She's home now, battered and bruised, but otherwise no worse for wear. She's going to be really hurting today.

I came home and called one of my brother's and my sisters to let them know what happened. One of my sister's called the hospital to get the update on her condition. The paramedics were talking about the possibility of admitting her overnight for observation, but ended up not doing that when all her tests came back okay.

I'll be going back over to her place today for a St. Patrick's Day party with corned beef and cabbage, green beer and green punch provided. I'll probably wait on her, so she won't have a chance to fall again, or make sure she's using her cane for support if she walks anywhere. She lives in an Assisted Living facility.

Another Entry About Books

I finished reading Jane Austen's "Persuasion" on Friday. I can't believe how long it took me compared to the other Austen books. I did stop reading it for a few days to read another book I just bought called "Awakened" by PC and Kristin Cast.

"Awakened" is the eighth or ninth installment of the House of Night series, another vampire-related book series that I can't seem to get enough of. PC and Kristin Cast are a mother-daughter writing duo. They both live in Oklahoma. Mama Cast is/was a schoolteacher, and Kristin is in college. I often wonder when I read a popular book series whether the author, or authors, knew how much of a big hit they created when they first started writing. I believe the Casts probably started writing to put Kristin through college, and whatever other reasons they might have for doing it.

What drew me to the House of Night series was the fact that the main character, Zoey, is not only Cherokee but also Marked with a crescent moon tattooed on her forehead. She's then taken to the Tulsa, Oklahoma House of Night where she's learns how to be a vampire, learns about famous vampires in movies and other industries, and the history of Vampirism as a fledgling until she Changes into a full-fledged, blood-sucking Vampire.

Before I started reading all the Jane Austen books, I was reading Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon." I have gone back to reading that again, and am enjoying being in the world of Sam Spade. It's really hard not to picture Humphrey Bogart as I'm reading it, or anybody else that was in the movie adaptation so long ago.