Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 39

Lilacs and Mother's Day 2014 #flowers #mothersday

Growing up as a young girl in New Hampshire in the 1970's, one of my fondest memories is visiting my Granny in May, early June. Why? She had the most beautiful and vibrant lilac bushes. They were purple and white and smelled like heaven to my young nose.
Whenever Mother's Day approaches, I always think of flowers and my Granny's lilacs. Giving flowers is a simple, heartfelt gesture that displays love, affection, and kindness. Those are all the traits I hope I embody as a mother.
Even though I live in California now, I have a lilac bush in my flower garden. It blooms early, usually in March and usually ever other year. And like lilacs, the blossoms only last about 4 weeks. The blooms tend to be on the small side (being California and all) Not as full and vibrant as they were in New Hampshire, but I hope my boys remember my favorite flower is a lilac and getting flowers on Mother's Day is one of the best gifts I could get. The next best gift is simply spending time with the boys. They really do keep me young. Heck, yesterday night we watched Wonder Woman Season 1 from 1975 and had a blast! Being a mom is exhausting work. It's all about the boys, but it's also very rewarding – so to all the mothers out there  have a great day!  Me and my boysEnjoy these fun filled lilac facts:
Lilacs belong to the Olive (Oleaceae) familyLilacs are native to the Balkan PeninsulaLilacs were introduced to America in the 1700'sThe lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire

Question for you: What's your favorite flower?  Why?

Snippet Sunday: Victorian Scoundrel, steampunk romance #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my steampunk romance: Victorian Scoundrel, Book 1 in The Windsor Diaries. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



This snippet:  Alice meets two "gentlemen."  


*****
Alice spun around to find herself face-to-face with two gentlemen who stood near one of the waiting carriages. One gentleman was older, Alice guessed in his fifties, one younger. The older gentleman stared at her like she truly was a guttersnipe, but the younger one -- he was tall, with chiseled cheeks and sensitive hazel eyes. His broad chest filled his suit well and he measured her with a cool, appraising look that hinted at... appreciation.  Never had a man's stare made her feel so... warm."Well?" asked the older gentleman.Alice straightened her posture with her usual royal dignity and took off her glasses as she always did when she introduced herself. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of York."
****
Victorian Scoundrel is a time traveling steampunk romance and is book one in "The Windsor Diaries." Alice follows her cousin, Edmund, back in time, but can she stop him from changing history? 

Reviews:Winner: BRONZE 2012 Reader's Favorite Contest, Romance: History

2011 Hope Chest Reviews Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance Series
Long & Short Reviews, 4 Books, Larkspur: It’s the perfect romance if you love the proper etiquette of the Victorian era mixed with the fantasy of time travel. This is the first in this new series and I’m excited to read the next episode." 
Scorching Hot Reviews: 4 Stars:Overall, a fun and breezy read that really doesn’t take itself seriously. With sweet and funny characters, the tale was enjoyable and engaging. A fantastic edition to the steam-punk genre....bring on book two :)
Hope Chest Reviews: 4.5 Stars:Victorian Scoundrel was a nice easy read, but sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered. The pacing was pretty snappy with the plot moving right along, while the dialog was sharp and sometimes witty.


****Link to You Tube Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2...

BUY LINKS:BUY LINKS: AMAZON KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries...
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-w...
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-183/Stephanie-Burkhart-Victorian-Scoundrel/Detail.bok
KOBO:
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Windsor-Diaries-Book-One/book-QYpbdTFmHEm64JwO_p9T1w/page1.html?s=-6Oq9Moeg0STYnHLUVccWQ&r=7

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?f...
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Walk to End Alzheimer's May 2014 Team Update #walk2endalz

It's been a busy month for the "Forget Me Nots" Alzheimer's 5K walk team. As I write this, we have 133 days to go until the walk in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 SEP.
We've had several new people join the team, committing to walking and fundraising, so I want to welcome:
Andrew BurkhartDana KanoChristina CamposJessica CepedaAnd Terri Azevedo
The team consists of my co-workers from LAPD's Valley Communications Dispatch Center. We answer 911 for the city of Los Angeles. It's a challenging job, but we find it rewarding to assist those who need help. If anything, that's the glue that keeps us together – that desire to help those who need it. Not only that, all of us have had Alzheimer's touch our lives one way or another.

Fundraising:April's bake sale earned the team $205.00. Currently, our day watch is running a coffee club and we've earned $100.00 the first month.
May's fundraising event is an opportunity drawing. The team is offering $40.00 gift cards for Starbucks and Bath and Body. A co-worker generously donated some tote bags, too. The even will kick off on 14 MAY and the winners will be announced on 17 May.
Thanks to our fundraising efforts and generous donations, the team has raised $1,518.00 so far toward our goal of $2,000.00. I just want to thank everyone for their generous support.
If you'd like to donate to help the team you can follow this link. Any amount is welcomed. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950
My story:My son (who is also walking) and I know someone who is developing Alzheimer's. The other day we invited her to Easter and she asked for our address. She's been to our house many, many times. It broke my heart. I see the struggle it takes on a family, and I know it's hard. If anyone would like to share their story, please do. Know that you're not alone in your struggles to provide care for your loved one. This is why I walk. To help those family members who care for their loved ones with the disease.

Alzheimer's facts:In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's valued at 220.2 billion.
Today over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.
1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's. Andrew's grandmother is 83.
How to obtain a diagnosis:
A doctor will need to evaluate a patient's history, conduct a physical exam, and do a comprehensive neurological evaluation that assesses balance, sensory function, reflexes and vision.
If you have concerns or something doesn't seem right, the sooner you involve a medical professional, the better. Early intervention goes a long way in helping you to prepare for quality of life issues.
Please, if you have a story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.All the bestSteph

Book Review for: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson #bookreview

Book Review for: Life After LifeWritten by: Kate Atkinson Little Brown CompanyISBN: 978-0-316-23080-3Avail as an ebook and in print
4.5 Stars
Atkinson pens a gripping novel with "Life After Life." What if you could do it over and over again until you got it right? And then do it again? Atkinson explores that "what if" not only historically, but emotionally when her main character, Ursula Todd, dies, only to come back again, life after life.
The novel starts with Ursula bravely walking into a German café in 1930 and shooting Hitler. Then it depicts Ursula's birth and death again, strangled by her umbilical cord. Ursula continues the pattern, gaining a sense of understanding of the phenomenon through déjà vu. Can Ursula send history down another path? Will this eternal loop build Ursula's character and fortify her inner courage or turn her into a raving lunatic?
Atkinson explores the early 20th century, depicting family struggles through World War I, culminating in several powerful and poignant scenes regarding the London blitz. She also examines a wide range of emotions through her characters. Ursula's family members, Hugh, Sylvie, Izzy, Pam, and Teddy each possess certain character traits and values that remain constant on her journey, which help to steady and ground her while she experiences changing life scenarios. Ultimately, it's her brother, Teddy, that inspires Ursula to set herself on a course that will define her character.
Atkinson's writing style requires the reader to slow down and savor the written word. That said, the book is hard to put down, leaving you wondering how Ursula will face the next daunting life challenge. The end was a bit disappointing especially after exploring the best and worse of what humanity brings out in the characters.  What will Ursula face next? Is there no reward for her?

Life After Life is a novel where the characters and their choices will resonate with you long after you've finished reading.
Question: Have you read Life After Life or any of Atkinson's work?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and impressions. 

Book Review for: Patriot Priest by Patricia Daly-Lipe #bookreview

Book Review for: Patriot PriestWritten by: Patricia Daly-LipeStrategic MediaISBN: 978-1939-5210-6-4Avail in print
3.5 Stars
Daly-Lipe pens a comprehensive look of the life and times of William Hemmick, an American Catholic priest. Hemmick served his faith and country during both world wars. Hemmick's story is one of an ordinary American doing extraordinary things.
Ordained in 1911, William Hemmick volunteered to serve in the front lines during World War I. Born in 1886, he grew up in Europe, learning to speak five languages. His friend, Shane Leslie, maintained a life long correspondence with him and these letters help to frame the author's biography. During World War II, Hemmick remained in Rome. His input regarding Vatican II was acknowledged by Pope Paul VI.
As Daly-Lipe tells Hemmick's story she pulls in the historical events that define the time period. Through letters, the reader catches a glimpse of Hemmick's feelings and reactions. The author does a great job setting up several historical events, but at times the focus on Hemmick suffers a tad. His motivations aren't clear, yet his actions prove he's patriotic, loyal, faithful, and kind.
The author's writing style is clear and easy to read. Hemmick's life proves interesting against the background of world intrigue.

"Patriot Priest" is a biography that piques the reader's curiosity about the life and times in which Hemmick lived. A thought provoking read.  
I received a PDF copy of the book for an honest review. 

Blog Tour: Special Agent Francesca by Mimi Barbour #blogtour

BLURB: 
An introvert, Special Agent Francesca moves to Las Vegas to escape her powerful, domineering mother. On arrival, multiple obstacles challenge her. She needs to approach a father she’s never met, a man who doesn’t even know she exists. Then she must play the role of a loving fiancée with a stranger. One who makes her question every unexpected emotion he provokes. Craving the chance for real undercover work, she grabs the opportunity to be involved in cleaning up gang corruption in a nasty neighborhood. When she poses as the new owner of a hotel, the deadly-dangerous situation ramps up and she’s forced to fight her way from one conflict to the next.
Sean Collins, Psychiatrist and LVPD Profiler, has never known anyone like Francesca Donovan. From first sight, he believes her to be a screwball but her beauty and maddening personality attracts him. Despite her prickly disposition, which gets them into a load of trouble, her rotten driving skills and her constant battles, he’s hooked. Once he’s roped into a mock engagement with her, his desire to make it real takes precedence over everything else in his world.
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT
Sean drove like a maniac to get to the hotel. He knew he shouldn’t call anyone since both he and Frankie had been warned to stay in character, that these dudes had ears everywhere and the ability to tap phones. He did have his burner phone that Eddie had arranged, but he wanted to keep that number unused until they needed it for an emergency. The fact that Frankie had slipped warned him she must have been rattled. From what he’d seen of his lady, nothing got to her. Hold it! Nothing except her mother.
He pulled into the parking lot and the sight he came upon had his teeth grinding and gravel flying as he slammed on the brakes. Just as the car stopped completely, a younger man’s body hit his windshield and slid down in front of his wheels.

Frankie had another fellow on the ground and was beating the shit out of him. Sean couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell? Quickly, he got out of the car and went to assist. Not that there was any need to help her, he just figured he’d stop her from murdering the poor bastard.

As he approached, the wiggling idiot didn’t seem to know when to stop. “Bitch, get off of me.” She held him in a way no one could escape.

Sean couldn’t resist. He crouched down and waited until she noticed him. “Having fun?”

At first, Frankie looked embarrassed to be caught straddling a young man in the parking lot. But that wore off when she had to apply more pressure to stop the perp determined to flip her off. Giving the dude her full attention, she asked, “Who sent you here? Tell me and I might let you up.”

With his cheek being ground into the gravel, and his arm twisted up behind his back in a hold that looked positively painful, the loser still refused. “No one sent me. I was just messin’ around. Hey, man, can you get this crazy bitch off me?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island and writes her romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye. “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”
FIND MIMI AT: 
FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimi-Barbour-Fan-Page/203964072966134 
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3376439.Mimi_Barbour?from_search=true
WEBSITE: http://www.mimibarbour.com/
TWITTER:https://twitter.com/MIMIBARBOUR" 
BLOG: 
http://mimibarbour.blogspot.ca/ 
Mimi is the author of The Vicarage Bench Series, Angels with Attitude Series, Vegas Series, Elvis Series and the brand new sizzling romantic suspense series called Undercover FBI.
GO HERE TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81aa783/
BUY LINKS: AMAZON:http://tinyurl.com/mxcmpzp" 
AMAZON CA http://tinyurl.com/k7fa4u6 
AMAZON UKhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Special-Agent-Francesca-Undercover-FBI-ebook/dp/B00JGFJ8HQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1396633231&sr=1-1&keywords=MIMI+BARBOUR 
ITUNES: http://www.ibookstore.com/products.php?i=B007RI2VGE" 

Goddess Fish Book Blast: A Baby for Easter by Noelle Adams #blogtour

BLURB:

Alice Grantham lost her fiancé and her job, so she’s had to come home to Willow Park to live with her parents. To recover some sense of independence and security, she’s cobbled together different part-time jobs, including one as assistant to the pastor of her hometown church. Nothing seems to be going right for her. Even Micah, the pastor’s brother and the first boy she ever loved, is standoffish with her now.
Micah has always been a prodigal son, but now he’s trying to put that lifestyle behind him. Then a five-month-old daughter he never knew existed is dropped on his doorstep, the result of one of his many one-night stands. He needs help from Alice to care for his daughter, but he can’t let himself hope for anything more from her than that. He can’t help but want it, though…
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT: 
“Well, how is it supposed to go?” Micah demanded. “Don’t you know how to work a car seat?”
“Why would I know? I’ve never had a baby. You’re the one who’s supposed to be mechanically inclined. Why can’t you figure it out?”
“I sure wouldn’t have designed this ridiculous contraption in a way that’s impossible to hook in the car.”
“Oh, wait,” Alice gasped, remembering something she should have recalled earlier. “I think it’s supposed to face the other way.”
“That can’t be right.” Micah turned the carrier as she’d indicated. He was bending over into the car, and he looked just as hot and frustrated as she felt. “Why would they make the poor babies look at nothing but the back of the seat?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s safer or something. Let’s just try it. Maybe the belt goes through like this.”
Micah fed the belt through the grooves, and the buckle got stuck at one point. “Shit,” he muttered, trying to free the belt. “Shit.” Then he glanced up at her. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to keep saying sorry,” she replied, slightly snippy. “I’ve heard worse, you know.”
“I know that. But do you really think I should be teaching her bad language this early?”
“She can’t even talk yet.”
“Well, she can hear.”
“Fine,” Alice grumbled, tilting the carrier slightly to make room for Micah’s run of the belt. “Watch your language then.”
He gave her a cool glare, but it changed when Alice was able to snap the seatbelt closed.
They both tested the carrier to make sure it was stable, but they couldn’t get it to move more than an inch, no matter how they tugged on it, so they assumed it would do for the short ride to Micah’s house.
Alice sighed in relief as she finally climbed out of the car and walked around to the driver’s side.
Micah was leaning against the car, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He looked exhausted, defeated somehow.
Despite her annoyance just the moment before, she felt another pull of sympathy. She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be all right.”
“Is it?” he asked, opening his eyes to meet hers.
“Yeah. We’ll figure this out. We don’t know anything yet.”
“But what if she’s mine? What if her mom really doesn’t want her? What if I’m the only parent she has? I can’t even manage to get her strapped into the car.”
THE GIVEAWAY:
Noelle will be awarding prizes via Rafflecopter as follows:
* One winner will receive a $25 GC to Amazon or BN* Two winners will receive signed paperbacks of Married for Christmas and A Baby for Easter* Ten winners will receive their choice of ebook of any title from Noelle’s backlist.
One randomly drawn host will win a $10 Amazon or BN GC. href="http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/2014/04/...http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23775a4/">Win a $25 Amazon/BN GC, books and more! – A Rafflecopter Giveaway
I'd like to encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:   http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/sbb-baby-for-easter-by-noelle-adams.html  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Social Media:Website: http://noelle-adams.com/Home_Page.htmlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572847.Noelle_Adams
Book Trailer for A Baby for Easter:http://youtu.be/HkL8asd5StU
Embed code:

Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance Ebooks
A Baby for Easter will be offered at a special release price of $.99 through Easter day! Regularly priced at $2.99.

Goddess Fish Super Book Blast: Almost a Bride by Sarah Mayberry #blogtour #goddessfish

BLURB:
Reid has wanted Tara from the moment he met her, but she’s always been out of bounds. Not only is she his patrol partner at the Bozeman PD, she’s also engaged. But then her relationship blows up, and Reid finds himself battling his own instinct to stake his claim with the finest, hottest woman he’s ever known.
Even if anything did happen between them, it would only ever be temporary - Reid’s a born wanderer, while Tara’s roots run deep in Marietta. So even if things are good between them, it seems their romance is destined to be short and sweet...
Tara’s twin sister, Scarlett, also has a Spring Brides story: look out for Second Chance Bride by Trish Morey. Details from montanabornbooks.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT: 
            Reid Dalton pumped gas into his GMC pickup, one ear tuned to the conversation going on between his friends inside the truck. Grant was giving Brett a hard time for missing an easy layup during the basketball game they’d just finished, and Brett was serving it straight back at him with both barrels. 
            Reid grinned to himself, feeling pleasantly tired after an hour of charging up and down the court, trouncing the Bozeman Fire Department team. The informal competition between the police department and the firefighters had become a regular thing over the past few months. Reid wasn’t sure which part of their weekly matchups he enjoyed the most—the rapid-fire pace of the game itself, or the inevitable shit giving and taking that occurred afterward.
            “You want to know my opinion?” he asked as the pump clicked off, signaling the tank was full.
            “Not particularly,” Brett said, which earned him a guffaw from Grant.
            “You both need to lift your games. Drink less beer, run a few more miles,” Reid said.
             Grant made a rude noise, while Brett gave him a one-fingered salute. Reid was still laughing as he headed into the gas station to pay the cashier.
            Then he saw the couple exiting the motel next door to the Gas-And-Go Mart and his step faltered.
            The girl he didn’t recognize, but she was young and blonde and clinging to her man as though her very life depended on it. Reid watched as Simon Garfield said something before kissing her in a way that left no doubt whatsoever as to the nature of their relationship.
            Damn. 
            Just... damn.
            Tara would be devastated.
            For a moment he was frozen as he absorbed all the implications of what he’d just witnessed. Tara had been planning the wedding for the past few months and as her patrol partner, there was precious little Reid wasn’t privy to. Like the fact that Tara and Simon planned on having the reception at Le Petit Chateau in Bozeman, and that Tara was limiting her attendants to just her twin, Scarlett, and that today she had an appointment at Marietta’s one and only bridal salon to pick out her wedding dress...
            Belatedly he glanced back at the car, hoping the other guys hadn’t seen, but they were both frowning, staring out the windshield at the sordid little drama unfolding in the parking lot next door. There wasn’t a doubt in Reid’s mind that they recognized Tara’s fiancé. They’d all attended the engagement party Tara and Simon held back in February.    
            Reid mouthed a four-letter word.  
            What a nightmare.
THE GIVEAWAY: Sarah will be awarding a digital copy of Almost a Bride to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  Feel free to follow the tour and comment on the blogs. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. You can find the tour dates here:    http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/04/sbb-almost-bride-by-sarah-mayberry.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sarah Mayberry is the award-winning, best selling author of more than 30 novels. She was born in Melbourne, Australia, and is the middle of three children. Sarah picked up a love of romance novels from both her grandmothers and has always wanted to be a writer. In line with this ambition, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing and Literature. It took her ten years and multiple attempts before her first book was accepted. During that time, Sarah worked in magazine publishing and the television industry, contributing to the internationally known Australian serial drama “Neighbours” and co-creating teen drama series “Karaoke High”. Sarah currently splits her time between writing for television and writing novels.
She lives in Melbourne by the bay with her husband and a small, furry Cavoodle called Max. When she isn’t writing, she loves reading, cooking, going to the movies and buying shoes.
www.sarahmayberry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahMayberr...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MayberrySarah
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Mayberry/...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sarah...
Tule Publishing: http://tulepublishing.com/product-cat...

Welcome Guest Poet - Melissa Keir #poetrymonth

About Melissa: As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Mid Michigan chapter of the RWA, and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, co-owner of a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.

STEPH: How long have you been writing poetry?
MELISSA: I began writing poetry in junior high. I loved using the creative words to express my feelings. Of course being a teenager, feelings were the focus of my life. I have a huge number of my sappy love poems from that time. They all had rhymes and were mostly about lost or unrequited love as well as my feelings.
I left poetry for many years as I became a wife and mother. Finally, I went back to college when my children were both in elementary school. I was fortunate to have some wonderful instructors who breathed new life into my poetry (and reading) experiences.
STEPH: What your favorite style of poetry?
MELISSA: My favorite style of poetry is the free verse that evokes either feelings or thoughts by the reader.
STEPH: Who is your favorite poet?
MELISSA: This was a challenge. I love so many different poets but my two favorite poets are Langston Hughes and Margaret Atwood. I was given both of these authors in college for assignments. I really hadn’t known anything about them until I was *forced* to write about them and analyze their work. Now I can’t imagine life without their works.
STEPH: What's their favorite poem that they wrote?
MELISSA: I highly recommend Margaret Atwood’s short book “Good Bones and Simple Murders”. It has not only poetry but a unique look at life. One of my favorite pieces by her is “Gertrude Talks Back” where Hamlet’s mother basically gives him some advice.Helen of Troy Does Countertop DancingThe world is full of women
who'd tell me I should be ashamed of myself
if they had the chance. Quit dancing.
Get some self-respect
and a day job.
Right. And minimum wage,
and varicose veins, just standing
in one place for eight hours
behind a glass counter
bundled up to the neck, instead of
naked as a meat sandwich.
Selling gloves, or something.
Instead of what I do sell.
You have to have talent
to peddle a thing so nebulous
and without material form.
Exploited, they'd say. Yes, any way
you cut it, but I've a choice
of how, and I'll take the money.

I do give value.
Like preachers, I sell vision,
like perfume ads, desire
or its facsimile. Like jokes
or war, it's all in the timing.
I sell men back their worse suspicions:
that everything's for sale,
and piecemeal. They gaze at me and see
a chain-saw murder just before it happens,
when thigh, ass, inkblot, crevice, tit, and nipple
are still connected.
Such hatred leaps in them,
my beery worshippers! That, or a bleary
hopeless love. Seeing the rows of heads
and upturned eyes, imploring
but ready to snap at my ankles,
I understand floods and earthquakes, and the urge
to step on ants. I keep the beat,
and dance for them because
they can't. The music smells like foxes,
crisp as heated metal
searing the nostrils
or humid as August, hazy and languorous
as a looted city the day after,
when all the rape's been done
already, and the killing,
and the survivors wander around
looking for garbage
to eat, and there's only a bleak exhaustion.
Speaking of which, it's the smiling
tires me out the most.
This, and the pretence
that I can't hear them.
And I can't, because I'm after all
a foreigner to them.
The speech here is all warty gutturals,
obvious as a slab of ham,
but I come from the province of the gods
where meanings are lilting and oblique.
I don't let on to everyone,
but lean close, and I'll whisper:
My mother was raped by a holy swan.
You believe that? You can take me out to dinner.
That's what we tell all the husbands.
There sure are a lot of dangerous birds around.

Not that anyone here
but you would understand.
The rest of them would like to watch me
and feel nothing. Reduce me to components
as in a clock factory or abattoir.
Crush out the mystery.
Wall me up alive
in my own body.
They'd like to see through me,
but nothing is more opaque
than absolute transparency.
Look--my feet don't hit the marble!
Like breath or a balloon, I'm rising,
I hover six inches in the air
in my blazing swan-egg of light.
You think I'm not a goddess?
Try me.
This is a torch song.
Touch me and you'll burn. Margaret AtwoodLangston Hughes had an amazing life with two parents who basically didn’t want to raise him. His poetry opened up discussions about race and helped bring about the equal rights movement.
Genius ChildThis is a song for the genius child.
Sing it softly, for the song is wild.
Sing it softly as ever you can -
Lest the song get out of hand.

Nobody loves a genius child.

Can you love an eagle,
Tame or wild?
Can you love an eagle,
Wild or tame?
Can you love a monster
Of frightening name?

Nobody loves a genius child.

Kill him - and let his soul run wild. Langston Hughes
STEPH: What inspired your poem?
MELISSA: My poetry is inspired by taking a unique look at the fairy tales and stories we heard growing up. I have poetry that focuses on the part Disney played in our life as well as how media’s emphasis on looks has warped our images.

A Twisted Fairy TaleBy Melissa Keir
Little Red Riding Hood?Boy, they got that all wrong.She was hot, you know, what a looker-Not at all little, nicely rounded.And she had hair to match that temperlike the sun, all fiery and golden.After looking at her,I never even noticeda basket of goodies.
She walked in the woods everydaywith that wiggle and bounce in her step,Trying to get my attention.But I was too busywith my work, and couldn’tstop for her.
One day last week, maybe Tuesday?She gave me that smile, you know the one.And asked for my help pickingflowers for her sick Grandma.Just the thought of her sick Grandma,I had to help.
Then it happened-As we were picking flowers,She laid her cape on the grass-She was all over melike a treat to a starving man.She was like an animal.
But when her boyfriend,the Big Bad Hunter saw us,She freaked- And blamed me.She called me a Wolfand said that I was after her basket of goodies.
So that’s the story, officer.I’m innocent, not an animaljust misunderstood.It’s girls like her who give Fairy Tales a bad name.
FIND MELISSA AT:
http://www.melissakeir.comhttp://www.melissakeir.com/blog.htmlhttp://www.facebook.com/authormelissakeirhttp://www.facebook.com/melissaakeirhttp://www.twitter.com/melissa_keir 

It's National Dispatcher's Week! Hug a Dispatcher :) #ndw

Dispatchers are always heard, never seen. They're hard workers and the unsung heroes of police, fire, and first responders. If you have an opportunity, tour a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) where dispatchers work, offer them a hung, or just say "thank you." It means a lot.
Surprisingly, 911 is only 46 years old. Bob Fitzgerald first implemented it in 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama. Since then, it took until about the mid 1980's for the system to be implemented nationwide.
Patricia Anderson out of Contra Costa County, CA, Sheriff's Dept. in 1982, conceived national Dispatchers week. In 1991, Congress first declared National Dispatcher and President George H.W. Bush signed the first proclamation.
For the most part, I enjoy being a dispatcher and assisting people get the help they need. Dispatchers are staffed 24/7 and I've worked all watches. That can take a lot out of you physically (especially your sleep) and mentally. I've heard all kinds of calls, so I thought I'd share a few with you:
NOTE: Before you call 911, keep this mind: does my issue warrant a 911 call and a police response? Remember 911 is for emergencies, not your loud party.
Drumroll please….
Don't call the police if you want a refund from your drug dealer. (yes, I've gotten several calls like this)
Don't call if you're lonely.
Don't call to complain about your parents (not letting you leave the house) or on your kids 12 and under who are refusing to listen to you.
Don't call to say you locked yourself in your car.
Don't call to complain about your fast food order, sandwich, nuggets, or coffee. Instead complain to the company's district manager, cooperate headquarters, or better business bureau.
I found a great dispatcher's board on Pinterest I thought I'd share: Dispatcher's Rule the World.http://www.pinterest.com/dawn911/dispatchers-rule-the-world/


Have a good chuckle over some of the things people call 911 for, but if you have a chance, thank a dispatcher this week, offer them a hung, or send your nearest dispatch center a card. It means a lot.
Question for you: Have you ever called 911?

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She's also a published author with Desert Breeze Publishing, 4RV Publishing, and Victory Tales Press. She enjoys chocolate, adores coffee and likes taking long walks. Currently, she's signed up to Walk for Alzheimer's on 20 SEP in Santa Clarita, CA. If you'd like to donate visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950


DARK SHADOW: Set in the distant future, can Helios save the Borealis from a deadly biological weapon or will Vivian get in his way?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT: Helios drew close. Impulse took over. His lips skirted hers. His warm breath and spicy scent made her feel protected. Vivian leaned against him. Her lips brushed against his. He tasted of honey and berries -- and chocolate. The seductive sample he offered fueled her body, urging her to savor and enjoy.She placed her palms flat against his muscled chest and her heart skipped a beat. She never felt so safe, so wanted.Then reality struck. This was only a moment. She wasn't TPP or a rebel. Her home was here with Sally and Korn. Adonis sounded like he wanted more than she could offer, and Benares was not going to ruin her life again.

Reviews: B+, Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess"Ms. Burkhart vividly depicts this gritty sci-fi world and all its wonders."  
4 Stars, Rose, Long & Short Reviews"The characters are well drawn and likeable. I especially liked Sally the Spine cat."
"Full of action from the very beginning." Brooke Blogs
"Well written." Wicked Readings by Tawania
BUY LINKS FOR THE DARK SHADOW:PUBLISHER'S SITEhttp://www.desertbreezepublishing.com...
AMAZON KINDLE:http://amzn.com/B00GTB9C3A
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/borea...
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...

SONY EBOOKS: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/the-green-rose/_/R-400000000000000673505