Kurt Brindley's Blog, page 126

Fallsnow

 

 

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Me

I like bubble gum.

I like bats.

I like baseballs

And cowboy hats.

I like mudcakes.

I like moles.

I like mountain bikes

And deep, dark holes.

I like tinker toys.

I like tag.

I like tadpoles

And greasy, dirty rags.

I like football.

I like fightin’.

I like fishin’,

Especially when they’re bitin’.

I like snakes.

And I like my pet squirrel.

But it’s me I like the best

Cuz I am a girl!

 

From Poem Man

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: children's poems, gender issues, girls, perceptions, Poem Man, poems, poetry, rhymes, rhyming poems, sports, stereotypes, women's issues, writing

WHO I AM – A Women’s Issues Feature

I am very honored and excited to share our very first submission to the new Relating to Humans feature.

Before we get to the submission, however, I would like to say a few words by way of introduction.

You know, I am a writer, which means…I’m insecure. I am. Every time I hit the “Publish” button to release my stuff out into this wild world, I get more than a little apprehensive wondering if it’s going to be well received, or not. Such was the case when I put this new Relating to Humans feature out there. I was a little nervous, wondering if anyone would take it seriously; if anyone would care to participate.

Which is why I am so honored and excited to be introducing you to the poetry of becausethisishowisaythings. She, with her one submission, helped to validate what this new feature is all about.

Becausethisishowisaythings is a fearless twenty-year old (fearless as is evident by her willingness to participate in this new venture of ours), and her poem is an honest expression of how she feels about being a woman.

So please, take the time to read her poem, and, if you are so moved, maybe leave her a comment and visit with her and support her efforts at her own website becausethisishowisaythings.wordpress.com

 

 

Who I am

I am confused.

I am a woman, a girl, a female…but I am not very feminine.

My mother tells me to wear prettier clothes. My sister asks if I’m a lesbian.

If I’m a girl, does that mean I have to wear pink, do I have to wear flowers in my hair and make-up on my face, all to convince you that I’m a girl, that I’m a woman?

Do I have to wear revealing clothes and get drunk on vodka to attract a man,

a boy, a male?

Do I have to feel afraid of sex?

Should I feel guilty for being honest, and not a bitch?

I am a woman, I know this, but it seems other people aren’t so sure.

I don’t know if I’m a feminist, but I know what I want to be.

I want to be strong, to be attractive, to be sensitive, to be accepted, to be understood.

I want to be a good person.

A person. Not a label.

I am a woman, I am a girl, a female…but don’t try to label me with these things.

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: feminism, human relations, identity, LGBT, perceptions, poetry, relationships, sexism, stereotypes, women, women's issues, writing

Can you please help me please?

As I Ideate Full On Re: Features & Guest Authors

(Okay, the following intro paragraph is going to hurt a bit. Just look at that thing…one big blob of a block of text. You may want to grab yourself a cuppa of whatever it will take for you to keep the eyelids propped up for about fifteen sentences cram packed with pedantic pain. Are you ready for all that? Are you sure? All right, don’t say I didn’t warn you…good luck.)

On my About page I mention something to the effect that I consider myself somewhat of an human relations guy. I mentioned that for a several reasons. One being that I really enjoy humans; I don’t always enjoy being around them in close and confining proximity so much as I enjoy observing them, scientific like…from a safe and considerable distance…with multiple escape routes just in case things go sideways without notice like they so often do whenever a human is involved in the equation. And another reason I consider myself as a human relations guy is because I gots that paper that says I am. In addition to an undergrad degree in English, which I believe is fundamental to just about all I have become, good like and bad like, because it instilled even deeper into me than it was prior, which was already pretty deep, a love for literature and an appreciation for the language it takes to paint a story, which usually involves humans. But I gots more paper props, too. At about 2/3rds the way through my navy career, I got a little bored with my primary gig – telecommunications – and I looked for a way to take a break. I found that break by volunteering and qualifying for a three-year stint in a, go figure, human relations gig where I served as an Equal Opportunity specialist. To qualify, I first had to attend three-months of intensive, so called, sensitivity training (a misnomer because instead of being sensitive to my feelings, it exposed them and ripped off their calloused protective scars and scraped over them until they were bloody and raw), where I learned about how much of a turd white males have been throughout the United States history, and before. It was a very tough, but wonderfully enlightening, three-months. And finally, to top off my ice cream claim to my human relations affinity is a cherry of masters degree in, go figure, Human Relations.

So why did I just put you through all that?

Because I need your help.

And the reason I am asking you for your help, is because, even though I’ve had considerable experience of and in the field of human relations, I still don’t feel I am the one most qualified to do what it is I want to accomplish here.

But I think you are.

I think you know much better than I about what it is like to be a woman in this somewhat of a misogynistic world, or to be a person of color in this somewhat of a racist world, or to be a homosexual in this somewhat of a homophobic world…

Yeah, you know…

So I was wondering, knowing all that you know about all you’ve learned and experienced while maneuvering through this difficult and sometimes dangerous obstacle course called life, would you please help me please?

[Continue reading...]

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: features, flash fiction, homophobia, human relations, LGBT, misogeny, non-fiction, poetry, race, racism, sex, sexism, women's issues, writing

Veteran’s Day Giveaway

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to download a copy of my novel The Sea Trials of an Unfortunate Sailor during yesterday’s giveaway. I am totally flabbergasted by how many were downloaded. It is my most sincere hope that you enjoy the story.

Also, just a reminder that Leave: A Short Story is still available as a free download for about three more hours (until approximately Midnight (PST) or 3:00am (EST)). The number of downloads for this story were equally amazing. In fact, the story ranked number one in its category until just recently. It is now ranked number two. :) So please, continue to download it while it is still available for free.

US Amazon customers can get their free copy of LEAVE: A Short Story right here.

All other cool customers around the globe can get their copy right here.

And if you have a chance, please let us know what you think of the stories by writing an Amazon Review.

Thank you, my friends!

 

 

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Filed under: Books Tagged: Amazon, authors, books, fiction, giveaways, Indie Authors, indie publishing, Kindle, novels, publishing, short stories, writing

LIFE’S A BITCH AND THEN YOU…

WRITE!

 

#notetoself

#ifitwaseasyitwouldn’tbefun

#orinteresting

#painequalsawesomewritingprompt

#comingsoontoateeshirtnearyou

#checkoutthemerchlink

 

 

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Filed under: Notes to Self Tagged: authors, fiction, humor, Indie Authors, life, merch, notes to self, writing, writing humor, writing prompts

Final Glory

 

 

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In Honor of All who Serve in Defense of Freedom & Liberty

On Sunday, the fam and I visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

It’s a beautiful place.

Spiritual.

Haunting.

Usually when we go there it’s almost always on a whim, a spur of the moment thing.

As if its spirit overcomes us and compels us to visit.

But on Sunday, we wanted to go knowing that Veteran’s Day was forthcoming.

And we wanted to put ourselves in the presence of the most honorable of veterans.

True heroes fighting for the truest of causes.

But we also went knowing that it wasn’t just a reflection for today, the day my country honors all who serve and have served in defense of Freedom & Liberty.

We went knowing that Sunday was Remembrance Day. A day which our good friends in the United Kingdom reserve for reflecting on the sacrifices of their heroes.

During my years of service, I was fortunate enough, honored, to be able to serve closely with many fine soldiers and sailors, veterans in defense of Freedom & Liberty, from the United Kingdom. I made many good friends.

I also served closely with those from Canada, Australia, Japan, and other countries. I made many more good friends.

I am a lucky old sailor who is honored to have served with such honorable men and women from all over this fine yet feisty planet of ours…

It’s not much, but to honor all veterans around the globe who serve in defense of Freedom & Liberty, I offer my novel THE SEA TRIALS OF AN UNFORTUNATE SAILOR and LEAVE: A SHORT STORY to all for free. The novel will be available for free until Midnight tonight (PST) and the short story will be available until Midnight tomorrow night (PST).

Those in the United States can get their copies here

All others around the world can get theirs here

And you can always find a free selection of stories right here

PEACE …through superior fire power

Filed under: Military Tagged: Australia, authors, Canada, culture, giveaways, Indie Authors, Japan, military, photography, Remembrance Day, United Kingdom, Veteran's Day, writing

Melissa Barker-Simpson: Author of HANDS OF EVIL – Guest Post (A team is born)

Author Melissa Barker-Simpson

Kurt kindly allowed me to hi-jack a little blog space to share my story – or at least a chapter or two. I’m sure by now you’re aware my novel, Hands of Evil, is the inaugural review in the new Indie Author Book Selection and Review feature (we really must help out with a new title!). Kurt’s Pick, The Review Challenge…something!

As you’ll be hearing more about the book (or certainly reading about it), I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give you a little background on the novel itself. I feel I should add a disclaimer at this point, because I talk about my characters in a very real sense. It’s how I see them – all the jokes about authors are based on truth; we do hear voices in our head and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve been writing since I could first craft a sentence and it has remained my one true passion. That isn’t to say I don’t have others, but writing is a big part of who I am. I can’t put a number on the short stories I’ve penned over the years, most of them aren’t worth reading, but they helped me hone the craft and continue to do so. We never stop learning and why would we want to?

Hands of Evil is probably my favourite of the Morgan & Fairchild series (though it’s only the second!). About fifteen years ago a character began to develop in my mind; a protector. His very essence is that of a soldier and he dogged me relentlessly. His name is Brad Morgan and I guess you could say he is to blame for my obsession with all things military.

When I did create a world for him to conquer, although I saw value in the end result, it wasn’t everything I expected it to be. At the time I had a young family and writing took a back seat for a while. That’s not to say Brad left me alone! He remained stoic and determined, waiting patiently for me to flesh out his adventure and commit to sharing it with the world.

My brother, whom I adore, enlisted in the Army around the time I wrote the book and we talked regularly about his own experiences. I loved listening to him describe his life in the armed forces. The more I listened, the more I began to picture the sense of family in his squad – the unity. It was a connection I hadn’t considered and I knew instinctively it was the element missing from Brad’s story. He didn’t have his family.

I’m not a planner, I never have been. I give the power to my characters and allow them to tell the story. Then, when it’s done, I go back and use every tool in my arsenal to whip it into shape; plugging those plot holes and polishing the heart of the tale. A fellow writer once taught me the benefit of giving our characters a voice, and so I wrote a piece of free-form fiction, in which I allowed Brad to talk about his team.

Visit with Mel at her website mbarkersimpson.wordpress.com

He introduced me to Kelvin Fairchild, his best friend and co-founder of Morgan and Fairchild. Almost immediately, Susannah McElvogue piped up; the undisputed leader of the group. She hasn’t quit since. I retold the original story, adding Brad’s team and Sins of the Father was born. It was never meant to be a series, and yet I couldn’t walk away from them. As soon as I came to the end of the novel, Brad faded into the background and another member of the team stepped up to the plate (I know, I’m mixing my metaphors!).

I’ve always had a soft spot for Jonathan Jukes (JJ). He takes far too much responsibility on his shoulders, and his personal demons have haunted him for a long time. He’s skilled, loyal and has a strength others can rely on. It is a pleasure to spend time with him. Hands of Evil is JJ’s story.

Thanks to Kurt for allowing me to share JJ with you. I’m excited to hear his thoughts on the novel, considering he is a military man. I may even get some tips for the third in the series, which I plan to publish next year. My brother has always been a sound advisor, and I pour over books relevant to the stories I’m planning. In this case it was all things related to close personal protection and the police force.

I hope you’re still with me at this point, and if you are, thanks for hanging in there!

It was a pleasure to stop by.

Mel

Filed under: Books Tagged: authors, book reviews, books, fiction, Hands of Evil, Indie Author Book Selection & Review, Indie Authors, indie publishing, Melissa Barker-Simpson, novels, publishing, writers, writing

HANDS OF EVIL – The Big Reveal!

Well, I ordered the bloody book right after it was selected as the inaugural selection for the Indie Author Book Selection & Review (that’s a lot of selections in one sentence).

And after I did I joked with Melissa Barker-Simpson (Mel to her friends and cool people like me) about how she, living in the United Kingdom, practically lived at the end of the universe.

Little did I know how right I was. Well, at least based upon the number of days it took for the book to arrive – nearly two weeks – it seems that it may very well have been dispatched from the end of the universe.

Anyway, it’s finally here and I am really really really excited to begin reading it. But before I begin, I was thinking that it would be fun to do a little reveal sequence of the book…you know, kind of in the spirit of those tech nerd reveals that all those cool tech nerds like to do whenever they get all giddy over their latest tech nerd toy that they just received.

So, without further ado, I introduce to you my introduction to author Melissa Barker-Simpson’s novel HANDS OF EVIL…

Well, by the looks of this photo, maybe I’m the one who lives at the end of the universe…

Well, well, well…it’s about bloody time

And that there is the author. No, not the package, the website…well, the tiny picture on the website

There it is! Looks like a legit book to me…

And the back cover with a very intriguing synopsis about some Jonathan Jukes guy…I’m guessing he has something to do with the story. Not sure though…

Printed in Germany… How cool is that?! Yeah, I’m easily impressed, I admit. You know us silly Americans of the US kind…

Yep, It’s legit all right weighing in at a … huh? Wait a tick… I don’t know how many pages it weighs in at since it has no page numbers. Must be a European thing…

Pretty slick in all its style and sleekness, no? (Did that “no” make me sound European? I hope so…

Well, how about that… I finally have a book to read. And to be honest, I’m pretty frikkin’ excited about it.

And I’m so grateful to Mel for participating in the book selection thing. So grateful, in fact, that I invited her to contribute a Guest Post to talk a little bit about herself and her writing process. That will be following right behind this post so please check it out and then check out Mel’s site afterwards. I think you’ll find that she has really built a solid author’s platform for herself. She really is a very impressive person and I am proud to now be able to call her a friend.

So off I go to immerse myself in a new adventure, courtesy of Mel and her labor of love, the novel HANDS OF EVIL.

WRITE ON!

Oh yeah…since I am now…finally…reading my new Current Read, I think it’s time we start thinking about our next Indie Author Book Selection & Review. I’m up for another one if you are!

Filed under: Books Tagged: authors, book reviews, books, fiction, Hands of Evil, Indie Author Book Selection & Review, Indie Authors, indie publishing, Melissa Barker-Simpson, novels, photography, publishing, writing