Sunday, December 31, 2017

2018 Goals

Well it's that time of year where we reflect on the year that was and the year that will be. I often come up with goals for the new year. They are definitely not resolutions, but goals. I have found telling the world about certain goals will make achieve them more. I don't know why this is. I read somewhere it is about accountability.

This isn't a goal per se, but more like a wish. I saw Putin sent Trump a telegram, which is cool. I thought we stopped with telegrams several years ago. I always wanted a telegram. So if Putin could send me one that would be pretty awesome.

Okay on with the goals:

1. Restart Suburban Vampires,  one chapter a week. That is 52 chapters. Although I don't think it would need that many to finish it. Right now it is exclusively on Watt Pad.

2. Continue working on the board One Book- 300 Poems, I've been creating a found poem from each page of the book Waiting  by Debra Ginsberg. I have made 56 poems. I've got a long way to go. I don't plan on finishing in 2018, but I want to be  halfway through the book.

3. Send manuscripts to publishers at least 30 times in 2018. I shoot for once a week, but seem to slack off when I get too many rejections at one time. I did 30 in 2017, I can do it again in 2018.

4. Exercise more, make better food choices, and drink more water. The water- I already started this. In an effort to save money at the grocery store and for better health,  I have been drinking more water. Even when we are out and about, I choose water over soda. I still like soda and drink it, but I drink a lot less then I used to. I also drink a lot less tea, as in the stuff you buy from the grocery store in the dairy section. Better food choices is another I started but since November I have been slacking, it is time to get back on track. And of course exercising. So the main point of exercising, at least for me, is not for better health but better mental clarity. The better health of course will follow. Now why would someone frame exercise for mental health (and creativity) as opposed to health? Because my writing is important, it is one of the most important things in my life. Framing it to benefit my writing will ensure better success. I did start exercising in October of 2017 but fell off that wagon as well. I know one thing, when it comes to this stuff. There is a lot of failing, but persistence is key.

5. Vote in the primaries and November elections. I don't often vote in the primaries. I will be doing so this year.

So that's about it. I am sure there are more. But these are the ones I want to focus on in 2018.

Happy New Year and together let's make 2018 interesting.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Sanctioned Shadows by JM Scott Free on Kindle Through December 31, 2017

Hey all, Two posts in one day. Wow! I am productive. Anyway, I forgot this was free until I looked at my digital post it notes on my computer. Sanctioned Shadows: Stories is FREE in all Kindle markets through December 31, 2017.

I'm going to say it... I am proud of this book. You should see it in print. It is looks good, the cover is beautiful. If I saw this in a book store, I would buy it.

Anyway, this is a collection of 15 stories that explore humanity's shadows.  There are stories of obsession, drug abuse, rage and more.  Enjoy this free sample from the book,  a flash fiction piece called "Saturation" and pick up your copy to read more.


Saturation
It was 10:30 p.m. and the night did not provide any relief from the ongoing heat wave. Lia sat on the floor of her house with all the windows wide open, peeling her saturated clothes from her body. She was alone. Besides not having a fridge to stick her head in or a friendly neighbor to let her jump in a pool, there was nothing to do but to go swimming at the lake.

She drove through the forest. Headlights illuminated the black evergreens and moths fell into the light like tattered pieces of paper. She cranked up the heavy metal as she sped on the forest road.  She slowed at the park entrance and parked. Excitement fluttered like  moths in her stomach. Gingerly, she walked down the stone stairs. The orange lights around the bathhouse glared against the black lake. Moths gathered and beat the light with their wings. Down on the sand, she stripped off her clothes and went into the lake.

The water was cool but not cold not like how it was when her husband and kids went here all those summers. Fireflies blinked in the distance.  The water crawled over her hips and up her stomach as she lurched forward. She dove down into the water. A half moon came from over the evergreens as she lay on her back and floated on the water.

She let herself breath. The husband who decided he was better off with someone else and left her with nothing but a car, her things and brand-new mortgage payment. The husband, she wished would leave her for years so she didn’t have to be the bad guy finally found his lost love and ran off as soon as he could. She always knew she was just his second choice. She let it all go in one breath.

She inhaled another lung full  of lake air and evergreen as fish suckled the night air for bugs and she let her boyfriends go. Two concurrent boyfriends, she met at work. They were friends and they both wanted her as soon as she was back on the meat market and she couldn’t help herself, she wanted them both. They each called her their girlfriend. A situation that worked out pretty well at least home while they were together. They agreed that she would be committed to both of them and they to her. She never agreed to that but they didn’t know that. They were at a baseball game while she swam in the water. Lia let them go as well. This was her time.

She moved her arms in the water and let her former best friend go. After the divorce he came knocking and she let him in. He wasted no time and had her naked and squirming on the floor in no time. They saw each other at least once a week if not more. She enjoyed him and he enjoyed her. Who had to know?

Lia let her empty house void of appliances and furniture go. A house he wanted anyway and now she had nothing except for a couple pieces of inflatable furniture, a tv, a hot plate and a coffee maker. She was saving for a fridge, the boyfriends promised to get her a microwave but that was months ago and still no microwave.

A vehicle drove over the bridge and she tried to stay still. The vehicle moved ahead and she floated some more on her back.  A white light came from the beach.

“Ma’am, there is no swimming at this time of night,” a man’s voice called.

Lia made her way slowly to the sand. She walked out of the water and stood naked in his white light. She could see him, he was short for a man but had wide shoulders. His brown hair was cut like young Elvis. He was also a good ten years her junior. He stood there with the spotlight on her and suddenly her nakedness didn’t make her nauseous. She stood there, watching him. Lia ran her hands over her lumpy body as if  she were smoothing out invisible clothes.

She cleared her throat, “Sorry, it was just so hot and I had to cool off.” She moved toward him with her shoulders back and her hair around her shoulders, “I’ll just get dressed and be on my way.”

He shut off the light as soon as she was close to him. She didn’t reach for her clothes even though they were at her feet.

“You know, I could write you a citation,” he said.

“Well you have a job to do,” Lia replied and still didn’t move her clothes. She felt his eyes travel over her body. A pulse raced through her, a powerful pulse that oozed sexual confidence. She wanted him and she knew she would have him.

“I won’t though.” He paused, “I still won’t though but maybe do you want to come and make my rounds with me. It is cool in the Jeep.”

She smiled, “Yeah why not, you only live once.”

Lia gathered her clothes and made no attempt to put them on and followed the ranger.

It neared midnight when the park ranger pulled into the ranger station. She didn’t know his name, it’s not like she asked when he bent her over and screwed her or when he screwed her in the back seat of the jeep. She never told him hers either.

“I’ll be just a minute, then I will take you back to your car.” He shut off the engine and the dark night fell around her except for the lone light bulb at the door. She smoothed out her hair and clothes and looked around the Jeep and saw a pistol in a leather holster.

She took it out.  Lia held in it her hands. She always wanted freedom. Freedom to do as she pleased, freedom to screw whomever she wanted. And now she had what she wished. It was all wrong, she was wrong and there was no turning back.

Lia cocked the pistol and pulled the trigger.


Random Thoughts on This December Night

It's been two weeks since I wrote here, but I have written plenty in my head. I just never wrote them down.  Last week, I was going to write about Christmas cards, well since Christmas has come and gone, seems kind of pointless (and let's face it, from my point of view kind of depressing).

I think I need to exhibit self control and stop looking around on the internet. Why because it pisses me off. I read too many comments from people about things and to me both sides seem kind of brain washed. Politics have been pissing me off. On the flipside, I did not like or share any Russian propaganda on Facebook. Have you seen some of the memes that were floating around? A lot of them focus on Jesus and shit. Well if you have been paying attention, you would know I wouldn't be liking or sharing Jesus shit. But what does that say about how the world views America? We love guns and Jesus. Is that the image you want to portray?

Speaking of religion, I have been trying to understand Ayn Rand. SO I am not going to read the books, I can't get into them, but I visited the Atlas Foundation and did some reading. I learned Ayn Rand was born and educated in Russia and then emigrated to the states. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. I don't think Paul Ryan is a true Rand follower. He believes in God and doesn't believe in abortion. In fact, as a party lap dog, he will make every regulation possible for women not to have one. Kind of goes against the Rand philosophy. I need to do more studying, it is know thy enemy. Why he is retiring anyway, if his wet dream is coming to light?

And think I about how I can sue the federal government because I no longer want to pay Social Security tax since the chances of me getting are slim. I also think congress should make middle class wages, which is  around $55k. I have no faith in the government or any party. I lost that faith a long time ago.

As for America, maybe DT is right. We need to America great again. However, our approaches are different. My head spins when I think about the problems Americans as a general group face and how it pisses me off, I am always dismissed when I write to my congress people. I feel like my voice is not heard with the Democrat party either.  I can't think of things, I can't do any fixing on my own and  feels like a lost cause.

Okay well, I probably have something to do that I should be working on. Maybe the next post will be more cheerful....


Till next time...

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Sweet Dreamland Wheels by JM Scott FREE in all Kindle Markets Through Dec 16, 2017

Hey all, It's another free book. I suppose there are people other there who are thinking why does someone always give away their books? Trust me, I would love to make money selling my work. I occasionally do sell books. But I also know, in this day and age,  I'm building up my fan base one at time. If I provide free books to potential readers, then maybe I will have fans that will spend their money in the future.

Anyway...Sweet Dreamland Wheels is FREE in all Kindle markets through December 16, 2017. This chapbook contains 30 experimental and found poems.  Some source authors I used were Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Dean Koontz, and RL Stine. In fact, enjoy this sample poem sourced from an RL Stine Fear Street novel.


Friday, December 8, 2017

Tryptophantasia and Other Poems FREE By JM Scott Through Dec. 11, 2017

Hey all, Look! I'm posting twice in one week. I truly aim for three times a week. I was trying four but every week, I came up short. Anyway... who cares.

Trytophantasia and Other Poems is FREE in all Kindle markets through December 11, 2017. Yeah, I'm going to toot my own horn here, I think these are some of the best poems I have written to date. Of course, in five years I may not think so.

This chapbook contains 22 poems that are either language based, surreal, stream of conscious, or other poetry styles. Think of it like a sampler for my poetry.

If you love poetry, why not grab a copy, take a read or two then leave a review, if you are so inclined.

Enjoy this free sample:




Tuesday, December 5, 2017

The Frost Moon

Upward fading

on treetop tendrils
I spiral the limelight
hollow.

crystal frost navigates
an icy hollow, moon music
rides the wind and spores on the
full window.

Belong and down
into fading night.

***
Hey all, it has been awhile since I posted a poem. This is used to be three different haiku. I ran it through a Dada generator to make a new poem. Several years ago, I wrote three haiku every day for a year. So I have a lot of bad haiku. I have good haiku too. The bad haiku, I recycle. 

Till next time...