The End of This Chapter

I suppose that it seems rather fitting that with a week of this decade and this year that I say goodbye.

Not permanently. To this persona. It is time for a bit of rebranding- reinvention. Some distance from where I have been and who I was.

I can't stop being a writer. I don't know how to be anything else.

In these years, I have learned a lot about being an independent author. From publishing, book design, editing, proofing, and promoting.

Santa I would like a promoter and editor for Christmas- just saying. And if you're feeling more generous- an advertising budget.

As I move forward, I am taking the pieces of what worked in the past and put them together. I am going to take my time with line by line editing because there is one thing I learned and every independent author should know this-

You will be crucified for imperfection. One comma out of place and hellfire will rain down in the comments. However, big-time authors who have people who do line by line editing also make mistakes and miss a comma here or there are given a pass. You will never see comments to the contrary. Just keep that in mind.

The books will always remain for sale. This blog will always be here because there are some good poems and stories. But there will be no new items from JM Scott. There will be no advertising. Occasionally, there may be free books. But in the end-

This is goodbye. 

Seaspring Briar by JM Scott Free in all Kindle Markets Through June 22, 2019

Seaspring Briar, a horror short story, is free in all Kindle markets through June 22, 2019.

Recent divorcee, Briar Rowen moves into her family home on the Maine coast. But the original residents have never left. The hauntings start as benign but then escalate until people die. Can Briar stop the cycle or become a permanent resident herself.

A scene in this book actually came from a dream, a nightmare actually. Someone gets his head sawed off by a giant sun sculpture like the one pictured on the cover. It turns on its side and spins like a giant saw blade. The head comes off easily. Imagine having that has a nightmare. It's something that doesn't leave you and the image sticks with you.

I never said I had a normal brain.

Grab your free copy today and leave a review. If you can't leave a review because you don't spend enough money on Amazon, feel free to write something on my Facebook page.

Till next time...

Paper Dolls

Broken suns splice tree branches
 into shadows
and I’m left standing here
on this plane
of eternal autumn,
to find sanctuary,
careful not to make contact,
a ripple that no one sees
and afraid of fear, acceptance
To be charismatic and beatific
is to be found in teeth.
and pure bliss?
Only exists in my imagination.

So in this nightmare
I drown in the Xi over and over again
looking for a friend
but will settle for a savior. Glory in the saved.
Behold, there’s more! There’s always more

The time is now to destroy and renew
fire intertwined with ice
passion shimmering false-
fool’s gold, zirconia
love affair with daydreams.

Through the tempest
the incendiary revocation
leaves my fingers bleeding
fire, jealousy, sadness
invites the intrusion
of a voice
who wants a home made of paper
and says Maybe I could love
somebody who never said ‘I love you’

Haunted by all those voices
yet alone
to build
serendipitous sand castles on the sun
while the moon falls apart
takes back its magic
and takes me back
to nowhere and nothing. 

Shadow Weaver

Don’t enter the canal
where the golden gondolas
drift in murky water
mosquitoes gallop
malaria races through their
frail long-legged bodies
Egyptian cotton in the pillows
pink pills on the satin sheets
the smoking moon sleeps in cobwebs
with ladybugs who should be gone.

And this is
where autumn turns
to summer heat
black lipstick on the cheek
those yesterdays are just an update
ants in the glass.

Welcome to here
sign your name and watch all the stars go out
blackness eats
away from the canal
to the lilies where freedom breathes
phosphorescent daydreams
deja vu at the table

it’s an all-out surrender to shadows
come on and feel their embrace
feel the flight in murky water fingers
let them breath stale whispers
and follow the light home

Sweet Dreamland Wheels by JM Scott Free in all Kindle Markets Through June 1, 2019

Hey all, Sweet Dreamland Wheels is FREE in all Kindle markets through June 1, 2019. This is a collection of found and/or experimental poems.

As I was grabbing the link for the book, I realized this book was turning 4 this June. It seems a lot longer than that. But I think I move on a different timeline than other people. At least it seems like it.

So here's a free sample from the book where I used HP Lovecraft as a source text.

Binary

Image by Muhammad Ribkhan from Pixabay 

To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: Unknown Sender
Subject: Remember Ringing Rocks

Hey babe,

I hope you didn’t delete. I don’t think you would. Hell, maybe you don’t even use this email anymore. How long has it been? It feels like yesterday to me. I was there in the May sunshine laying in your arms and then a pain that started small and then my brain exploded or that’s what it felt like. I don’t really know how else to explain it. I know I’m dead and chances are I wouldn’t open this email either if the roles were reversed. But I guess I would because of Ringing Rocks.

Did you find a new woman? I hope so. I don’t want you pining away for me. I’m dead. I know this. I wish I could see you. But it’s not like the stories. This heaven, if you want to call it that. I can’t see anything. Even writing this required a freak solar storm. And for a brief moment, I saw how the world changed. I don’t know the current year. I don’t see anything. I don’t feel anything but I hear voices.

I don’t know how much time I have. I wish I could give you more answers. But remember the old family story about the gold pieces that my great grandpappy stole from Blue Beard and he buried it somewhere. It’s true. Great Grandpappy said it was. JD, go to the old farmhouse walk east to the woods and there is a tree that looks like a Y. Under the roots is the chest. Take it JD and be happy. I’m here waiting for you.

Love you,
G.

To: bigballz@hotmail.com
From: jdvaras@hotmail.com
Subject: Help!

I think I’m going crazy.  I just got an email from Greta. It has to be a glitch right?

To: elise.johnson@meadows.org
From: jdvaras@hotmail.com
Subject: Need to talk to you!

Dr. Johnson,

It’s urgent that I speak with you right away. I am seriously losing my mind. You said I was getting better, but I can’t be. I just got an email from Greta. It’s got to be a sick joke right. I tried to make an appointment but the soonest you can see me in is in July. Could you spare a few minutes and call me? Please, I’m desperate.

JD Varas

To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
from: bigballz@hotmail.com
Subject: Greta

Why don’t we go? The woods are still there. What would it hurt? Buddy, you need closure Greta’s gone now for five years. I’m worried about you. I rented a car for this weekend. I’ll pick you up at 9 and we’re going to get this treasure.

To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: elise.johnson@ meadows.org

JD,

I have been trying to call you for days. I am worried about you. As you know, grief changes a person. I am afraid that our offices were hacked and someone is playing a sick joke on you. I am worried that it is someone trying to do something nefarious and you take the blame. I have alerted the police.

Please call. I told my assistant to schedule you right away, even after hours.

Dr. Elise Johnson

To: bigballz@hotmail.com
From: jdvaras@hotmail.com
Subject: This weekend.

I’m not going this weekend. I talked to my shrink and someone is playing a joke on me. That’s what she said.

In a way, I was really hoping Greta wrote. I want to believe that she is not really gone. Is that really so wrong? I’m trying to get over her. But nothing I do works. She’s everywhere. She’s in all the clothes I wear, all the furniture I sit on, the bed I sleep on. I swear I see her shape in the shadows.

The shrink is upping my meds. We’ll see how it goes.


To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: bigballz@hotmail.com
Subject: You ain’t ditching me.

If I have to hog tie you and throw you in the trunk, then so be it. You need this. You need to get out. You need to do something. Greta wouldn’t want you wallowing.



To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: penny.micheals@eandm.com
Subject: Blue Beards coins

Good afternoon JD,

Sorry, it took me so long to get back to you. The coin you gave me has been authenticated and it appears to be from the right time frame of Blue Beard’s missing treasure. This is an incredible find. Are you looking for someone appraise the collection for insurance or for sale?

We need the entire collection for a full appraisal. If you want to sell, the appraisal is free. For insurance, the appraisal will cost $540. This includes related paperwork.

Thank you for letting touch this wonderful piece of American history. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing more of the collection.

Take care,
Penny

To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: bigballz@hotmail.com
Subject: Treasure

What are you going to do with the rest of the treasure? Are you going to keep it or sell it?

You didn’t have to give me any. But... I bought the garage with the money. I’ll be opening Cuztomz next month. I have a huge party planned. You will be there, right. Strike that. You will be there. It’s all because of you I get to open this shop anyway.

I don’t think I could ever repay you.

To: jdvaras@hotmail.com
from: penny.micheals@eandm.com
Subject: Final paperwork

Good morning JD,

The sale is complete and we need to come in to sign the final paperwork. The cashier’s check is also available for pick up.

Take care,

Penny.


To: bigballz@hotmail.com
From: jdvaras@hotmail.com
Subject: I’ll be there.

I don’t think I could ever repay you for all that you did for me over the few last years. Without you, I don’t know where I would be. And I know you hate mushy shit. I just thought you should know.

You’re like a brother to me. And you’re right finding the treasure has brought me closure with Greta. And you’re right, she wouldn’t want me wallowing.

I think I am going to try living again. I’m going to start with your grand opening party. Could you maybe have a chick set up for me? I need to stop using my hand.  I need to live once again.

To:jdvaras@hotmail.com
From: tshad@cammyshouse.org
Subject: Thank You!

Dear Mr. Varas,

From all of us at Cammy’s House, we want to thank you for your generous donation of $1.5 million dollars.  With this money, we will be building a new shelter and naming it after your late wife, Greta Varas.  In addition, scholarships will be set up to assist battered women to better themselves.

You probably hear this all the time. But Greta was amazing. So beautiful, so much strength. When she met you, I remembered how she seemed to float. And she was so scared because of her first husband. But we all knew you were different. I wanted to call so many times, but I never knew what to say.  I miss Greta every day. She has touched so many women here at the shelter. She was the inspiration for all our women that they could do better and make it in this world. And I know it wasn’t fair that she was taken from you, from us, from this world.

If you ever want to talk, just call.

Take care, JD.

Tabby Shad

Heart of a Goddess by JM Scott free Through May 22, 2019

Hey all, Heart of a Goddess is FREE in all Kindle markets through May 22, 2019.

Story in a nutshell: Leonard is looking love and he thinks he finds it when he rescues a half-naked woman in a snowstorm. She promises him the world if he brings her one thing- a beating human heart. 

This is also the first book I ever self-published. So gather around the screen it's story time.

According to Amazon, I published this book on November 13, 2013 so it will turn 6 this year. Before I even know that you could self-publish books on Kinde, I was writing stories for other people to publish. I made $20-30  per short story and I got a byline. Part of the agreement was I lost all rights to it. I admit I was not well versed in the publishing world. And these opportunities came at a time when I needed money.

Prior to this book, I had three published this way. This was one was for a repeat client. But then they rejected it because it failed their standards (graphic violence). So I had a book prepared for publishing and I had no idea what to do with it. So I asked Google and discovered I could do this myself.

And the rest is history. I love publishing myself. Not saying, I don't want someone else to publish my work in a traditional sense but with Kindle, I can write the story I want to write. I prefer writing long short stories and novellas and Kindle is the best place for these.

Anyway... so that's that. Grab a free copy of Heart of Goddess, take a read and let me know what you think.

Till next time...