My Book of Poetry is Available on Amazon!!

Yay! Interview with the Faerie (Part One) and Other Poems of Darkness and Light is available at Amazon!

I haven't even received my copies yet :-)

The link to purchase is below. It will also be searchable and purchasable by libraries and other outlets within the next few weeks.

If you (or anyone you know) reviews poetry--or poetry or fiction dealing with Celtic, dark fantasy, science fiction, or Pagan themes--and may want a review copy, let me know.

http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Faerie-Part-One-Darkness/dp/1493542869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384793073&sr=8-1&keywords=interview+with+the+faerie

I love this cover!

Lots of Cool Writerly Stuff Happening...

So much of my musings get posted on Facebook, that I often forget to update my blog. Here's a quick synopsis of recent goings-on:

• My first chapbook of poetry is almost ready for purchase! I received the final proof today, and so far so good. It is titled Interview with the Faerie (Part One) and Other Poems of Darkness and Light. It contains five "dark" poems (including Interview), one "grey" poem, and five "light" poems. These categories are of course somewhat arbitrary, as most of the stuff I write has an a dark edge. It may be more fair to say that some are more hopeful than others. In any case, it will be available on Amazon and for Kindle. It also has two cool illustrations--created for Interview--by my friend and artist Tony Gerardi. I'll update this blog with links once it's available.
• An editor for the Polish speculative fiction magazine Creatio Fantastica discovered one of my poems on Tales of the Zombie War and I've granted them permission to translate it into Polish and feature it on their site. They will also be running a translation of part of Interview with the Faerie, and an interview with me. It's currently slated for their December/January issue. Again, stay tuned for final details!
• I have submitted a zombie short story--which also happens to be one of my favorite pieces of writing--to a new market. The story is, I think, hampered by the fact that it's a "zombie" story; really it is a speculative apocalyptic horror story told through a 12-year old boy's eyes. I love this story, and I really believe it needs to be published! So fingers crossed.
• After yet another 3-month hiatus, I wrote a chapter of my novel-in-progress today (The YA novel about the teen-aged embodiment of the Goddess Kwan Yin, working title Ownership of the Gods.) I really want to put forth sustained effort on this in the coming months.

That's all for now, folks!

It's "Read an e-Book" Week!

Did you know that it is "Read an e-book" week? Did you know that you can read an e-book even if you don't have an e-reader? (A computer does fine.) During this week, I am offering the e-version of "Interview With the Faerie" for FREE, until March 10. Use coupon code RE100 and it's yours! (Don't forget to rate it and/or leave a comment :-) ) Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/121747

I am the featured poet on Strong Verse

Hiya...I am happy to relay that a poem I sold to Orson Scott Card's online poetry Journal Strong Verse is up on their website. This is one of my shorter poems, tittled, "This is Why I Hurt You." I'd be interested to hear what you think of it. (http://www.strongverse.org/) They change the featured author after several days, so just search for my name under "living poets" to find it.

Coming soon....blog entries on Intimate Partner Violence, Growing U.S. Ignorance. I've been super-busy with work.

POETRY--Water Meets Air

(Note: this was published in the February 2010 edition of Pagan Edge magazine: http://www.paganedge.com/)

Water Meets Air

“I am of the Water,” he said.
He raised his shiny head
above the water-line
and his nostrils flared open
to scent the busy wind.

“I am of the Air,” she said.
She swirled down on a draft
inclined a wing toward him
and inhaled his salty tang;
she hovered beyond his reach.

“I've been told to marry my kind,”
he explained. “I've been admonished
'Keep your thoughts here--in
our liquid realm--where you are
sustained, where you are nourished
and kept safe.' ”

He disdainfully shot a blast of water in the air.

She eyed his magnificent scales,
marveled at his streamlined shape
and ached to touch his sleek body.

She buzzed her wings in agreed displeasure.

“I've been told to marry my kind,”
she responded. “I've been scolded
'Keep your future in sight! Your
destiny lies in the sky, among the clouds
with your kin, where you are cherished,
where you are safe.' ”

She cawed her resentment to the heavens.

He drank her in with his eyes,
those lovely curves; graceful wings--
to lose himself in her embrace...

He slapped at a wave in frustration.

“I am the Water!” He proclaimed,
“But I burn who cannot burn;
I fly who cannot breathe the air for long,
I thirst to be joined with you.”

“I am the Air!” She responded in kind.
“But I soar aimlessly; my keen eyes
never settling on my desire;
my dreams for you floating helplessly away.”

She landed next to him on a seaweed-strewn rock.

Eye found eye; fin to wing they touched.
He wondered at the wind through her soft, strong feathers;
She admired the sturdy grace of him.
“When,” she whispered hoarsely, “can Air and Water dare to join?”
Her eyes sparkled with salty tears.

“In future times,” he answered tightly, “our kin shall finally see...
that Water and Air are but two poles on one continuum--
that the poles are not fixed, and the continuum but a circle.”

“In future times,” she echoed, picking up his thoughts,
“our kin shall know the truth-—that Air and Water are but
two elements among many, and there is strength and wisdom
in combining the best of all.”

In the darkening sky above,
lightening snaked across the orange clouds;
and the ancient rock stood in silent witness.

"The Woods Spoke to Me"

This was my first published poem (aside from the contests I used to win as a kid ;-) ) It was published in newWitch magazine in 2003.

The Woods Spoke to Me

I should have been doing laundry,
but the Woods spoke to me thus-
Come…
Feel the dry, sad leaves
crinkle under your feet.
See if you can catch
the sigh they make,
Now that their lives are ending.
Resolute that they will rejoin the Mother
in a warm embrace.

Come, the Woods said, come…
Follow the flickering lights
as they dart through the branches.
The Sun does not penetrate here.
Come…

You are new to this place.
Don't your fingers ache
to touch these prickly bushes?
To discover the wild berries
that grow here?
Come…

Look how I've left myself
exposed for you.
Dropping the leaves,
letting dead branches fall.
Sucking back the vines and ferns
into myself.

Coyote will not harm you-
Fox is shy.
Squirrel will show you the way.
See him dancing for you
at the edge of the yard?
The brothers and sisters of the Woods
heed my commands.

Come…
Follow the broken light
into the shadows,
where your footing is unsteady.
Breathe in the crisp air,
the dank earth,
Let it nourish you.

Squint your eyes,
and you will see…
Me, the Lord of the Woods
in all my majesty.
Darting through the costumes
of the leaves-
Waiting for you.

Join me in this place
you know is home.
For you are kindred…

I should have been tending to the house.
But the Woods spoke to me.
Oh! The Woods spoke!