Content: love

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When a mesmerising young time-traveller gives sixteen-year-old Phoebe a copy of Romeo and Juliet, stolen from William Shakespeare himself, she is dragged through time into the violence and passion of Elizabethan London, where she must fight to save her world and the one she loves. This is the first book in a young adult fantasy series about Phoebe's journey through history, as she gets caught up in the wars of the powerful and ancient Wanderers.

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Jocelyn Brooks is about to take the matrimonial plunge. Again. But this time, she wants to do it right. On the day of her wedding, she looks back on her four most pivotal relationships and winds up discovering how they've helped mold her into the woman she is today- the woman who is about to marry her future husband, who may also be a man from her past. This is my first novel. I'd love feedback on content as well as formatting since I've never been trained/educated in either. My only "research" has been reading other chick-lit so any feedback is appreciated! Thank you!

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Oh, I know this title will get some looks. But I'm talking about a different type of intercourse here - one that's even more fulfilling than what may first comes to mind.

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For Erika. Comments/critique appreciated.

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“I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.”

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years.

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They’ve turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

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Here's a very short and simple poem about my Memere (grandmother). Growing up, I felt safe and secure whenever I was with her--my safe haven.

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All Comments Welcome!!!!

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Memories of an awkward teen and an unconventional romance.

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A New York City taxi driver spends the day with a troubled passenger. A longer piece - about 4000 words - and all comments are welcome including those as to pace, flow, characterization, story, style and anything else that comes to mind. Thank you for reading.

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PART TWO- MAUI HAWAII & NANJING CHINA. PLEASE READ PART 1 FOR SUMMARY. - √ V.O. = voice over and in italics - √ New scenes are underlined - √ Dialog is centered as are thoughts and thoughts are also in italics

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This was my entry to THE EMPIRE STATE building contest converted into a screenplay. The short story is available for review also.

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This probably needs a little more polishing, but I'm so thrilled I wrote this poem TODAY! All of the other poems I've posted so far were written years ago. Thanks to all of you, I've come back to writing poetry again (and reading it!). This poem is a result of something I've witnessed and have deep feelings about. I welcome any suggestions or comments.

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I met a lady at a flea market last week who very kindly sold me some tomatoes while giving a brief account of her various fears and problems with life. That she knew the names of so many phobias was nothing short of amazing. This poem is for her. And her delicious tomatoes. Comments welcome.

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Necromancer, book two of the Bloodlines series, takes us to the darker side of the magical world Alexandria Reed has found herself emmersed in. Follow up to the Awakening. Her friend's emerging powers as a necromancer has put them all in danger. An old enemy from the Cameron's past has come to exact her revenge. It will take all thier combined skills to stop the ancient evil, but will be enough to save them all?

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Another poem written long ago. Comments?

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Please give me feedback- Style/Story line/zombie-philosophy/What did you like/what did you hate/ The collection will include different styles: The Man with the Zombie Hand is the next short story and is darker. There is a new kind of Ghoul in town: The Z-Freak! Commissioned to develop a new way to interrogate foreign combatants, International Pharmaceuticals combines ancient voodoo chemicals with epinephrine boosters and a high tech virus with catastrophic results. The experiment is dubbed a complete failure and would have been lost in the labyrinth at the D.O.D. Archive, but a terrorist attack unleashes the genetically altered virus on the population of LA the face of the United States is changed forever. Natural barriers, strategic military barricades and a deadly kill-zone retain the outbreak to the three coastal states of California, Oregon and Washington. The quarantine area is dubbed Death Valley by pop culture and the inhabitants are sentenced to life in hell. The Woman in the Wedding Dress is the first short story in the collection: Tales from Death Valley. It is a surreal adventure accented by the flamboyant Big Game Hunter Jordan McDougall and the beautiful woman in the wedding dress. Hell hath no fury like a women scorned!

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‡‡‡ HUMOR || SCIENCE FICTION ||ACTION-ADVENTURE || ROMANCE || ‡‡‡ °°°° THANKS! ¬¬¬¬¬ måx¬¬¬¬ Aphrodite's Rainbow is a hardware & software upgrade for a female android to become the UltraFemDroid that allows pure love for a truly loved partner, but madness or death if she is abused by others with evil intent or lust. When true love is found, the FemDroid and her ManDroid partner obtain the one thing an artificial being desires more than anything else in life... that being a human beings temporal lifetime. ¬¬¬¬ MANY CHAPTERS ARE XXX ¬¬¬¬

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Carmel finds a charming young man who she feels can steal away her lonliness. Will she get the man she longs for or destiny has other plans for her?

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Fate introduces Keith to Amelia in most unusual way and what follows is a lovely relationship which last till eternity.

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you know the way it is when it just seems a former lover still lingers in your dreams..

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Just something I came up with while I was bored. I wrote it in one sitting, so it's still very raw. The theme of this one is materialism. Please let me know if you think this story has any potential. Thanks!

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This is my life story based on diary entries that I have written over the last couple years. This novel will be a legacy to my mother and hopefully it will inspire someone. Please comment on the consistency of my writing. What parts do I need to remove or clarify? Do you want to read the next chapter? Please feel free to let me know if you see a grammatical error. Thank you and enjoy!

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Even as writers we are often uncertain. All comments/criticisms are most welcome.

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Any

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A pure heart wins the day.

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Sometimes, we just need a push. A little different for me. As always, all feedback welcome.

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This is a story about a witch on the run and finding safety with a pack of werewolves. I want to know if this story is interesting enough for you to come back and read more chapters? Do you find the characters engaging? Any constructive criticism is welcome. Thanks.

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One of those small events that made a large impression. Comments welcome.

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A 7.3K story.A man, his wife, their daughter, and a bad boyfriend. How's the pace, characterization, ending? did you enjoy the story? All input appreciated.

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A man, his wife, their daughter, and a bad boyfriend. How's the pace, characterization, the ending. Did you enjoy the story? All input appreciated.

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Mills is disillusioned, Arilya is too optimistic. But they have one thing in common - they have the ability to love, in a community where no one else can. Their friendship grows, as Arilya's relationship with her childhood friend, Finley, develops, and the Community's leadership works to solidify power. This started out as a short story and this past November I turned it into a novel during NANOWRIMO. I have just finished typing it and am ready for some objective folks to tear it apart. I know there are problems with prose, with characters, some plot/story issues/holes. I'm doing some first draft editing before I post, so you are seeing a semi-second draft version.

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A reflection on love. For Flo. I couldn't resist one more shot.

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Here's one for Flo's pseudo-contest. Comments welcome, but be nice.

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Can you tell I'm concentrating on contest entries? This is another short story I wrote a long time ago and posted here. I've reworked it a bit and it is about 2300 words. I have plenty of room to add more to it...up to 5000 words for the contest I'm considering, so I'm looking for suggestions of where and how I should expand on it. Of course, the poor grammar and punctuation I'm famous for needs attention as well. It's a cheesy romance and I know I will probably add more introspection on Caroline's part, since it's her pov, but I'll appreciate anything you have to offer....Oh, and a better title. The first time, I posted as Nathanial and Caroline. This time I changed to The Five Senses...which isn't good. I'd also thought about...The Coin or The Taste of Love. I dunno. Let me know what you think or if you have a title suggestion. Big Texas Thank you, ~Ann

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My true story of my love life and my daily walk in love and passion Would be for humor content but 'alas' word count!!!! So just for fun...

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Book Two of the Nine Realms Series - The Guardian has died. The Plane of Magic is free, but Order and Good are still under seige. Terra pushes her people to keep fighting while trying to deal with Alex's death. This is all on a first draft basis, and I hope you all enjoy. Any and all feedback is welcome!

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Just something for all of us to think upon.

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At 80 years old a man is encouraged by the spirit of a lover of Edger Allen Poe to begin a new life. Any and all comments would be appreciated for this flash fiction.

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For Richter or Poorer is the fourth in a series about four hillbilly boys who grow up to change their community. This is Alain Richter's story. It is a story of abuse, survial, incest, heartbreak, redemption, repentance, victory, frienship, and love. The last in the series, it ties all the lose ends together to form a lasting knot. Any and all feedback is welcome. Just enjoy the story.

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sorry for being so self-indulgent but having revised 'it must be lust' i just couldn't resist converting it to a picto... no, not of a penis as flowing pencil had feared, it is instead the head of a wolf (fangs an' all! V v v)... well, it at least passes as a fair resemblance to that on the edit page but the format may well get scrambled upon upload, if so...sorry again!

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it's a bit on the dark side.. and ok so...taking on board some suggestions...i've had another go...as may be seen below...still can't fathom this formatting though!!

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A one-sided battle of the sexes. A 6K word story posted in two parts due to posting length limitations, but best read continuously. Interested as always in character development, pace, general reaction. Does it hold your interest. Many thanks.

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A one-sided battle of the sexes. Input please on character, pace, general reaction. Thanks much.

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This poem started with a little rumination as I was listening to Kris Kristofferson grind out one of his songs, referenced with a quote at the head of the thing. Comments welcome.

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This is the third book in my hillbilly saga. Gator Jones grows up in impoverish Possum Holler, West Virginia. Along with MacKenzie Reardon, Tipper Campbell, and Alain Richter, Gator helps put the small town on the map. He overcomes extreme odds to become a successful businessman. Any and all feedback welcome.

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A manifesto on rebirthing yourself after ugly relationships.

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This was hard to classify. Harder to write. I'm not sure what I'll do with the story after all is said and done. As for feedback...nits, as usual. My awful sense for tense needs addressing as well. Thanks for any and all feedback.

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As Halloween, my favorite holiday, fast approaches, I thought I'd share this tidbit with my TNBW family. I submitted this to the Southern Sin essay competition back in July and have yet to hear a word either way, so I figure it's okay to share. This is creative non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, essy, opinion--not sure what to call it, but it happened. Yes, I started a war on Facebook.

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Love knows no boundaries.

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This is the sequel to Homegrown Healer. Mountain Moonshine gives Tipper Campbell's story and how he, along with the other three hillbilly boys (and one girl) put Possum Holler on the map. All comments welcome. Do you enjoy the story?

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I had the opening for this poem for many years. It was started when my then teenage daughter was very embarassed by a slightly racy conversation regarding the brief honeymoon that my wife and I shared. That beginning sat in a notebook until I recently overheard a loud cell phone call (one side anyway) in a department store. So now this thing is finished at last. Comments welcome.

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I've changed the special ability of the main character and have changed some of the key ingredients. Hopefully this will be a smoother beginning.

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A memory of a time long past. A bittersweet piece of prose as the anniversary of the loss of half the duo approaches. Submitting the piece to The Magnolia Quarterly.

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it is an ode in wine glass mode...

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Six brothers, the same yet each different. They are Varwick’s. Born with a rare mixture of blood. Human yet so much more. The six Durandus men are unique in their own ways, who find a happy medium with being different. Step into the world of Dominic Durandus. The oldest of the six who will follow his Father as the King of Varwick’s. All kings must have a queen but Dominic was convinced that there would be no other woman as his mother who could handle such a position. Until Toni Kendrick. His first encounter with the mysterious woman had him wanting, no needing more of her. There had never been a woman who had pulled at his heart as Toni had. The evil that lurks in this world had them thrown together again and from that day Dominic vowed from he would find a way for her to accept his way of life and stand at his side as his Queen.

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This is a poem about a love pulling away

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I write and post this with love and affection for someone I never met but in spirit. It is a love story. Shared by someone I so respect on this site. His story through my words as best as I could render. In no way can it be 'enough' nor have the depth he and Susan experienced. It is impossible as love like this is not ordinary. Is love measured by how much we grieve? I believe so. As I still grieve some forty plus years later... Feedback? This is for Jim and Susan Their love story.

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Anna McAlister was near desperation until she found the ad that changed her life in the employment section of the paper. Accepting the position things in her life begin to change for the better until her past comes crashing down around her. Any help/suggestions are welcome.

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This novel is set in a remote indigenous mining town in Cape York Australia. The book is a coming of age story about a young women, Sam Tucker, and her friends. For Sam's 18th birthday, rather than another backyard party gatecrashed by everyone, she convinces her closest friends to going camping at Deadman's Crossing and the events that unfold change their lives forever. The story is about finding adventure, friendship, loyalty, love and betrayal. It confronts issues that face every day teenagers living in Australia and especially in Cape York such as drugs, alcohol, and the complications of relationships and cultural pressure. I've never written anything before. My recent addiction to blogging sparked an interest in writing and a sense of purpose(http:/cassielobley@blogspot.com) I found this site to be be a fantastic avenue to learn and mature my literary skills. All feedback - absolutely everything - would be greatly appreciated. Don't hold back.

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To impress a girl, an ugly young man undertakes a robbery, and inadvertently kills someone. This sets off a chain of events which changes the course of history. This is an early work of mine which has undergone significant rewrites, and I am on the verge of sending it to market. I would like some honest opinions about its readability, characterizations, idea content, and literary merit (if any).

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When I first joined this site, I wrote and posted a piece very dear to my heart. I have meant to revisit it and refine it to be as good as it can be. "Cool Breeze Blowing" is a love story where one party dies and I speak for that party. How he will remember and how time will heal. Well time did heal and love visited again.. only to find he will be losing his beloved to cancer .. why? To go through so much as his first partner died of ALS and now starting a new life and just moved into new home to find out his new beloved is going to die of cancer? When I gave Bill his copy of 'Cool Breeze' I whispered in his ear... "life has a wonderful surprise in store for you".. he did and now he is gong to have to go through tragedy again? Why? What do I say to him now?

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Nicklaus Fleischer dreamed of growing up to be a doctor. Few dreams, however, can remain pure under the shadow of the Reich. On his journey to become a doctor and soothe his troubled home life, Nicklaus discovers the terrible steps his nation has taken to fight a war on its own citizens. The government changes the value of 'Do No Harm', and with it, one man's dreams. This is a fictional biography set during a grim time - a tale of life, death, love, and loss that is not for the faint of heart. It is primarily aimed at adults and young adults. This is a multi-chapter piece. I would really appreciate it if grammatical and spelling issues could be pointed out. I am more interested, however, in the workings of character development and the flow of the story. All critique is appreciated, though. This story is available in its entirety at Amazon.com via Kindle! The paperback version will be available soon, as well. http://www.amazon.com/Bedside-Manner-ebook/dp/B008EYY4UQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341330431&sr=1-4&keywords=bedside+manner

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A combination of soft sci-fi with literary elements, TBotG is a stream of consciousness narrative, written in the form of a suicide letter. It focuses on the people, events and experiences in the life of James Maris. A failed author, his only novel revolves around an alien species disrupting Earth with the troubling message that "your universe is falling apart." James is thrust to the forefront if widespread apocalyptic elements across Earth when, in the real world, actual extraterrestrials send the exact same message to Earth. Fashioned into an unwilling prophet by a ubiquitous televangelist and sensationalized, James, having "predicted" this event, is forced to interpret its meaning for the rest of humanity. What follows is an account of his life through his eyes as he tries to rationalize his improbable, and completely unwanted, position as redeemer (or destroyer) of humanity.

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Israel's king is near death, and his care-givers seek out the most beautiful young woman in the kingdom to warm him in his bed. The beautiful Abishag has a twin sister that doesn't look at all like her, but the two of them are taken to Jerusalem to the palace of King David. While Abishag, brought to the king as his comforter, finds herself in a forbidden love, Deborah, in the service of Queen Bathsheba, falls in love as well, and uncovers the roots of a rebellion agains the king and his chosen successor. I want to know how you respond to the main characters, whether and where the story drags, where it is not believable.

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masquerader...love-maker...heart-breaker...(yep it's a killer!)...undertaker...

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Abstract Waiting on a Woman is a story of sculpting friendship and magnetic love that draws together two individuals obliviously drifting in the proverbial sea of people, places and passions, revealing their journey from the moment they converge in a divine accident, to the moments that become eternally etched on their hearts. In the face of the headwinds of life, the lovers discover the secret to their soul connection in a pair of crystal wings that enables them to overcome obstacles and soar to each other’s arms. The book is an invitation to both the lovers as well as the reader to don their own crystal wings and join in the exhilarating ride upon which to discover self, love and life. please hurl every literary insult at me. Thank you.

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On this Father's Day, amidst my reverie, preferring to not be anywhere else is a soothing state of mind, even though thoughts of my father tug away and remind me of how challenging the role and responsibility of a father truly is. Nevertheless, ever-new experiences beg the continuum of reflection and examination.

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Sterling has been deaf for three years, and in those three years all he's managed to do is distance himself from the rest of the world. That was, until Manami came into the picture. Now he can't get her out of his head. Things change quickly as they fall for each other -fast and hard. Will she help him feel like he belongs once again?

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She's a Hollywood drunk, he wants to save her with love. "Romy by any Other Name" is the first book of the Rose O'Rourc trilogy, a romantic coming-of-age drama, laced with references to popular culture in music and film, about a fallen actress/singer who fights for her comeback.

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Aidan O’Rourke never dreams that talking to old Diggory Danaher will take him on an adventure of a lifetime. After months of stories about a mythical island and his father, Aidan decides to find out for himself if his father is alive and living as a panther on the mythical island. Stowaway wives, a lost father, bewitched human beings, a wicked witch, pirates, and friendly dragons combine to draw Aidan into a web of intrigue of good versus evil as he becomes the champion of a land that only exceptional men can reach. Aidan proves how exceptional he truly is through the power of faith and unconditional love. Set between sixteenth century Ireland and a timeless, mythical island kingdom called Draconis, King Satin’s Realm relates the saga of four generations of the O’Rourke family as they battle evil in a strange world after finding it in turmoil. The O’Rourkes seem to be called to this enchanted world to be its champions. However, not even a place of such mystery can quell the wanderlust born in the O’Rourke family. Feedback on dialogue, character development, readability, description, and appeal to the audience. Yes, the word is SATIN. I can spell; it is not Satan. This story is as much family saga as fantasy, but there is no family saga category. King Satin's Realm is the first in a series of four books, which will span 600 years in the lives of The Clan O'Rourke and the unbreakable connection of mind and spirit to the dragons of Draconis. This is the first novel I ever wrote in 2000. It has sat on the self and is now ready to sprout wings and soar. This story was my salvation at the darkest point of my life. Enjoy.

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Personal piece written couple of years ago for a friend on this site. Her journey. A bit rewritten and hopefully a bit refined. She won't care though as that is who she is.. accepting of one's attributes and shortcomings. :) What I learned about strength while reviewing and sharing her contribution to the world of Alzheimer's and those whose feet have travel the same path.

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Three are joined together to fight for the future of the world. One from each race, Children of the Night, Children of the Moon, and Humans. The human has to make a choice which will save ore end the world. The quest to find her ture soul mate, is the the Child of the Night or the Child of the Moon. Follow her quest to save the world, her challenges, losing friendship, finding love and fighting the evil to inhabit the world.

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Two generations of McGovern women have fallen for the wrong men...and found themselves pregnant and abandoned. Dedicated college student Lizzie McGovern has survived foster care, achieved academic success and is determined to defy her family's heritage of poverty and broken dreams. During a summer abroad in Paris after her junior year, Lizzie falls for Theo Andreas, a young Greek lawyer working abroad in France. Will Lizzie fare better in love than her mother and grandmother?

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This is a poem from my "romantic" period, slightly revised -well actually heavily revised. Maybe I can finally quit with these things. Comments welcome.

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A nomadic tribe discovers a Tree that grows a healing fruit, which cures everything short of death. Greed, murder and civil war follow.

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I wrote this just as a little happy birthday salute to my youngest child.

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The chase and executing of Bin Laden.

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Fifteen-year-old Cate is fuming at the sucky ‘we r ova’ text from her loser ex when everyone around her suddenly freezes. Breathing, but still like statues. Then three teenagers appear out of nowhere. One hoists a bus over his head while another safeguards the future leader of the free world. Their words, not hers. The third one disarms a bomb planted under Cate’s bus. After decapitating the a guy who's only crime was to move, they vanish. Cate says nothing...to anyone. She has too much to lose. The teens show up at her school. No one is frozen this time, but everyone at school acts like they've know these strangers forever. It’s like they’ve always been there. What the hell?

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Blue Lotus Rising is the story of Neelkamal, the divine daughter of the Mother Goddess Devi, raised by a simple couple, who may be poor in material riches, but shine with a treasure trove of high ideals and moral values. It is the story of little Neelkamal or 'Blue Lotus' through the trials and tribulations that she must face and emerge triumphant in her quest to find herself and her true love.

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erm...still cant fathom what's happened to this formatting so apologies in advance if this turns out super e-l-o-n-g-a-t-e-d! it is a PICTO of a dagger depicting a hurtful relationship..

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features of intimacy in the face of piracy...

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As the holiday season of the year approaches where one is challenged to gather and share often overlooked, but never forgotten, appreciations, I thought these few words might resonate. For many, a muse is a fantasy. For some a reality. This is a dedication to the value, either way.

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With Valentine's Day upon us and its celebration mercilessly becoming more and more a senseless exercise in commercialism, I thought it perhaps appropriate to lay out some questioning ideas relative to its supposed theme...romance.

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Whether family, spousal, or companion origin, unanswered love can haunt dreams incessantly, even when time and space has made one’s conscious days void of such impact. Lest me forget, hope does indeed reign supreme.

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Two poems, "Dumpstered" by Odin Roark and "Wedding Song" by David Lehman (partially quoted below), sent me on a path of thinking about the same subject. This poem is at least a partial result of that process. Comments always welcome.

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no...not a picto...just a plain old ordinary poem!

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An observation made while on a recent journey. Traveling somehow sharpens my attention to the world around me. Miss Emily's line came to me as this episode concluded. Comments welcome.

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"If there is love, there is hope that one may have real families, real brotherhood, real equanimity, real peace. If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will ensue" His Holiness the Dalai Lama from 'The little book of Buddhism' ----- Trying to simplify the meaning of love promotes many an exploration. This is but one.

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Joey finds his house ranksacked and his mother dead. With help of neighbors and friends he learns who the perpetrator is and then takes action. The story could actually be used as the first portion of a novel I wrote. This is my first post and as a newbie I want the reviewer to be critical, brutal. Let me know whats good and whats not. I'll be able to use your input to help my novel too. Thanks, Wes Ellington

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Hi. I had the privilege of growing up in a neighborhood with a drive-in theater around the corner. This is an homage to coming of age, friendship, first love, and mostly a paen to the movies. I saw them all when I was a kid -- for free. This is a short novella. Any comments are welcome.

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Personifying other forms of love give rise to often ignored appreciations.

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A woman receives a shock at her husband's funeral. This is a 7K story posted in two parts due to posting length limitations, but is really best read with no break. I'm interested in pace, does it keep you reading, and in reaction to the MC and conclusion. All input much appreciated.

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A woman receives a shock at her husband's funeral. This is a 7K story posted in two parts due to posting length limitations, but is really best read with no break. I'm interested in pace, does it keep you reading, and in reaction to the MC and conclusion. All input much appreciated.

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In 1959, Miles Davis had released one of the most successful albums ever, Kind Of Blue. These Blues crossed state lines, even as far as Mississippi. That song inspired this poem. One of my greatest habits as a writer is the cliff hanger. The readers imagination is just as great as mine. So I will let the readers finish this particular poem. It is what it is. I thank you in advance for reading. Not feeling well and this is what comes out of my mind when I'm under the weather.

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Taking a break from the serious dramatic poems. This is poetry-lite. I hope it goes down easy. I was just fascinated by the life of Emily Dickinson- Had to say goodbye to her. Have a great New Year all

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Rewrite. It is horror, but literary? I am lost in the forest of the trees after writing this and I chopped away with my tense ax, but can't see the clear sky yet. ≈≈≈ Another version of this is coming down the chute soon. This is the first of 15 (with 2 versions = 30) short stories I will be rewriting for an envisioned book of short stories. ≈≈≈ This is not a true story. I CAN'T MAKE CORRECTION SINCE IT IS 5.87K, THUS IT IS IN THE DREADED RED STATE- måx

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A poem in three parts. Previously posted in three sections.

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Rarely, every now and then I hit a poem in left field. You might need a leather glove to catch this one. For thirty years, I promised myself to never write bedroom poetry. Please forgive me for this one retraction. Okay I'm embarrassed already. This poem will have to explain itself.

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Dealing with distance, I’m reminded that this simple virtue of "trust" is perhaps the most illusive.

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I dedicate the following Poem to Ruth Marie. She is the character in the poem. We communicate only on facebook when she is strong enough. And sometimes I think she is a lot stronger than I am. My heart breaks each time we talk, but my pen is strong. It is so nice to be amongst such great writers at TNBW. During this holiday season, take time to realize how fortunate we really are.

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My take on a Faustian love story that I wrote for a little girl who loves fairy tales. This is my first installment in a series of short stories I am writing.

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This story won a contest run by Monadnock Writers Group, and was selected as one of seven short stories (plus a bunch of poetry and photographs) to be published in their anthology themed on memory. The anthology has just been published and is entitled "Shadow and Light: A Literary Anthology on Memory." http://www.monadnockwriters.org/publications.html Of course, I'm generally not the literary type (sex, drugs, rock and roll is more my speed - ha!), but I wrote this story when I was pretty sad -the lead is modeled after a dear friend whom I'd just lost. Do you have to be depressed to write literary fiction? (Just KIDDING, sheesh!) As with my other work, the lead is a no-bullshit kind of woman (just like my friend - a true-blue Yankees fan, btw! -was). So caveat emptor: It's a little depressing : O : ) *** Note: I thought I posted the final version of this, but reviewers have been pointing out some punctuation malfunctions and typos, so I must have goofed. I've made the corrections.

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Ironically, it frequently takes errors to make right the wrongs we innocently embrace in the name of love. Often, only our nightmares offer resolve. How torturous at times. How long the process. Fortunately, love is resilient for those who finally discover what it’s not.

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Good at Dying A look through the gauzy curtain Blue Rubians hang between love and their other appetites...

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Welcome to the Park. This is a revised version of the previously titled Chandler Mirror. I changed the name for reasons of my own and doing so allowed me make neccessary adjustments. This is written like a series, and only for fun. Grammar isn't my strong suit and feel free to point out what I missed. - Thanks!

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There is a word of profanity in this, so pass if you don't care for such things. Any feedback is welcome. I am posting old poetry for work shopping, to see if I can't find a pattern in which to form a chapter book, just for my own gratification. It is a soothing diversion when I get tired of the cramped typing I do for hours on end.

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First, I apologize for the irregularities of meter and rhyme in this thing. Secondly, I apologize for posting it on this most serious and erudite of writing sites. And finally, a little explanation. For several years I worked on this thing as a country song and then as a poem. It's hard to see the investment of intellect and dedication, I know, but it's there. Or here. This is especially for Memphis Trace. Comments always welcome. Please be gentle.

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Hailey and Beth were once best friends. Since Beth fell in love with a popular boy, she ditched Hailey for a taste of popularity. Hailey copes by listening to music, especially a band that her father is the lead singer of. All her life she's dreamt of meeting him, but her mother's sensitivity on the subject has prevented her from ever seeing him in concert. No one understands her need for music, until David. He's a bad boy that she spent all senior year avoiding, but when he starts to creep under her skin, she can't shake him. Soon, he becomes her best friend, even better than Beth ever was. He's the only one she can talk to about music and her dad. But he's made it clear that he wants to add 'benefits' to their friendship, without taking that step into a dating relationship; which is something she is opposed to, but tempted to fall into. Looking for whether this story is identifiable. Are the characters likeable? Can you feel the conflicts in Hailey's life? Is this something that you would recommend to a teenager? Adult?

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Something different. No format to speak of ... no rhyme nor rhythm! haaaaaa Just love speaking out. How a couple can cherish little moments. You know those don't you? Any feedback will be considered :)

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Title temporary. Work unfinished.. most likely this will be the second verse as don't feel it stands a lone. Just needed to get back in the saddle after yesterday's fiasco of losing one of my best pieces and all forty four reviews! It was like losing a friend! So get back up and post something! As you know I am stepping my writing up or at least making the attempt. I am a serious writer when I am serious!! haaaaaaa So be tough on me. I won't melt.

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Some mornings, it’s impossible to avoid innate human concern. Some days, it transcends one’s own offspring. Some days, given the chaotic time we live in, the concern addresses the all of us.

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ODIN! I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO AS YOU ASKED BUT HERE IS A 'QUICKIE!' I WILL WORK ON THE LONGER HEADY PIECE WHEN I CAN GIVE IT ALL THE TIME IT DESERVES. ANY and all feedback is greatly appreciated. This is a ten minute write so be aware it is rushed.

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Shout out of love and appreciation to a strong, beautiful woman in my life.

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What would you see?

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Another prompt-driven one for the workshop. Just a teaser. Does it suffice? Should it blossom forth more?

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a painfully short love story...

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Just words... Anything to make it better or point out where I am missing the boat completely.

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Was enchanted with everyone else's so decided to put my beloved haiku to rest for a small bit and try this on for size.

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Conclusion of an 8K word story. A wealthy young man tries to do the right thing. My usual concerns: characterization, pace, plot and do you enjoy the story. All input appreciated

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An 8K word story posted in two parts, but best read continuously. A wealthy young man tries to do the right thing. My usual concerns: characterization, pace, plot, and do you enjoy the story. All input appreciated.

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Another poem... any feedback is welcome.

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The passions of summer remembered.

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A simple theme.

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One decision, though made in love, has consequences that reverberate throughout multiple lives.

Feedback desired: The usual nits, plot holes, etc., but I'm most interested in knowing if the POV shifts work or not - especially for chapter one.

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Sometimes we just have to write. Nothing terribly important nor worthy of much comment. This is for my grandson Hayden age six. He has such an imagination. I can see him having this conversation. Again.. pure fun for me. Nothing more

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The Richards' and Miller's have always lived across the street from each other, and have always gotten along. When Ella was ten, it all started going downhill. After all four of her sisters get pregnant with two Richards boys over the span of five years, Ella and Ryan are determined not to become like their elder siblings. But it would be so much easier if they didn't feel anything for each other. Just a few more months and she'll be off to college, and hopefully far away from town, and the Richards' boys. But can she last that long without repeating history?

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This is different for me, but I've always wanted to write something like this. Skylar Crandon is like any rebellious teenage boy, enjoying his youth. Then on his seventeenth birthday, everything in his world changes. His body has transformed, the world around him appears different, and no one is there to answer any questions. Until Eva. She knows what he is, and she offers answers if only he follows her to a secret underground group filled with others who are just like him. A vastly new world is presented to him, along with the knowledge that he could never go back to his normal life again. But he does have a choice. He can stay with people like him, and become what he was always meant to be, or he can live on the run in the world he doesn’t want to give up. He knows he’s never going to stay in a world he was so forcefully pushed into, but the more time he spends learning about them, and spending time with Eva, the more he realizes that his decision is going to impact more than just his life. I changed the rating to R because of graphic violence and the language that Skylar and Aaron use.

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Rose Schneider's quiet world is shattered one summer day when a friend rapes her. Discovering she is pregnant, Rose runs away to Chicago in an attempt to escape her small-town fate. A story of love and pain, set in the 1980's, it combines romance, drama, suspense, faith....all the stuff I love to read about myself! I'd love to get feedback on my voice, since it is in first person. The main character is 17 when the story starts, but is retelling it from an adult perspective. I'd like the book to appeal to young adults as well as adults. Descriptive words of your take on the "feel" of this novel would be much appreciated, ie., boring, mysterious, exciting, whatever....tell me what you really think while still being polite. Also, I reciprocate reviews for those who review my work. Thanks and enjoy!

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"...to love others truly, we must first love ourselves." Comments and suggestions appreciated.

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An obese man in search of love finds something else. Does the story hold your interest? How do you feel about the MC? Candid input appreciated.

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In the semi-small town of Cedar Creek, some people don’t care to lock their doors, even though the woods hold secrets and the children are terrified to venture into them. The warm sense of security is shattered for Majesty Alistair, a feisty but grief-stricken teen, when she uncovers a mass murder plot deep in the thick. She struggles to find and defeat the would-be-killers before they act, but they have an agenda far bigger than she ever assumed. Violence rocks the town, leaving residents reeling and drawing Majesty into the middle of it all. With danger always pressing, police seemingly getting nowhere and those closest to her looking guilty, she continues hunting and charges into an evil web, but the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.

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I am looking for comments from the Christian community on this one. I have posted the story without the Christian slant for anyone outside the Christian community. Any and all comments are appreciated. Also, I'd like to enter this into a contest. Does anyone know of any contests that would be appropriate for this story? I am also looking for an agent and/or publisher. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you so much! Radley

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<<<< I'm quite happy for people to dip in and out at random chapters. Please don't feel the need to wade in at the beginning and plough through methodically. This is written for YA in the 15-20 age bracket.>>>> What if 'losing your mind' wasn't just an expression? After Mark disappeared, seventeen year old Louise's world fell apart. When she first meets Jack she has no idea that her brother is still alive and that she can help to get him back. As she enters Jack's world she becomes immersed in danger, but desperate to bring Mark home she fights her fears and the terrifying reality which Jack shows her. Jack thought he was prepared for everything - life has shown him too much - but he wasn't prepared for Louise. All open & honest feedback welcome please :o)

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This is a very short story but one that is fitting for children, teens, and adults of all ages . . . for the little ones, it is a story about the unconditional love and kindness that they get from their grandparents, but for those of us who are older, this simple message has much deeper meaning as we go through the trials of life. I hope you enjoy it and I will appreciate any feedback you may have on it. Thank you - Radley

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THE ICEMAN CHECKS OUT is a commercial novel including all things contemporary in business, including murder. Woven throughout, are the book's major themes--corporate intrigue, environmental crime, bloody murder, and a grand, dramatic romance. The most prevalent issues in current businesses are the problem of internal air quality in sealed "sick buildings," business restructure and downsizing as a measure of corporate cost cutting, and the contradictory view of powerful women within the corporate work place. The action takes place over a six-day period, and the epilogue traces the major character's lives six months later. The main protagonist, Lydia Barrett, is young, corporate communicator with a wry sense of humor, biting wit and strong alliances. She works for a multinational chemical company, and is responsible for media relations, both local and nationwide. The Chief Executive Officer of her company, like most senior managers in the first decade of the 21st century is looking to weed out unnecessary jobs, employees and overhead. Although Lydia does not personally fear job loss, she is concerned the impact of a newly hired administrator, R. B. Swaine, (so nicknamed by his peers as “Really Big Swine,”) whose sole mission appears to be downsizing of the corporate departments without concern for employees. Corporate departments, he maintains, spend far more money than they are worth. At issue at the very beginning of the New Year is a three-day conference, held annually for corporate communicators, in order for them to develop strategies for the forthcoming year. Swaine's vehement objection to this conference sets the stage for the initial conflict and a fulminating desire to kill the man by one member of the group. Swaine so completely demoralizes the employees that his demise, as well as the discovery of his murder brings out conflicting, yet emotional responses from those who worked for him. Much of the story line takes place at the conference, held four miles from the site. A relationship between Lydia and a male colleague intensifies during this time, and as more information about Swaine, and those who work for him, comes to light, the reader, I believe, will come to identify with many of the attitudes and defense mechanisms of the characters, evidenced throughout the story. Readers, I believe, will be shocked to learn the identity of the murderer and the astonishing motive for the crimes.

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Some have been calling these things prosetry which is okay, but an unsettling sounding word. I tried this one with punctuation and that is unsettling to me as well. This might be a true story for the most part. It happened a long time ago. Comments welcome.

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um...yep it's PICTO of a heart! not a happy heart i s'pose but just the way love sometimes goes...

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Second half of a 7K word story, best read continuously. A man looks back on a troubled time in his youth and reflects on the two women who changed him. Input please on pace, narrative voice, characterization, and the ending. Many thanks.

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First half of a 7K word story, best read continuously. A man looks back on a troubled time in his youth and reflects on the two women who changed him. Input please on pace, narrative voice, characterization, and the ending. Many thanks.

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No feedback required... Unless you want to join me in rejoicing the memories, or have just realised how important you are...

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After her grandmother, Jenessa, flees her home in terror, Anna takes over as the caretaker of the property. Only 18 years old, and having just left an abusive home, Anna soon finds that the troubles she'd experienced up to now were nothing compared to what waits for her at The House on Miller Street. Will Anna survive her encounters with the malevolent being? Or will she, too, flee in abject terror?

Feedback: I'm looking for comments on continuity, flow and character development.

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Heartfelt... (er, or maybe a spleen) and to the point. The title says it all. Enjoy

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I'm fussing over line breaks and word choices... help! I like the way it is broken up right now, but does it convey the correct mood? Should there be a more uniform, rhythmic look to it? The breaks are enticement and longing, but do they just appear jagged?

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A little stream of consciousness poem for today. Comments welcome.

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I would appreciate knowing if this experiment works. I’m contemplating a volume of poems predicated on various themes. Here, as an experiment, I’ve joined the better part of several other poems in an effort to accommodate the title. Let me know if it works. Thank you. BTW, the spacing between lines went a bit funky in places when I posted. Can't seem to remedy it. My apologies.

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Correcting a wrong

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My Apology for posting the wrong piece! My Beluved" was not the piece I meant to post. It was one in many trying a song approach. MY ATTEMPT AT WRITING A SONG My son will be jealous. Many have already read this and the little changes will add nothing so please do not leave a review.

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Conclusion of a 9K word story. Same comments as part 1.

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A woman's new year gets off to a very bad start. This is a 9K word story posted in two parts due to word count limitations on posting. But it is a single story with no real divisions. How's the pace? How do you respond to the characters? All input appreciated.

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A bit of an indulgent poem this one... No Need to review if tere is no desire...

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This work is an attempt to explore the emotions and questions that arise from human tragedy. It raises the questions, but not the answers. While the questions raised are specific to a situation, similar questions are eventually asked by all. //God is defined in the broadest sense--and I hope it causes thoughtful introspection only. There is also a bit of "Eastern Philosophy" in this, as we are all affected by our experiences--and I spent 19 years in Japan and four of my seven children were born there.// A thought to consider; mustn't God loves us all?(regardless of our specific religion, or lack thereof). This is the first in a the first in a series of poems designed to provoke thought.

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This suicide poem of a Samurai is an attempt to underscore the cultural differences between western culture and eastern culture. The west is largely Christian. In Japan Christians amount to less than 3%. The culture is largely agnostic--Buddhism and Shintoism are the primary 'religions' although they are more philosophies than religions.//Imagine not believing in a supreme being and contemplating the end of your life as an absolute ending, by your own hand?//This poem is the creation of the author's imagination and is not at all authentic. I'm not Japanese but I've lived in Japan for nineteen years over a thirty five year period from the mid fifties to the late eighties. I graduated from a Japanese grade school in 1964.//The Japanese have a deep sense of honor. They are particularly sensitive to anything that reflects negatively on themselves, their family or their company. Most suicides in Japan are over issues of honor.//Personally, I'll never forget receiving a hand delivered wedding invitation on Monday, only to have it have it retrieved the following Monday, because the father of the bride opposed the marriage, and executed his wife, son and daughter with a Samurai sword, and then took his own life. The groom was the President of a large Japanese distribution company.//This poem, and many other cultural differences and nuances, are what inspired me to write the novel Executive Samurai.

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Sometimes as a senior citizen I'm questioned or chided about the effects of time on intimate aspects of life. Here is a retort, of sorts. Comments welcome.

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Max was not entirely perfect; his office was a disaster zone. LOL! I don't know how he got anything done in all the papered chaos. I used to tease him laughingly that one day he was going to die and leave me to deal with his office...Max got the last laugh. While sorting through the morass in the early hours of this morning when I couldn't sleep, I found a folder under a pile of books on his desk. In the folder I found little things he had kept: ticket stubs to the opera, receipts from especially romantic dinners out...dated on my birthday or our anniversary, a few photos of us together taken by a stranger he had asked...and this. I had forgotten I had even written this poem...my first to Max. I mailed it to him during the first absence we had to endure after we had fallen in love. He kept it all these years...As I read it i realized the unknown of tomorrow can become the reality of today...the known of yesterday fades into memory...there is only today. i can not control time, but i can choose to be present in each of the moments i have. time lived moment by moment is life lived to the fullest...time lived moment to moment with each moment filled with love is, for me, life lived to the max!

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Finding an old forgotten poem is sometimes like finding lost treasure. This one was buried for eight years. I decided to post it unedited. Comments are appreciated.

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This is not a novel it will be a book of poetry. Spargo Postle and Sara Basrai are in the process of putting a poetry love story project together. All reviews for Sara's poems will be written by her and placed on the site by Spargo. All copyright for the individual poems written by each poet remains the copyright of the writer.

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same as part 1. This is the conclusion of a 6,500 word story.

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A man whose life is in decline gets a chance to make a difference. How do you respond to Bill. Does the story keep you interested and, of course, do you enjoy it? Candid comments please. Thanks.

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I swear, this is the last memoir type poem for a good long while. Comments always welcome.

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love the idea of dancing moonbeams and how love sometimes seems as elusive as only in your dreams...

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A woman, her father, his arm and the man who loves her. How do you respond to the narrator? Do you enjoy the story? Candid input appreciated.

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part 2 (conclusion) of a 6200 word story.

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"Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy ride."--Eve

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I need some very specific criticism here. I've been told that my characters are flat, and I know I don't do settings well. Please tell me where this stuff should go. I'm trying not to interject these things in such a way to ruin the flow/style of the story. But I haven't figured it out yet. HELP!!!!!!!!!

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Have you ever wanted someone, but could not tell if they felt the same? Bit like dying of thirst I think. Please, cock your hammers and fire away. I welcome all feedback with a grateful heart.

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In a coffee shop a while back I overheard bits and pieces of a conversation between a young man and woman. Jotted some of it down and filled in the rest with conjecture. Sometimes I'm such a voyeur. Comments always welcome.

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In a kids' theater, a puppeteer is in full control of the weekly shows: he makes the puppets, he writes the story, he directs the actors. But is that all he does? The actress who plays the princess in every show begins to feel that his influence on her life goes beyond the stories she enacts on stage. When her lovers start dying, she finally understands - but is that enough? Set on the background of a grim, communist-era Eastern Europe.

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I have edited this piece to include some helpful comments from reviewers. This is solely my opinion. I do not pretend to be an expert in religions. I do however have some experience in teaching CCD and in raising seven children. My hope is that this work may cause reflection and discussion. Assuming one accepts God exists, then there can only be one.

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Any and all

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This poem came to me today. It is the first full length poem I've written in several years. It was almost haunting to write. I had a few remaining points on my account and was moved to share it. All I can ask is that all that see this poem, appreciate today, now, family success and dreams. And the larger excuse is that I miss everyone.

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Love and all that nonsense - used the S word. Pretty liteweight, though if you're easily offended pass this by. For others, I know I've messed up the lines here and there and would appreciate some guidance. Otherwise, hope you enjoy it. I enjoyed writing it.

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A story about two brothers, a woman, and love and sacrifice. Is the story enjoyable and engaging? How's the pace? Any frank feedback appreciated.

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A leaf from the diary of a young girl whose father is Schizophrenic....

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Feedback appreciated

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In Search of Mr. Wonderful, The Journey from Myth to Madness Romance / Adult To Invite Love, You Must Love Yourself First Syvanna Lee knows what she wants—an everlasting love, her own “Mr. Wonderful.�? Yet in her precarious quest to find such a man, she refuses to listen to the truth of her inner voice and ends up disappointed time and again. Each “Mr. Somebody�? Syvanna becomes involved with opens a new chapter in her life. Each new relationship causes her to look at herself from a different perspective. Each new lover unveils previously unexplored facets of her own personality. She is ready for love, but will she ever realize that to give love, receive love, or even demand love, she must love herself first? And if Syvanna would only take a moment to listen to her inner voice, she might learn an important truth. As the tale unfolds, an ominous secret from Syvanna’s childhood rises to the surface, a secret that may ultimately kill her. In Search of Mr. Wonderful is a tale of heartbreak, self-destruction, desperation, and, ultimately, of transformation and discovery. Ms. Bouvier has written a novel of intense beauty and introspection that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. REVIEWERS PLEASE NOTE: I will be adding chapters daily until the whole manuscript has been submitted. There are a lot!!! Stay tuned!!

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I was completely in love with the movie Avatar, and have been inspired. I love that line - I see you! It says so much. so any words that could enhance this would be great. Also realized - ME can also represent LOVE. Thank you for reading. :))

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Comments always welcome. This is how we feel when we lose someone close.

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one from the notebook, only a couple years old. comments welcome.

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For me, the only poet who ever got close to truly expressing love for another with mere words was Elizabeth Barrett Browning: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the height and depth and breadth my soul can reach..." I wish I had written this, instead here is a small poetic effort in which I try to express my love to my dearest Max...

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love is like a kite in flight but can be quite a fright when you let it go...um yes...it's a PICTO!

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Anything

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This was an article I wrote for my column in our local newspaper for Mother's Day. My mother had a million little sayings for her children that have always made me giggle, but this one has a special place in my heart.

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Memories are precious, especially when the act is difficult to give. To all you fathers who’ve impacted and nurtured your children’s lives by stepping out of your comfort zones to dance, whether it be in mind, body or soul - this one’s for you! You are the choreographer that gives a child the courage to stand on the center stage of life

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Brooklyn 1978: People Gioia (Joy-ah) knew didn’t travel, so she is shocked to hear they were going to Sicily. They arrive at their rich aunt and uncle’s house with high expectations, only to find it’s nothing like they imagined. It was worse. They are poor and living in a crumbling villa. Her mother, who is easily impressed with money, learns the couple gave all their assets away. But to who? And what’s left for her? As Gioia begins to fall in love with her gorgeous cousin, she finds herself struggling with moral concerns. It's good to be back, thanks for the push Wiggy dear!!!! Promise to return the favor for all reviews, I was rushing to get this in on time. Thank you reading about Gioia XOXOX

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Any and all

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The war over Wyoming land rights did not begin with the lynching of Jim Averell and “Cattle�? Kate Watson in 1889, nor did it end with the Butch and Sundance-style execution of Nate Champion outside his KC Ranch cabin in 1892. Those whose generations have lived in the Cowboy State know that land counts for much and family can be a secondary thing. When Sheriff John Pruett’s wife of 44 years is murdered by her own brother in the whirlwind of a family feud over precious mineral rights in the gas boom of the 2000’s, he will face not only a test of professional mettle, but also a formidable reconciliation with both his faith and his own flesh and blood—Pruett will ultimately battle his child, his town, his ghosts, and his God. This is a tale of twisted, hardscrabble greed set against the majesty of one of the last, true American paradises.

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Anabeth Sinclaire is content to write her romance novels and enjoy her garden. Life is good except for one particular thorn in her side, rival romance novelist, Lliam Alexander. Can these two feuding novelist find the love they are both looking for or will they kill each other first? This is a very rough draft so feel free to tear it to shreds...lol!

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Jake Wilson lives a life very much to himself. He seems content enough. He is close with his sister, Michelle. And his best-friend Alex is a pickup artist that tries to bring the best (or worst) out of Jake. And he has a decent enough job, which he only hates most of the time. Everything seems to be fine until a series of events leads Jake to question who he is. He meets the girl of his dreams, Chelsea. He receives a concussion. His ex-girlfriend, Rebekah, comes back into his life. His estranged father dies. And Jake's life spins out of control. But after receiving the concussion, Jake begins to see the masks he wears, and he begins to feel a burning in his stomach. It is at this moment that Jake begins the strenuous journey of self-discovery.

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I'd better explain a couple of things which may have you scratching your head. Muti = Af for medicine, poison, etc etc. Sun-downer = a drink (or 3) imbibed at about the time the sun’s going down, being 5:30 – 6:30 around these parts. I look forward to comments.

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Memories of childhood past. Where peace but for a moment could be found. Any and all feedback is more than welcomed. This is was really rough and may still need work but hoping to learn if emotionally strong while not cutesy. Let me know your feelings. This is about a real willow tree at my "Big Mom's' home.. It was my sanctuary so many times.

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Just days ago, Madelyn Jacobs thought not getting into any of her top three colleges or snagging the guy who serenaded the summer stars were the biggest nightmares in her life. That was before being raped by her best friend’s boyfriend. That was before being put in a coma by the jealous bitch when she misinterpreted the scene. That was before trying to function after waking up all broken and torn, only to have a demon or something bust into her bedroom and tag her as The Keeper of some freakin’ list.



When the first person of ten dies in her presence, that’s way weird. The second time, it’s bloodcurdling. She can't avoid people, she tries. She can't run, she tries. An unseen hand always ushers her to the next demise, randomly shows her the list, in windows, in mirrors, on scraps of paper, even behind closed lids, and makes her feel more powerless than ever. And the sweet singer she loves now stands at number seven. As tattered as she is, can she find a way to break the curse before others die and the lover of her heart is gone forever?



*Strong language

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My concern with this is it is too predictable. Nothing original? Tried my best to make it my own as this one is personal though will come home to many who read it. Something good can come along and the past can threaten Any and all feedback.. It is written by me and through me as this one I actually sat down and created. May not be a great idea!! haaaaa My muse may not be amused!

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A fictional story based loosly on actual events and people. Avery is a young woman with the world by the tail. She thinks she is really in love for the first time. She is beautiful and talented, yet scattered. But people and time have a way of changing her plans, even if she has no real plans at all... Please enjoy and review. This is my first real attempt at seroius writting so constructive critism is always welcome.

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Second chances are eye-opening. Sometimes you just need to step back and assess from an observer's point-of-view. Step back and breathe.

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Simple short poem for those alone. So many are quite content in solitude but others are not. The flounder ... feel incomplete. Until the day he or she discovers the truth that one is never alone as love surrounds us all. It is that notion somehow that one must have a 'lover' to be fulfilled. Any and all comments are welcome

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I reposted this to remind everyone that the New Year can represent a new start…..

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3/9- I realize what part of the issh may be-- the stanza breaks are all funky... that's why this reads as one long rant (not necessarily a bad thing)! I tried fixing the breaks. Twice. No luck. Reposting for NPM at FB. maybe it'll look better there. Cross your fingers. It's been awhile, but I'm diving right in-- so the mind is willing but a little obstructed, or at least, the technique's a little rusty. I may have switched the flow a bit, you'll notice, in the way I chose to break each line. Does it still work? Or would a little more uniformity be stronger?

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This work is from the novel, Corporate Samurai "love begets hate, trust begets betrayal, lust leads to death". It attempts to convey the emotions and thoughts, in song form, of a woman Samurai to the one true love of her life--who is also a Samurai. This song is written at a time when she suspects their relationship will not be sustainable, as her lover comes from a much inferior heritage than her own--something her family will not accept.

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Kiel Thrice-Loved reunites with his mother, and expresses his dissatisfaction with her captors . . .(To avoid confusion the squad leader has been given the name Carillon.)

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A Tale of the Loved.

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With the attack that almost cost her life, Brenna James finds herself in a world that she never expected. Hunted and afraid, she's in for the fight of her life.

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Some words written down is some sort of order. Comments welcome.

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A piece about honesty. You have read all the wonderful silken written poetry about love and all its fire and wonder. Now I invite you to read how it really is..

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Written for a flash contest. I think the story had to be romantic, less than 500 words, and a bridge had to be mentioned. Any sort of comment is welcome.

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2010 Flash Writing Contest Any feedback would be welcome.

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Trying for a Tanka

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maybe it's the time of year, time for poetic pondering, i dunno...the dimming glow...just like the twilight...looking back on a love that felt so right but had nowhere to go...

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Same overwritten poem about love and love lost. Old standby when a writer has an itch and needs it scratched! Any and all..feedback. Added punctuation but really don't like using it all the time in poetry. I like the use of ellipsis in voicing a pause.

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Holy monkey, I just stumbled onto this old piece. I must have been trying to get my wife amorous. lol

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Any and all feedback. Make you think? Make you feel? Make you nauseous! ha... Just having a bit of fun writing something totally romantic. Sort of about me but not a serious loss in the long run. Hurt like hell at time though so does that come through?

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Ulli sent me a magazine with a haunting picture on the front. This is in honor of that picture which I haven't been able to get out of my head. Hope it does it justice! Any and all feedback is welcomed but mostly what emotions were evoked.

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A little something for my dear wife.

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This is a new piece that is short and I hope sweet for erotica. I believe it could use some more character development but wanted to keep things short to get back into the game after a few months away from writing.

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This work is a response to "Why God?". A poem in which a young widow, with a child who's husband was killed in Iraq, challenges God and bares her soul. It is important to read "Why God?" first, to put this response into context. By no means does the author attempt any more than consolidating answers throughout history to mankind's tragedies.

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Thanks to everyone for your very helpful reviews. I revised the story accoringly. Feedback needed: Did I break the dialogue into too many paragraphs? I also combined a couple of sentences. Did that leave me with too many "series" sentences? ie. "She would want to know my new salary, if Mrs.Whipple would still be my secretary, the color scheme of my office, and most importantly, what Mr. Wyatt and his secretary were wearing." Lastly, I'm interested in nits. Your honesty would be greatly appreciated.

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When Maggie Bernett returns to Bonaventure Cemetery to visit her dead husband Clem, she has an experience of a lifetime.

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A strange note sends a mother and son on a journey of discovery.

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This novel takes place in the mid to late 1970's in the US and Japan. Bill Sanford is a young CPA working for the Tennessee Fried Chicken Corporation. He was brought up as a Foreign Service brat and had spent three years in Japan and four years in Europe. He had dreams of an international career but, his wife would have no part of it.// Ray Easton, TFC's Regional VP, Far East, is a cunning scoundrel and consummate liar. Ray is a master of insider trading of stock, and spreads the wealth to gain favors. He has always stayed one step ahead of the law.// Inoue San is an executive with one of Japan's major trading companies. He was a war hero who had been captured on Saipan and learned English from a U.S. Marine Officer. He launches a plot to bring a major U.S. fast food company into the Japanese market, relying on a high school chum who runs the Osaka Yakuza (mafia) to establish a chain of industrial espionage.// Strategic Planning is taking corporate America by storm. TFC'S CEO has caught the bug. He brings in a hot shot to produce and lead a corporate-wide strategic planning initiative. Resistance to strategic planning and the new hot shot builds, and the corporate politics accelerate, with battle lines being drawn.// Japan has been through post war reconstruction and is becoming a world class economic power. Some of its former military leaders are determined to achieve economically, what they failed to accomplish militarily.// Two trading company giants, Mitsugawa and Sawamura, become embroiled in a struggle for dominance of the exploding, western style, fast food market.// The cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. complicate matters for both sides. The inner workings of Corporate America and Japan are revealed in all their successes, but also, their corruption and greed.// Personal conflicts and deep seated vendettas, some originating during World War II, unfold.// Seduction and love affairs are an integral part of the plot. They illustrate the differences in social views of sexuality between the East and West.// Industrial espionage involving two highly competitive U.S. fast food companies, two Japanese Zaibatsu and the Japanese underworld unfolds.// Many of the key characters were involved in WWII and their individual experiences influence their business behavior.// Cultural differences subtly emerge, and the exploitation of others to achieve one's ends is front and center.// Personal ethics, or the lack there of, and the constant tug between good and evil are interspersed throughout.

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This is my entry for the "The Cloud" writing competition. It was originally over 6000 words, so I had to pare a lot to get it under 5000 (4977). As an eerie and mysterious cloud hovers over Las Vegas for months, it renders havoc on everything and everyone below. In spite of all the tragedy and gloom, love finds a way to grow and flourish. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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Just what people think any feedback would be appreciated

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A little humorous poem from the chauvinist and conservative that I can sometimes be. Just in fun.

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Contrary to popular belief, I do have a gentler side...I think? Any thoughts are always welcomed!

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Warning: This contains Purple! who am I kidding? its a velvet indigo cushion with tassels and gold trim. :D My first title choice was 'What's in a Name?' but it was taken. This place/event/characters are from my fantasy world. Although it does not take place in the current time frame of my novel. I hope you enjoy it.

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My fifteen year old son Erik, future 'Rock star' and/or starving artist, is trying his hand at putting his thoughts onto paper. Any comments would help my rising star...Thanx!

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Companion poem to previous submission.

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A bit of a change from my usual melancholy. I thought I'd give a love poem a try. Hope it's not too over the top. ;) enjoy!

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A story about loss and gain.

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Chapter 1 of A Lazy Incompetent Life records the birth and pre-school life of the "hero" in Rosewood and Coolangatta/Kirra in south-east Queensland, Australia. It also records the political, economic and social environment which he knew - with increasing sensitivity - up to and including 1927. Later chapters recall the narrator's experiences in World War Two, in love and marriage, in career and in illness and health.

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Synopsis: Phoebe lives a privileged life in a repressed and controlled society until she discovers the husband she thought was dead, is imprisoned by the regime that protects her. She becomes obsessed with his freedom.

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Because this novel does not fit into any specific genre, I am going with Commercial Fiction. It has equal elements of Romance, Love Story and Drama. Suspense and humor are no strangers to the story, either. To me, it is a drama fueled by the quest of two lovers to find one another after a very lengthy separation. Two young lovers, Randy Harris and Brenda Chandler, are separated by totally unexpected circumstances beyond their control. They are taken from their small-towm roots of rural Kansas, Randy to Georgia and Brenda to Texas. The year is 1963. Weeks turn into months, months into years. Each starts a new life of his and her own. However, rarely does one completley forget about the other. But Randy and Brenda face substantial, and sometimes horrific, challenges in their new, seaparate lives. The drama and tension hover around every corner. Randy goes to jail, charged with the brutal slaying of his dearest friend. And that's not the only major trauma in his young life. Brenda's life moves in a most unexpected direction for a naive farm girl. She has her own tragedy to deal with. The untimely deaths of people they love torment both of them. In Brenda's case, the death leaves her with a heavy burden of guilt she can't seem to shake. Each enjoys moments of joy and rewards. But it seems there is always something lurking around the corner that wants to dampen those moments. But you will fall in love with the quirky humor of old Pop Johnson and the compassion of Bruce Armstrong. They are sure to make you smile between the tragedies and challenges. And there are a couple of places where you might want to have a Kleenex handy. Pop's story of his early days in Georgie will almost certainky bring a tear to your eyes. Randy's return from Vietnam culminates in a gut-wrenching discovery. There is quite an unexpected twist at the end. You probably won't see it coming! All comments, suggestions and nits are welcome. And thanks in advance for your time to read and comment, should you choose to. PS: The improper grammar in some of the dialougue is intentional.

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A moment on Ali's 10th birthday that was very profound. I wanted to document it.

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This is the third installment of the story of my marriage and the struggles I am going through to help salvage it. In this installment I discuss where we are three months into the process.

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This past winter we spent some time in the Adirondack Mountains and I wrote this after a long walk.

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The exquisitely beautiful Angelica (Angie) is voyaging by great ocean-liner to rejoin her husband Jeremy (Jemmy) after five months' separation.

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Gioia (Joy-ah) got Karl Baron’s attention. She’s hot, young and gorgeous, a perfect match for movie star royalty like Karl, but is he willing to wait in line with all the men in Gioia’s colorful life? With her first screenplay ready to roll, Gioia travels to her grandparent’s hometown in Sicily. All the problems she left there twelve years ago, come back to haunt her. And some new troubles follow her there.

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This is the second piece in a series about the break down of my marriage. I anticipate a few more essays in this series. I would love to get feedback on the personal nature of this memoir.

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My wife has multiple sclerosis. it's a bit of a bummer, especially as she used to be a graphic designer

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The first three chapters have been revised and rearranged for the strongest start competition. The novel is posted in its entirety so you may read at your leisure (DISABLED CHAPTERS WILL BE ACTIVATED FOR ANY NEW REVIEWERS GOING BEYOND CHAPTER 3). Old reviews will not always match up with the chapter that it is attached to. This is in essence a memoir of my life in an orphanage, but I use composite characters and am not sure it qualifies as "memoir" for the contest. I will let the judges decide that (PS: I suppose it did qualify since it won that category). I'm not particulary looking for new reviews but any comments are always appreciated, especially overall opinion. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.

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This is a story of bullies, revenge and a class reunion all entangled in a twisted love story. Oh and there might be a bit of redemption in there too... I have more chapters coming... :-)

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Mollie and Jim are moving in together. Can their love for each other overcome the scars from the past?

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...yes this is a PICTO of lips and what you might find in a kiss like this!!

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This song is dedicated to my recently deceased mother. I wrote it as a testament of my grief and despair. I plan to rewrite this as a traditionally metered ballad some day. As usual, ANY and ALL feedback is appreciated and desired, so please take a bit more time and review while you view.

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This is a story about a couple away from the kids and alone in the big city for the first time in almost twenty years. it is a tale of love, sex, and joy.

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Love story between movie star and normal guy. I know the story's been done before but I'm hoping the fact that they knew each other while kids gives it a fresh angle. Tell what you guys think.

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Say what you will: PS - I appreciate it all..

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Summary: Woman involved in car accident - any critique gratefully received.

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ok so....this is a flaming PICTO!....the flickering flame of a candle perhaps....or maybe a fickle flame that was too hot to handle?....beware cos one might burn your fingers whereas the other might give you heartburn if the memory lingers!!

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Some things lead to others. A friend sent a long email and photos of himself kiteboarding. I meant to write a haiku about the pictures, the water, the colors, how I imagined it felt to be right there-- and this intercepted those thoughts. Strange.

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First attempt at a form of poetry I truly know nothing about. This is for a writer who prodded me enough to try. Haiku for J Michael Vernon..

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This is the story of a family who rose from the ashes of the Civil War and became major landholders in the wilderness of Florida. This novel is loosely based on the lives of my great-grandparents, who made the transition from war to peace, facing tragedy and loss with love and passion as they discover what it takes to turn an American dream into reality. I'm reposting this story so it shows up on my Profile Page, making it easier for friends and family to download.

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The humorous story of an attractive forty-something woman, labeled by some in society as a "cougar," trying to succeed as the public relations manager to a sex-crazed Mayor in the world of Philadelphia's city politics. The wild antics of her dates, co-workers, and especially the mayor, add up as she tries to keep the mayor out of trouble and successfully land her dream job as a White House public relations manager. Things really get out of control when a religious foreign diplomat comes to town, accompanied by his beautiful twenty-two year old "party down" daughter.

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Does this stand on its own? Ending abrupt? A girl leaves a boy after a wild night together.

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I said I'd take a break and just review, but I couldn't help it. I was experimenting, playing around with this form. It's that common rut that a person in love (lust?) falls into-- everyone but you can see what a loser your lover is, and can't figure why you don't leave the jerk already. A little addiction, perhaps? I was having a conversation with a friend who was telling me about his latest crush, and I just got to thinking about all the people, and all the relationship woes of unevenly matched pairs. **26 Aug 08:I'm fiercely holding on to the repetitions, because I believe they are essential to the slightly crazed, deeply addicted feel. What I missed though, in the original version, was the breaks between the stanzas. Pehaps this may alleviate (some of) that rushing, confusing, dizzying look of the poem. If not, then it's not meant to be a pantoum-- I'll pare it down.

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CAUTION: YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO READ THIS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO DINNER, OR LUNCH, OR... Just a silly little thing that crossed my mind. After reading this, you'll probably wonder if I even have a mind! It's totally tasteless and has no redeeming qualities what so ever. But, I follow my muse...she insists! Feedback? Well, if you're desperate for credits!

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Novel written like a transcript...1/4 of the way through chapter one, it will become easier to read... Two years ago, twenty-nine year old Jayne, a reclusive writer and single mom, suffered a tragedy. After two years and many therapy sessions later, she decides to move to London to continue her writing there. And, in the process move on with her life. By the way, this book will not be in chapters it will be by conversation. Each conversation is its own chapter so on this site, each chapter might have more than one conversation.

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This is a different poetic style for me. Does it work for you?

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As my oldest God Daughter (that I helped raise, I'm the only father figure she's had) prepares to go to Middle School, I am feeling nervous. So I wrote this for her.

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This is my entry for the My Writing Life contest. Parts have been borrowed from my memoir, Root Hog or Die. Any suggestions for improvement will be appreciated. Thanks.

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Become what you detest most (meant in humour. Maybe).

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My journey into the world of writing how one person inspired and lit the fire but also snuffed the flame. Finding my voice Listening harder, watching closer, feeling textures emotionally reaching hope thanksgiving for help on site. Comparing work and seeing if improving. Open and honest opinions as am taking this seriously and honestly due to a reviewer and his courage to point out the flaws.

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Is the verb tense right? This is about when something happens that you don't expect that changes everything and it is so much better because it is unexpected.

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A poem of someone who tries to show their love in in hidden gestures.

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Stanza three--is the last line workable? Is it too much alliteration? This is a play on the idea of the Tinman.

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Something wrote forty years ago and tucked in a bible. It is crude as just wanted to release pain and disappointment once again at unreturned love. I am not going to edit it or change it's form as this was who I was then and to change it would lose something of me!

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This is just an observation of a picture of my son,his wife and my grandson. Her gaze is hypnotic and you just want to know what she is thinking. Just want feedback on how it reads, is it clear, am I doing any better with punctuation!!!

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Words and intimacy...what a combination

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Just thinkin' bout my baby one night.

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I was listening to John Coltrane's immortal disc "A Love Supreme", and decided to add a poetic twist. During the time of this record, Coltrane was going through a spiritual awakening...this is my take on it.

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This is just a loving message to a hurting heart. It can be a message to many who too have experience this heartache. I have taken the liberty to grow quiet and try to put myself in the beautiful spirit of the one called Raven. It is a responsibility I don't take lightly but if I go deep enough, try to change places and hear the messages is painful yet beautiful as in Cool Breeze Blowing. The remaining partner is this love story said it was exacting like hearing from his beloved.

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Had some leftovers from another piece and decided to put them to good use.

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This is a work about the person who loved me the most as a child.. who taught me the most and provided a safe haven where I could be a child. It is full of small simplistic acts that made me whole.

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Making love with words...

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I changed the genre of this piece to poetry instead of a short story.. I thought too long for poetry but prosetry works and was also suggested by jb.. Plus I have learned, poetry can be long! A true love story that we all would hope to experience. I knew both parties and dearly loved them both. They taught me what love should be and I have never experienced. We lost John to ALS not so long ago. I wrote this as a tribute to this beautiful man. I tried to climb into his soul and tell him what he wanted to say to those he left behind. Especially his partner. I only pray I did him justice. Since this loss.. the remaining partner met someone and knew love again. Also knew tragedy again as only a year or so into the relationship one died of cancer so Bill's journey to peace again lies ahead of him. Of all my work this is the one piece I do want published so am hoping for any feedback that would guide me to this end. While I may not believe in 'heaven?' I somehow do believe all who have left this physical world are but a 'breath away.' Why my love of chimes and my sharing them is a big deal for me. When I am no longer in this 'physical world' many who have chimes from me will know, I am but a breath away also. If you have already reviewed this and read it again.. post anything you think might be improved in a forum? No need to review again.. I am republishing for new members who haven't read it yet.

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Can I describe it in deeper strokes? Let me know if this is too bland, too broad.

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Remembering a happy moment in the past.

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no....not a PICTO!!! just an ordinary poem on a highly original subject that no one has ever thought to write about before! ha!

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When the agony of heartbreak festers and just won't go away. Please let me know if you see the lines broken up differently. Thank you.

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This piece is only an attempt to explore some of the continuing, unanswerable questions that face mankind. The stated answers are only intended to cause the reader to think. Obviously these questions have faced mankind since conscience thought became possible.

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Ever imagine what a poet dreams?

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Somewhere between last night and this morning love lay in shambles beneath our feet.

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Dancing is just another form of making love with clothes on.

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Just one musing over love.

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Reflections of steppin out and takin in the sights and sounds of the jazz scene.

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This is the first draft of The Erstwhile Hearts Guild Chapter 3. This story is coming to me sort of haphazardly,(hence no Chapter 2 yet) but I take it with me everywhere. Any feedback is helpful. Thank you in advance

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There's nothing quite like waking up on a Sunday morning with love by your side.

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Redemption, Arkansas is a small country town where things aren't always what they seem and the people never are...

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This is a story about the relationship between tragedy and necessity, and the changes we make to keep breathing.

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Chris began to question the wisdom of this trip. The familiar crunching sound of tires on the gravel driveway gave away her surprise arrival. She had planned to arrive undetected, take a look around at her former life, and if necessary, leave undetected. As she pulled up to the once-white, house with the slanted front porch and broken screen door, she was at once joyfully nostalgic and severely repulsed. Before Chris could turn off the engine and step out onto the gravel and oil driveway, Ma was already waving from the window in the big bedroom upstairs. Chris shook her head when she notice Ma wearing the same faded red, pansy-printed house dress she was wearing exactly one year before on Easter Sunday and likely every other Sunday for the last thirty years or more. The hem of this dress must have been re-sewn by Ma’s plump hands a hundred times or more and the buttons were a mere rumor, replaced by multi-colored diaper pins. Even without seeing it now, Chris could describe each frayed piece of the fabric, not only because she seen it in her mind whenever she pictured Ma, but because she’d spent so much time as a child, hiding from the world on underneath it. They met inside the house, at the bottom of the stairs and greeted one another the way they always had. No “I love you,�? or “good to see you.�? No touching moment and definitely no embracing, just right to the business at hand – avoidance. “Lawd chile, I ain’t know who dat was pullin’ in my driveway all fast.�? Ma said, barely stopping at the foot of the staircase. “Uhn, uhn, uhn. What you doin’ wit’ ya hair now?�? “All that money, - cant you pay somebody to do something with that hair?�? Chris sighed. “It’s called the natural look Ma, and I did pay somebody to do this.�? Uhn, we’ll you done thrown dat money away. Look like a natural mess to me. I’ put a pressin comb on it fo’ ya fo’ free.�? Ma laughed. “Lawd have mercy, now I got to go upstairs an’ put some clean sheets on dat bed. Go on out back and say somethin’ to Dad.�? Chris walked through the old house, through the dog’s room on the back porch and out into the back yard where Dad sat atop his ancient, red, riding mower, mowing and drinking what was almost surely corn liquor, wrapped in a brown paper bag. “Hey there, Lil Bit, what you doin’ here? Dad slurred. “You done drove all the way from New York City to help me cut all this grass.�? All morning, Chris sat in the kitchen with Ma snapping peas, peeling potatoes and soaking greens. “You listen here girl, now I ain’t gonna have none of that mess you pull last year at my Easter table, you hear me?�? Ma warned. “What’s past is past.�? “Now, ya Mama an’ them comin.’�? “Again, Ma, she is not my Mama�? Chris said. “Well, she carried ya ‘round in her fo’ nine mont’s di’nt she?�? Ma exclaimed. Chris started, “Ma, but she never did nothing for me….�? At this, Chris was immediately shocked by her improper language, and how easily it came back to her. “She my daughter, and yo’ mama, an’ this is my house and I say she’ comin’ here to have Easter dinner wit’ us, now you just keep ya mouth shut if ya aint got nothing nice to say, hear.�? ‘Ma, if she brings him again, I can’t sit at the table and act like everything is ok.�? Chris explained. Ma fidgeted. “Don’t you say it.�? Suddenly, Chris felt possessed. “What, Ma, that he raped me and my Mama was too high to do anything?�? Ma looked around for something to hold on to and settled on a bag of flour on the. Ma said, “Don’t ya talk with dat nasty mouth in my house girl, now, I jus’ ain’t gon’ have it.�? Brushing flour off her dress, Ma quietly demanded, “Now make yourself useful and go set the table.�?

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It's my wife's birthday. Happy birthday, honey.

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This love letter is from a woman Samurai to her life's only love. She is forced by tradition and 'bushido', (the Samurai's code of honor), to obey her brother's demand that she end this relationship, with an inferior Samurai, forever. Her purpose in this letter is to confirm her undying love and devotion for her lover, while appealing to his sense of honor to understand she has no choice but to comply. This poem is part of the novel Corporate Samurai, which attempts, in part, to provide some insight into the eastern way of thinking.

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A love that was never meant to be. This was based on the movie Ladyhawke. I have revised a few of the lines, trying to make it not so 'cartoony'.

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We are only allowed one glimpse into heaven per lifetime.

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...ok, admittedly not a perfect ring but this is supposedly a PICTO of that band-of-gold worn third finger left hand......

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The working title of this novel is Corporate Samurai "love begets hate, trust begets betrayal, lust leads to death"// This novel takes place in the mid to late 1970's in the US and Japan. Bill Sanford is a young CPA working for the Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation. He was brought up as a Foreign Service brat and had spent three years in Japan. He had dreams of an international career but, his wife would have no part of it.// Ray Easton, KFC's Regional VP, Far East, is a cunning scoundrel and consummate liar. Ray is a master of insider trading of stock, and spreads the wealth to gain favors. He has always stayed one step ahead of the law.// Mike Adachi is an executive with one of Japan's major trading companies. He was raised in San Francisco and speaks English as a native. He launches a plot to bring a major US fast food company into the Japanese market, relying on a complex chain of industrial espionage.// Strategic Planning is taking corporate America by storm. KFC'S CEO has caught the bug. He brings in two hot shots to produce and lead a corporate-wide Strategic Planning initiative. Resistance to strategic planning and the new hot shots builds, and the corporate politics accelerate, with battle lines being drawn.// Japan has been through post war reconstruction and is becoming a world class economic power. Some of its former military leaders are determined to achieve economically, what they failed to accomplish militarily.// Two trading company giants, Mitsubishi and Sumitomo, become embroiled in a struggle for dominance of the exploding, western style, fast food market.// The cultural differences between Japan and the US complicate matters for both sides. The inner workings of Corporate America and Japan are revealed in all their successes, but also, their corruption and greed.// Personal conflicts and deep seated vendettas, some originating during World War II, unfold.// Seduction and love affairs are an integral part of the plot. They illustrate the differences in social views of sexuality between the East and West.// Industrial espionage involving two highly competitive US fast food companies, two Japanese Zaibatsu and the Japanese and Mexican underworld unfolds.//The head of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia)is an effective eliminator of problem people.// Many of the key characters were involved in WWII and their individual experiences influence their business behavior.// Cultural differences subtly emerge, and the exploitation of others to achieve one's ends is front and center.// Personal ethics, or the lack there of, and the constant tug between good and evil are interspersed throughout. View table of contents..

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This is my attempt at a villanelle in iambic tetrameter. I know nothing about poetry, so I hope I got this right. This rigid poetry consists of 19 lines: 5 tercets and 1 quatrain. The 1st line of the 1st tercet has to be the last of the 2nd and 4th. The last line of the 1st tercet has to be the last of the 3rd and 5th. Then those two repeated lines have to end the quatrain. The rhyming structure is basically like a stack of Oreos, all the chocolate cookies have to rhyme, and all the cream filling has to rhyme. And at the very bottom is an extra chocolate piece. :)

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What makes a human, human? Are heroes born, bred, or created?

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I was feeling kind of dispirited the other day...nothing had gone right....I felt quite alone. So I got quiet, and in those moments, I felt at peace, and these words are a result. Enjoy them!

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I was thinking about the holiday season, and this little ditty popped into my head. Hope you like it.

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.....pucker up!!

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