Jean Harkin's Blog - Posts Tagged "denial-kills"
For Diversity's Sake! Readers Wanted
“Diversity” is an often-used word these days, for many reasons and themes from the environment to social culture to literature.
Anthologies are showcases of diversity, containing a variety of writings, genres, writing styles, and authors’ points of view. This month, I draw your attention to three anthologies to tempt you:
The first is brand new, even pre-new. To be released May 18, “Denial Kills” is published by Not a Pipe Publishing and contains the writings of 23 authors from around the world. The book description reads, “There is another sinister threat (besides fear) . . .when if not addressed before it sets in, can be deadly. Denial, when allowed to fester, can have various consequences.” Examples follow in the stories, showing how denial can cost women their happiness, sanity, and even their lives.
Authors from Sweden to Australia, from Pakistan to Zimbabwe are contributors to this collection of stories and poems. Styles are as varied as the writers themselves. Diversity rules even while “Denial Kills.”
Another anthology was published in November 2020 during the pandemic by the Writers’ Mill group during a Zoom meeting (lots of writing, editing, and decision making led up to this.) The group’s eighth volume is “Journeys through Chaos: an Anthology to Bring us Together.” To find this book on Amazon, input both title and subtitle or look under “Writers’ Mill Journal.” It’s the book with the bright pinkish color. And the journeys between front and back covers vary from humorous to serious and are brightly diverse.
An older anthology, but still a goodie (I hope) is my own 2016 anthology of stories, some quirkier than others, titled “Night in Alcatraz and Other Uncanny Tales.”
I’m thrilled that “Alcatraz,” my first publication will soon have a “sibling.” My novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” has been accepted for publication, and I’ve signed a contract with Sunbury Press. When proofreading time comes, I’d like a few readers to give my novel a quick but focused read for typos and goofs. Please let me know if you’re interested. Thanks!
I am sorry to note the passing of John Richards at age 97. He died March 30 in Lincolnshire, England. John, a retired journalist and copy editor, was a grand old warrior for correct punctuation and word usage; together with his son, he founded the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 to save a “poor defenseless” punctuation mark. He finally gave up the effort in 2019, stating that “barbarians” and lazy journalism had won out over his efforts to preserve the correct uses of the apostrophe.
Anthologies are showcases of diversity, containing a variety of writings, genres, writing styles, and authors’ points of view. This month, I draw your attention to three anthologies to tempt you:
The first is brand new, even pre-new. To be released May 18, “Denial Kills” is published by Not a Pipe Publishing and contains the writings of 23 authors from around the world. The book description reads, “There is another sinister threat (besides fear) . . .when if not addressed before it sets in, can be deadly. Denial, when allowed to fester, can have various consequences.” Examples follow in the stories, showing how denial can cost women their happiness, sanity, and even their lives.
Authors from Sweden to Australia, from Pakistan to Zimbabwe are contributors to this collection of stories and poems. Styles are as varied as the writers themselves. Diversity rules even while “Denial Kills.”
Another anthology was published in November 2020 during the pandemic by the Writers’ Mill group during a Zoom meeting (lots of writing, editing, and decision making led up to this.) The group’s eighth volume is “Journeys through Chaos: an Anthology to Bring us Together.” To find this book on Amazon, input both title and subtitle or look under “Writers’ Mill Journal.” It’s the book with the bright pinkish color. And the journeys between front and back covers vary from humorous to serious and are brightly diverse.
An older anthology, but still a goodie (I hope) is my own 2016 anthology of stories, some quirkier than others, titled “Night in Alcatraz and Other Uncanny Tales.”
I’m thrilled that “Alcatraz,” my first publication will soon have a “sibling.” My novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” has been accepted for publication, and I’ve signed a contract with Sunbury Press. When proofreading time comes, I’d like a few readers to give my novel a quick but focused read for typos and goofs. Please let me know if you’re interested. Thanks!
I am sorry to note the passing of John Richards at age 97. He died March 30 in Lincolnshire, England. John, a retired journalist and copy editor, was a grand old warrior for correct punctuation and word usage; together with his son, he founded the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 to save a “poor defenseless” punctuation mark. He finally gave up the effort in 2019, stating that “barbarians” and lazy journalism had won out over his efforts to preserve the correct uses of the apostrophe.
Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
I return to blogging after a long break, to praise Oregon authors and publishers, many from Portland, such as the poet Carolyn Martin and the late Brian Doyle. Brian’s essays and Carolyn’s poems, full of lovely and lively words, elevate the ordinary to extraordinary through their piercing vision and acute observations of people and nature.
Carolyn’s book is “The Catalog of Small Contentments,” published this year by The Poetry Box publisher. Brian’s essay collection is “One Long River of Song,” compiled by his friend David James Duncan and others, approved by Brian shortly before his death in 2017. The essays are among Brian’s best.
I am adding a short list of books from Oregon authors and a publisher this year, but it’s only a sip off the top foam. There were many good reads published this year. Here is a taste:
Other 2021 books by Portland poets:
“Poems and Po-Yums” by Catherin Violante of Portland and Iain Yuill of Scotland. A collaboration by two writing friends that spans distances and themes from sublime to ridiculous, joy to grief.
“The Color of Goodbye” by Pattie Palmer-Baker. In poetic imagery this book tells the story of three characters in a family plus Jim Beam, finding memories and witnessing life.
2021 novels by Portland authors:
“The Point of Vanishing” by Maryka Biaggio is historical fiction based on the life of prodigious writer Barbara Follett and her mysterious, unexplained disappearance at age 25 in 1939.
“The Night Always Comes” by Willy Vlautin tells of the impact of corporatism and gentrification on ordinary Portland citizens, as a young woman struggles to save her family.
“Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove” by Mollie Hunt. First in the author’s newest cat mystery series, ‘A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery #1.’ A ghost cat and cold case murder complicate a peaceful beach venue.
From Independence, Oregon publisher Not a Pipe Publishing:
“See You at the End of the World” by cyber-punk author Simon Paul Wilson (from England) is a novella with romance, comedy, weird dreams, and a supernatural threat.
“Brief Black Candles” by Lydia K. Valentine, poet laureate of Tacoma, Washington, gives poetic shape to questions of family, loss, justice, and survival in not-yet-post-racist America.
“Incandescent” by Ayodele Nzinga, poet laureate of Oakland, California, brilliantly fires questions at the reader about justice, freedom, and existence.
“Denial Kills” is Not a Pipe’s anthology by 23 authors, revealing how forms of denial can be toxic to humans.
Happy reading! And stay tuned to next year’s news that will hopefully include the release of my novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” by Sunbury Press.
Meanwhile, I’ll blog again in a few months.
Carolyn’s book is “The Catalog of Small Contentments,” published this year by The Poetry Box publisher. Brian’s essay collection is “One Long River of Song,” compiled by his friend David James Duncan and others, approved by Brian shortly before his death in 2017. The essays are among Brian’s best.
I am adding a short list of books from Oregon authors and a publisher this year, but it’s only a sip off the top foam. There were many good reads published this year. Here is a taste:
Other 2021 books by Portland poets:
“Poems and Po-Yums” by Catherin Violante of Portland and Iain Yuill of Scotland. A collaboration by two writing friends that spans distances and themes from sublime to ridiculous, joy to grief.
“The Color of Goodbye” by Pattie Palmer-Baker. In poetic imagery this book tells the story of three characters in a family plus Jim Beam, finding memories and witnessing life.
2021 novels by Portland authors:
“The Point of Vanishing” by Maryka Biaggio is historical fiction based on the life of prodigious writer Barbara Follett and her mysterious, unexplained disappearance at age 25 in 1939.
“The Night Always Comes” by Willy Vlautin tells of the impact of corporatism and gentrification on ordinary Portland citizens, as a young woman struggles to save her family.
“Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove” by Mollie Hunt. First in the author’s newest cat mystery series, ‘A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery #1.’ A ghost cat and cold case murder complicate a peaceful beach venue.
From Independence, Oregon publisher Not a Pipe Publishing:
“See You at the End of the World” by cyber-punk author Simon Paul Wilson (from England) is a novella with romance, comedy, weird dreams, and a supernatural threat.
“Brief Black Candles” by Lydia K. Valentine, poet laureate of Tacoma, Washington, gives poetic shape to questions of family, loss, justice, and survival in not-yet-post-racist America.
“Incandescent” by Ayodele Nzinga, poet laureate of Oakland, California, brilliantly fires questions at the reader about justice, freedom, and existence.
“Denial Kills” is Not a Pipe’s anthology by 23 authors, revealing how forms of denial can be toxic to humans.
Happy reading! And stay tuned to next year’s news that will hopefully include the release of my novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” by Sunbury Press.
Meanwhile, I’ll blog again in a few months.
