Friday, February 23, 2018

Dear Readers - Free Download This Weekend



Book 3 and 4 of The Visitor Series is free to download
on Saturday and Sunday
February 24th and 25th

All of my books are part of the Kindleunlimited program

If you are reading The Visitor Series, remember that there are 6 books in the series.

This link is to my author page which lists my 13 novels.


I am finishing up on Novel #14

and hope to have it published sometime in the next month.

The Visitor Series - the Life of Miranda Eppes is in 6 books 2013-2014

The Visitor - 1862
The Visitor - Texas
The Visitor - Colorado
The Visitor - New York
The Visitor - The Bell Tower
The Visitor - The Final Ride

The Ellery Daughters Series - 4 books 2015

John Ellery's Daughters
Life on the Isle
When The War Is Over
Blue Notes From Afar (2017)

My Wild Irish Eyes - 2015
Yesterday's Gone - 2013
Short Stories Love, Sex and Rock and Roll [erotic] 2013


Tuesday, February 20, 2018

In The Middle of the Night






Crime

"an action or activity that, although not illegal, is considered to be evil, shameful, or wrong"

there are crimes against humanity
the most egregious
of actions internationally or on that large scale
that makes the 'breaking news'

there are crimes of the heart
those are heartbreaking
for the heart can be mended but never made whole
only acknowledged by the heart bearer

we read about crime
we watch movies so very creepy
curled up in our personal space biting our lip
hoping it is just can't be

this morning I woke
overjoyed with the dusting of snow
before my worry turned to the goldfish in the pond
under the water below

in the park
across from our warm quiet home
the crime tape was strung
like pranksters toilet paper wind blown

crime always has a victim
anger and tears in disguise
heartbreak seeks out those who loved
as the body does lie

a dusting of snow
a bullet sent into flight
met the intended target attempting to flee
life ends in the cold night

an argument
a slight or an unexpected turn of events
possession of a firearm
a man with intent

a writer imitates
the world all around
acknowledging the simple fact
death will be found.

barb


Saturday, February 17, 2018

Pondering My Social Media



I have a Facebook personal account and a Twitter, Myspace, Pinterest and Instagram accounts.  I have a website , Etsy store, an author's page on Goodreads and this blog.  I sometimes wonder if I spread myself too thin but I guess that is really what our society has become.  I love technology, I love the internet more than anyone else in the world but I am lukewarm on the social media.

My Facebook really is three pages [accounts].  My personal one where I interact with family, friends, school mates and artists.  The issue I have with being on this account is that I really don't know most of the "friends" or acquaintances.  I can either post happy upbeat things and just float along or not post.  The world right now is very volatile in personal opinions.  I am one of very strong opinions about social issues but then if you put me on one of those Facebook scales that steal your soul, I would be center to left liberal.  I would guess more central because I can change my opinions with a good solid argument.  I believe in middle of the road kind of life.  I can understand most points of view and if they are unpleasant to my own sensibilities I will just move on.

My other two Facebook pages are for my writing [The Visitor] and for my turtles.  Yes, turtles do need their own page even though they sleep [hibernate] through seven out of twelve months.  I give both pages my attention but not like my personal page.  I realized the other day that my presence on Facebook is becoming less active but that is fine because I need to make sure I have a life away from my laptop.

Twitter is my political feelings only.  I don't have personal friends or crossover friends from Facebook to Twitter.  This is important because my posts on Twitter are unfiltered though frequently measured.  Like writing, Twitter is my cavern into my use of sailor talk.  So far, no one has blocked me but I am more like a nasty little bird that pecks at you then disappears before you can catch it.  Twitter allows me to scream without my family and friends calling for me to be put into a straight jacket.

Myspace used to be my favorite place when it welcomed writers and it is what helped me to start publishing my writing.  Now it is all music and I love music but I don't find anything that makes me go there often.  I tried different websites for writing but it was the comradery of Myspace that I missed the most.

Pinterest is the coolest social media because I can go around collecting the oddest things and finding them again when I need to.  I put my art work on there and then collect recipes, photographs of trains, doors...well you get the point.  Pinterest lets me unwind and just enjoy the internet.

Instagram is a fast and furious place where I usually just put my artwork and look at what others are doing artwise.  My presence is less because my time on the torch making glass art is less.  I started working with glass in 2003 as a hobby after a day of work.  I haven't been able to break that and still only work about five to seven hours a week on the torch.  I am not obsessive but more because I need constant change in my days.

Goodreads probably gets less attention from me.  It is a good site if you work it and I really honestly should work it but so far I haven't.  I love reading reviews by other people but whether you are a reader or writer, you know that your preferences or taste in literature is very unique to you.  It is the rare writer that can entertain a vast majority of readers.

This blog is me when I need to just unwind the many things that have bundled up during the day or week.  There's really no rhyme or reason to what I post.  It is attached to my author page on Amazon so if I put anything on Kindle for free you will see it here.  I don't know how many people click on Author Pages on Kindle but they should.  

My website, Barbarasvetlick.com, is a little bit of all the others except no politics at all.  It is my main "art" presence on the internet and the place I love the most.    I change it regularly putting up my recent work, talking about glass and listing upcoming shows.  It chronicles my growth in art over the years.

Surprisingly, I do almost all of my presence on the internet from my laptop and not from the tablet or my phone.  I love my laptop like I do chocolate.  And I really love chocolate.  Does social media enrich my life?  Not really.  I would be far better if I lived life instead of watching it on a screen.  Understanding these things and doing something about them doesn't mean anything will change.

barb

Free Kindle Download










Book 1 and 2 of The Visitor Series is free to download this weekend.
[February 17th and 18th]




My entire collection of books is available under Kindle Unlimited.

Books 3 and 4 of the Series will be available to download next weekend.

Books 5 and 6 of the Series will be available to download the first weekend of March.

I am in the final editing phase of my newest work but
no title yet.

Have a great weekend.

barb

Thursday, February 15, 2018

A Hero in the World - Aaron Feis



Death waits in the shadows
it comes for us
from the first breath we take
patiently it hovers
in a million ways death collects
each of us
each of us meets him
Sometimes it is welcome
sometimes it is cruel
Often very unexpected
when life is at its best
death is humbling
and is the one thing we can neither
avoid or stop.

Out of the cruelty
out of the injustice of inaction
the actions of others
the mere fate unrecognized for what it is
rises those souls
who give their lives for others.
Aaron Feis
in a split second
showed his love and passion
for the lives of children.

May you rest peacefully
May your family and friends
find time to heal.
You are a true hero in a world
of chaos.
Thank you for being who you were.

barb

Monday, February 12, 2018

The Lonely Man



he walks
comfortable by his own shadow
through the world
seeking nothing his eyes don't see
loneliness
cradles his heart and fills his soul
leaving little
room for holding another
the quiet
becomes the canvas of his thoughts
comforting
the man stretches beyond the light
wonder
filling the hours of each day
adventure springs into his bones
compromise
is something so very simple
as the sun rises
until it rises once again
the footpath
knows his footfalls intimately
absorbing them
with the passion of a lover
he walks
in the shadows he covets
the lonely man
drinks from the confidence
of his existence.

barb

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Stormy Weather



Stormy weather
Crawl of the mist
Shepherds the dawn
As the clouds
Of my judgment hover
Separating neither here nor there.

A love affair
Rumbling between
Lightening strikes
A comfort to my heart
Soothing to my mind
My best is caught in the storm.

Winds changing
A gentleness leaves
That power pushes aside
Feathery touches impart
A sigh sealing my lips
Storms brew within my eyes.

Regret lingers
As the umbrella lays
Beyond my fingertips
And the thunder subsides
Dark clouds move over me
For I love a thunderstorm.

Beyond my windows
Settling deep in my heart
Surrender descends
The truth slips away
In hushed tones of satisfaction
Following the mist.

barb