eThise random poem came to me while I sat out on my front porch.
Inclines go up and down
Wheels spin round and round
Trees grow tall
We surpass our brick walls
As COVID19 turns the world upside down
Hugs: Ann
eThise random poem came to me while I sat out on my front porch.
Inclines go up and down
Wheels spin round and round
Trees grow tall
We surpass our brick walls
As COVID19 turns the world upside down
Hugs: Ann
Welcome to my news and updates for April 2020!
Here’s to your health and safety, while we shelter in place during these unprecedented and uncertain times. Even though we are in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, I have some exciting news to brighten your day!
Two weeks ago, I published my first poetry book entitled The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at heart. The blurb is as follows:
Ann Harrison’s first book of poems delve into her creative journey, given to her by the Holy Spirit. The first section, entitled A Writers Life, covers her journey from writer to creative dreamer, until she blooms into a published author.
The second section, entitled Seaside Poems, will take you on a walk along the seashore, where the Holy Spirit and your muse awaits to fill your heart and mind with inspiration, pulling you out of your creative slump. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you fill page after page with words, pictures or fill your hands with whatever creative task you strive to undertake, as you read these verses, which come straight from the author’s heart.
The third and final section entitled Poems from the Heart, describes the journey of a lost soul as he gives his heart to Jesus and finds a new beginning. Others describe a narrator’s sorrowful tears melting into joyful music and singing. Some of these verses touch on the author’s spiritual walk with the Lord and the music God has placed within her soul. Open your heart and let your mind wander as the Holy Spirit speaks to you through each verse within these pages.
The eBook can be purchased at your favorite online retailor through the following universal link:
https://books2read.com/TheSpiritOfCreativity.
The only thing I ask is that you leave a review on your favorite retail site. It helps other readers find my work.
In other news, I’ve been doing something a bit different on my podcast:
and my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/annsmusic1.
Along with my regular podcast interviews and solo episodes filled with writing tips, book reviews and more, I’ve started a 30-day writing/creative challenge. Each day I give you a creative prompt that you can interpret and respond to in any way you see fit. Please subscribe via the links above, so you can stay up-to-date with upcoming prompts, because I have a special surprise at the end of the challenge.
I’ve also created a couple of new boards on my Pinterest page:
The first is the book board for The Spirit of Creativity, and the second is a board called Great reads, where I post books I love and pins featuring other authors who promote freebies either on their newsletters or on social media. Be sure to follow me and check out the new boards.
Speaking of great reads, I interviewed a Christian fantasy author, who has a fantastic new book out entitled The Carpenter: A Retelling of the Story of Joseph of Nazareth by S.A. Wilson.
Joseph, a master craftsman and carpenter, stokes the ire of his family when he weds his pregnant (and seemingly unfaithful) betrothed, Mary. Pious, devout, and guided by the dictates of Heaven, Joseph has no issue with taking Mary – who still claims to be a virgin – as his wife and committing himself to the protection of her child, whom he senses is extraordinary.
However, there are others who are also aware of how special the child is, and not all have its best interests at heart. Among these is the despot Herod, whose oppressive rule and wanton cruelty are legendary. Deeply troubled by a prophecy concerning a King to Come, the tyrant is committed to finding – and eliminating – this threat to his reign. (And, having already murdered members of his own family in order to maintain power, Herod has no qualms about killing a baby.) In addition, there are forces beyond the ken of men that also recognize the singular nature of Mary’s child, and which are determined to keep the salvation that the babe represents out of mankind’s reach.
All of these factions and more converge on Mary and Joseph as they trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem in hopes of starting a new life. On a journey fraught with peril, Joseph fights to protect Mary and her unborn child from danger on all sides, including the elements, bandits, and Herod’s legions – as well as an utterly evil and otherworldly demonic force determined to stamp out mankind’s only hope of redemption.
Armed with little more than his wits, his faith, and his carpenter’s hammer, Joseph must face impossible odds to ensure the safety and survival of not only his family, but mankind’s future….
I recommend this book, for two reasons: One, because it has all the elements of an unputdownable read including, suspense, fabulous storytelling, and it was given to the author by the Holy Spirit. If these elements sound interesting to you, you can check the book out for yourself at the following link:
I want to thank S.A. Wilson for promoting The Spirit of Creativity on his newsletter, by recommending his new book to you.
Before I wrap up, I have a question for you. What measures are you taking to sustain mental stability during the pandemic?
Please leave your answer in the comments below.
Until next time, happy reading and I pray that you are safe and well. Connect with me on social media by liking my Facebook author page at:
https://www.facebook.com/annwritesinspiration
and following me on Twitter at:
If you know of any authors, creative artists or entrepreneurs who’d like to be a guest on Inspirational Journeys to help promote their work, please ask them to send an email to annwrites75@gmail.com with Inspirational Journeys in the subject line, message me on social media via any of the links above or fill out the contact form below.
Blessings,
Ann
My special guest cohost and I talk about writing and we promote each other’s work. Click the links below to hear and/or view our engaging conversation
INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS PRESENTS!
TISH BOUVIER!
Hello:
I’m proud to announce the following guest for your listening pleasure.
Please be sure to read onward after the following message to learn how you can be my guest here on INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS.
Thanks for listening and do write to let me and my guest know what you thought of this presentation.
WHO?
Tish Bouvier
WHEN?
Thursday, march 26, 2020
WHERE?
YouTube:
Podcast:
MORE ABOUT GUEST AUTHOR TISH BOUVIER…
Tish Bouvier (pronounce boo-vee-ei), IS an emerging author and haiku poet. She lives in Houston, Texas, married 27 years, with three daughters. After retiring as a hospice nurse, Tish Bouvier participated in NaNoWriMo and discovered a passion for creative writing. She’s writing her first cozy mystery series, and a 30 Day Haiku Challenge for Kids which can be found on her YouTube channel https://bit.ly/39hmV1p .
Her book is entitled, Echoes and Whispers: Haiku for NaNo Writers
Description:
Ignite your muse and STOP staring at a blank screen. Echoes and Whispers haiku for NANO writers paints a brief, though vivid picture written in the simplicity of a 5-7-5 format. Each haiku serves as a writing prompt to help writers and poets taking part in NaNoWriMo filter out the noise and listen to the whispers of forgotten memories, abandoned secrets, and a passing thought.
Purchase link:
https://amzn.to/3akBG4R
Excerpt:
anticipation
chaos silenced by whispers
scattered thoughts captured
Connect with Tish at the following links:
http://www.tishbouvier.com
http://www.twitter.com/tishbouvier
http://www.instagram.com/tishbouvier
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2yoFQIxVySc8bDloBqoyBw?view_as=public
http://www.facebook.com/tishbouvierwrites
BE A GUEST…
As authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs, we often find it hard to stand out above the constant chatter on the internet. If that sounds like you, I’d like to help you boost the visibility of your brand. My name is Ann Harrison-Barnes and I run a podcast called Inspirational Journeys. On my podcast I post solo episodes of value to my listeners, led by the Holy Spirit. I also talk to authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs who want to share their inspirational journeys with the world. If you’re interested in being a guest on my show, please send an email to annwrites75@gmail.com or fill out the form found at:
https://annwritesinspiration.com/contact.
Please be sure to leave Inspirational Journeys in the subject line of your email or in your comment on my contact form so that I can send you my interview framework.
If you’re launching a book, please let me know and I’ll send you my featured book questionnaire. I ask that you do this, so I can feature your book in the show notes blog post associated with the podcast
Thanks for listening to Inspirational Journeys and have a Blessed Day.
Follow me on Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/annwritesinspiration
https://www.youtube.com/user/annsmusic1
Please fill out the contact form below if you wish to subscribe to my newsletter:
When you open my window
What will you see?
Pages and words
Dotted with bits of me.
Ideas that flow like raindrops
upon a fresh blank page
Words that will forever
Last from age to age.
These ideas I must write down,
For I mustn’t forget,
Each story has new characters
Whom I’ve never met.
They bring about plot twists and turns
Upon my mental movie screen,
It’s hard to know which scene comes first,
My characters play them out so well,
I have to write them in short bursts.
I mold, shape and revise each scene
developing them into. a book
for when you turn each beautiful page
you have a chance to take a look
through the window of my writing world.
The poem above, was inspired by one of the following three writing prompts I talk about in today’s episode of Inspirational Journeys.
1. Do writers bleed ink?
2. What would happen if you built a world where words appeared from out of nowhere? Where would they come from and what trials would your characters face to find the source of these mysterious words?
3. What would people see if they looked through the window to your writing world.
You can listen to the podcast episode here:
Hugs,
Ann
Hello everyone in the blogosphere,
I have a very special treat for you. Today’s special guest is my good friend and fellow writer, Lynda McKinney Lambert. She was unable to be a guest on Inspirational Journeys, due to technical difficulties, so I invited her to be a guest on my blog instead. I hope you enjoy my chat with Lynda, and I pray that you find some valuable takeaways for your own writing life.
Ann: Please tell us a little about yourself.
Lynda: I will be 76 years old on August 27. I am a wife to Bob whom I married when I was 17 and he was 20. We still love each other. In fact, we now know what love really is as we age together.
We have 5 children who are all grown. And we have grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bob and I live in the rural Village of Wurtemburg, in western PA. Our ancestors settled here in the mid-1700s and this is where we choose to spend our lives. This is always the place that is “home.” No matter where else we ever went. I feel like I walk on the same paths as my ancestors walked – and it seems like we are an overlay of those courageous people who left everything that they had, to come live in America. I carry their dreams inside of me and I am grateful to them for what they gave to be here.
Bob and I like to work in our yard and in our flower gardens. Bob is a retired welder and auto body man – he was a blue-collar worker and I come from a steel workers family – so I hold those values for my own life.
We feed feral cats when they come visiting; we have adopted our 2 dogs and 2 cats from shelters or picked the up when they were abandoned in the woods near our home. We love creatures of all sorts.
These are the things from which my writing evolves. It is the ordinary, mundane events in our common life that I celebrate in my writing. I think of Flannery O’Connor and William Carlos Williams, and Walt Whitman – American writers who taught us to look to America for our source and our themes in writing. That is what I do – I write about a walk in the woods; an object that belonged to my grandmother; a wish for a new-born baby great-granddaughter; swimming in the creek; birthday event. It is the common threads that we all share that interests me.
Ann: When did you decide that you wanted to become a writer, and what was your source of inspiration?
Lynda: I cannot remember a time when I chose to be a writer. I know that in high school I was in love with Shakespeare and the Beats. I was crazy about the new wave of BEAT POETRY and was very aware of happenings in New York City in the poetry world as a high school student.
I’ve always been a watcher. I am really a rather quiet person because I am listening and watching the world around me. I am a keeper of memories for my time on this earth. I hold on to those memories, and I bring them out in my writings. I help other people by reminding them of who they are, where they have come from, and why they are here. Most people have forgotten their past.
I also give something else to everyone through my art and writing – and that is beauty. I bring the things that are beautiful to their attention, for sometimes they have forgotten them. There is a spiritual source of beauty that I see all around me and I share that with my readers and those who see my art works. I am here as a reminder of what is beautiful and I am restorer of memories that were forgotten. That is what I bring to this world through my creative work.
During my academic pursuit of 3 degrees in Fine Arts (Painting) and English, I wrote all the time and always took courses that were labeled as “Intensive Writing Courses.” Art History gave me a ton of experience in writing – enough to qualify me to be accepted into the MA in English program after I got my BFA degree. And, of course while working on my MFA in Painting, I was writing intensively for those 2 years – working my Art History papers, and my 2-year Thesis document. So writing is as natural to me as breathing. Along with my twelve years of academic writing, I was passionate about doing research for so many papers. I used to take my books back to the library in a laundry basket – that is how many books I had at home, from which I did research at any given time.
Ann: What tips and tricks did you learn throughout your writing journey? How have these little gems of advice helped you improve your writing or enhance your writing career?
Lynda: My experience is that nothing can take the place of long hours of research and reading in the discipline you are working in. For me, it has always been in fine art, philosophy, history, and English literature.
My best advice to anyone is to discover who you are, and then follow your passion. Don’t imitate any other writer – look at many of them and enjoy them but never imitate them.
I’ve never learned to do anything in a flash. After all these years – well, over fifty years of writing- it still takes me a long time to get projects done. I always say I am slow when it comes to writing projects. It feels like it is slow to me, but to others it seems that I do things quickly. My brain just never stops thinking about what I am doing and the layers of other things I plan to be doing.
I think the most important thing for me was education. It grounded me and centered me and helped me to know exactly who I am and what I want in life. I’ve never been floundering and undecided. The many educational projects I did kept me focused in that direction.
I am inspired by several notable writers from across a long period of time.
I’d begin with the Greeks – I’ve always loved the Greek Mythology stories. They are memorable and they are relevant today, when you really understand them. I carry them with me.
I’ve already mentioned the remarkable work of Flannery O’Conner – she sets the standard high for us all – those of us who want to share a world view and the zeitgeist of our time.
I loved the Beats, as I said; I loved Whitman – and I am still in love with him just as much today as when I first encountered his work as an undergraduate student in the mid-80s. Walt Whitman teaches us to have joy in our life experiences and to be honest about our challenges. He was an overcomer and he showed us a path to walk on as an American writer. He gave us pride in who we are – Americans.
Other influences on me are William Carlos Williams, John Donne, Robert Bly, and Yusef Komunyakaa.
My most meaning full inspiration is the Bible. I am a born-again Christian and the Bible is my User’s Guide for my life. That ancient text is my Road Map. I am on a pilgrimage from one place to another. Passages that I read become so alive to me that they often inspire my poems and essays.
Ann: Tell us a little about your most recently published book(s).
Lynda: I’ve been busy keeping my feet on the path that runs through the woods, along the creek.
Being in nature gives me the energy to keep on writing my poetry, books, and non-fiction essays.
My newest book just came out on July 15.
Star Signs: New and Selected Poems, DLD Books, 2019. This book was inspired when I read Genesis 1:14.
I began to think about the imagery in this verse and began to imagine what it might look like as a work of art, or in writing. From those musings, I began to develop the 4 parts of the book.
The book has 145 pages, divided into 4 distinct parts and 54 poems.
It is a collection that spans my career from an early poem (1988) to the present.
I am proud to say that my second book, Walking by Inner Vision: Stores & Poems is now available as an AUDIBLE choice. You can buy it in print, e-book, Kindle, or Audible. This is very exciting to me and the narrator for my book is Lily Rowe. She brings my word to life in such a way that people tell me they forgot it was not me telling my own stories. I am getting calls and messages to let me know how people love this narrated version of my book.
Ann: Which is harder, writing or editing? Why?
Lynda: I think they are so distinctly different from each other that I cannot say I think one is harder than the other. Both are essential. It’s kind of like asking what is more important to a healthy lifestyle, exercise or nutrition. Both are 50/50 on the importance scale. You cannot be fit without either of them.
Ann: Do you have any current or upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?
Lynda: Yes, on the heels of my announcement that my latest book was published on July 15, I can now say that my first chapbook is in the process of being published, too. I call it, first snow, and Finishing Line Press has a contract with me for the production of this little chapbook of 30 wintry-themed poems. I am excited because Winter is my favorite season. But you know, I am also planning on writing 3 companion chapbooks – one for Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
I am pleased to say that first snow will be published in January.
Beyond that, I have 2 other books in the pipeline.
One will be a revised edition of my first book Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage.
I wrote this book from my journal entries during the years I taught a course in Austria each summer.
I wrote some of the poems when I was in graduate school, some when I lived in California for 2 years, and others from my travels. It’s a nice collection and I am proud of it – and with the revised edition, it will be even better.
In addition, I’ve outlined a new book with the working title, Under the Blueberry Moon, which will be a memoir. I’ve outlined it and will begin to seriously work on developing the pieces for it in 2020.
I am often told, that I’ve lived such an adventurous life that I should write a book about it. Well, I am!
This is part 1 of my interview with Lynda, Stay tuned for part two.
Ann: What are your reading habits and how have they influenced your writing career today?
Lynda: I read what I am deeply interested in – poetry and non-fiction.
Eventually you need to figure out who you are and what you need to be reading. Otherwise, you can be all over the place, and lost at sea. No one else can know what you need to read. Look inside yourself and figure it out. You will know what is best for you.
Ann: If you could have a conversation with, or be educated by anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
Lynda: I would want to spend time with the most highly educated man who was born around 4 BCE, St. Paul the Apostle, once known as Saul of Tarsus in Cilicia. His birth city was located in present day Turkey. He died of decapitation in Rome, Italy around 64 BCE. Saul had the most violent and dramatic conversion to Jesus Christ.
The most memorable painting from my art history classes is “The Conversion of St. Paul,” by Caravaggio, painted around 1601. It was one of hundreds of paintings and art works I had to memorize while at the university. Fine Arts majors are required to study Art History and, in those courses, they must memorize all of the facts about hundreds of art works from many different time periods and cultures. This way of looking at things and memorizing them is what I carry to this day – I carry images into my writing – because I intentionally memorize them for that purpose.
It has been said of my writing that a reader feels like she is in a dream. That dream is a real world that I have memorized for many years.
Link to see this painting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversion_of_Saint_Paul_(Caravaggio)#/media/File:The_Conversion_of_Saint_Paul-Caravaggio_(c._1600-1).jpg
Examples of this way of close inspection of things is how I write my poems and essays. As I walk through a wood, I am surveying every detail of the plants and trees. I try to memorize the time of day, the lighting, the atmospheric effects on the plants, and the feeling and smells of this experience. I think this is one of the things that sets my writing apart – I literally am a keeper of memories for everything I can take into my mind at any given time. Art History taught me to view and explore everything this way. I concentrate on memorizing each of my senses as I view a thing.
Ann: If my readers are meeting you for the first time and want to follow you and learn about your work, where can they find you online?
Lynda: My official authors’ website:
http://www.lyndalambert.com
My Author’s website for book information:
http://www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert/
My Author’s Page on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/lynda-McKinney-Lambert/
Ann: Do you have a favorite Bible verse you’d like to leave us with?
Lynda: you saved the best question until last.
I am delighted to tell you what my favorite Bible verse is and why it is my new favorite verse.
Just this week I received a short teaching on a Bible verse which really made me consider what it means to be saved and who we really are after we have that encounter with Jesus. We are not the same, we are changed. Bob and I were transformed one night in October 1973 when we asked Jesus to come into our life. He did! Christianity is all about the indwelling of the Lord God Almighty. He is not “out there somewhere,” and we don’t have to go through any sort of ritual to locate him – he is inside of us and that is for all time. Our God lives inside of us in the form of the Holy Spirit.
At some point, I must ask, who am I, in Christ?
And here is my favorite verse to answer your question:
Ephesians 2:6 gives me a perspective and a world view from which everything I write is channeled.
I began to understand that we are already in heavenly places – it is not a dream for the future or a wish. We are IN Christ Jesus – already.
We ARE seated IN Jesus Christ at this very moment – …according to Paul, who wrote in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
The sun shines on the water
Drifting out to see,
I sit in my deck chair,
My umbrella shading me.
The sand shifts beneath my feet,
Carried away by the tide,
As words flow like ripples
From the depths of my memory.
This poem was inspired by the photo prompt found at the following link:.
Thursday photo prompt: Yearning #writephoto
INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS PRESENTS!
Kevin Morris!
Hello:
I’m proud to announce the following guest for your listening pleasure.
Please be sure to read onward after the following message to learn how you can be my guest here on INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS.
Thanks for listening and do write to let me and my guest know what you thought of this presentation.
WHO?
Kevin Morris
WHEN?
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
WHERE?
MORE ABOUT GUEST AUTHOR KEVIN MORRIS
Kevin Morris was born in Liverpool England on January 6, 1969. He attended The Royal School for the Blind and St. Vincent’s School for the Blind in Liverpool, and went on to read History and Politics at the University College of Swansea. After graduating with a BA (Joint Honours), and an MA in Political Theory, Kevin moved to London where he currently lives and works. Much of his poetry is written in his home, overlooking an historic park in Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace, a suburb of Greater London.
The Writer’s Pen and Other Poems
Book Description:
A collection of 44 poems encompassing the passing of the years, nature, mans place in the world and politics.
Purchase link:
Connect with Kevin at the following links:
Website:
https://kmorrispoet.com/
Twitter:
Goodreads author page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879063.K_Morris
BE A GUEST…
As authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs, we often find it hard to stand out above the constant chatter on the internet. If that sounds like you, I’d like to help you boost the visibility of your brand. My name is Ann Harrison-Barnes and I run a podcast called Inspirational Journeys. On my podcast I post solo episodes of value to my listeners, led by the Holy Spirit. I also talk to authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs who want to share their inspirational journeys with the world. If you’re interested in being a guest on my show, please send an email to annwrites75@gmail.com or fill out the form found at:
https://annwritesinspiration.com/contact.
Please be sure to leave Inspirational Journeys in the subject line of your email or in your comment on my contact form so that I can send you my interview framework.
If you’re launching a book, please let me know and I’ll send you my featured book questionnaire. I ask that you do this, so I can feature your book in the show notes blog post associated with the podcast
Thanks for listening to Inspirational Journeys and have a Blessed Day.
Podcast cover art photo provided by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash:
https://unsplash.com/@nathananderson