Friday, March 12, 2021

Stephenson Holt’s Arranged Marriage is #221 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION

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***The CRC Blog welcomes submissions from published and unpublished fiction genre (including screenwriters and playwrights) for INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION.  Contact CRC Blog via email at caccoop@aol.com or personal Facebook messaging at https://www.facebook.com/car.cooper.7 


****Stephenson Holt’s Arranged Marriage is #221 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION where the Chris Rice Cooper Blog (CRC) focuses on one specific excerpt from a fiction genre and how that fiction writer wrote that specific excerpt.  


Name of fiction work and were there other names you considered? Recently self-published, my thirteenth novel is titled Arranged Marriage with a subtitle of “Witch cousins promised to vampire princes with different outcomes.” It’s a stand-alone novel but follows on vaguely from “A Boy for Two Witch Girls” that followed the lives of these girl’s two mothers.

    For a while the working title for this latest novel was “Skye’s Limit” which seemed appropriate as Skye is one of the lead characters and it was also a play on the phrase ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ but it had to be changed for the following reason. 

    A long time ago I published a trilogy and the middle of the three books had the title Kitto’s Angels. Although an early novel it still appeared on my website www.StephensonHolt.com and I decided to spruce things up with some search engine optimisation (SEO) help. One of the pointers for each novel’s page was to have short page names that were the name of the book and to repeat that name within the page in Heading text and also Sub-Heading text. Easy enough you might think. I soon found out that apostrophes are a nightmare in page naming and also a nightmare for search engine results. It is possible somehow to include them but does a searcher look for Kitto s Angels or Kittos Angels? No more apostrophes in book titles for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GL4K33Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6?


What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? Start date is difficult as any author will tell you that an idea floats in your head for a while before pen is put to paper, or in my case, two index fingers are put to keyboard. The idea of a young witch-girl has always fascinated me as I used to play with one as a child. Her mother was, to my mind, a non-scary witch but was probably an herbalist. On many occasions I was sent to Mrs. (Name withheld for fear of burning at the stake) with not much money for a bag of herbs for troubles to a rear end that were either too active or not active enough. (Left: Stephenson Holt as a child.  Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 

Date completed was 2nd February 2021, after five drafts and two line-edits, ending with file “07 The Second line-edit.” I make that roughly eight months start to finish.

As I keep all drafts I looked back at my files and the first file is called “first draft” and it was created on 7th June 2020 at 07:15. It was started in Dropbox so that it appears on my Windows laptop, my Apple iPad and my iPhone and each one updates to the latest version, automatically. Once or twice a week I make a backup to three different external drives and I guess this is a habit that relates to my semi-professional photography where a lost photo is a memory lost forever


Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work, describe in detail, add photo. Ah, the dreaded ‘where do you write’ question. I listen to a writer’s podcast and also read this, Christal’s blog and find that many authors have fine writing desks in offices where that sit and churn out the words. All or most of my work is completed while lying in bed with an iPad, two index fingers tapping away, early in the morning as I am a morning lark and that’s when inspiration hits, having thought about next steps as I fall asleep and letting things mull overnight. More on that later. Readers will be pleased to realise that the photo is a shot of my bedside work station and not one of me lying in bed. (Left and Below Right: Stephenson Holt's writing space. Credit and Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 


Mains electricity provides power to an ingenious block that takes USB plugs and charges each item at the voltage it requires and displays that voltage. It charges my iPhone in the sloped cradle, my iPad in its brown leather case, my Kindle in a red “History of Magic” case and my CD player that holds a Greek language course. The cappuccino is probably the most important item on the station.


Editing moves to my Windows laptop and monitor screen with all planning on an Excel spreadsheet, as shown in the photo which shows only the first of the five acts. I’d love to pretend that planning is carried out before I start writing but that is far from the truth. (Left: Stephenson Holt in his editing space.  Copyright by Stephenson Holt)


After an initial chapter or two the spreadsheet is started and is split into five acts but used to be three acts until reading “Into The Woods” by John Yorke, an incredible book and a must for all authors. (Below Left: John Yorke)

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Woods-Five-Act-Journey-Story/dp/1468310941/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=into+the+woods+by+john+yorke&qid=1615569172&s=books&sr=1-1 



https://www.johnyorkestory.com/ 


The sub sections of inciting incident, progressive complication, turning point, crisis, climax and resolution, cannot be blank on my spreadsheet and must pertain to the whole story, each act and each chapter within the act.


What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? I wake at 5.00AM without an alarm, earlier in the summer as our bedroom window faces east and gets the dawn sun through a window that is open all year. Downstairs to the coffee machine for a cappuccino and back to bed to fire up the iPad which is a million times quicker than firing up a Windows laptop. I rarely read over the previous days work, especially on early drafts as the story so far is in my head, has been all the previous day and has been floating around in my subconscious overnight. (Above Right: Stephenson Holt's journal.  Credit and Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 

        Music is a non starter for me. I hear authors talk about songs that suit the mood of the novel they’re writing, or music that has to be without words but for me it is a distraction and a separate part of my life.

        Writing usually stops around 8.00 AM as my wife wakes and I have to make her a cappuccino and bring her breakfast. Yes, she does much more around the house than me but is not very good first thing which is where I shine.

Another habit is to always write in Bookman Old Style 14 point. I don’t know why but it seems to me to be easier to read, due to the width of the lettering and hopefully, therefore, easier to spot bloopers.


Most ideas to move the story on come while gardening so are quickly tapped into my phone while neighbours believe I am answering a text. These, of course, will appear on my iPad on the following morning. The shower is also a hotspot for ideas but they have to wait to be jotted down. (Right: Stephenson Holt in his garden.  Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 


I am not averse to pen and paper but it does not suit my methods for novel writing and the result would only be in one place which would feel weird. Dropbox is my saviour. I do however write a journal in pen and ink. The journal is made of handmade paper in a leather cover, held closed by a leather strap and the pen is an anniversary issue, limited edition, numbered, Conklin fountain pen. I believe this level of detail is important for successful journaling. (Left: Stephenson Holt's garden.  Credit and Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 


Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference.  This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer. The following starts on page 394 of the paperback version of Arranged Marriage. Tristan and Monique have arrived in France on their way to a gateway just outside Guernica and Tristan has fallen asleep so Monique explores the old town.


        

        The dark, French streets seemed safe to Monique, not crowded by any means but with enough people scurrying along to make them not lonely, and anyway, the four storey buildings seemed to hug her in a friendly way. Some late-opening shop’s lights overspilled onto the cobbled roadway while soft music emanated from the occasional bar that she passed, adding to the romantic atmosphere. Yearning for Tristan’s arm around her, she strolled, her head turning this way and that, fascinated by sights, sounds and smells that had avoided her over recent times, relishing the freedom of strolling aimlessly with no real purpose, other than her target. 

        Yes, coming out of the vampire realm, passing the gateway out of Tristanos had felt liberating, and yes, the ferry crossing had felt a bit like a return to her own human and witch world, but this was different. Being alone, walking in the dark, feeling bohemian in a long purple dress, no underwear and sandals felt liberating and inwardly romantic without Tristan but with a need for something else, something special.

        The light from the little shop on the corner spilled out over pavement and road invitingly, casting shadows amongst the cobbled street and glowing in the centre of her vision. A moth instinct told her to travel towards the moon and heaven. Could it be possible that the sign, seen from that distance, had the word chocolatier after a person’s name. Her feet moved automatically as saliva built and trickled down her throat and cocoa granules filtered into her nose bridge.

        The window gave a view of heaven, bejewelled in shapes, colours, patterns she’d never witnessed before. Without knowing how, Monique found herself standing at the counter, her thighs rubbing together like a child’s as she pointed to future treats that were carefully picked up with tongs and placed in a box that always seemed to have room in it for just one more. As each was placed in the box, its ingredients were listed by the chocolatier and Monique felt that she’d already sampled each one.

        The till said she had to pay a lot but Monique knew she would have paid double. Leaving the shop, staring down at the lid of her box, wondering how far up the road she could get without opening it, she looked up to see Gallmau stood in front of her, no doubt wanting a conversation, no doubt delaying the silky-sweet substance coating her mouth and throat.

        His long grey cloak seemed strangely in-keeping with the surroundings and somehow complimented her own style of dress. His Brythonic language also seemed to suit his surroundings but meant that Monique would have to concentrate on that aspect of her life, rather than a life of sitting in bed with a chocolate in her mouth and a lover by her side who would ravish her body as soon as he was awake.

        “Greetings Monique, a tavern is open, just on the next street corner. Two Cognac, one each, you’ll have to pay, a chat before the big meeting and a question. Have you ever eaten chocolate while sipping Cognac I wonder?”

        Monique smiled, her core muscles clench-smiled and they both knew that chocolate and Cognac would be a new experience for her. 

        The bar had outside tables. Monique sipped the sparkling, amber Cognac from a balloon glass, far too big to hold the liquid, the sparkle coming from street lights shining through the residual alcohol clinging to the sides of the bowl. Then she placed her first chocolate into her mouth, it slowly found her body temperature, agreed it was the perfect temperature for them both and melted into what at one time had been her head but was now a pleasure dome and then, she opened her mouth to ask a question but Gallmau cut her off.

        “It was easy Monique. Your internal organs shine bright in the night, like a beacon, and some are on fire with passion for both your husband and for chocolate. Tweaks made by me, to your liver, and your pancreas can easily make a girl hungry for sugar. I stood near what is now your favourite shop in the whole world and passed chocolate aroma towards you. You would normally have detected my witchcraft but had other things on your mind. The sugar in that chocolate is far higher than the taste of post-sex blood, don’t you think? I believe, for the female body, both chocolate and vampire sex are ultimate goals and if you can have both, then when you choose to have either, you are in a privileged position.”


Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write?  And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? A long time ago, my wife and I went on the fifth of our educational trips to the wine regions of France (Euphemism for something). This one was to the vineyards of Bergerac. (Left: Stephenson and his wife in France. Copyright by Stephenson Holt) 

  

        Leaving a small hotel that was somehow stuck in the time of Zola’s France, we walked through the old town looking for a restaurant. When the heavens opened with the biggest raindrops on record, we just laughed to see our shirts and blouses sop up the water. Diving into the nearest restaurant we were immediately towelled down by staff who apologised for their weather and gave us Cognac to help us recover.  (Right: Zola in 1902)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Zola  

    When I wrote the above extract, my head was in that restaurant, looking through the window, seeing Monique, experiencing her emotions and finally meeting Gallmau a few feet away from me. I don’t remember what we ate and certainly can’t remember thinking “that could be in a novel one day.”


Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your marked up rough drafts of this excerpt? Again, thanks to Dropbox I can go back to draft number one. It seems not very different and that shows me how into the scene I was. Instead of dark streets in the original, the version above has Dark French streets, even though it has clearly been established that she is in France, maybe to emphasise the point. In my finished excerpt I refer to ‘future treats’ and in the first draft this boringly said ‘chocolates.’


All Stephenson’s novels can be found, with chapters at www.StephensonHolt.com along with his unbiased reviews of books he has read.


INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links

 

001   11 15 2018 Nathaniel Kaine’s 

Thriller Novel 

John Hunter – The Veteran 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/001-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nathaniel.html


002   11 18 2018 Ed Protzel’s

Futuristic/Mystery/Thriller 

The Antiquities Dealer  

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/002-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed.html


003   11 23 2018 Janice Seagraves’s

Science Fiction Romance

Exodus Arcon

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/003-inside-emotion-of-fiction-exodus.html 


004   11 29 2018 Christian Fennell’s

Literary Fiction Novel

The Fiddler in the Night 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/004-inside-emotion-of-fiction-christian.html 


005  12 02 2018 Jessica Mathews’s

Adult Paranormal Romance

Death Adjacent 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/5-inside-emotion-of-fiction-jessica.html 


006  12 04 2018 Robin Jansen’s

Literary Fiction Novel

Ruby the Indomitable 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/006-inside-emotion-of-fiction-robin.html 


007  12 12 2018  Adair Valerez’s

Literary Fiction Novel

Scrim

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/007-inside-emotion-of-fiction-adair.html 


008  12 17 218 Kit Frazier’s

Mystery Novel

Dead Copy

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/008-inside-emotion-of-fiction-kit.html 


009 12 21 2019 Robert Craven’s

Noir/Spy Novel

The Road of a Thousand Tigers

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/009-inside-emotion-of-fiction-robert.html 


010 01 13 2019 Kristine Goodfellow’s

Contemporary Romantic Fiction

The Other Twin

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/010-inside-emotion-of-fictions-other.html 


011 01 17 2019 Nancy J Cohen’s

Cozy Mystery

Trimmed To Death

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/11-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nancy.html

 

012 01 20 2019 Charles Salzberg’s

Crime Novel

Second Story Man

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/12-inside-emotion-of-fiction-charles.html 


013 01 23 2019 Alexis Fancher’s

Flash Fiction

His Full Attention

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/13-inside-emotion-of-fiction-alexis.html 


014 01 27 2019 Brian L Tucker’s

Young Adult/Historical

POKEWEED:  AN ILLUSTRATED NOVELLA 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/14-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brian-l.html 


015 01 31 2019 Robin Tidwell’s

Dystopian

Reduced

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/15-inside-emotion-of-ficton-reduced-by.html 


016 02 07 2019 J.D. Trafford’s

Legal Fiction/Mystery

Little Boy Lost 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/16-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little-boy.html


017 02 08 2019 Paula Shene’s

Young Adult ScieFi/Fantasy/Romance/Adventure

My Quest Begins  

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/017-inside-emotion-of-fiction-my-quest.html 


018 02 13 2019 Talia Carner’s

Mainstream Fiction/ Suspense/ Historical 

Hotel Moscow

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/18-inside-emotion-of-fiction-talia.html


019 02 15 2019 Rick Robinson’s 

Multidimensional Fiction

Alligator Alley

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/19-inside-emotion-of-fiction-rick.html 


020 02 21 2019 LaVerne Thompson’s

Urban Fantasy

The Soul Collectors

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/20-inside-emotion-of-fictions-soul.html 


021 02 27 2019 Marlon L Fick’s

Post-Colonialist Novel

The Nowhere Man

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/21-inside-emotion-of-fictions-nowhere.html 


022 03 02 2019 Carol Johnson’s

Mainstream Novel

Silk And Ashes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/22-inside-emotion-of-fictions-silk-and.html 


023 03 06 2019 Samuel Snoek-Brown’s

Short Story Collection

There Is No Other Way to Worship Them

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/23-inside-emotion-of-fictions-there-is.html 


024 03 08 2019 Marlin Barton’s 

Short Story Collection 

Pasture Art 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/24-inside-emotion-of-fictions-pasture.html 


025 03 18 2019 Laura Hunter’s

Historical Fiction

Beloved Mother

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/25-inside-emotion-of-fictions-beloved.html 


026 03 21 2019 Maggie Rivers’s

Romance

Magical Mistletoe

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/26-inside-emotion-of-fictions-magical.html 


027  03 25 2019 Faith Gibson’s

Paranormal Romance

Rafael

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/27-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rafael-by.html 


028 03 27 2019 Valerie Nieman’s

Tall Tale 

To The Bones

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/28-inside-emotion-of-fictions-to-bones.html 


029 04 04 2019 Betty Bolte’s

Paranormal Romance

Veiled Visions of Love

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/29-inside-emotion-of-fictions-veiled.html 


030 04 05 2019  Marianne Maili’s

Tragicomedy 

Lucy, go see

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/30-inside-emotion-of-fictions-lucy-go.html 


031 04 10 2019 Gregory Erich Phillips’s

Mainstream Fiction

The Exile

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/31-inside-emotion-of-fictions-exile-by.html


032 04 15 2019 Jason Ament’s

Speculative Fiction

Rabid Dogs

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/32-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rabid.html

 

033 04 24 2019 Stephen P. Keirnan’s

Historical Novel

The Baker’s Secret

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/33-inside-emotion-of-fictions-bakers.html


034 05 01 2019 George Kramer’s

Fantasy

Arcadis: Prophecy Book

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/34-inside-emotion-of-fictions-arcadis.html

 

035 05 05 2019 Erika Sams’s

Adventure/Fantasy/Romance

Rose of Dance

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/35-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rose-of.html


036 05 07 2019 Mark Wisniewski’s

Literary Fiction

Watch Me Go

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/36-inside-emotion-of-fictions-watch-me.html


037 05 08 2019 Marci Baun’s

Science Fiction/Horror

The Whispering House 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/37-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html


038 05 10 2019 Suzanne M. Wolfe’s

Historical Fiction

Murder By Any Name

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/38-inside-emotion-of-fictions-murder-by.html


039 05 12 2019 Edward DeVito’s

Historical/Fantasy 

The Woodstock Paradox

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/39-inside-emotion-of-fictions-woodstock.html


040 05 14 2019 Gytha Lodge’s

Literary/Crime

She Lies In Wait

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/40-inside-emotion-of-fictions-she-lies.html


041 05 16 2019 Kari Bovee’s

Historical Fiction/Mystery

Peccadillo At The Palace:  An Annie Oakley Mystery 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/41-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html


042 05 20 2019 Annie Seaton’s

Time Travel Romance

Follow Me

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/42-inside-emotion-of-fictions-follow-me.html


043 05 22 2019 Paula Rose Michelson’s

Inspirational Christian Romance

Rosa & Miguel – Love’s Legacy: Prequel to The Naomi

Chronicles

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/43-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rosa.html


044 05 24 2019 Gracie C McKeever’s

BDMS/Interracial Romance

On The Edge

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/44-inside-emotion-of-fictions-on-edge.html


045 06 03 2019 Micheal Maxwell’s

Mystery

The Soul of Cole

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/45-inside-emotion-of-fictions-soul-of.html


046 06 04 2019 Jeanne Mackin’s

Historical 

The Last Collection:  A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and

Coco Chanel

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/46-inside-emotion-of-fictions-last.html

 

047 06 07 2019 Philip Shirley’s

Suspense/Thriller

The Graceland Conspiracy

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/47-inside-emotion-of-fictions-graceland.html


048 06 08 2019 Bonnie Kistler’s

Domestic Suspense

The House on Fire

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/48-inside-emotion-of-fictions-house-on.html


049 06 13 2019 Barbara Taylor Sissel’s

Domestic Suspense/Family Drama

Tell No One

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/049-inside-emotion-of-fictions-tell-no.html


050 06 18 2019 Charles Salzberg’s

Short Story/ Crime Fiction

“No Good Deed” from Down to the River

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/50-inside-emotion-of-fictions-no-good.html


051 06 19 2019 Rita Dragonette’s

Historical Fiction

The Fourteenth of September

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/51-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html


052  06 20 2019 Nona Caspers’s

Literary Novel/Collage

The Fifth Woman

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/52-inside-emotion-of-fictions-fifth.html


053 06 26 2019 Jeri Westerson’s 

Paranormal Romance

Shadows in the Mist

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/53-inside-emotion-of-fictions-shadows.html


054 06 28 2019 Brian Moreland’s

Horror

The Devil’s Woods

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/54-inside-emotion-of-fictions-devils.html


055 06 29 2019 Rebecca Gomez Farrell’s

Epic Fantasy

Wings Unseen

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/55-inside-emotion-of-fiction-wings.html


056 07 02 2019 Randee Green’s

Mystery Novel

Criminal Misdeeds

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/56-inside-emotion-of-fiction-criminal.html


057 07 03 2019 Saralyn Richard’s

Mystery Novel

Murder In The One Percent

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/57-inside-emotion-of-fiction-murder-in.html


#058 07 04 2019 Hannah Mary McKinnon’s

Domestic Suspense

Her Secret Son 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/58-inside-emotion-of-fiction-her-secret.html


#059 07 05 2019 Sonia Saikaley’s

Contemporary Women’s Literature

The Allspice Bath

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/59-inside-emotion-of-fiction-allspice.html


#060 07 09 2019 Olivia Gaines’s

Romance Suspense Serial 

Blind Luck

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/60-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blind-luck.html


#061 07 11 2019 Anne Raeff’s

Literary Fiction

Winter Kept Us Warm

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/061-inside-emotion-of-fiction-winter.html


#062 07 12 2918 Vic Sizemore’s

Literary Fiction-Short Stories

I Love You I’m Leaving 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/62-inside-emotion-of-fiction-i-love-you.html


#063 07 13 2019 Deborah Riley Magnus’s

Dark Paranormal Urban Fantasy 

THE ORPHANS BOOK ONE:  THE LOST RACE

TRILOGY

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/f063-inside-emotion-of-fiction-orphans.html


#064 07 14 2019 Elizabeth Bell’s

Historical Fiction

NECESSARY SINS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/064-inside-emotion-of-fiction-necessary.html


#065 07 15 2019 Lori Baker Martin’s

Literary Novel

BITTER WATER

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/065-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bitter.html


#066 08 01 2019 Sabine Chennault’s

Historical Novel

THE CORPSMAN’S WIFE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/66-inside-emotion-of-fictions-corpsmans.html


#067 08 02 2019 Margaret Porter’s

Historical Biographical Fiction

BEAUTIFUL INVENTION:  A NOVEL OF HEDY LAMARR

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/67-inside-emotion-of-fictions-beautiful.html


#068 08 04 2019 Hank Phillippi Ryan’s

Suspense

THE MURDER LIST

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/68-inside-emotion-of-fictions-murder.html


069 08 08 2019 Diana Y. Paul’s

Literary Mainstream Fiction

THINGS UNSAID

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/69-inside-emotion-of-fictions-things.html


070 08 10 2019 Phyllis H. Moore’s

Women’s Historical Fiction

BIRDIE & JUDE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/70-inside-emotion-of-fiction-birdie.html


071 08 11 2019 Sara Dahmen’s

Historical Fiction

TINSMITH 1865

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/71-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tinsmith.html


072  08 19 2019 Carolyn Breckinridge’s

Short Story Collection

KALIEDESCOPE & OTHER STORIES

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/72-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html


073 08 21 2019 Alison Ragsdale’s

Emotional Women’s Fiction

THE ART OF REMEMBERING

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/73-inside-emotion-of-fiction-art-of.html


074  08 22 2019 Lee Matthew Goldberg’s

Suspense Thriller

THE DESIRE CARD

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/74-inside-emotion-of-fictions-desire.html


075 08 23 2019 Jonathan Brown’s

Mystery/Amateur P.I.

THE BIG CRESCENDO 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/75-inside-emotion-of-fictions-big.html


076 09 02 2019 Chera Hammons Miller’s 

Literary Fiction w/ suspense, concern with animals & land management

Monarchs of the Northeast Kingdom

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/76-inside-emotion-of-fictions-monarchs.html


077 09 09 019 Joe William Taylor’s

Literary Mystery

The Theoretics of Love

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/77-inside-emotion-of-fiction-theoretics.html


078 09 15 2019 Linda Hughes’s

Romantic Suspense

Secret of the Island

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/78-inside-emotion-of-fiction-secrets-of.html


079 09 19 2019 Max Elliot Anderson’s

Middle Grade Adventure/Mystery

Snake Island

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/79-inside-emotion-of-fiction-snake.html


080 09 22 2019 Danny Adams’s

Science Fiction

Dayworld: A Hole In Wednesday

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/80-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dayworld.html


081 09 24 2019 Arianna Dagnino’s

Social/Historical/Adventure

The Afrikaner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/81-inside-emotion-of-fiction-afrikaner.html


082 09 29 2019 Lawrence Verigin’s

Thriller/Suspense

Seed of Control

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/82-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seed-of.html


083  10 05 2019 Emma Khoury’s

Fantasy

The Sword And Shield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/83-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sword-and.html


#084 10 07 2019 Steve McManus’s

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

SEVEN DEVILS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/84-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seven.html


#085 10 08 2019 Sheila Lowe’s

Mystery/Psychological/Suspense with Scientific Bent 

PROOF OF LIVE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/085-inside-emotion-of-fiction-proof-of.html


#086 10 10 2019 Jess Neal Woods’s

Historical Fiction

THE PROCESS OF FRAYING

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/86-inside-emotion-of-fiction-process-of.html



#087 10 11 2019 Karen Odden’s

Historical Suspense

A TRACE OF DECEIT

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/87-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trace-of.html


#88 10 14 2019 Kate Maruyama’s

Love, Loss & Supernatural

“HARROWGATE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/88-inside-emotion-of-fiction-harrowgate.html


#89 10 17 2019 Sherry Harris’s

Mystery

“LET’S FAKE A DEAL”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/89-inside-emotion-of-fiction-lets-fake.html


#90 10 18 2019 Linda Mooney’s

Science Fiction Apocalyptic/ Post Apocalyptic 

“THE TRUNK”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/90-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trunk-by.html


#91 10 19 2019 Jayne Martin’s

Flash Fiction Short Story Collection

“TENDER CUTS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/91-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tender.html


#92 10 22 2019 Janice Cole Hopkins’s

Inspirational Romance

“IT ALL STARTED AT THE MASQUERADE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/92-inside-emotion-of-fiction-it-all.html


#93 10 29 2019 Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s

Short Story Collection

“THE SHADOWS BEHIND”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/93-inside-emotion-of-fiction-shadows.html


#94 11 01 2019 David Henry Sterry’s

Fiction: Sexual Violence

“THE TENDERLOIN WARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/94-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tenderloin.html


#95 11 03 2019 Jay Requard’s

Dark Fantasy/Horror

“DEATH & DUST: THE PALE SAND ADVENTURES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/95-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death-dust.html


#96 11 04 2019 Caroline Leavitt’s

Fiction

“WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/96-inside-emotion-of-fiction-with-or.html


#97 11 06 2019 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

“A DAY OUT OF TIME”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/97-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out-of.html


#098 11 13 2019 John F Allen’s

Urban Fantasy Tale

“The God Killers’

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/98-inside-emotion-of-fiction-god.html


#99 11 16 2019 Damian McNicholl’s

Historical Novel

“The Moment of Truth”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/99-inside-emotion-of-fiction-moment-of.html


#100 11 19 2019 Stacia Levy’s

Mystery/Suspense Novel

“Girl Crush”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/100-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl.html


#101 11 24 2019 Charlotte Morgan’s

Fiction Novel

“Protecting Elvis”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/101-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html


#102 11 26 2019 T. L. Moore’s

Children’s Christian Fiction

“Ed On My Shoulder:  Maria & The Candy Trail”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/102-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed-on-my.html


#103 11 27 2019 Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s

Coming of Age Literary Novel

The Nine

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/103-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nine-by.html


#104 11 29 2019 Charlotte Blackwell’s

Adult Paranormal

“MYSTIC EMBRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/104-inside-emotion-of-fiction-mystic.html


#105 12 07 2019 Mike Burrell’s

Satire Novel

“THE LAND OF GRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/105-inside-emotion-of-fiction-land-of.html


#106 12 09 2019 Phil McCarron’s

Screenplay

“Escapement”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/106-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html


#107 12 11 2019 Wendy H. Jones’s

Crime Fiction/Police Procedural Novel

“KILLER’S COUNTDOWN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/107-inside-emotion-of-fiction-killers.html


#108 12 13 2019 Sandra Arnold’s

Historical Literary Fiction

“The Ash, the Well and the Blue Bell”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/108-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ash-well.html 


#109 12 16 2019 Amalia Carosella’s

Historical/Contemporary/Duel Timeline/ Women’s

Fiction

“DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/109-inside-emotion-of-fiction-daughter_17.html


#110 12 19 2019 Laura Bickle’s

Weird Western/Contemporary Fantasy

“DARK ALCHEMY”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/110-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dark.html


#111 12 27 2019 Brian Pinkerton’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“THE GEMINI EXPERIMENT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/111-inside-emotion-of-fiction-gemini.html


#112  12 28 2019 Sandra de Helen’s

Lesbian Thriller

“TILL DARKNESS COMES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/112-inside-emotion-of-fiction-till.html


#113 12 29 2019 Jo Wilde’s

Vampire Thriller

“THE CROSSING”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/113-inside-emotion-of-fiction-crossing.html 


#114 12 30 2019 Sam Richard’s

Short Story Collection of Weird and Transgressive

Horror

“To Wallow In Ash and Sorrows”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/114-inside-emotion-of-fiction-to-wallow.html


#115 12 31 2019 Duncan B Barlow’s

Literary Fiction Novel

“A DOG BETWEEN US”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/inside-emotion-of-fiction-dog-between.html


#116 01 02 2020 Allison Landa’s

Young Adult Novel

“BAD HAIR”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/116-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bad-hair.html


#117 01 03 2020 Pablo Medina’s

Literary Satire Novel

“THE CUBAN COMEDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/117-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cuban.html


#118 01 06 2020 William Trent Pancoast’s

Historical/Literary Novel

“THE ROAD TO MATEWAN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/118-inside-emotion-of-fiction-road-to.html


#119 01 07 2020 Jane Bernstein’s

Contemporary Novel

“The Face Tells the Secret”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/119-inside-emotion-of-fiction-face.html


#120 01 09 2020 Terry Kroenung’s

Young Adult, Historical and Fantasy

“Brimstone And Lily”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/120-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brimstone.html


#121 01 12 2020 Melissa Yi’s

Fiction Thriller

“GRAVEYARD SHIFT”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/121-inside-emotion-of-fiction-melissa.html


#122 01 15 2020 Marcie R. Rendon’s

Crime Thriller

“GIRL GONE MISSING”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/122-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl-gone.html


#123 01 16 2020 Tori Eldridge’s

Multi Genre Novel

“THE NINJA DAUGHTER”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/123-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ninja.html


#124 01 17 2020 Kristen Joy Wilks’s

Christian Romantic Comedy

“YELLOWSTONE YONDERING”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/124-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html 


#125 01 20 2020 Susan C. Shea’s

Cozy Mystery

“DRESSED FOR DEATH IN BURGUNDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/125-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dressed.html


#126  01 22 2020 Phong Nguyen’s

Improvisational Fiction

“ROUNDABOUT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/126-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html


#127 01 23 2020 Kate Thornton’s

Mystery Short Story In Its Entirety

“Ai Witness”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/127-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ai.html


#128 01 24 2020 Phil McCarron’s

Semi Fictional Essays

“The Great Facepalm: The Farce of 21st Century

Normality”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/128-inside-emotion-of-fiction-great.html


#129  01 27 2020 Kenneth Weene’s

Historicized Literary Fiction

“Red And White”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/129-inside-emotion-of-fiction-red-and.html


#130 01 28 2020 Graham Storrs’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“TimeSplash”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com 

/2020/01/130-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html



#131 02 08 2020 Angela Slatter’s

Short Story “Terrible As An Army With Banners”

From her Short Story Collection THE BITTERWOOD BIBLE AND OTHER RECOUNTINGS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/131-inside-emotion-of-fiction-terrible.html


#132 02 11 2020 Joan Joachim’s

Romance

Just One Kiss

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/132-inside-emotion-of-fiction-just-one.html


#133 02 16 2020 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

A DAY OUT OF TIME

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/133-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out.html


#134 02 17 2020 Soraya M Lane’s

Women Historical Fiction

THE GIRLS OF PEARL HARBOR

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/134-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girls-of.html


#135 03 07 2020

Linked Fiction

BLEACHERS Fifty-Four Linked Fictions

By Joseph Mills

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/135-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bleachers.html


#136 03 15 2020

Science Fiction Romance

BLUE VISION

By Marie Lavender

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/136-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blue.html


#137 03 17 2020

Crime Fiction

12 Bullets

by O’Neil De Noux

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/137-inside-emotion-of-fiction-12.html


#138 03 18 2020

Flash Fiction Piece

Radical

by Kelle Grace Gaddis 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/138-inside-emotion-of-fiction-radical.html


#139 03 20 2020

Mystery

HERE BE MONSTERS

By Jamie Sheffield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/139-inside-emotion-of-fiction-here-be.html


#140 03 21 2020

Character Driven Novel

UNBROKEN

By Jamie Lisa Forbes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/140-inside-emotion-of-fiction-unbroken.html


#141 03 23 2020 

Literary Murder Mystery

COLD COUNTRY

By Russell Rowland

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/141-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cold.html


#142 04 01 2020 

Sci-Fi/Paranormal

SWEET SLEEP

By Kim Cormack

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/142-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sweet.html


#143 04 02 2020 

Western Noir Short Story

“Night Rounds”

by James Reasoner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/143-inside-emotion-of-fiction-night.html


#144 04 03 2020 

Southern Fiction

LITTLE TEA

By Claire Fullerton

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/144-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little.html


#145 04 04 2020

Mainstream novel with elements of crime, mystery, and magic

THE FORGETTING FLOWER

by Karen Hugg 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/145-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html


#146 04 07 2020 

Historical Fiction

MEDICIS DAUGHTER

by Sophie Perinot

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/146-inside-emotion-of-fiction-medicis.html


#147 04 08 2020

Dark Urban Fantasy with elements of Paranormal Romance

COVEN BORN

by Stephanie Reisner aka AUDREY BRICE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/147-inside-emotion-of-fiction-coven.html


#148 04 13 2020

Mystery With A Fantasy Twist

DEATH LIVES IN THE WATER

By Shoshana Edwards 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/148-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death.html


#149 04 14 2020

Historical Fiction

ASHES

by Sharon Glogal Friedman 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/149-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ashes-by.html


#150 04 19 2020

Vampire Horror Novelette 

Blood Thrasher:  The Devil’s in the Metal

by Adam Messer

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/adam-messers-blood-thrasher-devils-in.html 


#151 04 25 2020

Historical Fiction

Charis in the World of Wonders

by Marly Youmans

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/marly-youmans-charis-in-world-of.html


#152 04 29 2020

Historical Fiction

The Master of Verona

by David Blixt

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/david-blixts-master-of-verona-is-152-in.html


#153 04 30 2020

General Fiction (Family)

Bread Bags & Bullies:  Surviving the 80s

by Steven Manchester 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/steven-manchesters-bread-bags-bullies.html


#154 05 01 2020

Adventure-Thriller/Horror

Into The Ashes

by Lee Murray

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/lee-murrays-into-ashes-is-154-in-never.html


#155 05 06 2020

Coming of Age/Crime Novel

All Things Left In The Wild

by James Wade

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/james-wades-all-things-left-in-wild-is.html


#156 05 10 2020

Paranormal Mystery

Southern Bound

by Stuart Jaffe

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/stuart-jaffes-southern-bound-is-156-in.html


#157 05 13 2020

Mystery/Crime Novel

Yardbird

By Mark Slade

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/mark-slades-yardbird-is-157-in-never.html


#158 05 15 2020 

Horror/Crime Novel

Hotel Nowhere

By David E Adkins 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/david-e-adkinss-hotel-nowhere-is-158-in.html


#159 05 16 2020

Satire/Crime Novel

THE LYING BASTARD

by Clint Margrave

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/clint-margraves-lying-bastard-is-159-in.html


#160 05 19 2020

Southern Gothic Fiction

REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS

by Emily Carpenter

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/emily-carpenters-reviving-hawthorn.html


#161 05 21 2020

Women’s Domestic Life Fiction

MERCY HOUSE

by Alena Dillon 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/alena-dillons-mercy-house-is-161-in.html


#162 05 26 2020

Screenplay/Film

BEAST MODE

by Drew Fortune and Spain Willingham

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/drew-fortunes-and-spain-willinghams_26.html


#163 05 31 2020

Coming of Age/ Psychological Thriller

MY SISTER & OTHER LIARS

by Ruth Dugdall

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/ruth-dugdalls-my-sister-and-other-liars.html


#164 06 01 2020 

Psychological Thriller

IN HARM’S WAY

by Owen Mullen

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/owen-mullens-in-harms-way-is-164-in.html


#165 06 02 2020 

Small Town Short Story Collection

SNAPSHOT “Old Lady”

by Eliot Parker

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/eliot-parkers-old-lady-from-snapshots.html


#166 06 04 2020

Noir Crime Novel

SKIN OF TATTOOS

by Christina Hoag

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/christina-hoags-skin-of-tattoos-is-166.html


#167 06 06 2020

Coming of Age/Historical

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/ellen-marie-wisemans-orphan-collector.html


#168 06 08 2020

World War Two Historical Fiction

THE PRISONER’S WIFE

by Maggie Brookes

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/maggie-brookess-prisoners-wife-is-168.html


#169 06 09 2020

Novella 

(about the 1960s, 

Rolling Stones in their exile,

genocide, it’s survivors, and

people from places that no longer exist.)

BLUE COAST MYSTERY:  ALMOST SOLVED

by Nick Sweeney

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/nick-sweeneys-blue-coast-mystery-almost.html


#170 06 11 2020

Family Life/Coming of Age Novel

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL

by Robert Dugoni

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-dugonis-extraordinary-life-of.html


#171 06 26 2020

Women’s Divorce Fiction

QUEEN OF THE OWLS

by Barbara Linn Probst

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/barbara-linn-probsts-queen-of-owls-is.html


#172 07 01 2020

Short Story “The Belindas” from the Short Story Collection LOVE WAR STORIES 

By Ivelisse Rodriguez

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/ivelisse-rodriguezs-short-story.html


#173 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 04 2020

Organized Crime Thriller

BLUES IN THE DARK

by Raymond Benson

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/raymond-bensons-blues-in-dark-is-173-in.html


#174 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 08 2020

Contemporary Literature & Fiction

THE ESCAPE OF MALCOLM POE

by Allison Burnett

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/allison-burnetts-escape-of-malcolm-poe.html


#175 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 09 2020

Horror Novella

TERMINUS STATION

by Jeff Lyons

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/jeff-lyonss-terminus-station-is-175-in.html


#176 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 12 2020

20th Century Historical Romance

“The Bootlegger’s Wife”

by Denise Devine

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/chris-rice-cooper-blog-176-inside.html


#177 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 24 2020

Literary Fiction Novel

“What Drives Men”

by Susan Tepper 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/susan-teppers-what-drives-men-is-177-in.html


#178 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 27 2020

Short story

“Tidings of Comfort and Joyce”

by Kimberly Kurth Gray

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/kimberly-kurth-grays-short-story.html

 

#179 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

07 28 2020

Historical Fiction

“Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey”

by Kathleen Rooney

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/kathleen-rooneys-cher-ami-and-major.html


#180 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

08 04 2020

Screenplay

“BUNNY”

by Shaun Hughes 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/director-shaun-hughess-screenplay-bunny.html 


#181 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 09 2020

Short Story 

“Wrong Road” from the Short Story Collection George’s Mother and Other Weird Stories

by Susan Berliner 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/susan-berliners-short-story-wrong-road.html


#182 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

08 11 2020

Thriller Mystery

“Death in the Time of Ice”

by Kaye George

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/kaye-georges-death-in-time-of-ice-is.html


#183 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

08 13 2020

Screenplay

“Igor and Frankie”

by Jim Picariello

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/jim-picariellos-screenplay-igor-and.html


#184 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 14 2020

Short Story 

Short Story “Breaking on the Wheel” from the Short Story Collection No Call Too Small. 

by Oscar Martens 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/oscar-martenss-short-story-breaking-on.html


#185 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 20 2020

Romance

A Secret, a Safari, a Second Chance

by Liz Fielding

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/liz-feldings-secret-safari-second.html


#186 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 26 2020

Mystery and Psychological Fiction 

Falling Woman

by Richard Farrell

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/richard-farrells-falling-woman-is-186.html


#187 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 03 2020

Children’s Picture Book

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER 

By Jolene Gutierrez

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/jolene-gutierrezs-mac-and-cheese-and.html


#188 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

09 07 2020

Screenplay

JUDE COLE

By Janelle Marie Evans

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/janelle-evanss-screenplay-jude-cole-is.html


#189 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 09 2020

Historical Christian Romance

UNTIL JUNE

by Barbara M Britton

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/barbara-m-brittons-until-june-is-189-in.html


#190 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 10 2020

Screenplay

THROUGH THE SILENCE

by Elaine Roberts-Kercheff

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/filmmaker-elaine-roberts-kercheffs.html 


#191 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 16 2020

1960s Historical Fiction

California Dreamin’ Teens Interrupted 2

by KC Sprayberry 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/kc-sprayberrys-california-dreamin-teens.html 


#192 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 17 2020

Screenplay

DAUGHTERS LOST TO THE DESERT

by April Sanchez

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/kc-sprayberrys-california-dreamin-teens.html 


#193 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 18 2020

Contemporary Literature and Fiction

THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY

by Clifford Garstang

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/clifford-garstangs-shaman-of-turtle.html 


#194 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 19 2020

Crime Fiction

THE ACE OF DIAMONDS

by ES Gibson

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/es-gibsons-ace-of-diamonds-is-194-in.html 


#195 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 20 2020

Historical Fiction

Katherine-Tudor Duchess

by Tony Riches

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/tony-richess-katherine-tudor-duchess-is.html 


#196 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 21 2020

Short Fiction

“Dinner Prep”

by Thaddeus Rutkowski 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/thaddeus-rutkowskis-dinner-prep-is-196.html 


#197 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 22 2020

Screenplay

SWEET DREAMS

by Ben Johnson

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/bill-johnsons-screenplay-sweet-dreams.html 


#198 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 26 2020

Crime Thriller

Dirty Deeds

by Armand Rosamilia

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/armand-rosamilias-dirty-deeds-is-198-in.html 


#199 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

09 29 2020

Crime Thriller

Hunting Mariah 

by Janice Spina 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/09/janice-spinas-hunting-mariah-is-199-in.html 


#200 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10   2020

Crime Novel

Indelible:  A Sean McPhereson Novel, Book One

by Laurie Buchanan

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/laurie-buchanans-indelible-sean.html 


#201 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 04 2020  

Cross-genre novel

January River

by Bernard Jan

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/bernard-jans-january-river-is-201-in.html 


#202 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 10 2020

Historical Novel

Robin Hood’s Dawn: The Earl of Huntingdon”

by Olivia Longueville

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/olivia-longuevilles-robin-hoods-dawn.html


#203  Inside the Emotion

10 14 2020

Historical Novel

The Alexanders Volume 1 1911-1920

by Allan Hudson

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/allan-hudsons-alexanders-volume-1-1911.html

 

#204 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 15 2020

Short story

Forget Me Not

by Angele Ellis

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/angele-elliss-short-story-forget-me-not.html 


#205 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 16 2020

Coming of Age Fiction

My Gypsy War Diary

by Shawn Brink

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/shawn-brinks-my-gypsy-war-diary-is-205.html 


#206 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 19 2020

Western Screenplay 

The Search for Sundown, Texas

by Patrick Emralino

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/director-patrick-emralino-s-screenplay.html 


#207 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

10 20 2020

Romance

A Promise for Faith-Briar Creek Love Book 1

by Stacy K Simmons

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/stacy-k-simmonss-promise-for-faith.html 


#208 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 22 2020

Terrorism Thriller

Death In The Cloud

by E.J. Simon

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/ej-simons-death-in-cloud-is-208-in.html 


#209 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 25 2020

Mystery

“The Nazi Spy Mystery Series Book 1”

by Alan Hardy

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/alan-hardys-nazi-spy-nazi-spy-mystery.html  


#210 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

10 29 2020

Historical

“The Unbridled Tongue”

by Catherine Meyrick

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/catherine-meyricks-bridled-tongue-is.html 


#211 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

11 03 2020

Short Story Collection

“Tales From Los Cabos”

by Lila C Duville

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/10/catherine-meyricks-bridled-tongue-is.html 


#212 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

11 09 2020

Historical Fiction

“THE LAST OF THE ROMANS: FIGHT OR DIE”

by Derek Birks

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/11/derek-birkss-last-of-romans-fight-or.html 


#213 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

11 12 2020

Historical Fiction

RISING FROM THE RUINS

by Anna Chant 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/11/images-in-this-specific-piece-are.html 


#214 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

11 14 2020

Short Story

NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/11/paula-persoleos-short-story-new.html 


#215 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

11 29 2020

Science Fiction

A HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/11/jack-wears-hole-in-universe-is-215-in.html 


#216 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

12 11 2020

Historical War Fiction

The Wishing Well 

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/12/matthew-hamiltons-wishing-tree-is-216.html 


#217 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

12 22 2020

Historical Fiction

For Those Who Dare

By John Anthony Miller 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/12/john-anthony-millers-for-those-who-dare.html 


#218 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

12 26 2020

Fiction focused on human trafficking in Nepal

Pakhalieko Sundo

By Dr. Sangita Swechcha

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/12/dr-sangita-swechchas-pakhalieko-siudo.html 


#219 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 

01 07 2021

Japanese Literature

“Loose Ends In Yokohama-A Story of a Man on a Mission to Make Peace with His Past”

by Alex Lund

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2021/01/alex-lunds-loose-ends-in-yokohama-story.html 


#220 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

02 27 2021

Historical Fiction

“TRILLIUM”

by MLHOLTON aka Margaret Lindsay Holton 

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2021/02/margaret-lindsay-holtons-aka-mlholtons.html 


#221 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

03 12 2021

Women’s Fiction

“THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE”

by Stephenson Holt

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2021/03/stephenson-holts-


#222 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
03 25 2021
Psychological Thriller
“DEADLY HARM”
by Owen Mullen

#223 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
03 27 2021
Gay Ghostly Romance
“December Roses”
by Fiona Glass



#224 is now a delete 

#225 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 02 2021
Stories set in France
Short Story “What Doesn’t Choke Will Fatten" from the short story collection PLUGGING THE CASUAL BREACH
by Mary Byrne

#226 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 07 2021
Novel about the savagery of nature set in Ireland
THE BEASTS THEY TURNED AWAY
by Ryan Dennis


#227 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 10 2021
Historical Christian Fiction
GRACE IN MOMBASA
by Tracy Traynor

#228 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 12 2021
Historical Fiction
MURMER OF MASKS
by Catherine Kullmann

#229 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 17 2021
Travel Romance
UNDER THE ITALIAN SUN
by Sue Moorcroft

#230 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 18 2021
Vampire Novel
AURELIE-SURVIVAL
by Christine Duts

#231 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
04 20 2021
Military Thriller
THE CULMINATION, A NEW BEGINNING
By Gwen M Plano

#232 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Eric Beetner’s TWO IN THE HEAD 


#233 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Joan Gelfand’s EXTREME: A NOVEL

#234  Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Suzanne Simonetti’s THE SOUND OF WINGS.

#235 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Rebecca D’Harlingue’s THE LINES BETWEEN US 

#236 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Paul W. Feenstra’s short story “Gangway to War” from his short story collection GONPOWDER GREEN.

#237 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Alan McDermott’s WHEN DEATH STRIKES.

#238 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Diana Stevan’s LILACS IN THE DUST BOWL

#239 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Rebecca Forster’s HOSTILE WITNESS

#240 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Linda Rogers’s REPARING THE HIVE

#241 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Karla M. Jay’s IT HAPPENED IN SILENCE

 #242  Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Maureen A. Miller’s DISTANT MEMORY 

#243 Inside the Emotion of Fiction”  Dana Michelle’s PROTECT

#244 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Tony  J Forder’s THE AUTUMN TREE

#245  Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Rebecca Copeland’s THE KIMONO TATTOO

#246  Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  T. D. Johnston’s short story “Ode To Cubby” from his short story collection WEEDING FOR EISENHOWER.

#247 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Sam Copeland’s screenplay MISCHIEF NIGHT SLASHER 13: THE FINAL CHAPTER.

#248 Inside the Emotion of Fiction:  Samuel Greenlees's novel THE FALL OF NEVER
http://chrisricecooper.com/248-inside-the-emotion-of-fiction-samuel-c-greenleess-the-fall-of-never/

#249 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Lee Matthew Goldberg's GRENADE BOUQUETS, BOOK II in the Runway Train Series 

#250  Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Barbara Krasnoff's short story "The Ladder-back Chair" from her short story collection THE HISTORY SOUL 2065

#251 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Kathy Roy Johnson's CAPITOL IN CRISIS

#252 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Rick Incorvia’s THE TRAVELER’S BEST SELLER


#253 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Christine Rimmer’s THE RANCHER’S SUMMER SECRET


#254 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Steven Arnett’s DEATH ON LAKE MICHIGAN


#255 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: T.C. Lotempio’s THE TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW


#256 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Jenny Knipfer’s HARVEST MOON







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Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Marlon L. Fick’s THE TENDERNESS AND THE WOOD "A Poet’s Quest to Heal from Grief by Reflecting on the Spiritual and the Earthly" by Christal Ann Rice Cooper

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Marlon L. Fick’s The Tenderness and the Wood

"A Poet’s Quest to Heal from Grief by Reflecting on the Spiritual and the Earthly"

by Christal Ann Rice Cooper 

In January of 2020 Canadian publishing press Guernica Editions Inc. www.guernicaeditions.com published Marlon L. Fick’s poetry collection The Tenderness and the Wood; 


cover design by Allen Jomoc Jr.; 

https://www.allenjomocjrdesigns.com/ 



interior layout by Jill Ronsley; 

https://suneditwrite.com/about/ 



cover art by Francisca Esteve (Left); 

https://www.facebook.com/francisca.barranca 

Introduction by Francisco Avila; 

https://www.facebook.com/francisco.avila.79025648 


with the book being fully dedicated to legendary poet Robert Bly, whom Fick had intimate conversations with about his pilgrimage, as depicted in his poem “Sitting By a Warm Fire.”

http://robertbly.com/ 

In the middle 1970s, Marlon L. Fick (born in 1960) experienced a quest for the spiritual.  During this quest, he turned to poetry as a way to find the right path for him.  (Left: Marlon L. Fick in 1980. Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)


Fick was surrounded by mystical experiences as a youth; only to recount those mystical experiences not as religious, but simply a form of poetry that led him to finally embrace Jamesian pluralism and Christian Agnosticism. 

https://philarchive.org/archive/JACJPA-2 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_agnosticism 

The result of this quest is the autobiographical The Tenderness and the Wood, which won the National Endowment for the Arts in the year 2005, with a forward by Willis Barnstone. 

http://willisbarnstone.org/willisbarnstone.org/WillisBarnstone.org_The_Official_Willis_Barnstone_Site.html 

The quest of Marlon L. Fick continued and as a result, he rewrote some of the poems and those most recent versions of poems are included in the 2020 version of The Tenderness and the Wood, which consists of 31 poems. 

https://www.amazon.com/Tenderness-Wood-Guernica-World-Editions/dp/1771835567/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Tenderness+and+the+wood&qid=1615423421&sr=8-1 

Francisco Avila states in the forward:  “The ‘tenderness’ and ‘wood’ signify both sex and crucifixion without redemption, passion without any purpose other than itself which Fick explains, is a view from which he has never recovered.”

Marlon L. Fick, in a Facebook interview with CRC Blog on March 1, 20201 stated: “It was, Avila says, the existentialists (Left) who I never got over, not the title's words.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism 

Fick also shed more light on what his pilgrimage or quest is:  “The pilgrimage or quest is about chasing the angels (Rilkean angels)... ie symbols of my lost daughter (Sophia ) and lost wife (Laura). (Right:  Rene Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke)

https://harpers.org/2007/10/rilkes-last-encounter-with-an-angel/ 

There are religious connotations to that, but ultimately I think Avila had it right when he called it Christian Agnosticism a la Kierkegaard.” (Left: Soren Aabye Kierkegaard)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard 

Perhaps the big question to ask is does Marlon L. Fick’s reflections on the spiritual things lead him to these angels?  Does his reflection on the earthly things lead him to the angels?  Or does his reflections on both the spirit and earthly world lead him to a sense of peace over the death of his wife and daughter? (Right:  Marlon and Laura on their wedding day.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)

In “One Never Knows" Fick draws the parallels between a church and a strip club. 

I suppose there is music, all sorts of praise, donations, and 

a lot of halleluiahs and speaking in tongues with the eyes 

rolled 

     back in ecstasy. 


In “The Tenderness and the Wood” the speaker of the poem sees the unification of male and female and flower and animal.  All are one, unified.   

We did not know male from female                                    

or flower from animal

Then toward the end of the poem the man and woman make up the cross where they kneel and make a “sacrifice of scattered nails,” which can refer to the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  (Left: Laura and Marlon in Mexico City, Mexico.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)


In “The Swallows of Barcelona” the church windows could be interpreted as the church itself full of lies. 

Morning reaches the church windows, stained with lies.


In “The Flood” God is described as a brutal God who wants to possess both Adam and the land, even if it means, exhibiting violence

Not the way god reaches tenderly toward Adam,                

but clinched, ready to possess,                                             

to strip the land of its sex 

 

In “Melissa’s White Dress” the speaker of the poem becomes one with snow.

I was warm and began to drift like the snow itself.


Then when he looks in the mirror he becomes a coyote.

Mornings in the mirror a coyote looks back at me           

from a field of stubble- 


In “The Angel over Mexico City” the traffic becomes the sign of the cross.

All night cars cross both ways                                            

on the Avenue of Reforma                                          

making the sign of the cross;  


Later the speaker of the poem compares his sleep to a tomb.

I wake out of a sleep                                                      

which was a tomb robbed of its dreams, 


Fick also compares rats to candles inside a church  

the hurry of rats, their little white hands               

thrumming their thumb like a flicker of candles in a church. 


In “The Sources of Light” Fick is the 10-year-old boy who compares his lantern as an ancestor to God.

I was ten and confident and I thought                                 

all sources of light had a common ancestor in God:           

my lantern;


In “A Priori to His Will” the speaker of the poem listens to his friend speak when God walks into the room where the two friends reside.   

And when I listened to my friend,

God came in the room – that is, he is searing fountain, jetsam of         

 image and idea.

In “Crows” there are numerous religious references such as “Sparrows purchased for pennies in Jerusalem/ and eaten by the poor” which can relate to Jesus’s sayings of how God takes care of the sparrow just like He will take care of the poor. (Right: Laura and Marlon.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick.)


The speaker of the poem than advises the reader as Jesus advised the disciples not worry.  “Don’t worry a minute of your life./ Don’t gather stores for winter./ Don’t plant or harvest.” Even still, the speaker of the poem, the crow, Jesus, and other birds worry and therefore are in terror.  This terror can also describe the emotion of the speaker of the poem as he seeks some kind of peace amongst the death of his wife Laura and daughter Sophia.

 

In “Zocala As the Sun Goes Down” the speaker of the poem compares violence to a Latin Mass. “It's not that different from a Latin mass:/ Either way the meanings are assumed." (Left: Laura and Marlon.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)


In “Lent” there are numerous references to the spiritual but even still, Fick discovers that it is best to have no faith. 

                  Although, surrounded by signs,    

I have learned it is better to have no faith:    

it’s the pigeon’s fate  

to hop from its nest off a tenth story ledge.

I prefer the certain  death of life here on the ground,

the cradle of broken glass                                                                                                 

 

In “Parting Words” Fick is in Africa, and describes every spiritual reference with something that destroys the spiritual reference itself.  For instance, Fick purchases a black cross made out of ticks and mites that infect the human body. 

I bought a small black cross of acerina. 


He then purchases a bowl of alms, which is a symbol of Buddhists purchasing food or money for the poor.  This postman rejects the bowl of alms, which in a way, could be a rejection of God himself, another explanation of why it is better to have no faith. (Right: Marlon L. Fick in 1999. Copyright by Marlon L Fick)

I bought a humble bowl of alms and left it     

carefully wrapped                                                         

in foreign language newspapers                                      

and the postman, thinking it was for him, never came back.


The speaker of the poem’s affections for a woman are rejected and therefore he is turned to smoke.  Even though the Old Testament God loves the smell of smoke, He does not accept the smoke from Fick’s body, as a result, he has no place to go.  (Left: Mexico Literary Figure Ali Chamacero and Laura taken in their apartment that poet Octavio Paz go them.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)

You imagine I still love you     

 after you set fire to the land and burned my letters     

 I suppose I do.       

 But I was only made of words, not places.

 You turned me to smoke 

 and my spirit had nowhere to go.


He then describes the cross as being not real and painful to the soul and body.

The black cross with its fake diamond    

This black and muddy claw at my neck.


In “The Dream of the Cross" the speaker of the poem gives his deceased loved one the power to walk on water, something Jesus was able to do in the flesh.  

Remember the day you came back from the water,  

which you tried to walk across    

but failed

and now you’re floating in the dream world.  


He further describes his loved one as dissolving into salt, which brings up the image of Lot’s wife dissolving into salt.  

You went looking for the words washed out to sea,                                                                           dissolved in salt.


While his loved one is in a coma he gives her the power to look at the plucked eye of God, a form of her death.  

       The eye 

of God                                                                                                   

       plucked out 

and it looked on you as nothing.  

Your body vanished.


This literal eye of God enters a fish as it opens its mouth where nothing comes out.                                                         

             a fish in the eye of God                                                                                                                                                  that opens and closes his mouth, and still no words


He then describes his loved one’s inability to hear as “His word/ like a feather/fallen from the moon,” and by the end of the poem she is able to ascend. 

                                          A thumb

Presses the button that will end all time

                                                            and you will ascend.

In “Lost Gospels” he experiences some sort of peace in an abandoned yard. 

Quiet days in the yard of a ruined church.


He compares guerilla fighters to visitors of the nativity and the wind and the rain becomes the voice of his beloved.

Here and there,

tanks, machine guns, the brown boys in their flat jackets

and Teflon helmets

posed in the corners of the square

or peered form the bell towers

like visitors to the nativity.


In “Lazarus, His Body Bag” Fick compares his eyes as priests.  He then compares the hospital patient’s excrement to the rich jewels that flow from Christ’s body.

Hospital white liked a wedding gown.

room you get shit into like the rich jewels

that flow rom the wounds of Christ.  


In “A Christmas Letter to My Daughter” Fick finally seems to find what he has been searching for this whole time. (Right: Laura during the Christmas season in Mexico.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)

while I paced in the waiting room waiting for an epiphany,

not realizing that you were the angel, the revelation and the

    star-fleeting.


But, toward the end of the poem there is still that sense of desperation that not even religion or spirituality or earthly things could heal.

Still waiting for some wise men to show up.

Been a lack of wisdom lately.

And Jesus might have wept – for all of us – but my bet is he’s still 

     weeping

especially for those of who can not.


In “Sitting by a Warm Fire” Fick converses with Robert Bly and finally reveals the way he tries to understand life and deaths from the most massive to the tiniest of idiosyncrasies. 

I play both sides of a game of Chess

castling myself in opposing corners

like unwilling boxers. 


One could state Fick’s desire to play both sides of the game of Chess is the same as trying to walk in another person’s shoes.  It is also the ability to be aware of yourself, another person, the spiritual, and the earthly without abandoning one’s convictions.  More importantly, it gives the speaker of the poem a way, not necessarily to find the answer or satisfaction, but to just find enough peace to make it to the next day. (Left:  Robert Bly)


Marlon L. Fick holds a BA from the University of Kansas, an MA from New York University, and PhD from the University of Kansas. He is author of two poetry collections, a book of short stories, and the novel The Nowhere Man (Jaded Ibis, 2015), and
is editor/translator of The River Is Wide / El río es ancho: Twenty Mexican Poets (New Mexico, 2005), as well as XEIXA: 14 Catalan Poets (Tupelo, 2018). Awarded fellowships from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts, ConaCulta in Mexico, and Institut Ramon Llull in Catalonia, he now teaches at the University of Texas—Permian Basin. (Right: Marlon L Fick playing his guitar with his cat Awee (means Baby) looking in.  Photo taken in 20201.  Copyright by Marlon L. Fick)


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