by James William Peercy and Jacqueline E. Smith
4/5 stars
Within the Heart of Silence is great ekphrastic poetry, blending images with words that often read like music. I enjoyed the touch of agelessness presented by Smith’s photography and Peercy’s verse. The rhyming did not always work for me, but I appreciated its structure. Definitely a great book to read outside in the woods.
flowers trained to grow
on the stockade
espalier in vibrant hue
keep memories,
erases time.
© Ben Ditmars 2017
Painting by Jacqueline E. Smith
fire-blessed from
gazing on the blue
sky and her eyes
altering the course
of destiny, her fondness
matches mine
with stones to
spare beneath
cigar tree beans.
© Ben Ditmars 2016
Animation by LunaPic
Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Smith.
Read her blog here.
dawn before pitch-black
hours of your heart
has cost us hydrogen
and helium, the stuff
of stars
settled into verbal ashes
tears of helplessness,
appeals to God and words
that bleed the most.
© Ben Ditmars 2016
Animation by LunaPic.
Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Smith.
Read her blog here.
by Jacqueline E. Smith
4/5 stars
I’m easily distracted, but I could not put Backstage down. There were times when the narration could have been subtler and the antagonist more realistic, yet I loved the story. Much like in other books by Smith, the main characters have remarkable chemistry. Whether it is the adorable lead couple Sam and Mel or the hi-jinks of young boy band, Backstage left me wanting more. I can’t wait to see what drama (and new song lyrics) the next book has in store.
we curve
and dim into
my ruptured
veins
lost ways
phlebotomized.
© Ben Ditmars 2015
Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Smith.
Read her blog here.
sharp objects rage
italic, shameless hell
when decaf is the only
devil in your arsenal.
© Ben Ditmars 2015
Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Smith.
Read her blog here.
by Jacqueline E. Smith
5/5 stars
The third installment of Cemetery Tours did not disappoint. In fact, it appointed… hard! I felt the same excitement as when I read the first. Smith’s ghosts, action, and characters sync incredibly well together. And the dialogue never misses a beat. I feel like I’ve known Kate, Michael, and Luke for ages. I can’t think of a moment I did not thoroughly enjoy (a carnival was perfect ghostly setting by the way). Romance, intrigue, and another jaunt with America’s favorite ghost, Eugene Brinkley? I think I’ll read the series all over again. Maybe you should too!
heart wired
like the moon can’t
burn or breathe
our stardust
laced with
ecstasy.
© Ben Ditmars 2015
Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Smith.
Read her blog here.
Last week I traveled to Dallas for an annual book signing known as IndieVengeance Day. We get together, the indies and I, once a year and hang out. We also sell books: small books, big books, books that climb on rocks. Okay, none of them climbed rocks, but a couple have ghosts, and that’s just as good.
The journey started in the air…
Photograph by Jacqueline Smith
But quickly involved books and stress cubes.
Photograph by Jacqueline Smith
Hey, poetry!
Photograph by Jacqueline Smith
Photograph by Jacqueline Smith
The books and their Davros. Muahaha.
Scott’s fortune cookie predicted a photo bomb.
And there was this yummy croissant.
Photograph by Claudette Peercy
The Justice League prepared to fight evil… and sell books.
Photograph by Claudette Peercy
After Red Lobster. Don’t we look full?
I found this steer at the airport.
My last view of Dallas.
*****
It was an incredible event filled with my favorite people on earth. Once more, my deepest thanks to Amber Norrgard for all the hard work she did setting everything up.
You can find information on the authors in attendance here:
Julie Frayn: http://juliebird.ca
James Peercy: http://www.jameswilliampeercy.com
Amber Jerome-Norrgard: http://amberjeromenorrgard.com
Stacey Roberts: http://www.trailertrashbook.com
Paula Walker Baker: https://paulawalkerbaker.wordpress.com
Jacqueline E. Smith: http://jackiesmith114.wordpress.com
Debbie Watts Reece: http://www.beebopbooks.com
Susie Clevenger: http://www.susieclevenger.com
