Serial Doesn't Start with a C by Richard Nurse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Serial Rapist & Murder discovered in "A Diamond in the Ruff" rear's his ugly head again. Maggie no more than put her regular business greeting on her phone, after taking a couple of months off, just to relax and recover, from the wild and exciting ending to the A Diamond in a Ruff, when her phone rings. She is not even sure she want to go back to work yet, but after listening to the very distraught mother on the other end of the line, she agrees to meet with her. Still not sure if she wants to take on the case of finding the missing twenty-eight-year-old twins, Maggies decision is made for her, when she looks at a photo of the twins. It is almost like she is looking at a double exposure of herself.
A fast paced, story that once again pits Maggie, and her partners, Jasper, and Street-Fighter, up against a cunning and deranged Serial Murder, while, at the same time Maggie and Jim's life-long friendship is evolving into something more than just being friends.
As the author of this book and the Jasper, Street-Fighter and Me series, I must say that I am having a wonderful time writing this series. The characters are once again taking control of the story, and my writing of it is almost the equivalent of a reader reading the story. So often, like the reader, I don't know what is going to happen next, until I turn the page.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
We Can All Learn From A Constructive Review
We Can All Learn From A Constructive Review
Back in September this post appeared on Facebook from a friend of mine.
Last weekend a fellow writer and Chili Boy Richard Nurse and I commiserated over the frustration of tracking our e-book sales. So as a personal favor to me (and I suspect to him as well), if you download one of his murder-mysteries or one of my novels, please leave a review or some comments about how much you enjoyed reading it. Novelists spend a great deal of time working in virtual solitude as a work of fiction is built, and without commentary/feedback we have no way to gauge the relative success/failure of our efforts. Thanks. Richard Finzer
Two days ago, I received a review on one of my books by a fellow author. While he liked the story and the way it was written, he took exception to the number of grammar errors within the manuscript, particularly the excessive use of commas.
My initial reaction was of being someone upset at first, especially since this particular novel had been through three rounds of editing. Then I thought of how my editor accuses me of having an oversized comma key on my keyboard. So I decided to look on-line for an app that would work with MS Office, as that is my primary writing platform. I found one that had high marks and appeared to be quite user-friendly, and even better it was free. I downloaded it, and after going through the tutorial once, I opened the file for the book that had just been reviewed and sat back and watched as the app chewed on the file.
When it stopped checking and put up the tally at the bottom of the reviewing panel, I must admit that I utter $&%#@...for the number was 658. 5 hours later, I had gone through all 658 of the issues, and I now have a manuscript that I feel is grammatically correct. I have to admit, that way to many of the issues dealt with the addition of unnecessary commas.
Rich, my fellow Chili Boy, and fellow author, I believe that this is exactly what we were talking about when we said, our only way to learn is from reviews. Mark, thank you again, for your honest and constructive review. I am now in the process of going through each and every one of my published works with this program, and the beauty of being self-published, and primarily through e-books, is that I can upload new files so that all future purchasers will receive what is truly my best.
Richard Nurse
Note - I have completed the review of three works as I write this. You can visit http://nursesnookandbooks.net to see which have been completed. Check out the published works page and look for a Red Star next to the title.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Review: Strongheart's Woman
Strongheart's Woman by Zeecé Lugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Strongheart's Woman
A Daniel's Fork Novel
Journey to the Future Past
By Zeece Lugo
Review: 5 Stars
A Captivating Story
I could simply retype the title of my review, and it would say it all. I truly found this story to be captivating from the very beginning. My attention never wavered, nor did my desire to turn the page to find out what was going to happen next. I found the story to be wonderful, and extremely well written, and with the ending I had hoped for, but arrived at in a totally unexpected manner.
I truly enjoy works that are written by a story teller, for fiction is the telling of a story. I find it quite enjoyable, when the author is not afraid to step outside of the box. To create events and images, that while possibly not in the reader's normal mind set, blend beautifully, and become an integral part of the story.
To me, works of fiction, i.e. the creating and telling of a story, is done for the purpose of bringing the reader enjoyment and entertainment. For me Strongheart's Woman, by Zeece Lugo, provided this reader with the highest level of enjoyment and entertainment. I would highly recommend this book to any reader.
By: Richard Nurse
Author
October 31, 2015
This review was done on a non-recipicol basis. As part of the GoodReads: Review Group
A mobi file was provide to the reviewer for the purpose of the review.
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Strongheart's Woman
A Daniel's Fork Novel
Journey to the Future Past
By Zeece Lugo
Review: 5 Stars
A Captivating Story
I could simply retype the title of my review, and it would say it all. I truly found this story to be captivating from the very beginning. My attention never wavered, nor did my desire to turn the page to find out what was going to happen next. I found the story to be wonderful, and extremely well written, and with the ending I had hoped for, but arrived at in a totally unexpected manner.
I truly enjoy works that are written by a story teller, for fiction is the telling of a story. I find it quite enjoyable, when the author is not afraid to step outside of the box. To create events and images, that while possibly not in the reader's normal mind set, blend beautifully, and become an integral part of the story.
To me, works of fiction, i.e. the creating and telling of a story, is done for the purpose of bringing the reader enjoyment and entertainment. For me Strongheart's Woman, by Zeece Lugo, provided this reader with the highest level of enjoyment and entertainment. I would highly recommend this book to any reader.
By: Richard Nurse
Author
October 31, 2015
This review was done on a non-recipicol basis. As part of the GoodReads: Review Group
A mobi file was provide to the reviewer for the purpose of the review.
View all my reviews
Monday, October 26, 2015
The Genesis of a Writing Style
The Genesis of a Writing Style
A childhood friend and fellow author
today, tossed out a question on Facebook the other day. The question was about
different writing styles and creativity, and which worked best. It was directed
toward me, and a group of fellow writers. I had ended my reply with the statement that I
consider myself a story teller as much as an author.
That closing statement had followed my previous
comments regarding my writing style. A style that involves, no formal
pre-planning, plot development, character planning, and definitely no outline
of the story. Instead I let the characters, or a single character tell the
story, allowing me to be the conduit through which the story comes to life. I
have a phrase that I use when asked how I write. "When it flows, I let it
flow.
I consider it a gift as much as a
style, and a gift for which, I finally have determined its genesis. I don't remember exactly how old my daughter
was when she began to ask me to tell her a bedtime story. It was always the
same routine, her mother would read her a story, and then it was my turn to
tell her a story. It was easy to begin
with, for she seemed to pick a different animal or object every night. The
challenge arose, when she picked an animal that I had already told a story
about. I began to tell the same story I had told earlier, but she stopped me
and told me she wanted a new story.
Unlike a lot of bedtime story
experiences, this was not a passing fancy, as it continued well into her
pre-teen years. Not always on an every night basis as she got older, but often
enough that it allowed me to develop my gift.
A gift, which would later experience, both a timely and wonderful
reawakening, by returning, in a updated form, at a time when I most needed it
in my life. For when it returned, it came back as the gift to write a story, on
the spot so to speak, inspired only by a word in my head, or an image, as my
inspiration.
So please bear with me, as I take a
moment to say "Thank You, Sheri
Lynn, for it was you, who brought my gift to life."
Richard Nurse
**A note to the readers**
This is a classic example of why I
prefer to write a story totally unplanned.
This article was essentially planned and thought out in advance, yet it
took me as long to write this four hundred word pieces as it would to write
4000 words of a story that is just flowing out of me.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Review: Trish's Story
Trish's Story by Richard Nurse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A book that begins with Trish, still morning the loss of her partner, who was raped and murdered two years ago. A tale that evolves first, into a story of rebirth, with the help of her brother, her friends and her staff. Then becomes story of rekindled feelings of love, brought about by events similar to what put them out in the beginning.
As the author, I decided that this would be the first book, that I switched from my pen-name of D. D. Story back to my own name. I story, came from my heart, at a time of turmoil in my own life. I had origionally considered releasing it under my own name, but I had not committed in my own mind as of then to publish as such. I am proud of this story, and this summer I went and visited the building in Chicago.
Richard Nurse
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A book that begins with Trish, still morning the loss of her partner, who was raped and murdered two years ago. A tale that evolves first, into a story of rebirth, with the help of her brother, her friends and her staff. Then becomes story of rekindled feelings of love, brought about by events similar to what put them out in the beginning.
As the author, I decided that this would be the first book, that I switched from my pen-name of D. D. Story back to my own name. I story, came from my heart, at a time of turmoil in my own life. I had origionally considered releasing it under my own name, but I had not committed in my own mind as of then to publish as such. I am proud of this story, and this summer I went and visited the building in Chicago.
Richard Nurse
View all my reviews
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Time to...Series - Essay # 3 - Time to Choose a Fork
Time to...Series
Time to…Choose a Fork
Essay No. 03 – Time to Choose a Fork
Have you ever been casually strolling down the highway of
life, and suddenly find yourself playing the role of the Coyote in a Roadrunner
cartoon. That moment, when suddenly, a
giant fork appears in the road in front of you, and you have to chose which
tine on the fork to take. If you’ve been
the coyote before, you know that more than likely, one of those tines is going
to have an Acme Safe above it ready to fall on your head. Another tine, is either going to explode. Silently you hope that at least one of the tines
will be the route that will let you finally catch the Roadrunner
.
If you life is like mine, it probably seems to be full of
forks in the road, and for many of us, the first fork that we have to choose is
sitting on the table in front of us, when we make it to the big table for the
family Thanksgiving Dinner. For suddenly instead of the one fork, which you
used for everything, there are two or maybe even three forks next to your plate. You’re first thought is which one is for
what, if no one had taken the time to explain this old world tradition, and for
most boys, the second thought is, “hey it is all going to the same spot in my
body, so why do I need a one fork for my meat and another for my salad.”
If that is the only fork, that you have ever had to make a
choice about, then you have lived either a charmed or very boring life, and
personally I would lean towards that later.
For most of us, we have had an untold number of forks appear before along
our life’s journey. If you are lucky,
most of the forks you meet along life’s road, especially when you are young and
learning, are like a carving fork, with just two tines or routes from which to
choose. For me, those early forks seemed to be placed in the road of life to
teach me how to make the decision about which tine to take in my life’s
journey.
I will be the first to admit that I did not always choose
the right branch of the fork to follow.
Even though the path was not always right, I tried my best to learn from
each mistake, and soon discovered that some of the paths that were wrong would
allow you to backtrack and take either the other path, or choose between those
remaining. The trick in life is to not
take the fork that is totally wrong, and from which there is no return. Thankfully, I have not chosen this fork in my
life, to date, but it is disturbing for me to see the number of young people,
and not just in this country, who are taking that fork.
I would also like to admit here, that I have never been one
to take one route, and stick to it forever. I have take many a different path,
some of which have lead me to amazing experiences, and places, but I have also
taken a few duds in my life, most often done during a time of feeling
desperate. However, at the present time
I am on a path that I chose from the fork that appeared in my life’s highway at
the end of the double ought decade.
Luckily it was a two prong fork, and the forks were pretty easy to choose
from: Work, Be Depressed, Be Bored, or Retire, Make the same money, Reduce
stress, Be Happy, Be Creative.
It really was a pretty easy choice for me; I retired, and
have not looked back. In fact I have only been back once since I left to do a
little consulting, and after the first day there, I felt just like I did before
I retired. Luckily for me, I could do
the rest of the consulting work from my home, which I happily did. My choice of
the retirement fork in the road has done exactly what I expected it to do. I still have been able to maintain a steady
income level, without touching reserves; my stress level is such that I have
been able to reduce my medications, I truthfully feel happier than I have in
years. As for where my personal level of
creativity is at the moment, since I have retired, I have written and published
27 separate works, initially under my pen-name, and beginning this year under
my own name as well. I also create and
maintain my own web-site, www.antiquepoet.com,
as well as write and publish three blogs.
My favorite part about this path, the one that I call,
“Creative Retirement” is that I have not worked a day since I began this
journey. This is a path that I fully
intend to stay on for the rest of my life. Contrary to the path that most seek today, I
am not on this path for monetary gain, my rewards along this path, come in the
form of emotional stability, personal happiness, and pride in what my
creativity has produced. I still
remember the feeling that I felt, when the first copy of the first book I
published sold. It is an easy feeling to
remember, since I experience it still today for each book that sells.
I hope that like me, you are able to choose the path to
follow, which brings your happiness and peace, when that multi-tine fork
suddenly appears in your life’s highway. My path is chosen, and I don’t foresee
it changing anytime soon, but one never does know when that next fork may
suddenly appear in life’s road.
©September
23, 2015
Richard
Nurse
The Antique
Poet
Friday, September 18, 2015
Time to... Series - Essay # 2 - By: Richard Nurse
Time to …
A
series of essays on letting your creative side take control’
Essay
no. 2- Time to be Proud
The
decision to write and published under my own name, was a major step for me. I
would no longer be hiding behind a pen-name, but would be now be taking full
and complete credit for my work, be it positive or negative. Along with writing under my own name, I also
made the decision to reach out to a different market and in a new genre for me.
I did not know what the genre would be, for like so much of what I write, it
simply flows out of me.
The
story that escaped from where ever it had been hiding in my sub-conscious
became my first International Crime Drama “Murder in St. Luietz” (Guns –
Stilettos & Money). A story that
takes place on a fictional tropical island, and not only involves the islands
police force, but agents from the United States, and wet work specialist from
the Russian mafia, all because a US Senator changed his vote on an
appropriations bill, suddenly bringing an end to Gretchen’s grand plan. I
decided to Market it exclusively through Amazon, along with a paperback edition
through CreatSpace. I will be the first
to admit, that I am still a starving author, but I am proud of its solid
reviews, and 4.25 rating.
While
“Murder in St. Luietz” was going through its editing process, I decided to head
off in a different direction. I had a
large number of works of poetry, some of which had been published on blogs and others
that had never been published. I decided
to break the book into four different sections, and include both poetry and
prose. Many of the poems were inspired, by my experiences with dealing with the
sudden addition of my mother-in-law, as a member of our household. As I put the book together, I made the
decision that nothing was going to be excluded from the book. The title for the book is essentially a
statement of its contents. “Words from
the Heart” A Collection of Poetry and Prose became the title before the poem
“Words from the Heart” was written. The assembly of the parts of the book
inspired the title poem. Published on
June 24th of this year, both through CreatSpace as a paperback, and
Amazon in digital formats, I am quite proud of the book and that fact that all
of its ratings have been five stars.
A
third book also managed to find its way out of heart and mind. Inspired by a long series of tones that came
out of my police scanner one night, as the 911 Center, took total control of
the communications channels to put out a system wide broadcast. This one happened to be to officially
announce the retirement of a captain, from the Sheriff’s Department, but the
idea formed, and I began to write about a similar series of tones from a 911
Center in a fictitious city. My newest book, “Out of the Chaos” which will be
released digitally September 15th,
was born that night, and simply flowed out of me.
As
usual, when I write, I did so without knowing what was going to happen next
until is showed up on screen of my laptop.
Somewhere along the way, the book evolved from a police drama, to a
romantic police drama, as the principals began to realize that a special
connection had formed between them. Once
again I have had the book published as a paperback through CreatSpace, while
with this book; I am not limiting it to Amazon. Instead it will be released
through Amazon, Smashwords, and Google Play at the same time.
As I
said in the beginning of this rambling, that it was a year without plan, and a
year with both intellectual and physical creative accomplishments. There is one
physical accomplishment which I accomplished that I am extremely proud of. For a number of years we have had a covered
porch behind our garage that we love to spend time on. However, over the last couple of years, the
number of mosquitoes in our area has slowly made our porch unusable, first in
the evenings and then with the dampness from our heave snowfall during the
winter, and a wet spring, it became unusable with having a fan going at high
speed. After having a new floor poured
in the late spring, it bothered me greatly not to be able to use the porch,
because of the bugs.
In mid
June, once again forced off of the porch in the early afternoon, I went up to
my office and began to draw up different concepts to screen in the porch. Over the next week, I measured and created
drawings and a list of materials required.
I told my wife of my plan, and then order the material necessary to
construct the frame of the porch. Phase
one essentially of the project, that I managed to complete, prior to our departure
to Chicago, for our trip with our granddaughter. Upon our return from Chicago, I began Phase
two, which including finishing the lower inner and outer walls, and hanging the
door. Phase three, consisted of
constructing 14 custom built frames, and then making each into a tight screen,
and fitting it into its assigned space. While I did the construction and built all of
the screens, my dear wife painted and caulked, and then painted some more. The project was completed by the end of July
and we have been able to sit and enjoy our now bug free porch. Our feral cat
pride, also enjoys the porch, and quickly adapted to their cat doors, and have,
to this date, not bothered climb the screens.
When I finished the porch, I knew that I had done a good job, as I had
kept hearing Mike Holmes voice telling me to “make it right”, while I worked on
it. However, when the roofing
contractor, whom I had hired to replace our roof and gutters, which had been
damaged during the long cold winter, came up and congratulated me on a great
job, and asked I wanted to build another one at his house, I knew that I had
truly done a job to be proud of.
I
don’t know what the rest of the year might bring, for like the beginning of the
year, I have no true agenda, with the exception of being a dealer in a two day
glass show as part of our antique business, S & D Antiques. While my wife has a full agenda, as she is
booked through most of September, October, November and December, by various institutions
and agencies, to present her lectures and talks on Art and Architectural
History, to senior citizens, who have not lost the desire to learn.
I am
definitely proud of what I have accomplished this year. For a year that began
with no agenda or plan, I can now hold three books in my hand, which were all
begun and published this year. And what at times, is the best of all; we can
now sit on our porch, and actually read a book or write one, without slapping
mosquitoes constantly. I’ve been doing
my best not to write this is verse, but I am slowly loosing that battle:
That’s
the Plan
Since, I just realized that,
I just might actually have a
plan,
That might produce something quite
grand.
My plan is so simple, all
should understand
To let my left side take
control,
And go where ever it wants to
go.
I’ll let the characters take
the lead,
Become their Marionette dangling
over the keys
Let them take control, move the
wires and string
Making my fingers dance over
the keys.
I’ll let each character, write
what they please
And what part that they play.
Then I’ll take their story and
read it through
And decide just what to do.
Tweak a little here, and add a
bit here
Talk with the characters, when
I need too
Letting some add to the story
While others just might have to
go.
So that is my plan, just plant
a seed
Then sit back, and see what
will grow.
Now if the truth it to be told,
I’m not being bold, for it’s
how I love to write.
So I am willing to wager, more
than just a bit;
That my next story will flow, as
the characters tell what to I write.
Copyright September 17, 2015
Richard D. Nurse
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Time to..., Essay No. 1 by, Richard Nurse
Welcome to the First of what I intend to be a new series on this blog.
I am planning a series of Essays based on the phrase "Time To..." At some point in all of our lives it is "Time To...". I'll let you fill in your own words for the moment, but as you will see below in my first essay. I chose 'Take a Chance' as my first subject.
I hope you enjoy, and I am always interested in comments, and in this case, your way to finish the Phrase.
I am planning a series of Essays based on the phrase "Time To..." At some point in all of our lives it is "Time To...". I'll let you fill in your own words for the moment, but as you will see below in my first essay. I chose 'Take a Chance' as my first subject.
I hope you enjoy, and I am always interested in comments, and in this case, your way to finish the Phrase.
Time to …
A
series of essays on based on completing the title phrase.
Essay No.
1 - Time to take a Chance
2015
was a year that began with no agenda, or grand plans, except for one: To have each breath followed by another, so
that I would be there to experience the joy and excitement of her first trip to
Chicago. A year that began with lots
of time on our hands courtesy of Mother Nature: Time to think, Time to worry,
Time to muse, Time to write, Time to Dream, Time to Create, Time to Shovel, and
Time to Shiver.
Where
did all of this time come from, especially in this day of: multi-tasking,
multiple jobs, carting the kids here and there, or going to watch your
grandchildren perform either in the arts or on the athletic arena? For me the answer is quite simple. First of
all, I am retired, so I enjoy the luxury of having time to do with as I please
something one rarely gets to do during their working, and child rearing
years. Second, my only child, and my
only grandchild live over a hundred miles away, which makes it a bit much to
run off to every event, or on the negative side to see them as often as I would
like. The time factor during the first
three months of this year, was greatly influenced, as mentioned above by Mother
Nature, as it was either; snowing and blowing, or so bitterly cold and windy,
that you only went out if you truly had to.
I
would like to take this moment to add another important word into this essay.
The word is Proud, and that is
exactly how I feel about what I have accomplished in the first eight plus
months of this year. I know I still have over a quarter of a year left to
accomplish more, but I am both proud and satisfied with what I have
accomplished to date, and if nothing more is completed, then it has still been
a wonderful year. Especially during a
year that began with no true plan or agenda, for me to have allowed my
creativity, to simply flow, both physically and mentally.
For
those that do not know me personally, I have written both poetry and prose for
years, but have never submitted any to be published, with the exception of a
piece for Collector’s Magazine, titled “Addicted to Glass”. Towards
the end of 2013, I was sitting in my office, and cleaning up the files on my
laptop, when I came across a folder, that held much of the work that I have
written over the years, and have transferred to a digital format. I spent the rest of the day, reading some of
the stories, and the idea of finally publishing my five novel series worked its
way to the surface in my mind. After a few days of on-line research, I decided
I would publish the first book in the series. I did not feel comfortable with
publishing my first book myself, so I talked with my wife, and gave myself an
early Christmas Present, and contracted with a known publishing house, which
would publish and distribute a book in all e-formats, and still allow the
author to keep their rights.
It did
not take me long to figure out that, what I was getting was quite basic, and
that any additional service, such as editing, or proofing was additional and
very expensive. I did learn a lot during the process, and became more active on
line, and communicating with other indie authors, learned of Amazon’s KDP
program, and a bit later about Smashwords.com.
My book was published, under a pen-name that I still use today. It was at that point when my frustration with
the old school publisher set in. I could
find my book listed on Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel, but I had no way of
knowing if it was selling. The
publisher, did not have the ability, or even felt it necessary to have a way
for authors to check on their performance, until a entire sales quarter had
ended, and the you still had to wait another two months for your sales
information. I am have a results driven
personality, so I truly became more and more frustrated, when I could not get
any results. My first knowledge that my book had sold at least one copy came
when it receive a review and rating on Amazon.
During this five months period of no analytical information, I probably
received five calls from my representative at the publishers, asking if I was
ready to publish my next book in the series.
To which my response was, “How can I make that decision, when you can’t
tell me how the first book is doing.”
My
frustration, led me to Amazon KDP, and I released the second book in the series
in March of that year. I still had no idea how the first book was doing, but I
knew that the second book was selling on Amazon, so I released one a month
until all five were out. Looking to
further expand the distribution of my books, I began to also publish on
Smashwords, beginning with a series of short stories that had actually been
portions cut from the original series.
I
didn’t leave what I published to just what I had already written. Once my mind had shifted back into a writing
mode again, my creative juices began to flow, and new stories and poetry began
to find its way to my fingers and onto my laptop. I began to publish a blog, which often
contained one of my new poems, and without any pre-planning, a collection of
new poems just seemed to work together, and my first book of poetry was born,
and published. I knew that I had been given a gift, and I was not about to
waste it; by the end of 2014 I had published twenty different works. Five of
which I had written during the year, while the rest had been written earlier,
but all needed editing and revisions.
2015
arrived, bringing with it a continuation of the snow and cold that settled in
over the Northeast in late December. Time
was plentiful, as most of the time it was either too snowy and windy, or too
cold and windy to venture outside. With
ample time to think and write, I decided that it was time to take another
chance. I decided to write my next book
under my own name, instead of my pen-name.
Essentially I had decided to let the world know that I could and did
write both poetry and prose, and that I was strong enough to accept either the
criticism or praise, whatever the outcome may be.
To
date this year I have written and published two novels, and a book of poetry
and prose. Thankfully, for the most part, I have received much more praise than
criticism, and can truly say that I am very happy to have realized that it was
once again “Time to take a Chance.
The
decision to write and published under my own name, was a major step for me. I
would no longer be hiding behind a pen-name, but would be now be taking full
and complete credit for my work, be it positive or negative. Along with writing under my own name, I also
made the decision to reach out to a different market and in a new genre for me.
I did not what the genre would be, for like so much of what I write, it simply
flows out of me.
The
story that escaped from where ever it had been hiding in my sub-conscious
became my first International Crime Drama “Murder in St. Luietz” (Guns –
Stilettos & Money). A story that
takes place on a fictional tropical island, and not only involves the islands
police force, but agents from the United States, and wet work specialist from
the Russian mafia, all because a US Senator changed his vote on an
appropriations bill, suddenly bringing an end to Gretchen’s grand plan. I
decided to Market it exclusively through Amazon, along with a paperback edition
through CreatSpace. I will be the first
to admit, that I am still a starving author, but I am proud of its solid
reviews, and 4.25 rating.
While
“Murder in St. Luietz” was going through its editing process, I decided to head
off in a different direction. I had a
large number of works of poetry, some of which had been published on one of my
blogs, and others that had never been published. I decided to break the book into four
different sections, and include both poetry and prose. Many of the poems were
inspired, by my experiences with dealing with the sudden addition of my
mother-in-law, as a member of our household.
As I put the book together, I made the decision that nothing was going
to be excluded from the book. The title
for the book is essentially a statement of its contents. “Words from the Heart” A Collection of Poetry
and Prose became the title before the poem “Words from the Heart” was written.
The assembly of the parts of the book inspired the title poem. Published on June 24th of this
year, both through CreatSpace as a paperback, and Amazon in digital formats, I
am quite proud of the book and that fact that all of its ratings have been five
stars.
A
third book also managed to find its way out of heart and mind. Inspired by a long series of tones that came
out of my police scanner one night, as the 911 Center, took total control of
the communications channels to put out a system wide broadcast. This one happened to be to officially
announce the retirement of a captain, from the Sheriff’s Department, but the
idea formed, and I began to write about a similar series of tones from a 911
Center in a fictitious city. My newest book, “Out of the Chaos” which will be
released digitally today, September 12th,
was born that night, and simply flowed out of me. As usual, when I
write, I did so without knowing what was going to happen next until is showed
up on screen of my laptop. Somewhere
along the way, the book evolved from a police drama, to a romantic police
drama, as the principals began to realize that a special connection had formed between
them. Once again I have had the book
published as a paperback through CreatSpace, while with this book; I am not
limiting it to Amazon. Instead it will be released through Amazon, Smashwords,
and Google Play at the same time.
In
conclusion, and I hate admit it, but I
am old enough that I learned how to read, with Dick and Jane, and have until
just a few years ago, always held a physical book in my hands when reading.
I must admit that I do own a Kindle, but I did not get one until I began
to publish on Amazon. I now do most of my reading on it, in part,
because my wife and I can read, me on my Kindle, and her on her Nook, in bed at
night for as long as either pleases, without disturbing whoever wants to sleep
first .They are convenient, and certainly save on shelf space, but there is
something special about the feeling of actual book in your hands. As an author, there was a special feeling of
pride, when I received my own copies of my books. There is something special about writing a
book, and then holding the actual physical results of your efforts in your
hand. I am proud of every piece that I
have written and published, be it in digital format only, or also in print,
written under my pen-name or under my own name.
I write for the pleasure of writing, yes I would love to have a
bestseller, but I can truthfully say that if I have provided some form of
entertainment, and pleasure to one reader, then I am happy that I took the
chance.
©September 12, 2015
By: Richard Nurse
All Rights Reserved
Friday, August 28, 2015
A New Poem: - "Impressions, Inspired by the Impressionist"
Featuring a New Poem
By: Richard Nurse
The Antique Poet
Impressions,
Inspired by the Impressionist
A
day filled with Renoir, Degas, and Monet.
A
day filled with colors, of every shade and hue.
Sometimes
vibrant, other times sublime, and subdued.
Dependent
on which painting, your eye is drawn to.
There
is one exception, for on a wall there are three
Where
not just the colors, shades and hues,
Emanating,
from these amazing three, Dances, by Renoir,
Together
again, as they once had been before, now on the wall before me.
My
senses are alive, not just that of the mere sight.
For
as my mind lingers over, all three, and then each,
Sounds
begin to emanate, from each before me
Joined
by the fragrances my mind expected there to be.
To
the right, two dancers, in a club in the city.
Smoke
lingers thick in the air, muddled with the fragrance of wine and beer
One
couple dances, while other couples cuddle or talk.
Her
cheeks flush with color, painted there by food, fun and drink.
To
the left, again two dancers, alive in the night.
Rough
wooden tables, tree limbs and leaves for a roof,
Resplendent
with bottles, some up, but most down,
Music
from a fiddle, that even boisterous laughter can’t drown.
Ah,
but in the center, such elegance and grace.
No
cloud of smoke, just perfectly clear, richly scented air.
No
distortion of the beauty, shimmering in silver; silk, satin and lace
With
an aura and fragrance, that once, only royalty bore.
The
“Ah!” moment for me, on a day brimming with so many.
Thank
you Mr. Barnes for your wonderful collection,
And
your vision to blend; form, shape and function.
Surely,
the perfect way, to start, an art museum day.
Followed
by a hand in hand stroll, down a tree canopied way,
Then
up ‘Rocky’s’ steps, not running, but
walking all the way.
To
the Impressionist Show, thank you, Paul Durand-Ruel
For
you never wavering love, of this oft rejected, new crazy art,
Now
so loved by the world, many, which personally touch my heart.
To
be able to sit and commune, not even noticing the others in the crowd.
In
another hall, waiting for my eyes to behold; ‘Lautrec, Rousseau, Surratt, and
more.
Yet
the three dance works, by Renoir, would grip my heart this day.
©August 28, 2015
Richard D. Nurse
The Antique Poet
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