Happy & Brainy Group discussion

Everyone is welcome to promote anything allowed by Goodreads.

Part-1 Plot

REASON REIGNS starts with an oath to uphold the Constitution enshrining the principle that the only purpose of law and of government is the protection of individual rights. The revelry that follows is a total departure from the nation’s tradition of honoring humility, sacrifice, and suffering. Seething with self-righteousness and envy, cabal members scheme to cut down the proud, happy, independent thinkers with one blow, and then seize the legendary heroes’ treasures.

Alisa Connor acts on her convictions at the risk of her life. But defeating evil is not the most difficult battle in Part 1. Young Ron Balian, who thinks reason and faith can coexist, parallel to each other, in the same man, chooses a perfect life of probity over his own life, a child’s, and his beloved’s. To save his daughter, as well as Alisa and Ron, Dr. Ari Hugo must race against time in unraveling the secrets of the underground chambers, a mystery confounding searchers over the decades.

* * *

http://www.reasonreigns.com/

Thank you.

Here are a couple of poems I wrote about my mental illness:

I Hear Them Again


I hear them again.
They are talking about me.
What are they saying about me?
I know it is objectionable
whatever it may be.

Oh!Oh! They want to get me evicted.
They are talking about how to do it.
They are articulating what they will do.
They are going to talk to the landlady.
I am dead.
I am out of here.
They will find something to get me ousted.

What's that?
They want to get rid of my cat.
They have contacted animal control.
I am going to lose her.
I know I am.
Here comes animal control now.
They are going to confiscate my cat.
I can't bear to lose her.

Now what is it?
Oh my God,
they are going to exterminate me.
What can I do?
I truly do not want to be annihilated.
I will call the police.
The police tell me there is nothing.
They are going to shoot me.

My case manager and therapist
maintain I'm having delusions.
I'll give them delusions.
How can they declare I'm having delusions.
It's real, I tell you.
It's real!
I know it's real,
and no one can tell me otherwise.

There is a hole in the ceiling
of my bathroom. Oh no!
They are spying on me.
I just know it.
They want to see me naked.
How can I bear such behavior?

They put up a vent
where the hole was.
They vent and rant and rave
about me, I am sure.
There is no one else here
for them to talk about but me.

They are going to drown me,
I know they are.
I sit under the shower head.
Wait a minute.
A head has a brain.
It's going to drown me.
I have to get out now.

They are going to kill me
with poisonous gas.
It is only meant for me.
It won't affect anyone else.
I better make a gas mask quick
before I get asphyxiated.

This can't go on.
They can't go on.
It just gets worse and worse.
Sometimes I feel just like
I ought to be dead.

Cat


it's/too/too/late/but/so/so/early


oh/my/gosh
oh/my/gosh
i/have/so/much/to/do
i/cannot/rest
until/it's/done
i/have/so/much
so/much/to/do
i/should/get/it
all/done/lickety/split
i/vacuumed/and/dusted
that/took/ten/minutes
i/did/dishes/and
mopped/the/floor
in/five/minutes/flat
i/cleaned/the/bathroom
tub/sink/and/stool
i/did/that/in/fifteen
there/must/be/something
more/to/do
i/cannot/believe
i/cannot/find/more/to/do
of/course/i/can
make/it/up/silly
i/work/and/work
and/work/all/day
it's/time/to/go
to/bed
i/hit/the/pillow
and/my/eyes/open/wide
it's/too/too/late/
but/so/so/early
i/cannot/get/to/sleep
i/don't/know/what
is/wrong
this/has/happened
three/days/straight
it's/too/too/late
but/so/so/early
i/just/cannot
calm/down

Cat

Hello Cat,

Thank you for joining and posting. I wish you good fortune on getting a degree in English-writing, and on all your endeavors.

You mention that "I Hear Them Again" is about your mental illness. Have you seen the movie, "A Beautiful Mind"? It's very inspiring. It is about John Forbes Nash, Jr., a real-life genius who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and mild clinical depression. He overcame his afflictions and went on to receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (along with two others).

Regarding this statement on your profile which I will relate to "I Hear Them Again": "I would like to let you look at anything that I write before I do anything else."

May I ask why? I ask because what I myself write about is not dependent on anyone's view. I write about what I myself want to read.

Also, people have different "sense of life". If one gets conflicting points of view - one will still have to think and decide what one thinks is right.

The Title, "I Hear Them Again": I think it is great that it starts with "I" (by way of explanation, I included a Reason Reigns excerpt below).

I feel sadness reading the poem. "My Last Farewell" by Dr. Jose Rizal is a poem I love but also makes me so sad. I hope you will soon share a poem about happiness.

Happiness is worth struggling for. I made it the theme of Reason Reigns: Heaven on Earth can be achieved when reason reigns.

May everything good be always with you.

Ilyn



* * * Reason Reigns excerpt:

The three boys followed Lola into the boat which flew the flag with the ‘I’. Ivan explained to Jay, “Tony owns the boats that fly the gold, silver, and black flag. Lola and I own this boat. The letter ‘I’ on our flag stands for ‘Ivan’ and for ‘the Individual’.”

“It also stands for ‘Independence’, for independent thinkers who respect individual rights,” Lola added. “People who prefer ‘WE’ over ‘I’ dread independence and feel a frantic desire to belong. Instead of using their own minds, they trust the wisdom of others; they stick to traditions; they copy or obey; they are loyal to their respective groups rather than to values; they take the unearned – they loot.”

Hi Cat,

You wrote: "of/course/i/can"

GREAT!!!


I've posted this everywhere, but I will again:


THINKING


If you think you are beaten, you are

If you think you dare not, you don’t

If you like to win, but think you can’t

It’s almost certain you won’t.


If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost

For out of the world we find

Success begins with a fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of mind.


If you think you are outclassed, you are

You’ve got to think high to rise

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.


Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man

But soon or late the person who wins

Is the one who thinks “I can.”


— Walter D. Wintle

http://aynrand.meetup.com/8/

http://www.nycjunto.com/library/2008/...

Gently Read Literature, August 2008 Issue
http://gentlyread.wordpress.com


A new issue of review essays on contemporary poetry and literary fiction:

"Nice, but that's all"
Cicily Janus reviews Nathaniel Bellows' debut poetry collection Why Speak?

"The Saddest Glass in the World"
Brandi Homan examines Clay Matthews' poetry collection Superfecta

"Bite the Bullet"
John Domini looks at Kevin Sampsell's shorty stories in Creamy Bullets

"All Crazy as Pet Loons"
Tana Young reviews God Particles, the new poetry book by Thomas Lux

"A Kind & Thoughtful Porn Star"
Brandon Schultz examines William Walsh's novel Without Wax

"Disguising Existence"
Abbas Bazzi reviews Elise Partridge's poetry collection Chameleon Hours

"A Book of Ubiquitous Movement"
DiAnne Malone reviews the short-story collection A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness by Amy Clark, Elizabeth Ellen, Kathy FIsh, and Claudia Smith

"To be Human, Awak, and Vulnerable"
Derek Sheffield looks at Derick Burleson's poetry in Never Night

"Rude Music of Life"
Alison Morse reviews the novel The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg by Geoff Herbach

This month's featured artist--Paul Paddock.

www.gentlyread.wordpress.com

GRL welcomes submissions and queries; please look over our "Guidelines, Available Review Copies, & Donations" page for more information.

REFLECTIONS FROM SHADOW

by Malcolm Watts

The meaning of Jared Clarkson's lifetime of prisoner dreams is revealed at Dachau concentration camp in 1969. This coming of age page-turner resonates, entertains and surprises.

http://www.authorsden.com/malcolmwatts


"Reflections from Shadow is an engaging work - will keep the reader enthralled until the very end. A Must Read!!"

- Delores Thornton BlackRefer.com

* * *

* Excerpt from an interview:

DT: Why did you write this story?

MW: Part of the reason I wrote the book was to give voice to children, and adults, traumatized by the western Judaeo Christian concept of a punitive masculine God.

The growth of evangelical fundamentalism in North America (as well as Islamic fundamentalism in other parts of the world) is alarming to me. God is not man or woman, Christian or Hindu and faiths that promote themselves as having an ultimate truth that people must believe, or else, at the risk of eternal damnation, are wrong and destructive.

Promoting these beliefs to innocent children, instead of generic values of humanity and inclusiveness, is emotional child abuse and socially destructive.

Mankind’s survival now depends upon our appreciation of difference in beliefs and acceptance of what people want to do and believe as long as those beliefs do not infringe on the rights of others by maintaining they constitute the ONLY truth there is and seek to impose themselves on others.

Despite what theological scholars will insist, most ordinary people understand intuitively that there are basic truths that underlay most religions and ethical contructs, i.e., the Golden rule. These universal ideas are what we need to pay attention to and understand that other aspects/structures of religion and belief systems are the result of political/cultural and sociological factors that range back hundreds and thousands of years.

As the pinball wizard in my book says, They are all true, and yet none of it is completely true. Each faith contains an aspect of truth -- facets in the gem of understanding.

For Anne Perry, mystery, and Victorian England fans:

Please check out "The Mystery of Victorian England" group. Randi is the moderator.

Thanks.

Other interesting groups:

* A Place for Poets

* Textnovel.com!!

* The Reasons Why you wrote your book or books

Just thought I'd promote my website where you can see my books and other links to more authors, so check it out here: http://www.billyyoungsbooks.co.uk :D

Hello Billy,

Welcome, thank you, and congratulations.

Best of luck.

Jill's Life... As I See It:

http://www.jillconyers.typepad.com

Brian Rogers' Words on words about words concerning words; word.

http://wekwomtexos.blogspot.com

hi I'm new. If any of you like time travel romance check out my new book Forever Promised at www.ForeverPromised.com. Thanks Shirley

Hello Shirley,

Welcome to the group. Thank you for joining us.

Good luck with Forever Promised.

Please check out the NYC Junto Newsletter

posted in the "To the Glory of Man - Blogs (Moderator's Corner)".

Coming soon Banshee Angel of Judgement, keep your eyes peeled for this new horror from author Billy Young.

Good fortune on Banshee Angel of Judgement!

*
JudgEment is British; Judgment is also correct.

The "Watch Randi's Story Unfold" group has a Fun and Games folder. In the "Author Game", I posted the following Happy & Brainy member-names (or friend-names), so far:

* Peggy Ullman Bell (member & friend)
* Gloria Mallette (friend)
* Mary Akers (friend)
* Shirley Bullock (member & friend)
* Billy Young (member & friend)

Thanks Ilyn, Just thought I'd let you all know about my new book Banshee Angel of Judgement. You can download it for free just now till I sort out some errors that seem to have escaped my notice and complete the cover image. you can check it out here http://www.lulu.com/content/4167420 hope you enjoy it.

Best wishes, Billy & everyone.

My new cover image has now been uploaded to lulu for Banshee Angel of Judgement.

Dear all,

please visit "PURE LOVE" group if you have a chance.

Have a nice time

Thank you, Billy & Parya.

$5 DISCOUNT AND FREE SHIPPING for Reason Reigns

http://www.pronto.com/Reason-Reigns-b...

Please check out Chris' book, "Life Interrupted, It's Not All about Me".

This is his website: http://www.lifeinterrupted-nolonger.com/

This is Chris' Goodreads profile: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15...

Thank you. Have a wonderful week.

A Reason Reigns giveaway ends tomorrow:

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Another RR giveaway: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Have a happy Friday and a marvelous weekend. Happy Halloween!

Roxanne won one of two Reason Reigns giveaways - thank you, Roxanne! Many thanks to everyone who entered to win my novel.

Anya Mitcham is the other winner - thank you, Anya.

I'm giving away a copy of the first The Conscience of Abe's Turn: The Birth of the Conscience as part of the Bookroomreviews Book Giveaway Carnival this coming week (through November 8). Here's the giveaway post on my blog:

http://blog.jtimothyking.com/2008/11/...

Check out Banshee Angel of Judgement at http://www.lulu.com/content/4167420
It's a gothic horror so I hope its your cuppa tea/coffee.

Hello Tim & Billy. Good fortune on your endeavors.

Book Review: The Dream by Gurbaksh Chahal
How to start internet companies and make millions

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/223...

Please check out the Reason Reigns and Cash raffle here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

Thank you. Happy New Year.

Hi. I would just like to promote my first published book Sunrise and Sunset: A Collection of Poetries. Here is the url where you can look and purchase it. Thanks.

http://store.i-proclaimbookstore.com/...

I wish you all the best, Wyoma. Congratulations.

Thanks again, Ilyn. :)

PRESS RELEASE

“BADER FIELD” by Carl David has just been released and is now available through Nightengale Press in their store. www.nightengalepress.com Also now available at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk and www.froogle.com and www.authorsden.com/carledavid and www.carledavid.com



BADER FIELD (A Journey of Love, Forgiveness & Acceptance)
[ISBN 1933449:]
$15.95

Carl David is the third generation of a four-generation family art business in Philadelphia. He is the author of Collecting & Care of Fine Art published by Crown in 1981. His article about Martha Walter, an American Impressionist painter (1875-1976), was published in the American Art Review in May 1978. Mr. David's new book, Bader Field, embodies the emotional story of a son's loving relationship with his father—a legendary art dealer whose life is suddenly taken by a massive coronary at the young age of fifty-eight years. His death plunges the twenty-four-year-old man onto the front lines of the family art business, which he had entered a mere three years prior. Battling with his own grief while trying to help his adoring but fragile mother survive, David forges forward with all of the elemental tools his father imparted to him. His journey proves a difficult one, not having yet recovered from the horrific loss of his brother to suicide just eight years earlier when he was found dead on the fourth floor of the Rittenhouse Square townhouse, which was home to the prestigious David David Gallery. His self-imposed obligation is to successfully take the family art business to the next generation and to give his own children every bit of love, kindness, and wisdom bestowed upon him by the unique man whom they will never know other than the mark he left on everyone who knew him. Bader Field adds significant insight into the mysterious workings and dealings of the art world. David speaks from experience of having been immersed in it all of his life and having lived it from the inside out. There is a tremendous crossover interest in this book as it combines the elements of an American family, its goodness and its tragedy interfaced with the multifaceted aspects of the art business and flying small airplanes. Bader Field in Atlantic City was the oldest airfield in the country. With little sophistication, its two asphalt runways juggled single and twin engine aircraft exuded a character and charm that created memories to last a lifetime. That is where this saga begins and where it ends as life comes full circle.
Carl David
David David Gallery/260 S. 18th Street/Philadelphia, PA 19103/215-735-2922
www.askart.com/DDavid www.artnet.com/ddavid.html www.authorsden.com/carledavid
www.carledavid.com www.nightengalepress.com

Congratulations, Carl. Good fortune on BADER FIELD.

Ilyn wrote: "Congratulations, Carl. Good fortune on BADER FIELD."

Thank you so much. I am working diligently to get this book in the hands and hearts of as many people as possible so I can help them. I want the darkest days of my life to be able to help others as I "pay it forward" and transmute my horror into a preventive measure.

If you have a few moments please visit my website
www.carledavid.com for a much more comprehensive overview. I am on a quest to save as many lives and ease as much pain as possible!

Thanks for your good wishes! Greatly appreciated!!

Carl

Carl wrote: "PRESS RELEASE

“BADER FIELD” by Carl David has just been released and is now available through Nightengale Press in their store. www.nightengalepress.com Also now available at www.barnesandnoble...."


GO GET 'EM, Philly boy!!

Stephen H. Turner
The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia
Almagest The Adventures of MarsShield
3700
The Avedon Question

Stephen wrote: "Carl wrote: "PRESS RELEASE

“BADER FIELD” by Carl David has just been released and is now available through Nightengale Press in their store. www.nightengalepress.com Also now available at www...."

Stephen wrote: "Carl wrote: "PRESS RELEASE

“BADER FIELD” by Carl David has just been released and is now available through Nightengale Press in their store. www.nightengalepress.com Also now available at www...."

Thanks!

Carl

Carl wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Carl wrote: "PRESS RELEASE

“BADER FIELD” by Carl David has just been released and is now available through Nightengale Press in their store. www.nightengalepress.com Also now ava..."

Whoa! Your publisher has its own chain of stores?? You bucky lastard!! Talk about cutting out the middle man!! My setup is ALMOST as sweet, but doesn't involve brick and mortar, unfortunately....

Stephen H. Turner

Nope, just their own in-house store. Wish they had a whole chain of them. Most of my promotions have been online........

Carl

Carl wrote: "Nope, just their own in-house store. Wish they had a whole chain of them. Most of my promotions have been online........

Carl"


Ouch. Same here....

Steve

Yep!

I have finished writing Royal Serf (around 75K). I will continue to make it better as I seek a literary agent or publisher: http://community.myfoxdetroit.com/blo...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



“Bader Field” by Carl David (Nightengale Press, 2008)Wins Honorary Mention in Non-Fiction/Memoir Category in Reader Views Annual Literary Awards


“Bader Field” by Carl David (Nightengale Press, 2008) was selected as the Honorary Mention in Non Fiction/Memoir category of 2008 by Reader Views Annual Literary Awards – Reviewers Choice. The annual awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a small press, university press, or independent book publisher.

“Reader Views reviews more than 2,000 books per year from budding authors who have worked hard to achieve their dream of being published,” Reader Views Managing Editor Irene Watson says. “Our Annual Literary Awards recognize the very best of these up-and-coming authors, all talented writers who we know have very promising writing careers ahead of them.”

The Reader Views Annual Literary Awards are granted in fiction and nonfiction categories, as well as regional, global and specialized, sponsored categories. The entries are first read and judged by Reader Views reviewers, all avid readers with a wide range of experiences, considered experts in the respective fields. The second line judges make the final decision.

Video for Royal Serf, a political thriller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GS-Mz...

Nahid's invite: Teaching an advanced Fiction Workshop.

Date: September 01, 2009 06:20PM
Venue: The New School (School of General Studies)
Location: 66 West 12th Street, New York, NY, The United States
Description:
Advanced Fiction Workshop, Building Full Real Characters
(open to personal memoir writing as well as fiction writing)
Instructor: Nahid Rachlin
Term: Fall 2009, Tuesdays-Sep 01, 2009 - Dec 15, 2009
Class 6:00 pm - 7:50 pm
Open to credit and non-credit
Info:
212 229 5620
212 229 5611
For more about Nahid Rachlin click on: http://www.nahidrachlin.com