2013 Christmas Celebration begins!

The 2013 Christmas Celebration is going on now at 51313 Harbor Street! In the first post, we have Factoids about Christmas (Some of Which Might be True), a quick and delicious sweet recipe, and a few hints for those of us who have to work in customer service! Go here: 2013 Christmas Celebration.

Harbor Street Christmas Celebration starts at noon!

Starting at noon today: The 2013 Christmas Celebration on 51313 Harbor Street! There will be stories, photos, recipes, jokes, songs, essays, book excerpts, and more! A new post every hour until midnight! Here's the link so that you'll be ready: 51313 Harbor Street 

My song for 2014

Fantastic sale on "Tales from Bethlehem"!

Right now, you can purchase "Tales from Bethlehem" from Amazon.com at 51% off! Here's the link:

Save on Tales from Bethlehem on Amazon!

Ada Writers Christmas!

Visit the Ada Writers site, which has writings from Stephen B. Bagley, Mel Hutt, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, Jim Sanders, and Loretta Yin on Christmas, Winter, and the coming New Year!

Tales from Bethlehem

     You've heard the story a thousand times: glorious angels, lowly shepherds, brightly shining star,
three Wise Men, and wee babe in a manger. But have you ever wondered about everyone else in tiny Bethlehem on that marvel of nights? What did they think? What did they do? How would you have responded?
     In these funny and touching tales, you'll meet a stable boy, a serving girl, an honest spy, an astounding clerk, an empty innkeeper, a mighty ship of the desert, and many others as they share their amazing Tales from Bethlehem.

Buy Tales from Bethlehem at Barnes&Noble!

Buy Tales from Bethlehem at Amazon!

Buy Tales from Bethlehem at Lulu!

Save 20% on "Murder by the Acre"

Save 20 % on 

Murder by the Acre 

at Lulu.com

by using 

coupon code CORNUCOPIA! 

Hurry! Offer ends

Nov. 15, 11:59 p.m. 

Click here!

New contact card

Here's my new contact card. I ran out in Duncan and decided to design a new one. It's simple, but it tells what it needs to tell. I used the background from Tales from Bethlehem. What do you think?

Author Day in Duncan, Oklahoma

Yesterday I had a great time in Duncan, Oklahoma, at the Author Day at the Duncan Public Library. Beautiful building, wonderful staff. And I got to have lunch with the amazing Laura Eckroat and talk shop and laugh a lot. A good day. Here are some photos.

Me at my table.

Laura Eckroat at her table in the children's section.

They had a nice display about me.

The building was beautiful. I loved this skylight.

Laura and I outside the restaurant where we had lunch.

It was a great day, and I hope to return next year for the Author Day again. They only let you come if you have a new book. I hope to have two in 2014.

Duncan Library Flyer

Q&A

Children's author Laura Eckroat interviewed me for her website. Read it here: Interview.

Limited Time Offer!

Save 20% at Lulu.com on all my books!

Click here to visit Lulu! 

Excerpt from "A Little Floozy"

I'll get right on that ... eventually

     I don’t know why I do it. I have a huge list of things to do that need to be done, but I haven't done them. I kept intending to do those things and be horribly horribly horribly productive. However, more important things came up, like searching for a job, getting a haircut, watching TV, cutting my toenails, sending fan mail to Dolly Parton, putting bars on my windows so that the aliens can’t get in again, etc. Actually, those aren't more important things. (Except for that pesky job search; my creditors insist it's important. I think they need to calm down right now.) Those other things just happen to be the things that I did instead. I don’t know why.

(Read more here: Excerpt from A Little Floozy)

Finished!

The upgrade to this site is finished. Mostly. Depends on what bugs and errors I find over the next few days. I'm pleased with how it's arranged and how it looks. The cool thing is that I'll be able to change the look fairly easily now. At least that's my hope.

Barnes & Noble offers Tales from Bethlehem

Tales from Bethlehem is now available on Barnes & Noble.com! And what's even better: it's on sale! Click here to take advantage of this offer: Tales from Bethlehem on Barnes & Noble.com!

Things to work on

Apparently I'm going to have to work on my apologies. "I'm sorry I got angry and said some things I meant but shouldn't have said" didn't defuse the situation. I wonder why.

Tales from Bethlehem looking all grown up and 3D and stuff.

Ada Writers Fall Book Festival slated for Tuesday

ADA – Ada Writers Fall Book Festival will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m. hosted by Karen’s Art and Farming, 108 East Main. The festival will feature “Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love,” the newest anthology by Ada Writers, and books by local authors and by award winning children’s book author Laura Eckroat.

“We will be offering books that are mysteries, romances, biographies, inspirational, humor, and more,” said Stephen B. Bagley, Ada Writers president. “And of course, the new anthology features short stories, poems, memoirs, and more by members of Ada Writers, including Kelley Benson, Eric Collier, Lindiwe Hall, Mel Hutt, Ken Lewis, Rick Litchfield, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, Joanne Verbridge, Tim Wilson, Gail Wood, and Tom Yarbrough.”

A small quantity of signed children’s books by Laura Wintczak Eckroat will be available at the Festival. Eckroat's book “Went Out To Get a Donut - Came Home With a Muffin” was featured in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine and won the Texas Association of Authors First Place Award for Best 7 and Under Children's Book. Her latest book, “What’s In The Corner? ... A Muffin ‘Tail,’” was released this summer. Learn more about Eckroat and her books at LauraEckroat.blogspot.com.

“We will have readings, signed books, refreshments, and good conversations about books,” said Bagley. “We invite everyone to attend.” For more information about Ada Writers, visit AdaWriters.blogspot.com.

“Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love” is dedicated to the late Arlene “Aren” Rose Howell, who was a cherished longtime member and officer of Ada Writers.

The anthology features works from the following Ada and area authors:

Stephen B. Bagley wrote “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” “Murder by the Acre,” and the forthcoming “Murder by the Mile,” all in the Measurements of Murder™ series. His other books include “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Floozy and Other Stories,” and “EndlesS.” He also wrote the full-length plays “Murder at the Witch’s Cottage” and “Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God” and co-wrote “Turnabout.” He coauthored two one-act plays published by Dramatic Publishing Company. His poetry has appeared in “Creations 2012,” ByLine Magazine, Prairie Songs, Free Star, and other journals, and his articles in Nautilus, OKMagazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, and other publications. Visit his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.

Kelley Benson wrote “On Target: Devotions for Modern Life.” He is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He is the husband of his beautiful wife, Jade. They are being intentional about raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997. A close Christian mentor inspired Kelley to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. Visit his website at KelleyBenson.blogspot.com.

Eric Collier is a father of two and grandfather of six. He started writing poetry for a poetry class hosted by Continuing Education at East Central University. He lives in Ada and works as physical therapist for a local hospital. He enjoys camping, hiking, bird watching, and growing vegetables and flowers.

Lindiwe Hall is a published author of books and eBooks. She enjoys all kinds of writing. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, New York. She has written autobiographical fiction, writes children’s books, and is in the process of proofing and writing an album for her mission called Rose of Sharon. Also, she is very proud of her late father, who was Ambassador to the United Nations from Swaziland for 18 years.

Mel Hutt and his wife have been married for more than sixty years and have three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. When his father died in 1945, he entered the Navy and served more than three years in the Pacific, including Operation Crossroads of the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini. He was then assigned to a destroyer and traveled to places like Australia, China, and Japan, with Hawaii as the stop to and from those places. He shares his memories in memoirs.

Ken Lewis has written several articles and short stories of different genres. His interests lie mostly in the paranormal and science fiction genres, but he enjoys exploring other avenues of the art. He’s a graduate of the Longridge Writer’s Group. He’s a firm believer in “Life is learning.” He currently serves as vice-president and treasurer of Ada Writers.

Rick Litchfield’s poetry appears in “A Surrender to the Moon,” “The International Who’s Who in Poetry,” “Timeless Voices,” “The Best Poems and Poets of 2007” and “Creations 2012.” He is working on “Shards of Wit and Wisdom: Stories and Stained Glass.”

Don Perry grew up outside of Crockett, Texas, and later moved to Fort Worth. After many years in the aviation field, he retired and moved to a small farm outside of Ada, Oklahoma. Don married Barbara Burleson in 1965, has two children, Melissa and James, and three grandsons. Since his retirement, he writes short stories of life and times during his youth, geared toward the young adult and teen-aged audiences. Many of his short stories show the humorous and whimsical side of the 1950s life and are often autobiographical in nature. He is currently writing a novel in the fantasy genre.

Martha Rhynes, a retired teacher, began her writing career by re-searching the lives of American authors and writing biographies and analyses of their work for inclusion in literary encyclopedias. Her book-length biographies include, “I, Too, Sing America, The Story of Langston Hughes,” “Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet from Chicago,” “Ralph Ellison: Author of Invisible Man,” “Jack London: Writer of Adventure,” and “Ray Bradbury: Teller of Tales.” Her works of fiction include numerous short stories and three novels: “Secret of the Pack Rat’s Nest,” “The War Bride,” and “Man on First.” Her non-fiction includes an eBook for young adults: “How to Write Scary Stories.” Visit her website at MarthaERhynes.blogspot.com.

Joanne Verbridge was born in Oakland, California, spending her life experiences in Northern California. Family brought her to Oklahoma where she enjoys taking time to write about those experiences. She is trying to inspire her young nieces to take an interest in story telling and writing. She currently serves as the secretary and historian for Ada Writers.

Tim Wilson is a steadfast believer in truth, justice, and the American way of life, and writes to make a difference by helping others with his hard-earned knowledge and life experiences so others may not suffer the same tragic consequences. He is currently writing a nonfiction book, “Yet to be Disclosed,” which is based on facts that explain “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the issues of modern society.”

Gail Wood has written all her life. “It is as natural to me as breathing. I love the written word, all the nuances, the connotations, the music. I am retired from the perverted world of grants, reports, and strategic plans—the bureaucratic graveyard for words. Besides writing, I have a passion for walking. I love the outdoors and all things natural. The best part of my life is now.” Her book, “Red Bird Woman,” will be released later this year by Many Rivers Harbor.

Tom Yarbrough is the author of four books, three nonfiction and one fiction. He is currently editing two works accepted by a publisher. After a long career in counseling and education, he now spends his time with full-time writing, family concerns, and hobbies like Rendezvous (an 1840 living history camp) and making bookmarks called Shepherd Staffs.

Library hosts book signing

ADA – Ada Public Library will host a book signing for “Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love,” the newest anthology from Ada Writers, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, August 22. The book will be available for purchase at the book signing for $12

The back cover explains the theme of the book: “For some, passion and joy. For others, torment and regret. Ada Writers looks at love in its many forms with articles, essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, and excerpts from books and novels-in-progress in this new anthology.”

The anthology is dedicated to the late Arlene “Aren” Rose Howell, who was a cherished longtime member and officer of Ada Writers.

This year’s anthology features works from the following Ada and area authors:

Stephen B. Bagley wrote “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” “Murder by the Acre,” and the forthcoming “Murder by the Mile,” all in the Measurements of Murder™ series. His other books include “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Floozy and Other Stories,” and “EndlesS.” He also wrote the full-length plays “Murder at the Witch’s Cottage” and “Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God” and co-wrote “Turnabout.” He coauthored two one-act plays published by Dramatic Publishing Company. His poetry has appeared in “Creations 2012,” ByLine Magazine, Prairie Songs, Free Star, and other journals, and his articles in Nautilus, OKMagazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, and other publications. He currently serves as president of Ada Writers. Visit his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.

Kelley Benson wrote “On Target: Devotions for Modern Life.” He is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He is the husband of his beautiful wife, Jade. They are being intentional about raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997. A close Christian mentor inspired Kelley to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. Visit his website at KelleyBenson.blogspot.com.

Eric Collier is a father of two and grandfather of six. He started writing poetry for a poetry class hosted by Continuing Education at East Central University. He lives in Ada and works as physical therapist for a local hospital. He enjoys camping, hiking, bird watching, and growing vegetables and flowers.

Lindiwe Hall is a published author of books and eBooks. She enjoys all kinds of writing. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, New York. She has written autobiographical fiction, writes children’s books, and is in the process of proofing and writing an album for her mission called Rose of Sharon. Also, she is very proud of her late father, who was Ambassador to the United Nations from Swaziland for 18 years.

Mel Hutt and his wife have been married for more than sixty years and have three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. When his father died in 1945, he entered the Navy and served more than three years in the Pacific, including Operation Crossroads of the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini. He was then assigned to a destroyer and traveled to places like Australia, China, and Japan, with Hawaii as the stop to and from those places. He shares his memories in memoirs.

Ken Lewis has written several articles and short stories of different genres. His interests lie mostly in the paranormal and science fiction genres, but he enjoys exploring other avenues of the art. He’s a graduate of the Longridge Writer’s Group. He’s a firm believer in “Life is learning.” He currently serves as vice-president and treasurer of Ada Writers.

Rick Litchfield’s poetry appears in “A Surrender to the Moon,” “The International Who’s Who in Poetry,” “Timeless Voices,” “The Best Poems and Poets of 2007” and “Creations 2012.” He is working on “Shards of Wit and Wisdom: Stories and Stained Glass.”

Don Perry grew up outside of Crockett, Texas, and later moved to Fort Worth. After many years in the aviation field, he retired and moved to a small farm outside of Ada, Oklahoma. Don married Barbara Burleson in 1965, has two children, Melissa and James, and three grandsons. Since his retirement, he writes short stories of life and times during his youth, geared toward the young adult and teen-aged audiences. Many of his short stories show the humorous and whimsical side of the 1950s life and are often autobiographical in nature. He is currently writing a novel in the fantasy genre.

Martha Rhynes, a retired teacher, began her writing career by re-searching the lives of American authors and writing biographies and analyses of their work for inclusion in literary encyclopedias. Her book-length biographies include, “I, Too, Sing America, The Story of Langston Hughes,” “Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet from Chicago,” “Ralph Ellison: Author of Invisible Man,” “Jack London: Writer of Adventure,” and “Ray Bradbury: Teller of Tales.” Her works of fiction include numerous short stories and three novels: “Secret of the Pack Rat’s Nest,” “The War Bride,” and “Man on First.” Her non-fiction includes an eBook for young adults: “How to Write Scary Stories.” Visit her website at MarthaERhynes.blogspot.com.

Joanne Verbridge was born in Oakland, California, spending her life experiences in Northern California. Family brought her to Oklahoma where she enjoys taking time to write about those experiences. She is trying to inspire her young nieces to take an interest in story telling and writing. She currently serves as the secretary and historian for Ada Writers.

Tim Wilson is a steadfast believer in truth, justice, and the American way of life, and writes to make a difference by helping others with his hard-earned knowledge and life experiences so others may not suffer the same tragic consequences. He is currently writing a non-fiction book, “Yet to be Disclosed,” which is based on facts that explain “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the issues of modern society.”

Gail Wood has written all her life. “It is as natural to me as breathing. I love the written word, all the nuances, the connotations, the music. I am retired from the perverted world of grants, reports, and strategic plans—the bureaucratic graveyard for words. Besides writing, I have a passion for walking. I love the outdoors and all things natural. The best part of my life is now.” Her forthcoming book, “Red Bird Woman,” will be released later this year by Many Rivers Harbor.

Tom Yarbrough is the author of four books, three non-fiction and one fiction. He is currently editing two works accepted by a publisher. After a long career in counseling and education, he now spends his time with full time writing, family concerns, and hobbies like Rendezvous (an 1840 living history camp) and making bookmarks called Shepherd Staffs.

"HIghlands" - Excerpt from Undying

Highlands

In the highlands a beauteous lass lived,
skin like winter snow, hair radiant red,
lips that curved in a saucy smile.

In the highlands a handsome lad lived,
strong of back, eyes with golden threads,
a smile full of impish wile.

At a gathering called by the High King,
they danced the Foursome Reel,
with eyes only for each other's flesh.

They crept away during the Highland Fling
to the fields and together did kneel
and share their bodies, love jointly fresh.

"I will love only thee," he declares.
"No one else is there for me," she swears.
Hearts and souls intertwine until the dawn.

But he was a proud Clan Campbell heir;
the Clan MacDonald hearth she shared,
no fiercer feud had the gods ever spawned.

In the dark of the moon, the lovers
stole away to escape to the coast,
but warriors of the clans gave chase.

Running hand in hand, always seeking cover,
past lonely cairns and grieving ghosts,
the pair flew, but nearer the hounds raced.

At last the lovers came to a cliff high.
The waves crashed down below.
“Trapped,” she cried out in fear.

He drew his sword; live or die,
she was his love, he was her hero,
but an ethereal light then appeared.

A blue white glow faded to reveal
a tall woman, beautiful and bright,
powerful and perilous. She called...

When warriors—swords drawn to kill—
gained the cliff, they found only the night,
no lovers ashamed and appalled.

Angry at the terrible cost,
the warriors battled, raging mad
until in blood they bathed,

blaming the other clan for the loss,
for it be plain the lass and lad
had leapt to their watery grave.

Four centuries gone, but the old men
claim on nights when the moon is dark,
the lovers dance at the Lady’s command

while the Faery Folk and their kin
enthrall all who hear to dance and spark
the Foursome Reel in the highlands.


(Poem from the forthcoming Undying: Poems of Fantasy and Science Fiction by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved. No copying without express prior permission from the author and publisher. Thank you for reading.)

Valerie Comer

Valerie Comer, inspirational romance novelist and a friend of mine, had a new book released yesterday! Raspberries and Vinegar, the first in her series A Farm Fresh Romance, from Choose NOW Publishing went on sale August 1. Valerie took a few minutes from her busy schedule as an author, beekeeper, farmer, and proud grandmother to answer a few questions about her writing. 

1. Valerie, your book is in the category Farm Lit. What is Farm Lit?

Farm Lit is a new(ish) genre based on rural life—farm life, as opposed to western ranch life. The genre began with memoirs such as Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle and Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman and now includes anything written with a farm base.

2. Why do you write Farm Lit?

They say to write what you know, and I've lived on a farm over half my life. I was raised in the whole gardening, canning, cooking from scratch, bread-baking type of lifestyle, as was my husband. In recent years we've become more intentional and begun promoting this lifestyle as an alternative to the processed foods and fast foods that are leading Western civilization into obesity… and worse.

3. Tell us a little about Raspberries and Vinegar.

Breaking ground with the Farm Fresh Romance series, Raspberries and Vinegar finds Josephine Shaw and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with their sights set on more than just their own property. Transforming the town with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more resistance than they expected, especially by temporary neighbor, Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a little sweet makes the tart more tasty.

4. What’s your writing process?

Messy. Do we have to talk about it? I've written a dozen full-length novels over as many years, most of which you will never be so unfortunate as to read. It took me a long time to fine-tune a process that works for me—but it is still messy. I'm somewhere in between full-on plotting and full-on seat-of-the-pants writing, which is annoying because in Real Life, I like to plan ahead. I want to do this in my writing, too, but it doesn't work. I've blogged about the process some at my writing website, How to Write a Story, where I also offer a free writing course by email.

5. The book talks about sustainable living and local foods. Is that a priority in your life and why?

It has become so, yes. I'm honestly appalled at the horrific conditions for animals in feedlots and for workers on many mega-farms. I'm also terrified at the insidious take-over of genetically-modified organisms in our food and the honeybee die-off that is a result of the aforementioned practices (pesticides, fungicides, GMOs).

As humans, we need to think ahead. I have three young granddaughters, and I'm challenged to try and leave a better future for them than the grim reality I feel is coming. All I can do is what I can do, which is pretty limited. I can write about it, I can talk about it, I can support our local food action coalition, and I can grow as much of our own food as possible.

6. The book is also an inspirational romance. Why do you write in the inspirational field?

It's who I am. I've been a Christian since I was a young child, and it permeates my every pore. Some of my writing has more obvious themes than other stories, but I can't write from a worldview that isn't mine. It wouldn't be true to who I am. Besides, I think Christians need to wake up and pay attention to sustainability and food. They/We are behind the times.

7. What has been important advice to you in pursing a writing career, and what advice would you give to a new writer?

Be patient and work on craft.

These days anyone can write a novel and upload it to Amazon five minutes after they've written "the end." Sometimes they haven't even read through it once to catch obvious and glaring errors, let alone had it critiqued or revised. What's the big hurry? Learn how to turn it into a really strong story. No point in shooting yourself in the foot. Make sure it's the best work you can do at this time before expecting people to pay money for it. Being an author isn't glamorous if no one will review your book!

8. What has been the most gratifying or most surprising result from your writing career so far?

Raspberries and Vinegar has been complete for three years. It came close to being picked up by a major publisher several times, but they shied away because of the issues presented. Within days of beginning discussion with Choose NOW Publishing, I came across this article online: Chick Lit is Dead, Long Live Farm Lit.

Timing is everything! 

9. What comes after Raspberries and Vinegar?

Wild Mint Tea, the second book in the Farm Fresh Romance series releases in March, 2014, with the final installment, Sweetened with Honey, due for release in December, 2014. 

10. Raspberries and Vinegar is the first in a series. Tell us about the series. 

It follows the adventures, romantic and otherwise, of three college graduates who move onto a reclaimed farm where they plan to take the rural area by storm with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods.

Thanks, Valerie!    

Learn more about Raspberries and Vinegar, visit her website: HERE.

To buy Raspberries and Vinegar from Amazon in print and for Kindle: HERE.

To buy Raspberries and Vinegar for the Nook: HERE.
To buy Raspberries and Vinegar from Choose Now Publishing: HERE.

New Cover

Remember when I told you that the old cover was almost certainly the cover? I was wrong. There's the new cover. I think.

Creations 2013

Here's the cover for Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love.

Anthology release slated

Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love, the new anthology from Ada Writers, will be released July 25. Back cover copy reads: “For some, passion and joy. For others, torment and regret. Ada Writers looks at love in its many forms with articles, essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, and excerpts from books and novels-in-progress in this new anthology. Featuring: Stephen B. Bagley, Kelley Benson, Eric Collier, Lindiwe Hall, Mel Hutt, Ken Lewis, Rick Litchfield, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, Joanne Verbridge, Tim Wilson, Gail Wood, and Tom Yarbrough.” 

Be watching for it!

Cover for "Murder by the Mile"

This cover will be refined a bit more and corrected before publication, but unless something extraordinary happens, this is the cover. Click on it to see in a larger size.

Twilight Grace

Twilight Grace

We drift now in the quiet space,
the black between the stars,
Engines torn away months ago
by an errant cosmic string
or some unexpected particle.

No rescue possible. No engines, no
highspace communications. Command
cannot find us. In this vast empiness,
another warpship lighting on this tiny
point of nothing beggars imagination.

Most of the crew now dead or missing.
The doctor drank poison; captain
fled to his quarters with a bottle.
The engineer nurses our life support;
he says mad things about what he sees.

I wander the arboretum ring. Alone
except for the green plants whose
names I never learned. I touch their
leaves. I water the green rows.
The flowers turn blind faces.

This is the last log of the warpship
Twilight Grace. Listen oh listen
to me. At times, I can hear moans,
shuffling footsteps in the corridors;
but no one answers when I call ...

(Copyright 2013 by Stephen B. Bagley.  From the forthcoming Undying: Poems of Fantasy & Science Fiction. All rights reserved. No copying without express written permission.)

"Waking on Another Planet"

Waking on Another Planet

I woke on another planet this morning
and found myself believing strange new things:
        Broken hearts can heal stronger than before,
        We don’t have to purchase wisdom with pain,
        An open hand holds more than a closed fist,
        We all bleed red whatever our color,
        Only fools think violence will cause peace,
        And we can learn to love ourselves at last.
Perhaps you think I do not understand
the gravity of our situation.
        I know the list of disasters stretches
        Longer than Orion’s arm. Nonetheless,
I woke on another planet this morning
and planted a bright flag and called it hope.

(Copyright 2013 by Stephen B. Bagley. From the forthcoming Undying: Poems of Fantasy & Science Fiction. All rights reserved. No copying without express permission. Thank you for reading.)

Release dates!

The release date for Murder by the Mile will be ... drum roll ... July 30th!

The release date for Undying: Poems of Fantasy and Science Fiction will be ... drum roll ... September 1st!

Now, they may come earlier, but right now, those are the dates! Mark your calendars, plan for the parties, get ready to rumble buy books!

My books!

EndlesS
By Stephen B. Bagley
Poetry - Enjoy more than 50 sensual & moving poems, including the award winning "Non-Communion," "Torrent," & "Endless."
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Lulu

Floozy & Other Stories
By Stephen B. Bagley
Humor - Laugh at more than 80 hilarious tales from the author's decidedly different life.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes & Noble
Buy on Lulu

Murder by the Acre (Second Edition)
By Stephen B. Bagley
Mystery - Who killed the ladies man? Bernard, Lisa & the chief are back! New expanded edition. 2nd in Measurements of Murder series.
Buy on Lulu
Buy on Amazon

Murder by the Acre (First Edition)
By Stephen B. Bagley
Mystery - Who killed the ladies man? Bernard, Lisa & the chief are back! 2nd in Measurements of Murder series.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes & Noble

Murder by Dewey Decimal
By Stephen B. Bagley
Mystery - Who killed the librarian? 1st in Measurements of Murder series.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes & Noble
Buy on Lulu

Tales from Bethlehem
By Stephen B. Bagley
Inspirational - Have you ever wondered about everyone else in Bethlehem on the night of the Nativity? These charming and touching Tales will tell you their stories.
Buy on Lulu