Behind the Scenes: I Exist. Hear Me.

I Exist. Hear Me. is a poem born out of self-reflection and a determination to never give up on me no matter how much lingering voices I'd heard over the years say otherwise.

Inspiration / Muse:
I entered a contest sponsored by the South Jersey Writers' Group in January of 2018. Even though this poem had a slight dark edge to it, I submitted it as a statement of courage in the hopes of helping others to persevere even when the mind attempts to talk a person out of pursuing one's dreams. It's a crazy battle, but one worth fighting.

Theme:
I Exist points to the value a person has just by being here, before any accomplishments and outside of monetary wealth. Hear Me is a desperate cry to be understood on a deep level.


Journey:
Writing poetry is a vibrant and colorful way to express emotions sometimes too deep for mundane words. I write what I feel, not just what I think. It's a journey that started in grade school and continues through the challenges of adulthood.

Meaning behind the cover:
No cover needed for this poem. It's interesting to think what it might have been, though.

Impact / Tribute:
I'm glad I didn't listen to my initial thought of not submitting this poem. The words resonate with many people and continue to inspire me to keep going. I look forward to helping others with my writing. I'm grateful to have this gift.

The eleventh in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for August 1, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Zale's Tale

Zale's Tale is a story about a seven year old merboy who visited Rehoboth Beach, DE for the first time and made friends with a seven year old human boy. Curiosity and acceptance led to the start of a fun friendship.

Inspiration / Muse:
A friend from the South Jersey Writers' Group told me about a writing contest held by Cat & Mouse Press and sponsored by Browseabout Books, To compete for a spot in Beach Fun, the story had to take place in Rehoboth Beach, a famous summer destination I'd never visited. I almost talked myself out of entering, but thankfully I ignored that voice. I would have missed out on all the fun I had creating this story. I'd always been fascinated with stories about mermaids. Now, I had the chance to shake things up a bit. Since I have two boys of my own, it made sense to develop a small adventure around a merboy instead.

Theme:
Basically, the story had to live and breathe Rehoboth Beach scenes, foods, locations, and fun times.

Journey:
By the time I time I learned about the contest, I had less than two months to think up and write a story between 500 and 3,500 words. I studied maps of the area in an attempt to help with the visual of a merboy traveling south along the eastern shoreline. Having never been on a boat offshore in Rehoboth Beach, I encountered some difficulty in describing the landscape accurately from the viewpoint of an ocean creature approaching a sandy beach with strange structures as the backdrop. I also had to imagine the evolving experience of a merboy eating foods that didn't have a tail and scales. Giving the story a shot landed me a spot in the Beach Fun anthology of 25 stories and the chance to autograph copies with other authors.

Meaning behind the cover:
The publisher chose a cover that depicted a crowd having fun at the beach. I was not involved at all in that process. A relief for sure. 

Impact / Tribute:
I've had the opportunity to read this story for students at a couple middle-schools. I'm glad I have a part in showing young people just how enjoyable a story can be with images that can free their minds from the every day hardships, if only for a moment.

The tenth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for July 18, 2020.