A Word with You Press - Latest Comments

Re: Poetry Perculating

abozzteh — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 08:47:56 -0000

my ex gf cheated so i want to get my own back on her! just clickkkk on my profileee if you want to see some nudes lol .. 1420

Re: Eli Fang testiculates awesomeness…Once Upon a Time

Michael Stang — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 03:15:53 -0000

Oh the stories writers will write. Sex drugs and alcohol? Not a chance except maybe a cat's ass and the thrill of money. This is out there, El, where it should be. I cannot imagine the whole novel; cannot wait to have a peek at chpt one.

Re: Don Maker: No good deed unpublished

Michael Stang — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 02:53:10 -0000

Unlikely hero's come in all shapes and sizes. Here the loser equalizes the universe with a bit of boozy chivalry. Perfect for the novel to come. Gritty, sandy, infected with the right thing and the twisted outcome. Nice.

Re: Don Maker: No good deed unpublished

Parisianne Modert — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 02:14:25 -0000

Don Maker's Prologue to his novel "The Grindstone?" brings us instantly into the scene he draws upon as if we have time traveled falling outward through swinging doors into the west. From this beginning we realize that the man on the ground is not us, but a character who seems to return to the same small town, the same situation of drinking and smoking too much. The scene is expanded by a woman who is trouble, but as it is written, "No good dead goes unpunished"

I am intrigued by the clue in Mr. Marker's response of the significance of the next to last paragraph. Is this a murder trial plain and simple of defending a wife from her husband's abuse? i doubt it. Is this a time repeating science fiction story of changing a little each time to escape one's misdirected fate? This I do suspect, but am not sure. Could there be time travel? I suppose so, but that's what a teaser of a prologue does, does it not? While this is not my kind of story normally, I am curious enough to read on if allowed to find out what happens next.

Re: Don Maker: No good deed unpublished

Katie Evans — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:03:53 -0000

I really enjoyed the recurring theme of animal characteristics in describing the "bad" guy and even his wife (she "coos," rather than some other describer), and then she turns it around calling poor Frank an animal.
I'll be interested to read the rest when you publish!

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Chuck Chuckerson — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 23:05:28 -0000

Very intense. I'm interested to know what this manuscript is all about. What a shame that often the women is punished for ensnaring the man with no regard to the possibility that it was mutual, of that the pressure came from the other direction. On small note, "corpse of the dead woman" is redundant, as all corpses are dead.

Re: Eli Fang testiculates awesomeness…Once Upon a Time

Chuck Chuckerson — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:57:52 -0000

First, I read "as if filled with helium" as "as it filled with helium" which gave me a confusing mental image.My mistake, but I thought it was funny enough to share.

Future self, eh? I'm definitely interested in more of this. Though his comparison to sex-work ignores the coercion that's often involved.

Re: The 18th of April, in ’75

Mike Casper — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:56:41 -0000

I'm IN.

Re: Don Maker: No good deed unpublished

Don Maker — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:55:33 -0000

Russ, thanks so much for commenting! While I certainly welcome suggestions, I'll let you in on a little secret -- that next to last paragraph is one of the keys of the novel. I hope you do read the novel (when it's published, of course) and see why that tiny point is so important. Cheers.

Re: Don Maker: No good deed unpublished

russ shor — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:56:10 -0000

Great descriptions and plot twist..Stand up guy gets knocked down.. And, of course, I'd read on. if you don;t mind an edit suggestion, the next to last paragraph is unnessary..

Re: Wendy Joseph discovers secret manuscript!

Tiffany Be — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 13:12:42 -0000

Feeling timeless. Want to be swashbuckled, and also caught in the fray of intrigue. Well done!

Re: Wendy Joseph discovers secret manuscript!

Michael Stang — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 17:19:24 -0000

Only in the capable hands of Joseph do I trust such an undertaking. The story wroughts my tingling nerves of attention, entertainment, and satisfaction high gear. The era is up my alley, and though close to other historical fiction I have read in the same plot/character/circumstance, the pull of Galway, my grandmother's roots, Ireland, my blood, and the sea, my father after all, I am hooked lined and sinkered.
My hope (selfish that it is) is that you have already wrriten most of this. It's enormous and June whatever is coming quick (May??) I say selfish for two reasons. One is that I get to read it. The other is that I get to read it.
Well done, Wendy, as usual

Re: Wendy Joseph discovers secret manuscript!

Parisianne Modert — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:57:36 -0000

Let me present to you for royal purpose and protocol...King George III who sat on the English throne at the time that the shot heard around the world was fired...with this lout the glory of the Empire which never saw the sunset was beginning to lose her bluster. George III ruled ineptly from 1760 to 1820 followed by George iV 1820-1830 then William IV 1830-1837 which ushered in the Victorian Age rounding out the rest of the 19th century.

I say this, because we know when the diary of Bobbie MacBride begins and may well be epic in scale as to its finish. Leaving the port of Galway, let us venture forward on the Freedom towards adventure towards the New World.

Set sail dear readers upon the waves of a ship headed in search of a woman's beloved husband to be, but interrupted by a disappearance. Wendy Joseph offers us a prologue using a discovered in diary/journal form with pen and ink leather bound which speaks of a time written about in 1814. Saying this I find her words, syntax and dancing cadence to belong to such an age. This is absolutely fine with me, because I am a fan of the early 1800s thanks to my mother, God rest her soul and the soul of her dear Jane Austen.

Wendy, in my opinion, presents us a very different woman than a Emma, because Bobbie or if you prefer Barbara Brigid is from a much harsher environment with the experience of being a woman whose lover's disappearance proves her fortitude. Disguised as Robert and called Bobbie begins this tale knowing she must endure the company of dishonorable men posing as one of them to gain passage; while venturing to the upstart colonies refusing the King's protection which in this case remained the inept, party boy, George III who managed to lose a war to the colonist that seemed had to be won.

As a reader and interested in historical fiction when set properly in a time piece, I look forward if advanced to reading on within this very clever gender blender novel entitled "The Diary of Bobbie MacBride".

Re: Wendy Joseph discovers secret manuscript!

Guest — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:52:29 -0000

Set sail dear readers upon the waves of a ship headed in search of a woman's beloved husband. Wendy Joseph offers us a prologue using a discovered in diary/journal form with pen and ink leather bound which speaks of a time written about in 1814. Saying this I find her words, syntax and dancing cadence to belong to such an age. This is absolutely fine with me, because I am a fan of the early 1800s thanks to my mother, God rest her soul and the soul of her dear Jane Austen.

Re: The 18th of April, in ’75

Parisianne Modert — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:26:40 -0000

One if by land, two if by sea, I'll be staying rest assured you can be. Three if by air with the words in the clouds from a bird, my friends won't be turning redcoat even if ordered by the ghost of King George the third.

Re: Eli Fang testiculates awesomeness…Once Upon a Time

Parisianne Modert — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:22:29 -0000

"Tangle" by Eli Fang presents the reader with financial intrigue along with inner reactions to the manipulation of stock prices. We meet a character whose sexual references, initial isolation and limited life within his room accomplishes what a prologue should in a modern prologue. That mission is to make the reader as curious as a cat to read on while leaving the author a stem to produce many branches of differing story lines.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Parisianne Modert — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:05:26 -0000

I actually Michael can relate to what little I can sense of Sister Anne wishing that "My Gallant Love" had focused more on her reasoning to break her vows than the brutality surrounding her last moments on Earth. I still have my prayer books, but haven't opened them for years. The reason I suppose is that my return to faith much as my finding of it in the early 90s came as a result of what I can best describe as the golden light of the Holy Spirit filling me. There is no ritual which approaches this intimacy even within prayer.

Therefore I am a mystic prophet who defies the conventions of man and must confound my Creator on a consistent basis. My bishop use to tell me over and over again that it is easy to be holy from the top of a mountain knowing that my work as a sister was in the real world with real people whose struggles were profound. Our parish had a lovely combination of gay, lesbian and straight people, some divorced, many with children of various ages. We were a home for the disenfranchised clergy who had walked away from the Roman Church or had been asked to leave in this country and in others. The number of languages among less than a hundred people astounded me at times.

Today, I am an admitted wild woman whose passionate lust would fit no habit. While I miss the sanctity of wearing a habit and living as selflessly as I could find the strength to; I know I can not be a hypocrite to the woman who came back to life in 2013. Gestalt therapy integrates the various aspects of us which I believe I have done finding a peace within myself of self-knowledge. Now I must work on being genuine with others more and more with each day.

Sister Anne fascinates me, I will admit, because she is as torn apart spiritually at her death as her body is. When I die someday I pray that I am surrounded in love not brutality of spirit and those I love know I lived a both a beautiful and challenging life summed up in peace. We all have as St. John of the Cross pointed out our dark nights of the soul, but I would hate to think of dying in that state not knowing what fate awaits my baby that I barely got to hold.

Re: The Prints of Thieves: Russ Shor tells us Once Upon a Time

Michael Stang — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:29:52 -0000

This is so period, Russell. The time, the place, the kid on the fringe getting in on a slice of the action; paying for it (maybe). There not gonna really toast his nuts ... are they? Who wouldn't want to read/buy/love the book. I'm betting on reading the first chapter after the smoke clears, and I think chapter two as well. Strong image and dialogue from the kid (from you) makes this great.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Michael Stang — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:17:07 -0000

Thank you, Parisianne, for your honesty. You are clearly of astounding depths. I have forgiven Mother Superior's brutality long ago. It was early sixties, Queens, NY, she, and the Holy Catholic Church behind her, was fighting badly to survive the onslaught of change. I came within inches of shipping off to school to eventually recieve Marist Brother's oders. The eleventh hour about face was due to certain inner doubt. But acceptance of the "hood", the community of holy order, and the love of god's grace as my life, even though it was only a brush in the night, has never left me. Thrilling back then and supporting now. Compassion is pretty much all we got as mortals with immortal thoughts. In the light of 2014 this is truer than ever.
I imagine you still say morning prayers. Concerning "My Gallant Love", I am sure they are enough.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Parisianne Modert — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:41:46 -0000

I have always believed that abuse is abuse no matter who dishes it out. Jesus once admonished us to love our enemies as ourselves. Early in my self-training as a Benedictine sister, a person within our parish was very rude and challenging towards me. One of the deacons handed me a ruler and suggested that I strike his knuckles. I laid down the ruler and kissed his knuckles asking God to heal those hurt by abuse and to forgive those who abuse others in His name.

Michael, I served in a very alternative catholic church rather than the Roman Catholic Church, but after speaking to many sisters and nuns about my handling of an ugly situation, I am confident that most modern religious sisters are kindly servants of God rather than your earlier experience. I also taught Sunday school for an age range of young people with respect for them and their views which at times were different from my own.

Much like you I am rooting for Stefanzo as I did for each and every student, parishioner and one other religious sister under my care. While the order I designed based on the Rule of St. Benedict would have treated this sister with compassion, because we had no vow of chastity, she would have been asked to leave most orders of St. Benedict without repentance and contrition for breaking her vow of chastity.

The manuscript fascinates me, because convents are not prisons no matter what some may think. Convents are religious communities based on tightly bound cooperations which few people ever see or appreciate. Their charity work is often difficult and they ask no thank you or recognition for that selfless effort.

I remain sad that between 2002 and 2013 I lost the faith I loved. Leaving one's vows to serve are never easy, but it is more decent than being a hypocrite which ultimately Sister Anne was in this story as well as her community.

They say the hounds of hell haunt those who betray those vows or walk away from them. There are days when I still feel the bite and growl of guilt. I honestly have my faith back, but know myself too well to ever wish minor orders again in any Catholic Church or convent. Still I have a deep respect for many of the sisters and brothers who do serve nobly and selflessly.

My heart goes out to Sister Anne as a mother and Stefanzo as the baby having lost his mother in childbirth or by punishment speaking as a loving and caring woman who wishes she had been able to give birth herself.

As someone who writes critiques, Michael, I believe that there is enough content in this prologue for readers wishing to read on, but as someone who knows her own self, I would never wish to read chapter one of "My Gallant Love". As such I will pass on any further review of this story and leave it to others to recommend, because I simply can not.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Michael Stang — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 21:44:14 -0000

Mother Superior's brutality1962-1964 would not have sat well with you either. I myself, couldn't sit for days. And I am sure this is not the time for Reverend Mother's compassion about anything. GO, Go, Go, Stefanzo.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Michael Stang — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 21:25:11 -0000

Ah, Steph. You have done so very well. The P has all the elements, love Stefanzo's story in the face that will come, the sacrifice of the mother just after birth, the religious order looking like swiss cheese, all the back stories that will keep me up at night (reading). Bring it, girl. You're fans are waiting.

Re: Parisianne Modert is inderigible!

Parisianne Modert — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 15:39:33 -0000

Thank you Mr. Horne for praising my character of Juliette, but know that there is much more to her that will continue to unfold. What the reader at this point doesn't know is that the bringing of the sunlight is subtext to the bringing of love later on. The Juliette within the prologue has not discovered her higher purpose as Chapter One begins. Like many women she confuses romantic idyllic love with the day in day out practice of unconditional love. The prologue presents our main character, the center of the story, as a naive young girl who isn't a real woman yet.

Over the course of novels, I believe my writing must evolve the various characters presenting their challenges in maturing over their lifetimes. I beg my readers to indulge me patience in that my life and my stories are extremely complex and ever shifting in plot. "The Paradoxes and Contradictions of Romantic Flight" gives us but a handful of jigsaw puzzle pieces dropping from bi and tri-planes.

One of my questionable and perhaps mean spirited style elements is to give the first 50 pages safe for readers from Peoria, Illinois (been there, hated it) and approximately on page 51 cause all the mild manner, simple folks to swallow their teeth. People who escaped from the small town, narrow minded plains people of southern into central Illinois will understand my reasoning. I write to both entertain and reek my revenge. Welcome aboard the dirigible for a flight which is going to shock all of you if you give it a chance.

Re: Stefani Allison gets over the hump to enter our contest

Parisianne Modert — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 15:16:10 -0000

There was an inner war going on within me as I read Stefani Allison's prologue to her novel entitled, "My Gallant Love". The brutality and the source of the, you deserved it punishment didn't sit well with me having been a Reverend Mother between the years of 1995-2002. Within these words are a total lack of compassion other than the rebellion of Sister Anne towards her newborn hunchback son, Stefanzo.

With that disclosure admitted for fairness sake, let me applaud the mystery we are given as enticement to continue reading chapter one. The scene is reasonably set, the characters are divided in purpose and morals and the plot can be followed; although I am confused as to whether Sister Anne bleeds to death from the child birth or by whipping. I also was confused by the words cell and dungeon being interchanged.

Re: Jack Horne, Ghost writer

Jack Horne — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 15:10:59 -0000

Thanks so much, Parisianne. Very much enjoyed your prologue - have left a comment. Have a great day, Jack : )