A Poem a Day (38): Castle in the Sand

Today's poem is inspired by a picture from Greta Burroughs. 
I asked for some word or idea prompts because they help me to write. Greta suggested this beautiful picture. Greta is a writer of wonderful YA and children's books, including 
Gerald and the Wee People. If you would like me to write a poem for you, please leave a word or idea in the comments. Happy reading & writing to you! :)

Castle in the sand

electric pink mists streak the blue

like pastels rubbed by unseen hands;

dolphins leap in this cerulean escape,

their curved grey backs gleaming,

shattering the still image of the moon

rising beyond where eagles fly,

stretching up, reaching to the limits,

reflected in these once still waters.

the silvery glow of the restless moon

touches the tall peaks of a castle of old

hidden by green ivy creeping its walls

majestic in its beauty yet foreboding.

the dark windows yawn open, awaiting

any strangers who walk these shores.

a thin skit of pale wet sand invites,

carpeting where a drawbridge once hid.

the ruins waste alone, but no one comes

save for the ghosts that glide by night,

searching for the souls of lovers past

until the warming hum of the waking morn.

tiny birds dive amid these rotting turrets

while spiders scurry between the floors

where once a young princess lived alone

unravelling her hair to the sands below

copyright Vickie Johnstone

A Poem a Day (37): Rainbow

Hi, today's poem is inspired by a prompt word - rainbow - from Leland Hermit. Thanks, Leland! 

He loves doggies and is the author of the fabulous Angelo's Journey, amongst many others. If you'd like to leave me a word or image to write a poem about, please leave it in the comments. Cheers!

Happy reading & writing to you! :)

Rainbow

Streaks of brightest colour

Leap off the stark white page;

Pure light brought to life

As the paintbrush flickers

Back and forth, spinning

Memories frozen in time,

Picked forth for a moment

Of dreamful reminisce

Feather-like wisps catch

The lightest of touches

So carefree, yet careful;

Strokes fly across the canvas

Rousing the sleeping mind;

Love, laughter and heartbreak

They interweave, breathing

New life where the old died

Rainbows pouring sensation,

Leaping, floating, searing,

Giving shape and form

To the ethereal; it escapes

The brush, melting paper

Where the slick oil slides

Like mercury – a living,

Breathing form, so vivid

Red blasts from the white

Licking the yellow beneath;

Like fire it burns, slow, sure,

Breathing like a dragon

Only to shimmer in the silver

Caught by waves of blue

Surging below, now caught

In green serpent-like weeds

It races here, imagination,

Rolling across the canvas;

Finding but the briefest pause

In the birth of this picture.

Bearing no resemblance to life,

Yet mirroring its substance,

The rainbow surges, arching

Over this reality caught in paint

Copyright Vickie Johnstone

Interview - BestSellerBound Recommends

Thanks to Maria Savva for inviting me on BestSellerBound Recommends :)

If you'd like to read the interview, here's the link: http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerboundrecommends/getting-to-know-author-vickie-johnstone/

Thanks :)

Happy reading & writing to you! :)

#WW WOW Wednesday: Kymber Lee

Hi guys and girls! WOW Wednesday is a new thing for, ahem, Wednesdays! Coinciding with 

Writer Wednesday (#WW) on twitter. My fourth guest is Kymber Lee whose novel,
Lord Tristan's True Love, is just 99c/75p right now. What's it all about, I hear you ask? 
Well, read on to find out more about Kymber Lee and her stories...

Book blurb

Did you know that the society of Regency England forced people to marry if they were seen in public together? The unescorted young lady’s reputation would be ruined otherwise. This book tells of Miss Caroline Denise Whittingham’s misadventures in trying to get her betrothed to ‘cry off’. Unfortunately, one of her schemes has her thrown out of the realm of society and her betrothed, Lord Tristan Darlington, refuses to end the engagement until she finds her way back into their good graces. The odds of regaining favour with the peerage are slim in 1820 London, but Lord Darlington is a great friend of the Countess Lieven and enlists her aid.
  

Book reviews

"I am a history enthusiast, and I found Lord Tristan's True Love to be very believable and charming. Reading it was an enjoyable romantic trip back in time" 

- DeEtte Anderton

"The characters were so engaging, the time period such an intriguing thing to think about, and the story so fun. I lost quite a bit of sleep not being able to put this tale down and wanting to know when Tristan was going to get over himself and when dear Miss Caroline was going to realize he was being silly and cared so deeply for her" 

- Alex Cartwright

"The author skillfully takes you inside the world of blushing young debutantes, sword fights, pride and plotting. Love at first sight and hidden passion, and you simply can't get enough of Caroline and Tristan's
ping-pong match with words" 

- Jennifer Loiske

All about Kymber

Kymber Lee is a Christian historical romance novelist. Her books include Treasured Love and Lord Tristan's True Love. She is also co-author of the conspiracy novel, What She Knew (by K R Hughes and T L Burns). The twist is that Marilyn Monroe has been saved and it's a race against time to see if 'what she knew' can save JFK from that fateful bullet.

Kymber is a native Texan who enjoys mentoring new writers and editing advanced writing. She has an English degree with a minor in journalism from West Texas University. Kymber currently lives in Atlanta, GA, and owns a production company with co-author T L Burns. They are currently working on the sequel to the Marilyn Monroe novel, entitled, What She Knew Too... the saga continues, due to be released in this winter.

Where you can contact Kimber Lee

Facebook

Website

Twitter

Book links

Lord Tristan's True Love

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Treasured Love

Amazon US 

Thanks for reading - look out for another WOW writer next Wednesday!

Happy reading & writing! :) 

Uvi Poznansky is interviewing me today

Today I'm being interviewed on Uvi Poznansky's blog and I included 4 of my poems there, besides my favourite Ezra Pound one. Recently, I entered Uvi's writing contest for Get Twisted (her latest book) and to my surprise I was picked as one of the winners. Her art and writing are wonderful, so be sure to check them out! Thanks Uvi! :)

If you'd like to read the interview it's here: http://uviart.blogspot.com/p/guest-interview.html

Below is the poem that I entered at the time on the theme of Twisted.

These twisted paths we tread

She slides between these walls

one foot, two feet, a hand and two

this is the space in which she lives

breathes, empties all that she is

she knows, where the eye seeks to spy

through circles drilled into the walls

the hidden, they watch, scratching idly

starving for love, the thing she lost

the ones she forgot were left behind 

they hide now like ghosts in the leaves

rustling they leap upon the breeze

echoes of the past haunting mirrors

the scribe knows, he laughs sometimes

knowing all the things he does

it only makes him fail, too self-absorbed

to comprehend what she really is

the ghosts they circle inside these walls

pushing their fingers through the paper

seeking to caress the curls of her hair

twisting, she knows they linger

inside, watching where the beetle runs

trailing all his miniscule unlived lives 

between the pages of a book unseen

she lived it, breathed it, all that ripples

thus she dances here alone, casting

rainbow dust upon the bleakest grey 

the steel that rusts in crusts of red

rosebud offerings to the elements

laughter so raw covers an ache so deep

like a monster it yearns to spring

inside, where the waiting ends

inside, where the spiral grows

there’s a twist in the passage that eels

a malevolent darkness screams 

opening the chasm that yawns awake

stealing tomorrow for its own sake

it twists, but nothing can touch her,

lost as she is in the echoes of her past

copyright Vickie Johnstone

#WW WOW Wednesday: Brenda Perlin

Hi guys and girls! WOW Wednesday is a new thing for, ahem, Wednesdays! Coinciding with 

Writer Wednesday (#WW) on twitter. My third guest is Brenda Perlin who is writing the 
Home Wrecker Chronicles. Book 1 in the series is out now. What's it all about, I hear you ask? 
Well, read on to find out more about Brenda and her novel...

Marriage was a Home Wrecker

“Being married definitely took work. When we fought, I felt like I wanted to float away and drown, 
whereas before I knew I could walk away without any strings attached.”

So much changed in our relationship after we were married. Before the wedding nuptials our relationship was close, trusting, and enjoyable. We were together for close to two years and were each other’s best friends. My soon-to-be husband was very accommodating and pretty much went with the flow. It was not that I was high maintenance, but he pretty much went out of his way to make sure that I was happy. Once we got married he became very jealous and controlling, thinking that every guy that came into contact with me had an ulterior motive. He called me naive when I denied his concerns, and became so possessive that he did not even like me to sit next to his brother while we were at a restaurant. He concluded that I was now his possession. As a result of his dominance I became very uncomfortable.

Has this happened to you? Did your relationship change after you were married?

Looking back, I wish I had walked out back then. It could have saved us both a lot of heartache, time and sorrow. My husband's controlling nature was a Home Wrecker.

All about Brenda

“There is really no creative process. I just write” – Brenda Perlin

Brenda Perlin is an independent adult contemporary fiction author. Brenda evokes emotional responses in her readers by using a provocatively unique writing style. Her latest book, Home Wrecker, captures the soul-wrenching conflicts of a personal struggle for emotional fulfillment.

Ever since Brenda was a child, she has been fascinated with writing. She draws her biggest inspiration from Judy Blume. This sparked a passion in Brenda to pursue personal expression through writing. Once she was old enough to go to coffee shops alone, Brenda recalls losing herself in the world of writing, all while documenting her ideas on paper napkins.

Home Wrecker I 

Brooklyn and Bo, each unhappily married to others, must decide whether to stay with their spouses 

or give up everything for their love

Brenda’s first book, Home Wrecker I (Home Wrecker Chronicles), was published with Master Koda Select Publishing. Within a short time the book developed a strong fan base, and it is continuing to grow as it both entertains its readers and leaves them in a state of profound reflection. In the near future, Brenda would like to expand Home Wrecker I into a trilogy in order to tell the untold stories of her characters.

Synopsis

Throughout Brooklyn’s life, she felt like she was on an endless journey toward redemption and she would have to be stronger than she ever imagined; do things she never felt herself capable of doing. When she finally found her soul mate, he came with one big snag: a wife. Brooklyn found herself fighting off her soon-to-be ex-husband and her lover’s wife. She knew that what she was doing was wrong and yet… she couldn’t turn back. No matter how much pain she might cause, it was too late. Brooklyn and Bo, each unhappily married to others, must decide whether to stay with their spouses or give up everything for their love. Brooklyn’s husband and Bo’s wife try everything to break them apart, and it is only then that Brooklyn will finally confront her own demons and come clean with everything and everyone in her life… even herself.

Amazon Reviews

"Pour a glass of wine, pop open 'Home Wrecker', and Walk on The Wild Side!"

(5 stars, Emily Hill)

"The second part of the book discloses just how brave and heart-full this woman is. 
She will inspire you and leave you craving for even more."
(5 stars, Kyczy Hawk)

"Great read! Characters were written with depth and humanity. Easy to get lost in the story 

of her life and cheer her on. Very enjoyable journey." 

(4 stars, SeanD)

Book links

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

Where to contact Brenda

Goodreads 

Website

Facebook: Home Wrecker

Facebook: The Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles

Amazon US author page

Twitter

LinkedIn

AuthorsDB

Pinterest

Home Wrecker book trailer

Brenda appeared on my blog previously and revealed her favourite memory from childhood. To read it just click here - http://vickiejohnstone.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/words-with-brenda-perlin-99c-blog-tour.html

Thanks for reading - look out for another WOW writer next Wednesday!

Happy reading & writing! :)

Words with... Jennifer Loiske - #99c Tour

Welcome to Jennifer Loiske, who lives in Finland in the home of the Moomins, but don't let that fool you that all her stories are cutesy. Oh no, it's vampires and things that go bump in the night that excites this writer. And you'll be thrilled to know that her latest novel, Club Number Five, is currently on sale for 99c. 

Read on to find out more about Jennifer 

What is one of the most unusual things you have done in your life? 

I once signed up to a dance school in Tanzania and I was supposed to live there as a dancer for four years, but then life happened and I skipped the whole project.

Wow, Jennifer, your path would have been completely different if you'd gone...

Who is your favourite character from your book and why? 

Definitely Samantha Green. She is clever, goodhearted, sassy enough but not too much, and she can survive any weird situation. 

What is the ideal recipe for a good novel?

It’s hooking from the start, making the characters believable and interesting, and that you can’t put it down until you’ve finished it. And even after that you find your thoughts wandering into it…

Give a one sentence synopsis of your novel:

A bit of a different vampire story, with a pinch of dry humour, sassy characters and a friendship that’s worth dying for.

You’ve been contacted by the Association of Libraries from the Alien Planet of Zaolia. They want to know the five most important novels in all of Earth’s history. Which five do you give them?

The Bible (yeah, I know it’s not a novel, BUT it is the most important book in all Earth’s history). A holy book that holds the keys for the wisdom of history, the present and what is yet to come in mankind.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Philosophical journey of finding one’s destiny.

I'm with you there - I love the Alchemist and I've read most of his books. Amazing.

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach. A great story about wisdom, acceptance and positive thinking.

The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lingren. A story about the beauty in death.

The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. There are no words to describe this novel. It is so good.

What was the turning point in your life when you decided to start writing?

My daughter got a brain fever and never recovered from it. So I stayed home with her and obviously got too much spare time.

Jennifer's latest book is on sale for 99c!

Part One of the Immortal Blood Series

Amazon US 

Amazon UK 

Samantha Green wanted nothing but to be normal, have a shallow life with smoking hot Jonathan Blake and an unforgettable senior year at Regents East High. But one morning she wakes up as a vampire. She has no idea who bit her or why. All she knows is she didn’t want it. Now her new life is full of secrets, deceit and fear, not to mention raw meatballs and red nectar that is definitely something else besides strawberry juice. Samantha tries to act normal. She pretends to like her mum’s chicken salad, goes to school and learns how to survive on her own, but what will she do when she comes across a devious conspiracy with strikingly fast hunters, secret clubs and mouth-wateringly gorgeous boys, and the only food she can catch is the wrist of her best friend, Kate Walker?

“Wow, Jennifer Loiske knows how to paint a scene! Club number Five is a fast paced, vividly written vampire story. As a reader, I started to care for the characters right away, especially Samantha and Kate. I worried for them, and cringed every time they were put into danger. I couldn’t help but keep reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good vampire story. I can't wait for the sequel!” (Damien Richard, Amazon reviewer)

About the author

I live in Finland in Naantali, which is a small, sunny town on the southwest coast (mostly known as the Moomin Valley). I’m a pre-school teacher by profession, but I stayed home when my youngest daughter suffered brain fever, which developed into severe epilepsy in 2004. I guess that’s when I first considered starting writing again as I had to stay awake and monitor her while she was sleeping, and it can be really sleepy and boring when the house is quiet… 

I’m a workaholic and I always have a lot of projects going on at the same time. I write articles for magazines and I’m part of the team that creates Epilepsy Finland Magazine. I love chips, cheesy teen movies (and series too!), books and animals, and I have a soft spot for the ones in need of a helping hand. A huge part of my royalties go to charity; mainly to help families with epileptic children, but also to the epilepsy units in hospitals.

How you can contact Jennifer

Website 

Goodreads 

WordPress site 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Book links

Amazon US

Amazon UK 

B&N 

 Thanks to Jennifer for visiting. Good luck to her with her books! 

As for you, my readers, happy reading and writing to you! :)

The Book News Journal interviewed me

Thanks to Jacqueline Driggers for interviewing me on her blog -

******** The Book News Journal ********: Author profile - with - Vickie Johnstone: Join me for a sit down with author Vickie Johnstone . . . 1 - When did you first start writing? Wow, I’m not sure. I wish our...

The Sea Inside is the Indie Book of the Day :)

I just had a lovely surprise. I checked my emails and just found one from IndieBookoftheDay.com, saying that my newest book, The Sea Inside, is their Indie Book of the Day. Sweet! I've been working hard all afternoon to get an advert right, so this is fantastic. 

A big thank you to everyone at the website.

http://indiebookoftheday.com/the-sea-inside-by-vickie-johnstone/ 

September is for Sequels Giveaway Hop – win 2 books!

September is for Sequels giveaway Hop - September 2-9

Hosted by Lisa Loves Literature & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

My giveaway...
Paperbacks of Kiwi in Cat City & 
Kiwi and the Missing Magic

2 runners-up will win ebook copies

For a chance to win, just do the Rafflecopter. Good luck! 
Click on the links at the end to hop to the other blogs offering fantastic prizes :)

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? Kiwi in Cat City is the first book in a series, of which there are six fun adventures so far. Kiwi seems like a typical moggie, content to nap in the sun and chase shadows, but she has a secret. She is a magical cat from a place called Cat City. With her two humans, James and Amy, Kiwi finds mysteries and adventures, dealing with catnappings, jewel thieves, giant mice, time travel, haunted houses, Father Christmas, pyramids and more. The fun stories contain positive messages about loyalty, friendship, honesty, bullying and the power of standing together. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway