Unwanted Companion by Neetu
September 26, 2025 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as darkness, shadows, weary
Unwanted Companion
I wait eagerly
for absolute darkness
to lose my shadow
it troubles me to
feel its presence
grow, then diminish,
but not disappear
I grow weary of its company
walking close
beside me, before me,
behind me
an appendage that
speaks its own
language
formidable in
eloquence,
eerily chained to
my heels.
© Neetu Malik
Some of Neetu’s Books
The Many Colors of US: Remembering 9/11
September 22, 2025 by Veronica Jorge in category Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as ancestors, complexity, cultures, Diversity
A Reflection On Diversity
by Veronica Jorge
Most people are a combination of various cultures, though I think their ancestors tended to confine their marriages to one continent. Mine didn’t.
I am a potpourri of Nicaraguan, Dominican, Middle-Eastern, French, Chinese, and African cultures, (hope I didn’t miss anyone); and born in Brooklyn, New York.
Often pressured to take sides and answer, ‘So what are you?’ I comprehended the complexity of diversity. But how could I choose which part of me is the most important? The combination of each nationality made me who I am, makes me whole.
Considering the current challenges that threaten to divide our country, memories carry me back to my childhood and to that pivotal moment of September 11, 2001.
Growing up in New York City my life revolved around a kaleidoscope of colors and nationalities. I was present each year at the Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade. At age twelve I learned my first Israeli folk dance. I never missed the West Indian Day Parade. The glittery costumes of performers on stilts and musicians danced the length of Eastern Parkway, home to one of Brooklyn’s largest Caribbean and Orthodox Jewish communities.
During the holidays we baked cookies for the police officers and firefighters.
The neighborhood pizzeria was our favorite hangout. I can still see Tony’s can of Medaglia D’Oro coffee on the shelf. The best desserts were from Sinclair’s German bakery where I feasted on cinnamon-raisin rugelach. For newspapers and comic books, (yes, I know, I’m dating myself), we went to Kasim’s candy store, a Yemenite, who also made the best ice cream soda. Hungry? Tom’s Greek diner for a hamburger deluxe. Need a little bling bling? The Armenian jewelry store located two doors down near the Cuban dress shop. Then stop in at the Haitian photo studio where Roland would snap your picture and let you practice your high school French. Puerto Rican bodegas, Chinese, Dominican, Indian, Pakistani, Polish restaurants, and exquisite Russian delicacies; the list goes on. We had it all.
We were so many different faces from so many different places, but we were neighbors, friends, classmates, co-workers. We were a community. We were…we are Americans.
After the attack on the World Trade Center, we felt an emptiness of something lost, and unsure if the wound would heal. Our eyes watered. Strangers held hands. Our voices cracked singing the national anthem. A palpable patriotism enveloped us as we reached out to embrace and encourage one another and ourselves. Gratitude for our peace and freedom, and thanksgiving for the abundance America has provided for us filled our hearts.
Yet uncertainty clouded our vision. In a city where everyone carries backpacks, tote bags, over-size purses, and shopping bags, we feared the contents they might contain within while the slogan warned in our ears. ‘See something, say something.’
We stepped back from colleagues and classmates measuring the people we smiled at and lunched with every day. Do I truly know him? Can I trust her? How do they really feel about me?
My brown face worried I would be mistaken for a terrorist, yet my eyes doubted the integrity of the brown face from whom I had bought my daily paper for ten years.
These unplanned thoughts and fears that arose within us revealed the inconsistencies of our human nature. On the one hand; quick to help, befriend and love, yet so easily prone to judge, accuse, and look the other way.
Our nation has known its full share of prejudice and discrimination. We have all experienced it. Throughout our history each religious and ethnic group has skillfully practiced hostility against another. And yet, somehow, we have succeeded in overcoming many of these divisions. Our collective love of freedom always forces us to cry out against inequality and injustice wherever we see it, and especially when we discover it in ourselves. It is to our credit that despite the many conflicts our country has endured, race and ethnicity have not prevailed to divide us. At every level of society, from friendships, neighbors, and marriages to work, sports, and blended families, we find strength and unity in the shared values that make us unique. This unity, forged in the fires of adversity, cannot easily be dissolved.
Just as I cannot remove any of the cultures within me, for they are part of me and make me who I am, we as a nation, cannot separate ourselves from each other. We are joined together. It is who we are. Like the colorful and oddly shaped pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, we make a perfect fit that forms and reveals a magnificent creation.
Our family portrait called America.
Veronica Jorge
See you next time on October 22nd!
Originally published in The Morning Call Newspaper, August 13, 2021
Experiencing my first ACFW reader event
September 12, 2025 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as book signing, writers conferenceI recently attended the 2025 ACFW Conference in Springfield, Missouri. During the conference they hosted a ACFW sponsored reader event in the bookstore on Saturday morning. It was open to the public and promoted by all the forty plus authors who participated and the organization itself. We had a great turnout. Many readers even drove a few hours to attend the 8:30-10am event.
Reader Event Positives
There were several things that I felt I did well at this event. I purchased the advertising package which allowed me to put a standup display as well as swag around my books. I had buttons, postcards, bookmarks, and business cards.
My business cards were built with the book covers on the front and my linktree QR code on the back. That way they could see all the links in one place to be able to choose what they wanted to find. I handed out as many as I could. If you you’d like to see what I put on my linktree click on the link.
I also had a small Hei Hei rooster to add to the table during the ACFW reader event. I had a few people say they stopped because it grabbed their attention. The rooster in my stories, Bert, is a fun character that I then shared with them. Most wanted the button with him on it. And the sticker. Then I shared that my son drew him and they loved the personalization.
Many came to see some of the bigger authors at this ACFW reader event, and since I was at the front, I could help readers find who they came to see. It gave me something to do, I was being helpful, and most ended up asking me what I wrote, which led into a conversation about my books.
Since I was standing there all alone a few times, I grabbed my bookmarks and handed them out to those standing in line to pay. Readers love freebies, and bookmarks are easy things to collect (I collect them myself). I watched several take the time to read what was on my bookmark while they were waiting. Who knows how many will decide to read my books at a later date because of this.
Reader Event Learnings
For the bookstore, I had decided to sell stickers. The lowest we could sell on an item was $5. So I decided to go ahead and sell each for that price. Not ideal, but I wasn’t there to sell the stickers as much as my books, but I thought it would give more attention to my table space.
What I learned is many thought the stickers were free. I found some in different spots on the table as they noticed the bookstore card attached after the fact. When I counted them at the end, I had a few missing. Don’t know if any were purchased, or if someone took them home.
I did see some authors bundle their stickers together and sell them that way. Others gave out stickers for free (which I had some others as well). I didn’t know I could bundle them, so will consider doing so at any future ACFW reader event. Or if possible, sell them for less.
Additional thoughts
I really enjoyed talking with readers. By asking several questions I learned some things. Those included what genre they read, who their favorite authors were, and what they liked about stories. I also was able to learn how to share about my books, what interested them the most, what they wanted to hear (what inspired me to write these stories, and which authors were my favorite and had an influence on my writing).
Here are some pics I took with readers during the ACFW reader event.
I ended up selling out of my debut novel. I think it helped that it was up for an award. But it also helped to highlight it was part of a series and more were coming out in the future. I got the impression readers want to invest in authors they can keep reading. It will be interesting to see if I gain additional e-book sales because of this.
I also was able to take a few pics with authors who were participating in this reader event right near me.
Denise loves to share about her writing journey. You can check out this special link to see all of her posts on a Slice of Orange.
My own private war to write ‘The Stolen Children of War’ by Jina Bacarr
September 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category circus, Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as children, circus, France, Paris, writing, WW2
War is hell.
Writing can also exact a toll on you that’s hard to come back from. I don’t propose to compare the valiant efforts of our soldiers, amazing servicemen and women, to me sitting safe behind a computer and writing about war. Not at all. I never served in combat, but I did counsel men who did (this was before women were allowed to fight in combat) and I heard the stories late at night sitting around a big, ole aluminum coffee pot in the US Army Service Club or playing pool with the men. We had a lot of soldiers passing through on their way ‘back home’ who felt more comfortable talking to me about their experiences than their families.
I was so young… and not a trained counselor or psychologist. But I did have one thing: I’m a good listener. Something taught to me by the nuns, especially the wise and round-faced Sister Mary Celestine at St Peter’s. I learned a lot from these Army and Air Force soldiers about brotherhood and loyalty and being ‘blooded’ and that unbreakable bond these men had with their units. I envied that. I wondered how we women would fare in such tense situations under fire.
Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to write about women in war.
My last several books are about Paris during the Occupation by the Nazis and the brave women who fought in the Resistance even as they fell in love and raised children. But writing about such intense times does take a toll on you. Especially when you’re fighting your own pain from an accident and struggling to make a deadline. (I thank God for my fabulous editor Isobel who was with me during this time and never gave up on me.)
Then I remember the sacrifice made by the women and men fighting the Nazis. My God, would I have had the courage to do as they did? I like to think I could and every day I strive to do what I can to help others… whether it’s at the market and someone needs help, or a nervous, new receptionist at my doctor’s office starting her first job.
The world is a scary place.
I also give thanks every day for what I have. Shelter, food, my treasured books I’ve collected since I was a little girl. And the Internet. Which allows me to share my heartfelt stories with you.
So, here we are… the hot days are slowly giving way to cooler temperatures. And with the advent of Fall, I’m so excited to announce my next Paris WW2 book, The Stolen Children of War.
I’m so thrilled with this fabulous cover.
It’s so circus-y!
That’s Lia, my heroine. A trapeze artist and trick rider since she was a kid.
The two children she saves will steal your heart as they did mine!
There’s also a stolen baby, handsome heroes, and an adorable baby elephant.
And a mystery, too… a madman threatening circus queens….
It’s a glorious ride of heart, passion, and razzle dazzle under the big top!
Can’t wait to introduce you to the world of circus during the Occupation of Paris 1943 when the children needed the joy of circus more than ever!
Out 10th November https://mybook.to/ChildrenOfWar
Are You Contaminated? by Kitty Bucholtz
September 9, 2025 by Kitty Bucholtz in category It's Worth It by Kitty Bucholtz, Writing tagged as community, encouragement, Encouraging Words, Kitty Bucholtz, writing
This weekend I saw some friends who moved away five years ago. What a wonderful surprise! At church, one of the pastors asked them what it was like to visit after so long, and one friend said something that made me laugh.
He said, Coming to this church, you get contaminated. People are so friendly and loving and kind, it brings out those traits in you. Then we all learn and grow together.
What a great way to look at it! Getting contaminated, but in a good way! It made me think of us. Outside of church, I’ve never known such an encouraging, helpful group of people like writers. No matter what’s happening, outside or inside our community, we end up coming together and helping each other through.
I want you to just sit in that for a moment. Think of all the writers who have encouraged you or taught you or held you together when it seemed things were falling apart. Think of all the times you’ve done that for others. This kind of contamination is our super power!
Let’s never forget it. Keeping up this strength individually and as a community is so worth it. 🥰
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