tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30113273378796194802023-11-15T09:26:30.758-05:00The Inner BeanJenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-48325322809699671212009-09-03T11:45:00.001-04:002009-09-03T11:45:35.504-04:00Stone Wheel<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/glandon/1677023370/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/1677023370_7422f83e9c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/glandon/1677023370/">Stone Wheel</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/glandon/">ldglandon</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-59295395241148726972009-06-27T10:25:00.003-04:002009-06-27T11:01:17.445-04:00The Goblin Market is Coming....Just a quick note to those who are still following this blog, I am releasing the first episode of my upcoming podcast novel, "Goblin Market" via my <a href="http://www.jenniferhudock.com">official website</a> on Wednesday, June 1, 2009. <br /><br />Tonight, I am holding a special contest, allowing three people a sneak-peek at the first seven minutes of episode one. Tune into http://jenniferhudock.com tonight around 7:30 PM EST for full details on how you can get inside the Goblin Market early. In the meantime, pop on over and visit the site: <a href="http://www.jenniferhudock.com/goblin-market">Goblin Market</a>, have a look around, take a listen to promo one and definitely let me know what you think. <br /><br />I am so excited about this project, and I cannot wait to share it with you.<br /><br /><a href="http://jenniferhudock.com/goblin-market" rel="attachment wp-att-188"><img src="http://jenniferhudock.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/goblin-market-cover.png" alt="goblin-market-cover" title="goblin-market-cover" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188" /></a>Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-6889650031228109732009-05-09T09:21:00.004-04:002009-05-09T09:29:30.752-04:00The Inner Bean is Moving...Hello everyone! As I have mentioned over the last few weeks, big, big changes are coming my way. One of those changes was unveiled this morning, so I thought I should pop on over here and spread the news, and hope that you will join me in celebrating. This morning I finally launched my own website: <a href="http://jenniferhudock.com/">JenniferHudock.com</a> where I will be blogging regularly, sharing snippets of my work, and of course, poetry. <br /><br />I do hope you will readd me to your blogrolls under this exciting new address, and come to visit me there soon. I have already added many of you to my new blogroll, and once I complete my move, I will be making blog rounds more regularly. <br /><br />Putting together my own site has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and something I've wanted to do for a long time. I want to thank my friend Jackie for all of the hard work she did to help make this possible. Without Jackie, there would be no awesome new site for me to celebrate, and I appreciate her so much! Jackie, you rule!<br /><br />So, again, please redirect your visits to me to the new site: <a href="http://jenniferhudock.com">JenniferHudock.com</a>. I can't wait to see you there!Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-76239168153658843102009-05-06T17:34:00.002-04:002009-05-06T20:31:35.113-04:00Have You Ever Gone Mad?Well, have you? I have, and let me tell you, it is the most liberating and incredible feeling in the world! That's why this summer over at <a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com">eMuse</a> we're breaking out the straitjackets and encouraging creative projects inspired by full frontal lobe corrosion. <br /><br />I mentioned this earlier, but I wanted to go over it again because we are still accepting submissions for the next month. One month from today, June 6th, we will be closing submissions for the <span style="font-style:italic;">Personal Effects: Dark Art</span> Contest that I blogged about just two weeks ago. Yesterday, I made this exciting video in honor of the contest. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KSCs5VO-5LM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KSCs5VO-5LM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />If you missed my original post about the contest, and you'd like to read up on it so you can get your submission in, check it out <a href="http://theinnerbean.blogspot.com/2009/04/emuse-summer-madness-is-here.html">HERE!</a>Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-22532819369913587122009-05-04T09:29:00.003-04:002009-05-04T11:24:34.000-04:00Monday MorningI'm back! I bet you didn't even know I was gone. My daughter and I packed up for the weekend and went off to enjoy the solitude. While I would have been happier with brighter skies and warmer weather, overall it was a great weekend. I got my edits done, I reevaluated my present frame of mind and I discovered some pleasant news while weighing in. The sleeping accommodations left my back in a twist, but long soaks in the hot tub totally made up for that.<br /><br />So it's Monday morning and I am about to embark on finishing the second draft of my novel. I've got the file open and I'm ready to charge at it later this evening, but first I have errands and a some freelance work to do. I will say that tentatively, on top of everything else I've got going on right now, that I would like to have this second draft completed by the last day in the first week of June. That is June 6th. I can do it. I've won NaNoWriMo once and JulNoWriMo once, and I've already got a pretty strong skeleton to build upon. So that is what is on my agenda.<br /><br />I am also planning to start piecing together some of my poetry into a chapbook, so be on the lookout for more details to come there.<br /><br />On top of all this exciting news, I am also preparing to move. Over the next few weeks I will be packing up my life into boxes and by the second week of June, I will be moving into a new place. Wish me luck. <br /><br />So as I stand on this precipice of change, I leave you with this poetic thought I had:<br /><br />Fearless<br />atop the world<br />looking down<br />up here<br />it all seems small<br />Breathe<br />sense of knowing<br />being, eclipsing<br />exhale<br />and fall.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy your Monday, and it isn't too manic for you. Take some time to pop over and visit the awesome people in my blog roll, like <a href="http://www.jamesmelzer.net">James Melzer</a>, <a href="http://jchutchins.net/site">J.C. Hutchins</a>, <a href="http://nicoleireland.blogspot.com/">Nicole Ireland</a>, <a href="http://www.mattselznick.com/">Matthew Wayne Selznick</a>, and <a href="http://onativia.blogspot.com/">Ray Onativia</a> just to name a few. You won't be disappointed, I promise!Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-26774421610057677322009-04-30T23:29:00.003-04:002009-04-30T23:42:06.403-04:00Thankful ThursdayIt's Thursday again, and though I am swamped down with so many things, I wanted to take a quick moment to offer my thankfulness. Since I've been so busy, I'm going to keep it short this week, and only pay homage to one awesome inspiration.<br /><br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/">Helen Ginger</a>. I found Helen's blog through <a href="http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/">the Blood Red Pencil</a>, as she is a regular editor/blogger on the BRP. Her columns are always insightful and fascinating, so I started to follow her actual blog, Straight from Hel. She covers a wide variety of topics on her blog, including writer interviews, writing advice, editorial advice and trends in publishing. There is never a dull post on Ms. Ginger's blog, so if you have never visited Straight From Hel, I highly recommend it. You can learn a lot from this woman. Take my word for it.<br /><br />Sorry it's so short this week. It's late and I've got a lot of edits to get done. I'm just about to put this manuscript to bed, so wish me luck!Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-35126715114869027752009-04-29T22:05:00.004-04:002009-04-29T23:20:44.780-04:00For the MuseMy muse has been incredibly generous lately, providing me with gallons of inspiration to drink each day. I've got two short stories on the verge of completion, and I've been writing poetry like mad.<br /><br />I have been so busy trying to get this manuscript completed so I can get it back to my author and things in my personal life have been rocky, but every night I manage to write a poem before bed, and sometimes I write one when I wake up. Since I don't have much time, I wanted to share a quick poem with you. I haven't forgotten about my faithful readers, and hope to find more time to blog soon.<br /><br />Nectar<br /><br />I drink you<br />like nectar<br />resting in the<br />cup of a flower<br />mouth to mouth<br />skin to skin<br />we dance around<br />obstacles, shedding<br />fabric like<br />a snake sheds<br />its skin<br />then wrap together<br />like crawling vines<br />reaching toward<br />the sun.<br /><br />I'm off to cram in about 20 more pages of edits, then dreamland. I hope you're all having a fantastic week! I need to make my blog rounds, and I apologize if I haven't popped by to visit you lately. Life certainly has a way of interfering with play time. <br /><br />Don't forget, tomorrow boasts the return of Thankful Thursday. See you there.Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-66442863326457813602009-04-27T23:32:00.003-04:002009-04-27T23:45:41.492-04:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...Turn and Face the Strange...It's been a gorgeous last couple of days, with plenty of sunshine and a gentle breeze most days. I spent some serious time outdoors contemplating things, and just enjoying the fact that I am alive. As I mentioned in my previous blog, things have been busy, and my life is heading for some major changes. As I step into the precipice before me, I feel like I am wearing a blindfold. I don't know where I am going, only that I am about to drop off into the unknown. It is both terrifying, and liberating. <br /><br />I have always operated under the philosophy that we are interactive participants in our own destiny. Life is what we make it. When it comes time to making the hard choices, if we shy away out of fear, then we create regret. Regret festers in the soul, and for many people it becomes an infectious disease that eventually overruns their life. <br /><br />Despite the things I have done in my life, I have no regrets. Regret is not even a word in my vocabulary. There are things I look back on and shake my head at, but I would not ever take a single one of them back. As I step forward, into that which awaits me, it is with trepidation and curiosity. I leave behind aspects of my life that no longer serve me or my future. It is hard to let them go, but I know that if I am to grow into the person I am meant to be, I must sever those ties. <br /><br />More poetry to come this week, and maybe even some special news. Stay tuned. This is Major Beans to ground control.Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-40805130236184370882009-04-25T12:49:00.004-04:002009-04-25T13:07:00.818-04:00Busy Busy Busy...As anticipated, this week has been incredibly busy. Not only am I juggling two short stories, getting started on some heavy edits for the June edition of <a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com">eMuse</a> and novel edits for a client, I also had to work all week and save my own personal universe from crumbling in upon itself. There's been a lot going on, needless to say, but despite the pressure, I feel resilient and strong. I've had a very helpful and awesome support system all along. It's been amazing. Thanks friends. :) You all rock.<br /><br />The weather is finally shifting, and the disappearance of the cold, damp of winter/spring has gone at last. This has completely altered my physical health in a way that confirmed what I believed all along... the death-grip on my lungs all winter was some kind of indoor-allergy. I think it's something in this house. That's insane. When your house becomes your physical enemy and tries to drive you out with disease... hmm, I smell a short story.<br /><br />With so much to do, and so little time, I'm off to the chocolate factory for a full tour... not really. I'm actually just going to hop in the shower, drop the squeenager off at the mall and sit outdoors with an iced coffee to do some editing. I may check back in later tonight after the wee one is asleep. (I'm keeping my four year old niece over night, YAY!) <br /><br />I'll leave you with this morning's waking poem:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dawdling Sun</span><br /><br />Empty morning,<br />too much bed.<br />Wrapped in cold warmth<br />and the last fragments<br />of a quiet dream<br />still linger.<br /><br />It's five.<br />The sun dawdles,<br />but soon<br />it will claw <br />away the last<br />remnants of<br />this darkness.<br />©2009 J. Hudock</span>Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-51096027043057276742009-04-23T22:30:00.003-04:002009-04-23T23:46:37.694-04:00Thankful Thursday<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rphlegm/2208228118/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2208228118_d74d3c3c9a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rphlegm/2208228118/">red pencil</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/rphlegm/">Rat Phlegm</a></span></div>In the tradition of thankfulness, I wanted to spend my thankful Thursday sharing with you one of my favorite blogs: <a href="http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/">The Blood Red Pencil.</a> The Blood Red pencil is a blog for writers by a group of incredible editors. Each and every day they share their wisdom with a mass of followers, wisdom on everything from grammar and style to editing and publishing one's writing. In the months that I have been following the BRP, I have learned a great deal and been reminded of a few things I let myself forget from time to time. I highly recommend following and subscribing to the Blood Red Pencil. You will not regret it.<br /><br />I also want to nod my hat this Thankful Thursday to author <a href="http://jchutchins.net/site">J.C. Hutchins</a>. J.C. Hutchins inspires me for a number of reasons, and not just because he was kind enough to let us use his novel in our contest over at <a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com">eMuse</a>. I am one of the fortunate people who gets to Twitter with <a href="http://twitter.com/jchutchins">J.C.</a> every day. Not only is he incredibly prolific and creative (this guy can market, let me tell you,) he is also one of the most positive and uplifting people on Twitter. His attitude is simply amazing, and though he knows that sometimes you might get "no," for your answer, that doesn't mean he won't at least ask the question. He's done amazing things to promote his upcoming novel, Personal Effects: Dark Art, reaching out to some of the biggest names in the horror industry to vlurb the novel, and he's succeeded. Hat's off, J.C. You inspire me every single day, and for that, I thank you.<br /><br />That's it. That's what I got this week. Thank you to J.C. Hutchins and the awesome bloggers over at the Blood Red Pencil. You all inspire me every day!<br /><br />Looking forward to another fantastic Friday. See you there.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-11133380568576640262009-04-22T22:35:00.003-04:002009-04-22T22:47:19.278-04:00Warrior Wednesday<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theilr/2282255873/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2282255873_f3c71a45a1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theilr/2282255873/">notebook noir</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/theilr/">theilr</a></span></div>I had a great day, and I'm just settling in now to get a bit more writing done before bed. I wanted to pop in and post a couple of poems to tide you over until tomorrow's Thankful Thursday post. :) <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Morning<br /><br />Tin roof rain drops<br />and wings like sheets<br />flap toward freedom<br />perched atop the pine<br />single branch sways<br />nothing but the rain<br />can cleanse me now<br />face to sky, arms to wind<br />warrior waiting<br />behind a peaceful mask<br />ready to pounce...<br />always watching.<br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br />Numbered<br /><br />Every night's pain<br />echoes into silent<br />voices across the void...<br />She picks up her pen<br />and tries to capture<br />it in words, but<br />there is only the<br />way it makes her feel:<br />speechless, but full<br />replenished, but alone,<br />as if she's numbered<br />every one of her own days<br />and given them new meaning.<br />She's sure that<br />he would never understand,<br />so she closes her book<br />and goes to sleep.<br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br />Untitled<br /><br />Let it all writhe<br />and tangle together<br />like a bed of snakes<br />tale to mouth<br />euroburos <br /><br />Let it all burn<br />and smolder together<br />like a pile of ash<br />blackened soot<br />funeral pyre <br /><br />Let it all fade<br />and wash away together<br />like a bed of sand<br />loose shells<br />watery grave<br /><br />Let it all go<br />and dwindle into nothing<br />like a galaxy into a black hole<br />spinning rim round<br />the end<br />© 2009 J. Hudock</span><br /><br />Have a good evening everyone.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-15447956307954616312009-04-21T17:37:00.002-04:002009-04-21T17:58:16.277-04:00April Showers... Bring May Flowers<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/331682369/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/331682369_5efc63071d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/331682369/">Its raining in my backyard-Hooray</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/aussiegall/">aussiegall</a></span></div>Sometimes it has to rain. I know that. After a long winter, however, the transition from frigid and icy to beautiful and green is not always smooth. There are a lot of grey and icky days, as the fingers of death uncoil from the spring maiden, allowing her to go forth and bring life back to the sluggish and tired earth. This morning, I woke up to the sound of pouring rain, (as usual, I started to sing Skin Row's "I Remember You... because I am from the 80s, and that is what I do). Before I climbed out of bed, I thought about how sad today was going to be. A lot of intense things are underway in my life right now, some incredibly frightening changes, and the rain and gloom felt perfect for my mood.<br /><br />I got out of bed, didn't even get dressed, and put my shoes on so I could take Loki the wonderhusky outside for his morning business. It was warm. Not cold, as I had anticipated, and though it was damp, there was humidity to because of the heat. I looked out into the backyard and realized that all the dead and barren plant life had been brushed by the hand of spring. Everything was green. It gave me hope.<br /><br />I've got a lot to do right now, so my blogs may be a little sporadic. I will try to keep at them daily, as I do enjoy the interaction and sharing with those who take time to read. Today, I leave you with a couple poems that encompass my frame of mind right now perfectly.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Matches<br /><br />What would she say to me<br />if she were to live<br />beyond expectation?<br />Would she say, "Light the<br />match," and exhale<br />smoke in tiny fingers<br />that dance upon the<br />wrinkles in her skin?<br />"My pretty girl, so smart,"<br />but not smart enough<br />to outwit her own defeat,<br />her own indulgences. My <br />kingdom for a compliment,<br />my entire world to be<br />shattered like an old<br />barn house window.<br />"Make a wish," then <br />she blows out the match.<br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br /><br />Burn Scar<br /><br />Sucker punched by the moment,<br />left struggling for breath.<br />Long after the heart stops,<br />pale ghost of want<br />flounders on the floor--<br />no one hears it screaming.<br /><br />Strangled disease ended torment<br />flat on the back of a dream.<br />Short pulses of of subtlety <br />shine like a beacon<br />pounding at the door of<br />something to believe in.<br /><br />Small and curled like a ball<br />a fetus in a womb of web,<br />snap judgments tear through<br />white waves of silence.<br />Grounded forever more,<br />nothing but a burn scar.<br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br />What is this?<br />Sundown and the strange<br />suffocation braces my lungs.<br /><br />I thought we were over this,<br />basking in the cure<br />and absolved from old punishments.<br /><br />Imprisoned by notion, <br />barred within my fear...<br /><br />I open up the cage<br />and with this final breath<br />I set you free.<br /><br />Fly, fly away from me.<br />© 2009 J. Hudock</span><br /><br />Even if it's raining wherever you are, go stand under the downpour,and think of yourself like a flower desperate for a drink. Grow--like a vine if you have to. Stretch your arms toward the sun, even if it's hidden behind clouds. It'll be shining again before you know it, and you'll be all the better from all that rain.<br/><br/><br />Oh, and before I forget, my friend, <a href="http://www.jamesmelzer.net">James Melzer</a> will be revealing the cover art for his novel, The Zombie Chronicles: Escape, tonight on his personal website at 7:45PM EST. James will also be stopping by <a href="http://www.projektx.ning.com/">Projekt X Radio</a> around 8PM EST to talk about the cover. Check it out! I've sneak peeked the cover, and it's AMAZING!!!<br /><br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-59997868689562996792009-04-19T18:17:00.003-04:002009-04-19T18:36:26.257-04:00When It Rains... It Pours<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajawin/2551566739/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2551566739_9b968cd0ff_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajawin/2551566739/">Luck of summer rain</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ajawin/">lepiaf.geo</a></span></div>You know how the old saying goes... when it rains, it pours, well this weekend was a virtual downpour of awesome things. I made a lot of jokes over the weekend about taking over the world piece by piece, but as the ideas kept paying off and the achievements weighing in in my corner, I decided to polish my Hatori Hanzo sword and just Kill Bill.<br /><br />It started on Friday, which I had decided to dedicate to finishing the short story I've been working on. While I was proofing over what I had already written, this idea arrow struck like lightning. I needed to put together an <a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com/">eMuse</a> contest, as I had mentioned one in passing a couple of times. It was time to act on it, but what could we do that would not only benefit our contributors and readers, but also a fellow writer? That was when the name J.C. Hutchins popped into my head. I've been reading an advanced copy of his upcoming novel, <span style="font-style:italic;">Personal Effects: Dark Art</span>, to review after its release in our June issue, when I thought to myself, "Wow! We could give away copies of the book for an insane asylum related contest." I ran my idea by J.C. and he agreed that it was a great plan, so I drew up a plan, checked on our eMuse funds and dove in. <br /><br />Later that evening I was talking to my good friend, <a href="http://www.jamesmelzer.net">James Melzer</a> about review writing for eMuse, as he was going to cook up a review for me, when we got to talking about him doing something bigger. The result was integrating him into the zine as a regular columnist and his column, <a href="http://jamesmelzer.net/2009/04/my-new-column-behind-the-mic/">Behind the Mic</a> was born. Not only is James working on publishing his first novel, <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://jamesmelzer.net/archives/">The Zombie Chronicles: Escape</a></span> with <a href="http://www.permutedpress.com">Permuted Press</a>, but he also has great insight into new media. Needless to say, it's going to be amazing. <br /><br />I also have another idea for a column that is still in the hush-hush stages, but to give you a little preview, it will be a he said/she said column on writing. We are still working out the details, but stay tuned for news on that. <br /><br />So just when I thought that my weekend couldn't get any more spectacular than it already was, I went for a walk last night. Did some thinking. Relished in the good feelings that come with achievement and obvious movement in the right direction. I came home, and sat down at my computer planning to get a little writing done, and checked my email. I had an acceptance letter from the editor of , <a href="http://42magazine.com/">42 Magazine</a>. She wanted to buy one of the poems I sent to them back in early February. Needless to say, I danced like Snoopy all around the office, drank three beers and proceeded to squee all over anyone who would listen. <br /><br />Good things. They come to those who wait, and it's so important to remember that just when you think nothing is going your way. Look for little signs that the universe is on your side. It's there, and it wants you to succeed and be happy just as much as you want those things for yourself. If you aren't sure, maybe it's time to think about what you want for yourself, and how badly you want it. A wise man I know is prone to saying that the world don't owe you, and that is definitely true, but you can still go out there, kick some butt and take names every single day. This is your life. Live it!<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-52238831506673181452009-04-18T12:26:00.006-04:002009-04-18T13:26:04.025-04:00eMuse Summer Madness is Here!!!!Before eMuse kicked off as a site, our founders ran a small writers group where we took great pride in tossing out writing prompts and then awarding fabulous prizes to the best contributors. We have grown leaps and bounds since then, publishing our quarterly literary arts journal and featuring the most amazing talent we could find on the net. Last summer, we had our first official eMuse contest, the Summer Camp for Writers. <span style="font-weight:bold;">eMuse Summer Madness</span> kicks off now, and we're locking you all up in the nuthouse and prescribing art therapy!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35964403@N06/3453327046/" title="darkarts by jennybeanses, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3453327046_5bac5d97be_o.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="darkarts" /></a></center><br /><br /><a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com">eMuse</a> and author <a href="http://jchutchins.net/">J.C. Hutchins</a> are teaming up to bring you an amazing contest. As many of you know, J.C. is prepping to release his new book: <span style="font-style:italic;">Personal Effects: Dark Art</span> through St. Martin's Press this June. The novel takes place in an insane asylum, and we thought it would be fun to break out the straitjackets and put together a contest to support the new book.<br /><br />Since we are a literary arts magazine, we will be accepting submissions in three categories: Art, poetry and fiction. The central focus of all submissions must be an insane asylum, but need not directly relate to Personal Effects: Dark Art. Poetry must be at least 15 lines long. All short stories should be at least 1000-1500 words in length. We may consider longer pieces in cases of exceptional storytelling. Please submit one to two pieces of art, saved as a .jpg files and attached to your email.<br /><br />I know you're begging for us to get on to the fabulous prizes, so here it goes... Not only will the winning submission in each category be featured in the September edition of eMuse, the lucky three will also win an autographed copy of <span style="font-style:italic;">Personal Effects: Dark Art</span>. This book is amazing. Not only is it insanely creepy, it's an interactive game. You can find out more about the novel by visiting the official site: <a href="http://jchutchins.net/site/personal-effects/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Personal Effects: Dark Art</span></a>.<br /><br />You may start sending in your submissions on Sunday, April 19, 2009, and we will accept them through June 6, 2009, at midnight EST. Winners will be announced along side my own personal review of Personal Effects: Dark Art in the June edition of eMuse, which goes live on June 15, 2009. Please title the subject of all emails: eMuse Summer Madness Contest and mail your submissions to: <br /><a href="mailto:art_submissions@emuse-zine.com">art_submissions@emuse-zine.com</a><br /><a href="mailto:fiction_submissions@emuse-zine.com">fiction_submissions@emuse-zine.com</a> <br /><a href="mailto:poetry_submissions@emuse-zine.com">poetry_submissions@emuse-zine.com</a>Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-84365680367185855652009-04-17T12:24:00.003-04:002009-04-17T12:29:53.185-04:00When You Don't Know What Else To Do...<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87128018@N00/139136870/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/139136870_4fadd2f255_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87128018@N00/139136870/">HeartBroken-Tears are the Baptism of Soul</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/87128018@N00/">honikum</a></span></div>Recently, a friend confided in me that she and her family were going through some troubled times. Her son had gotten himself into some trouble, and she and her spouse were at the end of their rope. They had tried everything in their power to mend the strange rift in their family and to help their son heal, but much to their sorrow their efforts seemed to be for naught. <br /><br />She and her husband recently decided that the best course of action for them to take was to put their son into the hands of someone who could help him. This was a heartbreaking decision for them. I know that she has been beside herself all week, asking if she made the right choice, if this was going to tear her whole family apart, if her son would one day understand that she was doing this because she loves him... <br /><br />Parenthood is not easy. Anyone who has ever had a child can tell you that you are faced with some of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make. You are responsible for the health, well-being, shaping and outcome of another human being's life. <br /><br />Maybe you are a parent of a troubled teenager, but you're not sure what to do to help your child. Maybe you're not having trouble now, but anticipate there could be some later. This blog that she is keeping about her experience is heartfelt, a little dark, but meant to guide and comfort others who may be faced with similar situations. Anyone with children will find this blog both heart wrenching and touching. Please take a moment to stop over and read about the process my friend had to undergo. Offer thoughts, comfort, support for a mother and father who had to take drastic action in order to ensure that their son had a future.<br /><br /><a href="http://amotherstears2009.blogspot.com/">A Mother's Tears</a><br /><br />Thank you for reading.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-38099289566231571042009-04-16T11:59:00.004-04:002009-04-16T12:50:23.000-04:00Thankful ThursdayIt's Thankful Thursday again, everyone. That's right. It's Thursday, and I'm here today to talk about people I not only support one hundred and ten percent, but that also inspire me with their continued dedication to doing whatever it takes to get themselves and their work out there so the world can see it. <br /><br />I'd like to start today by tipping my hat to my twitter associate, sci-fi sexpunk author: <a href="http://twitter.com/mopedronin">The Moped Ronin</a>, who is perhaps best known for his work on <a href="http://junkdnafiction.tumblr.com/">JunkDNA Fiction.</a> Recently, he came up with a really awesome idea for some of his flash fiction. He set up an etsy store: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7098948">JunkDNA Fiction</a> and started selling handwritten flash fiction postcards on quality postcards and shipped to you straight from Japan! When he first told me he was doing this, I thought it was an awesome idea, so once the store was set up, I ordered my very own copy of "Space Patrol." Every postcard is numbered for originality, and I have to say, I've never seen neater handwriting in my life! It is definitely worth the $2.50 (USD/shipping included). The story was awesome, and now I have my very own collectible JunkDNA Fiction item. Check out the store and if you're into sci-fi sexpunk, definitely pop over to JunkDNA and check out the stories posted there. <br /><br />Next, I want to take a moment to sing the praises of Nicole Ireland. Nicole and I met while working as freelancers together several months ago. Something came up that made Nicole realize it was time for her to move on to bigger and better things. Out of work in a time when the economy made it look impossible to earn a buck, Nicole started freelancing wherever she could. Since then, she has had articles published in several venues, including <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7098948">eHow</a>. She is a prolific <a href="http://ivegotidolfever.blogspot.com/">American Idol</a> blogger, and last month she became a movie/entertainment contributor at <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-6950-Portland-Movie-Examiner">The Examiner</a>. I am so proud of her, you really have no idea. She is doing amazing things, and her articles for the examiner have been getting a lot of attention. If you are not already subscribed to her Examiner feed, please do. She's always got interesting things to say, and a great nose for entertainment news!<br /><br />Last, but certainly not least, my friend <a href="http://www.jamesmelzer.net">James Melzer</a>, author of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Zombie Chronicles</span>, is asking for YOU, yes, you, to blurb book one of <a href="http://podiobooks.com/title/the-zombie-chronicles-escape/"><span style="font-style:italic;">TZC: Escape</span></a>, which comes to print later this year. There's still time to get your blurbs in, even if you haven't started listening to TZC yet. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? It's free, it's available on podiobooks.com and it's a good story. To find out more about what James is looking for, watch this video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-0oHChZoJg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-0oHChZoJg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br /><br />That's it for this week, three Thankful Thursday inspirations I hope you'll check out. All three of these writers are people I have the utmost respect for, and I hope you will too. Who are you thankful for this Thursday, and what have they done to inspire you?Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-12834930480355290022009-04-15T23:02:00.003-04:002009-04-15T23:05:36.054-04:00"Call of the Selkie"--An Excerpt<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87752573@N00/2964214396/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2964214396_f9abd9f712_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87752573@N00/2964214396/">seal-6</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/87752573@N00/">Multiple fragments of tissue</a></span></div>Maybe it's my Scottish and Irish ancestry, but I have always been enamored by the idea of the selkie. While many people don't even seem to know what a selkie is, once you hear the typical story, you'll gasp and say, "I know that story..." Generally it features a beautiful young woman bathing naked in the sea. A young man comes up on her and finds an empty sealskin on the beach. He takes the skin and hides it from her, forbidding her to return to her home and her kin in the sea. Because she knows that he has that skin, she marries him, has children with him and plays the role of dutiful wife, until one day she finds his hiding place. Without a word to her own flesh and blood, she takes it in her arms and walks off into the sea, looking back only once with conflicting heart and lament before she disappears forever. <br /><br />I wrote several stories about selkies, and here is an excerpt from one that I had published a couple of years ago when we were first getting eMuse off the ground. If you enjoy the story, I will leave a link at the end, so you can go and read it in its entirety. <br /><br />"Call of the Selkie"<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Despite living in the middle of farm country Pennsylvania, all of my father’s paintings were of the sea in its many guises. Each painting was a tiny piece of him that he’d left behind, the only goodbye note before he mysteriously disappeared that afternoon while I was at school. Every night after he left I sneaked into his studio, stood in the half-dark of the setting sun and tried to decipher the messages he’d left me. Orange slices of sunset slanted through the blinds behind me as I watched the raging sea roil inside the canvas. Alive and overwhelmingly real, in the silence I could hear the distant call of gulls as the waves smashed like fists upon the shore.<br /><br />Eventually my mother put a lock on the door and gave me a stern lecture about putting the past behind us. She did it just to punish me. She was jealous that the paintings spoke to me, but more afraid that I might discover some hint about where he’d gone. Maybe she worried that I would follow and forget her just like he did. She hid the key so well that entry was impossible. I didn’t cry, or fight her though I needed to. I wanted to scream and tear the smug look from her face, but instead I acted like I didn’t care. She took away from me the last physical connection I had to my father, and for that I could never forgive her.<br /><br />It wasn’t long after she locked the door that I began to dream myself inside the paintings. Drifting from wave to wave, surrounded by a host of sleek, grey seals, whose joyful song soared high above the waves. Around and around the seals swam in an ancient spiral dance, and then my father appeared from the edge of the circle, young again, younger than I’d ever seen him even in photographs, but his eyes always gave him away. He smiled, and it was a real smile.<br /><br />“It’s time to come home,” he said.<br /><br />He held out his hand, and I grasped his fingers, but as he disappeared beneath the water, the waves pushed me upward every time I tried to follow. I couldn’t follow where he went, as though the sea itself kept spitting me out. One by one the seals all disappeared and darkness drew the sun away. Alone, buoyant, wave over wave of salt musk and hundreds of miles between me and dry land, I laid back and floated beneath the endless stars while moonlight rippled silver sheets over my ocean bed.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com/Dec2007/page15.html">"Call of the Selkie"</a><br /><br />Have a great night everyone, and don't forget, tomorrow is Thankful Thursday! I'm already planning a great blog full of awesome people I can't wait to share with you.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-77530364667415731302009-04-14T21:28:00.002-04:002009-04-14T21:30:59.992-04:00Changes Brewing on the Wind<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luchilu/677786684/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/677786684_ca7686fedb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luchilu/677786684/">Noche de luna llena - Full moon night</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/luchilu/">*L*u*z*a* return to nature</a></span></div>Well, after all of my whining about the difficult time I had working on my short story last week, I am proud to say that Sunday I finished draft two. I sent it off to a couple of friends I workshop with, and this afternoon I made third draft edits. I then folded it into a cyber envelope stamped TEAM AWESOME and sent it off to the secret project that requested the story to begin with. <br /><br />Aside from feeling incredibly accomplished today, I was also quite flattered when my friend and colleague, Steve, told me that the story reminded him of Edgar Allan Poe. That is probably the most amazing compliment I have ever gotten as a writer. Thank you, Steve. <br /><br />I am now working on a group of short stories for a concept I'd like to propose, but the project is very secret, so I can't share details at this time. I have one story finished, and a second one about 1/4 of the way done. I hope to have the first draft of that story finished before Friday. Wish me luck.<br /><br />All of this has left me feeling incredibly good. Big changes are coming, and I'm excited about them. I leave you with this poem, and wishes for a wonderful wednesday!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Brewing On the Wind<br /><br />Tangled clouds like webs of dust<br />blown from hiding under the bed<br />and the dragon's open mouth<br />smokey teeth glisten<br />preparing to chomp down<br />on the light of the moon.<br />Hallowed Mother, suffocate<br />beneath speeding <br />atmospheric veil.<br /><br />There are changes brewing<br />on the wind--<br />I can smell them.</span><br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-14139483149630574102009-04-13T22:31:00.001-04:002009-04-13T22:31:09.476-04:00I Reject You, Rejection<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thivierr/1665922144/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/1665922144_1a8fa7b618_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thivierr/1665922144/">Calgary Zombies 2007-10-20 211</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thivierr/">thivierr</a></span></div>Rejection is part of every writer's experience. Unless you're insanely lucky, and you've managed to escape the cold hand of rejection, you know that momentary twinge you get when you see the words, "We're sorry..." at the top of the letter.<br /><br />It happens to the best of us, and the good writers know that you can't let it get to you if you want to make it in this business at all. One editor's rejection could very well be another editor's rejection, but that third editor just might feel that you have written exactly what they are looking for. It's all in persistence and inner-strength. You can't take rejection personally, even if you think the editor is a fool for passing up your incredibly awesome story.<br /><br />My experience with rejection has gone on for years, with intermittent successes in between. Early on, I let it bother me, but today it barely washes over me anymore. It's just something that happens, and I move on.<br /><br />Today, however, I got the weirdest rejection letter. While I won't share the details, as I'm not a huge advocate of the #editorfail movement, I did actually find myself laughing at the lack of punctuation, along with the reason behind the rejection. Said editor remarked that my story was, "Very well written," but the subject matter, zombies, was by their standards, outdated. It was a zombie love story, serious, a little stark with minor bits of gore, and considering that they publish a lot of vampire anthologies, it made me laugh a little at their definition of outdated. Some things will never go out of style. The living dead are on that list.<br /><br />You may think this is crazy, but I was glad for the rejection. A company who thrives on vampires alone... I'm onto more versatile publications, thank you very much. So on that note, I folded up my submission, stuffed it in the next cyber envelope and resubmitted with hours of receiving the rejection.<br /><br />I'm sure we've talked about this before, but how do you deal with rejection? What is your turn around time before your resubmit a story you've gotten back?<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-26156850240162017712009-04-12T10:29:00.002-04:002009-04-12T10:38:58.917-04:00"Manhunt," an Excerpt...<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogi/84959655/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/84959655_f2ec946653_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogi/84959655/">Flashlights</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/yogi/">Yogi</a></span></div>Here is a short excerpt from the memoir I recently had published in "Watershed: A Journal of the Susquehanna." Growing up out in the country in the Susquehanna Valley, I was one of about twelve or so kids in our neighborhood. In the spring and summer, we used to play flashlight tag between the yards. This excerpt picks up after the younger kids have been called in for the night. Left to our own devices, the older kids embark on a more dangerous game called Manhunt... In the scene preceding this, I had actually discovered my supercrush, the neighborhood ninja's hiding place, no small triumph, let me tell you. He's so cool, it's terrifying, and I'm afraid he's going to make me pay back my insolence tenfold in the upcoming game of manhunt.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Who wants to play Manhunt?” <br /><br /> Manhunt was a game only similar to flashlight tag in that it involved hiding and then seeking with a flashlight. The older kids told us the stakes were higher, and had never allowed anyone under fourteen to play in the past. <br /><br /> “We’ll play in teams of two,” Matt announced. <br /><br /> He had hypnotized simply by asking us to hang out with him. He had always been a center for us to gravitate to. When we were small we often sought him out for answers to complicated gaming questions, or to help us create new games. Unfortunately his games often involved violence and cruelty, while he oversaw the results from far enough away to not be directly associated with things if somebody’s parents came along. <br /><br /> Much to my surprise he had paired himself with me. All of the teams were opposite gender, “To even out the odds,” he said. Was his teaming up with me a vendetta, an opportunity to get me alone and knock me down a peg after having discovered him during flashlight tag. <br /><br /> “So who’s going to be it first?” Hands on hips, Eve tossed her hair in a boyish, flirtatious fashion. She’d been paired up with Ed, whom she’d had a crush on since the third grade. <br /><br /> “Do your stupid bubble gum game, Eve.” Matt smirked.<br /><br /> She had to feel stupid kneeling down, “Bubble-gum, bubble-gum in a dish. How many pieces do you wish?” She had stopped on Gary’s shoe and he answered five. “One-two-three-four-five, if you want to stay alive hope that I don’t count you out, ‘cos you are it!” <br /><br /> There wasn’t enough money in the world that could have forced me to purposely humiliate myself in front of Matt like Eve had done. Most times I felt like breathing was humiliation enough. I glanced down at her finger tapping shoe-tops, waited for the extended version that landed the tip of her nail on top of her brother’s shoe just after, “. . . who will be the next one, and you are it!”<br /><br /> “I’ll fucking kill you, Eve.”<br /><br /> “You said to do it, Matt!” She hopped up.<br /><br /> Under ordinary circumstances, I’d watched him pummel her for being cocky in the past, but instead he shrugged and said, “You better hide good. If I find you, you’re dead.”<br /><br /> The partners huddled close and disappeared whispering into the blue darkness. Matt and I watched, and for awhile I could still hear Eve and Ed’s voices and then nothing except the first frog songs of spring. I was Little Red Riding Hood all alone with the big bad wolf. I glanced toward him and felt my stomach twist inside with nerves. He leaned against the wooden support beam of the pavilion, head back, and I thought his were eyes closed. <br /><br /> He was so cool, even cooler than Han Solo. I hoped he’d never find out, or else it might swell his already enormous ego.<br /><br /> “Come here.”<br /><br /> Was he talking to me? I moved toward him, taking small, awkward steps. He reached out to grab my arm and drew me closer. I nearly fainted when his arms looped around me, one lowering slowly down my back in repeated strokes, “How’s that?”<br /><br /> I swallowed, “Fine.”<br /><br /> “You’re freezing,” warm hands brushed across the bare skin of my forearms. “Move closer. Do you want my sweatshirt?”<br /><br /> My vocal cords were paralyzed with shock. Within seconds he had tugged off his sweatshirt and draped it over my shoulders. It had all happened so suddenly that only one thing seemed able to explain it: I was dreaming. <br /><br /> “You’re nervous,” he lowered his face to mine, and the warmth of his breath sent shivers through me. “You’re shaking.”<br /><br /> The greater part of me wanted to pull away and run home because this wasn’t Matt, at least not the Matt that I knew. The Matt I knew would never help Steve win a game of flashlight tag, or offer someone his sweatshirt. In fact, earlier in the summer he had convinced me that the character Madeline Usher, in the movie Fall of the House of Usher, was going to reach out from under the chair I was sleeping next to and strangle me in my sleep because my name was Jenny. He’d chased me around for hours repeating my name in zombie tones. <br /><br /> “You’re intimidating,” I said.<br /><br /> “Intimidating?” He laughed and held me out at arm’s length. He had probably enjoyed my admission; intimidation had been tactic of choice. “I won’t hurt you.”<br /><br /> I wanted to believe him, so I relaxed and as my body loosened he drew me closer. “Shouldn’t we be counting, or something?” <br /><br /> “I am counting,” he looked into my eyes. I could tell that he was calculating something, whether it be the number of minutes they’d been hiding or something else.<br /><br /> “When should we look for—” <br /><br /> His mouth pressed against mine in a silencing kiss and I stiffened against him. He hadn’t been my first kiss. Earlier that summer all the girls in the neighborhood had taken turns kissing David’s friend Greg. Matt was the first kiss I’d dreamed of since I’d come to know that kissing and cooties had nothing to do with each other. His slow arm moved along the length of my spine, instigated relaxation. Trapped in his arms, I should have been in heaven, but instead I felt like a rabbit just out of reach from a vicious dog’s chain. <br /><br /> And then, just as if nothing had ever happened, he pushed me to his left and said, “Let’s go.”</span><br /><br /><br />If you are interested in obtaining a copy of "Watershed: The Journal of the Susquehanna," contact their staff at: river@bloomu.edu for more information.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-37160081431844712252009-04-11T13:30:00.003-04:002009-04-11T18:06:24.403-04:00Of Nietzsche and Witchcraft...Every three weeks, we pack up our books and head to Williamsport, the largest local public library in our county. Sadly, when I say it is the largest local public library, that is really nothing to get thrilled about. As long as I can remember, the James V. Brown library has been the best of the competition, while the other local libraries in the county are beyond pathetic in comparison. <br /><br />This saddens me. It is a library. Recently, the James V. Brown library built a whole new building just for children and teens, with a cyber cafe and coffee bar for kids to come to after school and on weekends to hang out and do homework. They turned the old children's wing into an adult cyber cafe. That's great. We all know that the days of print books are numbered, but they are certainly not over.<br /><br />In the past, we have donated unique books to better and broaden the horizons of the community. About ten years ago, we donated nearly a hundred books, all in brand new or barely breathed on condition on subjects like paganism, wicca, philosophy, demonology, self-help, vampirism and actual witchcraft. Three of the one hundred books we donated appeared between the six libraries in our county. Three. All of the other books disappeared. Since then, I stopped donating books and money to the library because of continual and obvious censorship. <br /><br />I know that about 80% of the libraries I have visited while living in Pennsylvania have suffered this same fate. Even living in downtown Pittsburgh, the Carnegie library system's several branches were completely bereft of books on things like the occult. The Carnegie branch near our house was an absolute joke, not even carrying a useful selection of books on Catholocism. <br /><br />Libraries, you are a wonderful resource. You provide knowledge for people of all ages, encouraging literacy and a love of reading. Because I have always wanted my daughter to love books, we have spent our weekends combing through the weak, censored selection of books in the public library. It worked. She loves books, but now even she is disheartened by the lack of variety in subject matter. <br /><br />Here are five examples of library failure in my county:<br /><br />Books by Friedrich Nietzsche: 0<br />Books on the subject of Paganism/Wicca/Witchcraft: 0<br />Books by Charles Bukowski: 0<br />Books on Christianity: Over 1000 between all six libraries<br />Books by or about Aleister Crowley: 0<br /><br />Nietzsche? How can there be nothing by Nietzsche? And when you search on the subject of Wicca, one books comes up: an anti-Wiccan book called <span style="font-style:italic;">Dewitched : what you need to know about the dangers of witchcraft and wicca.</span>. The fact that there are no books by Bukowski actually makes me sick. In high school, before there was an internet to google everything under the sun, I did a biographical research paper on Aleister Crowley. There were three books in my school library that had incredibly limited information on Crowley, (One of them eas actually about Led Zeppelin...) and literally nothing else in our entire county on the man. I borrowed books from friends and family to complete the report. The fact that there are over 1000 books on the subject of Christianity between the six libraries in our system is a grave sign of religion influenced censorship.<br /><br />Well guess what. Living in this forsaken town my entire life, I still followed my curiosity. I went to the city bookstores for books when necessary, and today I use the internet. It is this type of blatant meddling that disheartens me so much that I could really care less what happens to the library system at all. When you are drowning and floundering, looking for a hand, I will not hold mine out. Not when you deny the actual spread and pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-16808510749902263672009-04-11T01:47:00.002-04:002009-04-11T01:50:18.931-04:00Before I'm Swallowed by Sleep<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2869593260/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2869593260_ee8da0c7ed_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2869593260/">Massive Old Oak Tree - seen on Coon Creek docent hike, Montaña de Oro, 18sept2008 - Leader: Jerry Kirkhart</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mikebaird/">mikebaird</a></span></div>It's late. I just got home from a night out with a dear friend. I will leave you with this poem. When I was growing up, I was fortunate (mostly,) to have grown up in a rural neighborhood with a group of adventurous kids. I have many fond memoirs of those days, including those of my first "crush." While there was never any future for us, we did some fun and crazy things, and this poem is one of many in tribute to the boy that I knew then.<br /><br />It Always Comes Back to This<br /><br />left arm scarred<br />cinder-block burn<br />a scraped escape<br />one hiding place<br />to the next<br /><br />two in a tree<br />bark-brushed thigh<br />a chance maneuver<br />and blood chills<br />under the wind<br /><br />love's agonizing scrutiny<br />these left-overs<br />nothing but empty<br />shells litter the earth<br />spilled seed pods<br />scatter with the<br />same breath<br />that says goodbye.<br /><br />Maybe your Saturday linger as long as you like, unless you have to work, in which case, I hope it flies.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-28428470800222471162009-04-10T01:08:00.006-04:002009-04-10T01:48:01.821-04:00Thankful ThursdayThough the timestamp on this post will probably tell you that it was actually Friday when I posted this, I have always operated under the notion that the current day doesn't end in my personal universe until my own head hits the pillow. I decided to call this post Thankful Thursday, after my friend, <a href="http://jamesmelzer.net">James Melzer</a> mentioned this morning that Thursday should be a day to be thankful for our inspirations. James posted his own blog about the people who inspire him, including new media pioneers like <a href="http://www.murverse.com/">Mur Lafferty</a>, <a href="http://www.jchutchins.net/">J.C. Hutchins</a>, <a href="http://www.scottsigler.com/">Scott Sigler</a>, and <a href="http://www.mattselznick.com/">Matt Selznick</a>. In honor of thankfulness, I wanted to take today's blog and use it to give kudos to a few incredible people who have inspired me.<br /><br /><a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/">Neil Gaiman</a> has been an incredible inspiration for the last eighteen years of my life. Gaiman is a master storyteller who has gone places and written things I have dreamed about all my life. It's like he has access to this other dimension that many of us only glimpse in our nightly wanderings, and barely wake to tell of it. While I don't know Neil Gaiman personally, and have never interacted with him on any level, he is one of my greatest inspirations. I truly believe that when all is said and done about two hundred years from now, the supposed big names will be forgotten, and Gaiman will be taught in colleges the way Shakespeare is today. <br /><br />On a more personal level, my friend Christine Makepeace and her boyfriend Dylan Santurri are an inspiration to me. Who are Christine Makepeace and Dylan Santurri, you ask? They are the mad genius duo behind <a href="http://paracinema.net/"><span style="font-style:italic;">Paracinema</span></a>, a magazine that studies Paranormal Cinema from the inside out. Christine inspires me because when we first met, she used to talk to me about how much she admired me for writing. How much she looked up to for braving the long and difficult road of writing. Today, she's a driving force behind one of my favorite magazines. I don't just say that because she is my friend. <span style="font-style:italic;">Paracinema</span> is awesome. <br /><br />Then there is <a href="http://jacquelineroth.blogspot.com/">Jacqueline Roth</a>. When I first met Jae, as her friends know her, I was working as a moderator and mentor at one of the largest fanfiction sites on the internet. We were both submitting authors there, and I got to know her after interacting over a story she was submitting. We started to exchange stories, and eventually became part of a great many enterprises together. We are both founding members of an incredible online literary arts journal called <a href="http://www.emuse-zine.com">eMuse</a>, and for many years we shared a fantastic, but small online writer's critique site. I watched Jae grow over the years from someone who only dreamed of writing, into a woman who thrived. In the last two years she has had several books published through Cerridwen Press and their sister site, Ellora's Cave. She has written some of the most character driven, amazing stories I have ever read. If you've not heard of her, she comes highly recommended. She's got an incredible imagination. Her successes continue to inspire me on a regular basis.<br /><br />There are so many people that inspire me that were I to name them all, I would literally be sitting in this chair until the latter part of next week. Since it's going on 2 AM, I'll wrap it up here with a simple and humble thank you to all of the people I know who dedicate themselves to following their creative destinies. You are all an amazing inspiration to me, and your successes, both great and small, light a fire under me every day. <br /><br />On that note, I will say goodnight, and good Friday, apparently in more ways than one.Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-66856392657848788502009-04-08T23:37:00.004-04:002009-04-09T00:17:44.412-04:00Let the Cards Fall Where They MayWhen I was fourteen, I got my first deck of tarot cards. The Rider Waite deck, which is one of the most well-known and basic decks on the market, it was the only one they had at our local bookstore at the time. A friend I went to school with had done a demonstration speech on how to read tarot cards, and I had to have them.<br /><br />Long had I been into the metaphysical, checking out books on the Salem Witch Trials and demonic possession from our local library when I was all of about ten years old. Learning to read tarot cards seemed like the next logical step in my journey toward self discovery.<br /><br />I've amassed quite a tarot collection over the last nineteen years, having a total of thirteen decks at present. Three of those decks are Celtic, in tie to my Scottish and Irish ancestry, and each of the others has its own special significance. <br /><br />Over the last three months a lot of things in my life have been up in the air. I've had serious career doubts, work trouble, emotional ups and downs and our financial situation could use a serious boost! Of course, all of those things put strain on our romantic relationship, which until about two weeks ago had been going so perfectly, I had never felt closer to my incredibly talented and wonderful spouse of nearly thirteen years. Suddenly the weight of the world slumped down on me like a fat man's belly let loose from the belt after an all you can eat buffet. I literally found myself tossing and turning about an hour before the alarm went off this morning because my mind was chewing away at some unprocessed worry that needed sorting out. <br /><br />When things get this jumbled in my life, pulling out my tarot cards and taking a look at what life is trying to tell me is an absolute necessity. While many people think of the Tarot as evil, some even going so far as to belief the messages from the cards come from demonic spirits, there is actually nothing demonic about them at all. Just as all things in life have a tendency to do, the cards fall where they may, and the symbolism in the pictures act as a guide, offering clarity into situations in one's life that may not be registering clearly.<br /><br />So I spent some time with my cards. I actually pulled out the Rider Waite deck. The shuffling of cold cards over the years has become so familiar that it's almost second nature. I know when to stop, which card to take and as I turn it face up I see exactly what the universe wants me to know based on my circumstance and situation.<br /><br />The good news is, I'm not only on the right track, but I am on the giddying brink a serious breakthrough. Apparently, I'm hanging on tight to the thread of an old ideal that I need to clip, so I can go spiraling into the great, wide unknown. Excellent, because change is what I need. As a Gemini, stagnation is worse than death, as at least with death, it's an unknown new adventure.<br /><br />So, as I pick up my cards, and tuck them back into their satin, red back, that old cliche, "It's always darkest before the dawn," pops up like a banner in the background of my thoughts. I think I'm going to need a new pair of sunglasses for that sunrise. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanfranannie/2884215436/" title="Dawn's cards by SanFranAnnie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2884215436_1eb97087ab.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Dawn's cards" /></a> <br /><br />(these are not my cards, but an image from SanFranAnnie on Flickr)Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3011327337879619480.post-25667459936794235972009-04-07T21:04:00.002-04:002009-04-07T21:36:29.700-04:00Because it's Tuesday<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/essjay/229819241/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/229819241_30cc157e52_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/essjay/229819241/">Spring Lamb</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/essjay/">Essjay is happy in NZ</a></span></div>I'm happy to say that I haven't been blogging as much frequently because I've actually been writing. That's always a positive thing. Right after finishing the draft on my short story Sunday, I actually started another short story. I've also been writing a lot of poetry, some of which I share here with you. <br /><br />Whole<br /><br />In the lion's jaws<br />this lamb lies still<br />bent neck, bleeding<br />all fear receding<br />as he lopes off<br />away from the pride<br />finding some dark<br />secluded place to hide<br />where he can lap at her wounds<br />until saliva mends the skin<br />and she is whole again.<br /><br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br />The Sea<br /><br />Waves rush in against the cliffs:<br />that is the crushing breathlessness of you.<br />Three gulls circle overhead, little spies<br />that carry pieces of me away in their cries.<br />I am nothing but the spray of rain on stone,<br />an essence of color, refracted light.<br />Breathe in all the mist that is left of me,<br />and carry me back out with you to sea.<br /><br />© 2009 J. Hudock<br /><br />Here's hoping your Wednesday is bliss.<br clear="all" />Jenny Melzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.com6