Blog Archives
Final Curtain
Final Curtain is a rich and eerie collection that gathers voices from across time and imagination and sets them wandering through the long shadow of The Phantom of the Opera. Each story pulls a thread from Leroux’s world and spins it into something new. Sometimes it feels dreamy. Sometimes it slips into horror so quietly that you only notice once you’ve already shivered. The book opens with Steve Berman’s thoughtful introduction, setting the stage for the authors’ explorations of obsession, beauty, grief, and the strange spell of performance, and then moves through an eclectic lineup of tales that echo the Phantom’s myth without ever repeating it.
The memoir-style opening by Nadia Bulkin really resonated with me. The voice of the Countess trembles with longing and dread, and I found that mix weirdly relatable. Her fear of mirrors and her slow unraveling got under my skin. I could feel her confusion and her sorrow settling over me as if I were living in that drafty house with her. Other stories came at the Phantom from sideways angles, and that variety kept me on my toes. One moment, the writing felt delicate and sad. The next, it felt sharp and uncomfortable. I liked that. I liked not knowing what emotional corner I’d be pushed into next.
The book’s ideas were intriguing, maybe even more than its plots. So many of the stories are really about the ache of wanting something you can’t have or the way art can consume you before you even realize you’ve handed it your soul. There were times when the writing made me slow down and sit with a feeling for a bit. Some pieces were more lyrical than others, and some wandered off into tonal experiments that didn’t always land cleanly for me, but even when I wasn’t fully connecting, I still admired the nerve of the attempt. I found myself rooting for the writers as much as for the characters.
I’d recommend Final Curtain to readers who enjoy moody stories that riff on classics without getting trapped in imitation. It’s a great pick for anyone who likes gothic atmospheres, emotional messiness, or tales that play with memory, love, and the dark edges of creativity.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B0G4MWKX56
Labor of Love
Surviving Cancer: Poetry and Prose is a blend of poems, short reflections, and spiritual notes that trace your journey through cancer, aging, gratitude, and faith. Your poetry shares a deeply personal experience and changes in your worldview. How hard was it to put this collection out in the world for people to read?
It was NOT difficult at all to write this book because it came from my heart, my experiences, and my mission or purpose to help others. Practically most or all of my writings are to create for good cause. Writing Surviving Cancer was really a “labor of love.” Upon publishing the book, many people were interested in reading it because they survived cancer, knew someone dear to them who had been diagnosed with cancer and either survived or died.
Do you have a favorite poem in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
The following poem from my book is my favorite and is meaningful for me because it explains my sweet-and-sour experience of cancer treatment in order that readers may understand and appreciate the cancer experience:
CANCER: A SWEET-AND-SOUR EXPERIENCE
In July 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer as a doctor said;
Without my earthly and heavenly guardian angels and good healthcare,
I certainly could be dead;
I suspected such diagnosis and thus had no fear;
Neither did I breathe deeply or shed a tear;
I told a few among family and friends soon after one day,
Because cancer is not something that I’m ashamed to say;
Yes, through the pain from surgery and chemo, I never lost sight—
Of the joy and appreciation of my kind and competent healthcare
workers both day and night;
Loving family and friends were there by my side,
While impostors found a way to dodge and hide;
And, of course, I prayed for God to allow me to live to do His will—
And not let microscopic cancer cells find a way to kill;
And now I’m cured and cancer-free;
I’m ready to continue God’s work as usual and as you can now see.
Note. This poem was written during December, 2020 soon after my chemo treatment and cancer-free diagnosis.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
I never thought that I would die from cancer; however, I learned to be even more appreciative of my life and purpose after surviving and still remaining here among the living on Earth. Even more, I learned who among my friends and family, whom I told, were supportive and there for me during my treatment. My diagnosis and successful treatment of cancer convinced me more than ever that my life has been guided and protected by God and my ancestors. The writing of this book changed me by enhancing my humility and increasing my mission of helping others.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Surviving Cancer: Poetry and Prose?
I contracted cancer of the colon because I refused to submit to a colonoscopy until symptoms suggested that I needed to see a gastroenterologist—symptoms that included significant loss of weight, loss of appetite, and iron-deficient anemia. I was blessed to survive cancer; therefore, I urge readers of my book to get a colonoscopy or screening for other types of cancers before it is possibly too late. Many cancers are preventable if diagnosed and treated in their early stages.
Author Website
Six Stories Up- Tales of Whimsy, Imagination, and Hey, A Little Satisfying Comeuppance
Six Stories Up is a lively collection of short tales that bounce between playful fantasy, sharp humor, and a soft punch of moral comeuppance. Each story stands on its own, from the rain-soaked artistic swirl of 1920s Paris to a Vietnam vet’s barroom confession, to a smart-mouthed seagull convincing a fisherman to take a swim. The book wanders through imagination with a kind of wink that says, stay loose, anything can happen here. There is trickery at times and reflection at others, and by the end of each tale, I felt that small, satisfying click of a truth landing where it should.
I enjoyed the author’s voice. It feels relaxed and mischievous, almost like someone at the far end of a bar spinning stories just for the fun of it. The writing moves fast and never takes itself too seriously. I got pulled in by the rhythm of it. Scenes like the boisterous café in Paris or the smoky bar in Seattle feel alive because the dialogue snaps and the characters talk like people who actually exist. I was grinning at the chaos around Tinkham in Paris, and then sinking into the slower, thoughtful mood of the old veteran’s tale in The Doppelganger War. The book shifts tones with ease, and I enjoyed that unpredictability. It kept me alert, never quite sure where the next turn would land.
And the ideas, honestly, surprised me. At first, I thought I was settling in for pure entertainment. Instead, I found myself thinking about belief, about luck, about the lies we tell ourselves to get through life. That talking seagull cracked me up, but it also made a point about trusting the wrong voices. The stories play with morality in a lighthearted way, but they still sting a little when the consequences show up. I liked that combination. I could sense the author having real fun with these characters while still nudging me to look a little closer. That balance made the whole collection feel richer than I expected.
I would recommend Six Stories Up to readers who love quirky short fiction with personality. People who enjoy clever twists, fast dialogue, and a mix of humor with heart will get a kick out of this book. It is great for anyone who wants something playful yet thoughtful, something that can make them laugh and then make them pause for a second. I had a good time with it, and I think anyone who likes stories that wander off the well-worn path will too.
Pages: 251 | ASIN : B08KXSX4WP
At the Foot of the Mountain
At the Foot of the Mountain is a poetry collection that moves through memory, place, and the hard work of healing. The book shifts between nature scenes, family wounds, cultural identity, and quiet moments of reflection. Every poem feels like a step on a long trail where grief rises, settles, and rises again. Some pieces glow with the warmth of sunlight after rain. Others sit heavy, shaped by loss, longing, and the effort to understand where a person truly comes from. What ties it all together is a steady pulse of hope, small but stubborn, that shows up in forests, mountains, and even the kitchen.
Reading these poems, I found myself pulled in by how raw and tender the writing is. The language is simple on the surface, yet it carries so much under it. I felt a real ache in pieces about mothers, heritage, and complicated love. Some poems made me pause just to picture the scene, like the quiet watchfulness of a deer or the weight of snow on a birch leaf. The book mixes softness with sharp edges, and I liked that contrast. The emotional rhythm jumps aroun,d and I enjoyed never knowing if the next poem would sting or soothe.
I also appreciated how the natural world is used to talk through emotional pain. It is dirt, wind, and cold water. It is trees that fall and birds that migrate, and a trail that forces you to keep walking even when you would rather curl inward. The writing is unpretentious and heartfelt and sometimes unpredictable, which makes it feel alive. Now and then, the imagery overwhelmed me a little, but even that felt like part of the experience. Healing is messy. Memory is messy. The poems let that mess show.
In the end, I walked away feeling moved. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy intimate poetry rooted in nature and personal history. It is a good fit for anyone drawn to stories of recovery told in small, vivid fragments.
Pages: 98 | ISBN : 198911945X
The Capricious Nature of Being
The Capricious Nature of Being is a collection of short stories about the unpredictable turns life takes, and how ordinary people stumble, resist, adapt, or come undone as fate nudges them down unexpected paths. The book opens by framing life as a kind of “Secret Santa,” full of surprises we never signed up for, and the stories that follow lean into that idea with characters who face moments they never planned for and can’t control. In story after story, we meet people caught between who they thought they were and who life seems determined to make them become.
As I read, I kept pausing to absorb the way author Richard Plinke writes about internal struggle. His characters are flawed in ways that feel human rather than dramatic. They think too much. Or too little. They cling to old hurts or old hopes. In “The Safe,” Hope’s entire life tilts because of a single discovered date, and the writing lets her unravel in a quiet, almost tender way. I found myself nodding along, feeling that tug between wanting the truth and wanting the comfort of not knowing. Plinke seems to enjoy letting readers sit in discomfort, not to punish us but to remind us that most turning points in real life aren’t big cinematic events. They’re small realizations that land with surprising weight.
What struck me in many of the stories is how the author uses familiar settings to explore less familiar emotional terrain. A sales manager on a bike ride. A widow cleaning out a house. Someone facing the remains of a broken relationship or a restless conscience. The ideas in the book aren’t complicated, but they’re honest, and the writing doesn’t hide behind fancy language. Sometimes the sentences hit like a quick tap on the shoulder. Other times they stretch out, winding through a character’s history the way a person might ramble when they finally feel safe enough to tell the truth.
By the time I finished the last story, I felt like I’d been listening to a friend talk through the strange business of being alive. That’s probably what I appreciated most. The book has a reflective quality that never slips into preaching. Instead, it invites you to think about your own unexpected turns and how you handled them, or didn’t. If you enjoy character-driven fiction, if you like stories that pause on the small moments where everything quietly shifts, or if you simply want a collection that feels both grounded and thoughtful, this one will likely speak to you.
Pages: 357 | ASIN : B0FFWGLNP7
Emotions as the Catalyst
Seasons of Life and Love takes readers on a journey through themes of loss, regret, longing, and joy in a collection of poems centered on the complexities of human emotion. Can you share a bit about your writing process?
I never force my thoughts or words. Something very simple may trigger a thought: a sunset, a breeze, a cloud, a flower. A single flash from a firefly at evening. Then I form an idea in my mind and begin a mental journey.
How do I feel when I look at that sunset? What has my day been like? Do I have any regrets? I put myself in the picture. I ask myself: What simple thought do I want to express? If I can answer that question, then I proceed slowly. I write from developing emotions and elaborate point by point and try end the final stanza with a powerful thought, to let it linger in the reader’s mind.
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When I begin to write poetry, I have one rule in mind. Use simple words, paint clear mental pictures, and write so that the reader can easily grasp the message. If my words strike a common chord with the reader’s feelings, then he/she can figuratively “own” it and call it to mind at will. Powerful thoughts can be expressed with simple words. I want the poem to reflect upon the reader, not upon the poet. Words can last forever; poets do not.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
It began as a personal experience. When I experienced personal tragedy, I went for long walks. I noticed that the weather resembled my life. It was sunny one day, stormy the next, life-threatening occasionally, and afterward, peacefully calm. I had no audience, I wasn’t writing a novel, I was describing my feelings as they related to the weather.
Sometimes I just wrote about the weather. Nature is a very moving experience if one stops to sense its changes. I wrote about losing love, and finding love; and the doubt that comes to mind, questioning the wisdom of signing up for more pain; and that overwhelming sense of euphoria one experiences when the universe aligns with your heart. But it can also be temporary, and when that came, I wrote about that, too. Not all poems were about me, though. Sometimes I would use a personal feeling and generalize a poem, using my emotions as the catalyst. For example, the poem “Jewels,” a romantic poem about a lover returning home in the early morning hours after visiting his love, was developed around the idea of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.
I rarely write with a specific audience in mind. I write to express inner feelings. If they find an audience (and who hasn’t lost love?) then, that is my audience. I don’t want my poems to be or sound contrived. They must be genuine. If I sense I am slipping into contrivance, I stop and discard the poem. Do I know what I will write about next? No. I have no idea. If asked to write about a certain subject, I cannot. I can only describe what I feel.
Do you have a favorite poem in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
Do I have a favorite poem? I have many. They must all reach the same standard. “A Ray of Sun” – This was one of my first poems written after losing my family. I was walking a path that took me across a floating bridge over a stretch of water. The day had been cloudy, reflecting my disposition. Midway across the bridge, the sun broke through the cloud, low in the sky. The effect caused me to stop and feel better. It inspired hope. It was the first time I linked the weather to my emotions. Hence: “I knew if I could wait, if I could hang on long enough, I’d see the sun appear.”
“Everything is Beautiful” – this poem was inspired when I visited a retirement home. As I walked along the
hallway, I saw old men and women sitting alone in their rooms with the doors open, virtually abandoned
in a retirement home at the end of their lives. I asked myself: What do they feel inside, and what are their
dreams? I felt sad that someone should end their days like this.
“Hooked” – I love this poem because it is short and sweet and expresses in two stanzas how I felt when I fell in love.
“I Thought of You” – This poem describes perfectly how I felt when I had lost love. Because love lingers long after The Departed have departed.
“Jewels” – I have always loved this poem for the word pictures it elicits and the power of love to push one to great lengths and dangers to experience it.
“Love Whom You Wish” – This is a cautionary poem directed to the one who is leaving the relationship. I love the last stanza. It encapsulates the warning of the one abandoned.
“The Cost of Love” – This poem perfectly reflected my feelings when my relationship crumbled, and it juxtaposes the value each placed on the relationship.
“The Flood” – I wrote this poem with a smile on my face. I was reflecting upon the wonderful experience I had and the intensity of the relationship.
“The Fool” – I think this is one of my most lingering poems. How many have lost love, only to long for its return and be viewed as a fool for remembering it the rest of his/her life?
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
I have hundreds of poems. This is my first published book of poetry. Most of my poems are written in the same style. I have been able to express more clearly my feelings of finding love, basking in love, and losing love. Those are experiences shared by many. I found I was able to describe succinctly my feelings without becoming philosophical. I have simply described human nature.
But life is more than just love. We can find delight in living a day, watching a sunset, experiencing a rainstorm, and seeing the seasons change. I think my poetry has made me more keenly aware of the simple things that life has to offer and that are occurring around us all the time. Often, we overlook them. Don’t. They have been here longer than we. They comfort us. Stop and take note of the emotional treasures they bestow.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
A collection of poems about finding love, losing love, the change of seasons, and moments in the day. In short – it’s about life and love.
Freedom
Have You Heard This One Before is a lively mix of short stories that swing between mystery, humor, horror, sentiment, and quiet reflection. What was the inspiration for this collection of short stories?
There were many stories and topics I wanted to write about, but they didn’t merit the length of a novel. I enjoy the short story format, but realize that most published collections are centered on a theme or genre. I didn’t want to write under restrictions on my work, e.g., that it should be all horror stories. On the other hand, I understood that the appeal of a book with multiple genres would be difficult to market. Hopefully, there are readers out there who are open to fun, imaginative, funny, frightening tales, all in one collection.
What is it you enjoy about writing short stories over longer novel formats?
I love the opportunity to explore various types of stories. When people comment on my work as an author, I often tell them I’m more of a storyteller than an author. It’s fun to see if you can engage readers quickly and provide a quick read that entertains and, possibly, even makes a longer impression. You won’t find me writing romance novels anytime in the future, but I have written a romantic short story for this book. Some other tales are not substantive enough for a novel, but they are still worth exploring. Summing up the short stories’ appeal in one word, I’d say freedom.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in putting together this collection of stories?
Placement. What should come first? Should “The Loop Two” come right after “The Loop?” Where do I put my description of a romantic encounter? What do I end with? I also wanted to make sure the more whimsical stories didn’t feel out of place. The final order of the chapters involved a lot of thought. And to make it even more difficult, I kept coming up with new story ideas.
Do you have a favorite story in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
I have several that could qualify as favorites: “The Loop” and “The Loop Part Two,” “Drive,” “Hippity, Hoppity, Bang” (laugh out loud funny), and “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.” But my absolute favorite is “A Haunted Diary.” Many readers might find it too sentimental, but I believe the themes of kindness and returning home to relatives who have passed are universal. The final paragraph (spoiler alert) is one of my two favorites in the book (“Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” is the other).
Dear Diary – November 15, 2019, Friday
This will be my last entry. About three weeks of journaling, just like Mae, oddly enough. I’m heading to the hospital in an hour, and I won’t be coming home. I said goodbye to Mae. I’m sure she heard me, just as I’m sure she’s gone from the house and is saying hello to Josh right now. I’m going to hide this diary somewhere it won’t be found, until it’s needed. Then, it can reveal itself. As I reread this entry, I should make one change. I won’t be coming back to this house again, but I will be going home. And Josh will be waiting to meet me there.
All of my books include examples of the importance of kindness, even in the face of difficulty. “A Haunting Diary” is no exception.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
A lighthouse that holds a spirit and his memory. A diary and haunting that links the past and present. A drive down a road that stretches longer than an ocean of dreams. Snowflakes drifting softly over a horrified snowbird in Orlando. A love story that snares two workaholics, and a horror that brings out a laugh and tears from our protagonist.
From tender to terrifying, whimsical to wicked, these stories linger long after the last page turns. Romance, regret, mystery, laughter, fear—and at least one tragedy involving the Easter Bunny!
Every story is a surprise.
Every surprise is unforgettable.
Find your favorite twist in “Have You Heard This One Before.”
Seasons of Life and Love
Seasons of Life and Love is a wide-ranging collection of poems that moves through weather, memory, loss, longing, regret, and joy as if each emotion were its own season. The book ties nature to human feeling in simple, steady language. Storms mimic sorrow. Sunlight lifts the spirit. Quiet evenings bring reflection. The poet uses these images to guide the reader through moments of love, heartbreak, aging, family, and the slow unraveling and rebuilding that we all face. It is a gentle collection, and it lingers on the enduring hope that tomorrow may feel lighter than today.
I found myself pulled in by how honest the poems felt. The writing is plain and open. I kept thinking how the poet reaches for everyday scenes and somehow makes them feel personal. A shift in weather becomes a shift in the heart. A walk at dusk feels like a confession. Sometimes the rhymes tighten the lines in a way that made me smile. Other times they made the sadness feel sharper. I liked that the book never hid from pain. It met it head-on, almost with a kind of calm acceptance. I felt the weight of past loves, old mistakes, and long memories, and I found myself slowing down to take it in.
I also enjoyed the way the poet moves from the small to the big and back again. One poem sits quietly with a single moment. Another sweeps across years in only a few lines. The tone stays warm even when the subject turns dark. There were points where the sentiment leaned a bit heavy, but I could tell it came from a real place. The emotional sincerity is the glue of the book. I liked how the speaker often steps back to reflect on the choices they made. Those moments felt tender, sometimes even vulnerable. I could feel the author trying to make sense of life as it rushes by.
I feel that Seasons of Life and Love is written for readers who want poetry that speaks plainly yet feels deeply. It will appeal to anyone who loves nature imagery, reflections on love and time, or poems that read like diary entries set to rhythm. If you want something gentle, emotional, and rooted in real human experience, this poetry collection will be a good fit for you.
Pages: 126 | ASIN : B0DXR4YLLT
LITERARY TITAN 