Hello readers, I am happy to be here with you today. It is snowy and windy here in Logan, Ohio. That of course does not stop me from doing anything. Today I will be posting about my newly released anthology “Wicked Intentions.” I will be giving away two print books of my poetry collection to lucky winners who either comment, or guess my trivia questions. So please pay attention and have some fun with us. Thank you.

I have been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several novels under my belt, I canvass paint.
When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dogs Jasmine and Scooter, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member of the Hocking Hill’s Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I believe in family values and following your dreams. My original canvass paintings, can be found at: http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com

Question and Answers:

1.
Tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out? I just finished Twisted Love, a true crime biography anthology, due out 2014.

2.
How would you describe yourself using only five words? shy, awkward, quiet, plumb, ambitious
3.
Do you have any guilty pleasures? food/desserts

4. If we asked your muse to describe you using five words, what do you think they would say? quiet/shy/ ambitious, helpful, friendly
5.
Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you. that I suppress my feelings
6.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? French Riviera

Poems:

I WAS

I was afraid to grow up.
Afraid of life.
I worried myself to death.
It was hard to breathe.
Like a fish out of water.
Like having asthma.
High school was hell-crazy wild.
My only plan.
Just get up and go.
Cant be like mom.
She always had a plan.
Living her life without any man.
Cant think that far.
Felt out of place.
Like dust floating in space.
Scared out of my mind.
Of what I might or might not find.
Cant hack relationships.
More drama.
Why waste the time.
Still confused, but still craving knowledge.
I need to do what I want-for myself.
Even if its just me who cares.
Even if no ones there.
It was a long hard road.
To get my act together.
All bad choices, solely I sowed.
Working for nickels and dimes.
Like a newborn.
Taking one step at a time.

SCARED

A new wife and mother.
Scared of life.
Scared to grow up.
Worry myself sick.
Never thought of a plan.
Didn’t want to be like the others.
Living my life according to my mother.
My life seemed over, before it began.
Cant think or feel.
Cant plan ahead.
Like a foolish child wanting to be a woman.
Some days to hard, just cant deal.
To confused to understand.
That growing up comes with demands.
Married badly, blamed myself.
Got out fast, and never looked back.
I covered myself in chaos.
All out of faith, money, and time.
Need to step back and take deep breaths,
and take one step at a time.
I cornered myself in chaos,
in false love, self loathing and lies.
Writing my future off as a loss.
Nothing left but sorrow, despair and good-byes.
Feeling helpless, lost and alone,
I felt I could accomplish nothing on my own.
I retreated to a place called the dark.
To contemplate my choices,
before my life’s journey embarked.
My only failures were the ones I created.
My bad choices were thorns all around.
It took years to find happiness and evolve.
My will to succeed is my solid ground.

ACHIEVED THROUGH STRIFE

In this bleak life of mine,
I walk the dark alleys of broken dreams.
A darkened corridor of lost tomorrows,
within a collage of unraveled seams.
My life simmered like a bad stew.
Hidden within a clutter of tear stained cheeks.
Living in darkness, an unbridled soul.
Torn between life and death, my future seemed bleak.
Despair cowered behind my eyes.
Once beautiful, I was left aged and alone.
Reflections in my sea of tears,
reminded me I was forgotten and solitary.
Stumbling over common life hurdles,
like a babe learning to crawl.
Losing everything to my lustful addictions,
of fear, failure, and shame.
Lost control of what was mine.
That poison controlled me for a while.
It felt bad and made me cry.
As emotional pain went on for miles.
I found courage with family and friends.
No more shadows, cold or rain.
The venom that once ruled my life,
is a faded memory I achieved through strife.
““““““““““““““““““““““
THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE

I wait patiently with the others,
and pray they choose me.
The one with the children and rent to pay.
The one who searches the want ads each day.
The one who will make beds or answer the phones.
The one who has three kids and lives on her own.
There’s only room for one more,
as another unwanted is discarded through the door
Each one with the look of fear or joy on their face.
All hoping for the same small slim chance.
Are they here, because they must?
Some seem so out of place.
They stab our hearts with another hope,
of cruel words I don’t want to hear.
They say they are here to help,
but offer nothing solid for under the belt.
The uncertainty I had, now subsides to lust.
My dreams of a job, now turns to dust.
So I put on my happy fake face.
The one that gets me through all the long days.
I wipe off the tears before I walk through the door.
My life has never seemed so empty before.
I tell my babies I love them and that life is unfair.
Then go about my life, pretending I don’t care.
Reality has now completely taken hold.
I’ve already spend the money from everything I’ve sold.
My head is spinning, don’t know what to do.
Cant give up though, “cause my kids are to precious to lose.
My fear of failure was not my imagination.
As my inner voice says you’re a beautiful creature.
The world is an evil place, filled with pain, hate, must.
My day was fruitless, filled with perfect disgust.
They stand there gloating at my futile attempt,
to provide for my children and earn a living.
A evil smile slashes across their face,
like an infected wound.
Their masterpiece is complete.
They can move on to their next evil feat.
No remorse, no regret, not a single trace.
Just breaking spirits in their usual hostile ways.
““““““““““““““““““““““`
TO THE NEXT CHAPTER

Shadowed by pain, I slowly melt.
Nowhere to go, nothing to do.
Only aggravation and loneliness felt.
My life left empty, with nothing to lose.
Suffocating, I fall into seethe.
Falling as my world crumbles.
I’m left wanting to believe, searching for hope.
Like an acrobat walking an unraveling tight rope.
I call to those I’ve hurt.
Leaving a message “remember me.’
I’ve done things I want to forget.
A obstruction I’ve tried to avert.
I crawl out of the past,
finding a way at last.
To rise up instead of fall.
Destroying this dreadful brick wall.
See me now, strong and brave.
For I will never be hurt again.
I know I will adhere,
shedding this torment and pain.
The one I see in the mirror,
is someone, special and kind.
I now focus on what I am after,
moving forward, to the next chapter.

SUNSET

The sunset glimmers sweetly,
like the smile of a child.
Colors all ablaze,
sending chills up my spine.
But don’t fall in love,
fore its beauty does last but a short while.
Listen to its envious sigh,
as it cowers behind the horizon.
Singing its sweet song of women and men.
Warning the moon is nigh.
Dissolving into the darkness,
the light no longer there.
It is the source of mystery,
in an irreplaceable history.
The brilliance of its colors, vibrant, divine.
Taking all the hues, leaving an empty sky behind.
Sad does it make me-until a new day.
When I may gaze upon its sisterly sunrise haze.

7.
How do you get yourself in the mood to write? just think of something to start a story with whether that be a character or setting