What a difficult question this is for me and I am rarely, if ever, able to come up with a good answer simply because I am very eclectic in my creative writing just as I am in my choice of books to read.
Recently at a local event where I, hoping for some sales with my table of books plus three oil paintings on display, met a gentleman who struck up a conversation with me. The three paintings were of women's faces. One painting I call The Lady in Blue while another I call The Lady With an Earring and the third I call The Lady with a kerchief. This gentleman looked at the covers of my nineteen publications and he smiled as he looked at my Ladies.
"Ah, I see you write and you paint about the human condition."
"Indeed I do," I responded with a genuine smile because now, thanks to him, I have a good answer to the question when asked, "What are your books about?"
"I knew that," he said, "by looking at your book covers and your paintings."
I continued to smile and responded, "Thank you."
This gentleman hit the nail on the head because, yes, indeed, all my writing and all my painting is my expression about the human condition.
My first book, Sara, a Canadian Saga is about a struggling family making its way from the Maritimes to Ontario in search of a better life during the years of the Great Depression.
My second book, Reawakening, is a story about unrequited love in a world where the human condition no longer exists, yet the power of love surfaces.
My short stories focus on social issues and there are many issues I've written about including incest, alcoholism, domestic abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, teen suicide, body image, and many more. I let the characters share their stories and I hope their stories will be of help to readers.
Ellen and The Hummingtree is about a woman who, throughout her life, never seems to fit in; one who talks to her God in a rock; and one who in her last days is a victim of Alzheimer Disease, yet even in death she remains spiritually strong.
Crabapple Court is about a kidnapping but, more than this, it is about a single street in a small town and its inhabitants who live so nearby yet care and know so little about one another.
Beyond The Blue is a story for young readers about one young boy's challenge and victory over bullying.
Recompense is about an older couple who discover a chat room for the first time and find that their lives are turned upside down as a result. They are forced to take a real look at their lives; something they had not done in many years.
Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy is about a collision just before Christmas between a school bus and a snow plow but, more than this, it is about the impact that this tragedy has on the lives of the residents of Moose Road and how this tragedy leads to an even greater tragedy.
Dinner At Seven is a light romance about a man and a woman and about miscommunication so often evident in relationships today.
Keeping It Simple - Imagine Being Whole is a self-help manual, sharing some knowledge of the chakras, their emotional relevance, and the healing power of psychospiritual therapy for those struggling with emotional issues.
The Last Drop is a book for very young readers. It is about a rainy day, umbrellas, and it offers the opportunity to the reader to learn more about rhyming and the alphabet.
When God Gives Us Spring is about the life experience of a black slave during the dark days of slavery and the civil war in America.
Poetry From A to Z is an anthology of poems, all of which focus on the human condition.
Simply Be is not a story. It is a collection of thoughts, quotations, and words which encourage the reader to take the time to be who he is; not what he does.
All Them Houses is my most recent publication. It is part one of my memoir. I don't promote it much because I sometimes have my moments when I wish I did not publish this book; when I wish I did not put my own human condition on view for the critical eyes of others. Yet, it is written, and it is hoped that by sharing some of my personal life challenges it may help another to say, 'hey, that happened to me too', or 'Yes, that's right. I can relate to that.' Sometimes we mere mortals feel alone in our struggles but I find it helpful to know that if something undesirable happens in my life, that I'm not the only one, and that there is strength and there is power in the ability to make lemonade out of lemons.
Recently my life partner passed away. And by attempting to paint his portrait; to record his life in an album; to write a book about grieving; I continue to do my best to meet some of the challenges in my own human condition.
And life goes on. ♥♥♥
I love creative writing. I love to read books. I love to sell books. But I don't write just in order to sell books because even if I never sold a single book, I would still love creative writing. I always have loved writing stories ever since I was a young child. I hope you will want to buy a book because your purchase is a reward for this author; it makes me feel good to know my work is wanted and appreciated. But mostly I hope you will want to buy a book because you will really like the story. All my books are available in both Kindle and Paperback formats on all Amazon sites.
It's less than one year ago that I picked up a brush and discovered that I love oil painting. For most of my life I was intimidated by the talents of family members. But I feel more aware recently and I am of the opinion that art is a very subjective form. I am sure it is evident to anyone who sees my work that I am untrained, and unpolished, but I hope it is also evident that I am expressing who I am .............. far from perfect. I said to a friend recently, "I probably have more nerve than talent when it comes to oil painting." Yet, I put myself out there. I put my work out there. I put my thoughts, my hopes, and my prayers for a better world out there. And this is what I try to encourage others to do with my book titled Simply Be.
The Human Condition is not in very good shape. We have much to learn. But we also have much to give, much to share, and much to appreciate.
Life is good and life goes on. ♥♥♥
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