Month: February 2017

Baring your soul

Scott Andrew Bailey1 Comment

I have at various points in my life had to bare my soul top strangers.

When we lost our second child and attended group therapy – we bared our feelings. (There’s still plenty there though that needs to come out).

When we working through the adoption process we had to really lay bare our lives and feelings.

I find it both difficult but worthwhile. To get know yourself better is a good thing – you can only learn and improve.

What got me thinking back on this is the fact that I have just completed an author Interview for my good comrades over at Thanet Writers. Watch this space I will post links when it’s published.

While not as personal it as quite difficult to do. I think it was because I don’t really see myself as any kind of proper writer – just a dabbler. It will be interesting to see the reaction, though.

Four Star Rating and review – for Thirteen tales!

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Incredibly pleased and appreciative of the latest (and first for this book) review of Thirteen Tales – many thanks, Janet Gogerty.

Featured Image -- 7657

See the review below or click here for the original on Amazon.

This review is from: Thirteen Tales: of Ghosts (Kindle Edition)
All the stories in this collection are very different, savour them one at a time. I was very taken with Cycles, an astute tale of teenage boys, with a twist of course. Fire and Ice takes us somewhere deep… Terminal is a very modern tale, Shipwreck not for the faint hearted. I loved A Ghost Scene, one to amuse. Don’t read The Church at bedtime, be sure your past will catch up with you in ‘Suspense’ and you will not want to live in the country by yourself if you read ‘The Valley. Mother completes the collection with a very dark ending. Whether you like to be entertained or wonder what really lies beyond, this is the book for you.

Slurred

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Words slurred
Danger
Thoughts blurred
Danger
Moral smudged
Danger
Figures fudged
Danger
Modern life

 

In response to the daily prompt slur

#DailyPrompt

Rhythym

Scott Andrew Bailey2 Comments

By Scott Bailey 2017

Let the rhythm of the future
Not be
The rhythm of the past
Let us change it
Though the task be hard
And let it be
Beautiful
Let it be vast
Lest it be elegant
And true

 

In response to the daily prompt Rhythmic

#DailyPrompt

Thirteen Tales – Now available in paperback

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For those of you who like the feel of real paper….

Thirteen Tales of Ghosts is now available in paperback! Check it out here.

Or go here for a sample.

ThirtFeatured Image -- 7657een Tales of Ghosts

By Scott Bailey

A collection of short stories concerning ghosts. Some are traditional ghost stories in the tradition of M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe. Other are not. Some scare, some are fun. Some play with the concept of a ghost. There are ghosts who are out for revenge and the living avenging the spirits that curse them.

Ideal for sitting around a campfire and late at night under the covers. Or maybe not if the stories themselves are any guide.

Check it out at Amazon and Smashwords and other online e-book retailers.

A paperback version is here for those who prefer the feel of the paper while huddling by the fire – on your own – in the dark – with that noise behind you……

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

 

Sweat

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By Scott Bailey © 2017

Hippos do not deign
To sweat in the summer heat
Wallow in cool mud

 

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #137 Sweat&Heat

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Alexander’s Half Term Adventures

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This one spookily fits today’s Daily Prompt. #DailyPrompt

A bit of guest post here – from Bailey junior – courtesy of homework duty.

Alexander’s Half Term Adventures

By Alexander Bailey

My family and I went for an adventure in the park.

First, we went over the bridge to play pooh sticks.

Also, we went on a nature walk and rare yellow 7 spotted ladybird.

Photo by Scott Bailey
Photo by Scott Bailey

Next, we climbed a really big hill that had a windy path that led to a secret hideout. Also, the path was very steep.

20170219_150222 20170219_150623 20170219_150633

We also saw more hideouts.

20170219_145129 20170219_150004 20170219_151518

After that, we rolled down a grassy, muddy hill.

Then we went bird watching and saw some ducks and a dove. After that, we played pooh sticks again.

20170219_152823 20170219_153337

On last Thursday I went scootering with my grandad and cousin.

We also made a den at home.

20170218_155901

The End

Four Star Rating and review – for Thirteen tales!

Scott Andrew BaileyLeave a comment

Incredibly pleased and appreciative of the latest (and first for this book) review of Thirteen Tales – many thanks, Janet Gogerty.

Featured Image -- 7657

See the review below or click here for the original on Amazon.

This review is from: Thirteen Tales: of Ghosts (Kindle Edition)
All the stories in this collection are very different, savour them one at a time. I was very taken with Cycles, an astute tale of teenage boys, with a twist of course. Fire and Ice takes us somewhere deep… Terminal is a very modern tale, Shipwreck not for the faint hearted. I loved A Ghost Scene, one to amuse. Don’t read The Church at bedtime, be sure your past will catch up with you in ‘Suspense’ and you will not want to live in the country by yourself if you read ‘The Valley. Mother completes the collection with a very dark ending. Whether you like to be entertained or wonder what really lies beyond, this is the book for you.

Reviews

Scott Andrew BaileyLeave a comment
Mankind_Limited_Cover_for_Kindle

A_Spring_of_Dreams_Cover_for_Kindle

“This book ⇑⇑⇑ should be a movie. Somewhere in Hollywood right now there are actors waiting for their agents to deliver this story in script format to them. The makings of all action-packed adventure films is here. I can see the film in my mind’s eye.
But this one is different.

It’s not fast-paced for the thrill of it alone. It needs to be to get the message across. Mankind could be on the threshold of just such a future. Time is racing.

This one could be us.

Maybe a few years down the line yet, maybe already almost there in some similar format. Change a few details. Replace one group for another. Look behind the motives in politics and corporations. Stretch the reality just a little. Ask ourselves questions looking through the light of a different lens.

It feels like us, it acts like us, it may very well come…”

“Great concept to write a poem a day for a year and provides an insight into copying with difficult family circumstances – a recommended read for anyone who has struggled in such situations. Some poems were obviously more personal than others (my favourites were those when the writer cherishes the ‘small moments’ in life such as going to a fireworks display with his wife and son) but he also branches out into more political territory. Look out for the funny poems scattered through-out the book too, one in particular made me laugh out loud! A good read and Scott Bailey shows talent as a poet. Recommended.”

Glitter

Scott Andrew Bailey4 Comments

By Scott Bailey 2017

The glitterati glitter
While the paparazzi pack
Lines full of lies and libel
To shore up the moral we lack
The world wide web weaves wonders
Hyperlinks hypnotise
The people they rage and thunder
Swallowing all of the lies
So watch the things that glisten
Watch the lustre and shine
And remember that nobody listens
Any of the time

 

In response to the daily prompt Glitter

#DailyPrompt

Alexander’s Half Term Adventures

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A bit of guest post here – from Bailey junior – courtesy of homework duty.

Alexander’s Half Term Adventures

By Alexander Bailey

My family and I went for an adventure in the park.

First, we went over the bridge to play pooh sticks.

Also, we went on a nature walk and rare yellow 7 spotted ladybird.

Photo by Scott Bailey
Photo by Scott Bailey

Next, we climbed a really big hill that had a windy path that led to a secret hideout. Also, the path was very steep.

20170219_150222 20170219_150623 20170219_150633

We also saw more hideouts.

20170219_145129 20170219_150004 20170219_151518

After that, we rolled down a grassy, muddy hill.

Then we went bird watching and saw some ducks and a dove. After that, we played pooh sticks again.

20170219_152823 20170219_153337

On last Thursday I went scootering with my grandad and cousin.

We also made a den at home.

20170218_155901

The End

Translate

Scott Andrew Bailey2 Comments

By Scott Bailey 2017

If only we could translate
Emotions as we could words
Maybe wars would be less
Maybe they would be worse

 

In response to the daily prompt Translate

#DailyPrompt

Birthdays – not so happy

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Happy Birthday, son, Lucas who should have been 5 today.

Happy birthday William – up there with him teaching him how to play lego.

Happy birthday to his cousin Hayden – over the seas in the green land.

Juicy

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Unlike an orange
The juicy details of life
Are deep down inside

 

In response to the daily prompt Juicy

#DailyPrompt

Expectation

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By Scott Bailey 2017

No expectation
No disappointment
One philosophy
Expecting it all
Throwing tantrums when denied
A more common one
There has to be a better way.

In response to the daily prompt Expectation

#DailyPrompt

Seriousness

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Seriousness
Has been whittled away
Belittled and demonised
For the serious
Are not good
Consumers
Why so…

In response to the daily prompt seriousness

#DailyPrompt

Fading

Scott Andrew Bailey3 Comments

An old one that fits.

By Scott Bailey © 2013

Blue eyes turned purple
Deep purple and very still
Watching all my life

 

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #136 Eye&Fade

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Lukewarm

Scott Andrew Bailey1 Comment

By Scott Bailey 2017

A lukewarm life
Mine could be considered
Is that a bad thing?
Or maybe
The heat
Is deep and concealed
Who can tell?

In response to the daily prompt Lukewarm

#DailyPrompt

The Errant Fox

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That little flurry of posts – a series of poems about wolves and foxes that I wrote some time ago, was prompted by a Facebook post that tickled me earlier.

A local resident had posted on our village Facebook Page “Has anyone lost a dog? It’s in my house and going mad.”

He posted a picture.

It was a fox.

🙂

Still Available! Thirteen Tales.

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Grab it now and enjoy – Thirteen Tales (of Ghosts). Spread the word!

13talescoverc

A collection of short stories concerning ghosts. Some are traditional ghost stories in the tradition of M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe. Other are not. Some scare, some are fun. Some play with the concept of a ghost. There are ghosts who are out for revenge and the living avenging the spirits that curse them.

Ideal for sitting around a campfire and late at night under the covers. Or maybe not if the stories themselves are any guide.

Check it out at Amazon and Smashwords and other online e-book retailers.

A paperback version os being worked on for those who prefer the feel of the paper while huddling by the fire – on your own – in the dark – with that noise behind you……

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Aware

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Futility, the child of awareness
Perhaps ignorance is bliss
Not a choice I would make
Action begins in awareness
Except in rivers and clouds

In response to the daily prompt Aware

#DailyPrompt

Heard

Scott Andrew Bailey2 Comments

By Scott Bailey 2017

It’s hard to be heard in the herd
The shared shards of pain shred
The glass glistens but no one listens
To the words of bards and the birds
Yes, it’s hard to be heard

In response to the daily prompt Heard

#DailyPrompt

Tremble

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So, either it has snowed in our bathroom, there has been the mother of all cocaine parties or somebody who will remain nameless (starts with an L end with an M few vowels in between) has found Mummy’s talcum powder.

I don’t know what my kids will be when they grow up – but one way or another they will make the world tremble.

In the meantime – here’s an old poem that fits in with today’s prompt.

By Scott Bailey 2014

I have seen giants
Striding over the land
Power on their shoulders
Stern and strong their hand

Never do they falter
Never seen one stumble or fall
Always do their duty
Always answer the call

Through storm and wind and rain
The carry their burden true
Though other links may burn out
The giants stride on through

So remember this and tremble
Even the giants will pass
Fall into dust and rusty ruin
Scattered in untamed grass

One day their burden will dissipate
Their purpose will disappear
And the duty they discharged so well
A memory dimmed with time

In response to the daily prompt Tremble

#DailyPrompt

The Message

Scott Andrew Bailey1 Comment

By Scott Bailey 2017

Look for the message
Lovingly crafted
Full of compassion and care
Look for it in the news
If you find it
Follow the crafter
For they are rare

In response to the daily prompt Lovingly
but also
In response to the daily prompt Craft from yesterday.

#DailyPrompt

Sinking

Scott Andrew Bailey5 Comments

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Oh how I would love
For the world to be lighter
Not a sinking mess

 

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #135 Love&Light

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

The Pyre Beacon of Books

Scott Andrew Bailey2 Comments

By Scott Bailey 2017

When will come the time
Fascism is recognised?
When books start burning?

In response to the daily prompt Recognize

#DailyPrompt

Overwhelming

Scott Andrew Bailey5 Comments

So today’s prompt is overwhelming. Couldn’t have been more appropriate. I wouldn’t say it was the last straw but I can see the camel’s back straining.

I don’t know what is happening but there has been a constant stream of bad news after bad news. Money, work security, autism, and health issue after health issue. Spent the entire day at the hospital today with no real outcome as such.

Normally I would say this is exactly the time to write – the get it all out – but today I am just too tired for it – to try and write poetry anyway.

On the flip side – I am also overwhelmed by the support from the family rallying around and helping out – even though many of the health issue bearing down on us belong to them!

Need some good news – a chink of daylight – just to aim for right now.

In response to the daily prompt Overwhelming

#DailyPrompt

Clean

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Clean sweep
Clean start
Clean up
On a clean page
Clean sheet
Clean bill of health

Don’t they know?
Things grow in dirt.

In response to the daily prompt Clean

#DailyPrompt

Resistance

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By Scott Bailey 2017

Resistance is futile
So they say
Sometimes
It certainly feels that way
But from resistance
We get the heat
Without which
We would be
Incomplete
Heat is energy
That turns into action
Action and reaction
The turning of the engine of
Revolution

In response to the daily prompt Resist

#DailyPrompt