Projects

Silver Star is a sci-fi romance starring Josephine “Josie” Steward who has been recently jilted by her devious ex-husband.  Spurning her family’s money and influence, Josie’s out to prove to everyone, and herself, that she is made of stronger stuff and that she can make it on her own by becoming a miner on the moon Styria.

 

Intent on beginning a new life, she books passage on the spaceship Silver Star, home to an eclectic crew, most notably weather-beaten and disillusioned captain Steven Wilderen.  Long ago he decided that the lone-wolf life in space was for him, and has distanced himself from everyone except his friend, ship’s doctor Neil Tasder.  Like the captain, Neil has chosen a life of solitude, though filled with casual and short-term affairs.

 

To her surprise, Josie attracts the attention of both men with her outgoing spirit and charming charisma.  However, Josie is cautious with both men, instead concentrating on where she is going and the new life ahead of her.

 

Josie soon learns that the galaxy is not as clean cut and safe as she was always led to believe as the Silver Star becomes the victim of a galactic political upheaval.  Not sure if they will make it out alive, Josie becomes involved with the crew, assisting with one incident after another.  And just when it seems they are out of danger, Josie stumbles upon a much more personal plot against the miners.  Will she be able to save them, and in the process herself?  And will she be able to trust the one man who is slowly stealing her heart?

Ages ago I wrote the sweet lines, the candy words.

Angsty, romantic, youthful

Then lost to the years

Never to find     never to find

I watched the taxi roll away

All those sweet lines, all those candy words

Hidden, in the back

Driving away forever.

Dried up forever.

Working on developing my memoirs into a book, discussing the relationships we have with our parents, the relationship we have with ourselves, and coming to terms with the truth of those relationships.

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I'm exploring the dichotomy I have felt in much of my life, such as wanting to continue a relationship with my parents despite its toxic nature.  I'm exploring both sides of people, seeing both the good and the bad.  This includes discussing topics such as abuse and parental expectations along with their coping with a daughter with mental health issues.

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Thank you to Inkwell Workshops and Reinhilde Cammaert Memorial Scholarship for all the amazing support as I work on this project.

Up and down. Stairs up, stairs down

Up the stairs to the door, down the stairs to the TV

Slippy wood under socks,

     little feet running wildly with no concern

Musty and old even then,

Stuffiness lost to the senses of youthful exuberance

All the energy it gave, all the protection

All taken for granted

A bad assumption it would always be there.

Piled and piled with stuff,

     burying your world under junk

It grew tired, as we did. 

Age, time, falling apart bit by bit

Till one day, it’s all too much. 

The heaviness weighs down.

Too much up, too much down. 

Those stairs up, those stairs down.

Now sucking the energy out,

     the stuffiness obvious to all

I want those days back.  The energy, the youth.

I never heard the noticeable creaks getting worse

Never heard my weight,

     the weight of years, till it was all too late

Till never again, up and down those wooden stairs