My Cardboard Balcony

I thought I was going to talk about my first official rejection letter (actual paper rejection letter, not "rejection e-mail" - I don't count those) - a kind, personal note from a publisher telling me to keep sending out my manuscript, thinking it was a "good novel" and love story. I was going to type out my thoughts and feelings about it, as well as my promise to save and tack up every single rejection letter I get. And how I will work hard to see my writing exposed to an audience who wants to read it. Instead, something happened today at work that I can't get out of my head. So as much as I could be sappy regarding the rejection letter and perseverance and confidence (and a very kind Eloise Klein Healy from  Arktoi Books , who I thank with all my heart for her words and time) despite any setback - I'm going to hit on something else. And that something is: I hate bullying. I've mentioned the terrible power of bullying in a previous Introspecti...

Separate Lives by Belinda Roddie   Chocolate cake shared over a night of several dreams While headlights streak our heads with gold for the time being Reins in each hand, you trot into the glade To be swallowed in a fog of lovely purple haze Simple images kept in a chest by the bedside table, The box with the painted couple from an ancient fable Teaching me how to fly without falling off the ledge Of some nightmarish gremlin’s trap to keep those on edge And though you spit jewels from your mouth, it only is Your eyes that keep the evening precious in the end Luscious fairytales will give me things to dream about While flowers blooming like fireworks in July you just can’t live without So you’ll relax, for you live the story in its breath And I shall read that story until my exhausted death Or until you reappear upon the glade sunk with snow Enough for fish to freeze in, while the wind deals harsher blows ‘Til we share another slice of dark desire with knives To penetrate all the...

"I see you've lost your luggage." "Yes. I have paperwork and tickets and everything..." "May I ask what the luggage looked like?" "...Sparkly." "Sparkly?" "Yeah. Sparkly. Can't miss it." "May I ask what color your luggage is?" "I dunno. A sparkly color?" "Oookay. How about the stuff on it. Does it have a particular tag?" "...It has sparkly zippers." "Okay, how about - " "SPARKLY."