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14 April 2021 | NPM | “Memento Mori”

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by Jack Calavera

 Memento Mori.
 Her clenched fist 
 Bloomed like a rose.
 Hands together in prayer 
 Holding all of her bones.
  
 Memento Mori.
 The words she
 Yearned to hear.
 Letting her know
 I'm aging.
 Untimely, I can disappear.
  
 Memento Mori.
 Stay.
 Stay with me.
 Baby, please stay
 With me.
 Remind me I'm running 
 Out of time.
 Watch me work.
 Keep me company.
  
 Memento Mori.
 More than my bones,
 I want to leave a legacy.
 Till then my dear,
 You can have me.

Jack Calavera grew up in a small town in Arvin, CA and is active in the art community in
Bakersfield CA where he currently lives. He’s an upcoming musician, often preaches and acts on living to your fullest potential. His writing revolves around, love, life, death and mental health.

11 April 2021 | NPM | “Depression”

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by Shelley Evans

 DEPRESSION
  
                 Depression hits,
                 the past is haunting;
                 but life goes on,
                 albeit daunting.
  
                 Depressed
                 Stressed
                 Pressed
                 Still blessed
  
  
 DEPRESSION  LIFTED
  
                 Sunday’s message from the pastor
                 in the ears, straight to the heart,
                 lifting the depression,
                 allowed a clean, fresh start.
  
                 A new day
                 to pray
                 and say
                 He is The Way

Named after poet Percy Shelley, nature inspires Shelley’s poetry.  Several of her poems appear in chapbooks and anthologies, and her debut book was published in 2020.  Shelley is a wife, mother of 3 grown girls, dog mom, legal secretary, member of WOK and Parkside Church.  Rhyming is breathing to Shelley.

16 April 2020 | NPM Poetry Webslam

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When the Going Gets Tough
by Sandy Sanford


When the going gets tough,
the tough get softer.
They have less to protect, as
all around them have their defenses down.
 
When the going gets tough,
the tough can care, be strong for others,
reach out and be there.
The tough weather the storm with those endangered.
 
When the going gets tough,
the tough take off their boxing gloves,
reach out a soft hand,
warm others with a kindness.
 
When the going gets tough,
the tough shave their calluses
on real fear, and offer joy
and hope to those in despair.
 
When the going gets tough,
the tough stay strong, so
when those around melt down,
they do not disappear.
 
When the going gets tough,
the tough can be vulnerable.
They know they are strong.
They’ve practiced their fight song.

Sandy Sanford, a Bakersfield native, left town for thirty years to see the world.  When she returned in 1999, she surprised mostly herself, and stayed.  The world now comes to her.  Dozens of International Students from CSUB have found her home, their home away from home.   

Known as an adventurer, challenger, connector, participator, friend; she loves travel, photography, scuba diving, a good story, journaling and synchronicity.

8 December 2019 | Jenny Estes Book Signing and WOK Bookfair Fundraising Event at Barnes & Noble

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Barnes & Noble is holding a book signing for author and WOK member Jenny Lynn Estes. On December 8th from 2:00-4:00 pm, Jenny will have copies of her book: The Anglican Rosary: Going Deeper with God-Prayers and Meditations with the Protestant Rosary, as well as sample Rosaries, available for personalization at the bookstore on California Avenue.

This event is coordinated with a Writers of Kern Bookfair Fundraising Opportunity. A percentage of net proceeds from Barnes & Noble sales on December 8 (instore and online) will be donated to Writers of Kern. This is a wonderful opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts and support our organization.

BARNES & NOBLE is located at 4001 California Ave., Bakersfield and open on Sundays from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Calling all Horror Writers Opportunity Knocking!

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War Monkey Publications, LLC
is pleased to announce open submissions for our upcoming anthology:

FROM THE YONDER

A horror, short-story collection of regional legends and tall-tales from around the World.

We are seeking short story submissions (1000-7500 words) for this anthology. The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest).
We are seeking stories in the horror genre. Inclusion of elements of other genres is welcome, so long as, overall, the story is an horror story. The subject of the story can be based on any legend, so long as it has a horrific flavor. Ghosts, hauntings, alien abductions, monsters, demons, spirits, witches, etc, all are acceptable, as long as the subject is based on an actual legend or tall tale.

Submissions are open between 1 August and 19 September 2019. 
Submission info will be posted on our website: https://warmonkeypublications.com/submissions

The Submission Deadline is:
Talk Like a Pirate Day, 19 September 2019, at 11:59PM MST
Submit via Email to: warmonkeysubs@gmail.com