My 2012 Horrorku Is Now Available in Scifaikuest - 10th Anniversary issue

I'm excited to announce that the 10th Anniversary issue of Scifaikuest is now available at http://sdpbookstore.com/scifaikuest.htm

Along with the featured poet Albert W. Grohmann, you will find my 2012 horrorku in the print edition. This is my second appearance in this magazine. I had my scifi tanka, BRAIN SPIDERS, published in the November 2009 print edition issue.

I can't wait to have my copy of the print edition arrive in the mail any day now.

Feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have any questions or comments.

CHEERS!

My Bleeding Ink Bio Explained

Did you see my bio in Bleeding Ink - A Collection of Dark Tales? If so, you probably have some questions about it. Bios are suppose to be true. Well, let me explain.

"Madeline Barr haunts Southern Ontario"Yes, I'm in Southern Ontario, alive. I don't think I need to expand on that.

"...the keeper of critters..."I have a pet guinea pig name Beanie and a leopard gecko named Amigo. I love my critters. Sorry, no gremlin or demons.

"and the breaker of bones."Um ya, this one takes a little explaining. You could see it as I break wishbones, as most of us have. I've also broken a few of my bones....and....I broke someone else's bone. Ok wait, let me explain. He was a friend..oh, I guess that didn't help. It was an innocent accident. We were teenagers pushing each other into the snow banks and when I shoved him he slipped on some ice and broke his arm. He was our school's drummer and he was unable to play at the Christmas concert. He never blamed me and he forgave me. Though I did get razzed about it for years.

"...When possessed, she writes articles about lizards or ghosts..."
Writing is not my full time job. I have a day job and when the feeling strikes, I write. I like to write. I had a children's non-fiction article about Amigo, my lizard, published in WeeOnes magazine and one article I wrote about ghosts for the Perspective newsletter was recognized by local news paper.

"...conjure up the occasional sci-fi poem..."
Bleeding Ink was not the first sci-fi poem I've had published. I've had one previously published in Scifaikuest in November 2009 and another will be published again in Scifaikuest in August 2012.

So there you have it. My creepy bio broken down into not so freaky facts. Don't be too disappointed, I do have a mysterious dark side that very few know about. Hang around, you'll see it when I feel possessed to reveal it.

I am so excited to announce ...

Bleeding Ink - A Collection of Dark Tales (Ink Babes Press) was released in ebook format through Smashwords on July 3, 2012.

There are nearly 40 contributors to this anthology. Look for my ghostly poem titled, YOU ARE NOT MY CHILD.

If you're interested in dark and creepy stories and poems I'm sure you will find this book gruesomely satisfying with a hellishly low price.

The ebook can be purchased on Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/178855

The official press release for the ebook can be found at http://bleedinginkanthology.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/press-release-for-bleeding-ink-now-available-at-smashwords/#comment-243

JACK-O-LANTERNS - An Acrostic Poem

I've posted this acrostic poem before but I thought I'd post is again since it fits the occasion.

JACK-O-LANTERNS
by Madeline Barr

Jagged tooth grin
And nothing to say.
Candy he guards,
Keeping ghouls away.

Orange, cool armor he wears. His

Life, an internal light.
Armed with an eerie glow and the
Natural darkness of night.
Triangular, flashing eyes
Examine the area for miles.
Relentlessly protecting the sweet treats but
Never forgetting to
Smile!

Hiking Up My Socks

I decided to hike up my socks and get to work polishing a picture book manuscript I have been working on-and-off for a long time.

So, last week I pulled it out of the draw and something interesting happened. That same day I had two different volunteer groups come to me and basically say, 'We'd like to use your writing skills. Can you help us? Would you write..." I don't mind helping and of course I said 'yes' but I find it funny that these requests come to me as soon as I decide to put all my focus on one of my bigger personal writing projects. My analytical mind now starts to wonder why this has happened and if there is a bigger meaning?

I think the bigger meaning is, 'you need to write...more...now.' I have finished one of the requests already and the client was very happy. Surprisingly, it wasn't as tough as I thought it was going to be. The other project will not happen for a while.

For now, I am looking to submit some smaller works, mainly poems, to magazines and web sites while I continue to work on my picture book manuscript and get it agent ready. Yay me!

Off ryhmes, Near Rhymes, Imperfect Rhymes...

... half rhymes or oblique rhymes. It doesn't matter what you call it the outcome is the same. It is when two words are close in rhyming but don't quite rhyme. Like cover and other, here and weird

Cover has a V sound in the middle and the word Other has a TH sound. Not the same.

Weird has a D sound at the end where the word Here doesn't.

So what are your thoughts on using near rhymes? Take my poll on the right and let me know.

I Received A Lovely Email

On Friday I received a lovely email surprise. It was from an Academic Intervention Facilitator in Florida asking permission to reproduce my work so it could be used in the school and possibly in other schools in the district) to help teach the elementary school children to read better. She found 4 of my poems published in Fandangle Online Magazine and wanted reproduce the poems and write questions pertaining to the poems for the students. She also said she appreciated any addition pieces I would be willing to send.

Well, of course I was thrilled my work was being used to promote reading so I said yes and I sent her my acrostic poem, JACK-O-LANTERNS. I'm pleased someone took the time to request permission to copy these pieces. It means a lot to me.

So, to the students of Dundee Elementary School, Florida, I hope you enjoy my poems and please feel free to email me if you have any questions or if you just want to say hi.