Do you remember back when we were kids? Some days, I remember it like it was yesterday and some days I try really hard to forget. Life wasn’t so good back then, and yet, we both had it so much better than most, at least, most of the people we knew.

I know you never understood why I was so unhappy. You were the cheerful one, always with a smile and those blue eyes. Mom even said recently that you were one the boys always made comments about. See, they made comments about me too, but I guess she never saw that. You were tiny and cute and I was a big girl, tall for my age with big breasts and a full figure. I was never fat, but it sure seemed Mom thought I was. Oh, yeah, the men looked at me too. I guess Mom forgot that. Seems she forgets a lot of things, perhaps conveniently. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear friends and fellow readers and writers,

I know it’s been a long time since Unsent Letters has been updated. I need to apologize to everyone for that.

Unsent Letters was a brilliant idea that came at an inopportune moment, and unfortunately, it was piled on to a list of things to do that was too big, too heavy and the weight of that list bent the support holding it. What this means for you guys is that Unsent Letters took a backseat while other more immediate concerns were dealt with, including: survival, health issues, sleep… you know, minor stuff, and then also other obligations I had created that quite frankly can only be best described as saying: I bit off more than I could chew.

Partly this was because I didn’t plan well going into all these new projects; partly this was because Unsent Letters did better and received more response than I could possibly imagine it would. In less than two weeks, I’d received over 200 submissions almost immediately upon putting out the news, and that was before the site even indexed in Google! Read the rest of this entry »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Twin Trinity Media / Accentuate Services
michy@twintrinitymedia.com

TEXAS, USA – July 3, 2009 Twin Trinity Media, part of the Accentuate FAMILY of Author Services, announces the Accentuate Writers Anthology Elements of the Soul has gone to print and will be released late this summer. The collection of short stories and poems is a compilation of the winners of the Accentuate Writers Short Story Anthology and Poetry Contest that took place in 2008. Writers braved tough competition to vie for a place in the anthology, a royalty contract, cash and merchandise prizes.

The stories and poems in Elements of the Soul were written on four themes: “Fire & Ice”, “Winds of Change”, “April Showers” and “Summer Heat”. Contestants’ submissions were judged on use of theme, adherence to submission guidelines and quality of the story and writing. In addition to the contest winners’ stories, two authors were included in the anthology as Editor’s Picks and received royalty contracts.

The Accentuate Writers Short Story Anthology and Poetry Contest, now in its second year, gives writers an opportunity to obtain critiques, a chance to win cash and merchandise prizes, and a publishing contract. Anyone is eligible to enter the contests for a small fee, but only the best work rises to the top and is included in the Accentuate Writers Anthology.

The managing editor for Twin Trinity Media and owner of Accentuate Services, Michelle L Devon, says, “I have been honored to watch the contests grow and the writers grow along with them. The stories are getting better and the competition is fierce. I’m proud to play a small part in helping make writing dreams come true with these contests and anthologies. It’s very exciting and humbling.”

Authors for Elements of the Soul include: Steven Thor Gunnin, Jennifer Walker, Rissa Watkins, Lindsay Maddox, George Kramer, Lucinda Gunnin, Jo Brielyn, M. Lori Motley, Susan Sosbe and Laurie Darroch-Meekis. The anthology also features talented poets to fill in the pages between stories with wonderful imagery and substance. Michelle L Devon, author of In a Perfect World and The Path: A Series on Redemption and Sensual Awakening, who is a contributing author to other anthologies herself, edited the book and contributed to the foreword.

Elements of the Soul is currently available at a special pre-order price of $13.00, which includes shipping and handling, taxes and a specially made bookmark. Orders can be placed at THIS LINK.

Accentuate Services has been in business for over fourteen years and is dedicated to providing services to authors, from publishing consulting to editing and writing coaching. Other ventures that are part of the Accentuate FAMILY of Author Services include Unsent Letters, Recipes & Recovery, Erotic Anthologies, and the Accentuate Writers Forum, with other projects in the works. Visit the website at www.AccentuateServices.com for more information.

###

Twin Trinity Media / Accentuate Services
c/o: Michelle L Devon
Toll-Free: 866.641.8130
Michy@twintrinitymedia.com

http://www.accentuateservices.com

To My Son,

Mother’s Day is coming soon. As you do every year, you will feel bad that you can’t buy me something. Words cannot make you fully understand why I prefer the things you make me with your own small hands to anything you could get for me with money. One day your own child will shyly give you a handmade gift or card and you will know, as do I, the thought and effort that went into this creation. You will also know that no store can possibly duplicate the effort that went into this gift of love. Let me see if I can explain why no amount of cash can purchase what you have given me.

You try to buy me flowers. You can’t see the garden that blooms within me every time I see you perform a kind gesture for a stranger. You don’t know that every kind gesture you perform plants a seed in the mind of those you do kindness to.

You wish to buy me a necklace, but I prefer the glow in my heart that outshines any jewel that would adorn my neck. The jewel in my heart gets brighter with every hug I get from you.

That ring in the store begs you to put it on my finger. How can you not see that your hand in mine is the only adornment I require?
I need no earrings to hang from ears. They may clutter the sound of your voice and cause me to miss one of those questions you ask as you assume I am all knowing.

Do not take me out of my home for dinner. My taste buds revel in the macaroni and cheeses that you made with love and I would rather be subjected to your proud display of table manners than those I may encounter in any given restaurant.

I don’t need to see that movie I’ve displayed so much interest in when I can be so entertained by our walk through the woods as you play scout and Indian.

The scent of a new perfume may cloud my nose as I lean my cheek on your head that rests on my shoulder and take in the fresh odor or your newly washed hair.

No printer of cards ever put so much struggle in the creation of letters or so much thought as you into the words you write to melt my heart.
The new sunglasses you think would look so pretty on me cannot possibly make me see the world in the light that you have given me.

In short my son, it is I who thank you on Mother’s Day. You give me the greatest gift of all in simply being my son. Your very presence has made me want to be a better person. When you say “I love you.”, I know that it doesn’t matter how the rest of the world feels about me because I have you. When you tell me that I’m a good mom, all my past mistakes seem to be worthwhile if the course of them got me to you.

When you seem uncertain and ask me things like why I would want to have such a child as you, I am reminded that I would want no other and that God gave me his greatest blessing not in monetary wealth or material items, but by letting me look into your eyes every day.

Your struggle on your way to adolescence makes my pride in you overwhelm me as I witness every day that though you are sometimes clumsy, your hands never seek to do harm.

Your anger over small injustices assures me that you will be fair in your course through life.

When you point out my flaws in such a loving manner, I cannot help but see that every part of you makes me a better person.

And so my son, in closing, it is I that owes you a “Thank you.” on Mother’s Day. Your very existence has changed me from the person I was to the mother I am.

Gratefully Yours,
The Mother You Made Me

~~~

Katharine Foust is a single mother of one fabulous boy, a writer, a teacher and a student. She prefers the company of children to adults. Currently she is pursuing a degree in education with a specialty in special education. Katharine writes nonfiction and is currently working on an educational project. To read more about Katharine, visit her website at: http://justkat73.googlepages.com/home

What the Hell, Wendy!

You always said we could tell each other anything. Then, when I do tell you how I feel, you stop talking to me. Well, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I wanted to say to you.

First, being involved in all this drama makes me sick. Our husbands are brothers, connected by blood. Just like their mother, and their sisters, and everyone else in the family that you two never talk to anymore.

Am I just another one of them, another person in the family you don’t want to deal with?

I don’t want to care, but I find myself not being able to avoid caring. You have always prided yourself on being an honest person who in return can hear honesty from her friends. What happened to that person? Would you rather I lied to you?

Well, honey, from a distance, it appears you are the one tearing everyone apart. Jack never ignored his mother before you. He never acted like his brother wasn’t also his friend, and he never disappointed his family and friends like he has since he’s been with you.

Don’t get me wrong. Everyone understands you all are a family now. We know how much he loves you. It is completely obvious how much he loves all the kids. No one who really cares about him could deny him that.

What I don’t understand is why he doesn’t stand up and tell everyone how he feels. If he is really the one who doesn’t want anything to do with the family, then you need to tell him that he should be the one to stand up and say something. Don’t you think that would be better? People wouldn’t blame you then.

If you ask me, Jack needs to grow some balls and stand up for what he believes in, and spare you the pain and suffering, if that truly is the case.

But, you see, nobody believes it is Jack making the decisions because no one ever gets to talk to him. When they do get to talk to him, you speak for him and over him. Think of how you would feel if you asked me to go bowling but my husband spoke before I could and said, “She doesn’t like bowling.”

Do you see what I mean? It would “appear” he is the one making the decisions for me.

The second thing I want to tell you is that nobody likes people who lie. Just don’t do it; it makes people not trust you. I know you lied when Jack’s sister invited you over. You said Jack didn’t want to go, and then you conveniently had company that night, and to top it off, someone actually heard you say you did not want to go.

You know what? Suck it up!

Having family is a part of life. Both his family and yours are tied into our lives. No, it won’t always be a wonderful experience, but when someone dies, you’ll be spared the guilt of being the one who blamed for the distance. He says that would not happen, but you should know better.

People tell me what you two do is none of my business. Well, it is my business, because when you tell your lies, or even just ignore others, I am the one who has to make excuses for you. My husband and I are dragged into the middle of this because you and Jack won’t talk to anyone.

Is it that freaking hard to pick up the phone?

Well, I guess we don’t have to worry about that now since you aren’t talking to me either.

Another thing I have to tell you is that I am not stupid. I know that you don’t like my husband. You have lied to me for a long time and said you loved him like a brother and all that junk. Well, I hear and I see things. The point being, I don’t really care if you like my husband.

That never prevented me from being your friend.

I think you are being very childish. Sending expensive electronics to school with children to return them to me, instead of getting off your high horse and calling me or bringing it to a responsible adult, is childish. I don’t blame my husband one bit for calling you guys and saying he didn’t appreciate it. It could have been stolen or damaged.

I have an email even, so if you didn’t want to talk to me you could have given me a heads up and just sent a message.

Well, I really have a million more things to say. However, my main point has been addressed.

In closing, I would like to say that I love you. You are my sister and for you to ever think that just because I told you something true that I wouldn’t want to be your friend is just stupid. Yeah, you’re stupid for being able to dish it out, but not being able to take it.

Furthermore, it breaks my heart someone I considered a mature, loving, caring, supportive best friend could act so immaturely.

Sometimes you have to tell your friends the truth, even if they don’t want to hear it. That is what real friends do. You should realize if someone cares enough to tell you when you are wrong, they probably really are your friend. People who don’t care don’t care enough to say anything.

Love J.

~~~~

Jennifer Wright is a mother of four, military wife, and aspiring writer. She is currently attending North Idaho College and pursuing her degree in English. Jennifer has several articles published on the internet, but hopes to pursue her dream of fiction writing.

Dear Christian Woman,

I’m not even sure where to begin. You are yet another reason I doubt the preachings of your Christian religion. You called a group of fellow writers “heathens”, “evil” and “sent by the devil” all because we were not following your religion. Well, I take offense to that. I may not be Christian, which I readily express, yet neither are you if you go about disrespecting those of us not of your faith.

It is truly offensive that without ever meeting any one of us or learning where we have come from or why we have chosen our religious paths that you would arbitrarily call us names. The worst part was that you didn’t  just call us names but you tried to have God on your side by calling us those names in a Prayer.

Well, save your prayers. Pray for the sick, pray for the homeless, pray for the starving, but do not pray for me. I can tend to my own soul with the help of my spiritual guides. I have no need for you, a Christian woman who knows nothing about me, to refer to me and my ways as evil because they are different.

If you had taken the time to get to know me before calling me a heathen and evil you might have discovered I have great respect for people of all religions. You might have then discovered my religion follows one big rule, “Harm ye none”, which means to harm no one either by words or actions. You might have discovered I have friends who are Christian, Jewish, Agnostic and Atheist. You might have discovered I donate clothing, time, money and food to charitable causes no matter what religion asks for them. You might have discovered I went with my son to make Easter baskets for our American troops overseas so they could have a taste of home and feel that someone cares.

You may have found out that if I were your friend, I would defend you and protect you with my life.

But you didn’t discover anything about me.  You didn’t find out anything about the others you said were sent by the devil. You didn’t find out anything about them or me. All this hate because our religions differed from yours. That is terribly sad.

I was angered at first but the more I think about it, the more I am sad for you. I am sad you will not open your mind a little wider to find out about the beautiful people around you.

You want to pray for us whom you say are sent by the devil, heathens and evil yet it is you who needs to be prayed for. It is you, Christian Woman, who has a hole in her heart. It is you who spreads the darkness of evil by showing ignorance in the name of prayer. When all you had to do was take a little time to get to know us perhaps you would not have called us the names you did.

May you learn not to judge lest ye be judged yourself.

A Pagan Woman

~~~

Linda St.Cyr is a professional freelance writer, artist and poet. She has been published in numerous online publications including Club Mom, Associated Content and outlets of Demand Media. She is currently working on a novel while raising two children in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. To learn more about Linda and her writing, please visit her author’s website at the following link:  http://sites.google.com/site/stcyrlinda/

Dear Ryan,

In this world, I thought I was smart, learned, educated… I had been through hell, been to heaven, and everywhere in between…
so much I had experienced, so much I thought I knew.

And then there was you.

I learned from you that as much as I thought I knew, I had only begun to understand and know the world around me. I never knew the sky could be quite so blue or a sunset so beautiful as when I watched it through your eyes, watching me.

I never knew what family really meant.

I never knew the comfort of complete, unconditional acceptance.

I never knew that friendship didn’t have to take a backseat to passion.

I never knew passion didn’t have to take a backseat to friendship.

I never knew true friendship.

I never knew true passion.

I never knew love.

No, I mean real love.

I never knew freedom. Freedom to be myself.

Safety.

Security.

I never knew I was beautiful.

I never knew I was worthy.

I never knew how humble I was until you were proud of me.

I never knew me.

To think that I could have lived my entire life without you, thinking I knew so much, when all I ever needed was to know you in order to know everything.

You are every romantic cliche ever written and every love song ever sung. Your name is whispered in every line of every piece of poetry I read and write. Where once I only wrote the words, where once I could only sometimes feel them, now I live the words I write, with passion…

…and understanding.

I never knew I was alive until you taught me how to live. I never knew how much I had, until you showed me how to give.

I never knew…

… and then there was you.

And now I know.

~~~

Michelle L Devon (Michy) is a writer, editor, poet… she’s also a professional dreamer. In fact, she created Unsent Letters, and decided that since it’s her baby, she can put up a letter of her own today! Enjoy!

When I came to you, scared, alone, young, pregnant, and you told me I might have cancer, I did not expect you to hug me or hold my hand or even to provide any emotional support whatsoever. I didn’t expect you to sit with me all day and answer all my questions. I wasn’t looking to be coddled.

I did, however, expect you to be human.

So when I asked you, “What about the baby?”

And you answered, “What are you doing having sex so young anyway?”

I was stunned.

You proceeded to preach to me about how teenagers shouldn’t be having sex without being prepared to deal with the consequences.

At the time, I said nothing, but the tears fell from my eyes.

You couldn’t even find your soul then and said, “There’s no reason to be crying. You got yourself into this.”

First, I know that teenagers shouldn’t have sex if they aren’t prepared to deal with the consequences. I was. I planned to have the baby. I did have the baby. She’s a healthy adult now, thank you very much.

And as for getting myself into it, I’m not sure how I caused myself to have cancer. It wasn’t cervical cancer caused by HPV that is being so advertised today, but rather a type of cancer I could not have caused myself to have at the age of 16.

So was it your belief that I had cancer because I had sex? Is that the message you tried to implant in my brain?

When the nurse came in after you had left and asked me what was wrong, I will never forget how she mumbled under her breath, “That bastard.”

If not for that nurse, I might have continued seeing you. I might have let you continue to berate me.

I’m grateful she was there, and she directed me to a new doctor.

Not that it matters to you, Dr. Pride, but I am now cancer free, and have been for years. My daughter, the child you didn’t want me to have, is a happy and healthy adult in college.

But when I came to you, I was scared, lonely, and had questions. You treated me like I was nothing, beneath you, not worthy of your time.

I remember something on an episode of the Golden Girls that Dorothy said that I think sums up how I feel perfectly: “One day [sic], you’re going to be sick and afraid, and when that day comes… as angry as I was, as angry as I am and as angry as I always will be, I still wish you a better doctor than you were to me.”

Signed,
Not A Kid Anymore