Wandering Wounds by James L Finley

Wandering Wounds is a must-have debut poetry book by the talented poet James L. Finley, whose poetry creations have won many awards and poetry contests on a wonderful writing community writing.com when he was still a part of it.

The poetry that lies within the book is very emotional and it also makes you think. There is much to draw from these written creations. I am proud to own a copy of this book, which the author personally autographed for me, and will treasure it for a life time.

James L. Finley’s poetry book Wandering Wounds sheds a light on topics of great importance that are widespread in today’s society. The topics include physical and sexual abuse, alcoholism, addiction, and illness. Other topics include life’s trials, relationships, heartbreak, and love that we have all experienced and can relate to. I have read this book from start to finish and I was not left disappointed. I was affected by the content and the writing in this book. James L. Finley is one talented poet and his book is definitely a book worth reading.

Poetry lovers out there will no doubt love this great book. It is worthy of praise, worthy of being in your collection, worthy of being discussed. So, if you happen to love and appreciate poetry check out Wandering Wounds and spread the word…

When I heard that James L. Finley was planning to publish a poetry book I was very excited. I couldn’t wait to hold his book in my hands. I couldn’t wait to dive inside and indulge in his poetry. I had read his poetry before and knew that he would not disappoint and he did not. His book is amazing!!!

I am amazed by his talent. Not only does he affect you with his words but he also leaves you thinking. You are left with a lasting impression after reading his poetry and you are left wanting more. He is the king of metaphor and allegory. Besides that, he is able to tackle any poetic form and nail it from start to finish. And it looks so effortless. He doesn’t overwhelm you with emotion. He has just enough of it to make you feel and bring forth your own emotions to the poetry you are reading.

A talent like that deserves to be in print and deserves to be heard around the world. His words are very effective and they leave us thinking. His poetry is not fluff. It’s got depth, it’s got meaning, it’s got soul—–everything great poetry should have.

Wandering Wounds is James L. Finley's first poetry book. He also has five chapbooks in his Chapbooks of Life poetry series, which is available on Amazon. They are written under the author name J. L. Finley. 

Jailbait Novella by Barbara Kasey Smith

I am always looking for new interesting books to read. When a writer and author by the name of Barbara Kasey Smith approached me to help her publish her novella Jailbait I ended up reading something new and immensely enjoyed every bit of it.

Reading Jailbait I was transported into the world of the main character and lived her story with her from beginning to end. There were times in the story where I smiled and times where I almost started crying. Never once did I get bored or want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book! Not only is it an interesting and enjoyable read but it also sheds light on what can happen to a younger person when he/she chooses to run away from home.

What is Jailbait novella about?

Jailbait, written by Barbara Kasey Smith, tells a story of Emily, a 15-year-old girl living in a coal mining town in West Virginia. Emily's family is poor and she is ashamed of it. She doesn't want this kind of life and wishes she could escape it.

One day after getting into a fight with her mother Emily decides to run away from home. This rash decision ends up changing her life and not for the better as she becomes someone's "jailbait." When this happens Emily finds herself in a world filled with constant physical and emotional cruelty and torture that greatly affects her life.

Emily wants nothing more than to go back to the comfort of her own family, her own home. The only way for that to happen is to escape but it doesn't seem possible. Will she find a way to set herself free and see her family again?

Jailbait will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is full of suspense and thrills and is filled with emotional moments that will tear at your heartstrings. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down.

Jailbait is currently available in paperback and e-book formats. Be sure to check it out as this book is a must-read, especially for teens.

About the Author

Barbara Kasey Smith was born in the hills of West Virginia in a coal mining town. She currently lives in Manassas, Virginia. She is author of three books, her latest being her novella Jailbait.

When she is not writing novels and stories, Barbara enjoys writing poetry and lyrics, fishing, flower decorating, reading, traveling and arts and crafts.

Q&A with Barbara Kasey Smith

1. What inspired you to write Jailbait?

I was inspired to write Jailbait after reports of several teenagers missing in our area. I felt teen girls/boys needed to read/hear the things that can happen to a run-away person. Many times the innocent are not aware that when they have nowhere to go they become owned by another person and horrendous things happen to them.

2. How did you go about writing your novella? What was the process? Did you face any challenges along the way?

I wrote my book during my relaxed times. I'm blessed to be able to begin writing and pick up immediately where I stopped writing the book. I have a fantastic imagination and I build a story while I'm writing it. I didn't face any challenges writing he book since actually I live in the story as I write it.

3. What do you want readers to get out of this book?

I hope there will be teenage readers who will read the book and realize what can happen

to them when they're out on the street without a home.

4. Is any part of this book inspired by your own personal experiences or something you've witnessed happen to someone you know?

This book was not written from any experience I've ever had in my life but I have had knowledge of several friends whose teens left home and the terrible experiences that happened to their children.

5. What else have you written besides Jailbait?

I've written three other books: No Goodbyes (Romance), A Stranger's Visit (Mystery), and Whispers of Faith (Thriller, Suspense).

6. Are there any new books you are currently writing and if so what are they about?

I've got several books on the back-burner—a thriller and a murder mystery.

Writing My Own Birthday Greetings

When someone's birthday rolls around it's nice to give someone a greeting card along with a present. And if you are giving money as a gift then it's definitely a must to buy a greeting card as you can't just hand that person money in an empty envelope.

You don't just want to get any greeting card however. It has to look beautiful and the text inside has to be meaningful, touching, and inspirational. It's hard to find cards like these nowadays as most of them have text with little to no value inside. So, the best thing to do is to buy a beautiful blank greeting card and write your own text inside it, be it prose or an actual birthday poem. Not only will you end up gifting a beautiful, heartfelt card but it will be even more personal. 

That is exactly what I do. When someone's birthday rolls around, if I can't find a card that says exactly what I want to say to someone, I buy a nice blank card and write my own birthday poem or greeting inside it, sometimes even adding a bit of prose as well. I don't just write something quick and forget about it. I put thought into each birthday greeting that I write. It makes me happy to do this. And I feel good about gifting it to the person whose birthday it happens to be.