PTSD- No Apologies Open Call for Submissions

22 Soldiers commit suicide every day.

That needs to stop.

It is our wish to share your story with others, so they know that they are not alone. I believe that PTSD is far more rampant than is projected.

Many dwell in silence. Living one day to the next.

NO APOLOGIES

For me writing is a release. I think it could help others as well. To purge your soul, free your heart and mind.

To tell your story.

NO APOLOGIES

We accept stories, poems, songs, art, photos. Anything you would like to share.

 Anonymous submissions are accepted.

Or if you need help writing, I have authors available to help.

NO APOLOGIES

Contact: 

Lemon Press Publishing

PO Box 459 Emerson, GA 30137

lemonpresspublishing@gmail.com

www.lemonpresspublishing.com

Introduction- By Lynn Hubbard

Some memories stay with us forever. I used to live in New Jersey. There wasn’t much self-sacrifice at our school. In junior high we had a guest speaker. The entire school was herded into the auditorium to hear him speak. There was much chatter ad mayhem as we fumbled for seats next to our friends. Once more or less settled, the Principal introduced to us a man.

He was different from the typical stiff tied puppet that was usually announced. This guy was not perfect, he had scars. This fact in itself caught our attention.

Then he began to speak, and we listened to his story. 

He had been injured in Vietnam. He was on a patrol boat on a river. The air was thick with smog and the river was even filthier. He stood on deck keeping watch, An enemy boat approached and fighting commenced. A phosphorus grenade exploded in his hand and ignited him. . He was thrown free from the vessel, and into the oil filled river. The river burned and so did he.

He ducked under the water to escape the flames, but the water was so polluted they would not extinguish. He started to sink, yet the fire still burned. He burned all the way down, and all the way back up as he swam for the surface.

Even then he had a zest for life. It would have been easy to just give in and be engulfed. But he wasn’t done yet.

Guided by the flames above, he broke through gasping for air.  He was pulled back onto the boat and the flames were beat out.

I can’t imagine the agonizing pain he must have went through just to live. But live he did. He recuperated, slowly. And fate brought him to my school. 

By now the room was silent. Each lost in their own thoughts. And then he started to yell. To yell about how we are wasting our lives. Lives that we have, due to the sacrifices of our soldiers.

It was at this point in time that the staff started to evacuate us from the room. They escorted us out and I could still hear him shouting out his message.

For us to Live.

That we have a purpose.

And then we were rushed down the hallways, and back to our safe little rooms.

Then it happened.

The teacher apologized to us.

FOR HIM.

I was pissed then, and I’m still pissed now.

So this book is being written for him. And for anyone who needs to be reminded that they have a purpose. 

That they need to live.

Living is so much more than just surviving.

Surviving is the easy part. 

Living is hard, but oh so worth the effort.

No Apologies.

www.lynnhubbard.com

Welcome Spring!

Welcome Spring

As a romance writer, I contemplate love a lot. It’s my job. 

In paper world it is easy to spot the hero. In real life not so much.

Everyone has a façade. Sometimes you have to dig down deep to find the real person inside. Sometimes they are even more beautiful, but sometimes they are blackened souls.

Every relationship is a risk. You risk losing a bit of yourself, or even your heart. Hearts are terrible sensitive things and are easily bruised or broken.

Too many people give up too much of themselves, and are left empty when it is over. Life is the eternal test with no right or wrong answer. It just is.

I am older and wiser than I used to be. I’m not as trusting, but I am trustworthy.

Relationships are not all about Love. They are about honesty, loyalty, companionship, passion, and fun. And should be a combination of such.

A good analogy is my dog. When I get home from work, my 50lb dog is ecstatic! She is so happy to see me. EVERY SINGLE DAY. That is the kind of relationship I want.

When a relationship is going south, you are not happy to see that person. They become an annoyance. And then dread. If you dread seeing your special someone it is time to move on. Seasons change and so do we.

People change. It is inevitable and not all relationships last. 

And your heart breaks. And you feel dead inside.

Like winter.

And like winter, coldness creeps in, and you lose hope. 

You doubt yourself. And everyone else.

But after winter comes spring. Spring is a time for change. To step out from the darkness and lift your face to the light. A warm breeze caresses your skin, and you realize that you are still alive.  

Welcome Spring!!

Spring Sale find love for .99!

Read more from Lynn Hubbard:

·        Website: www.lynnhubbard.com

·        Newsletter: http://lynnhubbard.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=5f064260b59fd00212c9a3794&id=d512450870

·        Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lynnhubbardbook

·        Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnHubbardBook

·        Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Hubbard/e/B002ZAONF6?tag=loverites-20

·        Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lynn-hubbard

·        Audible: http://www.audible.com/search/ref=sr_ab_1_1_1?searchAuthor=Lynn+Hubbard&qid=1370019842&sr=1-1

·        GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/LynnHubbard

·        Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/lynnhubbard

Dog Ears

Dog Ears

No no no. 

Not puppies. I’m talking about books.

It’s the things that make librarians and teachers cringe.

But I can’t help myself. I’m a flapper.

After every section I read I turn down a corner to mark my place.

Yes, yes, I know it is detrimental to the book. But it is MY book. And I like to use it as a guide, to mark my spot and see how far I have come. A milestone (or timeline of sorts) of my journey through the pages.

Each flip marks a section in which I had to return to real life. Some crisis or another like sleep, work, etc. Those pesky things that ruin our reading.

I like to read with no distractions. Very difficult these days. But, I read when I can. And when I need to stop.

 I Flip.

Yes, yes of course I have bookmarks! I love bookmarks, I collect bookmarks. But bookmarks are fallible. A book cascading from a sleepy hand to the floor and bam! Your place is lost. And much fumbling and searching ensues.

With dog ears, you can simply find your last point and move forward. It cuts out the chance of peeking too far ahead and ruining everything!

Plus, bookmarks are glorious things! They come in all shapes and sizes and wondrous colors. 

Why would you want to hide them in a book? 

Man Vs. Chocolate, Your Choice

Men are like a box of chocolates

Chocolate is just confusing you're not quite sure what you are getting.

I've spent some time recently trying to contemplate the minds of man. I have decided that there is no sense to make of it. They say what they don’t mean, and do what they won’t say.

 It is enough to drive one mad! After much conversation with friends I have decided that like life, men are also like chocolate.

 You can’t judge them by their fancy wrapping, or flashy tag lines. Nope, the only way of is judge for yourself. 

Sure you can start by finding an an attractive package. However the inside may be bitter. Some are a bit nutty, which is fine if you like nuts. But most women like a combination, nuts and caramel perhaps? 

Chocolate comes in all sizes colors and flavors. And I love nuts, but pretty much anything covered in chocolate works for me. Some candies are wrapped up in a cup and you choose one thinking you will find your favorite. You take a bite, marshmallow cream. Not bad, but not what you were looking for. 

So you move onto the next one, and soon all the good ones are taken. The ones left have no discernible lumps or markings. Do you take a chance? You have been burned before. Your mouth waters, your stomach rumbles. Yes, one more chance. You select one and take a bite. 

Jelly filled. 

Yuck. 

Spit or swallow? 

Being the lady you are, you swallow it down, and toss the rest. 

Try another or give up? 

Who am I kidding? It’s CHOCOLATE. 

I’m sure there is a chocolate, nut, caramel, toffee, nougat, crispy, coconut filled one somewhere.

What is your favorite sweet? 

Devoted, New book by Emery Skye. Don't miss it!

Cowboys, Sex, and Zombies

*NO NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT ANYONE. 

Cowboys, Sex, and Zombies

I just returned from the 31^st Roy Rogers Festival in Portsmouth Ohio. I’m feeling a bit jet legged, even though we drove and it’s in the same time zone.

Traveling by car is rough especially when you’re stuck in the back seat next to a guitar and a B-Western look a like!

Cindy Smith, Poker Alice, Fuzzy Q Jones, Lynn Hubbard

However getting there is the half the fun! We stopped off for numerous photo and potty breaks. I picked up some souvenirs in Renfro Valley, KY. Fuzzy discovered what a corn cob was used for and I bought Frank some blue balls marbles.

I’ve been to many Western Festival’s but this was my first trip to visit Roy. The closer we got to Ohio the more, the real world slipped away behind us. Cindy even lost cell phone coverage the entire week.

Now some people don’t believe in Cowboy World. And I feel sorry for those that don’t. Cowboy World is a wondrous place where you can hang out with Tonto and the Lone Ranger. Get a hug from Gabby Hayes or Lash Larue.

Gabby Hayes

Now these names may not mean much to some, but to western fans, their hearts beat a little faster. I am still learning names and meeting new folks. 

Dan Haggerty

You never know WHO you will meet in Cowboy World. For instance GRIZZLY ADAMS, Dan Haggerty has a heart of pure gold, and collected for the Angel Flight Charity. He was joined by Russ McCubbins, a Hollywood staple, and Darby Hinton rumored to be the President of Texas (Texas Rising 2015).

Fuzzy, Steve the Ice Cream Man, Scott Haggard, Dustin Lowery, Cindy Smith, Jim Damron

Even just hanging out in our hotel we ran into Scott Haggard, Merle Haggard’s son! Scott was performing at the Ohio Opry House and was forced willingly came up to Frank’s room and sang a few songs. Cindy grabbed anyone with a cowboy hat to join us.

Frank Palas, The Concrete Cowboy

We took a break and snuck off to the cemetery with Cowboy Jim. No better place to find history. Jim showed us the resting place for Roy’s relatives, a somber experience that touched even the coldest of hearts.

At dinner one evening I sat with Jim, Don, Poker Alice and Jeremy Ambler. Jeremy is also an actor, he has played several zombies including the Popular “The Walking Dead" series. He kept us entertained with his zombie poses and details of his latest film. Child of God.

Jeremy Ambler

Child of God was adapted from a book and contains death and necrophilia. Not everyone was as enthused as I was. Perhaps because we were eating at the time? Poor Poker Alice will remember that conversation for the rest of her life. Having worked in medical for many years, blood, guts and gore does not bother me. Real or fake.

To say the least, I was very intrigued. As I am, about anything involving sex. That is my job after all. To transport people back in time, to the Old West. Mix in some history with brave women and strong men. Of course my books aren’t all about sex. They have romance, humor, shootin', killin', and justice! Something for everyone! In fact I did have a lot of cowboys buying copies this trip!

Russ McCubbin,  Jim Evans, Cindy Smith

The musical performances were wonderful. I really enjoyed how Cindy and Fuzzy stretched the truth abit about our trip to Texas. I mean, they did make it back alive right? And I’m sure with some therapy they will be able to move on.

Jon Patterson, Dodie Rogers, Jane Lilly

Dodie Rogers (Roy and Dale Rogers Daughter) and family were a pleasure as always. Her husband, Jon Patterson, kept us on track and entertained throughout the Festival. Jon and Jim Evans played well into the night, along with Cindy Smith and Greg Kish with his little guitar. It was a phenomenal night!

Jim Damron, Cindy Smith, Don Ellis (Photo By Eva Dodridge Robbins)

I also discovered my affinity for mudslides.

But alas, Cowboy World does not last forever. And as it slowly fades from my memory, I’m marking my calendar for next year!

Happy Trails!

Visit my FB page to see ALL of my photos from the trip!

Subscribe to my Blog! 

Searching for Treasure

Treasures

I had an hour to kill between meetings today so I decided to stop by our local flea market. It has been years since I have been to one!

This one is held every weekend and sells everything from tools to chickens. I was ambling down the rows of vendors, just fellow Americans selling their wares. I admit, I passed by most of the items without a glance.

I have no need for baby items, or hardware. Then I saw it! 

A book vendor! And it hit me, everything was important to someone. The items I thought were useless to me, at one time had some meaning and purpose in life to someone else. And they would again, brighten someone’s day. They just sat waiting for the right person to stroll by and take them home.

But Books are my life! I have always had a fondness for books. Being very ill when I was young, I spent many, many days lying around reading. I didn’t have the breath to do much more.

But through books I met my best friend, Trixie Belden. And every time I enter a bookstore I look for her. Of course I have the entire series and doubles and triples of some. But I still look. I would hate for Trixie to be left on a dusty shelf with strangers.

So I was rummaging through stacks of old children’s books. That’s what you gotta do, you can’t just LOOK. You have to dig to find treasure! So I moved books here and there, Lassie, the Hardy Boys, but no Trixie.

Although I was disappointed, I did come away with one treasure, The Rifleman. I didn’t even know they HAD books on the old western! I am off to cowboy world next week so I’ll take him with me.

I have always loved going to yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets. You never know what you will find, but you need to slow down and take a look. Maybe you’ll run across an old friend who has been waiting for you.

For me, books have been an escape. They still are. But now, instead of reading about adventures, I create my own. Life is what we make of it. And if you aren’t happy, pick up a good book and escape. 

Rebel Writers

Writing is an all-consuming thing. When an idea comes to you, you have to let it out least it drive you mad.

I have recently dabbled in song writing, I look at a song as a tiny book. My “songs” are simple little things that seem to express what I can’t say.

I started a song writing group and am quite surprised how many of my author friends write songs as well!

It is never too late to try something new, step outside your box and LIVE. J

I shared a couple below and would love to hear your thoughts, or share your own songs!

If you wanna join Rebel Writers, all are welcome!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/garebelwriters

Summer Heat

©Lynn Hubbard

Dark room at night

It’s as hot as hell

No relief in sight

It’s like I’m under a spell

Your burning touch

Sets me on fire

My emotions are too much

To curb my desire

Matching your thrust

Pound for pound

I know I shouldn’t trust

But my heart is bound

But I have needs

That need filling

And you have greed

Deep in your soul

It might be wrong

This summer heat

But I am strong

And you will burn

Ice On The Bridge

© Lynn Hubbard

Winter is Coming

I can feel the cold

Seeping into my chest

I’m feeling so old

Many Years have passed

Since I have felt warmth

Our hearts have parted

Now I’m trapped in a storm

Ice on the Bridge

Spinning out of control

Life is passing fast

Should I stay or go?

Memories of my past

Keep my feet planted here

But my soul yearns for more

It is the future that I fear

Life is a wild ride

Set yourself free

No one can choose for you

Open your eyes and see

Nine toes out that door

 ©Lynn Hubbard

I thought we had it all

Our souls just clicked

But I'm not gonna fall 

For that same old trick 

Now all I've got is time

You may not be rich

But I don't give a dime

And I'm not a witch

Slammed doors can reopen

Broken hearts can mend

You think you have broke me?

Well Honey, I will bend.

I know I should just go

I have nine toes out that door

I just need one more step

Then it's never more

You're running out of time

It's your loss not mine

I have nine toes out that door

And now I'm gone!!