piety pictured

Here is the official cover illustration for my upcoming novel, PIOUS.

PIOUS cover

cut & paste

Your insincere sincerities
Are so much akin to cake
Whereas the eating of and having it
Conveys your deeds as fake

Your insincere sincerities
Are as a window cooling pie
While an ugly truth is better
Than the most beautiful of lies

Your insincere sincerities
Bring sincerities to shame
Cut and paste some random sentiment
And fill in the blank some random interest’s name.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

willing to wait (an excerpt from PIOUS)

Alethea Mightson takes a long last drag on a cigarette that is not much more than a filter as she sits on cobblestone steps bundled in a puffy pink coat with its furry-edged hood pulled over her head. She’s huddled in a crouched position with her head ducked low in an attempt to ward off the January wind that rushes past her. At her feet are at least a dozen cigarette butts, indicating that she’s been sitting on this stoop braving the bitter cold for at least an hour. She grinds the cigarette butt into the ground alongside its departed siblings and looks around. It’s quiet, cold, and overcast, but she seems to have an intent purpose and is willing to wait.

(excerpt from PIOUS, a novel by Kenn Bivins)

unreleased

Today is August 10th and the original, proposed release date of PIOUS, my first novel. In the past few months, I’ve learned so much about the publishing industry and how intricate its workings are. To think that all I wanted to do was write stories and assume it was that simple. Silly me.

for once, unafraid

Some people have perfect lives. I’m not one of those anomalies or people.

There are those rare days where discouragement sneaks up on me and the hope that has been coursing through my veins has mysteriously bled out. It’s hard during that time to be positive or feel thankful without some clouded film of negativity blocking my view. As I said, I’m imperfect.

Somewhere in there, just as mysterious, a reflection, a stray word from a stranger or a friend, a prayer, or a conversation can yank me from my dismal spiral. When brought back into consciousness, I am inclined to listen to a song to mark my new found direction and lease on life. That song has often been “For Once in my Life” by Stevie Wonder.

“For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me and somehow I know I’ll be strong.”

cord of three

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

peace. it does not mean…

to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. it means to be in
the midst of those things and still
be calm in your heart.

*author unknown