Author Archives: Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

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About Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

Author of two published books – No Hill for a Stepper, 2001, and The Last Bordello, 2016, and numerous children's books. Her third novel, Distilling Lies is set in 1928 and will be released on May 9th. A former early childhood specialist, she taught bias-free education to teachers at the local, state, and national levels and applies this fundamental principle in her writing. Whether writing for adults or children, her stories revolve around empowering the readers (and listeners) to believe in their potential, to appreciate diversity, and to believe in the power of imagination. When not on her laptop, she willingly serves as the lap-top for her five young grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys boxboxing, hiking, dancing, strength training, and traveling. Occasionally, she pulls out the oil paints to see what emerges on a blank canvas. In addition to her blogging website, cdwcreations.com, you can find her on Facebook and on Instagram @cdwwrites .

The Darkness Within

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She downed the last of several shots. A deep hole waited, someone she knew to be placed inside.

She tripped over pebbles and glanced up ahead.  Almost there now.

A small gathering stood around the gravesite. Had they started without her?

She took in their glares, their finger points. Tardy like a schoolgirl. Shame on me.

She didn’t see the hole.

Falling, falling, falling. She landed on her side, her dress torn and ruined.

She pushed a palm into the soft dirt but couldn’t sit up. Stuck. Had this grave been dug just for her? Had they been expecting her? Her nails, ruined by the earth’s filth.

“Six feet under and no place to go?” her mother whispered. “You’re a disgrace. Now get up and get to work. Sofie!”

“Sofie? Sofie?”

She turned and found herself in the reflection of her friend’s eyes, her own muddled haze lessening.

But the hallow void beneath her opened its mouth and called to her, threatening to swallow her whole.

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” The skinny preacher mumbled.

For the most part, the sky remained clear. The few scattered clouds resembled claw marks as if God, if there was one, was desperately trying to scratch his way in. Or perhaps, out.

(Excerpt from a CD-W novel)

 

photo credit

via Tardy

 

What Good Is a Window?

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What good is a window 

 if there’s nothing to see 

no season of fall 

no drifting of leaves 

What good is a window 

if there’s only a wall. 

 

What good is a window 

if it’s sealed on all sides 

if it always stays closed 

by your heart or your pride 

What good is a window 

If you’re underexposed. 

 

What good is a window     

if it’s locked tight, secured 

or covered with drapes 

and your view is obscured 

What good is a window 

If there is no escape 

 

What good is a window 

if it’s not open wide 

to smile at skies blue 

to let fear subside 

So,

What good is a window? 

It let’s you climb through 

Italy 2004 019 2

(photo taken when I visited beautiful Tuscany)

 

Top Photo credit

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Wanna start your Monday with a laugh?

For those of you unfamiliar, Candid Camera was a TV show. The original ran from 1960 to 1967 and I remember laughing at the jokes (un-cruel IMHO) played on people. Folks didn’t know that their reactions were recorded on camera until someone said, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.”

This following clip was taken from a later version of the show. Since I’m from Texas, I thought this clip was appropriate. Imagine being stopped and told to turn around because your state was closed for the day.

Enjoy!

via Candid

 

Feeling Combustible?

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You know those times when you feel you need an exit plan but you don’t have a strategy?

You don’t want to be there.

You feel trapped.

Your insides feel combustible.

You could swim in the moisture made from your palms.

Your toes tap dance inside your shoes but the music’s not jubilant.

Can you change the music?

Can you imagine swimming in water blue and calm?

Can you find the key to unlock the cage?

No?

Then make one.

No one and nothing can trap you.

We are pixilated and all the dots that make us who we are can float through any barrier and collect themselves on the other side.

Digitalized or not, you are a great painting of yourself.

You can find your way back.

Just ask Alice.

Alice

 

FYI: Though pixelated is the standard spelling of the word meaning rendered with visible pixels, there’s a good reason that spell check does not catch pixilated. Pixilated is an old, seldom-used Americanism dating from the middle of the 19th century and peaking (in this use) in the middle 20th century. It meant (1) crazed, bewildered, or whimsical, or (2) intoxicated.1 

Pixilated derives from the noun pixie, denoting the mythical, mischievous creature.2 One who is pixilated is under the sway of a figurative pixie or behaving in a pixielike manner.

photo credit (ferret)

photo credit (man)

photo credit (woman)

photo credit (Alice) and pixilated by me.

 

 

via Strategy

I Only Like It Hot

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Each time I see the color pink

I blink to clear my eyes

because that hue before me

makes me want to immunize

 

It’s not that I hate girly things

assigned to that one color

it’s just that if I owned that tint

my closet, it would holler

 

But any other color always

 makes my eyes squint smiles

I wear them any time or place

with flair, in every style

 

There is one way that’s quite okay

(and nothing is for naught)

in nature pink that sizzles

is the one that I call “hot.”

 

photo credit

via Blink

Filling the Sinkhole Together

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There has to be a loophole

for us who still believe

in justice, freedom and our rights

amidst dishonesty.

 

This gap won’t last much longer

for together we’ll encroach

to fill the sinkhole with the hearts

we’ll never let them poach.

 

Hands united, standing tall

we’ll show a greater strength

than those who are unwilling

to detect our common link.

 

Photo one credit

Photo two credit

via Loophole

INSPIRATION AND MY IM-PERFECT-TION

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If you study the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, will you become a better person? (inspiration from Tony Burgess Blog and JohnCOYOTE blog)

If you bring your experiences to the surface, can you be a better actor? (inspired by RIVRVLOGR blog)

If you study another human being, the way they walk, the sparkle in their eyes, will you like what you see? (inspired by fauxcroft)

If we force ourselves to unchain our words, will be become better writers? (inspired by Scribbled to Paper)

If you want to understand colors and shading, can you watch a tutorial for inspiration and create something beautiful? In this case, yes. (inspired by Stoneronarollercoaster)

If you study your image in that reflected glass, do you like what you see? (inspired by Lifelessons)

And, how I could go on with how you all, dear bloggers, inspire me.

I did not study up on how to be a grandmother.

But being one has inspired a new creativity inside my very core.

 

Explore outside the box and BE PERFECT IN YOUR IMPERFECTIONS!

 

via Study

The Hidden to Light

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Entertain me with your laughter

not your bravado

dance for me a jig

and smile when I join you

Extend your hand

and walk me across the water

into a field of wild flowers

Run without thought

to catch my hat from the breeze

Talk to me of topics peaceful

and fill me with stories of compassion

Take me to your favorite place

and share with me the secrets inside

Remove the metal around your chest

to show me the softness within.

And I will shelter you from the storm.

 

photo credit

via Entertain