My Poem, title above, will appear in Leprechauns and Love to be released in March!
Painting the roses, I still think
of you……..
Category: Random
The Psychology of being “Unloved”
When I create a character, I take what I know from personal experience, what I’ve observed in other people (I am an avid people watcher), and what I’ve learned from my continued studies.
With the unnamed narrator/character in West End , it is important to understand the primary relationships and their effects.
In West End, the children are nearly parentless. Mom is an alcoholic who dies from the disease and Dad seems to be a workaholic, seemingly unconcerned about his children.
The article, “Unloved Daughters,” written by Peg Streep, lists some of the attributes the character in West End experiences.
Streep’s list is of 7 attributes. These are a few which I believe my character displays:
- Lack of Confidence
“The unloved daughter doesn’t know that she is lovable or worthy of attention; she may have grown up feeling ignored or unheard or criticized at every turn” (Streep).
3. Difficulty setting boundaries
“Many daughters, caught between their need for their mother’s attention and its absence, report that they become “pleasers” in adult relationships. Or they are unable to set other boundaries which make for healthy and emotionally sustaining relationships” (Streep).
5. Making avoidance the default position
“Lacking confidence or feeling fearful sometimes puts the unloved daughter in a defensive crouch so that she’s avoiding being hurt by a bad connection rather than being motivated to possibly find a stable and loving one” (Streep).
It seems the reason the narrator in West End avoids life is an overall lack of confidence. She does not set boundaries; she knows what is happening at the trains and with her sister is not leading anywhere productive or good, but she is unable to set the boundaries for herself, let alone for a sister. And avoidance is her default position in everything.
However, it is my wish the reader can see the hope within the novel, the things that change within the character that can create something positive.
Share this:
West End –
what else is there to do
in a town that is
closing down around you?
Share this:
Available
Apro-Poe
Happy Birthday, Mr. Poe!
To one of the first, authentically American literary voices. Inspiration, then and now, for artists, writers, creators.
Maybe I should have dedicated my book to him – posthumously – that is.
But I think it is some sort of fancy coincidence, fate, luck, whatever you want to call it – that my book, West End, has been released on this, his 207th Birthday.
West End has been “officially” released. I’m told it won’t be in bookstores – online or in person – for 3-5 days. OH THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART (yes, I think Tom Petty liked Poe too!)
Share this:
West End
Share this:
A Sneak Peek from _West End_
As a child, I watched a squirrel crawl along an electrical line, elegant, delicate, like some high wire act, yet gone terribly wrong when it slipped and fell before my eyes.
A motorist passed, hit it. The squirrel screeched human sounds, jumped up on back feet, front paws stretched out, stumbled left, then right.
“It’s a dead end.” Mother’s whispered words lifted with a breeze.
“It’s the West End.” My father leaned away from her.
I held my breath, rooted for the squirrel until the very end, hoped that the car missed and, somehow, the creature might’ve a chance to limp home to recover.
But the squirrel was, life was, inextricably lost.
“Same thing,” mother’s quiet voice floated off with her gaze.
I think of that eye bulging from the squirrel’s body, trying to escape its own death, watching me through the back window of an old Chevy wagon.
Copyright 2016 – Noreen Lace/West End
Share this:
Novella – Coming soon!
Coming out this month!
Set Intentions
I’m not one who believes in Resolutions. Seems like a plan for procrastination and failure. When I want to do something – I just do it. I don’t wait until January One. But – being as we are celebrating a New Year – I do believe in setting Intentions.
Intentions are what we want to accomplish. We tell ourselves that this certain something is what we want to happen. Intentions also begin when we say them. Maybe they don’t manifest at that moment, but the intention is set, and if we come back to it and try, not only will it manifest, it will become an actuality, a realization, when we want it to. An intention is not a diet or workout regimen; an intention, or so it seems to me, is a decision to change your life. We don’t set an intention to lose ten pounds. We set an intention to eat healthier and live better. It’s a way of thinking about what we desire and bringing it into our lives.
May this New Year bring you health, happiness, love, and success.
May you live your life with passion and spread compassion wherever you go.
May all your intentions be actualized.
Share this:
Poetry Reading
It is my pleasure to announce I’ve been asked to read poetry for local book group at a Private Country Club. (I’ll neglect to say which one as it’s not open to the public).
This group of readers meet monthly at a local café, then end the year with a holiday party in which people are invited to share and entertain while the members vote on the best readings, enjoy refreshments, and engage in a white elephant book exchange.
Celebrating with friends and family is what this season is about. I’m very happy to be sharing this time with this wonderful and talented group of people.
On the list to be read are published poems:
and To be published selections:
Since I can’t love you, I love the world
Dreams of Mr. Rabbit
Hunger
Enjoy your holidays, ladies and gentlemen. Be happy- Every day is a gift.
Noreen Lace 
You must be logged in to post a comment.