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.

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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!)

A Sneak Peek from _West End_

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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

Novella – Coming soon!

Kids. Trains. Alcohol.

brick west end     Coming out this month!

Of Strays and Exes… And better yet – Friends. Congrats to Jo Rousseau!

I’ve been asked to read my as-of-yet unpublished fictional story “Of Strays and Exes” at Jo Rousseau‘s publication party.

Jo Rousseau is celebrating the publication of her first book of short stories, titled Inside Stories.

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She’s published short stories and won Charter House Press’ essay contest last year with her touching memoir “Becoming Rousseau”, which is available in Banking the Bacon.

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Check out her website!

Congrats to a lovely woman and a good friend; She deserves all the success life (and publication) have to offer.   Much Love!

Lecture on Poe

I’ve been asked to give a lecture on Edgar Allen Poe at a local Library.  If you have questions, contact Caroline Russom at 818.225.7616 ext: 756

It’ll cover some history, as well as the effect he and his writing has had on literature on society.  If you’re close, come and listen.

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TBT – One of my favorite stories

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All the Beautiful People – Published in the Avatar Review

Have a beautiful Day!

The Kiss and a new facebook page!

Pilcrow & Dagger’s August/September Issue is available for preview.

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As well – my facebook author page is just being put together.

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Thanks all!

The Girl I Loved in Middle School – Fiction

My short fiction story, “The Girl I loved in Middle School”, will be published by Number Eleven Magazine!

“Bruce was a six foot-two inch, two hundred and fifty pound eight grader who grew facial hair that matched the tufts sticking out of his shirt sleeves and neckline. Needless to say, he feared no one. I, however, did. She turned to him…..”

Dad Shining – PUBLISHED!

My fictional story, “Dad Shining”, was published by the Chicago Tribune’s Printers Row Journal! ( It came out with the March 29th Edition. )

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” Through the blue hills and green mountains of West Virginia, there’s a cemetery with my name on it. ….”

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