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About GaryD
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A lot has happened since I last updated my public profile. I've had two new poetry books published: Color My Soul, and Masquerade. My books are available on-line and in most of your local bookstores. If not available in the smaller bookstores as the clerk to order you copies. The reviews have been wonderful and reader feedback extremely positive. As a product tester for another company several new and exciting products have hit the store selves. I'm delighted to have been a part in the selections. I'm also pleased to be a part of the epinions.com community. Life has been rewarding and I look forward to the future. Thank you for reading my reviews.
Color My Soul (ISBN: 1-4137-6977-2)is a conglomeration of poems written over a number of years, reflecting on life experiences, circumstances and mere creativity. The poems featured in this book are slightly darker, trekking the venues of love, romance, and family. The poem “My Amusement” is a lengthy piece written about a narcoleptic Edgar Allen Poe whose deepest fear was entombment while he was still alive. Edgar Allen Poe has long been a favorite and an inspiration to the author. Color My Soul is a poetic adventure expressing the author’s diverse thoughts, which convey a simplistic sense of honesty. It is a compilation of work spanning several years. The author endeavors to uplift and inspire the reader in ways he or she may never contemplate to tread.
http://www.publishamerica.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?catalogid=8481
Mr. Drury states, “My poetry encompasses the value of faith, friendship, love and tolerance for humanity. The feedback I’ve received regarding several poems and my prose tells me I’ve achieved my desired purpose. I am delighted that my material has touched someone’s life in a meaningful way. My works aren’t just idle words and sentences on a virgin sheet of paper. Writing has offered me the privacy to contemplate and stare aimlessly into the depths of my creative soul. I can honestly say that my family, friends, and fellow poets have been wonderfully supportive through the years, providing me a concrete foundation. This kind of loyalty and support allows a poet’s dream to blossom into a fragrant, rewarding experience. I thank everyone for their many kind words, thoughts and support.”
Masquerade (ISBN: 1-4137-7342-7) is a tantalizing collection of poems reflecting on daily experiences, circumstances and mere creativity. A compilation of work spanning several years, it is a poetic excursion expressing a conglomeration of the author’s thoughts, which convey a simplistic sense of honesty. Dark, vivid imagery of an observant soul has molded these poems. The poems featured here are in tune with the writings of Edgar Allen Poe, by whom the author has long been inspired. The author endeavors to inspire the reader in ways he or she may never have contemplated.
http://www.publishamerica.com/greetingcardpro/createcard1.asp?PostCardID=12604
Both available on-line and bookstores -- to order by phone Phone: 1.240.529.1031 (long distance charges may apply).
Addition review type info:
Before I get started, I would like to say how pleasantly surprised I was to see my book listed here on epinions.com for review. I'm positively basis on this matter but will attempt to give some enlightenment on this book that obviously no one else could. I pray that writing this short review on my own book aren’t breaking epinions.com edicts. One thing I miss on epinions.com is the ability to save a draft copy of a review prior to publishing it to their website.
THE GENESIS
My entire life to date has always embodied two stories that have continually melted until fused into a single entity. A division that has left me for the most part feeling as if: ‘I’m on the inside, concurrently, on the outside looking in.’ but in a positive way. I know to some this may be a difficult hypothesis to grasp. It’s much like living in two camps, being apart of everything and privy to the inside. Yet an observer monitoring characteristics and habitat. A reflection within the moment.
My parents are of two religious denominations, my father Catholic, my mother Baptist. As such I’ve been privy to both teachings though primarily of the Catholic faith. In my primary education I attended a parochial school until the school no longer supported my progressing grade level. One of the pitfalls of living in a rural area. My continuing education beyond the sixth grade fell to public schooling. Luckily, through my educational years I was fortunate to have very knowledgeable instructors who offered a wealth of advance along the path that has been very beneficial.
Upon matriculation of university choice I had an English professor that required her students to maintain a daily or weekly journal. The criteria was simple and very similar to what we label ‘blogging’ on the Internet. Once a week a short paragraph or two was required of a creative nature on any topic of choice. This is where I initially began writing poems and shorts, etc. Mainly to fulfill a credit requirement. One of my first shorts submitted in class caught her attention and we discussed it in detail for days. I didn’t feel the story was of any substance except it stated what was going on with me at the time. She attempted to navigate me toward a writing career by mid semester unsuccessfully. During my junior year my technical writing professor was encouraging a similar path. But writing to me was merely self-therapy and to recall events important to myself. Basically a pass-time to arrest, gather my thoughts and refresh after consuming streaming input. A sanctuary to alleviate the constant bombardment of daily life and regain focus.
Later in life I gradually began submitting poems and shorts to various publications. There were a number of rejections across the years and several successes. I never at any point accepted the rejections personally. I initiated submissions with the crystal understanding that not every editor would be drooling over my presentation. Though I had received encouragement throughout, I was inquisitive to evaluate output from strangers. The feedback was pleasing and I must admit a delightful stroke to my ego.
I don’t view myself as one to self promotes or self publicizes. I’m not one to toot my own horn as you have probably noticed in this review. I will attempt to revise this review and reply to comments posted so to better aid the reader or potential book buyer. Should you acquire a copy of my book I do hope you enjoy it. I intend to contribute ten cents of my net royalties from each copy successfully sold to the Salivation Army. If you aren’t obtaining a copy of my book why not make a donation to the Salvation Army now.
I’ve always regarded my privacy but never considered how this was affecting my writings. Until Color My Soul was released in 2005. That’s when critiques drizzled in with kind regards of: ‘I really enjoyed your book, it has and air of mystery and secrecy . . . ’ Some clues to unveiling the meaning behind the majority of my poetry is simple. It’s divided into three segments light, shadow, and darkness. Or salvation, purgatory, and damnation. I’ve endured my trials and tribulations as have others of kindred spirits.
THERAPY GONE ASTRAY
Masquerade is a conglomeration of poetry written over several years as a form of self-therapy. I never considered the possibility of publication as a collection. I almost allowed this opportunity to slip away. One reason in particular is that poetry reveals a wealth of information about a person. Even in its creative form there are sufficient tidbits of one's evolution. And by allowing publication I was opening the gates to my guarded privacy.
The material in this publication spans the years 1982 through to 2006. At a single glance it is crystal clear the work is not structured during a short time frame. I believe it is clear from reading which poems are more recent and which ones were written in my youth. I cover a broad range of topics. Some topics are personal, inspirational, spiritual, and others relate to events occurring in the world.
Masquerade is a form of public confessional proclaiming it’s truth as it accepts forgiveness. Pealing away the thin layer facade of sophistication, permitting the earthly core to be exposed and appreciated. The poems aren’t going to change the world but if one person can relate or it offers them the tiniest bit of enjoyment, or for a moment lifts an individual from despair. Then sharing my writing is worth whiled.
Several people have informed me that they feel the title 'Masquerade' is fitting for this collection. People have expressed they relate to many of the topics I've written about. The feedback has been somewhat mixed but positive.
When I was growing up in this, small rural town people seemed genuine. Diversity appeared to be appreciated and stating a truth was rewarded. But present day, everything is so phoney, jazzed up, everyone wants to be like everyone else, and when it doesn't work out they seed their idle gossip. People to me have lost their way -- that doesn't necessarily make them bad -- just misguided. We need to bring America back together again and celebrate the many differences that make us the individuals we are. For America is and will always be a melting pot of peoples from all nations, raced, and greed.
The overall message of Masquerade is that people should be themselves, not be afraid to speak out against the grain, and avoid the conformity flow that's so prevalent in the world today. If you don't feel good about yourself, gossiping or attempting to degrade someone else, will not contribute to your happiness. It's okay to be different and to be you — if you feel isolated and the only one experiencing your present situtation — rest asured that millions of others are treading waters too. My words come bursting from the heart and soaring from my soul as I allow the pain and agony to bleed from my veins. I have stained each page with my empathy, my sin, my contemplation, and my remorse. As well as my elated joys, celebrations and peace.
SAMPLE POEM
CONFESSIONS
I have no reservation for my confessions
Nor shall I implore forgiveness of my perversions
It’s merely an escapade of life’s observations
Unions of Moon and Sun that highlights thy constellations.
Demons of compunction require remuneration
Weeping in gossip oblivious of contemplation
Masquerading in reverberating murky vegetation
Deprived of limbos forgotten salvation.
I shall not confess scars masking admiration
In a world blinded of consideration
I shall reserve my deduction for my own appreciation
While hark angels swarm the carousel of revelations.
To thy own self be true may lead to thy obliteration
As mushroom cloud forms over head of a lost nation
Indulging meaningless confessions
A vacant gratuity for sinners to discharge their abominations.
I bare this crucifix of tolerance and apprehension
Arresting my mollifies in solemn dissolution
A masquerade peeling away my sophistication
Reservations aren’t mandatory for my admissions.
TESTIMONIALS
“Read half your book and find it most interesting. I hardly think the depth of thought would
reach the average person. Will finish reading and read again to fully digest your thoughts.
Excellent copy.”
— Cecilia Haupt, CA
“. . . I really liked your poems Mortal Wounds and Capturing Truth; they’re really good. In
fact I think that your book is probably the best that I’ve read in the past 10 years or so. It’s
clear, direct and relative to all who reads it.”
— Frank Karan, Australia
I have additional feedback from readers but I haven't received permission from them for publication, yet.
BOOK SPECIFICATIONS
Title: Masquerade
Author: Gary Drury
ISBN: 1-4137-7342-7
Book Size: 6"x9"
Number of Pages: 100pgs
Retail Price: $14.95
Ordering Information:
Available in bookstores and online.
Amazon.com, BN.com, Borders.com
Or direct from the publisher:
Phone:1.240.529.1031
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