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‘This is Lockdown’ blog tour
Thankyou Marje for inviting me to be part of your fantastic new book, focusing on thoughts of Lockdown. I’m very excited to have you here, for the last part of your blog tour.
The Poets in This Is Lockdown – For Marian Wood
by M J Mallon
Thank you so much for contributing to the anthology Marian and for hosting me on your blog as part of the blog tour.
This Is Lockdown includes M J Mallon’s diaries, her poems, flash fiction and short stories, the ‘isolation writers’ thoughts on their experiences during this time, and the poems and writing contributions from many authors, bloggers and poets.
An anthology and compilation of diaries, short stories, flash fiction, contributions from the ‘isolation writers,’ plus poetry written during the time of lockdown in the UK. This Is Lockdown is written from a writer’s perspective highlighting the simple pleasures of day-to-day life during such an uncertain and frightening time. It also gives a glimpse of the blogging, writing world. The book showcases several authors and their thoughts on what it is like to experience ‘isolation’ as a writer. I also discuss the handling of the pandemic and my thoughts on what might happen next. In the final part of the book I include my latest short story idea: a YA romance and various short pieces of poetry, and flash fiction inspired by the pandemic.
The authors showcasing their poems in this collection are:
Marian Wood
Title of Poem: Our Changed World Poetry – Free verse
I met Marian at last year’s Bloggers Bash in London. She is an enthusiastic blogger, writer and poet who is working on two novels, one of which is Crime, the other Science Fiction. She manages all this whilst bringing up a family and working part time for the NHS.
Sally Cronin
Title of Poem: Silver Lining – Double Etheree
Sally Cronin is a huge supporter of the indie community, and an enthusiastic blogger and author. She writes book reviews, many features, health columns and all manner of blogging wonder in her aptly termed Smorgasbord blog. She is an author/poet and regular contributor to Colleen Chesebro’s poetry challenge. Her latest book is: Life’s Rich Tapestry Woven in Words
Adele Marie Park
Title of Poem World End – Free verse
Adele Park is a Fantasy/Horror author. She has won poetry competitions in the past. Her poetry piece World End shows how talented she is. We have been friends for a long while and are both contributing authors to Dan Alatorre’s bestselling horror anthology Nightmareland. Adele, Debby (below,) and I are all part of the sisterly collaboration – Spiritual Sisters which includes, Colleen Chesebro and Annette Aben. Adele recently released her second novel in the fantasy series: Wisp. Sea Dragons.
Debby Gies
Title of Poem: Cabin Fever – Etheree
Debby is a memoirist/Non-Fiction author, a huge supporter of the indie community and fellow administrator of The Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook. She’s a lovely lady who shares her book reviews on her Sunday review spot and interviews fellow authors too. She is a regular contributor to Colleen Chesebro’s poetry challenge. Her latest memoir is: Twenty Years After I Do .
Frank Prem
Unknowing (the city) – Free verse
Frank Prem has been a storytelling poet for forty years. When not writing or reading his poetry to an audience, he fills his time by working as a psychiatric nurse. Frank’s latest release is the last part of the wonderful love trilogy – Rescue and Redemption. I’ve read two out of the three in this trilogy and looking forward to reading the last one!
Willow Willers
The Plague – Free verse
Willow is a lovely soul who blogs, writes, and shares heart felt poetry on her blog. She contributes to many online blogging challenges including Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday, Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge, Ronovan Writes Poetry Challenges, Sue Vincent’s Write Photo. She is a kind, caring, positive light in the blogging community who I have met on several occasions in London at the Blogging Bash gatherings.
M J Mallon
Marje, or MJ as she sometimes likes to be known has been writing poetry for quite some time. She only recently became a published poet with her first collection of poetry, prose and photography which was released in Feb 2020 : Mr. Sagittarius.
Author Bio – M J Mallon
I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my parents Paula and Ronald, only sister to my elder brother Donald. I spent my early childhood in a mountainous court dwelling in the Peak District in Hong Kong.
It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six-foot hunk of a Rock God husband. My two enchanted daughters often return with a cheery smile.
Sometimes when the mood takes me, I adopt an alter ego, M J – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheroes!When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practice Tai Chi and Yoga. If the mood takes me, I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.
My favourite genres to write are: YA fantasy, magical realism, and various forms of poetry. I blog about books, writing, photography and inspiration at: https://mjmallon.com.
I enjoy writing articles celebrating the spiritual realm, my love of nature and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious. One of my greatest pleasures is reading. I’ve written over 150 reviews at my lovely blog home: https://mjmallon.com – book reviews
Links:
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Authors Amazon page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Twitter:@Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon
Collaborative Group: https://www.facebook.com/pg/5SpiritualSisters/The wonderful contributors are:
Richard Dee, (Sci Fi , Steampunk, Amateur Detective author,) Catherine Fearns, (Amazon Bestselling Author of Police Procedural/Mysteries and Music Journalist,) Lynn Fraser, (Author,) Jackie Carreira, (Writer, musician, designer and aspiring philosopher,) Willow Willers, (Poet and writer,) Sharon Marchisello, (Murder Mystery, Financial non-fiction,)
Fi Phillips, (Author, Copy Writer) Jeannie Wycherley, (dark stories, suspense, horror,) Chantelle Atkins, (urban fiction, teen/YA,) Tracie Barton-Barrett, (Speaker/author,) Peter Taylor- Gooby, (Crime, Love Stories, Political Fiction,) Ritu Bhathal, (Chick Lit romance, poet,) Alice May , (Author, Artist and Speaker,) Miriam Owen, (Blogger and Doctoral Researcher,)
Drew Neary and Ceri Williams (Ghost Horror, Supernatural,) Katherine Mezzacappa, (Author name: Katie Hutton,) (Historical Fiction/Romance,) Sally Cronin, (huge supporter of indie community/blogger/author) Debby Gies (D G Kaye), (Memoirist/NonFiction,) Adele Marie Park, (Fantasy, horror, urban fantasy,) Marian Wood (blogger, poet and writer.) Samantha Murdoch, (Writer, Blogger,) Beaton Mabaso (Blogger, African Storyteller,) Frank Prem (Poet, Author,) Anne Goodwin (Author, Book Blogger) Sherri Matthews (Writer, Photographer, Blogger,) and Jane Horwood and Melissa Santiago-Val – Community Masks 4 NHS.
This Is Lockdown
An anthology and compilation of diaries, short stories, flash fiction, contributions from the ‘isolation writers,’ plus poetry written during the time of lockdown in the UK. This Is Lockdown is written from a writer’s perspective highlighting the simple pleasures of day-to-day life during such an uncertain and frightening time. It also gives a glimpse of the blogging, writing world. The book showcases several authors and their thoughts on what it is like to experience ‘isolation’ as a writer. I also discuss the handling of the pandemic and my thoughts on what might happen next. In the final part of the book I include my latest short story idea: a YA romance and various short pieces of poetry, and flash fiction inspired by the pandemic.
Buying Links:
Universal link: mybook.to/Thisislockdown
Please note anything purchased through this blog at Amazon will earn me a small amount of commission which will help to pay for my blogs.
To purchase – This is Lockdown
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A life in a sad wretched mess
Wretched
She sat rocking backwards and forwards, chewing on her hair, she knew she appeared wretched. Feeling like there were constant black clouds overhead. Hitting rock bottom had hurt and for the thousandth time she analysed her situation.
A single mum caught stealing underwear from the local department store, and now being threatened with prosecution. How had she got here? Somewhere she had taken a wrong turn.
Nicky had always looked to Rob for everything. He had been her rock. He had been with her through university and all her struggles. All the times she had doubted herself and the jobs she had given up. Now she was in a completely wretched state.
After verbal abuse from daughter Fiona, she had found herself on one of her usual shopping sprees. Now on her descent into madness, she had felt her life spiralling as if she was falling off a cliff. Her life was ruined and now Fiona hated her.
Rob – one year ago
As he started up the engine on his old Ford, the rain was bouncing off the tarmac. Putting his foot on the accelerator, he thought about Nicky and hoped that things would be better when he got home. Things had been bad for a while and since meeting blonde haired, no strings, Joanna, he had found solace in her arms.
Arriving home that day he knew it was over as he walked in the door. As Nicky leapt at him in one of her rages he reacted badly. That was it, throwing Joanna’s name into the argument, he added fuel to the already hot fire.
Their marriage was over, and as Nicky watched him leave, she could feel her heart breaking and her tears fell easily.
Present day
Fiona was now twelve years old, desperate for her mother’s love. Hormones kicking in and bouncing between her parents. Confused by her mother’s state she was pushing back and scared.
Nicky had reached bottom, after losing the love of her life, she then lost her job. Sacked after complaints from clients. Once efficient at cutting and dying hair, she hadn’t meant to give Mrs Barnes bright red hair and a severely short Bob. The last straw had been giving Mr Deans a skin head when he had asked for a grade two. Unable to concentrate on her work, and with her mind focused on her problems she kept sinking.
With her daughter hurling abuse at her, and her life crashing around her she needed something to make her feel better. Without a job she was struggling to put food on the table let alone manage retail therapy.
Today
This was her biggest mistake. With an urge for new underwear, empty bank account and no space on her credit card she found herself sat with a muscly security guard in the back office of the posh knicker shop. Annoyed with herself for getting caught, she wondered why she hadn’t attempted to steal them through the self-checkout in the supermarket.
Sensing the burly man’s eyes, she was feeling awkward.
“Nicky Marsh?”
“I was, and you are?”
“Geoff Francis. I remember you from French class. That was before I started going to the gym. So, why are you stealing knickers? The manager is on her way.”
Shocked, she didn’t know what to say. Her life had descended into a nightmare and now someone who knew her from school had caught her stealing frilly knickers and a bra. Nicky didn’t recognise Geoff but did remember his name. Feeling defensive, she didn’t know what to say. Thinking this couldn’t get much worse, she could feel her face turning red and a warm clammy feeling overtaking her mind.
“Nicky, I know you have never noticed me, but I have always liked you. Despite this wretched situation, I can help you out here. This doesn’t have to end in prosecution. Boss is quite nice, just not too keen on thieves”.
Tears now flowing, she needed a friend. She hadn’t expected to find him whilst stealing from the knicker store. Hearing the door open behind her, she could feel her tears flowing faster.
Amanda
“Right, so what do we have here?”
“Sorry, Amanda, I think there’s been a misunderstanding”.
Nicky sobbed, “I’m so sorry, this shouldn’t have happened”.
“Amanda we’ve been talking and this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Geoff, please leave us alone.”
Touching Nicky on her shoulder he walked out of the office.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t normally steal knickers,” Nicky stammered.
“Look I can see you are distressed. If you’re caught here again, we will prosecute.”
Wiping her eyes, she knew she was getting away with it. A second chance, she needed this.
“I won’t do it again, sorry.” Sniffing Nicky picked up her bag, pushed her chair back and stood up.
Needing to get out she took deep breath and looked at Amanda.
“Thankyou.”
A need for change
Nicky knew she had to sort out her life. She couldn’t continue being this wretched mess. Leaving the shop, she noticed Geoff watching her. She wondered what he was thinking, he was nice looking and had been kind to her.
“Nicky.”
Turning around, she saw Geoff.
“Nicky, if you want to ever meet up, here is my number. We can talk, I’m a good listener.”
Stunned she took his card, smiling she now headed for home. Hoping that things would get better, she thought about Fiona. Only twelve and right now needing her mother. Nicky knew she had to sort herself out. She needed to finally stop falling.
Written for Blog Battle – Wretched
For more see A need to be liberated, cry for freedom
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Strangers in the Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
I’d always wanted to explore the Sahara Desert. For some reason, never-ending sand and dry heat had always appealed to me. I had agonised and planned for this trip for years.. Meeting Frank had never been part of my agenda.
After my hectic planning and then getting myself lost in London Gatwick. I’ve never had the best sense of direction so finding the right gate for the flight to Morocco proved beyond me. On my final confused circuit of the airport, the tall man with the long dark pony tail struck me as unusual. I’m sure the streaks of eye liner made me look a bit crazy, but it meant that he was concerned enough to stop and offer help.
Finally, we found the gate and on boarding the plane., I learnt that he had dreamt about the Sahara too.
So, having set out on a one-person expedition, we were now on a two-man mission. This was my trip of a lifetime and now I had company and he wasn’t bad looking either. However, was sightseeing in the desert with a stranger really a wise idea?
Camels and sand
Arriving to camels, sand and heat, yellow stretched out in front of me for miles. Ensuring we had enough water was a task. Trying to make sure that we had enough to stay hydrated was essential.
Excitement running through me, this was it, I was about to ride a camel across the desert and explore. A dream fulfilled but this was not how I had expected it. Listening to Frank singing about ‘riding across the desert on horse with no name’ I was sure that meeting him had been a mistake.
His face and body were attractive, but why did he insist on singing?
Approaching the sand pyramids, we heard a scream. Glancing over at Frank he had stopped and was looking at me. What now? In the middle of the Sahara with two camels, and a stranger, this sounded like a disaster.
Lorna
Lorna Williams had been looking forward to her Moroccan holiday. The man she met in the hotel bar was attractive and appeared genuine. After a few drinks and agreeing to go to his room, she had woken to sand. Screaming she knew no one could hear her, and through the yellow fog she could see bodies.
Bodies in the middle of the Sahara Desert, was not a good sign. Screaming now turning into persistent shouting in desperation. Scared of dying like the others she tried to stand up. Seeing the knots around her legs, Lorna could see her life flashing past her. Struggling to scream , she couldn’t give up.
Sand pyramid
Kicking the camels towards the pyramid I felt sick. Was I about to be screaming too?
“Jane, stay here”.
“No way, I’m coming”.
“This could be dangerous”.
“Yes, but I’m not waiting here.”
Ignoring Frank, I nudged my camel towards the sand pyramid. As Frank followed, I wondered what we were about to find. With the heat burning down like a raging fire, my throat was dry. I was desperate for water but I could hear the screaming, clearer now as the pyramid got closer.
Lorna
With the surrounding bodies like statues, desperate to make noise. Any water Lorna had, was finished hours ago. This was it, she was going to die. Finally, exhausted and thirsty she closed her eyes to the world and lay down fully drained.
Jane
Jumping off the camels everything was quiet. Looking at Frank, I was shaking. What were we doing? We weren’t Bonnie and Clyde and certainly not heroes.
Walking into the pyramid, shock swept over me like a tidal wave. Frank ran back to his camel for a flare and to find help. Checking for life, there were ten here in total. Someone had been busy. Hearing a faint sound, I listened. Someone had been screaming, they had to still be here.
Seeing movement, I realised that the blonde in the corner was alive. Rushing over, I found my water in my backpack and offered it to her. Relieved when she drank, I willed Frank to hurry up. Feeling uncomfortable, what could I say? Are you okay? Was an obvious stupid question.
Rescue
A while later I heard the rumbling of engines, help on its way. Feeling someone’s arms around my shoulders, I was numb. Watching two sheikhs with medical supplies as they sat her up, I heard the word “stranger”.
I could have ended up here too. Frank was also a stranger but I was glad that he was with me. Watching him dealing with the sheikhs and now the police taping off the area, he was in control. Whereas I was feeling awkward and my head was hurting with crazy thoughts.
When you have dreams of exploring the Sahara Desert the last thing you expect is to find a pyramid full of dead people. You also don’t plan on meeting a handsome stranger at the airport, who can then deal with an emergency situation.
Later at the hotel we learnt about the serial killer. These people had all been dumped one by one and abandoned in the heat to die. Frank and I had saved the woman’s life. We were heroes and now the police had a good description of the killer.
Resolutions
A back-packing holiday with a difference. A single woman, picked up by a stranger and then left for dead. The stuff off horror novels, Lorna knew that her life had nearly become a sad tragedy. Saved by another woman who had also been picked up by a stranger. Lorna hoped that Frank was really as nice as he seemed and not like Stuart or as she knew now, Peter the serial killer maniac.
Jane
Meeting Frank had changed the course of my Sahara break. Had I not met him at the airport we wouldn’t have found Lorna. We also wouldn’t be sat here months later, cuddling watching Netflix. Our holiday and meeting will be something that keeps being retold. I’m sure a more exciting story then most, and thankfully ending with the serial killer in prison for many years and Lorna happily safe and well.
Written for Write the Story on Writers Unite
For more see, A ghost train to another world
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