Starting was never the problem. Putting the pieces together to finish a complete work? The ultimate challenge. See the progress here.
It’s Not Enough
An excerpt from Love Poetry. © Nortina Simmons
#ThrowbackThursday Fiction: A Love Affair With Jazz
From an earlier version of Love Poetry, here’s a Throwback snippet that will … Continue reading #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: A Love Affair With Jazz
“Hiding in Bathrooms” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
Now she really had to go to the bathroom. She pushed her way … Continue reading “Hiding in Bathrooms” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
“Morning Run” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
Whitmore pulls the comforter to his chin, and she snatches her hand back … Continue reading “Morning Run” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
“Asking All Them Questions” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
“I was with Alex.” She said it without thinking, surprising herself at how … Continue reading “Asking All Them Questions” — An Excerpt from Love Poetry
Z is for Zucchini #AtoZChallenge
As I said in yesterday’s post, “Love Poetry” has a very different ending. … Continue reading Z is for Zucchini #AtoZChallenge
Y is for Yoga
Originally published April 29, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. This and … Continue reading Y is for Yoga
X is for Xenophobia
Originally published April 28, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. For this … Continue reading X is for Xenophobia
W is for Wall
Originally published April 27, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. Jessica woke … Continue reading W is for Wall
V is for Visitor
I love a good ghost story, but this haunting excerpt doesn’t quite fit … Continue reading V is for Visitor
U is for Under Pressure
Originally published April 24, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. The two … Continue reading U is for Under Pressure
T is for Type
The following poem, originally published April 23, 2015 for the A to Z … Continue reading T is for Type
S is for Suicide
Originally published April 22, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge “Do you … Continue reading S is for Suicide
R is for Ring
Originally published April 21, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. “What was … Continue reading R is for Ring
Q is for Question
Originally published April 20, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. Whitmore was … Continue reading Q is for Question
P is for Peacock
Originally published April 18, 2017 for the A to Z Challenge, this cynical … Continue reading P is for Peacock
O is for Optional
Originally published April 17, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. A version … Continue reading O is for Optional
N is for Nice Guys
This poem, originally published April 16, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge, … Continue reading N is for Nice Guys
M is for Makeout Session
Originally posted April 15, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. He kissed … Continue reading M is for Makeout Session
L is for Lesbian Feminist
The original story behind how Whitmore and Jessica met, posted April 14, 2015 … Continue reading L is for Lesbian Feminist
K is for Kitt
Originally posted April 13, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge Bruce arrived … Continue reading K is for Kitt
J is for Jealous
Originally published April 11, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge “Why don’t … Continue reading J is for Jealous
I is for Insecure
Originally posted April 10, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. “Jessica! Did … Continue reading I is for Insecure
H is for Heaven’s Angel
Originally published April 9, 2017, this poem was written by Whitmore and dedicated to Jessica. … Continue reading H is for Heaven’s Angel
G is for Girlfriend Whisperer
I love the Girlfriend Whisper! It’s probably one of my favorite scenes from … Continue reading G is for Girlfriend Whisperer
F is for Friendzoned
Originally posted April 7, 2015 Alex had told Jessica that Bruce was a … Continue reading F is for Friendzoned
E is for Emergency Contraception
This scene actually won’t appear in the new and improved Love Poetry Novella. … Continue reading E is for Emergency Contraception
Love Poetry Novella: An Interlude
I’ve crawled out of my cave briefly to chat and share some new … Continue reading Love Poetry Novella: An Interlude
D is for Drunk
These girls sure know how to throw ’em back don’t they? Only a … Continue reading D is for Drunk
C is for Condom
This scene, originally posted April 3, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge, … Continue reading C is for Condom
B is for Buzzzzz…
Originally posted April 2, 2015 for the A to Z Challenge. This scene … Continue reading B is for Buzzzzz…
A is for Attached
A prequel of Whitmore’s last relationship before he met Jessica. Originally posted for … Continue reading A is for Attached
Your Eyes
It’s your eyes that I remember. Thick lashes that curl toward heaven, that … Continue reading Your Eyes
Procession
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust—flutter in the wind blown by my lust. … Continue reading Procession
Chivalry is Dead
Chivalry is dead. Chivalry is an excuse for men to treat women as … Continue reading Chivalry is Dead
First Date Jitters
Jessica could always tell when seafood wasn’t fresh. It had a distinctly sour … Continue reading First Date Jitters
Peace in Trials
“They keep killing our boys. It’s like a genocide out there!” Stella was … Continue reading Peace in Trials
On the Other Side
Leslie loved the fresh greenery of Leiland’s street corners. A few years ago, … Continue reading On the Other Side
First Impression
He was cute—kind of short, and a little shy, but cute. He handed … Continue reading First Impression
Impossible to Refuse
“You did what!” Alex’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. She’d always … Continue reading Impossible to Refuse
Love Poetry
“I know how much you love poetry, so I wrote you a poem.” … Continue reading Love Poetry
The Lord Will Keep You
Bacon sizzled and popped in the pan. Leslie hovered over the stovetop, watching … Continue reading The Lord Will Keep You
Z is for… [Z]ealous Interviewer #AtoZChallenge
I’m feeling quite zealous today. Why? Because it’s April 30, and I’ve made … Continue reading Z is for… [Z]ealous Interviewer #AtoZChallenge
Y is for… [Y]oke #AtoZChallenge
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will … Continue reading Y is for… [Y]oke #AtoZChallenge
X is for… [Χ]ριστός #AtoZChallenge
I got nothing. A big fat ZERO. There just aren’t enough “X” letters in … Continue reading X is for… [Χ]ριστός #AtoZChallenge
W is for… [W]eed Witness #AtoZChallenge
Pop is dead, but I won’t cry. Crying is for sissys and wimps. … Continue reading W is for… [W]eed Witness #AtoZChallenge
V is for… [V]iews #AtoZChallenge
Plans change. When you start building, you don’t expect to find an underground … Continue reading V is for… [V]iews #AtoZChallenge
U is for… [U]ndercooked #AtoZChallenge
The turkey was undercooked. Ma planned to roast it overnight, have the whole house … Continue reading U is for… [U]ndercooked #AtoZChallenge
T is for… [T]ony Fields #AtoZChallenge
I’m on the clock (59 minutes and counting…) so let’s cut to the … Continue reading T is for… [T]ony Fields #AtoZChallenge
S is for… [S]cripture #AtoZChallenge
Thank you for tuning in to another planning session for Lost Boy! The … Continue reading S is for… [S]cripture #AtoZChallenge
R is for… [R]esearch #AtoZChallenge
One more week to the finish line… Almost there… Don’t get burnt out. … Continue reading R is for… [R]esearch #AtoZChallenge
Q is for… [Q]uarrel #AtoZChallenge
“Hello?” This was a mistake, but I ask for Gregory anyway. “Who this?” … Continue reading Q is for… [Q]uarrel #AtoZChallenge
P is for… [P]lace #AtoZChallenge
I come to you with the letter “P” a day late . . … Continue reading P is for… [P]lace #AtoZChallenge
O is for… [O]utline #AtoZChallenge
Procrastination has a sneaky way of kick starting the creative process. While frantically … Continue reading O is for… [O]utline #AtoZChallenge
N is for… [N]ag #AtoZChallenge
All week he’s demanded I make a decision on a birthday present, impatience in … Continue reading N is for… [N]ag #AtoZChallenge
M is for… [M]oynihan Report #AtoZChallenge
In this short brainstorming session, I want to introduce an idea… In our last … Continue reading M is for… [M]oynihan Report #AtoZChallenge
L is for… [L]ocation #AtoZChallenge
Location, location, location… Location, usually referred to as setting in literature, is the time … Continue reading L is for… [L]ocation #AtoZChallenge
K is for… [K]indred #AtoZChallenge
Apparently there aren’t many words in the English language that begin with “K”—that … Continue reading K is for… [K]indred #AtoZChallenge
J is for… [J]ail #AtoZChallenge
Where’s the justice? As you may know, this year’s A to Z Challenge … Continue reading J is for… [J]ail #AtoZChallenge
I is for… [I]ce Cold #AtoZChallenge
He remembered it being cold that day. First day of Spring and ice … Continue reading I is for… [I]ce Cold #AtoZChallenge
H is for… [H]ungry #AtoZChallenge
Stella had never seen someone eat so fast. It was as if he … Continue reading H is for… [H]ungry #AtoZChallenge
G is for… [G]iving to God #AtoZChallenge
I’m still waiting on the floodgates to open, still waiting on my blessing … Continue reading G is for… [G]iving to God #AtoZChallenge
F is for… [F]athers #AtoZChallenge
As we near the close of week one of the A to Z … Continue reading F is for… [F]athers #AtoZChallenge
E is for… [E]ulogy #AtoZChallenge
The day went by as a procession of footsteps, blurred clothing streaking across her … Continue reading E is for… [E]ulogy #AtoZChallenge
D is for… [D]etective Franklin Maye #AtoZChallenge
Today we take a look at another character in Prodigal Son*, Franklin Maye, … Continue reading D is for… [D]etective Franklin Maye #AtoZChallenge
C is for… [C]haracter Sketch: Leslie Fields #AtoZChallenge
Today we take a break from the prologues and backstories to give you … Continue reading C is for… [C]haracter Sketch: Leslie Fields #AtoZChallenge
B is for… [B]roken Vow #AtoZChallenge
I was never excited about the baby. We’re barely making ends meet as … Continue reading B is for… [B]roken Vow #AtoZChallenge
A is for… [A]cross the Street #AtoZChallenge
SunTrust Bank sits across the street from the Shell gas station. The worst place … Continue reading A is for… [A]cross the Street #AtoZChallenge
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 4
Cheyenne: Mixed and Matched continued “So I bought that gargantuan turkey for no … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 4
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 3
Cheyenne: Mixed and Matched continued Rebekah’s stories of Cheyenne’s father became more spirited … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 3
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 2
Cheyenne: Mixed and Matched continued By five, most children knew of the stork … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 2
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 1
Cheyenne: Mixed and Matched Cheyenne’s mother, Rebekah, had long, blond hair, smooth as … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 3 | Part 1
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 3
Susie: Black Inside and Out concluded “Get your hands off of her like … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 3
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 2
Susie: Black Inside and Out continued… I wanted to get a glimpse of … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 2
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 1
Susie: Black Inside and Out They say children don’t begin to retain their memories … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 2 | Part 1
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 3
Natasha – Black on the Outside concluded Mama was waiting for me at … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 3
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 2
Natasha – Black on the Outside continued… I ate lunch alone. At the … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 2
Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 1
Natasha – Black on the Outside When I was seven, Mama told me … Continue reading Oreo Cookies | Chapter 1 | Part 1
SoCS: Breaking the Attachment
Jessica had her second nervous breakdown last night. The first came when Whitmore told … Continue reading SoCS: Breaking the Attachment
Haibun Thinking: The Anchor to His Love
Whitmore loved Jessica. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with … Continue reading Haibun Thinking: The Anchor to His Love
Haibun Thinking: “I never did mind the little things . . .”
I never did mind the little things, which is why I don’t understand … Continue reading Haibun Thinking: “I never did mind the little things . . .”
Lovely Curses 