HIS PLACE

The sun sets.

The animals prepare for the night.

The old elephant stands in his place.

He doesn’t need to move.

He has everything he needs.

He keeps a watchful eye

As he stands in his place.

BORN FREE

I will fight.

I will fight the hunters.

I will fight to the death.

I will ride proud and free.

Man will not tame me.

I will not be ridden.

I will remain as free as the wind.

I was born free.

I will die free.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Embrace your passions. 

Don’t be afraid.

No one has the right 

to criticize you.

Be unique. 

Be different. 

Be proud.

http://amazon.com/author/susanneleist

BORN FREE

I will fight. 

I will fight the hunters. 

I will fight to the death. 

I will ride proud and free. 

Man will not tame me. 

I will not be ridden. 

I will remain free as the wind. 

I was born free and I will die free.

WHAT I CHERISH MOST — THE CHERISHED BLOGFEST

What I Cherish The Most

 What I cherish the most isn’t a ‘what’ but a ‘who;’ the person who I had looked up to and then had lost too early in life. This was my brother, Neil Leist.

 Neil was the type of person who lit up a room when he entered it. He was 6’2”, but it wasn’t his height that drew others’ eyes. It was his dynamic personality and his intelligence. Those grey eyes mirrored his great intellect and capacity for greatness. He acted as my father when my father wasn’t home but working long days and nights driving a taxi. He took care of my blind mother until I was old enough to help out. He sheltered me as much as he could from life and responsibilities. He shouldered these burdens himself.

 He did well in college but he flourished in the business world. He traded on the Commodity Exchange until he had enough money to take over a Fortune 500 company. With a majority share in its stock, he took over American Bakeries. Taystee Bread was never going to be the same. He took me along on his ride to stardom. I worked for him on the Exchange and in his offices on Madison Avenue, New York. I majored in Finance at New York University, preparing to join him. All was going well for once in my life and in my brother’s life. My parents were proud. He helped them out. All was perfect until that awful phone call in the middle of the night.

 My lights went out. All the light in the world was gone for me. I was stuck in darkness as dark and deep as the one my mother lived in. My brother had been in a car accident in the Hamptons. His fancy, red Porsche had hydroplaned on the wet roads. Neil was a great driver with quick reflexes. He drove the car off the road and onto the grass. Luck wasn’t with him. A truck was parked in his path and the Porsche crashed beneath it.

 Neil was in a coma for two years before he passed away. Meanwhile, his so-called friends at American Bakeries were undermining his position at the company causing the stock price to drastically plummet. We had to sell off his investment in one big chunk at a big loss. Most of his money was tied up with this company. It took me eight years to settle his estate.

 I got an M.B.A. in Finance but high finance soon lost its appeal to me. I worked at different investment companies. Then I made the big decision to become a full-time mom for my two beautiful daughters. I devoted myself to them. I took on part-time jobs in the financial field, but I was always available if they needed me.

 The big 50 was approaching and I was beginning to feel that I had lost out on life. My brother and then both my parents had passed away. My daughters were beginning their own lives. I needed a focus, a reason for my life. My book, The Dead Game, took me ten years to write.

 My life had taken many unexpected twists and turns. Memories of my brother followed me across every speed bump; thoughts of what Neil would have done in each situation kept me company. I don’t have my brother any longer but I have his memories. I also have a cherished picture of him standing alongside Mayor Ed Koch when they had met to discuss the possibility of moving the American Bakeries’ factory to New York City. It’s proudly displayed in my house and now for everyone on my blog to see.

THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF 'THE DEAD GAME' ON PODCAST

The First Three Chapters Podcast – Weekly Excerpts From Great Books That You Probably Haven’t...

Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes of The First Three Chapters Podcast – Weekly...

itunes.apple.com

 https://itunes.apple.com/…/tftc18-dead-game-by…/id984955338…


     I had the best surprise today. A fellow author had asked me if I would allow him to read my book on his podcast. I said, "sure." Many people have offered promotions but most don't turn into anything. This time it turned out better than any of my expectations.

     I never listened to a podcast before, so I didn't know what to expect. I tuned in. A man with a melodic voice and an English accent was speaking. He introduced himself. When I heard "The Dead Game by Susanne Leist," I felt tears spring to my eyes. I was so proud and also embarrassed.

     There I was, sitting alone in my house, embarrassed about someone reading my book. It's been hard enough to find friends and family members willing to read it, but having someone read it out loud was mind-boggling for me. I closed my eyes and listened.

     I  became the reader, listening to the story for the first time. By the changing tone of his voice, I was able to tell that he understood the feelings behind the words. He got it! No one was home. I couldn't yell out that someone was reading my book. I was bubbling over inside.

     Not only was I able to see the story through someone's eyes, I was able to detect the strengths and weaknesses in my writing. It's one thing to read the story out loud to yourself, but it's a whole other experience to have someone read it to you. I'm sure this experience will help to make me into a better writer. Thank you, Beren Hollins: Author, Podcaster.

TAKE A SEAT

TAKE A SEAT

Take a seat under the tree,
Where you can feel proud and free.
Crafty and free as the mighty red fox,
Who refuses to live in a box.

Freedom should never be taken lightly.
It must be revered and taken sprightly.
The fox is anxious and waiting for your choice.
Do you want to live in a box with no voice?

Come sit beside the fox in the shade.
Flowers grow here and not one a spade.
The smell so sweet and fragrant.
All friends and not one vagrant.

Close your eyes and feel the breeze.
Your writing will come with ease.
The words will flow from your pen.
Stories for women and men.

Take a nap in the meadow.
Life can be sweet and mellow.
You'll wake up with a smile.
Eager to walk a mile.

Find your perfect spot to be.
Let your imagination free.
A place that makes you feel just right.
Your senses will know what to write.

 

HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH

Do you feel invisible?
People walk by you in the street,
and don’t bother to say hello.
They don’t bother to
acknowledge your existence.
Who are they to think
so highly of themselves?
Are they any better than you?
Have they discovered
the cure for cancer?
No.
But they think they’re better.
Just an illusion.
Just a misconception of themselves
and their self-worth.
Don’t allow them to put you down.
If you do, then you’re giving them
power they don’t deserve.
Don’t ignore them.
Don’t play their game.
Look them in the eye and force them
to acknowledge your existence.
Hold your head up high.

STAND TALL

Don’t step on the cracks.
We’ve been warned since birth.
What will happen?
Will we break our mother’s back?
That won’t happen.
But we don’t want to fall
between the cracks in life.
We don’t want to be lost
in the sea of humanity.
We want to be noticed.
Noticed in our own right.
For what we believe in.
For what we do.
So don’t fall between the cracks.
Hold your head up high.
Stand straight.
Stand tall.

KING OF THE WORLD

headlikeanorange:

Fledgling Eurasian tree sparrow

Hello!
I’m king of the world.
A good day to all!
Life is beautiful
and so am I.

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THE CAT

We all have opinions.

MR. BIG

furfrouprincess:

seat’s taken

UNRUFFLED OWL

HOLDING FIRM, HOLDING STEADY
The wind blows against his body. His feathers are being ruffled.
But the owl holds firm and steady against the wind.

(Source: malinhallkvist)

NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE

AMAZING!

milkstudios:

Goat Tree
AMAZING!
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.

STAND TALL

deoxify:

Stand tall.
Stand proud.
Never allow anyone to put you down.