Please help me share this part of my book on social media and reblog on WordPress for anyone who may need it:

I wanted to share this part of my new book with everyone, at no cost, so that it might reach more people. I realize some of you just aren’t into reading and some of you purchased my novel just to support my writing and you may never actually read it, but this is something I wanted everyone to have a chance to read, regardless of whether you read Diminishing Return or not.

This is the Afterword of the novel and will in no way spoil the plot. If you have ever been affected in any way by suicide or depression (I think I can safely assume that will be a large percentage of us), please share this as you see fit. It may not help anyone and I’m…

We have to nurture and heal ourselves. A commitment to ourselves regarding our physical, mental, and spiritual well being ought to be a prerequisite and not an afterthought.

© Norma Bobb-Semple 2022

A poem in Vietnamese by Nguyễn Bắc Sơn

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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To my children

Dedicated to my mother

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Children, when you’re older you’ll hear stories about your father

About a poet who took up arms, because he loved peace

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Stationed on a hill in clouds of blinding dust, as dusk descended

I had missed you, my children

Even though it was just a subdivision but I did my small part

You should be proud of your father’s heart

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O the story about an unfortunate hero

A vagabond amongst fools

It’s the story of my life, so children you must not forget

A lengthy part in trudging decorum

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I never resented life for despising me

The path I took was chosen long ago

But when I caught a glimpse my mother’s grey hair

I shed the silent tears for what…