Authors You Should Read on Vocal

Writers have some things in common, whether they write with a quill on parchment (not so much these days) or on a screen using a keyboard. Most of us use the latter, although we may like to find a good ink pen or favorite pencil and write our creations on paper in a notebook first.

As a Vocal writer, we all find other writers along our writing journey that seem to speak to us in ways that make them stand out. When we do, it is good to share what we have received by paying tribute to those writers and helping others discover their work.

A recent challenge on The Medium Writers and Vocal Creators Group, led by Judey Kalchik, asked interested members to choose at least two authors from the "Writers We Love" Section of Vocal's Home Page, read a story or article from their Profile Page, and leave a comment. The final part of the Challenge is to write and Submit a story about our chosen writers, and once published, share it with the Facebook Group called The Medium Writers and Vocal Creators.

1. Footsteps in the Attic - by Yvonne M. (Finalist in a Vocal Fiction Challenge)

Anyone who knows the sometimes magical, seemingly alive atmosphere of an attic filled with relics of the past will be impacted by this brief but powerful poem published in SUREAL POETRY.

The writer first senses the presence of her mother as a young woman, sensing her footsteps "light and quick over the creaky floorboards".

Other times, her father's footsteps (heavy and menacing) seem to inhabit the attic space.

At times, the author shares, the strong link to the past she feels in the attic makes it seem like everyone she ever met was assembled in a grand party right there in the attic.

Yvonne M. tells us that these footsteps of the past are sometimes present in the hallways or anywhere in the entire house...but nowhere quite as much as in the attic.

I can personally relate to this story because the attic in my late parents' house was filled with so many material memories of years gone by, fitted in among the useless "I hate to throw this away...might need it someday" items.

The most precious treasures I found there were old family photos stashed in yellow-paged books, my Mom's fragile red-satin-covered box full of letters my Dad sent her from the South Pacific when he was in the Army during WWII. There was my Dad's old Army dress uniform that my brother now treasures and protects in his closet.

The atmosphere of an attic full of treasures is captured beautifully by Yvonne M., and you can find it here:

Another story by Yvonne M. that I really enjoyed and highly recommend is below:

If you like love stories, supernatural themes, circus stories, vibrant characters, and bittersweet endings, be sure to read Darwin - a superlative story!

2. You are the Ocean - by Hufflecup (Performance Poetry, Nature Poetry, Love Poems)

In describing his magnetic attraction to his love, Hufflecup says, "...and I have always loved the water".

The writer opens the poem like this:

"you are the ocean

to behold your majesty

The calming whisper of raw power".

His strong attraction for his love is very effectively matched with his magnetic attraction to the ocean.

The mixture of peace and passion, comfort and intrigue, he finds in a person who is referred to as "the ocean" and in the actual ocean itself.

You can read "You are the Ocean" by clicking on the link below:

Another powerful poem by Hufflecup is below:

The sub-title to "Just a Casual Epiphany" ('Trauma Shouldn't be Normal) sets the stage for the heartbreaking tone of one who has grown up under the influence of a parental marriage gone bad.

The poem begins with the words:

"I think I am my ideal self

The person I could have been if the world never hurt me..."

The poet is not under the delusion that marriage can be perfect and without trauma, but he didn't feel like it was asking too much to have wanted his parents not to run each other down verbally to the child who was supposed to "represent a union of their love".

He laments that if they could have liked each other's "quirks and known how to resolve conflicts successfully, maybe he could know what a normal, loving relationship looks like and believe that happiness in adult life could be possible for him.

If things had been different in the parents' marriage, perhaps loving patiently and not "ruining a good friendship" would have been within his grasp.

The author wishes to know what it is like not to wonder if someone who is nice to you will say bad things about you behind your back, whether loved ones, when out of sight, can be trusted to come back into your life.

So many questions, even to the extent of questioning his own continuing existence.

There is no happy ending, but I get the feeling that the writer's ability to vocalize the "hurt" the world has inflicted on him will lead to a place of healing and forgiveness.

There are so many good and great writers who share their hearts and souls on Vocal.Media.

I have more to share and plan to follow up this piece in the next few days. Until then...