Trees and clouds and buildings in the cities of Seoul and Goyang in the late summer and early fall of 2021. Their colours and their shapes and the light they are bathed in. Simon Wagenschütz tried to catch all of this in the pictures collected in this book which is presenting you the blues of his Seoul together with lyrics by j. t. baka.

K-pop (Korean popular music) reigns as one of the most popular music genres in the world today, a phenomenon that appeals to listeners of all ages and nationalities. In Soul in Seoul: African American Popular Music and K-pop, Crystal S. Anderson examines the most important and often overlooked aspect of K-pop: the music itself. She demonstrates how contemporary K-pop references and incorporates musical and performative elements of African American popular music culture as well as the ways that fans outside of Korea understand these references. K-pop emerged in the 1990s with immediate global aspirations, combining musical elements from Korean and foreign cultures, particularly rhythm and blues genres of black American popular music. Korean solo artists and groups borrow from and cite instrumentation and vocals of R&B genres, especially hip-hop. They also enhance the R&B tradition by utilizing Korean musical strategies. These musical citational practices are deemed authentic by global fans who function as part of K-pop’s music press and promotional apparatus. K-pop artists also cite elements of African American performance in Korean music videos. These disrupt stereotyped representations of Asian and African American performers. Through this process K-pop has arguably become a branch of a global R&B tradition. Anderson argues that Korean pop groups participate in that tradition through cultural work that enacts a global form of crossover and by maintaining forms of authenticity that cannot be faked, and furthermore propel the R&B tradition beyond the black-white binary.

‘The Words of My Soul’ is the in-direct telling of “my-story.” It is a story told through a compilation of spoken-word pieces that I have written over the years. It includes memories from the earliest part of my life to the person I am today. I recall feeling as though I had stepped into a world shrouded in darkness, secrecy and in dirt and rightfully so since the circumstances that surrounded my young life were, indeed, violent and traumatic. My journey begins in a way that would take me years to understand and many more to begin talking about. The story I tell, through my spoken-word, is the uncovering of those secrets and the road traveled to find inner-peace and healing.

The first book of poetry from Stephen Brooke, including national and regional prize winners, and the author's pen and ink illustrations.

The collection of poems–Dews of my Soul, you would read now has very intense emotions felt by a woman, as varied as women’s life itself. Poet’s fascination for words and passion for writing has enabled her to show the deepest of the deep emotions. The poems also have an easy spontaneity, and they are such that every woman will identify with the feelings they spring forth. They leave the readers with mixed feelings of exasperation, joy, pride and triumph.

Introduction Voice from the Soul of Trees Even before you read the first poem in this collection, I would like to set the stage for what the book is about. The book provides a contrast of nature and life, their parallel collage; their montage; and a voice that blends life together. Life, as we all experience it, does not have a singular dimension. Neither does this collection of poetry. But what is does provide is a focus on our collective entities; you, I, us, and mankind; embracing, and living life as one; beyond boundaries. First, we are one with self; and secondarily, we are one with the world in which we live together; especially our loved ones. The resonant analogy is with nature, man, and living. The dominate figure in this collection is the tree; nature; and how nature and life work together. Trees have always intrigued me. They represent how life can comingle, and how they can create their own palette just as sisters and brothers, uncles and aunts, nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members, friends, co-workers, acquaintances; people that challenge you; people that protect you, and people that love you; a universal tree. My initial inspiration came from this strong pecan tree that was in the backyard of my homestead. The tree was strong, stout, and sturdy; hovering limbs, knotty branches, and deep roots. This tree represented life on so many levels. It was more than a tree that provided spending money in her season of bounty or a tree that represented the toil of having to rack her abundant leaves. This tree represented wisdom; life; living; being grounded; strength of mankind, shelter, and unity. So with this frame of reference, I look to all trees to provide the same lessons. I can ride along the countryside, and see a tree, and become inspired by its beauty. I can feel the life that emits from her roots; her branches; her strength and her spirit. I see trees comingling together; oftentimes a unique family relies on the natural order of life to dictate their unique place. Reminiscent of life, our distinctive styles of living, and our sometimes disjointed realities, I look to the soul of the tree. It is from this perspective that I have penned this collection of poetry and prose. The uniqueness of the tree; in varying seasons, bless us with their flowers or their fruit. In varying seasons, the fruit is bountiful. In varying seasons, they lie dormant; bearing the harshness of cold winters. In varying seasons, we only see the stumps of their existence. In the spring of their season, they give us new trees strong enough to bear strong branches, knotty limbs, and deep roots. Celestine McMullen Allen

They believe love conquers all. One of pro-hockey’s golden couples, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick live in the limelight reserved for elite professional athletes. On their second anniversary, Andrew receives an unexpected contract offer to join the Tampa Suns. As they look forward to a new adventure, neither foresees an event that challenges their love and threatens their marriage. Until it doesn’t. A sudden and senseless accident threatens Andrew’s life and inexplicably drives a wedge between the couple. Shattered by the incident, paralyzed by fear that it could happen again, Caryn finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to provide the support he needs—at the time he is most vulnerable. As their perfect world crumbles, each makes choices that take Andrew and Caryn further apart. Distrust, fears, and secrets construct walls. This Piece of My Soul follows the joint and separate paths the couple navigate as each hopes to rediscover the love that can conquer all.