What Smashwords Says
The poems, stories, and essays in this anthology are written by writers with disabilities, sharing slices of their lives and experiences. Although disability is a part of some of these selections, it is not the focus or theme of this anthology. See and experience daily life, historical moments, and nature’s wonders through the words of these authors…
My 5-Star Review
I’ve been a member of Behind Our Eyes since 2006 and have served the organization in many capacities. I still help edit our online magazine, Magnets and Ladders, chair our email list guidelines committee, and serve on various other committees.
As you may have guessed from the title, this is our third anthology. It contains work by our members, some of whom have passed away. Many of these pieces were published in Magnets and Ladders and were posted on our email list, and I enjoyed rereading them. I also discovered some new work that perhaps I don’t remember reading.
Having been a music therapist, my favorite piece is “Song for Adrienne” by John Justice, in which the author explains how, as a piano tuner, he touched the troubled life of a mental patient. I also enjoyed Mary-Jo Lord’s poem, “I Walk Among Them,” in which she describes her experience with kangaroos and wallabies in Australia. Alice Jane-Marie Massa’s poem, “A Snowflake Garden,” ends the anthology on a high note.
Two of my poems and one of my essays also appear in this collection. With Christmas around the corner and with something for everyone, Behind Our Eyes 3: A Literary Sunburst would make a great gift!
Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography
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by Two Pentacles Publishing
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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
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by Two Pentacles Publishing
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
My Corner 