Literature – Page 4

The Bride

A Poem.

A fairer creature I never did see,

Than she who brought me jubilee,

Of whom noble poets and sonnets sing,

The beautiful one who takes my ring.

Far fonder than the sweet roses dare,

She surpasses ever their beauty fair,

In sacred white she casts away the veil,

Her beauty regales me in full assail.

The shimmer of her eyes stills the room,

The light of her smile shines the groom,

Standing by my side she fills my dreams,

At the altar, a resplendent angel, she seems.

Alas, my love, I have become one with thee,

Be my companion evermore, for eternity,

Together we will soar over the deepest hollows,

Bride and groom we’ll fly as the future follows.

I wrote this poem in 2002 for my wife to commemorate ten years together. A decade later, it is as true now as ever.

M.G. Edwards is a writer of books and stories in the mystery, thriller and science fiction-fantasy genres. He also writes travel adventures. He is author of Kilimanjaro: One Man’s Quest to Go Over the Hill, a non-fiction account of his attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. His collection of short stories called Real Dreams: Thirty Years of Short Stories available as an e-book and in print on Amazon.com. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Jing and son Alex.

For more books or stories by M.G. Edwards, visit his web site at www.mgedwards.com or his blog, World Adventurers. Contact him at me@mgedwards.com, on Facebook, on Google+, or @m_g_edwards on Twitter.

Alexander in the Amazon

When my family and I visited the Amazon River Basin in 2008, we were struck by the immense greenness that enveloped us. The serpentine network of rivers known as the Amazon cut through the rainforest, delivering life-sustaining water to thirsty foliage. We stayed several days at a beautiful resort accessible only by boat on one tributary of the river, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle.

Exploring the surrounding rainforest on foot and by boat, we visited a monkey sanctuary, met indigenous villagers, fished for piranha, took a walking tour through the dense forest, and went on a day river cruise to see the confluence of the black and brown branches of the Amazon as well as on a night cruise to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Spending time with my son Alex, who marveled at a new world he had never seen before in his young life, inspired me to capture our experience in a story that brings the rainforest to life for children like him. “Alexander the Salamander” is an illustrated children’s story about a salamander named Alexander who moves to a new home in the Amazon and meets new friends who take him on an unforgettable adventure. It is a reflection of our own Amazon experience that I hope young children will enjoy and find educational.

Alex co-authored the book and drew the illustrations. The photos were taken by my wife Jing and me. If you would like to purchase a copy in Kindle’s e-book format, click here. To read other books and stories by M.G. Edwards, visit www.mgedwards.com.

It Starts with an Idea

An author who sold several best sellers and millions of books once shared some insights into becoming a successful author. They indicated that the book has to be well written, professional looking, with a good product description, and for sale at the right price. With a bit of luck, these attributes can help make a book a commercial success.

What the author neglected to add was that successful writing starts with a good idea. Anyone can copy the latest literary trend, but a truly successful novel or story should be based on a compelling idea. The idea does not need to be original per se, but rather one that piques readers’ interest. It means moving beyond the latest paranormal vampire romance into unexplored territory. Can you guess what the next frontier in writing will be? If so, write about it before it becomes passé. A strong idea can be a good foundation for success.

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