NEWSLETTER: "AudioBooks" (Virtual Voice/Amazon) - by Phyllis P. Colucci

📚📚 NEWSLETTER 📚📚

AUDIO BOOKS (VIRTUAL VOICE)

on AMAZON 

(by: Phyllis P. Colucci aka "fictiontarot") 

(Photos by Pinterest)

 

        I am so happy to bring all my books on Amazon (Ebook / Paperback), to audiobooks format (virtual voice), for your listening pleasure - at discounted prices too! There are audio book specials as well through Amazon. You must check it out. It really is something unique, refreshing and enjoyable.

        Sometimes it is just so great to sit back and relax while someone else reads to you. Remember how wonderful that was as a child. Well, now you can enjoy it as an adult. Allow virtual voice to become your new literary friend, who will sit beside you and read until you fall asleep, or read to you just because you simply enjoy it. So please feel free to check out my link below, and select audiobook. 

        Click on each book, and take a listen to the audio (virtual voice excerpt) to see if that is something you would enjoy... listen for FREE! Try it! You just might like it! Happy Reading - - or should I say "Happy Listening"! All the Best, my friends... It will be a MAGICAL journey... ENJOY!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00VMU8B44 

 

 

"The New America" (Spillwords Press Prompt: Echoes of a Silent City)

 

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/  

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44  

(Photos from Pinterest) 

 

 

“The New America”

        I must be dreaming. Either that, or I have been transported to the “Twilight Zone”. Yes, that must be it. This is the “Twilight Zone” and I don’t like it one bit. Where is everybody? Yesterday, I was dodging traffic to get to the crowded bank so I could cash my paycheck; and then I was dodging pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists to get to the local pizza store for a tantalizing slice of Brooklyn pizza. Now, no traffic, no people, no voices, and no sirens from fire engines, police cars or ambulances as they rush off to emergencies. Nothing! - and where are those aromas of espresso, cappuccino, Italian pastries, or freshly baked bread from the corner Café/Pasticceria? Yesterday the wind carried those wonderful aromas through the air straight to my waiting nostrils... Oh geez, I don’t understand what is happening. “Today”, I am missing everything that I took for granted "yesterday".

 

        Where are my neighbors who usually sat out on their stoops everyday making small talk, or simply gossiping about everyone else? This cannot be happening! Could this be “Armageddon”? Maybe the “Rapture” occurred, and I was left behind? I know I was not a perfect person, but I sure as hell was not the worst in the world. God, I’m a believer, and I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. Do you hear me? Are you out there somewhere? Did you forget about me?

 

        Oh this is not good. The air is thick, I can hardly breathe; and not a breeze is upsetting one strand of hair on my head. This is stranger than strange. I need to get to my house to check on my family. Oh, this is the loneliest walk I have ever taken in my entire life. Each and every shop is closed and so dark inside. The Supermarket is locked and empty just like the Pharmacy next door. The bagel shop is closed too. Where are all the people rushing off to work with a bagel and coffee in hand? This is insanity…Oh God, help me! There is my house. At least it is still standing. It looks dark and devoid of life, like everything else around me! I fear what I might find.

 

        Okay, let’s try to be rational here. There is an explanation for everything – I hope. Now just put the key in the door as usual, open the door and wait for your sweet cocker spaniel to greet you with tail wagging, as he does his “doggie dance”… What the hell? The key will not open the door… It's the wrong key! I can't find the right key! What happened to my key? I must have dropped it through the chaos! Where is my key? ... Okay, ring the bell. Someone will answer. Ring it again! One more time! - Nothing! No one! Not even the dog. Where do I go from here? I don’t know what to do. I guess I’ll keep walking. I am bound to run into something…or someone.

 

        I am getting exhausted. My feet hurt and I am losing the ability to think. This is mind-boggling… Oh wait a minute. I see something in the distance. Is it my imagination, or do I see an airplane? Yes! Yes! It’s a plane. Someone is yelling “Get on board! Hurry! Last flight out!” – As tired as I was, and with aching feet, I began to run towards that plane – the first sign of life today. A man was waving me on telling me to hurry, and hurry I did. I boarded that plane and found one empty seat to sink my aching body into. People were calling out my name. I turned to find my family, friends and neighbors wearing smiles on their faces and sighs of relief that I made it to the plane. As I smiled right back at all of them with an immeasurable joy and peace, I heard the pilot announce to all of us that we must fasten our seat belts as we were ready for take-off. I fastened my seat belt as did the other passengers, but I still had more questions than answers. What just happened to me?

    

        As we were in the air, the pilot made another announcement. He said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, and all loving pets, I apologize for this sudden and immediate evacuation put upon you today, but know we are headed to safety. Our destination cannot be divulged at this time for security reasons, but rest assured you are no longer in danger. Communist China’s cyber and biological attacks on the United States have begun, and we will not be returning to the United States of America as we know it. Your country will soon be destroyed. Your Government has made arrangements for all Americans to begin a new life in a new destination, to be named “The New America”; and China will soon be obliterated by the United States Military, never to do harm again. So, sit back and enjoy the flight.” - What??? This is surreal. I saw both horror and relief on everyone's faces...and I saw love.

 

        I knew this could happen one day; but certainly not like this. It was as if we were in a science-fiction movie... So I grabbed a pillow like everyone else who looked as exhausted as I did, and fell asleep; eager and very thankful to be waking up in “The New America”.

 

 

 

"A Sprinkle and a Thrashing" (Spillwords Press Prompt: Personifying "Rain")

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/  

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44  

(PHOTOS FROM PINTEREST):

           

              Have you come by to torment me once again like a thief in the night, pounding at my window, waking me from my sleep, tormenting my heart, adding to my pain? Why? Can’t you just prance away nicely beneath each cloud, with dignity, and move on to someone else who may need you? Why me? Why is it always me? Please! Rain! Rain! Just go away! 

             Oh, my dear girl, have you learned nothing from the past? How many times have you cried yourself to sleep simply because you had a bad day at school, at work, or at home with your family, your friends, or your lover? I heard you whisper to me in your dreams how you longed for my soothing touch, how you longed for my loyal friendship. Yes  - you longed only for me - sweet  “Rain” - to come pouring down and bathe you with my succulence as you fell to slumber. Oh dear girl, I did that for you…I cried my eyes out so you would find some peace and comfort in the sound of my unique voice au naturel, while you hid beneath the covers on your bed. I tapped at your windowsill in unison with the wind, and waited patiently until you fell asleep. Then I quietly left you. I answered your call and came by to comfort you through a simple sprinkle or a thrashing outburst of my liquid gold. Now that I have been aimlessly lurking around you because of Mother Nature’s request to bless the earth with my magical touch - so fresh, and so moist in all of its glory; so clear as a mountain spring; and so lovely as a limpid lake, you want me gone! You no longer have any use for me, when I had been with you from childhood to adulthood. Such a sad tale.

            Oh “Rain”, what do I need to do to make you move on. Please understand I no longer find your visits and your sprinkle comforting. I have tired of your thrashing outbursts. I no longer desire your damp touch from your moistened presence. You enhance my fear and loneliness as I struggle through my day, or hide beneath the covers on my bed when evening comes. You are always there, without me whispering to you through my dreams. You come uninvited. I do not need you at this point and time in my life. Now I am asking you, please go away and let me be. I now find comfort from the brilliant Sun that warms my soul and kisses my cheeks. I embrace the enchanting Moon that lights my way through every darkness. I welcome the Winter snow that blankets my world with the essence of  Heaven, by every snowflake that falls to earth. Maybe one day I may invite you back into my life like an old friend, but today I am begging you to leave me for now. 
  
            Very well then. Mother Nature is calling me back, so it is time for me to go. If you do not want me to return, just simply tell me tonight from within your dreams. Let your heart speak to me. I will hear you; but remember, without me there will be no April showers or May flowers. There will be no Summer rain to cool the land. There will be no visit from me at your darkest hour, and I will remain dormant in your life. I bid you a farewell…

            … Oh no, what have I done? “Rain” where are you? The Sun is gone, the Moon is bright yet silent, the Winter Snow has not yet arrived, and I long for your visit in my loneliness. I long for your touch and your comforting sprinkle of liquid gold – even your thrashing against my window was music to my ears. I remember now how you were there when no one else was. You loved and comforted me as a child, through adulthood. Please “Rain”, hear me call out to you from my dreams and from my heart tonight. Hear my whisper, hear my voice. I miss you so. I long for your return. Your syncopated rhythm was magical, as you tapped at my windowsill. I slept in peace as you watched over me. You gave me strength to face another day. Please “Rain”, please return to me in my hour of need! Please! You must!

        …and “Rain” returned to me, like an old friend, with a sprinkle and a thrashing that brought both joy and comfort to my soul. I embraced “Rain” as I fell to slumber, while “Rain” sang me to sleep with her moistened lips and dulcet voice, once again. She sang a lullaby to me from Nature’s playlist, and I heard a faint echo in my dreams that promised my precious “Rain” would be back tomorrow night and many nights to follow… What a fool I had been, but how thankful I have become. 
    

Poetry and Fiction - Just "One Word" Away ("Swiftly")

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/     

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44

 

                  Time passes as “Swiftly” as the ocean waves…

Splashing against the rocks

Tapping its syncopated fingers in the sand

fondling the frightened shore

Repeating its wild thrashing

Leaving the shoreline sore

Remorseless as it retreats

A relentless tide speaks

Changing at the behest of the moon and the sun

Relaxing for a moment, when the day is done

 

Dreams pass as “Swiftly” as the night…

Leaving the fantasy behind

As it greets the morning light

Always keeping our hearts wondering

Our minds pondering

And our souls thundering

Holding us captive throughout the day

Moment to moment, leading the way

Until it brings us back into its fold

Teasing us with its nocturnal gold

 

Love passes as “Swiftly” as the lightning…

Kissing us good-bye with icy lips

Leaving a mark from its cold fingertips

Promising its return in a fine fickle way

Inviting us back into its heart to play

It will blanket us with joy

Could this possibly be a ploy?

We fall for it every time

Because love is so sublime

And its charm rings like a chime

 

Life passes as “Swiftly” as a bird in flight…

Soaring high in pure delight

Elusive at every turn

No time to catch up, no time to learn

On our own we spread our wings

The years dissipate while death pings

Have we accomplished all our goals on earth

as life prepares for a rebirth?

Are we prepared for our inevitable good-byes?

Did we live in truth or exist in lies?

 

Swiftly…Swiftly…Swiftly

We are on that soft cloud riding high

Destination – Heaven’s gate

Some will make it there; others will wait

Many will remain in limbo to contemplate

Many souls will fall to fire

Many souls will join the Angels’ Choir

Many hearts will sing; many hearts will tire

Swiftly…Swiftly…Swiftly

Lights dimming, down to the wire…

Poetry and Fiction - "Golden Friendships"

http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/  

https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44  

(PHOTOS FROM PINTEREST):

           

“Golden Friendships”

 Golden Friendships that once were

Golden Friendships that did occur

Golden Friendships of long ago

Golden Friendships so glad to know

 

They never die as years go by

They often glow in my mind’s eye

They live in memory forevermore

Each visit there, I still adore

 

As we long to meet and greet again

Nothing more priceless than a friend

Those days in Brooklyn will never end

Fresh in our hearts, forever penned

 

When streets were playgrounds

Our loud laughter, love sounds

We would chase down the ice cream truck

In Days of Summer – what luck!

 

We would follow its music down each city block

Vanilla! Chocolate! I tripped on a rock!

The music still blaring, I’m back on my feet

Running much faster to capture a treat

 

Then came the man who offered us rides

On a truck that teased every child

He would pull up, with a huge smile on his face

Driving each one of us wild

 

There was the “Whip” and “Flying Tiger”

A “Ferris Wheel” too

Twenty-five cents a ride

With empty pockets, what were we to do!

 

We’d run home for a quarter

In hopes he’d still be waiting on our corner

And there he was, to our delight

What a heck of a ride we were on tonight!

 

There were backyard birthday parties

Spin the Bottle too

A kiss for me and a kiss for you

Soda and chips and birthday cake too!

 

There were balmy nights out on the “stoop”

Sweating and bored in our own little group

Playing 45’s on our portables

Oh Yes! Oh Yes! We were back in the loop!

 

We carried these record players

Around like suitcases

Still sweating like heck

With red, raw smiling faces

 

There was the corner candy shop

Old fashioned and fine

Everything a penny, a nickel, a dime

Bazooka gum, potato chips, candy galore

Ice pops, ice cream, trading cards and more

 

Little drinks in wax bottles,

Candy buttons on a strip

We’d buy them all up, by our third trip

Longing for a milk shake, and our next sip

 

When the Winter rolled in

The fun didn’t stop

We’d build snowmen across the street

In the old Church lot

 

Our feet would be cold

Our noses all red

But we didn’t mind

We followed the day, wherever it led

 

Color TV came into play

Imagine that as part of our day!

So we ran to each other’s house

I tip-toed in like a mouse

To share this gift with each family

It was one huge jamboree!

 

Yes! Each family bought one

We celebrated with glee

Thought this day would never come

But it did happily!

 

Golden Friendships -

I cherished them all

Still today, we do stay in touch

But not every day, and not very much

 

Perhaps a quick phone call

A Christmas card too

But there is always laughter, nostalgia

And love, to name a few

 

We giggle at the days we were blessed to have shared

When our souls and our hearts lovingly cared

A time when our parents were all family

We were everyone’s children

Golden Friendships – and me!