My reflections of Dec. 18, 2010 are cherished memories of hours well spent with old and new friends at WORDS Bookstore in Hardy, AR.

It was a joy to share my poetry in the warmth of a room full of smiles and expectations. It was fun to also share the work of other Arkansas poets, too, like Jim Barton, Jennie Lewis, and John Crawford.

I loved it when the audience asked for favorite poems from the Circle of Life Trilogy and Thinking Aloud/Allowed. Sometimes they quietly commented or asked questions after I read a piece. That interaction is nirvana to any poet.

Owner of WORDS/AFTERWARDS, Greg Bess, played bits and pieces of the CD off and on throughout the afternoon. People truly enjoyed them. Greg and his wife Beth are strong supporters of the arts in this area.

I can't thank Doug Driesel and Josh Coker enough for their imaginative job of editing the text and scoring the music. They know what accents the mood of my poetry and how to enhance the text to convey its truth.

These men, professionals at Lake Paradise Studio, are tuned in to the act of creativity becuae they are musicians and songwriters themselves.

We're completing the work on the CD for Scattered Rainbows Volume II of the Circle of Life Trilogy this week. More on that later.