What do Holly Williams and 'The Passionate Jihadist' have in Common?

They both give voice to a youngster. I absolutely adore Holly and the work she does. For those of you who have read the sample on my website . . . don't you agree . . . this child could've been named Yushua!

Superbowl Sunday in Afghanistan

The Taliban claimed the attack, which began around 9 p.m. Saturday, saying five gunmen armed with suicide vests targeted foreigners and Afghan officials. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents initially planned to attack the hotel Thursday night but postponed the assault because there was a wedding underway and they wanted to avoid civilian casualties.

Five guys, together, prepared to die. You ever wonder why this happens? I did and it is the reason I researched and wrote The Passionate Jihadist. On the one hand, they are all about death and destruction. On the other, they do not want to hurt innocent civilians. Think about it. 

Many Thanks Spanish Readers!

I am gratified you folks feel the 'Americans Curtain of Confusion' is lifted by my books. I hope questions such as . . . 'Why American police seem to break laws themselves' - 'How courts are always getting it wrong' - and 'Why America, the land of the free, imprisons so many' . . . become more understandable. One question not answered is how we put up with Tornadoes. You see I learned something thanks to your questions! I had no idea that these types of storms are basically an American Phenomenon.

Why Write What I Write?

Great question and I thank the reader for it. Let me give one example of why I write. Last week, during the public portion comment of the Vermilion Parish School Board's meeting, English teacher Deyshia Hargrave spoke up. She was arrested and the School Board President called her a 'poor little woman'. Here is what grinds me. Nobody in the crowd was brave enough to stand up and be heard with her. Nobody. If I was there two people, who cherish the 1st Amendment, would have been arrested. I am very proud of my short time serving on a School Board and would not have sat back and allowed this woman to be marginalized like this. Never. My motto? Randle McMurphy said it best . . . "Well, I tried, didn't I? Goddammnit, at least I did that."

'The Passionate Jihadist'

We get to see Yushua thinking through a lot of his turmoil, but there is a lot presented in a matter-of-fact way that both characterizes the everyday horrors these characters experience and allows us some insight into why they  are shaped in the way that they are. Plot details never seem arbitrary; they build upon one another. For example, Yushua decides to help Aga in recovering his gambling debt to Haji, but the boys find the opportunity to fall into an even deeper problem by gambling at the bodana jangi. The details dovetail in clear ways that drive the story ahead meaningfully.

                                                                                                                            Inks&Insights

Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones . . .

but words will never hurt me. Does Mr. Parrish and Ms. Mustafa still enjoy the right to freedom of expression? I'm not so sure, but ones things for certain, Orwellian Newspeak has become a reality.

Back in September — when presidential hopeful Ben Carson declared that America should never elect a Muslim president because “it’s inconsistent with the values and principles of America” — many Americans took it like a slap in the face. Other Republicans not named Trump pushed Carson to apologize to American Muslims. Even bomb-throwing evangelist Ted Cruz (R-Texas) denounced the idea of barring anyone from public office based on religion.

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on the FBI to investigate an online threat to shoot Regina Mustafa.

Mustafa, who announced her candidacy for the Minnesota's 1st Congressional District earlier this month, said the threat was posted two days ago as a comment on a YouTube video featuring the candidate.

Recipe for Disaster - Read Carefully

Strychnine is to Candy as Hate is to Religion.

My European Challenge - Valencia, Spain!

I asked for it and I got it . . . Many thanks to my readers in Spain. I'll get you a copy of my latest story, The Passionate Jihadist when it is available. For now, I invite you to visit my website and enjoy a sample read. Again many thanks go out to you. For those who don't know . . . I challenged anyone from outside the U.S. to send me a photo of them enjoying one of my books.

www.curude.com

Returning for a FOURTH year to Inks and Insights!

____________________

Kevin Sparrow

____________________

Kevin Sparrow is a Chicago-based writer, performer, and editor. His work as a writer has been published in Pioneertown., Chicago IRL, LIES/ISLE, In Our Words blog, and Harrington Gay Men's' Literary Quarterly, and he has worked as a freelance editor for 8+ years.

Kevin graduated with a MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in May 2014. He is also the recipient of the 2014 MFAW Teaching Fellowship from SAIC. He is a co-coordinator for the monthly home-salon series HI typ/O.

Ink & Insights is proud to welcome Kevin back for a fourth year as a contest judge.

Mr. Sparrow's comments regarding The Passionate Jihadist

The flow of the plot is very direct and has a lot of activity to involve the reader. Yushua's journey of self-discovery is compelling, and he comes up against a great deal of adversity that pushes him toward making choices that the reader can understand will affect him for the rest of his life.

In some ways, this fits for a young adult narrative, having a young character have to react to the authoritative figures in their life, which I think helps broaden the readership of this novel as it can appeal to younger and older adult readers. The way that Yushua is bullied is a universal in-road for a lot of readers, but how the specificity of that bullying ties into wider cultural values is a really captivating part of the narrative.

Many Thanks Ms. Johnson

Dear Curt,
I was a judge for The Inks & Insights Competition, and I'm so glad your manuscript won an award. You have a good depth to your writing.
Kaitlyn JohnsonLiterary Agent ApprenticeCorvisiero Literary Agency

Honored to be a Winner in The Soul-Making Keats Literary Contest

What!? That is awesome!!!!! Congratulations! Are you going there?

Sunday Afternoon, 1:00 PM

March 4, 2018

Koret Auditorium

San Francisco Main Library, Civic Center

Reception Immediately Following.

Yes! I can’t wait to take part in this event and look forward to meeting you all on the West Coast.

The Passionate Jihadist Wins!

Congratulations Mr.Rude!

We are delighted to let you know you have won an award (one or more) in the 2017 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition. We would love to have you read from your work.

An invitation to join the National League of American Pen Women, Nob Hill, San Francisco Branch brought with it the opportunity to bring the contest under the Pen Women non-profit umbrella and, thusly provide free and open-to-the-public award readings at the Koret Auditorium in the new San Francisco Main Public Library, Civic Center. Since then, annually, on a Sunday afternoon early the following year, all prize winners and honorable mentions from the previous year’s contest are invited to read from their works at the Koret Auditorium in the lower level of the San Francisco Main Library, Civic Center..

WINNERS OF THE 2017 COMPETITION WILL READ FROM THEIR WINNING WORKS ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 4TH, 2018. LIBRARY OPENS AT NOON. DOORS TO THE KORET AUDITORIUM OPEN AT 12:30 PM. PROGRAM BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 1:00 PM FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTiON.

How do you Untrain a Trained Killer?

Enough said?

Humor is Cathartic

Seinfeld has mentioned that Political Correctness is stomping Humor. Many thanks Flap for once again being on the mark from the Sandy Desert. Your insight is much appreciated.

                                     

Sad Day in Colorado

Looks like we trained an individual in the fine art of killing (war) and he used those skills by-way of the Second Amendment. Matthew Riehl was many things, an attorney/e-4 specialist and had trained with a rifle just this past summer. Now he adds being a murderer to his resume'. Does it mean anything that he legally was entitled to his weapon?

Lets Tackle This Tomorrow

Seems like he Nailed It

"His Excellency President Trump has declared the reality. Pakistan has never helped or participated in tackling terrorism," General Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan ministry of Defence, told Reuters.

I Agree Robert

Robert

13 hours ago

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." Sun Tzu

Lawrence of Arabia 1917

"The beginning and ending of the secret of handling Arabs is unremitting study of them."

My answer to the stomp out Curt Rude Campaign initiated somewhere in, oh wait, Great Falls Montana.

Scandalous Story before Cosby, Rose, Frankin and-and-and . . .

JusThis (Mystery & Thrillers)

1 chapters   —   updated May 13, 2015 06:34PM

Description: A former highly decorated police officer and graduate of the FBI National Academy wrote JusThis, a dark, bittersweet tale of a police chief who forgot his oath to serve and protect. Catastrophic events are unleashed on innocents by the scheming chief as he feeds his insatiable sexual desires. Once released upon others, these cravings cause an all too realistic struggle involving life and death.