AuthorSuite Poetry Week

MUSINGS, WITS & ROMANTIC VERSES

 `Butterflies deep under, walking around the heart With the feet of a thousand millipedes'

By Grady Harp

            Top 500 Reviewer | Hall of Fame | Vine Voice

A Portrait Of Love 

 

Talk to me about love today

But please, make no use of words 

Give me a portrait with your touch alone

For love is...

Like an epochal turning point

Preceded by affliction

Powered by upheavals, and

Succeeded by illusions undreamt

Yet the epoch, it is not

For love is...

(Read more...) © Flashes of Emotion      

'Flashes of Emotion is romantic poetry... written in a vivid and refreshing style, a compilation that is a pleasure to read and reread. Sam knows how to put across emotions and thoughts and they resonate from every poem.'

                            

'Fifty-two poems, intellectual and emotional. You will find relationship galore. If you are looking for a sad love poem, turn to "The Greatest Gift"... that voice produced several favorites in my notes. Five stars it is, and extremely recommended.'

                                                                                                          

Ode To A beautiful stranger

You are electrifying, like a bolt of lightning in an ebony sky,
My
Beautiful
Stranger.

Your look is ingenuous and seductive
Your lips are luscious and devilish
Your gaze is delicate and intimidating
Your eyes are like pearls, dreamy and magnificent 

Your eyelashes unfurl, sensual and provocative
Like a lion tamer's whip.

You are fascinating like sunrise
You are soothing like a healing balm
You are captivating, and, yes, avid,
Like an angel and a mischievous sprite incarnated as one.

My beautiful stranger,
Your advent on that water's edge ...
A spectacle so entrancing, an aura so exquisite
My lethargic mind was roused from limbo
Monotonous sights and sounds dispelled
Juicy laughter in my soul, sweet music loud in my ears

On that promenade of despair,
My beautiful stranger,

I lived.

Will your distant hands ever reach and touch my face?
Will your warm breasts ever be nigh for my head to abide?
Will my yearning eyes be blessed with a glimpse of your grin? 

If this expectancy beyond the pale is all I have,
My beautiful stranger,
I shall bask, forever, in the opulence you've brought my way
My last thought, of course, shall be of you
So that in this memory I might revel
A cherished fortune it ever will be
That a beautiful stranger once crossed my path.

Therefore, this song is for you,
For your brilliant smiles,
For your palpitating heart,
For your mystifying love,
For the afterglow of your thought in my head,
A thought that crushes emotions, let it be known.

And crushed, I must remain, for
A more stunning glow than you
My monotonous path has never been graced
A lovelier rose I've never glimpsed
A headier perfume I've never inhaled

You are electrifying, like a bolt of lightning In an ebony sky,
My

Beautiful
Stranger.

'Liquid flowing music from a poet who understands passion. His eloquent poems speak to each of us as private as a whispered conversation. Brilliant.

Augustine's poems glow with musical invention and the manner in which he elects to place his words on the page enhances the meaning and the beauty of these works.'   - Grady Harp

5.0 out of 5 starsPoetry for the Modern Age
Alison Cubitt it was amazing

'The precise use of language and metaphor immerses the reader in the drama of the moment. A well-crafted poem, like a good screenplay, uses as few words as possible to convey meaning and this is a notion that this writer has clearly understood.'

5.0 out of 5 starsI'm not a great reader of poetry but in my humble opinion this ...

Diana Febry it was amazing

'This is an exceptional poetry collection. The imagery is so fresh and vivid it paints pictures in the mind and as a reader, I was able to recognize those fleeting emotions that are so hard to capture. I started to note my favorites as I read, but the list became too long.'

t of 5 starsThe dirge and symphony of love

Gloria Piper

 'Beautifully crafted poetry fill pages with sensual love. These poems may speak of masculine sensuality, but they also can find identity in the feminine. Among these, you may pick a few favorites. '

it was amazin

5.0 out of 5 starsCherish these Poems
Marjo it was amazing

Book Readers Review
'Flashes of Emotion is a book of poems written to reflect life, love, death, pain, joy and many kinds of emotion. It is a book to be savored and returned to on many occasions. If you are not a frequent reader of poetry, Augustine's poems will change your view. This is a rare collection.'

                                   

 

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Q&A with Hartford Books Examiner

Direct examination: 

Augustine Sam 

on 

'The Conspiracy of Silence'

Today, Hartford Books Examiner welcomes Augustine Sam.

From AuthorSuite Books

Sam is the author of “The Conspiracy of Silence” (AuthorSuiteBooks). A bilingual Italian journalist and an award winning poet, he is also a member of the U.K. Chartered Institute of Journalists. Sam was formerly Special Desk editor at THISDAY newspapers, an authoritative Third World daily first published in collaboration with the Financial Times of London. He later became correspondent for central Europe. His poems have been published in two international anthologies: “The Sounds of Silence” and “Measures of the Heart.” One of his poems, Anguish & Passion, was the winner of the Editors’ Choice Awards in the North America Open Poetry contest, USA. Augustine’s debut novel, “Take Back the Memory,” a contemporary Women’s fiction, received a Readers’ Favorite 5-star medal. His second book, “Flashes of Emotion,” a collection of poems, was the 2015 International Book Award Finalist. Sam lives and works in Venice.

“The Conspiracy of Silence” was published last September. Tracy Edingfield, lawyer and author of “The Law Firm of Psycho & Satan,” praised: “This fire-cracker female lead is a force of nature who drives her powerful enemies to their knees. She’s smart, she’s brave. She’s sexy as hell. Sam’s tale of the mob’s tenacious grip on American politics is bared in some of the best courtroom scenes ever written.” Further, TFLReader (Top 500 Reviewer) noted “This is definitely one wild ride from start to finish …”

From the publisher:

SEX SCANDALS IN HIGH PLACES ...

An exposé on the murky world of high-stakes politics...a depiction of the life-and-death struggle of a young female lawyer who goes to great lengths to outwit a diabolical trio in order to save her lover from a murder rap.

The conscience of a town steeped in sexism, vanity and hypocrisy is pricked by the brutal murder of a mysterious woman in an LA park. But the shock is transformed into a steamy, seductive scandal when the corpse turns out to be Susan Whitaker, the flamboyant wife of the governor of California.

A secret lover/blackmailer theory leads to the indictment of Hollywood's most influential black celebrity. It is only the beginning, for Susan Whitaker, in fact, did not exist.

Little does anyone realize that this colossal fraud is a mere curtain raiser to a chilling world of ugly skeletons dating back to the assassination of a U.S. senator in a Washington hotel sauna, skeletons connected to riveting sex scandals in high places, skeletons the FBI and political kingmakers will kill for...

THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

Now, Augustine Sam offers up his testimony in the matter of “The Conspiracy of Silence” …

John Valeri: What inspired you to write “The Conspiracy of Silence” – and how did you find the process to compare to that of writing your first novel?

Augustine Sam: Actually, “The Conspiracy of Silence” was motivated by a play I wrote for broadcast many years ago—a 30-minute radio play about a musician accused of a murder he did not commit. His sister, it turned out, was the only person alive who knew he was innocent though the evidence pointed to his culpability; her desperation to prove his innocence, of course, was the core of the play. When it was aired, I felt that it was too short to convey the kind of emotion that should naturally accompany a tense plot such as that, so I decided to write a novel about it with all the powerful ingredients that were missing in the play.

My first novel, “Take Back the Memory” on the other hand, was a different ball game. It involved the creation of a flawed character whose struggles with her inner demons had the sole purpose of helping us, as literature often does, to understand ourselves as humans. It was a kind of psychological exploration of the human mind, in this case, a woman's mind; a woman unable to fall out of love with her childhood sweetheart who had abandoned her for priesthood. She decided to embark on a very curious kind of vendetta.

In a way, the process of writing both books was similar in that I delved into what some might call political incorrectness.

JV: Your protagonist, Rita Spencer, is a defense attorney. How did you endeavor to get into her head – and where did you draw the line between authenticity and creative license in terms of depicting her profession?

AS: Rita Spencer is thrust into the limelight she dreads by a murder of which her lover is accused. It is important to note two things: (1) she happens to be a good investigator whose strength lies in the kind of dirt she's able to dig up in any given case, and (2) like any woman in love, she is desperate to save her lover from the murder rap. Based on that premise, the writer in me undertook the pleasurable task of getting into her head through what I would call a normal creative process. The line between authenticity and my creative license in depicting her profession is not drawn but designed to blend with reality. In the evolution of the story, her conduct as a person (or what you might call behind-the-scene maneuver) is distinct from the tricks she pulls in the courtroom, the process of which is presented in as authentic a manner as it is in real life. In fact, one former practicing lawyer describes the legal process portrayed in the book as "some of the best courtroom scenes ever written." Of course, I am honored by the compliment.

JV: In your opinion, how does setting enhance narrative – and in what ways have your own international experiences informed this work?

AS: The setting of any novel is imperative to the narrative. It highlights the story, makes the characters real and identifiable, gives a greater understanding of the plot, and puts the events in their proper environmental perspective. It is true for all genres including thrillers, which, in addition to the setting, have the advantage of a fast-paced trait that helps the author simulate the mood of his readers by providing that sudden rush of excitement, and exhilaration that eventually drive the narrative.

In answer to the other question, well, the only way I see my international experiences as informing this work is in my ability to free myself from being pigeonholed with a single idea or perspective; it goes a long way to inspire open-mindedness, which I consider healthy for creativity.

JV: Though fiction, your story resonates as timely and topical. How do you see this work as being relevant to the current political climate – and in what ways can fiction be a particularly effective vehicle for illuminating real-life issues?

AS: Literature must be relevant to its times. It must be both timely and timeless. It must resonate with the people and the period in which it is set, and contribute to the discourse, political or otherwise, as well as put events in their proper historical and social contexts. To that extent, I'm glad that this work comes across as topical. I would say it is relevant to the current social and political climate in that it doesn't shy away from exploring same. Fiction, used properly, can be a very effective vehicle for expounding on real-life issues because it can, by its nature, get away with many things. And it doesn't necessarily have to be politically correct.

JV: You have a background in journalism and poetry. How do these disciplines influence one another – and what appeals to you about alternating between them?

AS: Though my background in journalism definitely helps in terms of research etc., I generally try not to think as a journalist when engaged in literary writing. Journalists, as someone noted, can be a pretty soul-less bunch at times, and while they are great at communicating hard facts they are often less adept at expressing their feelings and their sensitivities. So, it's difficult to approach poetry, for example, with the mind-set of a journalist because sometimes with poetry you really must bare your soul. But poetry appeals to me because it brings out thoughts and expressions in ways that other genres suffer deficits. However, it is important to say that my background in both fields does not create any kind of contradiction, in fact, in a curious sort of way, it creates a mental balance for me.

JV: Leave us with a teaser: What comes next?

AS: A new book, of course; I am currently working on the first part of a trilogy that's a blend of Literary and Romantic Suspense.

***

               _____________________________________________________ 

John Valeri

John Valeri was an independent contractor for Examiner.com from 2009 to 2016. His Hartford Books Examiner column consistently ranked in the top ten percent of all Hartford, National Books and National Arts & Entertainment Examiners. His reviews have been excerpted in more than fifty titles written by popular authors ranging from Wally Lamb and Debbie Macomber to James Patterson and Marcia Clark. John regularly moderates author interviews and book discussions at bookstores, conferences, and libraries throughout Connecticut; he has also appeared on television and radio. John will make his fiction debut in Tricks and Treats, a Halloween-themed anthology due out from Books & Boos Press this fall. John currently contributes to CriminalElement.com, The News and Times, The National Book Review, Suspense Magazine, and The Strand.

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Anniversary Edition

Award-winning

 Poetry  

  

Free...with Kindle Unlimited

Flashes of Emotion - the 2015 International Book Awards Finalist - a book of romantic poetry. It is both timely & timeless. It is a selection that allows the reader to tap into the poet's insights on a wide variety of topics from life and love to death and drudgery. Contemporary poetry with a classical edge, a 'must have' for anyone who has ever experienced love, pain, defeat, or joy ...

"A rare poetry collection" - Book Readers Review 

 

   

Acclaim for Flashes of Emotion

“Author, poet, journalist Augustine Sam lives in Venice, Italy - that most romantic of all cities - and offers this collection of his poetry for romantics and those looking for meaning in the many challenges life offers. Augustine’s poems glow with musical invention and the manner in which he elects to place his words on the page enhances the meaning and the beauty of these works...Liquid flowing music from a poet who understands passion. His eloquent poems speak to each of us as private as a whispered conversation. Brilliant.”  

-  Grady Harp

    Hall of Fame | Vine Voice

“Flashes of Emotion by Augustine Sam has a classical edge, yet feels current in its raw energy. Poetry, simply put, is not like this anymore, which makes it all together unique and refreshing. I enjoyed the deep description and rhythm as they are quite different from my own writing. You won’t find words or thoughts like these at slams, or online, therefore it is well worth your time.”

-  Ben Ditmars

    Author of Night Poems & Haiku in the Night

 

“Fifty-two poems, intellectual and emotional - Sam's vocabulary is large, as is his geography. You will find imagery, as in 'Italian Cemetery.' You will find relationship galore here, for example in 'Gestures & Allusions.' If you are looking for a sad love poem, turn to 'The Greatest Gift.' Sam’s style may take a bit of getting used to, but that voice produced several favorites in my notes. Five stars it is, and extremely recommended.”

  -  Jim Bennett

     The Kindle Book Review

“Masculine, Effective & Pristine - In Augustine Sam’s Flashes of Emotion, the use of language and allusions to cultural norms is masterful, while his tone plays the chasing dawn of a morning sun we’re unwilling to wait and see. This collection affected me... those poems Augustine Sam rocked were outstanding. I recommend Flashes of Emotion to every poetry lover who wants love songs and outside angles from a tender, masculine perspective.”

 -  Melissa Ratel

     Vraeyda Media – Canada

“This collection deserved to be published. Its well-composed verses are a prime example of thought-provoking poetry—a marriage of Old World charm and modern day romance. A ‘must have’ for anyone who has ever experienced love, pain, defeat, or joy.”

-  Anna Marie Fritz

    Author of The Dream Garden & Anna-Versery poetry series.

“Sam knows how to put across emotions and thoughts, and they resonate from every poem.”

-  Lit Amri

    Readers' Favorite

“Creative, intriguing, and impressive.”

-  Gwen Dickerson

    Poet & writer

“Gems in an elegant setting.”

-  John Zimmerman

   Poet

                                                 

International Poet of Merit
Silver Award bowl

“Journalists can be a pretty soul-less bunch at times, and while they are great at communicating hard facts they are generally less adept at expressing their feelings and their sensitivities. That’s not true of all journalists, of course, and it certainly isn’t true of Augustine Sam who has somehow managed to combine a career in mainstream journalism with an equally successful career as a creative writer and poet extraordinaire, picking up awards and accolades left, right and center for his amazing poems. This anthology allows us to tap into Augustine’s insights on a wide variety of topics from life and love to death and drudgery - a collection that showcases this journo-poet’s lively, refreshing, and innovative style.” 

- Andy Smith FRGS FCIJ

  Editor, The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, U.K.

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