Menace

Menace

What is fame? Is it you all know my name off TV,

yes I’m a star but in all the wrong ways.

Stealing cars and robbing an offy, it was all so easy and fun.

Have you seen this man? Don’t approach him,

he is dangerous and carries a weapon. Now where next?

Already on Crime Watch, in the papers,

he is notorious and a menace. Fame at what cost?

No photos with his favourite pop star,

no doing something for charity, this man is real hardcore,

a menace and a rebel. Lock him up

and punish him for his bad ways!

JUNIPER

JUNIPER

   The three great tribes were at war, many hundreds of people had perished in the huge conflict. It wasn’t clear who would win. It could easily end up with only three men remaining, each a warrior of the warring tribes. After that, there would be no one left. Juniper had let the war go on long enough, now she had to act. If not, she would be guilty of letting the slaughter get out of hand. The tribal warriors had killed and been killed enough times, their lesson had been learnt. It was time to stop the killing. She picked the strongest tribe to be the fulcrum of the event.

   Juniper was always earthbound, doing her roles of healer, witch and warrior woman. She was divinely worshipped as a Mother Goddess of fertility and a dozen other things. Her battle skills were equal to her life giving skills; she needed to fight to defeat her stubborn opponents when her magic wouldn’t work. Skilled in arcane arts, she was a spell weaver and magician of supreme power. Her hands could give life and take it away. Her crystals were her magical key and her bows and arrows were her life taker. A weapon she crafted herself and used with deadly efficiency. Dressed in animal skins, Juniper was an athletic figure of intelligence and emotions. She understood herself, her world and her subject. There was nothing she didn’t know. Experience taught her everything and knowledge was her key in winning her battles against the darkness. Dark energy balanced out the light side and goodness, like the day replacing the night. Such was Stone Age life in what would become Europe many aeons later.

   She could travel by foot, silently and stealthily, to surprise her enemies and bring them to heel. Or she was able to travel instantly from one place to another by using her magic power channelled through her crystal wand. This was a skill she used sparingly, early humans were very superstitious and their fear of the witch could overcome their desire to be led. Moving from place to place, the witch did her job. When the war broke out, this threatened to undo her previous efforts at keeping the peace and healing. She had to act now.

***

   Overlooking the flat plain on two sides, the low hills gave whoever held them command of the area. They were occupied by the stronger tribe called the White Spears. Their enemies were living uneasily side by side on the grasslands below, often fighting one another or attempting to take the high ground. Many warriors were killed in these forays. The coming battle would decide the issue of who kept the hills and also the low ground; there was a danger the two opposing tribes would be wiped out by the stronger enemy. Could Juniper stop this? She crept up the hill, keeping low to blend into the metre tall wild grass. Her bow and arrow were ready to be used in anger. With her senses keyed up, she was ready for anything; this was her time. Up ahead she saw camp fires and heard voices, several warriors were on guard and would be armed. She slowly advanced.

   In the White Spear camp a warrior named Nian held his spear to his chest. His weapon shone in the firelight. He hadn’t killed a man yet but he had been involved in several skirmishes with the tribes on the flatlands. It was a matter of time before he got his first kill and became a seasoned warrior veteran, one of the men. Then he could claim a wife and build his own dwelling for his family. He itched for war and to kill an enemy, he felt it in his veins; they ran hot with a lust for action that often overwhelmed him. Nian wanted to go down the hill alone and wipe his enemies out all by himself. His warrior elders warned him not to do this, he would be cast out of the tribe and be an enemy then. There were ways of doing things. Just then, he saw movement in the grass, past the flames of the dying fire. He instinctively knew something or someone was there. Maybe an enemy or a wild beast. He judged the distance and threw his white spear into the grass where he saw movement. His sleek two metre spear arced out and into the grass. A scream of pain was Nian’s reward. He got up and ran to the grass, shouting to his brethren to join him, that there was an enemy in their midst.

   Juniper had fucked up; she moved too close to the edge of the camp and was spotted. The spear caught her in her thigh. It was a bad wound and bled profusely. She knew she was beaten before her battle had begun and this changed everything. Suddenly there were figures standing before her, towering over the grass, shouting and pointing. Before she passed out, she felt them roughly lifting her and taking her to their camp. Mercifully she felt no more pain. Juniper never even got a single arrow off.

some q and a's i did on a recent poem book anthology

Social Network names / websites:

Twitter: No

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inkwords/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117258678412520354365/posts?partnerid=gplp0

LinkedIn: No

Pinterest: No

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2814902.Nick_Armbrister

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B003NPHFBQ and http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=la_B003NPHFBQ_B003NPHFBQ_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Nick+Armbrister&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1394401365

Blurb about you:

Nick likes writing, doing open mic, getting tattooed, loves music like goth, metal, 80s and girl singers. He likes aviation, history, weapons and is anti war. Nick likes travelling, experiencing other cultures and living a simple life.

Names of some of the books that you have written / been involved in along with their websites, of those that you want us to mention about:

Nick has done many books. Examples are his Juniper's Daughter series of novels about a witch who has a flying saucer. She fights the Devil and his evil ways. Nick has put his aircraft themed poems in a collection of aircraft poetry, Aeroplane Related Poems. Other collections include two volumes of Wow! Tattoo My Butt books of varied works. Nick's tattooed backside graces the covers. Nick has released both real books and ebooks. Check them out on good book websites/shops. Nick has worked with other poets and a book of anti war poems with Andy N is the most recent, Europa – in the dark valley between the world wars. New work will be out in future under his real name and his pen name Jimmy Boom Semtex.

What country do you primarily publish or reside in?

England, from April 2014, The Philippines.

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Please answer at least 5 questions, but the more that you answer the better. It will help us with marketing you along with this book. Feel free to add questions if you wish.

First of all, can you tell us about your background as a writer?

Published in the 'small press' poetry scene from late 1996 to now, 2014. Also appearing in varied collections and anthologies, both hard copy, ebook and online. DJ Tyrer and his varied magazines gave Nick an excellent outlet for over a decade. Nick worked with a goth band and American publisher. Left them due to personal differences and to further his career, which Nick did. Started doing open mic appearances in 2009 and has headlined at Guitar and Verse at Gulliver's in Manchester in 2013. Has helped new writers by giving advice, useful publishing contacts and support. Nick writes for the pure joy of it, not for financial gain. His interests partly inspire his work too.

Has being a writer (or poet) been your dream job?

It's not a job, it's a pure joy to write. But yes, it would be.

What human rights or social activism issue(s) are you most passioante about and why?

Nick hates racism, ignorance, oppression and needless wars that happen each year. He also likes women's equality and many of his heroines are women. Freedom of speech is a great thing and he uses this a lot in his work. As should all writers. Be inspired people.

Why do you write? What is your inspiration?

My own life experiences and my views on many topics. I have to write or I'm not happy. Writing and being creative lifts my moods and I create and help to change the world by telling stories of varied people. It's always wonderful to write and positive and enjoyable.

Can you describe what your submitted poem or story was about?

My poems are about women in conflict throughout the world. These true stories need to be told. My submissions are She Defeated Death which is about a woman who was shot to death by Nazis in WW2. A shot down RAF flier saw her actually shot. He described the incident in his memoirs. I had to write about her. My Manchester Lass is about based upon true events. A young Manchester woman, Linda, murdered in Auschwitz. I saw some of her possessions on the Antiques Roadshow. Her's was a shocking story. Nedā is about an Iranian lady named Āghā-Soltān (Nedā). She was murdered by Abbās Kārgar Jāvid, member of the Basij militia. Her death was caught on camera and the whole world knew of Nedā. Her name became a cry for freedom. Brutal Not Comfort is about 'Comfort Women' forcibly taken by Japanese soldiers in WW2 and forcibly made to act as prostitutes. They were taken from The Philippines, South Korea and other nations. This topic still causes problems at the highest levels in South Korea with Japan. Eclipsing Karin’s Fracture is about a Karin Ulbricht, an East German student who dared to demonstrate against the Communist regime in Leipzig just before the Berlin Wall fell in late 1989. Things could of been very different that night.

                   

 

Do you have any advice for any other writers or poets wanting to get into the industry?

It's not an industry but a movement. Be yourself, honest with yourself, know your capabilities, work hard, be open to constructive critique, be nice to people, as you may need their help one day. Be prepared to write for long hours, do your research on any topic you cover, don't chase publishing deals or cash and above all, have fun. And network and hook up with other writers.

Which poem or short story that you have written is it that you are most passionate about? Can you explain why?

My anti war work which is opposite my early poems on the joy of war. I've come full circle and changed my views as I grew up and became a better writer. And I'm happy knowing I can change the world with my work, making it a better place.

Outside of your own work, who would be your favourite writer and/or poet? Why is that?

Liz Hand author, Katie Haigh, Andy N, Gemma Lees, all poets. Also Sven Hassel, James Herbert, Tracy Reed and singers like Anneke van Giersbergen, my musical heroine.

Do human rights or social activism issues influence your writing? If so, how so?

Yes they do and on them I must speak out in my views and work. Write and speak out, use a pen name if you must for your own protection and privacy. For example, see my featured poems in this book.

Do you have a career outside of your writing?

Yes I do. I've worked in varied jobs like warehouse, fork lift truck driving, chemical production, bakery work and more. And I'll do more jobs when I emigrate like making shoes.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests that help to influence your stories or poetry?

My love of aircraft inspires my poems on flight for example. My own life experiences also help, as does talking to people and listening to their stories. My other interests also contribute like tattoos, music and more. I attend writing workshops too.

What kind of writing or genre do you primarily work in as an author or poet?

Many like free verse, prose, in verse, sometimes rhyming. Most subjects.

What is your most memorable moment as a writer or poet?

Meeting my creative heroine, Annie van Giersbergen, who was lead singer in The Gathering, now solo. She's great and inspires me no end and does great songs. Attending various writing workshops, inspiring a live audience and working with other writers is very rewarding too.

Are there any particular challenges that you face in your writing? How do you overcome them?

Sometimes a lack of time when I work fulltime. Or not having a notepad, mobile phone, computer or pen and paper and having sudden poem words in my head, so I can write it before I forget it.

Do you have any future projects that you wish to talk about?

Check my new poem book out with Andy N, on lulu.com and other sites to follow. It's anti war and called Europa – in the dark valley between the world wars. We'll change the world with this book, for the better.

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Futility 

   This is a narrative of events and some fiction, I saw an incident and it resonated in my head, one thought came to me. Only a country’s armed forces should be allowed guns and knives, in no way should such weapons be allowed on the streets. What brought on this view? I saw a man who had been shot and who was dying, I heard his wife scream for help, I saw a car speed away, I heard two bangs all thrown together in my shocked mind in a cacophony of evil deeds that will be with me forever. I’m confused though, why the bangs after the car went? I hope I don’t get flashbacks. I must help educate people on this issue of murder by firearm or knife, how unacceptable it is. Also this can tie in with the loss of Sophie Lancaster two summers ago, a lovely gothic lady who was killed for being alternative defending her boyfriend. The words SOPHIE tell it all – STAMP OUT PREJEDICE HATRED INTOLERANCE EVERYWHERE. Now weapon use on our streets can be added to this cause and any other evil act done by people for whatever reason with illegal lethal weapons. Through my writing I can help make a difference and help people realise that if you aim and fire a loaded gun at a person you will kill them and be on a murder rap; it’s not a water pistol full of water, you’ve got a 9mm bullet and will end a life, period. I was walking back from the pub after a boring night out, early coz my heart wasn’t in it. I was not very drunk and could walk straight rather than staggering down the road.

   I feel the last part of my innocence went away from me on that late summer evening, call it my 911 to be over dramatic but it’s just that. A hysterical wife, whose husband was dying not a yard from me affected me quite a lot and I have to live with her screams. If only I could have helped and done more. If only… but life doesn’t work like that, “if” is just that, one of the many variations that could happen but didn’t happen. Do I feel any better living with her screams or seeing her husband dying on the floor, knowing two men have been caught less than thirty-six hours later for the hideous crime? My answer has to be yes and I want the bastards to burn in hell for leaving a wife a widow and her two kids fatherless. Some things should not be seen or happen at all, this was one event I got caught up in by fate. I ask fate why I was picked on that dark night to be part of this wicked awful real life drama. I don’t think I’ll never know but I accept my role in it by fate and that alone, I did my best. I’d do it again and I’d like to think anyone else would too, your duty as a good person and all that. If this is what coppers and ambulance people see in their jobs, they can keep their jobs coz I never want to do that job and experience that, even if it involves saving people and helping them. That’s enough, what goes with it entails things above what I can try to deal with. How do they deal with it? The medics were very calm that Friday night, they were trained to do a most difficult and dangerous job. I was asked on the phone is it safe to send the medics? Yes I replied, not knowing where the gunman was, still around? We could all be the next targets; I could for being there, for being a witness.

   Days later after that awful weekend that changed my life forever, totally overshadowing my own personal problems with the woman I was involved with and having no job, I felt the make up of things had changed in many ways inside me, that I hardly understand. I do know my own problems are nothing compared to the problems people have like losing their husband. I vowed myself to be a better person and not to cause undue trouble in life. Will I be able to stay true to this new vocation I set myself or is it because I’m in shock at seeing a murder? My father says the trauma will pass and the edge will go. He was a copper back in the day, real old skool. You come to Oldham and kick off, you’ll get a real fuckin’ hammerin.’ Not like today, all forms and paperwork and no tough and ruff ‘em police. How would my father deal with the men who shot dead a defenceless husband? I can’t answer that.

   I know that I’ve not been sleeping in the aftermath of the attack, at night bad images kept me awake – haunting me? Her screams piercing the still night air. The shot man moving after a few minutes, though he was out of it, his eyes closed unaware of what was happening, I hope. I’m glad I saw no blood flowing onto the floor, no bullet hole deep into his body, brains splattered on the wall or actually saw him shot by the shooter to fall down mortally wounded. How would I be after witnessing that awful little list of evil? What if that pistol was turned on to me? Terror belongs to the night stopping my sleep in the night hours, I sleep from 6am to 2pm like I did the night shift but I do no job, no I suffer the trauma of events from the night a few days ago. I’m going to write this story to say no more guns and also knives on our streets, even though this is a war. I saw a casualty of war Friday night; his family suffer the collateral damage. I see the flash backs, in no way as bad as their loss. The only people who should be allowed these powerful terrible weapons should be the military, that bit is clear to me. Is it possible to remove every weapon from our streets? What do you think?

   I know all about guns, I’ve seen the films to know which end to shoot. I know that there are different types of handguns like revolvers that take six bullets in a revolving chamber; these weapons date back to the days of the cowboys. Then there are the pistols with a magazine in the handle, a more modern design with more bullets dishing out more death. The modern guns take up to fourteen bullets in two rows of seven in their boxy magazines in the handle. Some even fire on fully automatic just like the larger machine pistols (and these can spit out over a thousand nine millimetre bullets a minute). Truly wicked inventions very well designed and with one purpose in mind, to kill and maim. Mankind certainly made an invention to please the Devil, this time with easy death and tragic traumatic after affects lasting a lifetime for witnesses and family members.

   Another shooting in a different part of my town, a few weeks before this event I witnessed, used one of the most deadly and over designed machine pistols ever invented – the Mac-10. This can fire 1,200 bullets a minute but the mag only holds thirty. I saw a picture in the paper with coloured markers indicating where the small bullets had fallen around a man. I counted many markers. The rest of the shots would have hit him, I imagine killing him instantly. Both events maybe linked with the usual suspect words thrown in, drugs, gangs, tit for tat killing. Even if both murders are linked, I say enough is enough. Yes, drugs are bad and need to be eradicated by the authorities in whatever way they can, from the poppy fields of Afghanistan or the jungles of Columbia to the streets of our towns and cities. Remove the guns and knives, break up the gangs, stop young people joining gangs which give them a sense of belonging, an alternative family, a feeling of power and respect between members and other gangs and lastly, gives them access to the weapons of war, guns and knives of ferocious power.

   I imagine the guy I saw immediately after he was shot didn’t suffer much but I can’t be sure, only the medical staff, people there before I was on scene and of course God, can be sure. With two men in the cop shop being questioned, that is a good result but the event should never have happened, just like each murder and attack should never have gone down ending lives and tearing families apart. Enough is enough in this vicious war. To me it looks like everyone has a story and knows someone who has been a victim of violence in every built up area in the country.

   I talked to my forklift truck instructor who was a marine for twenty-five years, he said put the event at the back of my mind don’t keep thinking about it. He’s right. I told my artist friend when I saw her, wearing her lovely green dress and green eyeliner, a real English lady. She was shocked when I told her and how I’m trying to move on after this awful event. I hope time sorts it out. The marine explained the need to look to the future but how such incidents can come back months in the future. It all depends on the individual. I hope I’m over it and that is that. I’d help someone again. I’m not selfish. I’d put my own safety aside and enter danger to try to help. I know my own danger and flashbacks will be the cost of such a foray by myself. What would my witch friend Juniper’s Daughter do? Let’s find out… 

new anti war book out now

Europa – in the dark valley
between the world wars
Out of the total darkness came a light brighter than infinite suns...
Poetry on women (and men) in conflict
...

Nick Armbrister
And
Andy N

Bare Bones
In the flower bed, all the bodies cry for release. As the wall tumbles, history's old secrets are laid bare. Truth is lost in the yellow of autumn leaves. Where are you now? Brown autumn leaves descend as my family decays to dust. There's no justice for the guilty, just armed protection in South America. Innocents are persecuted for breathing.


OUT NOW

Kahlia Akasha Jet Strike By Jimmy Boom Semtex

A secret mission to Burma to destroy their secret weapon projects and stop a future war. The risks are off the scale. Will the daring flight crew make it back alive? Over mirror smooth black Pacific waters under an arcing dark sky full of a billion stars, my stealth warplane ghosts towards her targets on her mission of war. She is a wraith of non existence with the looks of a Goddess, doing her work to stop the devil. Soon she will be over her target. Let the fun begin... KAHLIA AKASHA returns...

Kahlia Akasha Jet Strike

By Jimmy Boom Semtex
http://www.lulu.com/shop/jimmy-boom-semtex/kahlia-akasha-jet-strike/ebook/product-21583821.html

coincidence or what?? read on...

a prophetic coincidence or what??

from my book
                 Juniper’s Daughter:
                    The Final War,
           A novel by Nick Armbrister


One major example where the witch changed humankinds’ destiny was averting WW3 in the winter of 2009. Georgia and the Ukraine were in NATO, new member states under the protective security umbrella. Russia had attacked Georgia in summer 08 and defeated the tiny nation, occupied its land under dubious reasons and caused general trouble. Loss of four warplanes was worth the long-term strategic goal – Russian troops on Georgian soil at two separate areas before the nation joined NATO. Leaders planned and waited, Georgia supported the Allies (USA and England) in Iraq with two thousand troops on peacekeeping duties. NATO membership was the next logical step, US/NATO troops were based at two Georgian bases and US Navy ships docked and used the major seaport as a base. Over the water, Russian Black Sea fleet warships eyeballed the US Navy. Action came sooner than later, an “incident” led to the battle cruiser Peter the Great engaging the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier with cruise missiles and rocket powered torpedoes, sinking it. In return the escorting Aegis class cruiser sank “Peter the Great” and two escorting destroyers. An uneasy pause followed and then Russian planes hit Georgian and US/NATO military bases and other targets in Georgia. What forces survived the attack, in return attacked; Ukraine refused surviving Russian warships docking rights at the leased base at Sevastopol. Russia threatened Ukraine, a NATO member. Ukraine sank every remaining Russian vessel and occupied the crew barracks, arresting all Russian military personnel on land. Russia hit Ukrainian targets; US/NATO hit Russia at selective points, then a pause to talk. Nuclear war was a possibility when the talks broke down, missiles were armed and several were launched – a total of 6 by NATO and 4 by Russia. Then, nothing! They never reached their targets, rumours spread like wildfire of UFOs, lights in the sky and ghostly apparitions had something to do with the disappearance of the nuclear missiles. An uneasy peace descended, remaining for decades after; did anyone know what really happened? Where the missiles went? Something strange had happened, when the remainder were ordered to launch, all remained in their silos. Was it computer problems? Why had manual overrides fail? No human knew but a witch called Juniper’s Daughter did. She was too late to stop the English/French nuclear war but she won the big one. The Devil won the later round in 2013, she in 2010. If it was her Mother Juniper if would have been a different matter, the Devil would be kicked in the balls every fucking time but that wasn’t the case.