Stephen Brooke
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Stephen Brooke
@stephenbrooke.bsky.social
140 followers 290 following 320 posts
writing as Stephen Brooke, Oliver Davis Pike, and Sienna Santerre
publishing at arachispress.com
blog at eggshellboats.com
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stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Ten years ago (2015) we published not only the first of my Cully Beach mysteries but the first of my #fantasy novels set among the Mora, COAST OF SPEARS, Book One of the Malvern Trilogy. Available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks.
cover of Coast of Spears by Stephen Brooke, a red sky behind a tropical landscape
November 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
I created a graphic of an older #poem -- A Poet's Day is available in print or as free ebook at arachispress.com
Knowing the Blues Maybe you don’t know what the blues can do; maybe you don’t know how they fill your soul with the cold, cold night. If I sing the blues, give me Billie’s voice— the night was in her soul, oh yes, the darkest night no neon could send packing. No lover, no high can fill a hole that deep, that empty. No frantic empty hours of dancing and drinking can warm your desperate, deep-down chill. You don’t know the blues, kid, haven’t lived the blues. Haven’t heard the wind sing them through the endless hours of the night. Stephen Brooke ©2004
November 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
#poetry
a piece I wrote about my late mother; it appears in the collection A Poet's Day, available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) as print or free ebook
Un Aeroplane One day, she no longer understood the piano but sat staring at the keys, Satie’s Sports et Divertissements open before her. All the hours, forgotten, all the times her hands had followed the sarcastic notes. Teins! un aeroplane... Look up, look up, before you also forget me. Stephen Brooke ©2015
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
A bit older piece, suited to this haunting season, and to be found in my collection 'Magic' (available, of course, at arachispress.com) #halloween #poetry
the text of the poem Sleep is too long to fit here!
October 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Ten years ago we released the first of Stephen Brooke's surf-and-crime novels, SHAPER. The book and two sequels (Waves and Smoke) are available from Arachis Press site (arachispress.com) as print or free ebooks.
October 22, 2025 at 9:54 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
a #blues from a while back (but remaining more or less relevant)
TWO PARTY BLUES Don’t like me no Democrats, but them Republicans is worse Don’t like me no Democrats, but Republicans is even worse The one leads me to swearin’ and the other makes me curse. One blames the other and the other blames the one One blames the other and the other just blames the one As long as they’re fightin’ no work is gettin’ done. When they’re two sides of the coin, which one do you choose? Right hand washes the left, got them two-party blues. Both like them bankers and they aim to please Both like them bankers’ money and they aim to please Take them to the White House and hand them the keys. Lesser of two evils seems to be my only choice Lesser of two evils is gonna be my only choice No matter which way I vote, will anyone hear my voice? When they’re two sides of the coin, which one do you choose? Left hand washes the right, got them two-party blues. Stephen Brooke ©2012
October 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Asanas, my most mainstream-ish #novel, is available in print or as free ebooks from Arachis Press (arachispress.com). Asanas’ setting was influenced a tad (okay, more than a tad) by the Shangri-La resort in Bonita Springs FL where I worked a while as a #yoga instructor. #florida
Promo of Asanas novel with cover picture of woman doing yoga movements on beach rear cover blurb: Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow only a vision. Two women. A yoga class, an art gallery. The little Gulf Coast resort town of Tamarind seems to go to sleep when the ‘season’ is over, when tourists and winter residents alike return north. But turmoil lurks beneath that drowsy surface. For Lynn and Karen, their yoga class becomes something more. Workaholic Karen decides yoga instructor Pat is ‘just what she needed.’ But would she ever be what he needs? Lynn has her doubts, as she does about own relationship with a charismatic married artist. Through the heat and storms of a South Florida summer, passions and tensions grow, testing both love affairs and friendships. Life has its own asanas, its movements and postures, as surely as a yoga class, and its own lessons to teach in ASANAS, a novel by Stephen Brooke.
October 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
A piece from the collection Fields of Summer by Stephen Brooke. Available in print or as free ebooks from Arachis Press (arachispress.com). #poetry
Crates I have placed yesterday on sale, half-priced until we close. After that, it goes into the dumpster with the wilted lettuce and moldy cheese. Let the homeless root about and take the broken pieces. I have no use for them. Crates of tomorrow already wait to be unloaded and placed on shelves. Stephen Brooke ©2013
September 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
An older piece in form. the #poem In Dreams appears in the collection Dreamwinds, available from Arachis Press (arachisprss.com) in print or as free ebooks.
In Dreams In dreams, I have the love you keep from me; You flow into me with the tide of night. In dreams, I find a love that can not be; Yet, with all of my soul, I wish it might. In dreams, there is no other at your side; I feel your heartbeat singing in the dark. In dreams, I would forever more abide, As waking brings realities too stark. In dreams, I take your willing hand in mine, But come unwelcome dawn you slip away. In dreams, I may drink deeply of your wine; The bitter lees, I swallow with the day. So, sleep I shall seek ever, for it seems That I shall hold you never, save in dreams. Stephen Brooke ©2003
September 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
seem familiar? #freespeech
September 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Weekly (or thereabouts) promo. Stones in the Sea is a #fantasy #novel available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks
Where to sail but west after escaping his Chilean prison? Into the depths of the Pacific voyaged Yankee seaman Dick Brown, seeking refuge and rest beyond the horizon. What he found was another world, one where his coming had been prophesied, where his destiny was tied to the mystic gems known as the Jewels of the Elements. On lost islands, in mountain fastnesses, Dick discovers that destiny and his place in a new world. STONES IN THE SEA, a novel by Stephen Brooke
September 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
a very short #story
Prophets Our prophet was the last prophet, proclaimed the followers of Lum. None can add to his perfect message. Then arose Galef and preached a new way. He in turn passed beyond and his followers announced, Our prophet was the last prophet. Peace is our way, claimed both sects, as they burnt each other on the altars to their prophets, now turned gods. In their heavens, the true gods laughed. Stephen Brooke ©2025
September 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Twenty years ago I did the live recording for this concert by the Tuskegee University Golden Voices choir for a small run of CDs. I've retired from that sort of work since (but still have my home studio, of course!). #gospelmusic #tuskegeeuniversity #choir
September 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
Stephen Brooke's Wizardry #fantasy #novels are available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks.
cover art for The Ways of Wizardry and City of Wizardry
September 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
A #rainbow chalked around a pothole. One way to get it fixed quickly!
Help save lives with THE POT HOLE PROJECT Help focus the State of Florida's resources on something that actually helps the taxpayers, residents, and contributes to improving the safety of our roadways. TPHP volunteers are painting rainbows around pot hole and road damage in need of repair - alerting drivers to the road hazard, and helping FDOT find and repair the hazard quickly.
August 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
The Periwinkle early reader chapter books, The Contrary Fairy and Daisy Days by Stephen Brooke, are available in print or as free ebooks from Arachis Press (arachispress.com).
cover art of The Contrary Fairy and Daisy Days
August 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
It has been ten years since the publication of Stephen Brooke's first Cully Beach surf-and-crime novel. SHAPER. Available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks. #mystery #novel #surfing
Ted Carrol had found his 'last place.' Cover and blurb from Stephen Brooke's novel Shaper.
August 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
very much of an oldie #poetry
Temptation Temptation took me by the hand and told me I should go, whispered in my ear, don't tell, don't tell, no one need know. Temptation could not not lead me off, she told me I'm a dope, then laughed and left me standing there; I did what's right—I hope. Stephen Brooke ©2002
August 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
A Mouse is in the House! A rhyming picture book (and song) from Stephen Brooke, with his original illustrations. Available in print or as free ebook from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) #picturebook
A MOUSE IS IN THE HOUSE cover illustrations
August 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
The weekly (when I remember) promo. The Tower is one of the earlier collections of poetry. Available from Archis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks.
The cover of THE TOWER a poetry collection from Stephen Brooke
August 1, 2025 at 10:07 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
an older poem that appeared in my #fantasy #novel THE PLAIN OF SILVER (available at arachispress.com in print or as free ebooks)
Nothing in Common I've nothing in common with you, my dear, nothing in common at all; You are the blithe springtime of the year and I the cold wind of fall. I've nothing in common with you, I fear, for as you may well recall, I'd far rather sit and drink my beer while you yearn to dance at the ball. I've nothing in common with you, and here most likely is what would befall if we were to whisper in a friend's ear — you'd charm and I would appall. I've nothing in common with you, it's clear, the differences are not small; indeed, I am inclined to cheer at moments when you might bawl! I've nothing in common with you, the mere thought of you, perfect and tall reminds me wherever I might appear, folks tell me I make their skin crawl. I've nothing in common with you, my dear, and yet I long for your call; no, nothing in common with you, my dear, nothing in common at all. Stephen Brooke ©2015 appears in the novel ‘The Plain of Silver’
July 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
my Friday promo for this week, 'These Remembered Hills,' a #mystery #novel set in the Hocking Hills of Ohio, available at Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks
cover and blurb for These Remembered Hills by Stephen Brooke
July 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
an oldie #poetry
This Love This love I have for you Is higher than an ant hill, Deeper than a mud puddle, And will last until At least sometime tomorrow. Not that I'm promising I will still be here then or anything. This passion that I feel Fills me, I can't deny, With all the thrill of watching Grass grow and paint dry, But not at the same time. That would be too much Excitement, after all. At least your lips' sweet touch Never caused that problem, For our love is as strong As melted ice in tea left sitting out too long. Stephen Brooke ©2008
July 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
stephenbrooke.bsky.social
#sciencefiction
Without in the least dismissing or belittling earlier writers and work, I think it is fair to say that science fiction changed around 1960, and that the change tended toward an increase in the number of writers and readers, the breadth of subject, the depth of treatment, the sophistication of language and technique, and the political and literary consciousness of the writing. The sixties in science fiction were an exciting period for both established and new writers and readers. All the doors seemed to be opening. - Ursula K. LeGuin
July 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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Why is it worth while for anyone to search for truth in these days when everyone is paid to conceal it? Robert W. Chambers, 1917 (from ‘The Dark Star’) #truth
Why is it worth while for anyone to search for truth in these days when everyone is paid to conceal it? Robert W. Chambers, 1917 (from ‘The Dark Star’)
July 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM