A Review by Rickey Pittman of Linda Apple’s  
Winston’s World & Winston’s Words of Wisdom

“Everything I know I learned from dogs.” – Nora Roberts

      Linda Apple is the author of women’s fiction, historical novels, and nonfiction as well as a motivational/inspirational speaker and a champion of literacy and promoter of new authors. She is one of the key organizers of the Ozark Creative Writer’s Conference in Eureka Springs. She has written a series of chapter books detailing the life and adventures of Winston Wallace Apple, a Scottish Terrier. For this review, I chose to feature two books, both written from Winston’s point of view—Winston’s Words of Wisdom, illustrated by Dylan Hale and Winston’s World, the Way He Sniffs It,  illustrated by Greg Moody.

         Winston describes himself as TDIC (Top Dog in Charge) and the head of Apple Security. From his hilarious encounter with a turtle, to his explanation of dog communication through pee-mail, his adventures will bring a smile to the reader’s face. Winston will help youngsters think about a dog’s life, will increase the reader’s vocabulary, and his words of advice and questions he asks are thought provoking and enriching, excellent for parent-child discussions.

         Reading these books left me with the same good feeling I experienced after viewing  Bolt and listening to “Barking at the Moon” by Jenny Lewis. The short chapters are perfect goodnight readings for little ones or fun reads for any school-aged child who loves dogs.

Rickey Pittman,  Bard of the South, October 17, 2023

Annika, Dark Angel of Lafayette Cemetery No. One

Annika, Dark Angel,
In Lafayette No. One,
Cemetery guardian,
She watches the tombs alone.

She knows their names by heart,
And their histories,
The year of each burial,
And forgotten mysteries.

There’s a cherub by a small grave,
Where a little child lies,
And an angel sits with folded wings,
Moonbeams touch her eyes,

She often sits by the Weeping Woman
Whose hands hold an ash-filled urn,
She is veiled and bare of feet,
At times her head can turn.

Some have heard the statue whisper,
Seen tears upon her face,
Shed for the living and lost,
Who are buried in this place.

One night she fell in love
With a lonely writer,
Who walked cemetery paths alone,
His heart was sad and bitter.

Taking on her human form,
She walked along beside him,
And softly took his hand and
Led him past graves sad and grim.

“Why do you come here?”
She asked quietly,
He said, “I need the silence,
And to search sad histories.”

As they walked along together,
They opened up their hearts,
Feeling the hand of fate
And the fire of new love’s sparks.

She said, “I’m glad you came here,
And that you weren’t afraid,
But there’s something you should know
Before mistakes are made.”

Dressed in a black and red tunic,
That contrasted with porcelain skin,
She opened dark angel wings,
“This is how I will begin.

“I am this place’s guardian
And I can never leave,
But I’ll love you with an angel’s love,
That I hope you’ll believe.”

In a pool of moonlight,
|She looked into his blue eyes,
And whispered, “I know I love you,
“And an angel never lies.”

He wrapped his arms around her,
And kissed her tenderly,
“I love you, my Dark Angel,
I’ll stay with you and not leave.

She kneeled at the Weeping Woman,
And said, “No, this can never be,
|For there’s only one dark way,
That you can stay with me.

“Your life is short,
Eternity here is long,
|But come see me every night,
Our love can still be strong.”

They met together every night,
Making love with many a kiss,
He read her poems and songs,
She knew she would one day miss.

The last time that he saw Annika,
She waited in the moonlight,
On a tomb she spread her wings,
Then vanished forever in the night.

A Walk on All Saint’s Eve

The Samhain night was as dark as death

When she entered the piney woods,

Her bare feet treading soft, sacred ground,

A candle lantern to guide her way,

On a night to honor ghosts of ancestors

And to face sad memories.

She had walked here before,

Under a full moon when blood is wild,

Under a new moon when lovers are enslaved,

This is a secret, sacred place,

She walks alone, a path shared by no other

On a Samhain night when the spirits

Of the dead are closest to ours and

Often will visit such magical places.

She lingers long, opening her heart,

And singing ancient songs.

A STRATEGIC TRAINING PRIMER FOR NEW DEMOCRATS

To be successful politically in these troubled times, after consultation with numerous Democrats, Antifa members, and supporters of Black Lives Matter, the author was able to organize a primer for young liberals that is sure to bring success to one’s political aspirations. Follow these suggestions. This should be enough to get you started.

1. Avoid Fox News: Rely on CNN, liberal podcasts, MSBNC, etc.
2. If you are ever put on a spot on a touchy issue, blame any difficulties on Trump.
3. Never laugh or criticize President Biden, even if he falls, becomes confused, blacks out, shakes hands with an invisible person, or exits the stage prematurely or in the wrong direction.
4. Accuse any who disagree with racism.
5. Become a climate change warrior/fanatic against fossil fuels, any carbon emissions of appliances, etc.
6. Minimize or show understanding for those committing violence or riots against conservatives or law enforcement, even shooting representatives at baseball games, or threatening Supreme Court Judges.
7. Learn to deny, lie, spin, and talk without answering a difficult question.
8. Politics can be very rewarding! Learn from those who know how to hide your cash and valuables!
9. The Jefferson method: Hide $90,000 cash in freezer
10. Menendez method: Hide a fortune of cash and gold bars in suits.
11. It is not polite or civilized, but learn how to abuse conservatives in restaurants, town hall meetings, speakers at colleges or book events.
12. Use Twitter and social media to shame, or threaten boycotts, etc.
13. Disrupt or sabotage votes and meetings by flipping fire alarms, interruptions, etc.
14. Criticize, dismiss, or ignore Democrats who do not follow the party line, i.e., RFK Kennedy, etc.
15. REPEAT CONSTANTLY: The Border is secure!