1. Show off occaionally. Take a risk! Send out the manuscript or portfolio, jump in the ocean, experiment with an unusual art form or recipe, invite people over to share your talents (and theirs) like a mini open mic!
   

2. Focus on who matters to you, while ignoring all the gossipers and nay-sayers.
   

3. If things don’t work out, yell and scream. Just let it rip, like a peacock during breeding season.
   

4. Then go for a walk, looking for satisfaction somewhere else.
   
   Wanna meet this peacock?
   
   He’s strutting around Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Have you been there? What do you think about peacocks? Have you heard one yell?

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Share A Lizard's Tale: Reflections on Resilience

“In a nutshell, chapbooks are teeny books,” according to bookriot.com, adding, “Chapbooks usually hover in the range of 20–40 pages and are more affordable purchases to their novel counterparts. … But of course, there’s more to chapbooks than simply being short in length. Chapbooks are a way to make a point. They are an art form as much as a literary form, used for both revolution, protest, and exploration.”

Indeed, chapbooks (often called pamphlets in Europe) hail as far back as “16th century Europe, when printing technology began to democratize,” according to Middlebury.edu. “Books had long been the preserve of the wealthy, who possessed both the education and means necessary to read them. This changed, however, when the increasing accessibility of paper and printing presses” allowed the working-class public to afford these brief books in contrast to longer, more expensive books marketed for the upper class.

“Chapbooks’ wide accessibility also made them a political force to be reckoned with” such as Thomas Paine’s political pamphlets, according to Middlebury.edu.

They’re making a come-back as reading rates plummet. These shorties are affordable and can be read in an afternoon. They invite readers to try new genres for little risk. And provide a way for writers, like me, to experiment with form. (My chapbook is a novelette-in-flash, meaning each chapter is its own story with a full arc, but together the stories create a separate tale and plotline.)

Many of my friends have published poetry chapbooks, which typically are connected by a theme, such as Jenny Morelli’s This is Not a Drill, a collection of poems about teachers’ daily challenges. Or Eileen Toomey’s How to Make an Expresso Martini, which is structured around the three coffee beans dropped into an espresso martini (Health, Wealth, Happiness) and explores the author’s working-class roots with humor and storytelling. Or my sister Sara deBeer’s A Patchwork of Poetry, a full collection of her poems in various forms.

Some chapbooks are self-published or even home-made, while others are created by indy presses like Thirty West, Bottlecap Press, Arcana Poetry Press, and many others.

So why read chapbooks? To “support emerging writers and writers whose work might not fit in the commercial publishing world (and arguably, shouldn’t fit in the commercial world)” according to bookriot. To expose yourself to a fresh genre. To read something short but entertaining that can fit in a handbag or even a pocket.
And to get back to reading, particularly something that the corporate world hasn’t touched.

Have you read a chapbook? What do you think of the genre?

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Chapbooks pictured:
(Click on links below to read more about each title)

Liz deBeer’s Farewell to Emptiness
Eileen Toomey’s How to Make an Expresso Martini
Sara deBeer’s A Patchwork of Poetry
Jenny Morelli’s chapbooks including This is Not a Drill
Rocio Franco’s Where the Monarchs Never Die
Various Chapbooks from Thirty West PH

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This question is posed at an unusual exhibit “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments.”

It suggests that boxing, embodied by the fictional Rocky character, is a metaphor for underdogs around the world, particularly for blue collar, white Americans, who embraced the gritty Rocky movie character, often instead of real boxing champions like Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, & Jack Johnson, all of whom are black. The latter are predominately represented in this exhibit as boxing legends, inspiring people both in and out of the ring.

The exhibit also references Joyce Carol Oates, American author known for exploring humans’ divided selves, which resemble fighting one’s own shadows aka shadow boxing.

What do you think about boxing?
Do you like watching it? Do you see it as a metaphor for anything in your life? What are your views on Rocky?

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Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, should be a time to reflect on, honor, and mourn fallen members of the military. To me, the waves, sand, and birds’ calling amind nature’s susurration remind us of life cycles.

This weekend we especially remember those who gave their lives for the USA. While we ponder war and peace, and what will improve our country, I am sharing a short video of the Atlantic Ocean at the Jersey Shore, as well as some ocean quotes:

Ocean Quotes:

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” –Jacques Cousteau

“Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.” –Unknown

“A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt

“If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both saltwater mixed with air.” –Chief Seattle

Source

What do you do to reflect on Memorial Day weekend?

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Share A Lizard's Tale: Reflections on Resilience

Remember that song Feelin’ Groovy? (aka “The 59th Street Bridge Song by Paul Simon)

The song begins:

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last…

Today, I’m inviting you to join me in taking a break from the noise of busy-ness (bus-i-ness?) and “Let the morning time drop all its petals on [us].”

Of course, there’s lots to do, but today — or at least this morning — I want to chill out, go outside, and feel groovy.

Have a great day! What do you plan to do today?

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Do you feel distracted?
It’s hard for me to concentrate, and then I feel frustrated with myself.

Do you?

I often write seasonal goals to help myself stay focused. And now I’m posting my spring writing round up to remind myself that things are still cooking even though I’m preoccupied with cardinals flirting, outrageous news headlines, and —- um, what was I saying?

If you’re in NJ and would like to attend the FREE chapbook celebration on Thursday May 21st with Eileen Toomey, Jenny Morelli, and me, check out this link

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Spring 2026 Writing Round Up

Debut Flash Chapbook: Farewell to Emptiness, a novelette-in-flash. Thirty West PH. (First run is sold out! Books will be available at the Chapbook Party on May 21st or order online at Thirty West! Thank you so much for your support!!)

"Frozen," Sudden Flash, March 26, 2026
"Family Portrait," Five Minute Lit, March 6, 2026
“Rose Petals,” Thorn & Bloom Magazine, Issue 5, March 2026
"Trespassing," Literally Stories, Feb 19, 2026
"Water Tower Views," Flash the Court, Feb. 6, 2026
"Slippery Memories," The Hootlet's Nook, Jan. 15, 2026
"Tropical Moments" The Hootlet's Nook, Jan. 15, 2026
"The Man with a Shoe Box," Literary Garage, Jan. 14, 2026

"Fishing with Pelicans: Lessons in Hooking a Publisher. Brevity Blog, Feb 27, 2026

Looking this over, I feel proud of these publications, although I have to admit I don’t have much out for consideration. Time to start a summer goal list, including some journals I should consider submitting to. Also, I want to commit to doing regular beach yoga classes as well as enjoy time with my grandkids while they are off during the summer.

What are your summer goals?

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The colors reflect my current state of mind:

Red: Rage about many things including the 2026 Supreme Court ruling allowing red-lining of voting districts, which targets the Voters Rights Act of 1965 and disenfranchises many voters.

Blue: Gloomy and frustrated, aka the blues.

White: Jim Crow 2.0.

In this mood, I visited The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, which, to commemorate and problematize the USA’s 250th anniversary, opened Freedom Dreams. The exhibit “brings together powerful works by artists in film, video, and installation that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans.”

It asks viewers “to think about [whether] this isn’t just about Black history, but American history,” according to the wall placard of “America,” a multi-channel-video installation by Garret Bradley. The flashing images of “America” include depictions of Black Americans as baseball players, church goers, lovers, soldiers, Boy Scouts, and more.

From the bench where I watched the montage, a man stood, his head hidden from my view. Something about that image (below) seemed to highlight America today, where a faceless person stands in judgement of others’ creations and dreams.

Of course, I don’t know that man or his views. He might be a great guy!!

That’s not the point. It’s the faceless person that’s the point. Is he celebrating or condemning the work? Is he wondering how art is often a form of activism?

I think art of all sorts invites us to watch, listen, and view to bear witness to others’ experiences.

As such, I encourage us all to interact with art by people of color in the United States of America as a part of our 250th anniversary celebration, as the Barnes exhibit suggests. Perhaps an essay by Frederick Douglass, a poem by Paul Lawrence Dunbar , a story by Alice Walker, a memoir by Richard Wright , a novel by Toni Morrison, a song by Billie Holiday.

Or the Freedom Dreams exhibit, open until August 9th.

Certainly, we can enjoy Walt Whitman’s famous poem “I Hear American Singing,” but we mustn’t forget Langston Hughes’s words in his poem, “I, Too.”

What do you think? How do you feel about the 250th Birthday Celebrations of the USA? Do you create art and hope it offers a message? How do you feel when you see people observing your work?

NOTE: A Nation of Artists at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, just down the street from The Barnes, offers a pluralistic version of American art, and is also worth the visit! Open til July 5th

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Share A Lizard's Tale: Reflections on Resilience

So much rush-rush-rush. Mary suggests pausing and soaking in quiet.

A quick Google search shows there are books entitled “The Power of Pause” that discuss the value of doing less. I haven’t read them — instead I’m taking time to chill and think. My guess is that’s the point.

What do you think is meant by “the power of pause”?

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As Mark Twain famously said, “In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”

If you need a bit of cheer, here are more pithy springy quips:

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”
– Doug Larson (columnist)

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.”
– Steve Martin (comedian)

“The early bird gets the worm but the late bird doesn’t even get the late worm.”
– Charles M. Schulz (cartoonist)

“March is the month God created to show people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.”
– Garrison Keillor (author and radio personality)

“Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration.”
– Louise Erickson (radio and film actress)

“Spring is the time of the year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.”
– Charles Dickens (Victorian-era English novelist)

“Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see, the world hath more fools in it than ever.”
– Charles Lamb (Romantic-era English essayist)

“No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere.”
– Sheryl Crow (singer/song writer)

How apt is this one?
“In those days, though, the spring always came finally but it was frightening that it had nearly failed.”
– Ernest Hemingway (American author)

This is how I feel:
“My favorite weather is bird chirping weather.”
– Terri Guillemets (author of “The Quote Garden” website)

Click for more spring quotes
What’s your favorite weather? When do you feel it’s really finally spring?

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ONE HUNDRED years old!

She had many successes and joys, but she also knew life’s challenges.

Her obituary hints at Jean’s resilience, which included surviving a near-death car accident that involved years of physcial therapy and later the death of her adult son Richard. Jean’s many achievements include her volunteer work, such as helping children of resistance fighters in France post WWII, serving as the founding president of her local League of Women Voters, and seeking more affordable housing in her community. In her 90s, she was still attending rallies protesting gun violence!

Despite overcoming several profound personal obstacles, Jean was optimistic. At her family’s annual spring Passover gathering, she always recited a portion of Anne Frank’s diary that highlighted holding hope in dark times. I will remember Jean for her astounding perseverance as well as her love of family, community — and ice cream, which the family believes contributed to Jean’s long life. (All who attended Jean’s funeral were offered several flavors of ice cream as we left the sanctuary. I had coffee.)

And I will remember these words that inspired her:

“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”

―Anne Frank,The Diary of a Young Girl

Thank you for reading about my beloved aunt, Jean deBeer Pollak.

What words inspire you? Whenever I attend a funeral, I remember those I’ve loved who have left this world. And I wonder what I might be remembered for. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think about your own funeral?

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What’s it about?

“Farewell to Emptiness,” by Liz deBeer is novelette-in-flash about a frustrated young waitress from upstate NY, whose unhappy, unemployed, alcoholic father recently died.

The meat-packing plant where her father worked will soon be demolished, so she returns to the abandoned building one last time before it’s destroyed.

She discovers herself in the dust.

Preorders available at www.thirtywestph.com/shop
(Releases on 4-24-26)

THANK YOU for placing pre-orders!
(This helps the publisher know how many to print. )
And THANK YOU for your support!

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Apparently, this is a huge issue that people have been debating. I am relatively new to writing CNF, usually writing fiction. Now that I know what a hot topic this is, I’ll be even more mindful about what should be called CNF vs. fiction.

So, I had thought that if something were MOSTLY true, it’s CNF. Like the creative part would allow me to embellish details a bit, but several writer friends have pushed back, saying it should be 100% true.

The creative part is the literary expression without changing ANY facts. Check out the acclaimed Dinty Moore’s definition of CNF: https://brevity.wordpress.com

I set up this post emulating the game FACT or CRAP, released in 2001. It’s a fun game I used to play with my kids, even using it in the classroom when reviewing material. I apologize if this is too crass.

(Again, this is based on a board game called FACT or CRAP)

Consider a recent flash of mine published in a beautiful literary journal Thorn & Bloom. I classify my story “Rose Petals” as CNF. It describes a scene where I saw, to my disgust, synthetic rose petals on a sandy path leading to the beach.

1. Did I really see synthetic rose petals on a path leading to the beach?

   Answer: FACT
   

2. Was I alone?
   Answer: CRAP-ish

   (Actually my daughter was with me, but - really - aren’t we all alone symbolically?)
   

3. Did I collect the faux flowers and dump them in a municipal garbage can?
   Answer: FACT
   (Although, truthfully, I didn’t do it the first day I saw it. My daughter and I cleaned up the red mess a day or two later.)
   

4. Did I really cut my foot on a shell?
   Answer: BOTH FACT & CRAP
   (I did, but not the same day)
   

5. Do I find fake flowers repulsive?
   Answer: Generally —FACT
   (I can see the logic — plastics have many useful benefits, especially in healthcare, to reduce infection. But our society has lost its mind with its endless quantities of single-use CRAP, which won’t disintegrate in our lifetimes.

   
   Some argue that the microplastics are a bunch of CRAP that will hurt humans, animals, and the whole planet earth. Microplastics are adversely affecting us humans, as discussed in this article. Check out this article about how long it takes plastics to decompose. )
   

6. Another of my recent CNF “Frozen” describes a moment at the grocery store where I felt flooded with grief when I saw Breyers Peach Ice Cream, my late mother’s favorite.
   Answer: Generally —FACT
   (It’s all true — except I didn’t actually draw a heart, but I almost did. )
   

7. Conclusion:
   My view is everything is both FACT & CRAP, since we perceive reality via our own points of view. That said, some things are considered FACTUAL by societal agreement, such as humans breathe air or the sun and earth share the same solar system.
   

8. I LOVE Creative Nonfiction. I guess I’m still figuring out exactly what it is. There are many other categories, like auto-fiction and speculative nonfiction. I admit - I’m a bit overwhelmed so I’ll stick to fiction!!
   

9. Please Comment:
   What do you think about CNF: is it an accurate category?

   Do you believe human reports can ever be purely factual? Why?

   Leave a comment

   

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Below are excerpts from the published interview:

WOW: Liz, congratulations, and welcome! As someone who worked in restaurants in my late teens and early 20s, I could relate to “Party Favors.” What sparked the idea for this story?

Liz: “Party Favors” was inspired from my experience working as a waitress while I attended college. The wait-staff loved when chicken wings were served, because the guests didn’t want them – too messy – so we ate them once the event ended.

Also, like many in the service industry, I experienced men grabbing me, especially after they had a few drinks. While Hank is a fictional character, the sense of teamwork was my favorite part of the job.

Click for the rest of the interview.

Click to read “Party Favors.”

Have you worked as a waiter or waitress?
What did you like the best? What did you dislike?

What did you wear? Did you have to buy your uniform? I bought my white shirts at the Salvation Army but the clip-on bow tie was given to us by the company.

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Attended several outstanding panels and readings, including Shanda McManus reading from her debut memoir A Sister’s Memoir: Brother Epistles.

Worked the table with my writing collaborative Project Write Now,. Met many writers - college students, seniors, dabblers, and well-known writers.

My friend Patricia Bender, whose micro “Someone” received a 2025 Pushcard Nomination from Switch, treated me to the awesome Amy Sherland: Amercican Sublime show at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Luckily, she planned ahead, because the show is sold out.

We also sampled crab cakes at various venues (our favorite at James Joyce Irish Pub, but shout out for the carrot/coconut soup at the Baltimore Museum of Art).

Next year’s AWP is in Chicago. Too tired to think about it now!

Did you attend AWP? What were your thoughts?
Have you been to Baltimore? Where are your favorite spots or the best crab cakes?

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Farewell to Emptiness, my debut chapbook, is a novelette-in-flash. Each chapter is a flash story —a few already published. Together, they tell the story of a frustrated young waitress who lives in Albany, NY, where I was born.

Coming out this April!
Presale info coming soon!

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The internet cheered when an adult macaque monkey finally reached out to Punch, hugging and grooming him.

Although the Social Sciences historically caution against anthropomorphism, rejecting any attempt to place human traits on animals, undoubtedly many of us relate to Punch’s story as if he were a human child overcoming a troubling past and exhibiting resilience.

Some key points about resilience highlighted in a Psychology Today online article include how we (and Punch) can transcend difficulties, exploring what creates resilience.

No surprise, harsh times alone won’t guarantee learning how to bounce back.

Sometimes, people (and likely monkeys) get stuck.
“In some cases…traumatized individuals may develop maladaptive coping skills, such as substance use, that negatively impact them and may reduce their ability to cope with future challenges,” according to the article.

Failure, though, can be a powerful teacher, educating us “to be okay with making mistakes, big or small … a critical skill—one tied not only to resilience but also, perhaps, to future success.” According to the article, research suggests that people who’ve experienced early set backs often have more successes later in life than those who start off stronger. So there’s hope Punch will be fine despite his dramatic ordeal.

Curious about your level of resilience?
Psychology Today offers a Resilience Test; the questions are worth considering despite the obvious simplistic nature of the assessment.

How do you keep going when you’ve bumped into a metaphorical wall?
What lessons have you learned from Punch?
Why do you think people are so entranced by Punch?

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“Anthem” begins with birds singing despite war, greed, crimes, betrayal.

Then the “holy dove/She will be caught again/Bought and sold/And bought again.”

It’s too much! We’re shaken, sad, stressed: The Eptstein files, the never-ending wars, the ongoing school gun violence, the ultra-rich’s abject disregard for people who work for them…

Yet the birds keep singing.

“Anthem”reminds us:
”Ring the bells that still can ring/Forget your perfect offering/There is a crack, a crack in everything/That's how the light gets in.”

As last week’s post “Feeling Broken” suggested, we may feel broken, but perhaps the cracks offer us a way forward, to see flickers of light, creativity, love, even hope, despite life’s overwhelming challenges.

What do you think? Have you discovered something new and hopeful about yourself or the world during your most taxing times?

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So much seems upside down and inside out.

I’d love to sage the sh*t outta our country, smudging away bad energy.

Or visit a magical place devoted to renewal and resilience.

A place like Philadelphia’s Magic Garden (PMG), an immersive mixed-media art environment featuring mosaics by Isaiah Zagar.

The backstory: the artist began creating mosaics as therapy during a mental health crisis.

Smashing tiles, plates, mirrors, then repurposing the broken bits into art on derelict buildings on Philly’s South Street. Zagar’s work transformed both him and his neighborhood.

Consider the photo below from Philadelphia’s Magic Garden which depicts a tan ear-like blob imprinted with the word “Magic.”

What’s it mean?

The mosaics invite us to pause, to consider, to rethink, to step back from the minutiae, to appreciate what makes it and us whole.

Zagar’s murals inspired my recent flash story “Broken” which describes a narrator wondering how to proceed after a storm damages her home, leaving her paralyzed by personal loss.

Arguably, the house could represent our country, implying that we must determine how to pick ourselves up as we view the purposeful destruction of our country’s institutions.

We too can create, like Zagar did, as a means to survive this collective mess.

Whether we produce words, collages, meals, music, or mosaics, the act of generating something original is an act of defiance.

The magic is within us; it ignites when we share, working together. My hope is to inspire others to search for meaningful ways to create and connect, so we can pick up the broken pieces, rebuild and heal both ourselves and our communities.

What are your thoughts?

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The turmoil from 2025 bleeding into 2026 prompted me to ask the deck for guidance for this Substack’s readers. (I used a deck I received as a gift called The Philly Tarot Deck, a quirky deck which depicts Philly icons like Jason Kelce, Marian Anderson, Albert Barnes, John Coltrane, and Jalen Hurts. The traditional cups are represented by cheesesteaks and the pentacles are SEPTA tokens.)

The Deck Responds
My tarot teacher taught us this simple spread - just four cards: Past, Present, Future, and an extra for added nuances.

Three of Wands: The Past
The past is three of wands, indicating stability and hope as we forge our own paths. It may suggest our country’s past strength.

King of Cups: The Present
The present is Joe Frazier, the iconic Heavyweight Champ who trained in Philadelphia, and was known for his heart and passion. The card asks us to dig deep, relying on patience, wisdom, compassion, and resilience as we fight our battles.

The World: The Future
The future is the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which has gotta be good, right? This card tells us that after a huge challenge or journey, success awaits.

Five of Swords: Extra Card
This fourth card often offers rich subtext. Here the Five of Swords indicates conflict, tension, hostility. We already know that’s the crux of our societal problems. This card serves as a warning that many are not playing fairly and we should be wary. This particular deck’s guidebook adds a reminder that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” which indicates that while we may ultimately be victorious, we will experience angst in the process.

My Reflection
I interpret this reading as reassurance that the Future has brightness, but it’s balanced by more obstacles including those we’re already experiencing.

Does this seem right to you? What do you think about metaphysical readings such as Tarot? Do you read cards? What are your views?

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But it’s an iguana’s ability to regenerate a broken tail that’s most amazing to me.

A reminder that even when we are literally broken, we can still be bad-asses like Carlos. Hope his tail regrows soon!

Some other species regrow limbs, like the star fish. I just learned alligators can regrow their tails too! Which species inspire you most?

Sending healing wishes to all of you!

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