Writing rhymes began in 1945, my senior year at Nebraska University. The students were preparing a stage production to celebrate the end of World War II. I was asked to write a song and sing it. I did it and my joy in writing rhymes began. I dont think I ever sat down just for the purpose of writing a rhyme. There was always a motive like birthdays or special events. The cover of my first book and this one really sums it up-People, Places, Passion, Purpose. It wasnt very long that I learned my rhymes were best when inspired by God. The readers and time tell the most about a book. A priest that I know called to tell me that he read The Parish Shepherd, the first thing each morning. A second priest said he used the poem TWO PLANS when he spoke to a group of ladies. In this book More Rhyme and Reason, the poems came from the same kind of inspirations. One of the best I have written is first in this book, The Politician. Some poems are happy rhymes, for birthdays or anniversaries. Some are of places traveled. I like to write rhymes that teach and hopefully there will be fulfillment. If a poet inspired me in my student days it was Longfellow. I have always strived to achieve a message with perfect rhyme and meter. If any reader of my writing is entertained and gratified, I have achieved my goal. Enjoy!

The Rhyme and Reason series is like Dr. Seuss meets the Bible as entire chapter of the Bible is pulled together in rhyme with colorful and humorous illustrations child and parent will both enjoy. The book of Esther includes the stories of: *Queen Vashti is banished *Search for a new queen *Preparation to be queen *Chosen by the king *A call to destiny *Haman tries to kill the Jews *Esther's banquet for the king and Haman *A new decree and much more!

The second volume of Sondheim's collected lyrics is both a remarkable glimpse into the brilliant mind of a legend, and a continuation of the acclaimed and best-selling Finishing the Hat. Picking up where he left off in Finishing the Hat, Sondheim gives us all the lyrics, along with excluded songs and early drafts, of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passion. Here, too, is an in-depth look at the evolution of Wise Guys, which subsequently was transformed into Bounce and eventually became Road Show. Sondheim takes us through his contributions to both television and film, some of which may surprise you, and covers plenty of never-before-seen material from unproduced projects as well. There are abundant anecdotes about his many collaborations, and readers are treated to rare personal material in this volume, as Sondheim includes songs culled from commissions, parodies and personal special occasions—such as a hilarious song for Leonard Bernstein’s seventieth birthday. As he did in the previous volume, Sondheim richly annotates his lyrics with invaluable advice on songwriting, discussions of theater history and the state of the industry today, and exacting dissections of his work, both the successes and the failures. Filled with even more behind-the-scenes photographs and illustrations from Sondheim’s original manuscripts, Look, I Made a Hat is fascinating, devourable and essential reading for any fan of the theater or this great man’s work.

With Poetic Justice, Chapman delivers another masterful collection of his own, unique poetry so righteously justified. With his keen observational eye and personal, poetic style Dan Chapman offers his own unique reflections on a variety of common subjects and experiences. Forever a romantic and always a poet at heart, Chapman reaches out to his readers with his next volume of poetic assortments dealing with a variety of value-clarification and topical concerns. Of course, always at a forefront with Chapmans insight into human conditions is his typical, humorous touch. We all love to laugh, he says. Additionally, Poetic Justice is an opportunity for Chapman to highlight and dignify his own, unique and vigilant style of writing. A reader may select nearly any poem within, consider its highly energized reasoning, notice the creative, rhythmic rhyming proffered, and then recognize and appreciate Chapmans unique and masterful metering. It is just my own style, Chapman defends. I simply enjoy working with words to write about something special, utilize unique accents of rhyming language and then apply a distinctive, yet rigid, metering format. Poetry reflects true thought, Chapman muses. It is honest, forthright, and most importantly, he continues, in a few, brief stanzas, a poem may mesmerize readers, challenge their thoughts and values and force them to reconsider their own points-of-view. What more could a writer want, our author believes. To Dan Chapman, that is the beauty of poetry, and its honesty represents Poetic Justice!

This book encompasses diverse subjects such as Holidays and Names in the Headlines. It covers topics from Life' reflections "I can't believe it did arrive And yet today I'm forty five! How is it time can be so gauged That youthful me's now middle-aged! " to life with cancer "What a glamorous life I must endure Reeking of 'eau de toilette' allure! And wouldn't it be a total farce To have a radio-active 'arse'! " One section is dedicated to the special occasions of family & friends; birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. "It's as if Ogden Nash came back as a wise but cheeky New Yorker with a lifetime sub to the New York Post and a keg of green beer in his fridge. Maureen O'Keefe's poems cavort knowingly over the rocky terrain of life as it pans out for working people - evening 'pub girls', habitués of O'Malley's and the NYPD - as they struggle to understand the lure of the night, the acquittal of OJ, what keeps people together. O'Keefe is both ruthless and generous. She finds humor in desperate, real corners that would make ordinary verse-makers tremble. You might cry laughing." Carolyn Cooke, author of The Bostons