Christine E. Ray lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A former Managing Editor of Sudden Denouement Publications, she founded Indie Blu(e) Publishing with Kindra M. Austin in September 2018. Ray is the author of the award-winning Composition of a Woman and The Myths of Girlhood. Her writing is also featured in SMITTEN This Is What Love Looks Like: Poetry by Women for Women an Anthology, We Will Not Be Silenced: The Lived Experience of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Told Powerfully Through Poetry, Prose, Essay, and Art, Anthology Volume I: Writings from the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective, Swear to Me, and All the Lonely People. Read more of her work at https://braveandrecklessblog.com/.
I refuse to be invisible. I honor my voice. I write because I have to.
Dear Christine, I found your blog through Rob’s reblog and will be sounding it out again. Your angry and truthful words hit to the core.
Has anyone ever told you that you are a beautiful woman? a beautiful person? for you are. I didn’t hear those words until i was 68 and they blew me away. Guess what, they’re true.
Thank you for sharing with us all. You make a difference-a good one.
Angel in the dust
Holly
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Holly- Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out and send me this lovely note. When I started writing it was really because I couldn’t not write– I felt so passionately about what I was writing about that I could not be silent. It took me a long time to be brave enough, bold enough to even consider the blog and the possibility that my words might resonate for other people. Your feedback reminds me why I am so grateful that I took that first step. Thank you for seeing the beauty in me and for letting me see your beautiful shining light. Stop by often– I apparently still have a lot to say!
Peace and light,
Christine
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I have this need to write as well, since I was a young mother at age 23!!! Fifty years later, I have three grown, beautiful, productive daughters, who created and gave me 7 marvelous grandchildren, who are also productive, in the work force, college, sports/sports training, writing, and social studies. To say I am one grateful, proud Mom/MumMum is putting it mildly!!!
Life has given me many challenges which in turn have given me much strength and wanting to speak up, “Silent No More”; a Warrior for Issues such as, Type I Diabetes (2 grandchildren affected since age 5 and 9); Chronic-mylo-monocytic Leukemia which took the life of my precious Michael at age 4 years old (said to be a type of cancer adults generally get); and most of all, my recent involvement in the Pro Life movement, which came about after much therapy and healing; 8 years after the birth of my beautiful daughters, I made a tragic decision during a very threatening time in my marriage of 12 years. This tragic decision was the impetus of my going into therapy, getting a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy, and putting God as the main support in my life, all in an attempt to figure out who I truly am and what my purpose is in this life. Yes, I have much to say and want to give to others that they can understand themselves and heal as well. God Bless Hannah Barbara
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It sounds like quite a journey.
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Like Holly I found your blog through Rob and really liked what you wrote. I like your about as well. It seems to be just a sneak peek into what is surely a very interesting world. I look forward to reading more so will follow you although my reading is very irregular these weeks.
Keep shining!
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yes, in Dear Companion you have expressed lovely thoughts-Thank you for sharing them with us.
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Girl, where have you been? Looking forward to more of your elegant writing 🙂
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Thank you Jillian! What a lovely thing to say. I am a big fan of yours.
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Aww, thanks!
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Hi Christine,
I just wanted to share with you that I nominated you for the Bloggers Recognition Award! Thank you for such inspiration!
https://jamjen2000.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/bloggers-recognition-award/
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That is so lovely of you Jenn but I have actually been nominated for this award recently. I did have my two blogging awards up on my site but when I changed the template they disappeared. Thank you so much for thinking of me. I love your blog and am so glad we met here.
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Me too. I love your work! 😀
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I am inspired by what you have shared here. I love your attitude and look forward to reading your words.
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Thank Ali– so glad you stopped by and read some of my work.
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I like that description! Welcome to the badass movement 🙂
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Thank you Me. Glad you stopped by for a look around.
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🙂 So am I!
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You know I love you 🙂
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Thank you. Don’t know what I did to deserve that today but thank you.
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💞
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Love you too ❤
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The world is sorely in need of badass women!! Write on!
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Thank you Aurora Phoenix! You just made my day.
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Then I have started my day well
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You are an inspiration, I look forward to following you ~
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I am deeply flattered! Welcome to Brave and Reckless.
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I love your blog — and I just discovered it today (thanks, http://discover.wordpress.com 😉 ).
I am planning to feature your work on some of “my own” sites — and of course “my own” needs to be in quotes, as the entire Internet is OURS! 😀 (Hat tip to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Lionni 🙂 cf. his “It’s Mine!”).
There is a weird fixation on the idea that contents and authors are individuals — but “in fact” we are always simply riffing on each other’s ideas. Hypertext wraps around all over, just like karma.
I find it ironic that you posted “Advice for New WordPress Bloggers” on a portion of the web which goes by the name braveandrecklessblog.com — LOL!!
You make me smile — please: KEEP IT UP!
(ps: send me an email or whatever and then I’ll send you links I’ve “made” to this place 😉 )
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I m deeply flattered! You can email me at christine.e.ray@gmail.com or send me the information using my Contact link above
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You have a kickass blog and I love your poems.
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Thank you! That is wonderful to hear.
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Great to see You!! Thanks for coming to see me! So, what do You have swirling around in Your “Whirlwind”?? I do so appreciate your taking time to come visit!!!!
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Good Morning Sir– I ran a conference yesterday which has pretty much consumed my life for the last few weeks. Currently picking up the pieces of my creative life. Hope to by more often.
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I know You can’t say no at work but sometimes You have to protect Yourself and your time? Glad Your time is going to free up a bit! Oh? I like that – “picking up the pieces of my creative life”!! Are you going to put it back together as a mosaic?? Hope You have a great week!
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Really love your tattoo, Christine – ‘Obstinate, headstrong girl’ – ha ha ha, it’s absolutely perfect! Makes me wanna get one too 🙂
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From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and a tribute to my grandmother who seemed to think I was a little stubborn 😉
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Oh, yes, I recognised it straight away – Lady Catherine to Lizzie – and I may even be a little stubborn myself! 🙂
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Ah, you understand perfectly! I don’t think my tattoo artists had gotten many requests for Austen quotes but has gotten used to me.
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Wow! What a great introduction, Christine. Very cool ink, too 🙂
Thank you for dropping by and reading my stuff, I’m looking forward to exploring your world. Nice to meet you 🙂
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Nice to meet you too Ryan– I read your interview on Go Dog Go today. Your poetry is gorgeous and so emotionally evocative. Hope you don’t mind the reblog on Blood Into Ink. It’s a project near and dear to my heart.
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Not at all – I’m flattered 🙂
I’ll dive in for a look shortly.
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Maybe not the typical place you find your writing reblogged but I hope you see it as the compliment it was meant to be– it is a very fierce writing community.
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A huge compliment, thanks. You made my day 🙂
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My pleasure
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christine, thanks for following my blog and introducing me to go dog go cafe…i will definitely be following your writing here, and others’ work there. inspirational to read in your bio and the comments following it, that there are so many people taking the plunge to find and acknowledge their truest selves through writing. it’s lovely to be in such good company here.
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I am all about telling my truth and it is always an honor to help other promising writers find an audience for their truth.
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Some nice cut…
in your cutting edge
makes me wonder if you’re from Pennsylvania.
My Dad’s family is out of Pittsburgh.
Just has that kind of vibe.
I think you are doing some really good writing and work Christine.
Have a nice week.
Respectfully,
Forrest 🙂
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Thank you so much Forrest! And good call– I have lived in the Philadelphia area since 1990.
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Good luck on your latest group project on “Whisper and Roar.” April/May 2018
It’s ambitious and important.
I’m sure you, you’re collective members, and all the contributors will do the topics justice.
Have a great week Christine.
Forrest 🙂
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Thank you Forrest! We have had some wonderful submissions thus far and we are hoping that readers will be wowed and enlightened by the writing.
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This is a terrific “About” page. I love badass women! So much so that I married one. The world could use more voices right now. Write on! Nice to meet you, by the way. 😊
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Nice to meet you as well! I do my best to exercise my voice and to encourage others to do the same.
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Right on! 😊
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It’s good to meet you, and if I’ve already met you it’s good to meet you again. 🙂
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“Writing because I couldn’t not write”–I relate to that.
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