www.theviewfromlonglake.com

Time Transforming

Life is change, seen daily as new plants emerge in the spring or later, when colorful leaves fall from the trees. The seasons change, and so do we....

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Jim Bates

Jim has always wanted to be a writer. He wrote his first story when he was in the 4th grade but thought it was boring so he threw it away. Flash forward fifty plus years to 2011. By then he'd been married and had children and grand children. He'd had a long career in sales and technical training for a large manufacturing company. He'd even owned a small business. But, while helping to care for the last days of a loved one, he realized that life was passing him by and he'd better get going if he wanted to fulfill his dream. The next day he started writing and hasn't stopped since. He began by writing a poem a day for a year. Then a haiku a day for a year. Then a four line stanza a day for a year. Then a six line rhymed verse a day for a year. In 2015 he started writing short stories. He took an online writing class and met a successful author who became his mentor. She suggested he write the best possible stories he could and post them on a blog. He followed her advice and continued working and honing his craft. He began submitting stories in early 2018 and in March his first short story was featured on CafeLit. He was off and running. Since then nearly three-hundred stories and poems have appeared in on-line publications such as CafeLit and Spillwords, where he was voted Author of the Month for December, 2019, and in print anthologies, such as the Best of CafeLit 8 and Nativity through Bridge House Publishing, and the Gleam, Portal and Glamour anthology's through Clarendon House Publishing. He also reads his stories for broadcast on Talking Stories Radio. In February, 2021, "Resilience" his first collection of short stories, was published through Bridge House Publishing. In March, 2021, his second collection of short stories, "Periodic Stories" was published by Impspired. Since then, eight other books (four collections, two novels, a novella, and a collection of haiku) have been published, all available through traditional outlets. All of his stories appear on his blog at: www.theviewfromlonglake.wordpress.com. He continues to write every day from his home in the small town of Long Lake, Minnesota and prefers to be published as Jim Bates. He is happy. He has achieved his dream.

Jim has always wanted to be a writer. He wrote his first story when he was in the 4th grade but thought it was boring so he threw it away. Flash forward fifty plus years to 2011. By then he'd been married and had children and grand children. He'd had a long career in sales and technical training for a large manufacturing company. He'd even owned a small business. But, while helping to care for the last days of a loved one, he realized that...

Books

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Time Transforming

Life is change, seen daily as new plants emerge in the spring or later, when colorful leaves fall from the trees. The seasons change, and so do we. We experience life in all of its varied forms, and we grow, becoming more well-rounded people as we do.
But there is consistency, too. The stars are always there. The moon, the sun, even knowing that...

Quantum Moments

Moments can have special meaning. Moonlight shadows in the deepest night. A dusty lavender sunset. A fiery orange sunrise. A child’s laughter while ice skating. A bluebird’s quiet song. A creek murmuring through a peaceful woodland. Green day-lily shoots emerging in spring. Fall colors of golden, amber, burgundy, and orange on a forest hillside....

The Survivors

Creekside Chronicles 7

On Len’s thirteenth birthday, he tells his friend Alex that he wants to bring the remaining orphans home from their underground cities. Alex is all for it. The two friends approach Lulomen, the director of Creekside Meadows. Soon, a plan is devised. Len, Abagail, and Rex will journey to Metro Metropolis to rescue the remaining girls, and Alex,...

Praise

Jim Bates is a writer, a poet, a thinker, and a lover of nature. In this beautiful book of poetry, he divided his poems into seasons and into different formats; haiku, quatrain rhyming and sestet. Each poem is simple at first glance, yet beneath the comforting folds of his words, there is a deeper, more profound meaning. Jim takes you on a stroll through the woods in Autumn, where one can picture the slippery leaves and the burnished orange sumac along the trail. Then you walk into a cozy room with him as he ignites the Winter evening with a flickering fire. Outside the window, the cold moon rises, and one sees the beauty of the frosty night. Spring and Summer bring hope as the world reawakens. Jim lets you walk beside him in his beloved Minnesota, hear the sparrows sing of Spring, then leads you into the warm embrace of Summer with all the joy and passion of a thoughtful soul. It's a book to read on an autumn evening with a cup of tea, or watching dragonflies skim the surface of the lake as you sit back in your chaise and enjoy each page on a summer's day. Winter's words will bring you comfort and Spring will fill you with hope. Each poem is a heartbeat that gives life to the world around him. Review for “The Science of Forever.”

– Author and Poet, Sharon Frame Gay

“The Metaphysics of Now” by Jim Bates is filled with short, uplifting poems that will walk you through the seasons of the year. The poems encompass the beauty of changing nature, time with family, and moments of inner reflection.

I was touched by many of the poems. In Spring’s chapter, the poem “Lullaby” is a personal favorite of mine. In Winter’s chapter, the poems “Infinite Universe” and “Winter’s Soulful Light” stood out for me.

It's a great book to have on hand whenever you have a few minutes and need a little pick-me-up from everyday life. I highly recommend this book. Review for “The Metaphysics of Now.”

– Author and Poet, Christine Tabaka,

This book of poems by the prolific Minnesota writer, Jim Bates, is inspired by the four different elements from Greek philosophy: earth, water, fire, and air. Reading these poems allow the reader to slow down, truly pay attention, and sincerely appreciate this incredible gift of life.

A book of poetry like this is much needed in our hectic busy modern culture. Reading it was quite rejuvenating! My favorite poem, "Quiet," comes from page 83. It is posted below.

"In the quiet of the early morning hour
The sun lights the garden with a sense of giving
I walk outside and feel such joy
Thankful for another day of living."
Review for “The Evolution of Tomorrow.”

– Author and Poet, Justin Wiggins

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