Wake Up a Woman is a collection of vignettes and poetry. A young woman faces many of the common struggles, disasters, and pains involved in modern relationships. She fights back against gender stereotypes in a search to discover who she really is. What does it mean to be a woman today? Is a woman defined by what she has done in her past?
From Wake Up a Woman:
Dear Me, Amen
What do you want to be when you grow up? Let’s color a picture of a police man now. Stay in the lines. You could be a doctor man. An astronaut man. The President man of the United States. Our country tis of thee. I pledge allegiance to the flag. Sweet land of liberty. Under God. Our Father who art in heaven. The B-I-B-L-E , yes that’s the book for me. Be nice to your brother, he’ll be your best friend some day. He’s all you’ve got. Stop rough-housing. Find your shoes. Sit like a lady. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Your hair looks like an afro. Hallowed be thy name. Tap the rockies. Soup goes in the soup bowls. Ask the fire department for a scholarship. You’re going to college. You’ve got to roll them flatter than that. Smoke Marlboros. What’s the matter honey? Talk to me now. You belong to me, always. I won’t let you divorce me. Are you the cleaning lady? I’m so hungry. I want you to go in there and do what you’re supposed to do. She’s lost her fuckin’ mind. I’m calling your mother. Please. Please. Please. It’s too late. Thy kingdom come. Do it here, or I’ll get rid of it myself. How long till we can fuck? I’ll never give you a divorce. He has ten days to appeal the decision. Would you like to press charges? Tell me why you tried to end your life. Don’t write on the walls. No one will know what happened. Bring the wash out of the bathroom. Do the switch. Get that load of dishes done. Thy will be done. Clean your room. Put the clothes away. Vacuum. Dust. Cinderella. Cinderella. Can you put lotion on my hands? Where’s the other baby? Where’s your son? You’re not far enough along, go home. Please don’t die. The baby is stuck. On earth as it is in heaven. I’m tired, you get her. I lost my job. Are you what I need? Pay attention to me. Pay attention to me. You should get rid of it. I want to be with her. I love you, Red. I never loved you. I just wanted to make sure he got my name. You ruined my life. You did this. You did this. You did this. Give us this day our daily bread. I don’t care if he’s dying, don’t call me. I want to see my son. I want to see my daughter. I just don’t have time. I’m broke. Stop trying to steal every penny from me. Fuck you. And forgive us our debts. There’s no one to blame but yourself. I shot someone today. Their head just exploded. It was my patrol. I sent him out. I think I love you and I want to show you how much. Follow me. Stay there. Don’t move. Women, always plotting something. Shut up. As we have forgiven our debtors. You need to come back to God. Welcome to college. Let’s jump right into the syllabus. I don’t care if your son is sick; you need to be in class. It’s due tonight. It’s due tomorrow. It’s due yesterday. I’d like to offer you a job. We’re going bankrupt. The business went up. He has dementia. I can’t handle this. You do it. You do it. You do it. And lead us not into temptation. Get your priorities straight. What do you want to watch? So what are we doing? Are we together? I love you, too. I love you, too. I love you, too. Their my kids. Congrats babe. Get some rest. Non-traditional student. But deliver us from evil. Roll with it, baby. You’ll never make money doing that. Why can’t you afford it? It’s time to renew your food stamp application. Your medical application. Your sliding scale fee paperwork. Do you have time to post? You’re so talented. Write what sells. When are you going to move out? For thine is the kingdom. Marry me. We’re not ready for a baby. Switch your major and do something that makes money. You still want to marry me? I love you, sweetness. I love you, Shuggie. I love you, Mommy. The power. ¿Cuántos años tienes? No, ¿cuántos años tienes? Forget it. You…¿Cuántos años tienes? And the glory. You rock. You rock hard. I love your characters. No one will ever believe that. For ever and ever. Tell me what’s wrong. They need to stop calling you Shuggie. Pay attention to me. Pay attention to me. Pay attention to me. You can be anything you want to be. You can do it all. I’ll bury you here one day. Amen.
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Available now: Wake Up a Woman by @LauraAshleyLord. Click here for a free preview: http://ctt.ec/sd28M+ 
Reviews
What a treasure!
“This is a collection of poems & short stories with a depth that I found to be quite profound. This book truly touched me. By the end of the book, with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, all I could say was,”Wow!” A 5-star must-read for any woman of any age.”
– Heather, Amazon customer
Five Stars!
“There are so many things I loved about this book. “Turning Out The Light” and “Perfect Squares” were my favorites and I felt both were strong stories about moving on. I felt there was a lot shared in each story and every poem. In every book Laura A Lord has published one thing that stands out to me is the flow with which she organizes her work. She lets poetry and prose dance fluidly from start to finish.”
– Hastywords, Goodreads
Wake Up a Woman is an Amazing Book!
Laura A. Lord is a master wordsmith. Her style is unforced, bold and powerful.
She has an intensity which reminds me of Anne Sexton.
I was curious to read this book, Wake Up a Woman. I particularly wished to see if things have changed for women since I was the age that the author is presently.
Although that is not the main thrust of the vignettes and poetry, it is evident that being a woman remains a way of defining one’s life which is never an easy road. The roles of mother, lover, member of a family, caretaker, and more, combined with having a personal goal for ones ever-changing self are still as complicated and complex now as they were during the time when I was younger.
Ms. Lord’s style of writing drives the reader forward. Because of this, one is encouraged to finish this volume in one sitting.
As I love vignettes and poetry, I enjoyed the fact that the pieces are intact in and of themselves, and yet also fit together like a puzzle.
Wake Up a Woman is a book which goes back and forth in time. However the control the author has is always in evidence. The honesty and integrity of the at times gritty, at times tender, style of writing is great.
I liked the fact that this book puts it out there to the world. It is kind of a testimonial to what means to evolve.
It is true…the author really does Wake Up a Woman, and that woman might just be you.”
– Jean Baldridge Yates, Amazon
Five Stars!
“Laura is a talented and versatile author. This book is a collection of poetry and short stories. Her poetry is exquisite and powerful. Her prose are excellent composed. I truly love her style. While enjoyed the entire book, one piece in particular stood out to me, and that was Dear Me, Amen. Dear Me, Amen is so impressive I immediately reread it after finishing it the first time.”
– Twindaddy, Goodreads
Gripping Collection of Vignettes and Poetry
“Laura’s words kept me intrigued, turning each page, devouring each story and poem. She weaves visceral background into fragile characters who reach into the reader and make her a part of the words, a part of the stories. The characters in her book are deep and so thoroughly drawn, painted with a fine brush, that it kept me wondering if each short story was actually related to the last.”
– Amanda Grace, Amazon
A Seamless Dance of Poetry and Prose
“There are so many things I loved about this book. “Turning Out The Light” and “Perfect Squares” were my favorites and I felt both were strong stories about moving on. I felt there was a lot shared in each story and every poem. In every book Laura A Lord has published, one thing that stands out to me; she organizes her work in a seamless flow. She lets poetry and prose dance fluidly from start to finish.”
– Hasty Words, Amazon
Laura A. Lord 