Misunderstood: An Anthology for Those Hiding Behind a Mask of Hope

Misunderstood: An Anthology for Those Hiding Behind a Mask of Hope is a special project I have been working on.  Although I have one poem included within, this book is the sum of some fantastic up and coming writers.  Each was brave enough to share their inner feelings in both poem and story form.  The editing may be rough in parts, the grammar may not be perfect.  It isn't meant to be.  Instead, I allowed the raw nature of the submissions to shine through the feelings that were emitted onto the page. 

"Being a misunderstood youth in today's society can mean many things to many people. For a parent, it can be a confusing time. We often attribute misunderstandings to their use of technology, in lieu of the imagination that we expressed at their ages. For our children, it can be a frustrating experience. They desire relief form the pains they endure each and every day, whether emotionally, physically, or in secret, yet they fear the stigma of a drug induced cure. This book is about the frustrations, fears, facades, and frailties that our youth is faced with each and every day. It is an attempt to express the power of hope and desire for relief. The contributors within have agreed to share their bravery in the form of pictures and words, reveling the reality behind the mask that our youths wear each and every day."

The contributors to this project are each new to the writing business, but their passion that is shared within is unmatched.  Please feel free to review the book, not on the overall visual content, but on the emotional content that is within.  After reading each piece, I urge you to then read their bios at the end to get a feel for the people that were brave enough to share their innermost thoughts.

BATTLE BEHIND THE MASK. 2

Co-Written by Mike McSurdy and Andrew Buttillo

THE EARTH BENEATH MY BODY WANTS TO BE BETTER ACQUAINTED.. 6

Michelle Haynes

NOTHING IS GETTING BETTER. 8

Peyton Pratt

ONE MORE DAY. 10

Franklin K. Johnson

SCARS. 12

Jordan Smith

PRETEND.. 14

Elektra Schubert

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. 17

Andrew Buttillo

BLACK HOLE. 21

D. Souza

CHANGE IS GOOD.. 22

Jordan Baxter

My CORNER. 25

D. Souza

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 27

Andrew Buttillo

OUR LAST NIGHT. 30

D. Souza

THE ADDICT. 40

Jordan Smith

DETRIMENTAL PERMANENCE. 41

Essel Pratt

YOU ARE DIFFERENT. 45

D. Souza

FATHERLESS. 47

Jordan Smith

LOVE SUCKS. 49

D. Souza

DROWNING.. 56

Mike McSurdy

THE VICTIM... 58

Jordan Smith

YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 60

Mike McSurdy

. 65