About
Welcome to the official website of Texas author Jo VonBargen...that's me...the Two-Bit Bard! (Someone called me that recently, so I thought I'd turn that negative energy into a brand!) Given my being born into a family with an engineer father and Christian minister Grandfather, I suppose I was an unlikely candidate to become a libertine poet! Nevertheless, here is where I find myself! I am a writer who realizes that there is a vast, awake and alive universe of which we are indeed a very small part, thus the effort to elevate the discourse and take a look at the larger picture. Some would even point out metaphysical leanings in a lot of my work. Influences include Native American traditions and lore absorbed during my childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Early poems were published under "J.J. King" and appeared in the New York Quarterly and other litmags. My husband has Asperger syndrome, an autism-related neurological disorder, and some of my works reflect this experience. I currently have six books available on Amazon. My proudest accomplishments, without doubt, are my 4 children, now grown, all of them joyous, compassionate and self-sustaining, and none of them in jail. All else is vapor, soon gone.
I owe everything to my readers who have faithfully followed and read everything I've cranked out, and from whom I have learned so much. There are no words, really, to express my deep gratitude to all who have supported me through bad times and good. Suffice it to say, you have brought me great joy and comfort and it is for you that I continue this journey.
Thank you for visiting my site! I hope you found something of interest, something to think about, something to take away. Please visit often! Comments and reviews are always welcome and I do respond to all correspondence.
Look for my Kindle publications on Amazon.com: just click here to read about them. Jo's Amazon Author Page
If you don't have a Kindle, you can download a free PC Kindle from the Amazon site. Kindle For PC
I've written stories and articles all my life, but only began writing poetry seriously in the early nineties. I had been reading Erica Jong and was enchanted by the way she put everything out there totally uncensored, in fact mirroring my own way of speaking. Erica Jong was my first poet guru. Then Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski. Kerouac. Ferlinghetti. Actually, I love all poets and styles now. Diversity! Others seemed to like my writing and soon I was publishing in various litmags, some now defunct. I tired, though, of editors wanting to tweak my work and my style, and after many battles over words, I quit even trying. Prideful of me, I suppose, but my words are my art, and what I want to convey is painted through my eyes, not theirs. I have no interest in my poems landing in the halls of academe, suited up, pristine and "appropriate". I'm fully content to post them here, among friends of like mind who are not afraid to read something real. I will never bow to pretentiousness. My life now and always will be spent lifting up truth and the incredible word.
INSPIRATIONS:
You won't find a single name here, because all writers and poets inspire me, from the "Kitties In The Rain" types to the Classics; I see each stage of my development in every one. They are all heartsongs, and my heart is open to receive, even the ones with bad grammar and shit spelling. We all started somewhere.
The poetic community, in particular, has given me new life. You are an incredible bunch of souls and I love every one of you. For years I was a lone wolf, pumping out poems for the ether. Then, bazinga, you appeared, and I've never been the same. The affectionate support I've received is way beyond the moon, and I hope that I never fail in returning it. You are my joy.
If I had to choose between eating and writing, I'd write. One Thanksgiving I had a cup of yogurt, I was so far into my zone, working on a book.
Rebels always get my attention. As a preacher's grandkid, I rebelled early and often. My grandmother called me the "black sheep". Some of my poetry reflects that. I actually have a lot of different styles, depending on the subject.
I love bookstores. Used to love independent bookshops, but the corporates put them all out of biz. Cozy furniture, jugs of red to pass around...sigh. Poetry readings there used to be my life. Now I live in the boonies and they don't have them, don't even effin know what they are.
My husband has Asperger's, an autism-related neurological disorder. He's the only man I ever loved who has the one thing it would take to keep me from leaving him: his attitude is not his fault. My latest book is called "Your Thin Bones: Letters I Never Sent You", about our difficult relationship. It's pretty harsh, but cathartic.
I don't have regrets. All those rough bumps in the road molded me. I've tried to find the lesson in everything. I've had a LOT of damned lessons. You'd think I'd be done now.
I don't feel this old on this side of my eyes. How did I get here? Mostly upbeat and positive, I hate whiners and peckerheads, love thinkers. New ideas. Broad-minded people. Calm people. People I can learn from. Iconoclasts. People who give back. Warriors. I despise nit-pickers, bigots, racists, intransigent twits, bible-thumpers, fanatics, and know-it-alls.
The eldest of 6 children...I'm the only girl, a double Leo. I got to babysit and rule. I no longer babysit but I still rule!
Now. Enough about me. I'd love to hear about you. Contact me through this website or tweet me at @jvonbargen on Twitter. I'd love to hear from you.
Best wishes to you and safe journeys always...Jo
I owe everything to my readers who have faithfully followed and read everything I've cranked out, and from whom I have learned so much. There are no words, really, to express my deep gratitude to all who have supported me through bad times and good. Suffice it to say, you have brought me great joy and comfort and it is for you that I continue this journey.
Thank you for visiting my site! I hope you found something of interest, something to think about, something to take away. Please visit often! Comments and reviews are always welcome and I do respond to all correspondence.
Look for my Kindle publications on Amazon.com: just click here to read about them. Jo's Amazon Author Page
If you don't have a Kindle, you can download a free PC Kindle from the Amazon site. Kindle For PC
I've written stories and articles all my life, but only began writing poetry seriously in the early nineties. I had been reading Erica Jong and was enchanted by the way she put everything out there totally uncensored, in fact mirroring my own way of speaking. Erica Jong was my first poet guru. Then Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski. Kerouac. Ferlinghetti. Actually, I love all poets and styles now. Diversity! Others seemed to like my writing and soon I was publishing in various litmags, some now defunct. I tired, though, of editors wanting to tweak my work and my style, and after many battles over words, I quit even trying. Prideful of me, I suppose, but my words are my art, and what I want to convey is painted through my eyes, not theirs. I have no interest in my poems landing in the halls of academe, suited up, pristine and "appropriate". I'm fully content to post them here, among friends of like mind who are not afraid to read something real. I will never bow to pretentiousness. My life now and always will be spent lifting up truth and the incredible word.
INSPIRATIONS:
You won't find a single name here, because all writers and poets inspire me, from the "Kitties In The Rain" types to the Classics; I see each stage of my development in every one. They are all heartsongs, and my heart is open to receive, even the ones with bad grammar and shit spelling. We all started somewhere.
The poetic community, in particular, has given me new life. You are an incredible bunch of souls and I love every one of you. For years I was a lone wolf, pumping out poems for the ether. Then, bazinga, you appeared, and I've never been the same. The affectionate support I've received is way beyond the moon, and I hope that I never fail in returning it. You are my joy.
If I had to choose between eating and writing, I'd write. One Thanksgiving I had a cup of yogurt, I was so far into my zone, working on a book.
Rebels always get my attention. As a preacher's grandkid, I rebelled early and often. My grandmother called me the "black sheep". Some of my poetry reflects that. I actually have a lot of different styles, depending on the subject.
I love bookstores. Used to love independent bookshops, but the corporates put them all out of biz. Cozy furniture, jugs of red to pass around...sigh. Poetry readings there used to be my life. Now I live in the boonies and they don't have them, don't even effin know what they are.
My husband has Asperger's, an autism-related neurological disorder. He's the only man I ever loved who has the one thing it would take to keep me from leaving him: his attitude is not his fault. My latest book is called "Your Thin Bones: Letters I Never Sent You", about our difficult relationship. It's pretty harsh, but cathartic.
I don't have regrets. All those rough bumps in the road molded me. I've tried to find the lesson in everything. I've had a LOT of damned lessons. You'd think I'd be done now.
I don't feel this old on this side of my eyes. How did I get here? Mostly upbeat and positive, I hate whiners and peckerheads, love thinkers. New ideas. Broad-minded people. Calm people. People I can learn from. Iconoclasts. People who give back. Warriors. I despise nit-pickers, bigots, racists, intransigent twits, bible-thumpers, fanatics, and know-it-alls.
The eldest of 6 children...I'm the only girl, a double Leo. I got to babysit and rule. I no longer babysit but I still rule!
Now. Enough about me. I'd love to hear about you. Contact me through this website or tweet me at @jvonbargen on Twitter. I'd love to hear from you.
Best wishes to you and safe journeys always...Jo
