Take the Road to Somewhere

The book is a collection of poems, short stories, essays, songs, and prose by Billy Randal Maynard of Harold, Kentucky. The wide variety of writings come from inspiring events in his life in the rolling hills of eastern Kentucky, and from (according to the author) direct inspiration from God. Sometimes the story would "swirl around" in the author's mind for weeks or months before coming into print. At other times, a poem would be written the same evening as the inspiration. Billy began writing as a young teenager. While attending college at nearby Pikeville College, he wrote some of his first works. The book carries a lot of spirituality because Mr. Maynard was a minister for several years before a tumultuous divorce that created havoc in his family. He still remains a staunch Christian and sings often in his hometown church on occasion. Over the years, Billy has written many poems for departed loved ones. These can be appreciated by any and all who read them. The collection covers a span of more than thirty years. On several occasions, some of the poems, and especially the short stories, Incident and Walkertown, and The Fight, have been recognized for their originality and actually won a writer's contest in the early eighties. Some of the more noteworthy poems have been published by poetry.com and posted on the internet. There is a section in the book dedicated to the poems, the author deems to be the most inspired (the Author''s Picks). There is tremendous variety in the book and something for everyone. It begins with a poem about aborted babies, entitled, "I Could Have Been." It is heavenly inspired, but incorporates the feelings of the author, and his belief that poetry should have "rhyme and rhythm." There are some profound things coming out of his work, "that had to come from above." (according to the author); that is for the reader to decide!