JB Richards

Two Classic Love Stories Combine & Come Alive! Overview: After a child is snatched away from her home and imprisoned in a far-off and lonely tower, her destiny and that of another star-crossed teenager entwine in a tale that reveals the story that Shakespeare and the Brothers Grimm never told. If you think you know the story of Romeo and Juliet, think again... Author Joanne Van Leerdam expertly winds a charming and creative backstory into the ill-fated teens’ lives that resul

A Poignant & Enlightening Work Of Art! This touching and enlightening collection of poetry by Author/Poet Joanne Van Leerdam, explores some of the illusions and deceptions that people experience in their lives while demonstrating the clarity and wisdom gained from hindsight. I must admit that I’ve read all of Van Leerdam’s poetry collections to date, and I am a tremendous fan of her work, but thus far, “Smoke And Shadows” stands as my all-time favorite. “Mirror, Mirror”, “Mas

Macabre Humor Dominates This Brilliant Horror Collection! Friday, Van Leerdam’s beloved black cat who is the very representation of cosmic Karma, is back for more dark magic in the macabre, and oftentimes hilarious, short horror story collection, “Curious Times”. This new round of tales focuses on teen-bullying and peer pressure, and—depending whether one’s eyes are opened to the truth or not, if bullies can ever truly change. Van Leerdam’s characters from “Curious Things”—th

8 Dramatic & Terrifying Tales Of The Macabre! “Lac Du Mort And Other Stories”, Author Joanne Van Leerdam’s latest journey into the macabre, contains 8 spine-chilling horror shorts you can savor in just a single evening. Readers will find Van Leerdam’s tales more than meet their yearning for a good fright—with each macabre telling as dramatic and terrifying as the next. The author elaborates on the theme that, once Death tags you, there is little to no recourse you can take in

A Dark Yet Powerful Reflection On Loss & Recovery! “To the people who tried to bring me down and destroy me: How very awful it must be to be you.” Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of misery and pain, Joanne Van Leerdam presents her latest poetry collection with this phrase in mind, remaining faithful to its theme as she hurls brilliant prose and spits righteous venom toward those bullies, scavengers, and rakes who have chosen the wrongful path to do others harm. Indeed, m

Horror Lovers Will Scream With Glee! Horror lovers will scream with glee—and maybe even tuck tongue in cheek—at this sequential macabre tale about bad behavior and its consequences by Author Joanne Van Leerdam. Endearing characters with iron stomachs and cheerful dispositions make “Curious Things” a feel-good short while the horrific events they witness will have you squirming in your favorite reading chair, and the creative manner in which Van Leerdam relates the fair punish

A Suspenseful & Chilling Tale Of The Macabre! Young Phil begins to experience whispers from the grave as he searches for meaning in a prospective teenage paramour’s premature and unexpected death. But is it his true love calling out to him, or is it something… else? Although I am familiar with Joanne Van Leerdam’s amazing poetry collections, I was pleasantly taken by surprise at the ease and familiarity she has demonstrated in slipping into the genre of short-story horror. Th

A Gift Of Lyrical Inspiration! If there was ever a poet with the soul of a muse, Joanne Van Leerdam is she. Taking inspiration from one of the lines in her poem, “Muse”, I will say this about Van Leerdam’s talent: “Her gifts of lyrical inspiration”, Give birth to a wellspring of poetry, Where thoughts and emotions, Cascade into a broad pool Of thoughtful reflection, Where this seeker may find, Perspectives anew, Amid moments, Of deep introspection. So rare is the beauty of th

A Short Story Collection That is a Gem in and of Itself! In “New Horizons”, Poet Joanne Van Leerdam plies her talent at short story writing and succeeds brilliantly. Each tale contained in this short collection is a gem in and of itself, showing the diversity of the human condition and how the heart reacts to various life situations. From the birth of a child, to the loneliness of old age, to the heartache of lost love, this insightful and touching collection of short stories

These Poems Sink Into The Soul Like Water Through Sand, Bringing Refreshment To Those Yearning For Spiritual Peace And Awakening This breathtaking collection of 22 poems touches on all the various emotions women feel at different stages of their lives. As a whole, they represent a woman’s journey from the younger years of innocence to the latter years of maturity—when one finally comes into her own and accepts her beauty and power. My personal favorites in the “Stained Glass”