Description
The Screaming Silence
by Lanser Howard
Silence can be as sweet as the most beautiful symphony. Or it can be a scream—so terrifying it will keep you up all night trying to get it out of your head.
Loss has followed Lanser Howard his whole life, clinging to him like a wet coat. And during such times, it is the silence that always seems to speak the loudest. It screams truth, and anyone who has gone through deep, dark pain knows this. Too often, this screaming silence feels inescapable—like you can never turn it off—and can make you feel like you’re losing your mind. You will do anything to block out the noise of The Screaming Silence.
In his first full-length poetry collection, Lanser Howard examines loss, the most bare-bones of human emotion. He takes readers on a merciless journey through the depths of agony and grief—through The Screaming Silence—and then into the light of hope. Hope to have the courage to fight on.
About the Author
Lanser Howard began his career as a journalist and then transitioned into film where he wrote and produced an award-winning documentary film and other screenplays. His sole focus now is on poetry and literature with The Screaming Silence as his first full-length book of poetry.
An Oakland, California native, now living in the Sacramento area, Howard travels the country selling food products by day, writer by night. He has worked extensively with combat veterans filtering their traumatic experiences through his eyes in much of his work to show you their world after the smoke clears, but the gripping pain remains.
Howard’s visceral, minimalistic style paints hard-hitting portraits of the dark and lonely process of fighting through tragedy and loss and how to heal oneself with words, hope and an unwavering strength of self.
<Instagram: @lanserhoward>
About the Artist
For James Picard, art is life. He works feverishly, seizing every opportunity to create the vivid and striking images his mind conjures up, whether that be painting, drawing, writing or film making. His work has been featured in almost 200 art exhibitions throughout North America and Europe.
Picard was the first artist to exhibit his paintings at the historical Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco, part of his “The Dark & The Wounded” painting series and world art tour which he filmed and turned into a documentary, and which won awards across the North American Film Festival circuit culminating in a screening in May 2018 at the 71st Cannes International Film Festival.
Picard is an talented artist with a big heart. He has received many awards and accolades for his artwork and for his contributions to communities and charities throughout North America. He currently lives in both Los Angeles, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Aeron Tozier –
I have had the privilege of growing up with Lanser. I have also been privileged to have his work gifted and read to me in private. Everyone single one of us experiences loss; and his poems fully opened that door to facing my own pain, vividly in my mind’s eye. They left me in tears, realizing none of us are alone in sharing the tragedies that bind us all. His work is that powerful. Thank you Lans for sharing yourself. I love you brother. Aloha!
Nicky Jewett –
This book is a must read! The depth of emotion that the author portrays is incredible! Each poem brings out a feeling in the reader such as pain, sadness and hope. I love dark stories and poetry so this book is perfect! The author draws on many personal experiences and interviews with veterans and those who have experienced extreme loss. It comes through in every poem. I highly recommend this book to anyone!