Beth Richards writes: 'I've always maintained that writing poetry (and other forms of creative writing) is a gift from God.' Here, again, the creative muse continues to inspire Beth-hence this latest book of short stories and poetry entitled Light Reading. (Discerning readers will, of course, appreciate the pun on the word Light, hopefully made clearer by Beth's oil painting of the Baccaro Lighthouse, in Nova Scotia, on the front cover!) Beth really enjoys writing 'free verse', and so there are quite a number of these in this latest book of hers. It appears to come frequently and naturally to her. This way she is able to delve into her subconscious so that the poems-and the stories that follow, too-become reflections of some of her innermost thoughts. In the short stories she also has the remarkable gift of being able to project herself into, and identify with, a character from a completely different walk of life and sphere of experience-the mark of a true creative genius