Mercenary at Midnight
A Collection of Gutsy Verse
Written by Nicholas Ryan Howard
About
Mercenary at Midnight is a blazing assembly of verse, prose, and poetry written by bestselling author Nicholas Ryan Howard. Crafted in the moments of utmost vulnerability, and always after the midnight hour had struck, the poet journeys without allegiance into the harrowing land of introspection armed only with a combination of daring, desperation, and mettle.
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Reviews
“Mercenary at Midnight is unfiltered, raw, sensual, tactile, and untethered in its complete dismissal of self-justification. These are poems that leave us questioning our own motives, and echoing our unadorned desires. Nicholas Ryan Howard explores the anxiety of love and the dangerous brutality of idealism, moving seamlessly through the gambit of human experience. He is all at once proud, insecure, helpless, tortured, hot-headed, ashamed, and depleted—yet never afraid of a fight.”
Kaitlin Weichsel
Musician and host of the Show Me Yours poetry event in Hollywood, CA
“Nicholas Ryan Howard’s verse is the definition of mastery and skill. Mercenary at Midnight grants its readers an up close and personal look into his life’s journey through all of its love and pain, and he never shies away from vulnerability. His words are carefully crafted, yet still provide a relatable experience that will allow you to tap into your own heart’s journey.”
Julisa Wilson
Rapper and songwriter
“Nicholas Ryan Howard’s collection is at times unconventional and often emotionally raw-edged, all while revealing a lithe earnestness. Taking turns being conversational and directional, the poems collect into a kind of novena, a recurring group of prayers venerating the author’s experience in the realms of love and lust, of creation and destruction, of heaven and hell on earth.”
Rosa Nadine Xochimilco Sánchez
Author of Blue Bones, Blood Roses, Black Eyes and Hearts Aflame, Still Burning
The Book
These 100 poems, tales, and reflections showcase the author's rebellion against complacency, rage against submission, and insurrection against resignation. Packed with vigorous wordplay and a razor-sharp wit, the writing burns like a shot of whiskey and sparks like an exposed wire sizzling in the rain.
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The Audiobook
This collection of verse is also available in the audio format featuring powerful readings of each piece by the author. Nicholas Ryan Howard has performed his work at readings and events around the world, and his performances are filled with vigor, honesty, and vulnerability. Similarly, the audio version is an excellent companion to the written word, and enables the listener to hear the unique rhythms and rhyming schemes intended for the material.
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About the Author
Nicholas Ryan Howard is an author, philosopher, and expert in creativity. He was educated in Communications at the University of Southern California and later became a Master Facilitator of Spiritual Psychology through the University of Santa Monica, where he went on to serve as a director. As a media producer and artistic director he has worked on properties such as The Bourne Identity, Harry Potter, and Star Wars, and in the technology sector he has overseen projects for corporations including Mattel, Sony, and Panasonic. He is the visionary behind the epic Legends of Grim saga, the best-selling poetry collection Mercenary at Midnight, the acclaimed podcast Of Tears and Blood, and the digital media agency NRH Media. Today, his work spans creative development, strategic consulting for individuals and organizations, and ongoing global exploration in pursuit of inspiration, perspective, expansion, and evolution.
