I’m thrilled that my dear friend, Maggie, is kicking off the blog tour for King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry. I’m turning off comments, so I hope you’ll visit her to read more about this sentimental book. Just click on the link below. The official release date is Wednesday, August 6th, but you can pre-order now in paperback and e-book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and at Kobo for e-book only. Thanks again, Maggie! I appreciate you, my friend! ❤️
Those eyes. That face. He had his head on my knee.
Dear Friends,
This is the most bittersweet book promotion I’ve done. My poetry book in tribute of Copper, our chocolate lab mix, who left our earthly world in March will be released on Wednesday, August 6th. Both paperback and e-book versions will be available. I’m partial to holding a book in my hands, so the paperback is what I prefer. When my copy arrived, my emotions got the best of me. I’m so proud of this compilation to honor Copper, and in a way, all of our dogs that have blessed our family.
Both versions: paperback and e-book are available on Amazon, and Barnesandnoble.com. Kobo offers the e-book only. Just fyi, the e-book format is a bit different than the paperback. If you’re interested, you can pre-order now. For Amazon, you can click on the front cover image…
This collection is a combination of freestyle poems, tanka, limericks, micro poetry, and haiku, including color photos. The first section consists of poems written when our golden boy was still with us. Then when he received his angel wings, the mood shifts because I wrote through the initial grieving process.
A few samples:
Tour De Force
Prancing on the left like a well-bred horse Staying in step, not drifting off course Stopping for sniffs And frequent leg lifts His character is a tour de force!
Showstopper
There once was a dog named Copper Whose good looks were a showstopper A hugger and kisser Love he’ll deliver Bit with love comes lots of slobber!
One More Moment
A dog barks in the distance causing me to pause, it sounds like Copper’s – a wild imagination longing for one more moment.
To the Best Family (an excerpt)
I felt sad to leave you, but my body was tired, it wouldn’t stop hurting. Then I couldn’t walk. How could I live like that? I was too big. I needed to be able to get around and sniff and lift my leg and play. I was old, and I lived a great life with you, Mom, Dad, Sis, and Bro!
You gave me a loving home, and before you adopted me, that’s what I wished for, so you made my wish come true…
An excerpt from the Preface
When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know. I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.
So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home…
***** I’ve decided not to do a formal blog tour, but if any of you are interested in sharing about my book on your blogs or social media, please let me know. I would be grateful. 🙏
Thank you for your support this year when I shared about Copper and the heavy hearts that my family and I have had. If you have a cuddly pet, give them a hug for me. And if you plan on purchasing a copy to read about our beloved King Copper, thank you so very much. ❤️
First of all, a huge thanks to you who left encouraging words on my prior post. I appreciate you so much, and the insight I gained provided relief for any future thoughts as I move forward. 🙏🤗 And now as promised, I’m spotlighting 4 books that I recommend adding to your towering TBR! They’re all poetry collections but touch on different topics. Enjoy!
Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy by Joy Neal Kidney
I was introduced to Joy Neal Kidney’s family history by reading Leora’s Letters, which is a book that touches on love, family, faith, loss, and resilience. Beautiful and heartbreaking. Meadowlark Songs offers the same effect: a culmination of excellent research into the depth of the women in Joy’s lineage. Through elegant poetry, prose, and priceless photographs, I was presented a window into seven generations, including the author who became “The Memory Keeper.” Guided by faith, each woman inspired the next, celebrating victories while encouraging strength and tenacity through loss and hardships. Every generational memory is one of love, admiration, and honor.
This book covers stories of farm life, of “Women in long dresses,” of good times and unimaginable sufferings. The genealogy began in Virginia but landed in the west where the Motherline planted roots in Iowa, the 29th State – five of the women lived in Guthrie County. Kidney’s account of her Motherline is poignant and highly recommended. A lovely example of her poetic voice is:
I Inherited Iowa
from ancestors’ long-ago decisions to settle here, a land of small towns, gravel roads to hike, meadowlark songs, the chirre of redwing blackbirds,
lilacs in spring, wild roses, lilies of the field, the call of pheasants, a neighborhood barred owl, a pork chop on a stick at the Iowa State Fair,
the Milky Way sprinkled across night skies, bur oaks sheltering pioneer graves, bountiful autumns, the hush of snowy Januarys.
The American flag gained two stars while I was in high school, the Pledge of Allegiance added two words, “under God.”
Though I’ve traveled the nation and abroad, I’m blessed by the choice of those long-ago pilgrims of Iowa, Beautiful Land.
Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt by Dawn Pisturino
Ancient Voices by Dawn Pisturino is a beautiful, unique, and educational collection of poems and poetic tales expressing how “The Ancient Egyptians loved life and celebrated it with joy.” I researched along the way to appreciate the full essence of this informative compilation, hence, the educational element. And I appreciate the extensive research that was necessary for Dawn to create this book. Reading about other cultures and accumulating more knowledge is always satisfying. Her expertise of the Egyptian society is remarkable. I could spotlight many favorites, but I’ll share some lines from a couple that stood out:
Shu’s Breath
Shu’s light, airy breath curls around my feet, Warming my toes, Tickling my skin, Breathing his life-giving force into my body. I step boldly into the sunlight, Feeling his gentle kiss against my face. The sands stir softly as he walks beside me, Shielding me from the wrath of Ra. Sweat drips from my temples And rolls down my cheeks, A reminder of Tefnut’s tears As she trails behind us – her brother’s twin – Who shares his bed and bears his offspring: Nut, who stretches her body across the heavens, Catching the stars…
Ra’s Night Journey
The Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun as the origin of all life and illumination and the Nile River as the source of all fertility and abundance. Keen observers of nature, they focused their attention on the revolving cycles of life: the changing seasons, the rise and fall of the Nile River, and the blossoming of new life after death….
If you’re a poetry fan, an Egyptian aficionado, or simply love learning about other cultures, I highly recommend this amazing collection.
Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle
Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle takes the reader on a journey through Southern African Flora & Fauna. This book is a lovely and eye-opening collection of poetry, photos, artwork, and video clips. Robbie’s paintings are stunning and augment her many talents. She is fortunate to have a front row seat to the precious African wildlife. Her poems are not only entertaining, but there are many details for the reader to learn. I always take away something new when reading about her African adventures. The photos continue to be awe-inspiring, while others are beyond endearing, such as a mama lion and her cubs lying in the sand.
Robbie is steadfast in her advocacy for these animals whose future remains grim, which is one of the qualities I admire about her. It’s appalling to be reminded of human greed and no respect for living creatures. Then factor in climate change where natural habitats are being destroyed, which affects the ecosystem. The entire collection either touches the heart or stirs emotions with a vital message that needs to be reiterated. Highly recommended. And since I have an affection for elephants, any type of artwork or poetry about these magnificent animals appeals to me.
Elephant
Elephant, you rise out of the veld like a mountain Spouting water and mud like a fountain People think your nature is gentle and kind But those who act inappropriately, trouble find
Your thoughtful eyes are brown, honey, or gray In puddles and rivers, you love to wallow and play Consuming vegetation in enormous amounts Any opponent, including a lion, you’ll trounce
You are known for your impressive memory And will do anything to protect your family With your trunk so clever and sensitive Saving your impressive species is imperative
An end to your days on this planet is approaching Due to human encroachment and mindless poaching It’s hard to understand the penchant for hunting tournaments Even less, the human desire for ivory ornaments
I can only pray for some sort of intervention That will give African wildlife much better protection Otherwise, the animal kingdom that’s existed for centuries Will continue only in the elderly’s faded memories…
Ink Stained Love by Ernest Federspiel
Ink Stained Love is the first book I have read by Ernest Federspiel, and now I know it won’t be the last. The poems in this beautiful collection speak of the many layers of love: loss, vulnerability, hope, and despair – all relatable human emotions. While engaging myself into Ernie’s poetic voice, I felt my heartbeat pulse with joy, but I also felt it shatter. His emotions evoked my own memories of past love that wasn’t meant to be, and of the love I share now with my husband of almost thirty-seven years. Reading through this collection was a moving experience, but to give you a peek into Ernie’s talent, I pulled some verses from poems that stood out:
Behind a Cloud
I know that when you see me I am the star behind a cloud And if you were my sunshine My star could shine so proud
The warmth that you could give me Would make a garden grow In the middle of that garden A rose that is my soul…
And yet, romantic love isn’t Ernie’s sole focus in his collection. He beautifully pens about his love for his mother, which I found to be endearing.
Dear Mom
I thank you for life lessons, and your kind and gentle heart For always being there even when we were miles apart I thank you for the forgiveness when I was caught doing wrong I want to give you the love that I have neglected for so long…
Remember
Simple things are no longer simple, fear has now taken their place But your love for me still brightens your beautiful face You’ll find sweet lady that I will always be right here To fight for you the battles of confusion and terror You brought me into this life and helped me to see Not everything is right or wrong, dementia scares the shit out of me!
This poetry collection will resonate in some way, so if you’re a poetry lover and appreciate verse that touches the heart, you’ll want to read this book.
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I hope you’re not leaving here empty handed. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Reading! ❤️
I have read that a book can be promoted for any amount of time, not only on the heels of its release. Editor Barbara Leonhard from MasticadoresUSA proves this fact because my poetry collection, Ever So Gently, was released 16 months ago. So, I am honored and thrilled that my book is still being read with positive reviews flowing in after all this time.
Barbara says, “Scott’s poems may enable readers to find answers to their soul’s longings.” To read her beautiful review, a wonderful testimonial from Diana at Myths of the Mirror, and to learn more about my poetry collection, please click on the link below. I hope to see you at Barbara’s place. ❤️
I am thrilled to share Maggie’s lovely review of my book that is about 14 months old. The excitement began in July of last year, and I’m grateful to say that it’s continued. I am humbled to receive almost thirty 5-star reviews.
But first of all, let me introduce you to Maggie if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her:
I am Maggie Watson, an Indie Poet and Author from Scotland. My poetry journey began at the start of the pandemic in 2020. At that point, I had no idea it would then become such a big part of my life. We can all agree that those years were very difficult, and I found the "lockdowns" particularly hard. So I began putting pen to paper, merely to get my sense of isolation and frustration down on paper. Fast forward to December 2020 and "The Madness of Corona" was published (by a publishing house). As happy as I was seeing my name on an Amazon product page, I was embarrassed by the content ( but heh, we all started out at some point). I knew I wanted to do better, and knew I could do better, so I decided to try and self-publish as a goal to aim for. Self-Publishing is not difficult, only time-consuming. In February 2021 I released "Me and My Shadow" and later that year I also released "Once Upon a Time". Looking back though,I would say that I was going for the achievement factor and still not paying much attention to the quality of my writing! In 2021 I joined the Instagram writing Community. I will always be grateful for the love and support shown to me by my fellow writers (especially when my account was hacked). I would say being on there brought an improvement in my writing because the standard is so high, as it is here on WP! I recently took the decision to leave IG and this blog will now be my main platform. Last year(2022) my work was included in an Open Skies Anthology. I also had my work accepted by Glass Gates Publications and Gypsophila Zine (see my Other Publications Page) as well as releasing "A Jar of Stars" and "In the Shadow of My Pen : A Collection of Poetry and Prose. This year has been my most successful to date as far as submissions go,including Gypsophila Zine again and also Spillwords. My new Collection "Ephemeral Encounters (Her Book of Words) has also just been released. I write for the love of writing, and I always hope someone can take something from my words🙏.
I've read Ephemeral Encounters and loved it, but Maggie has just released another new collection of poetry:
You can pre-order Pieces of Me in e-book format, which will be released on October 7th, along with the paperback. Since I have a strong affinity for paperbacks, I’m holding out! But I love Maggie’s beautiful and evocative writing, so I know her new book will be another wonderful addition to my home library.
Now, I invite you to visit Maggie by clicking on the link below to read her full review of my collection of poetry, Ever So Gently.
I am honored to be a part of this beautiful anthology created, compiled, and edited by Gabriela Marie Milton at Literary Revelations! Over 150 poets with four haiku each are included in Petals of Haiku which is a Top New Release on Amazon, and my copy has arrived! I’ve already immersed myself into the lovely and delicate poetry – truly a beautiful collection!
I sprinkled some pink blooms throughout the post for this joyful occasion, and I recorded two of my haiku for your listening pleasure.
A few words from Gabriela about the Anthology:
Petals of Haiku is not just an anthology that Literary Revelations is proud to publish. It’s a masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of haiku poetry like never before. The spectacular haiku writers featured in this collection bring to life the delicacy of seasons and the profound range of human emotions, from joy to grief, in a way that is both delightful and deeply moving.
The art on the cover by award-winning painter Hikari sets the tone for what awaits inside – a world where words dance off the page and into your heart. The background photo by award-winning Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura adds another layer of beauty to this already exquisite collection.”
To order your copy!
If you’re not familiar with Gabriela’s blog, I’m including some facts to entice you because each time you visit Literary Revelations, it is easy to lose yourself in the beauty through the written word…
We publish most poetry genres: epic, lyric, narrative, or prose poetry. We expect work that dazzles the intellect, and delights the soul; work that makes feelings blossom into symphonies of love, beauty, and sorrow. Interpret the silence. Find the place where love was born, and tears are entombed. Be the voice of prophets. Be the soft whisper of Sakura.Dream, create, suggest. Avoid cliches. Avoid the banal and the explicit, even if both have become trendy. Remember “To define is to kill. To suggest is to create.” (Stéphane Mallarmé).We also publish fiction such as mystery, romance, fantasy, and other types.
Congratulations to Gabriela and to all authors in Petals of Haiku, and thank you, Gabriela, for this amazing opportunity! ❤️
I invite you to visit Rebecca’s blog to listen to our conversation on poetry. You can also find our podcast on Spotify, Facebook, SoundCloud, Instagram, and Mastodon.
Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy the podcast!
Ariel’s Song by Dawn Pisturino is a beautiful and evocative collection of sixty-five poems – a collection that she lovingly dedicates to her daughter whose name is Ariel. The poems were written over a period of three decades touching on topics of love, family, children, death, nature, and the unique. Some rhyme and others are free in their styles from traditional sonnets that invited me to contemplate, to twisted limericks that made me laugh. I had many favorites, but I’m sharing snippets from a few, otherwise, this review would turn into a novel.
Many poems brought a sense of nostalgia. “November” evoked memories of when the season changed into golds, yellows, and reds, the air brought a chill, and my parents were still with us, enjoying family weekends at our cabin – everyone was young, and the future looked brighter than ever.
When November came, We sat around the kitchen table after dark, Telling chilling tales Of ghosts and other phantoms of the night, While wooden logs crackled and burned On the old stone hearth, And a cold wind wrapped its spectral arms Around the ancient wooden cottage…
Dawn writes of her late father in “Rapping” which stirred emotions of my mother-in-law who departed from our world over thirty years ago. Our daughter was born the same year that Diane passed, and one evening from downstairs, we heard footsteps on the carpeted staircase when our little girl was sound asleep in her crib. No one else was in the house with us. So, was it Diane stealing a glance at her first precious grandchild? We imagined it was, and so we believed.
As a nature lover with a grateful heart for each new day “When the Morning Comes” hit home and really should be hung on refrigerators:
When the morning comes, Sun will shine with a different light, Earth will glow in a brand-new way, Moon will dance to a gayer tune, Clouds of pain will float away. Broken hearts will beat again, Empty eyes will see new life, Throats will open up and sing, Hands will break the chains of strife…
“I Hate Snakes” made me laugh out loud, but I can relate so well to the sentiments. Dawn’s vivid imagery summoned me along to explore with her in ‘the jungle’ and her frightening experience with snakes reminded me of my first encounter with a spider, which eventually turned into arachnophobia, causing a never-ending turbulent relationship with the creepy-crawlies.
I HATE SNAKES
I pushed open the creaky door to look inside And froze in shock at what I saw: Slithering, crawling, scaly snakes Formed a moving carpet on the floor, Entwining in an intimate embrace, Lying together in a clump of shimmering bodies, Moving slowly and surely in the rotten shadows. We beat a hasty retreat And never visited our ‘jungle’ again. And that’s why, even today, I HATE SNAKES!
Dawn’s collection of lovely, witty, and occasionally dark poetry, offers a verse and a sense of familiarity for everyone. Highly recommended for all poetry enthusiasts!
Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend ahead! ❤️
My latest collection of poetry, touching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life that would make a great for any holiday! Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚
