Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "poems"

Today, I would like to introduce you to a lovely lady I met here on Goodreads, Heather Grace Stewart. I have to admit that when I first met Heather and she asked whether I would like to read and review her poetry book, I was a little hesitant. I don't read much poetry and was worried I wouldn't like her book. She is such a bubbly, friendly person I didn't really want to offend her. I needn't have worried though; as soon as I started reading her book Leap I fell in love with it.
Heather's poetry reads like she is shining a light on everyday events that might sometimes elude us or seem insignificant. She make you think about things in a different way, which is one of the signs of a great writer. She writes about life and things that we can all relate to. I would highly recommend that you take a leap (sorry for the pun) and purchase her book. Or, of course, you could enter the giveaway on this blog and be in with a chance of winning a copy of Leap or a copy of her newest poetry book, which I am looking forward to finding time to read, Carry On Dancing. There are 2 Kindle copies of Leap and 2 Kindle copies of Carry on Dancing up for grabs.

To enter, all you need to do is 'Like' this blog post or leave a comment for Heather below.

Here's my interview with Heather:

You wrote your first poem at the age of 5 and this was published in a school newsletter. Do you still have a copy of that? And if so, would you be willing to share that poem with us?



Ha! Actually, that poem, 'At the Arena,' is published at the very front of my first poetry collection, Where the Butterflies Go. WTGB is my collected poems from the age of 5, skipping to my late teens (I never saved any from my childhood) and then work from my 20s to age 35. It was published 3 years after the birth of our daughter, and covers topics that range from war and famine and homelessness to marriage and motherhood.

You have three collections of adult poetry books. I have read Leap and all of the poems seemed to be inspired by modern life. Are any of them auto-biographical?

All of my work has some of my life in it. I write what I know, so it's close to impossible not to have a piece of me in there. But they're all composite characters - the "I" and the "me" is not necessarily something I said or did. I take some of me, then a piece of someone I once met, mix it with a characteristic or story from someone else I met, maybe someone I love, someone in my family or circle of friends. It's never about one person. I want my work to speak to as many people as possible, so I try to make it FEEL as though it could be about the reader; about the reader's life, and about our world today. That's my goal.

You’ve published a book of funny children’s poems, The Groovy Granny and I believe the illustrations were done by a child. Was that your daughter? How did the idea for this book come about?



It was all thanks to my daughter. I'd written those poems nearly a decade before her birth, and was having troubles finding a publisher. The Groovy Granny was previously published in an early-ebook called Bubble Mud and Other Poems ( Electric E books, 2000, I still have CD roms for sale!) I'd gotten a good response to that poem, so I took it, added more to it, and then added even more poems after my daughter was born. I read some of them to her one night after bed. She asked for more the following night, and asked me why there were no drawings. I explained I didn't have an illustrator yet, and she exclaimed, "I'll illustrate your book! I'll do it!" It was thrilling to see her inspired by these poems, but I didn't think it would last. Kids usually want to play after school, not sit at a desk and draw. But every day after school for about three weeks, Kayla came home and said 'What poem am I going to illustrate today?' She was so driven. It was a wonderful experience. I'm so glad we did it together.

What’s the target reader age for The Groovy Granny?

It's for age 4- 104! I hope adults will love it as much as the little ones. So far, grandparents seem tickled by it.

I read in your bio that you went from being a journalist at a newspaper to an editor for a couple of magazines before branching out on your own. Have you ever written any poetry inspired by your time as a journalist?

No, I haven't written anything specifically about that - that'd be interesting! I did write My Mark - about how we as Canadians have so much freedom and that it's a gift that we can vote and walk around freely- after visiting Israel on a press junket. A lot of my earlier poems were inspired by my travels in my 20s.

I read that your poems have been published in Canadian and British school text books. That’s quite an achievement. How did that come about?

That's thanks to my blog, Where the Butterflies Go. That blog audience has been so good to me. I've posted most of my poems about Facebook and Twitter and social networking on there, and educators looking for poems that wouldn't intimidate students and would engage them found those poems and contacted me, asking for the rights for their textbooks. It has gone from me selling rights for them to use it on their web sites to them asking me to actually record myself reading the poems for an audio CD that accompanies the textbooks (which I have to say was a nerve-wracking experience at first, but my engineering husband got me the coolest microphone so the recordings are of a superior quality, and my recording sessions are now actually lots of fun! ) Eduators in Quebec City, Texas and Germany have all recently contacted me to teach my Facebook poems to their students. I'm thrilled my poems are being used around the world in this way. I have always wanted to make poetry more accessible to everyone and also to make young readers realize poetry can be fun and about topics they understand.

Half the proceeds from two of your poetry books Where the Butterflies Go and Leap go to UNICEF. What is it about that charity that made you decide to donate your royalties to them?

I have always felt that education is the key to lasting change. If we can educate a girl in a third world country who wouldn't otherwise get an education, who would otherwise marry at 11 and never leave her community, just imagine the power that gives her in her world - and hopefully, power to pass what she's learned onto her own children. My poetry itself (the royalties from book sales ) doesn't make a lot of money, so I decided to try to change the world in small ways with the small profits I make from those books. Unicef's Gift of Education program is an excellent one, and so far, through my book sales, I've been able to fund three children's educations for a year, donated money to build desks for a school in India, and bought pencils for an entire school three different times. I love that words did all that. Words hold a lot of power!

As well as a talented poet, I understand that you also love photography. I read that your photos have appeared in National Geographic Traveler and Equinox, as well as the covers of over a dozen poetry books. How did that come about?

I've worked as a journalist for a long time - since age 23- I only recently stopped writing and selling my photos to magazines as much, because my books have taken up so much more of my time. I still write freelance for a few magazines, and I have a regular column with my alma mater, Queen's Review magazine, called Grace's Grads. I used to be associate editor at Equinox, so I had a contact there who liked one of my photos and published it. Sometimes, it really is who you know. At National Geographic Traveler, I just sent in the photo and got lucky that they liked mine. They'd sent out a request on a discussion list - the Professional Writer's of Canada association (PWAC). PWAC is a lovely community of writers, and it has helped me find a lot of work.

Many of your photographs also appear in your poetry books. If you were given the choice to either become a world famous photographer or a world famous poet, which one would you choose

Oh, absolutely the poetry. I have always been a writer first and foremost. I love photography, but I like expressing myself with my words best. My friends would agree and are likely laughing very hard right now!

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

Don't do it for the money. If you take away that expectation, you'll be fine. I'm not saying there isn't money in self-publishing, but it's rare, and it shouldn't be the reason you're doing it. It's going to have to be something you're passionate about, because there is so much marketing to do when you self-publish, and it's all on you. No support network like you'd have with a traditional publisher. I'm so glad that I published my first two books myself, because it helped introduce people to my work, but Winter Goose Publishing has provided me with so much support with Carry On Dancing.

As a reader do you prefer to lose yourself in a good novel or in a book of poetry?

It depends on my mood, really. It also depends if I am writing a collection at the time. I try not to read poetry while I'm compiling a collection of poetry. I want to make sure I'm not influenced by other poets. I'm going to be working on my next one in the fall, so right now, I'm reading lots of poetry and then I'll have to cut myself off in July or so! :)

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, Wuthering Heights, Lord of the Flies, and Robert Frosts and Sara Teasdale's poems all come to mind.

If someone wanted to read your books, which would you recommend they read first, and why?


Personally, I'm happiest with Carry On Dancing - I think it's my best work yet - but my readers still rave about Where the Butterflies Go, my first collection, and those who like photography and the look of a pretty book on their coffee table favour Leap. I think I've grown a lot as a poet over time, at least I hope I have, so if the reader really wanted to track that growth, they should start with Where the Butterflies Go and then move onto Leap and then Carry On Dancing.

What do you think of e-books as opposed to print books?

I think they're both great, for different occasions. You can't take an ebook into the bath or to the beach, but it's wonderful to pack it up in a suitcase for a trip. I actually carry my ipad with me in my purse now, and I like that it allows me to choose from so many books to read while I'm waiting for my daughter to finish up her drama class or waiting at the doctor's office. Ebooks aren't for everyone, and I love the smell and feel of an old book of classic poetry, but I think ebooks are allowing more people to read, more often, so I'm all for it.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Oh they're quite important! They help get my books seen and more people interested in reading them. I try not to take them too personally though

How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?

I've been lucky enough to photograph the covers for all three of my poetry books! I know this isn't the norm for most authors - sometimes they have no say in their cover art. I loved working with Winter Goose Publishing on my last cover. Their design team did a beautiful job!

What are you working on now?

I'm preparing for several book signings and readings in my community this month, for National Poetry Month, and next month, I'm launching my book in downtown Montreal with a party, then going on my Carry On Dancing book tour to Toronto and Kingston! It's going to be an exciting few months.

Where can people buy your books?

All my books are available on Amazon.com - in print and Kindle - the easiest way to find them all is through my Amazon Author Page here:

Heather Grace Stewart - Amazon Author Page

Leap and Where the Butterflies Go are also available on iBooks in itunes, and on the Sony Reader, Nook Books and Copia.com

Leap is on the Kobo, and I'm working on getting Where the Butterflies on it too!

The Groovy Granny is available here, The Groovy Granny as a print softcover, hardcover and for just $2.94 for your iPad.

I also ship out signed copies - just email me at writer@hgrace dot com to arrange details.

Thanks so much for this wonderful interview, Maria!

Thank you for being a fabulous guest, Heather! I wish you every success with your future writing.

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Remember, to be in with a chance to win either a copy of Leap or a copy of Carry on Dancing (Kindle editions), please 'Like' this post, or leave a comment below. Good luck! Winners will be chosen on 16th May 2012.

My good friend, Helle Gade, is currently offering her latest collection of poetry FREE for Kindle. It will be available to download free on the 9th and 10th October. Please download a copy and help spread the word about this talented poet. She is also a photographer and takes the most beautiful photographs (you can see some on her blog: http://hellegade.wordpress.com/). Some of her photos are included in Nocturnal Embers.



Remember, you don't need a Kindle e-reader to be able to read Kindle books. You can download free apps from Amazon that allow you to read the books on your PC, Mac, iPad, and smartphone.

Here are the links you'll need:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Nocturnal-Ember...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nocturnal-Emb...

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Nocturnal-Embers...

Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/Nocturnal-Embers...

Amazon IT: http://www.amazon.it/Nocturnal-Embers...

Amazon ES: http://www.amazon.es/Nocturnal-Embers...

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Nocturnal-Embers...

Amazon.com.mx: http://www.amazon.com.mx/Nocturnal-Em...

Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Nocturnal-Emb...

Amazon.com.br: http://www.amazon.com.br/Nocturnal-Em...

Amazon IN: http://www.amazon.in/Nocturnal-Embers...

While you're there, I recommend you pick up a copy of her debut collection, Silent Dreams.

Here are my reviews of her books:



I have to start by saying I don't read much poetry, but I really liked this collection. It's a quick read, but these are the types of poems that you can read again and again. Many of the poems are very brief, only a few lines, but somehow the author has managed to say so much in a few words. There are four sections to the book, Chaos, Nordic, Darkness, and Joy. Each section contains a selection of verse relating to the theme. Helle Gade writes with passion whether she is writing about something that is disturbing or a happier subject. My particular favourite is 'Watching'; a poignant poem. I also like the poetry inspired by Norse mythology. 'Thunder & Mischief' has a wonderful nostalgic feel to it. Helle Gade's poems seem to have been effortlessly written and like a true poet her verse seems to be utterly personal and tells the story of her life. There are poems of pain, regret, fear, love, and everything in between, in this collection. A wonderful debut.



After reading her debut collection of poetry, Silent Dreams, I was keen to read more from this writer. In this collection, as well as poetry, Helle Gade is also showcasing some of her photography. Just like her first book, this is a passionate collection of poetry. These are words from her soul. Many of the poems focus on pain, loneliness, and isolation, as seen through the eyes of someone who has a chronic illness. Her poem, 'Excruciating Pain' gives us some idea of how someone suffering Fibromyalgia feels. It's a touching and heartfelt collection of poetry. I think the photographs really fit with the poems and added a little extra. A nice touch. Some of my favourites are 'Dust', 'The Sting', and 'Hush Hush'. The title for the collection is great because there is a real dreamlike feel to much of the poetry and you really get the sense of the silence and darkness of the night when reading it. At the end, there is even a poem which was written while the author was asleep! I enjoyed this collection as much as Silent Dreams, and look forward to reading more from this talented artist in the future.

The giveaway for Far Away In Time is now over. Thank you to everyone who entered. Congratulations to Sarah, Adrian, Maggie, Spencer, and Elliott, who are the lucky winners of signed paperback copies!

I will try to get those in the post for you tomorrow. I hope you enjoy the stories :)







Now, a short update about my writing. What have I been working on recently? you ask.

Well...

My second novel, A Time to Tell, originally published in 2006, is currently with my proofreader Perfect Prose as I'm preparing a second edition. It has been fully edited. I think I'll get the book back from my proofreader in September, then will send it out to beta readers.

Secondly, I'm working on a new novel. It started off as a short story but then took on a life of its own. I am having fun writing it. It has elements of drama, suspense, romance, thriller, comedy, and even horror, with a sprinkling of the paranormal.

Following the publication of Perspectives in April, the second book in the Mind's Eye Series is now almost ready to be published.







It will be called 'Reflections', and feature stories and poems from Helle Gade, Jason McIntyre, Ben Ditmars, Darcia Helle, J. Michael Radcliffe, Martin David Porter, and myself. The stories/poems were inspired by photographs taken by Martin and Helle. The cover has been designed by Jason McIntyre and it's brilliant. Hopefully I'll be able to do a cover reveal soon!

That's all for now. Watch this space for more soon :)

Book 2 in The Mind's Eye Series will be published on November 1st, and is currently available for pre-order at Amazon for just 99c/77p!

The special price is just for the next couple of weeks to celebrate the launch, after that it will be priced at $2.99.



As many of you will know, the Mind's Eye Series began with Perspectives, which was a collection of short stories by me and Darcia Helle, inspired by Martin David Porter's photographs (Mart's Arts Photography).

There are 12 stories in Perspectives. Darcia and I had so much fun writing them that we decided to turn this into a series.

Reflections is the second book and includes stories by me and Darcia, as well as J. Michael Radcliffe, and Jason McIntyre. It also includes poems from Helle Gade, and Ben Ditmars.

The photos featured in Reflections are from Martin David Porter and Helle Gade (Helle Gade Photography).

You'll find three new short stories from me in there: Shadows, Escape, and The Great Flood.

We're very excited about this release and will be hosting a Facebook party on Wednesday 15th October. Come and join us for a day of fun. There will be chat from the various writers and photographers as well as giveaways, and teasers from the book!

Follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/58959...




The cover was designed by Jason McIntyre from a photo by Martin David Porter.

To pre-order the book at the special discounted price, please follow the links:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Min...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections-M...

Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/Reflections-Mind...

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Reflections-Mind...

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/Reflections-...

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Reflections-Mind...

Amazon IT: http://www.amazon.it/Reflections-Mind...

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Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Reflections-M...

Amazon MX: http://www.amazon.com.mx/Reflections-...

Amazon BR: http://www.amazon.com.br/Reflections-...

Mirrored Voices: Best Contemporary Poetry by Paul Morabito

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was keen to read this book as two of my favourite contemporary poets, Helle Gade and Ben Ditmars, are featured. I'm also finding that there's a lot of other great contemporary poetry out there and thought this book would be a good way to find some new favourites. I was not disappointed. I found at least 5 other poets in the book that I would definitely read more poetry from. I have to be honest and say that a few of the poets' styles were not my cup of tea and I did find myself skipping their particular contributions. Poetry, as with any other art form is very subjective, so I'm sure others will love the ones that I didn't really connect with.

As anticipated, I really enjoyed the poems from Ben Ditmars and Helle Gade, they always write passionate, heartfelt poetry. Other favourites included: Regina Puckett, Paul Morabito, Jason P. Hein, Roberto Carlos Martinez, Linda Dobinson, Kristy Rulebreaker, Leesa Abbott,and Nichia Morales. There's lots of thought provoking poetry in this anthology. Worth a read.



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Cuts & Collected Poems 1989 - 2015 by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cuts & Collected Poems is a collection of poetry by Maria Haskins. Two of the books in the collection were originally written and published in Swedish, and recently translated by the author into English. That feat in itself is exceptional. I found myself wondering how she managed to keep the meaning and emotion in the older poetry, but somehow she has done just that.

All of the poetry is extremely evocative and thought-provoking. I would find myself reading certain lines and actually seeing the action in my head, and then other lines would make me wonder what she meant by that, and this would lead to all sorts of interesting imagery. It's clear that the first book, Cuts—which is the author's most recent poetry book and the first one written in English—is a collection written by a seasoned poet. She is someone who can make the reader feel emotions by just changing the way she constructs a sentence. One of the poems, I can't remember which now, brought a tear to my eye.

The older poetry, written mostly when she was a teenager, is full of passion and angst. There is a lot of dark imagery and you can almost feel the turmoil of a young girl still trying to come to terms with certain emotions and feelings.

This strikes me as a very personal collection of poetry, and it seems almost as if the author uses poetry to untangle the thoughts in her mind and bring clarity.

Cuts & Collected Poems is well worth reading and will take you inside the author's mind. Reading these poems is like venturing into a new world where everything is not quite as it seems.



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I've known author/poet Ben Ditmars for a few years now (online). He's very friendly. One of the nicest people I've had the pleasure to meet online. He's always refreshingly open and honest about his thoughts. A true poet. I read his book Ten Minutes in Heaven in 2012.




It's a funny and clever collection of short plays. I really enjoyed it. Since then I've read a lot of his poetry as he's a regular contributor to our Mind's Eye series of books. He also posts his poetry online quite regularly.




INTERVIEW WITH BEN DITMARS



Welcome to my blog, Ben! Please introduce yourself.

Hi I’m Ben Ditmars. I write poetry, mostly short-verse and romantic. I’m also a teacher and enjoy reaching people. Expression came hard to me growing up, but always came easier with writing. I think it channels your thoughts in a way.

Why should people buy your books?

I can’t speak for others, but I write because I feel something needs said. If I wish something were a poem, and it isn’t, I usually create it. And I hope it matters to you as much as me.

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book was actually a poetry collection published two years ago, Inhale the Night. It was a collection of free-verse, tanka, and haiku.




I expand on this in my next book, Sleeping with Earth, which is due out later this summer. It is a collection of romantic poetry with a focus on issues related to earth: fracking, global warming, etc.

Ooh, that sounds interesting. Will look out for it!

What’s your favourite genre to read?

My favorite fiction genre to read is fantasy or science fiction. My favorite non-fiction is definitely poetry. I love the power and emotion behind it.

What genre do you write in?

I’ve done plays and fantasy, but poetry has been my main focus for the past few years.



Who does your cover design? Is there anyone you’d recommend?

Mollie Evans has done several of my past covers. My haiku collection, Haiku in the Night, was taken from a photograph by Jon Konrath.



What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Wow. I would like to tell 16 year-old Ben to be less crazy and focus on life, but who knows? 28 year-old Ben might be a very different person if not for the antics of that wild youngling.

Hahaha!

Which social media sites can you most often be found on?

Lately, I’ve enjoyed using Instagram for poetry. But I post a lot of random thoughts on Facebook.

What was the last book you read? Was it any good?

I read a good deal of Harper Lee’s Go Tell the Watchman in the store and have been meaning to get a copy of my own. I really like learning about Jean Louise as an adult in the same world.

What are you currently reading?

Right now I’m re-reading the Harry Potter series to catch up before the new book. But more recently I finished an amazing poetry collection from debut writer Freya Holloway called, The Night Is My Own.

Do you have a pet?

I have a gecko named Harley. He’s getting enormous!

Wow!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I would like to live in an old city with a lot of history, perhaps Munich or Berlin, because I can speak a little German.

Sounds nice; the perfect place for a poet to live :)

Thanks so much for joining me here, Ben, and for taking the time to answer my questions.

**********************************

Author links:

Website/blog: https://benjaminditmars.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjaminditmars
Twitter: https://twitter.com/benditty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benditmars/

I'm pleased to announce that book 5 in the Mind's Eye series has just been published on Amazon Kindle!


Book description:

We are more than what we say
And less than what we wish

Living together, separately,
United by division

Connected, disconnected
Oh, People Are Strange

*12 Stories and 7 poems, inspired by 19 photographs*



I have contributed 2 new short stories to the anthology, "Sand and Water" and "Somewhere In Time".

These two stories are among the 'strangest' I have ever written, which I think goes well with the title "People Are Strange" :)

As with all the books in the series, all the stories and poems in the anthology were inspired by photographs.

The photos for People Are Strange were provided by Martin David Porter and Helle Gade. The photo for the front cover is by Kim Stapf and there is a poem inspired by that photo also in the collection.

The cover design is by Julie Elizabeth Powell.

Other short stories in People Are Strange were contributed by Darcia Helle, J. Michael Radcliffe, Julie Elizabeth Powell (whose names you'll recognise from books 1-4 of the series). Two new writers joined us for People Are Strange: Maria Haskins and Thomma Lyn Grindstaff. I invited them because I love their writing!

The poems in this collection are by Helle Gade and Ben Ditmars.

I've read this book and have to say I think it's one of the best that we've published so far in the series. There's something magical about it. There are so many interesting stories and thought-provoking poems.

Get your copy on Amazon:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...
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Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B01L...
Amazon MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/...
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...
Amazon BR: https://www.amazon.com.br/gp/product/...

Fragments: Haiku and Verse of Seasons by Ben Ditmars

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Fragments" is a poetry collection featuring poems by Ben Ditmars and Susie Clevenger. I have read a few of Ben Ditmars' books and he has also featured in some of the Mind's Eye Series anthologies that include some of my short stories, so I was familiar with his style of verse. I had not previously read any poetry by Susie Clevenger. I think these two poets have quite different voices but they work well together in this book. The book takes notable holiday dates of the year, for example Halloween and Thanksgiving, and each of the poets has written a few poems, in the form of either Haiku or short verse to express thoughts and memories relating to them. I am sure many people will relate to the themes in the book. One theme that runs throughout is how Covid has affected the way people can enjoy such celebrations. Ben Ditmars, in particular, has written some poignant verse that made me stop and think. His poetry is always quite profound and thought-provoking. Many of the poems have a bittersweet quality.

These two poets have taken universal thoughts and feelings surrounding holiday seasons and managed to express opinions and emotions that conjure up images in the reader's mind. It was a quick read, as the poems are short, but it was nonetheless enjoyable and nostalgic. It always surprises me how poets can tell a story in a short verse like Haiku.

All the profits from this book will go towards funding cancer research.



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The Fighter by Helle Gade

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read Helle Gade's earlier collections of poetry, "Northern Whispers", "Savage Rose", "Nocturnal Embers", and "Silent Dreams", a few years ago and enjoyed them. I like the way she can reach inside and express her inner feelings and thoughts so well in poetic form. The author has now signed to Butterdragons Publishing and released a few more poetry collections.

"The Fighter", just like her earlier collections, contains thought-provoking and profound verse. The book is divided into four sections, "Pain", "Fear", "Fight", and "Dream".

The themes for the poems include the author's own personal health struggles, the pandemic, war, the environment, and human nature.

My personal favourites were the series of poems entitled "Green-Eyed Beast" - these were so personal and honest and very relatable. Other stand-out poems include "Ignorance", "Bureaucracy Sucks!", "Kitten", and "Arrrghhh". The whole collection is well written and from the heart. There is a passion in this poet's writing that makes her books compulsive reading.



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