Reflections of the Shadow Dancer

by Beverly L. Anderson

In an abandoned dance studio, there's music and dancing unheard and unseen by anyone. The whispers in the shadows laud praises upon the figure that spins around the room. Nothing moves, and yet everything moves around the room. Darkness and light intertwine and dance to cast the shadows of the world. A dance that goes beyond the borders between the worlds is performed within flickering shadows.



The Shadow Dancer knows the truth. Without the darkness, there can be no light. Between them lies the shadow in which the Shadow Dancer twirls.



Enter the world of the Shadow Dancer and find yourself immersed in 150 poems living in the light, the dark, and the shadow.

286 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Beverly L. Anderson began writing at eleven; their talent foreshadowed a remarkable future. Their first story, written in spiral notebooks, was about a kidnapping. Even then, countless story ideas featuring fantastic places, monstrous creatures, and forbidden love filled their mind. Unsurprisingly, they now favor the darker recesses of the psyche over its brighter aspects. They immersed themselves in the study of psychology and related fields. They spend most of their days dreaming about stories and deciding how to make the unruly characters do as they tell them. Characters sometimes act independently, defying the author's intent.

Bev’s other hobbies include gaming of all types, including a great love of tabletop. They are an advocate of transgender/LGBTQAI+ issues as well as autism/mental health. They still enjoy writing fanfiction when they can. Their interest in the BDSM community began as a simple curiosity but has led her to the road to finding a place for themself there as a Dominant. They have gone on the journey of self-discovery in the last few years, finally pinning down their identity after thirty years of searching. Coming out as non-binary (bigender), asexual (aegosexual), and panromantic was one of the hardest things they’ve ever done, but it gave them the confidence to become themselves even more. Bev, who is autistic, has ADHD, bipolar disorder, and follows an eclectic pagan path, frequently clashes with what society deems as "normal."

Beverly started their writing journey seriously in 2013 when they found their way to fanfiction. They spent several years writing over three million words in various fandoms. For the last few years, they have been pursuing the adaptation of those stories into original works and publishing them for a wider audience. Finding their publishing home with Phoenix Voices Publishing helped make that dream a reality, one that they help others find.

Reviews

[Terry Volkirch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the overall feel of the collection. Being transgender, it resonates with me in a mostly good, though sometimes melancholy way. I can't describe it very well with words so I'll just say thanks. If I could only use one word to describe the collection, I'd call it bittersweet.

My favorite poems:

The Night Wind
Liquid Blue Eyes
In the Harlequin's Touch

[Sarah Seelbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated how this book stood out from others. The poetry was extraordinary. It provided a unique way to narrate the story. I admire Beverly's writing; it made for a smooth and fast-paced read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I promise you'll enjoy it, great job.

[Heather Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This book was so well written by an amazing author! I loved it from beginning to end! The poetry was so amazing!