The Three O'Clock in the Morning Sessions

by Angie Martin

A breathtaking collection of poetry and short stories, "the three o'clock in the morning sessions" leads readers through the familiar theme of love, lost love, and unrequited love with a gorgeous twist. The poems vary widely in emotion and is something to which all readers can relate. The musical, perfectly timed lines latch onto the heart and soul and does not let go. This collection was written over the span of almost fifteen years and also contains two short stories: "the door" and "brief love."

Genres: Poetry

82 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2014

About the author

Awards:
Chrysalis ~ Honorable Mention -~ 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Supernatural Thriller

Chrysalis ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2018 ~ ReadFreely

The Boys Club ~ Silver Medal Winner ~ 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Suspense Fiction

The Boys Club ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2015 ~ ReadFreely

Conduit ~ Gold Medal Winner ~ 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction

~~~

I live in the Inland Empire area of California with my husband and beloved pets. I also have sons off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and have lived all over the United States.

I have released several novels in the suspense/thriller, paranormal/supernatural thriller, and horror genres. I also have poetry and short story collections and have contributed short stories to multiple anthologies. Conduit has earned Bestseller on Amazon in the US and UK. Conduit, The Boys Club, and Chrysalis have all won highly respected awards, while Conduit, The Boys Club, and False Security have also had blogger and reader-voted awards bestowed upon them.

As a reader first, writer second, I love to discover new authors. My entire life has revolved around imaginary worlds contained within the covers of a book. My aunt introduced me to Stephen King and a little book called Christine in eighth grade, and my life was never the same. As a geek-extraordinaire, I love comics and graphic novels, and also review those, along with the occasional movie and book, as a guest contributor for Fanbase Press.

Reviews

[Denisa Ciubotaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty cool. Loved how she turned from poetry to short stories and how deep her writing is. I'm curious to check out some more.
Blessed be these free books on Amazon!

[Clarissa Simmens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the three o’clock in the morning sessions was like listening to incredibly good, but sad, ballads. Every poem—like every track in a beloved music CD—is intense and heart-rending. The imagery and vivid descriptions generate scenes that are immediately familiar to anyone who has ever experienced a relationship breakup. Certain poems broke my heart, especially the ones that demonstrate how quickly we may see ourselves as ugly and deserving of the disintegration merely because “the other” has moved on. Oh, I could definitely relate to each poem, I have walked in the shoes of the poet narrator, as I am sure many readers have, too. If you are in the aftermath of a separation, this book can put your life into perspective. If you just like reading poetry, this book can put you into a lyrical trance. Or if, like Elton John’s “Sad Songs Say So Much” you just want to be bluesy and share the pain, this is an emotional journey worth reading.

[Linda Jenkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best word I can find to describe the poetry and prose in this book is elegant. I have far too many favorites in this short book to mention them all.

The poem why drew me into a similar memory, one which I have written about but not as well.

The title of the offbeat the offbeat poem is a misnomer because with lines such as

"i listen to the world as it moves andante
while my heart is beating presto alla tedesca"

you can see that Martin doesn't miss a beat at all. Her creativity in such accurate descriptions is truly amazing.

First date insecurities in the prose piece, The Door are so raw and real that I cringed as if I had felt them just yesterday. The poem broken is a plaintive voice that speaks to what the poet regards as a mismatched love. Yet, as words go, it is hard to match Martin's skill in writing.

The book ends with my number one favorite, the short story "Brief Love." It was too brief. As I read from paragraph to paragraph, I truly could not put it down and at the end, I was more than a little disappointed that this fine story was not the beginning of a full length novel.

The end of the book held quite an assortment of reviews and promotional pieces for other work. I don't think Ms. Martin needs them. Although I wasn't enamored with the promos, I can live with them, especially since this wonderful book was a free download. The book, itself, should encourage readers to seek out her other works. I know I will in the hope they are as excellent as this one.

(My personal guide for ratings are as follows: 5 stars, equal to any book of its genre, better than most; 4 stars, content that easily moves past a few formatting errors that do little or nothing to impact it, still highly recommended; 3 stars, technical errors or format choices impaired the flow of the book although I did enjoy the content. 2 stars, I struggled with the book due to either technical errors and/or a concept that was trite or underwritten. 1 star signifies a book that I abandoned before finishing due to structural errors in either plot or mechanics.)

[Brenda Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three o’clock in the morning sessions by Angie Martin made me feel for the girl writing these poems. I have felt her sadness and self-doubts. She writes from her heart as she pours out her soul onto these pages filled with real-life emotions. These gripping pieces touched me as I found a connection. We are not alone in our feelings in this vast world of ours. It’s so good that there are writers like this can share in such a way that you can feel this kind of bond.

The authors words filled me with thoughts of my own life. My mistakes, my sad moments and then again my complete joy. This is a beautiful collection that I am sure to read over and over again.


“it all began with a kiss”

it all began with a kiss
one stormy, summer night
on my back porch
under the sky
we gave the stars their light
it all began with a kiss
so gentle, soft, and true
i gave you my heart
my life and my soul
as into your world i flew
it all began with a kiss
then days turned into years
we fell in love
and when i cried
it was joyful tears
it all began with a kiss
i knew together we could fly
but then one cold
dark winter’s night
it all ended with goodbye

[Marisa Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like poetry. At least that's what I kept telling myself once I heard that one of my favorite authors was releasing a book of just that. I was very apprehensive about reading this book, but quickly found that you can't judge a book by it's genre.
the three o'clock in the morning sessions is a wonderful little collection of powerful emotions broke down into glorious words and for a girl who doesn't like poetry, I just couldn't seem to put it down.
I've read all of Angie Martin's other books, and loved them, which is why I decided to buy this collection and give it a try. I'm glad I did because I've discovered that I do like poetry after all.

[Shannan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading through this book of poetry. A lot of the poems I could relate to and they really spoke to me. I think my favorite write in this book was at the very beginning called, “what are the three o’clock in the morning sessions?” I could just really relate to what was written.

Some of my other favorites were “one more”, “the road”, waiting to fall”, and “it all began with a kiss”.

If you are a lover of poetry, then this is a great book to add to your collection. I highly recommend it and it gets 5 ***** from me all the way around.

[Joy Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter, who has recently fallen in love with poetry, chose this book to buy with some of her Christmas/Hanukkah money. She really enjoyed it. I read it because I like to read what she's reading (not in a "I'm gonna watch everything you do" way but in a "I'm interested in what you enjoy" way.) While I must admit, this poetry is not my favorite kind, it was well written. I enjoyed the two short prose pieces very much. And I loved the poem about singing in the car. Beautiful moment. Thank you for encouraging my daughter's creativity and love of words. She is a budding poet herself.

[Melissa Cheslog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poetry was impressive and moving. Each one is unique and draws upon the reader's emotions. The styles very and yet you can tell they all come from a similar place of mind. It is thought provoking and channels into the reader's very soul. I truly appreciate the courage the writer has for putting this work together and out to the public. Poetry is a very raw and emotional glimpse into a writer's heart and soul. This collection is beautiful and amazing.

[Sarah Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

the three o'clock in the morning sessions is a beautiful collection of poems and short stories. These poems range from heart break to jamming out to your favorite tunes. They are filled with so much emotion that you can relate to you. The short stories leave you wanting more and using your imagination to continue the story. If you like poetry and short stories you will love this collection and I recommend you pick it up today.

[Julissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I was in middle school this book may have hit harder. But it fell flat and felt lack luster. The style seemed juvenile and the short story at the end was cringe worthy, riddled with casual shaming of other women which felt so archaic. The poems didn't give me a newfound sense of self, nor did they land or impact me while reading. I really wanted to like this book because what an amazing title, but I was disappointed.

[Jennifer Loiske · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all been there…alone with our thoughts whilst the others are still sleeping. The three o'clock in the morning sessions by Angie Martin beautifully summarize the emotions whirling in one's head. Thoughts full of hope, love, despair and wonder.

Most of the writings in this book are poems, yet this is not just a poetry book but a thought provoking feel good book.

Highly recommended!

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Passionate, sultry, and heartbreaking; everything poetry should be. This is probably my favorite collection of poetry since The Cinnamon Peeler.

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good, but not my favorite poetry collection. I think it started off better than it ended, but there were a few poems towards the end that I liked enough to bookmark. I was not a fan of the short story at the end. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't for me. Maybe I went into reading this with expectations of something very different. I'm a night owl, so 3AM feels more like noon to me, but I know for most of the world, it's a time when your mind can go to strange places if you're still awake. I think I expected things like that, instead of mostly poems that felt like what I would want to read shortly after a breakup.

But, overall, I liked this enough to keep an eye out for other collections of poetry by Angie Martin.

[LOVEROFBOOKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a long book, but I enjoyed her poetry so very much. It was very relatable and not like the poems you were forced to read in school that made no sense.

I suppose I really love her poems for a selfish reason. She writes poems like I do! All the heartache and all of her heart are poured into her poetry, and it's a very beautiful thing, although anguishing to go through.

Thank you Angie for giving us your heart and soul in these deeply heartfelt poems. I admire your courage and bravery.

[sequoia spirit · Rating 1 out of 5]

it just didn't mesh with me.. poetry is personal, at least it comes from a personal place and i felt i was not in a similar place as the writer.. it seemed juvenile to me.. anyone who has ever pined away for a past relationship.. the kind of stuff i wrote when i was a teenager..
i too have 3 o'clock in the morning sessions, but i don't spend that time mulling over lost loves and feeling melancholy.. i'm simply in a different space..
14 year old me would've loved this book..

[Rebecca Timberlake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quotable.

There are some really great writing in here, and then there is some bland. The balance works, though. I would have liked some more structure; maybe "chapters" collecting similar thoughts together. Overall, though, I liked it, and would recommend it to anyone even slightly curious.

[Rachael Petrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but heart wrenching

some of these poems reminded me of things I have felt in certain situations in my life. for a second I think you are talking about me and my experiences. I think that shows that you've captured the human essence and I admire that in this short work.

[Elizabeth Houseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with plenty of relatable poems and two intriguing short stories. The poems in this collection are a sort of comfort; they show that others feel things just like you when it comes to heartbreak and love. The short stories were interesting too, and I felt like they could've hinted at bigger stories. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in poetry.

[uniquareads]

couldn't get into this

[JAnn Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with poems that reflect onto the life of the poet at three o’clock in the morning contemplating life as we all do at time. I know I have had my fair share of writing at three o’clock in the morning but nothing like Angie pours out here in her strong emotions and thoughts about life at the moments when you feel so alone and no matter how hard you wish, no one is there to hold your hand say, “It’s going to be okay.” I connected with Angie’s work on a level that I hadn’t in a long time. I recommend this to anyone who has that dull ache in the back of their heart and life that needs some good reassurance that life will be okay at three o’clock in the morning.

[Ekstyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been looking for random poetry books and happened on this. Out of curiosity, I got it. It's good, but not quite my cup of tea. Short and sweet read tho. Took me quite a while to finish as it didn't drew me in as much as I'd like to.

Favorite piece would be "One of those Days".

[Apollo Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite really not knowing much about poetry, I just didn't like this book as much as I have enjoyed other ones. I couldn't really relate to many of the poems, which I think is why I enjoy poetry in the first place. While there were a lot of really good lines that I have underlined and tabbed, I just didn't enjoy this as much as I have enjoyed other poetry books.

[Pachelbel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love poetry. I'm going to try to read more of it this year, but the trouble is the sort of poetry I like isn't the sort that gets written much. Most popular poetry is about heartbreak, about men leaving women wondering who they are when they're alone. It's just...not for me.

Angie Martin's collection is not for me. But some of the poems (The Box, and Maybe for example) spoke to me in bits and pieces. It never hooks me like Sara Teasdale did, but that's because, as Angie Martin says, my 3 am moments are different than hers. How I handle my own heartbreaks is different than hers, and makes it hard to sink into the poetry.

The verdict: this is a pretty little collection of poems. Give it a try.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think if I were in a different time in my life, I might of liked this book. I think the writer of this book may have gone through a recent breakup or something. Most of the book was a very depressing rant on the sadness of breakups and hating yourself for not being good enough. I did not like this. It reminded me of my high-school vent poetry writings that I did a lot when younger. If I was in high-school I probably would have liked this book, but I am not. I like poetry books that are written with a great amount of wisdom, truth, and stretches something to think more deeply on the beauty (or ugliness) of life in a meaningful way. I feel like I didn't get that from this book. Also, she didn't capitalize her I's... it drove me crazy.

[Angela Estienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't tend to read much poetry - i need to rectify that. After reading the emotional grip of Angie Martin's poems i need more. She has left me with a burning hunger to read more quality literature in the future.
I'd picked the book up late one evening, a few hours later i finally turned the lights out to sleep having finished the book in one sitting.
This book could appeal to men and women, regardless of age boundaries.

[Jalpa Williby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a moving book full of beautiful poetry. I never really read a book of poems, but I wanted to read this one. I'm so glad I did because truly the author does a fantastic job with each and every poems. There are a couple of short stories in there as well which I enjoyed also. This author is truly talented with her writing and the way she expresses her messages through her poems. It's an easy, short read, but again, each poem will touch you. Highly recommended!

[Marsha Witt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love poetry and am not disappointed here. I have a few favorites that I'll read over again.

[Ashton Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled on this while browsing Amazon on my Kindle. It was a pleasant, comfortable read with beautiful word choice. I liked the poems and really enjoyed "brief love" at the end. Well done work.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well rounded poetry collection, a very quick read. Enjoyable to say the least.