Month: September 2018

• My Thoughts on The Day is Ready for you by Alison Malee

  

  Title: The Day is Ready for you

  Author: Alison Malee

  Genre: Poetry

  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

  Rating: 4 out of 5.

  Waterstones

  

  
  I had mixed feelings on The Day is Ready for you, the second collection of poetry by Alison Malee. When I first read the book I struggled to connect with the poems, on the second reading I begun to appreciate the way in which Malee constructs her sentences. She writes with lowercase letters, as well as with the lines spaced, so it felt more intimate. It was that intimacy that made me start to connect with the poems, and enjoy the book. There was a feeling in the poetry of alienation, of not belonging. The questions Malee was asking based on the environment, and the experiences, of the narrator. The love poems gave me the sense the narrator believes love is for the few, and that they don’t believe they are one of those few. I liked the writing was whimsical too at some points, and I liked a lot of the metaphors that were used. I loved the title of this book too, which I interpreted as The Day is Ready for you: You are Ready for the Day.

  Concept: we are becoming dull with age
  I tell you about the raspberries and you tell me
  We are too old to believe in magic

  I ask, is it growing up that leaves us empty?

  A good, decent sized, poetry collection that will give you nuggets of wonder, and goosebumps, and joy, and nostalgia.

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  Did you know?

  The Day is Ready for you is published by Andrews McMeel Publishing. They have also published poetry by Lang Leav, Amanda Lovelace and Alicia Cook.

  Alison Malee has written another book, titled This is the Journey.

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  September 24, 2018

  alienation, belonging, Blogging, Book review, Bookblog, Books, home, love, outsider, poetry, Relationships, Review, whimsy, writing

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• 4 Questions with Chloe Gilholy.

  Chloe Gilholy 

  1, Tell us about you, and your writing (themes, influences etc.)

  I was born in Staffordshire and was raised in Oxfordshire where I currently live. I work as a carer and have diplomas in Health & Social care and Art & Design. I love books – reading them, collecting them, and also writing them. I had my first poem published in an anthology when I was eight and kept going ever since.

  2, What are some of the ways in which you promote your work, and do you find these add, or eat into, your time writing?

  I promote my work through social media and also by attending writing meetups and sharing works with other writing groups. I don’t think it takes up too much time at all at the moment because it’s multitasking and I’m still writing as I go along.

  3, What projects are you working on at present?

  I am currently working on my second novel, a thriller called Fishman. Along the side I am also trying to complete 12 unfinished fan fics and a poetry book about gaming. I still write some poetry on a whim if I am inspired.

  4, What does poetry mean to you?

  Poetry is one of the best tools I can use to describe myself. It is liberating and culturally enriching.

  

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  September 20, 2018

  Blogging, Fan fiction, poetry, WordPress, writing

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• Charity Anthology Persona Non Grata Pre-Order

  Hello! If you remember  (or are new here) I revealed to you the front cover of new charity anthology Persona Non Grata, edited by Isabelle Kenyon.  You can now pre-order that anthology following this link to the publisher Fly on the Wall poetry press shop. There is poetry from 45 amazing poets, and the money raised from sales will go to the two charities, Crisis Aid UK, and Shelter. 

  

  Poetry Submissions are also open for the webzine at Fly on the Wall poetry press. The themes are Mental Health and Outsiders. The deadline is October the tenth. Guidelines are on the website here

   

   

   

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  September 19, 2018

  Blogging, Books, charity, crisis aid, Mental health, New release, outsiders, persona non grata, poetry, preorder, shelter, WordPress, writing

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• Links Love.

  

  The Function of Emotions by Olivia Tuck at Algebra of Owls

  Distraction of Technology by Linda M. Crate at Selcouth Station

  The Sonnetarium at Rhythmn & Bone

  Kristin Garth at Yes poetry Stripping at 9/11

  A Better Life by Hinnah Mian at The Rising Phoenix review

  ‘i first got a gun pulled on me
  at age 18 because my skin
  did not match the color
  of the stars and stripes‘

  Bloggers

  Depression for Dummies by Chelsea Owens

  Jenny in NeverLand Free and Effective ways to promote your blog

  Support these poets on Patreon Maz Hedgehog Amanda Earl Abigail Pearson

  Meme Directory at Perspective of a Writer

  Author blog posts Dane Cobain On Being the Best you can be

  and an honest blog post by S. J. Pajonas about why she won’t be celebrating her fifth anniversary in publishing. Her book Summer Haikus is so good. Get a copy if you can!

  The Rialto is open for submissions.

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  September 16, 2018

  authors, Blogging, Bookblog, Books, depression, get published, Indie, memes, Mental health, poetry, publishing, submission calls, WordPress, writing

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• Cover Reveal! Persona Non Grata.

  

   

  Blurb:

  This anthology reflects the experiences of those who, due to environmental, economical, and personal circumstances, have found themselves as ‘outsiders’ in society.

   

   

  Just like the first anthology, Please Hear what I’m not Saying, which Isabelle edited, Persona Non Grata will raise money for a Crisis Aid, and a Homeless, charity (the details TBA)

   

   

  I’m so excited about this anthology! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. 

   

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  September 10, 2018

  anthology, Blogging, Bookblog, charity, crisis aid, fundraising, homeless, Mental health, New release, outsider, persona non grata, poetry, WordPress, writing

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