Podunk Moon is an anthology of mostly non-fiction poetry starting in 2016 and time traveling back through the years ending in 2003. A time capsule of heartache, depression, and the overall state of confusion that comes with being in your twenties. An excerpt of the suspense thriller novel, The Great American, follows after, leaving the reader with a taste of something that is altogether a darkly different breed of beast.
~My Review~
I love how random observations, a line here or a jingle from a commercial stirs within us a type of inspiration. Or perhaps, that's just the way writers are. We take note of the most mundane of circumstances, or hear a conversation somewhere and think, "I need to write that down."
This anthology felt that way. Snippets of observations in a day, a moment, a heartbreak, and a plane ride. I could imagine Erin Geil with a pen in her hand, and just as a thought pops up, jotting it down on post its, or restaurant napkins, or perhaps she carries a notebook with her at all times. This collection spans thirteen years; years capturing those moments of falling in love, falling out of love, depression, and trying to find an identity of sorts in your 20s. A journal of life lived told in poetry. It was beautiful and a reminder of that naivete and ambition that comes in our 20s.....before life hands you experiences that you hope won't turn you bitter in your 30s. Well done. Looking forward to more from this poet! ***I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** Rating: 5/5About the Author
Erin Geil started creating poetry before she was able to hold a pencil in her hands or make much sense of the alphabet. A very patient and kind mother played secretary to a very insistent four-year-old who wanted to rhyme about the ins and outs of bathroom behavior. She evolved over the next three decades and graduated to more appropriate poetry topics such as sex, depression, and love gone horribly wrong. Currently, she is hard at work finishing up several projects. A prompt book entitled, The 30 Something’s Guide: Abandoning Baggage Through Writing; her prized “child” of eleven years, a suspense thriller novel, The Great American; and finally, a poetry book inspired by brands of wine, entitled, The Wino’s Dirge.
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With over 600 submissions, poets from around the world put their pens to paper to create this anthology, enthused by a common goal to raise money for the charity, Mind. With poems focusing on mental health from a wide range of experiences, this book aims to continue the worldwide conversation about mental health. The profits from this book go to UK Charity, Mind. Trigger warnings by chapter: Section One: References include war, depression, grief, alcoholism, bulimia, trauma, suicide Section Two: Sexual abuse, self harm, suicide threat, Borderline personality disorder, electro shock therapy, razors Section Three: Postpartum depression, hospital ward Section Four: Anxiety, pills, Borderline personality disorder, eating disorder Section Five: Poverty Section Six: Alzheimer’s Section Seven: Depression Section Eight: Therapy ~My Review~Imagine going down a dark tunnel - that's what this book felt like to me, and editor Isabelle Kenyon even alludes to it at the beginning. My journey through this brilliant darkness, cocooning me with words that made me shiver, made me want to run as fast as I can down past the nothingness, the whispered heartaches and brokenness, and past the despair I hear in the poet's voices. It's all around me, these cries for help, these numbing observations and afterthoughts, and casual yet harsh realities of living with a mental illness. I had to stop several times in my read to look at the contrasting brightness in the daylight. But I know this journey through these words has an ending. There is hope, and light found in tunnels. Although, I also realize that its not ever that simple. One can run as far away as they can and darkness, death and depression will still cling onto them. Some will never find light. Some will never know hope. And that's probably among one of the reasons that a book such as this exists. So that others can know that they are not alone. So that the person reading this book can better understand someone else living with a mental illness or disorder. This is a collection filled with multiple individual's first hand accounts, their own thoughts; an ownership of their truths in its ugly, sinister, unwashed lives. These are real people who understand darkness and passageways to tunnels without light. These are real images; snapshots of memories or a thought that captures the numbness, the rage, and their illnesses. The imagery was heavy. This collection is heavy. Still I pressed on, determined to finish, and to read the poet's message hidden between the lines. The collection is broken down into 8 different sections and the reader is invited to name each part. As a whole, it's absolutely painfully breathtaking. Dark and gritty in the beginning, and something akin to hope by the end. As Kenyon states the hope is that you find light at the end of the tunnel. But I found much more than that. I found that in the darkness, there is bravery to continue, to press on. And towards the end, there is victory to getting up each day. Victory no matter how small. No matter how weathered we look, there is victory that we have endured....or are enduring. So as I carefully set out on this passage way, I listened to the hushed voices and read each line...I truly could hear each person's story and chief among them, a plea to the reader to 'please hear what I'm not saying.' My Rating: 5/5About the AuthorIsabelle Kenyon is a Guildford based poet and a graduate in Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance from the University of York. She is inspired by the people and events around her - she observes and writes what she sees and what she feels.
She is the author of poetry anthology, This is not a Spectacle and micro chapbook, The Trees Whispered, published by Origami Poetry Press. She is also the editor of MIND Poetry Anthology 'Please Hear What I'm Not Saying'. Her poems have been published in many poetry anthologies and included in literary festivals, such as Anti Heroin Chic, Literary Yard, Bewildering Stories, The Inkyneedles anthology, the Great British Write Off, the Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama, Poetry Rivals, and the Festival of Firsts. Isabelle has been awarded third place in the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama and runner up in the Visit Newark Poetry Competition. You can read more about Isabelle and see her work at www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk
Growing Kids with Character: Nurturing Your Child's Potential, Purpose, and Passion (David C. Cook, March 2018)
Through Hettie Brittz's famous tree metaphors, parents will discover how to let their kids excel at being who they naturally are as they grow in their unique purpose in the world. Author and speaker Hettie Brittz helps readers identify their kids' natural bent and understand how that affects the parenting journey. Parents will learn how to: -Cultivate each of their kids' unique way of encountering, following, and worshiping God -Disciple and discipline based on each child's blueprint -Help their children celebrate God's individualized design for others Brittz offers tools to parents for recognizing their kids' God-given personalities, guiding them on their spiritual journeys, and establishing their identity and purpose in Christ. Learn more and purchase a copy. ~My Review~
I take most parenting books with a grain of salt. That being said however, I still like to read and learn all I can, as sometimes (most of the time, to be honest), I second guess my ability to parent. We are bombarded with images on social media from our friends, acquaintances, family, and peers and are led (in my opinion) that they're doing better on this parenting thing than I am.
And so I read. I learn. But I like to read books that give me a different perspective of how I can communicate with my children. I have 2, a "Palm-Rose hybrid" kindergartener and so far, my toddler is showing signs of being a "boxwood." I love the little 'conversational' identifier examples. a practical guide at the end of each chapter and a few reflective questions. I do appreciate this book and would recommend to add to your parenting books...as long as you remember that not all children are going to "fit" in exactly in any categories, even hybrid ones. ***I received this book through Litfuse in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** Rating: 4/5Hettie Brittz's 'Growing Kids with Character' Blog Tour, Facebook Live, and Giveaway
Have you ever wished your kids came with an instruction manual? Hettie Brittz's new book, Growing Kids with Character, provides a resource to understand a child's natural bents not only to excel in life but also to firmly establish their identity and purpose in Christ better. Through Hettie Brittz's famous tree metaphors, parents will discover how to let their kids excel at being who they naturally are as they grow in their unique purpose in the world.
Join Hettie and other parents to learn how to grow kids with character at her Facebook Live event, plus enter to win a family fun prize pack! One grand prize winner will receive:
RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 3rd!About the Author
Hettie Brittz is a South African-born author, international speaker, and a foremost voice in parenting advice and personality styles. She is the author of "(un)Natural Mom," the developer of the Evergreen Parenting Course, and the codeveloper of Tall Trees Profiles. She heads up Tall Trees Consulting (USA).
Find out more about Hettie at http://hettiebrittz.com. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. Discussion points:Some discussions are important to have with your children: the birds and the bees, kindness and bullying, and I should most definitely like to add, what to do if you ever get pulled over by a police offer, and how to check if you're privilege. Our group touched on this several times over the course of a couple of hours. We acknowledge that some groups across racial/cultural/gender divide have it better or worse than others. In a room full of mostly Caucasian women, a woman of color and myself as the "self proclaimed Token Asian," our world view is limited to our individual privileges, our familial/cultural norms, and societal expectations we have for ourselves and others. I understand privilege as the "token Asian." Regardless of whatever grade I got, whatever subject went over my head, my being Asian carried with it an assumption that I was highly intelligent, I was favored, et cetera et cetera. You can look up Asians and the "model minority myth," if you're so inclined to learn more on this subject. So in spite of being just an average student, I was assumed in this positive (or not, depending on your thoughts) role. This is privilege. That I never had to work hard for anyone to trust me. I was automatic living the stereotype: good family, good (debatable) grades, going to college, getting a degree, working for advancement or content with a career that one will have until they retire. This is my privilege and I acknowledge it. The group of friends I have had throughout the years have never treated me less than because of the color of my skin. I was once told in college that if I were to visit my friend and her family in India, I would be readily accepted than if my black friend came with her. Of course, by the same "tokenness," I have experienced prejudices based solely on the color of my skin. The question "where are you really from?" doesn't bother me quite as much anymore, as I've heard that question all my life. Being married to a Hispanic man, I am fully aware of prejudices and stereotypes of a being Mexican American living in this type of societal powder keg. I am raising a generation that will have to fight for their accomplishments and against stereotypes. I know my daughter will encounter different forms of racism than her brother. Those are facts that I hope never come to fruition but still I am wary. SO in our very lively and sometimes heated discussion on said privileges, we can acknowledge that with privilege comes certain types of power. One being: how to use what power I have to help those who don't. How can we as individuals or as a group help the marginalized, the oppressed, and the poor? moving on to "my Review"The Hate U give follows Starr Carter, a teenage girl who lives two different lives, as per society standards, and constructs. She attends school at a predominately white prep school and goes home to her poor, and mostly black neighborhood. When her best friend, Khalil , is fatally shot in front of her, she starts on what I like to call as 'journey of self discovery;' one in which the road was paved with a certain level of understanding of how the world operates, how to be two different people and slowly, if not painfully sudden, the road becomes more rocky and made with less sure footing. A takeaway: "you can do everything right and still be wrong." Her childhood was never innocent. She saw things that most of us in our suburbia homelife can ever imagine. But through her voice - through Angie Thomas' carefully worded and profound words - I understood my own power, my own privilege. I applauded Starr when she found her sure footing, the power in her words, and her voice. If you have never read a book by a woman, or person, of color, I urge you to read this one. To say it is life changing is an understatement. I implore you to look beyond your own pedestal of understanding at the world, and look at the women and men who you look down on, without even realizing it. This book was heavy. Thomas wrote some wisdom of truths that only people of color can understand, however painful they may be. However, universally, I think everyone can agree that there exists a minefield of racial and social injustices for certain people. ***If by chance, you don't believe in this statement, I will most definitely gift you this book, please reach out.*** Folks, we must do better. About the AuthorAngie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Grace Revealed: Finding God's Strength in Any Crisis(Broadstreet Publishing Group, January 2018) Trust in the unmerited gift of God's grace You can't escape the inevitable crises that will face you throughout your lifetime. Whether it's health problems, emotional issues, career challenges, gut-wrenching losses, or other failures, these experiences can destroy your morale and lead you into despair. Some crises may be a result of your own choices, while others may be completely out of your control. Whatever the source, there is a lasting solution that comes to you free of charge from above: God's amazing grace. In Grace Revealed, you will: -Experience real-life stories of others who discover they are not alone and that relief is within their grasp. -See how devastating afflictions can be overcome through faith in Jesus and His love, mercy, and grace. -Learn how God's grace transforms lives and leads you into enduring and rewarding Christian service. -Be inspired to encourage others who are suffering but cannot seek help on their own. Read these undeniable, modern-day examples of God's loving grace and its transformative power, and discover that God is always present in your time of need. ~My Review~This book serves as a reminder for all of us about God's love, mercy, and grace. Author Fred Sievert examines grace, as told by different people who have not only felt it, but were transformed by the knowledge of God's grace. Although some stories were harder to read than others, speaking purely as a mother, I was inspired by their hope that amidst all of their pain and brokenness, they were each able to see God's love. How amazing is that? In seasons where there are more darkness and pain, they all saw a sliver of light, and love that shone such brightness that they were able to fight their way out....even decades later. I particularly enjoyed going through the reflective portion at the end of each story. It allowed to give the reader take a breath from these experiences and also pause on the the enormity of God's grace. Grace, this tiny word with such heavy and magnificent meaning. I struggle with this daily, like most parents...like most people. My limit has been tested. My faith has been broken. God sends people to me in subtle and different ways to renew my thirst. This cycle, unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, continues on and on. Through it all, it is revealed that God's Grace is sufficient. Within these pages are stories of this cycle. Although, my season of doubt and hope pales in comparison to the sheer evilness and hatred that most of my brothers and sisters in Christ have had to endure. The picture stays the same. Hope abounds. Love remains and Grace (is) revealed. ***I received this book through Litfuse in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** My Rating: 4/5About the AuthorFred Sievert is a speaker, author, and former president of New York Life Insurance Company. Following his early retirement at age fifty-nine, Sievert attended Yale Divinity School and received a master's degree. Sievert remains actively engaged in his greatest passions, which include speaking and writing about his faith, mentoring young executives, and serving as a lay leader of his church and on the boards of several organizations with missions well-aligned with his beliefs and values. Fred and his wife have five grown children, three grandchildren, and reside in East Falmouth, Massachusetts. Find out more about Fred at https://www.storiesofgodsgrace.com.
dear judas is the first chapbook in the dead letter series by Melissa Jennings, exploring trust, betrayal, and whether people are truly capable of forgiveness.
~ My Review ~
I enjoyed Melissa Jenning's debut collection, Afterlife. Admittedly, it took me a while to truly get into the collection's headspace. Dear Judas was nothing like that. If anything, I devoured this in a single setting and reread it again for clarity and a better understanding at the poet's world of duplicitous people.
This is a chapbook, so it's shorter, for those not familiar with poetry collections. Letters from the betrayed are marked with bitterness and fraught with anger. I loved the imagery of the crown of thorns and blood. It was rather interesting to read because we all know a Judas who have come into our lives at some point, and whether we've moved on from the act of treachery, or still reeling from it, we can relate to this collection. I have a lot of favorite lines from here. "don't suffocate in a sin you couldn't help." (I noticed this seems to be a resounding favorite) When your parents named you, did they know that they were naming a constellation? they looked at how you glowed, not how you were surrounded by darkness.
****A note for my faith readers: I'm Catholic and while the imagery were haunting, I didn't feel like Jennings used some religious images as a way to mock or make fun of the faith and the faithful. I loved their style and whatever their intention in using these, it made the betrayal more powerful and humanizing.....we have all met a Judas. We have all worn our own crowns of thorns. We've also been someone's Judas and caused pain to others. It's this deception and greed of wanting power that I paused on.****
Rating: 5/5About the Author
Melissa Jennings lives with their cat, Dora, in the sometimes sunny but always vibrant city of Glasgow, in Scotland. Melissa is currently studying towards an MA in English Literature at the University of Glasgow. They are an avid reader and a writer of many genres - poetry is just the first step.
To follow them, visit their website at www.melissajennings.co/ This is a story About growing up in church, And rebelling against it. About breaking a heart, And finding a way to mend it. About hearing God’s voice, And trying to obey it. About avoiding expectation, And learning to defy it. This is the story of an unlikely couple, Max and Crazy Jenna, Who from Sunday School to adulthood, Ventured to and from the prodigal's path, And ended up finding each other. *** This book will be out on March 17, 2018 *** Preorder your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YPNZG4/ ~ My Review ~Before I begin, let me preface this review by saying how much I appreciate redeeming stories and an honest portrayal of people who grew up in the Christian faith and walked away due to outgrowing it, being stifled by the rules, seeing the hypocrisy and much like the Prodigal son parable coming home and being welcomed back to the love that once felt overbearing. Let's be honest here. Everyone who grew up in the Christian faith have experienced their time in the desert without God and then found themselves on their knees to pray for forgiveness. At some point, we've all been there. Yes, our circumstances differ. Our deserts look different and our times spent wandering varies from person to person. This was such a sweet short story on that parable. Both Jenna and Max had their time in the desert. Both knew hypocrisy and pain. I appreciated and love the realness of doubts that author Joanna Alonzo paints. Did God just say that? What am I going to do? All these whys and hows remind us to be still and to discern His voice from the noise. Well done and I can't wait to read about the other stories in this collection. ***I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** Rating: 5/5About the AuthorJoanna Alonzo is a walking paradox. She is a beautiful, albeit messy, mixture of thought and emotion, expressed in the form of hopefully readable - and relatable - stories. She is a kingdom kid, who looks forward to being a writer and storyteller even when she reaches heaven. She is passionate about the unreached, about those who have yet to know the Love she found in the arms of the Almighty. She is intrigued by the world and its people, who day by day, continue to convince her that God is the greatest Storyteller of all.
http://www.joannaalonzo.com/
Ink Stained Hands is Jennifer Rapp’s debut collection of haiku she first started sharing on Instagram. Within this book, you will find poetry that focuses on various themes such as love, heartbreak, empowerment, and strength.
Jennifer has the unique ability of working her way into your heart and soul in just 17 syllables. Her short yet (bitter) sweet poetry conveys a sense of understanding, that she has her own story, and wants the rest of us to know that we’re not alone. ~ My Review ~
Haikus have to be carefully thought of, not just for its correct form usage, but to make sure its story makes sense and still have the ability to be dissected and taken apart, much like every other poem. It's the poet's abilities to use this Japanese poetry (5-7-5 syllables) and build a story within its parameters. But a story that evokes emotion, whether it be a sigh of content, anger, motivation. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Rapp's haikus and look forward to them when she posts them on her social media. (Follow this lady, if you aren't already). This book made me an even bigger fan and I continue to be impressed and in awe of her haiku writing ability. Ink Stained Hands: a Haiku collection is thoughtful, much like the poet herself and its quietness and simple lines, formed a picture of a life in which one was once loved, lost and as Robert Frost once said, "it goes on," [again].
Well done, Jennifer!! "the sea loves the moon, for even in the darkness he sees her beauty" Raiting: 5/5About the Author
The poetry of Jennifer Rapp tends to sway between happiness and heartache, stirring up so much while saying so little.
Jennifer graduated from California Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English. She began writing poetry at a young age, and aspired to someday use her gift as a way to reach out and connect with others. She currently lives in Lancaster, California with her family, and brainstorming her next collection of poems. Social media: https://twitter.com/jenrrapp https://www.facebook.com/jrinkstainedhands
Newlywed Katie Maxwell is ready to settle down and leave her amateur detective days behind. But when the veil of secrecy surrounding her husband’s latest project takes them to Europe, her penchant for sleuthing lands her in some serious hot foreign water.
Katie will need to think quickly to talk her way out of handcuffs and a Parisian jail cell. Too bad she doesn't speak French. For the Love of Katie is the second madcap adventure in The Katie Chronicles. This book can be read as a standalone, but why would you want to skip the first? ~ My Review ~
Something worth mentioning before I begin: I never read the first book, as I understood this can be read as a standalone. That being said though, and much like the blurb, why did I want to skip the first one, right? I got the feel for the characters and their relationships with each other from the beginning. There were parts that I'm sure I if I had read the first one, I would have been privy to the inside jokes.
However, my clueless self enjoyed the ride as I laughed along with this book!! There were tons of giggles and some cringe worthy moments to be had and I was rooting for Katie's happiness to make sure she doesn't get into any more trouble. The secondary characters were written well and kudus to Erica Lucke Dean for the character development. I felt like that coworker who always tagged along for these after hour drinks and knowing just a little enough about these coworkers for me to both adore and worry about. ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** Rating: 4/5About the Author
After walking away from her career as a business banker to pursue writing full-time, Erica moved from the hustle and bustle of the big city to a small tourist town in the North Georgia Mountains where she lives in a 90-year-old haunted farmhouse with her workaholic husband, her 180lb lap dog, and at least one ghost.
When she's not busy writing or tending to her collection of crazy chickens, diabolical ducks, and a quintet of piglets, hell bent on having her for dinner, she's either reading bad fan fiction or singing karaoke in the local pub. Much like the main character in her first book, To Katie With Love, Erica is a magnet for disaster, and has been known to trip on air while walking across flat surfaces. How she's managed to survive this long is one of life's great mysteries. Follow me on Bookbub to get notified when my books go on sale. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erica-lucke-dean
2017 Award Winning Readers' Favorite Book in the Poetry-General category in recognition of excellence in writing!
A collection of poems about inspiration, love, beauty, loss, and life to move the heart and make the spirit continue to soar. The following is one of the poems from the book. It's the poem that inspired the title of the book and encompasses the theme of this collection: Dreams of the heart Are beyond overwhelming A sunset bursting beautiful Streams of rushing majesty Reflections of The immaculate spirit A creative cascading soul Spreading love and hope Into the forgotten world Embracing Watchful oceans And turning skies Melting Into changing rivers The vision survives ~My Review~
To say poetry has changed in recent years is an understatement. I'm not going to get into different poets, as that's not the point of this review. I do enjoy modern poetry but every now and then, I'd like to read more about faith and optimism instead of heartache and bitterness.
This collection made me sigh, a lot. Joie Schmidt writes beautifully and these poems sounded lyrical in its delivery and pacing. It was reminiscent of poems I grew up reading, with its imagery in nature and the timing and melodic quality of each poem. Well done, Schmidt. ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** Rating: 5/5About the Author
Joie Schmidt is the international award winning author of "Dreams of the Heart", a compilation of poems about love, life, loss and inspiration. In October 2010, she was contacted by a publisher who discovered her online writing and offered to manage / publish / market / interview Schmidt on an on-going basis. In January 2011, three months later, "Dreams of the Heart" was published. (In memoriam of the 3/11 tragedy in Japan all proceeds from "Dreams of the Heart" books sales will go to the relief effort until 3/11/12)
In February 2011, she was interviewed for her book. The interview is featured on a site among approximately 20 other authors, several of whom are NY Times Bestsellers and / or award winning recipients. She is beyond honored and blessed to be in the company of such incredible talent. With such prestigious influences in her midst, Schmidt was inspired to publish "Dreams of the Heart vol. II" in August 2011. Upon, reading poetry at an open mic event organized by "Writer's Row" founded by Jessica Wilson, that took place in downtown L.A.'s "The Last Bookstore", and meeting prolific poets who had written 20+ books, she was further inspired to achieve such levels of realized productivity. Her north stars are authors of unparalleled success like JK Rowling and Agatha Christie. Some of the authors she holds dearest to her heart include Shakespeare, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Robert Frost. Throughout the time that she has been pursuing her writing dreams, she has independently published over 800 poems and articles. Her online writing has been viewed close to 900K times, her poem "Wisdom & Youth" and an interview was been featured in two separate issues of "Christian Women's Magazine", her poem "Bricks & Passages" has been published by Edgar & Lenore's Publishing House, her biography, picture and "Dreams of the Heart" have been added to this same publishing house's "Calliope's Closet" collection, her radio interview was featured in "Aquillrelle Magazine", and her poem "Greater Good" was featured in CWL xPress' new in-print magazine in August 2011. Additionally, Schmidt feels honored and blessed to have been a performer/poetry reader for the 2011 Poetrypalooza (a 10-day citywide poetry celebration in Los Angeles - held by the ZZyZx WriterZ a new emerging LA based writing group (consisting on such talents like Kimberly Cobian, Henry Chow, and more!), that teams up with local artists, musicians, actors, educators, and more writers). Between 2011 and 2013, Schmidt volunteered as Creative Outreach for "The New Writers" a non-profit organization created to help lift up and support the dreams of writers all over the world founded by Sarah Stuart, as their "Creative Outreach Director". On Sept 17th, she was interviewed on Marc Medley's "The Reading Circle" WP88.7 FM (a radio station broadcast from William Paterson College & webcast around the world on www.gobrave.org.) In October 2011, she connected with a beautiful charity called "Humanitarian Aid Foundation" (a non-profit organization that helps the needy and orphaned children of Ghana, Africa) as an ambassador/volunteer to help spread the word and support. In November 2011, she was honored and humbled by being asked to contribute her poem "The Touch of a Snowflake" to Conneticut's largest independent poetry group Free Poets Collective's Ekphrastics book of poems for The New Britain Museum of American Art (to be published in 4/2012). She was also humbly honored with the gift of becoming an administrator for "Free Poets Collective." In February 2012, she was contacted by the publishers of "Pho for Life" and asked to contribute poetry/writing to the second edition "Miso for Life". The editions are collections of Asian writers to celebrate, support and uplift the Asian community. In March 2012, "Keep Joy in a Pocket & Love in a Heart Locket" was published with $1 being donated to "Save the Children" (the charity Schmidt holds dearest to her heart) for every copy sold. in April 2012, she was interviewed in "Proverbs & Wisdom" founded by Ashley Ormon. June 2012 was a wonderful month as well! Schmidt began a contributing writing with SPMG Media, with approx. 1.4 million world-wide subscribers, and approx. 30,000 local targeted community subscribers. She also officially became a writer for "Kids on the Porch" (KOTP) a TV show created to help prevent bullying amongst children and teenagers. She has been writing consistently for the show which was inspired by a true news story and more! In November 2012, she also co-hosted the charity event "Us Saving Us" with KOTP. In June 2013, she was asked to participate in the upcoming "Asian Pacific Festival: Arts & Music by the Sea" taking place at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in September 2013. In May 2014, 3 of her poems were published in the third anthology series of Asian writers "Kim Chi for Life". Also in 2014, she created "Keep Joy in a Pocket & Love in a Heart Locket" inspirational stickers. To purchase stickers, please email joiemaeschmidt@gmail.com. In 2015, Schmidt was honored by having two poems "Creativity" and "Pathways of Hope" from "Dreams of the Heart, vol. II" published in Proverbs & Wisdom's first in print edition of In The Light Magazine. Two years later in 2017, "Dreams of the Heart, vol. I" became an award winning book recognized for excellence in writing in the Poetry-General category awarded by Readers' Favorite. (Reader's Favorite receives "thousands of entries from all over the world" & "submissions from independent authors, small publishers, & publishing giants such as #RandomHouse, #HarperCollins & #SimonSchuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times #bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America).") As her success steadily grows and with such an incredible jump start to her writing/artistic dreams, Schmidt is wholeheartedly excited by what the future increasingly continues to hold for her. Her favorite quotes: "If you can dream it, you CAN do it!" (-Walt Disney) and "The only limits in life are those you place upon yourself" - in other words YOU have no limits. Official Website: www.JoieSchmidt.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/p.s.JoieSchmidt Readers' Favorite Author Profile: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/dreams-of-the-heart |
Book Pick:I use Goodread's rating scale1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK 3 stars – liked it 4 stars – really liked it 5 stars – it was so amazing, it's on my reread pile! Categories
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