Book Review: Ivy in Bloom

Poetry is one of my great loves and today I will be reviewing just that. So glad to be reviewing books on my blog again. So on with the first book review of 2018!

Title: Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring from Great Poets and Writers of the Past

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Source: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Summary from Goodreads: Ivy in Bloom captures the weariness of a young girl tired of a long winter. "I stare out the window," she says on the first spread of brown and gray, "looking for birds or flowers / or even warm showers / but I don't see any such thing." But then Spring comes when "March is out of breath snow melting to flowery waters and watery flowers spring rose from its wintry rest." And Ivy's "heart dances with daffodils." As these words also dance across each spread, Ivy's world erupts into a riot of color. 

Ivy in Bloom introduces the poetry of Dickinson, Longfellow, Browning, Wordsworth, Frost and others. Excerpts from their writings, as seen through Ivy's eyes, will open up poetry as a way for children to express their own feelings about the changing of seasons. This book includes longer excerpts and brief bios of each author. 
Review

Personally, I enjoyed every page of this short poetry book and reread it more than once. Vanita has written a book combining her own poetry with the greats like Dickinson, Wordsworth, Frost and more. Following this little girl through the changing seasons is a great way for kids to be introduced to poetry. It uses regular things any child can experience and expands upon it with words written lyrically to enhance the senses. As an adult, I enjoyed it immensely as it reminded me of why I love poetry so much. So while made for children it has crossover capabilities with adult poetry lovers.

The illustrations by Kristin Blackwood also help draw children and adults alike into Ivy's world and the poetry that shows how the seasons change along with her reaction. Masterfully down in various colours showing emotions, seasons and so much more. I got this lovely e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

On a whole, this book is a beautiful quick read with lots of readability potential. At the end of Ivy's tale, you are shown what Vanita wrote along with the excerpts and full versions of poetry from the other poets used in this story. For those being introduced to poetry, this can be an excellent treat learning about different poets in a friendly non-text heavy environment. Reading this to children can help expand their vocabulary and interest in writing. Parents and Librarians alike will find great use for this book to read to children. Children get to enjoy reading poetry in a way they can grow to understand. I highly recommend this book and the art is just as amazing.

Rating: 5 Stars

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

WEP 2016 Utopian Challenge and The Billionaire's Package Cover Reveal

As my last post for 2016 I think I have really set up an exciting post. You get both a post for the latest WEP challenge that pushes writers to create stories based off specific themes and a cover reveal for an upcoming novel. Pretty sweet I think.



The theme for December 2016's WEP challenge is Uptopian Dreams. Whether they up being a true utopia or transform into a nightmare is up to you. Click here to find out more or for list of participants. Below I share a poem about a very different type of utopia.

The Don

Gunfire, strife and poverty are all outsiders see.
When they hear of our vibrant community.
Little schooling yet some of us have more
in our homes than the middle class
who kill off themselves repaying student loans.
Working class is just a nice way to say poor.
But I 'The Don' say there is much more.

The clubbing, sense of loyalty, protection from police.
Always having someone in charge to dispense justice.
Outside you are all running wild.
With a government only interested in their own bottom line.
Why you think my people protest when one of us dies?
None of us can really rely on the cops.
Politicians only show up for votes and photo ops.

The Don is always there for his own and will
never allow disrespect to go without atone.
Violence and bloodshed happens yes.
Yet when it happen over tourist hot spot
the same people after us are quick to assure
the world that the violence is not a life brand.
But where I am from is called dangerous, volatile.
The hypocrisy runs rampant and wild.

Still I am fine and will go on until the world stop spin.
Because The Don is no one man or woman.
But the Utopian ideal for communities no one cares about.
At least until photo ops, votes and life bios are needed.
Keep your hypocrisy, we live in utopia already.

----

The Billionaire's Package Cover Reveal

The following cover reveal is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours. I signed up for this reveal via the author online. Now look below to see the swanky cover and read about this upcoming novel's plot. Is it the perfect book for you? Read on to find out.

The Billionaire’s Package 
Kyle Autumn
(Thirsty Thursday Series #1)
Publication date: January 25th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Shiree

One day, I’m doing my job and minding my own business…
Okay. Maybe sitting behind the desk of the richest, most powerful man in our city isn’t considered minding my own business. But I’m only here because I’m doing my job. That part is true.
I’m a package handler at National Express, and today, I have a package for Mr. Charles Masters, billionaire and CEO of Launchpad Systems, the biggest tech company in the nation. And, when I’m caught red-handed getting a little too comfortable behind his desk, he looks at me like he wants me to handle his package.
It’s too bad he turns out to be a pompous caveman.
Except he’s an incredibly hot pompous caveman. And I can’t stop thinking about him.
I can’t wait to tell the girls about this at the next Thirsty Thursday…
——————-
Chaz

The board of the company I built from the ground up doesn’t approve of the way I’m living my life. In fact, they don’t just disapprove—they want me to change.
Their plan is to throw me a fake engagement party to show the world I’m a changed “family man” now. And my right-hand man sends that plan spiraling out of control when he sends the local package delivery woman into my office.
It’s too bad she turns out to be so sensitive and unresponsive to my charm.
Except she’s incredibly sexy when she’s upset. And I have to make things right.
Maybe the board was right about this “family man” stuff after all…

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

Kyle Autumn is the author of sexy contemporary romances that will melt your heart and your panties. She also writes erotic short stories series that will likely melt your panties more than your heart. She loves chocolate and pajamas. Can't be bothered to brush her hair most days. Can always be bothered to write her pants--er, pajama bottoms--off
Her debut book will release in January of 2017, the first in a series of three romances centered around four woman (two of which are package handlers for a delivery service) who meet up every Thursday at their favorite bar. She also writes super-short, super-sexy stories to tickle your erotic bone. ;)

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

That's it for 2016. Let me know what you think of my poem entry and do you have any thought's on Kyle's upcoming novel? Thanks for stopping by and for supporting my blog. Merry Christmas and  God Bless.

Getting Personal: Poetry Corner

My first Getting Personal post of 2013. What is Poetry Corner you ask. Today I'm going to post two poems by me and discuss them a bit. Poetry is another favourite writing style of mine. It was the first piece of writing I got paid for and I believe poetry can touch the soul in a way most other forms of writing can't.

Family Portrait

On a hill sits a mansion.
Resting on the wall within this mansion
is a family portrait of a
wealthy family of four.
Two parents, two children.

A mother with hair raven black
in a wonderful expensive
blue dress, a father in an
expensive classy black suit
with hair sunny blonde.
One son of year twelve
With hair like mother,
blue eyes of the father and
wearing a costly navy blue suit.
The last and youngest son with
hair like his father and
almond brown eyes like the mother.
He’s wearing a costly black suit
and like everyone else smiles with
perfect bright white teeth.

A perfect portrait for a seemingly
perfect rich family.

But a family portrait is
just a family portrait.

Only showing what the camera takes
Not what really goes on within this place.



This poem was inspired by a fan fiction story I wrote called The Horror of Popularity. I was thinking of doing a special prequel (never did it though) and this poem was written to start it off. It shows a family that went through tormoil in the book in the before. But even then the poem hints on trouble in paradise. I think this poems shows the perfect rich nuclear family in the first three stanzas. But in the last two tells us not everything is as it seems.

Soulless (For Madeline McCann’s parents)

As the flash of the camera dies.

I see the evil intention in your eyes.

You don’t care about their little girl.

Only what will make your readership

level whirl.

The mother doesn’t care, the father’s

not doing enough.

Madeline’s drugged, dead, you’ll make up

anything to that will sell.

The mother killed her, the father covered it up.

She hung out with friends to create an alibi.

He stayed to be a supportive husband.

They’re murderers, accomplices, baby traffickers.

Since when was it okay to steal story lines from

Lifetime to make headlines?

Don’t tell me this is news.

Don’t tell me you’re looking out

for the greater good.

As the flash of the camera dies.

I see the evil intention in your eyes.

You people are soulless.

I wrote this poem at a time when I was angry about how a part of the media was handling Madeline McCann's disappearance. This was a serious matter and some media outlets were not only completely focused on her parents but publishing and stating opinions as facts. Some of them so outrageous it made my blood boil. I believe in people being suspects yes but not at the expense of real information being dispensed to the masses. So this poem was me writing out my outrage.

So that's it for today. Thank you for joining me for another post with me Getting Personal.

IWSG: Sheena-kay the Poet

Yes I write poetry. It got me my first cheque in writing. But for some reason I don't talk about it much. It's less of an insecurity and more of an automatic closing off. I talk about writing fiction just fine. On this blog I'm writing about my WIPs all the time. Poetry however takes a permanent back seat. I love writing poetry, really do. Yet I don't do much open dialogue about it. Maybe it's my quiet side or maybe despite all the years of writing poetry (wrote poetry regularly before I became truly interested in writing fiction), I'm just not the talkative type when it comes to that aspect of my life.

My poetry dreams are different from my dreams of writing fiction. With poetry I want to travel to England and other countries where my favourite poets called home. Most of my favourite poets aren't from Jamaica. My fave poet from here is Louise Bennett. She died years ago but her influence on Jamaican culture still resonates. My favourite poets include Emily Dickinson and William Wordsworth. My poetry isn't very lyrical and I'm not a big fan of rhyming. One day I'd love to go to a writing retreat and spend a few weeks if not months just writing poetry.

Before I go here a few poems written by yours truly.

Garrison Lament

How great was the don who fed us!

Bring curses to those who took him from us!

He gave us bread and sent our kids to school.

How great was the don who fed us!

Now he’s gone and we’re just left to starve.

In this community no one can find a job.

How great was the don who fed us!

Bring curses to those who took him from us!

The Widow

I walk with an authoritive air.

My dainty steps but harsh voice

makes the maids aware I’m there.

Yes, there watching their every move.

They are my servants, this is my castle.

And I don’t care if I sound crude.

I never had whips lash my milky white back.

But words can be sharper than any whip.

And unlike physical ashes that can be

healed by medicine and tender care.

Words can leave their emotional lash

inside you forever.

As a widow, I know of this.

Jealousy fills other women’s eyes when they

see that I’m no longer tied to a husband.

My life now much freer than theirs.

And as a former wife, I understand their suffering.

My only husband is dead.

Bless his soul, but his harsh words

did worse than his blows.

Now widowed I’ve promised myself never to remarry.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a little fun.

I have no worries because no one here would dare tell.  

I am The Widow.

This is my mansion, my castle.

I do as I please.

If anyone has a problem with that.

They can rise and take their leave.

The Foe (formerly titled Friends)

Friends become enemies

when we lose their trust.

Betrayal will turn any

relationship to dust.

 

GUTGAA: Meet and Greet

Deanna has organized GUTGAA and it is a great event for writers to meet each other and pitch their work.

Hi, I'm Sheena-kay Graham and I am a writer. While I have only been published in a literary supplement for poetry so far. I feel that I've done much to get myself ready to be a published novelist. The supplement was in The Sunday Observer and named Bookends Magazine. I was a paid contributor between 2007-2011. I stopped after months going without acceptance after changes in their line-up phased out poetry. But I enjoyed that experience and will only look forward to accomplishments like finally creating a blog that keeps me in contact with aspiring novelist and writers like myself. I look back on my first blogpost October 25, 2011 and find this quote very self-fulfilling.

My real name is Sheena-kay Graham and my nickname (and now my blog's name) was self given and inspired in part by the movie  Sheena: Queen of the Jungle. Also my love for Africa, my skin and believing in fact that we can take hold of our destinies. My nickname symbolizes this for me and creating this blog furthers plans for professional success.

I believe by writing and now having several w.i.p.s in the works and a novella Sacrifice Her to be self published late October that I have followed my path as a writer and will only improve. My writing path is to both self-publish and submit my manuscripts to traditional publishers whether by myself or through an agent. GUTGAA is great in that it gives us all an opportunity to meet others at different points in their journey. Before this I've met several like myself who are either still writing their book or submitting it to agents and publishers if they're not self-published. And yes there are those who have had their work accepted to be published or have gotten an agent. I am happy for all of them. 

Now straight to the questions:

Where do you write?

Mainly in my bedroom. I also do a bit of writing at the library. Sometimes I make notations while on the road.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

I see a chair blocking the dresser. Sorry no great secrets to enthrall you with. That's what my books are for. *Winks.*

Favorite time to write?

Whenever I'm least bothered. I used to fear whether it was day or night but noticed when I'm in my element I can write at anytime. Including day, night and even early hours. 

Drink of choice while writing?

It depends. I love fruit juices and HATE coffee. No disrespect to coffee drinkers. 

When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

Silence is best for me. I have given in to temptation to write with music on before and always get the job done a lot slower. Even when typing up something from what I've already written by hand.

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

I'll speak about the inspiration for my latest W.I.P. Nevermore was inspired by a call by Entangled Publishing for Halloween novellas with a zombie twist. While I have decided not to submit to them. I have picked a few other publishers I will send it out to when it's fully polished. I'm aiming for a small press for this one.

What's your most valuable writing tip?

Never give up. In the past I often wrote to a point then stopped. I have a pile of unfinished novels. While they used to be a great regret, now they're a huge inspiration. How inventive I've been to have work still waiting to be completed as I come up with and write new work. Some writers can only create a few works in a lifetime. I have a nice load and am very proud of it. As I go on my journey, I will have huge well of creativity to accompany me. So I say to all of you keep going and turn what you might consider a negative into a positive. If you can't don't let it keep you from your writing or life destiny. The only fate we can't get away from is death. Life is a choice, live it.

So there you have it. I have introduced myself and hope you will go out and do the same or visit others and let them know you've read their post and create new relationships of your own.

IWSG & Fact or Fiction Bloghop: Part 2

Yes this a combined post.  IWSG is  a great forum to express any writing insecurities. Right now I'm competing in the What I did last summer fact or fiction Blogfest. It is fun and nerve biting to be competing for writing prizes. First prize winners get a book of their choice and two runners up get an opportunity to have their own book critiqued. Win or lose I'm having fun. But let's face it. I want to win a prize. So wish all us entrants the best of luck and yes this is probably the shortest IWSG post ever. Sue me. WAIT! DON'T!

I am happy to be taking part in part two of the Fact or Fiction Bloghop. Can you guess what is fact and what is fiction? Well let's get on it and see if you're right and who is just plan wrong. Click here to read Part One. Thanks Emily and Melodie for this exciting bloghop.





Real or not Real?

I couldn't believe it. No acceptance all summer. Bookends Magazine after accepting my poetry over the years had finally tapped out. I should have seen it coming. Poetry was getting less and less space. What was once five to seven slots a week dropped to two and sometimes even zero. Short stories and essays and book/movie reviews seemed all the rage now. I could try sending some short stories but the reviews were only done by their official staff. I was a paid contributor. Only paid when my work was accepted, no salary. And a lot of the short stories were also done by Sharon Leach, the magazine's editor. Talk about cutting cost.

I can remember my first accepted poem. I was so excited about being accepted by a local magazine. And paid! Their main rival Arts and Entertainment, a section of the Sunday Gleaner, only took free submissions. So my love affair began in 2007 and now ends Summer 2011. It's clear that they're no longer interested in poetry. I was already competing with teachers, professors, published local authors, local literary award winners and others like myself who aren't big names but submit anyway. Now the names are almost always the same when a poem actually appears. It's not easy to move on but after months of no acceptance, dwindling space and the fact that they're others to submit work to...it was great while it lasted.

Moving on is tough but I have become more focused on getting a novel finished and publish worthy. Also I still have my dream of travelling to Europe to visit the sites of some of my favourite poets and also meet some who are still alive. In Jamaica my favourite was Louise Bennett but she died before I could meet her.

So as I move on, I'll remember all the fun times. Poetry a;ways holds a special place in my heart and I wish the magazine all the best. Someone once said Poetry is the Cinderella of the arts. Well this Cinderella needs a new pair of shoes.