Robert – who only months ago shared his stellar poetry through a powerful voice – is no longer here. His generosity and kindness – needed so desperately in this world – will never be forgotten❤️
Find his work here
A Poetic Soul – A Poetic Angel
Tag Archives: reading
Endless Love for Millie & Renewed Appreciation for My Little Book
I self-published love of the monster in 2016, followed by the ebook version in 2017.
I’d been romancing the silly notion of selling my books at fairs with my vivacious mom who was all in. So, after the ebook arrived on Amazon, I had the physical books shipped home. (to this day, a few print books remain on Amazon through second-party sellers and – a funny story about pricing for another post another time)
But sometimes plans falter, and life lobs a hardball at your chest. Those of you who’ve been kind enough to read an occasional post of mine here – know beautiful Millie had passed away after battling the ravages of a major stroke for three years. During all that time, my books and a large portion of my heart were shoved into a closet.
Fast forward to 2023, and brighter times (life may lob the occasional hardball, but the timeouts help one’s heart to heal). A unique book-promoting site who goes by the name of Shepherd asked if I’d be interested in having love of the monster featured on a page. At first, truthfully, I had no interest. Then one morning I woke up and thought – What the hell. Maybe it’s time. What have I got to lose? Millie never quit.
I thought through the many books in my life that have influenced me. I wrote about five special books, both past and present, that I adore and how their pages help me in my creative process. This is where the Shepherd experience is different from Goodreads or seeking books out on Amazon. The Shepherd site doesn’t just list an author’s book, it lists their personal stories about other books too. Since love of the monster is an illustrated poetry collection, I wrote about books of poetry.
Author or reader, you should check out Shepherd for yourself: my book recommendations linked here.
I’m happy to say my enthusiasm for my little monster book has returned. And here I am again. Or rather, here is love of the monster again. This time around I’m only online promoting the ebook. To honor my mom, I’ll do my best to smile her smile as I attempt to peddle love of the monster books at fairs. (If you should want a print book and don’t like fairs, you can always email me, amroselli.writer@gmail.com or you can purchase a book from Amazon which could be cheaper than me shipping a book to you. I’d probably charge 5+shipping. I could write a note inside and add a fancy signature if you’d like;))
In summary:
You should absolutely check out Shepherd.com for yourself
love of the monster ebook is re-available on Amazon Kindle. (Going forward, I hope to get it uploaded to Barnes & Noble and maybe Apple Books too. Figuring out file deliveries is quite challenging)
I will be embarrassing myself in an attempt to sell love of the monster books at fairs that have hot coffee in fall and winter and iced coffee during summer and spring. I shall smile like Millie.
I miss my mom like crazy, but rather than get teary-eyed anymore, I smile in the knowledge of how blessed I’ve been to have known and loved such a spectacularly joyous person.
Thank you,
am:)
The 5 books I wrote about and shared on Shepherd: the books pictured below are fantastic! It’s wonderful to write about and to share the spectacular books out there in the world!
I Reread Her Now
Pictured here, my beautiful daughter.
Hope you’re all doing well.
Scarecrow
revised this older piece this morning, sort of where my mind is floating right now
can’t remember when I sketched this, I’m thinking it was a few years ago
hope you’re all managing okay — AnnMarie
A Binary Heart
While many of us are staying ‘between’ our own walls during this difficult and strange time, we can do our part by sending good karma into the world. Doing our individual best to manage, stay as positive as possible, paint a smile on the mask, and share, share, share. Do not hoard, do not keep beautiful and remarkable works to yourselves. Uplift communities. Uplift souls.
I’d like to start sharing here by posting a link to some gorgeous and remarkable words by my dear friend, DS Levy. If you’re unfamiliar with her work, become familiar. DS Levy’s stories dig into bone while playing on your skin. Click highlighted text or the image below, and check out her exceptional work available on Amazon!
On a personal note, DS is one of the most forthright people I know, in life and in her work. Deb enlightened me about the writing submission process years ago. Through her selfless support and unyielding belief in my words and art, I began submitting work in 2017. Without her dogmatic persistence, excellent editing skills, and friendship—I’d still be writing in my room and reading work to my dachshund.
If you have a book out there, I’d be more than happy to share your work on this blog. Just email me at amroselli.writer@gmail.com with the link. (Please don’t send work that includes any gratuitous violence, pornography…you get the idea)
And please, do continue to stay safe. I hope all your loved ones and friends are managing.❤️
Click highlighted text here to visit DS Levy’s site and read more of her amazing published works!
My Talented Nephew’s Work
I should have done this sooner—
that is, to share my nephew Daniel Kennedy’s brilliant work. Daniel’s heart, down to the raw insides, is exponentially compassionate. He is not only a thoughtful and decent young man, his writing talent is boundless. The dedication he pours into his craft is humbling to behold. It is my privilege and honor to highlight some of Daniel’s work here.
Start reading him now—before you have to wait on a bookstore line for his autograph!
Blue Humor
So very honored to have “Blue Humor” published in The Stillwater Review
“The journal maintains a dedication to the lyric poem—musicality at the heart of it, the delicate ideas at work in the layers. Since that time our journal has published poets like Michael Waters, Judith Vollmer, Paul Genega, Adele Kenny, Robert Mitchell, J.C. Todd, Chuck Tripi, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Diane Lockward, Robert Carnevale, Jessica deKoninck, Edwin Romond, Lois Marie Harrod, and Roberto Carlos Garcia.”
why I write
well, this is just freakin’ amazing
well, this is just freakin’ amazing
apparently my little book
has gone “temp out of stock”
on both Amazon and B&N
why I’d love to believe it’s selling out like Harry Potter😉
the reality probably is
because it’s a self-pub title
they don’t take it very seriously
and don’t order that many copies initially
geez
it is still available on my book’s site
loveofthemonster.com
but most folks
are going to Amazon or B&N to buy
darn this selling stuff
I’m going to start peddling door to door
so if you hear someone crying
in your hedgerow
late in the afternoon
it will most likely be me
ghost horse
It has been said of the song, Wildfire, it arose from the artist’s subconscious
–a Native American tale about a ghost horse
mythical and sweet
oh, imagine
a golden Palomino mare carrying sunlight upon her hide
how she would warm your aching body
settle your bones
ferry you to another place
distant from worry
away from strife
all you hear
rhythmic patter of spiriting hooves
winged forelocks
lemon-white mane wrapping your bare skin
keeping you secure
she gallops across the planet
without grazing earth
your stomach lifts
your heart steadies
peace she finds
for you
never the same place
but
if you should call her twice
if you should summon Wildfire
to guide you away
she may just bring you
back home again
sketched on the way to New Hampshire last week, after listening to Michael Martin Murphy sing his Wildfire
I want to again thank those of you who sometimes read my verse. I’ve been amping up the language or at least trying to. I’m not always comfortable pushing the pub button with some of these posts–last night’s is a good example. I challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. I hope by doing this, I’ll discover other directions to pursue. I do admit it is fun dreaming up saucy voices–though these ‘characters’ make me the saddest after they’ve been fleshed out. With each piece I try to get away from who I am and write as if I’m someone else. Sometimes these ‘personalities’ beg the question-okay, AnnMarie–what’s the next move. I’m not always sure. It is this uncertainty that pushes me onward.
Thank you, again.
I’ve called on Wildfire more than once:)
Have a lovely weekend.
anntogether 