We have a guest at the bar today, so I need to work out Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt in this brief, well brief for me, opening. Linda has given us:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘scene.’ Use it any way you like. Have fun!”
We have been having fun, as you will soon realize as you step into the scene at the bar.
If we were having a beer, in honour of April being poetry month, our guest is a poet. In honour of the poet, the letter ‘U’ is getting its proper respect.
“Is Willow here yet, Dan?”
“She is, David. I think she ran into Cheryl out on the patio. They’ll be right in.”
“That’s great. I’ve been reading about this collection all week; it will be good to see her.”
“Hey guys, look who’s here. I know what these two are having, Willow. If I recall you’d like a glass of Shiraz, correct?”
“Yes. Last time, you were able to find Jam Shed. If you could do that again, I would love one of those.”
“One large glass of Jam Shed Shiraz coming up.”
“You’re the best!”
“Now that we’re getting settled, Willow, you remember David, right?”
“I do. It’s so good to see you, all of you, again.”
“Here’s your Shiraz, Willow. David, Dan, your usual beverages.”
“Excuse me for giggling. I forgot how David spreads his drink across several glasses.”
“Cheryl is kind enough to indulge me my quirk. I was just telling Dan; I’ve been following the launch tour for Poetry Treasure 3 Passion. How does it feel to be in this collection?”
“I am so excited and honoured. I have never been brave enough to put any of my work into print. When Robbie asked me if I would like to contribute to Poetry Treasure 3 Passion, I was so surprised I nearly said no. Then I thought why not you’ve always wanted to do this so why not.”
“Why not, indeed. I pre-ordered this collection as soon as I heard about it, and I’ve been reading it every night this week. Your poems are lovely. So, this is the first time in print for you?”
“I do have a poem in another collaboration but that is just one poem. I do not get royalties from that book—This is Lockdown.”
“Isn’t it funny how we look back like that’s ancient history.”
“Pre pandemic I had written a poem about the hype I had heard in the news about a new plague—The scary thing was I let my imagination run away from me while writing it. I was astonished by how close I came to the truth.”
“I think we were all amazed by how reality ran ahead of our imaginations. Am I correct in remembering something about that poem on your blog?”
“You have to forgive Dan, Willow. His memory is a strange beast.”
“Well, he’s correct, David. In fact, I can show you. Here’s that post, and I think you can make out Dan’s avatar. The prose and poetry used in This is Lockdown plus more prose and poetry I added two years later as things got worse.”
“Were all of your poems, in this current collection, featured on Robbie’s blog? She shares poems from a lot of wonderful poets.”
“Robbie’s blog is an amazing place but no, none of the poems I submitted have ever been on her blog or anywhere else. They are all brand new and written just for Poetry Treasures 3. Passion.”
“Willow, if you don’t mind, I’m curious about how anthologies work. Did you choose these poems or did Robbie and Kayn as they were assembling the book?”
“Robbie asked me if I could submit six or seven poems for the anthology about passion. Preferably ones not already in print or online. So, I decided, rather than use ones from my blog and change them to private I would write some brand new ones. I didn’t have long to get them written and submitted so I sat down one afternoon and wrote them—fitting in cooking dinner and walking our beloved but sadly deceased Ruby. 💜 I finished them that evening after doing the washing up!”
“I am just starting to learn about the publishing process. I’m assuming, since they’re poems and had been written, there wasn’t a lot of editing, but were you involved in the layout?”
“Yes, Cheryl, I was involved which was an exciting new learning curve for me. I was able to make sure the titles of the poems were correct and where they were placed on the page as I wanted them to be. I only had to point out three changes and was delighted with the look of everything once these were made.”
“I think the collection looks wonderful. It’s amazing how Kaye and Robbie brought so many talented women together in one collection. There are only a few poets I wasn’t familiar with. How did the editing work across so many miles?”
“I needed to sign up to a Draft2Digital account as that is how the royalties will be paid to everyone. I had to get a Dropbox account for sending and receiving drafts and videos. I even had to make a short video. The video is of me introducing myself and reading one of my poems.”
“I watched that video last night. Like I said, I’ve been following the launch. You read ‘Academic Passion’ – it was lovely. You looked like a pro on camera.”
“Oh! David, you’d laugh, I was so nervous and made lots of fluffs…hubby blundered in at one point then Ruby popped in looking for carrots! I guess it took about fifteen attempts, but I think I got there in the end. Robbie said it was very professional, but I think she was being gracious!”
“I would agree with Robbie. I remember learning all about the launch process. This whole series was professionally done. I’m amazed that this all came together given how far apart you all are.”
“It was truly amazing really, Robbie and Kaye Lynne Booth kept us all in the loop by email and we all worked well together. Kaye said we all worked hard and we all did everything asked of us even to the fact that we all contributed videos and such to the blog tour and we all wanted to help. I also had to choose a photo and write four lines from another poem as part of the promotional video. So I had lots to learn.”
“The video David mentioned, is that your favourite?”
“I am pleased with them all really but I do think my favourite is Academic Passion.”
“Could you share something about the background of that poem?”
“I’d love to, Dan. I have always been enthralled by the link between Music and Math. You would think they were worlds apart but not so. I love music but I have no musical or mathematical talents. Yet all three of my sons are mathematically minded and all three love music, in fact two have been musically inclined enough to make music. The oldest and youngest lads are in IT but both have made music for pleasure and one was in several groups and was set for a career in music production before he took his brother’s advice and moved into IT. He married a trained opera singer!”
“I was recently discussing math being like a language, and a friend on Twitter was talking about teaching this to her middle school class. Math connects many things.”
“Exactly, passion for numbers and music resonates with me that is where that poem comes from. Love, music, math and passion.
“Willow, I know we’re focusing on poetry today, but I have to ask something about Morgie and Merls—because now, I am totally sucked into that ongoing saga. I’m beginning to see this as a paranormal Archers. You mentioned earlier having certain elements figured out about the main characters, but the rest is from the seat of your pants in reaction to the prompt. Can you point out a few basic elements that might make it easy for a new reader, like David, to join.”
“Well, my time and space travelling protagonists Morgarna and Merlin are originally from Arthurian times they are both immortal and have special powers. Merlin as in King Arthur’s mentor and Morgarna as in sister/cousin of King Arthur. Both Merlin and Morgarna have been battling since Merlin double crossed Morgarna over Excalibur and the Rock. Why Morgarna trusts him at all beats me, but Morgarna and Merlin have this love hate thing going on! I believe there are hidden fireworks there so one day there might be dynamite. Morgarna’s sister Morgouise has made a few appearances, as have old enemies and allies.”
“And lately, Gail has joined the cast. What’s her story?”
Gail is a young ghost who had a sad unfortunately brief life, her whole back story is told over a few episodes, she is staying with them indefinitely helping with the paranormal until she herself feels ready to cross over to the next realm. All the other Villains, Ghosts or Aliens who crop up are entirely random from my mad brain to fit the latest prompt!”
“I keep meaning to get started reading this. Have you ever thought about publishing some or all of this in book form?”
“Yes, David. I have more and more so as I am so wrapped up in their story. I think it could be my next project. That will be another huge learning curve.”
“OK, back to poetry. Do you have a favorite kind of poem to write?”
“I love all poetry and there are many many forms I love Japanese Poetry, Haiku, Senryu, Haiga, Tanka, Tanka Prose, micropoetry, poetry, 5lines, Haibun, Prose, Cinquain Poetry, Etheree, Nonet, Shadorma, Gogyoka to mention just a few and all sorts in-between.”
“Could you share one with us?”
© willowdot21
Here is an Abhanga that I am quite proud of
In praise of the New Day.
We greet the new morning
Full of bright new promise
Energy slow release
A brand new day.
Time stands frozen and still
A city wakes, eyes wide
Roads are filled, rivers plied
Worship the sun
Collars turned to the cold
Hats and gloves combat chills
Birds fill the air with trills
Covered in frost.
Another chance to breathe
God give us a new day
And a push on our way
Praise be, thank you.
“That’s lovely. When our daughter, Faith, was little and wanted to sleep in on Saturday, I used to wake her by melodiously chanting ‘It’s a brand-new day’ outside her bedroom.”
“I’m glad to know we’re not the only ones you torture, Dan.”
“I could start singing, David.”
“Do you guys want another round. Willow, have they offered you anything to eat?”
“I’d love another glass of wine, and I can’t decide between chicken wings or chowder. They both sound wonderful.”
“Well then. I’ll bring both out in a bit.”
“Thanks Cheryl. And thanks Dan for inviting me here today. I’m sure the other poets will appreciate the anthology getting a little more press.”
“It’s been our pleasure, Willow, and as for a little more press, I am featuring this anthology on my fledgling monthly series, ‘Two Review Tuesday’ this week.”
“Ooh, that’s so nice. Who’s the other author?”
“Since April is Poetry Month, I’m going to review Lis Gauffreau’s collection of poems, prose and photos—Grief Songs.”
“That sounds like a good fit with Passion.”
“Before we go, Willow. I know I, and many others, were saddened to hear about your losing Ruby. She was the loveliest dog. Would you like to say something about Ruby?”
“Thanks for asking, Dan. I would really like to say how much of a star she was. She had a stream of visitors over her last few days, and I have a young blind friend who has a guide dog and she said that because of our help Ruby had made her dog the guide dog she is today. – You can’t get higher praise than that. She has touched so many people. She was a celebrity around our house, and she will be missed. The boys, us the grandchildren we all say Ruby we love you.”
Click the link at the end of this so read the final post in the launch tour, and see links to all the other posts. It might be worth it, as there’s a giveaway involved. In the closing post there are readings by Yvette Prior & Judy Mastrangelo – Writing to be Read
All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.
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