Weekend Briefing: Release Launch!

Welcome back, everyone to the release weekend of This Side of Heaven, my first ever (and if we're all lucky, last ever...) poetry collection!

What is it that makes poetry... well, poetry? Is it the devices and techniques used by its creators like rhyme and rhythm? Alliteration and assonance? Or is it something much deeper, that these tools merely convey?

Compared to prose, poetry has to tell a lot with a little. Therein lies the core of what poetry may be. It is the product of a poet placing one finger on the pulse of the world or reality, nature or human experience, and holding a pen with the other hand.

Poetry doesn't tell the full story. It doesn't have to. It shows a glimpse that laymen can look at and think, I know what that is; I have experienced that also- even if they may never have experienced it outside the phone. It's a universal truth that experts can dig into it layer by layer and find new meanings each time.

With that in mind, I hope you read this collection with both your heart and your mind because poetry is so complex it requires both organs in order to be understood. And for these poems especially, a whole lot of patience.

Buy now in ebook, hardback, and paperback!

This book is very beautiful between its cover and illustrations from two different artists, and their work alone is worth the price of entry.

Including this ^ lovely piece as the centerpiece and Maddy Moore's Contribution.

But the artwork isn't the best part of this work. All author proceeds from all formats will go to Birthright.

For over 50 years, Birthright has been helping women with unplanned pregnancies.

Birthright began in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1968 when Louise Summerhill, a busy housewife and mother of seven children, felt something should be done to help women facing unplanned pregnancies.  

By offering love, hope, support and resources, Birthright has grown to become a pregnancy support service with hundreds of centres throughout Canada, the United States and Africa.

Birthright is committed to providing confidential, non-judgmental support to any woman who is pregnant or thinks she might be pregnant, no matter her age, race, circumstances, religion, marital status or financial situation. Birthright is a charitable organization that relies on the dedication, time and talents of volunteers and the generosity of donations to ensure it can persevere in supporting pregnant women.

 Lean how to donate directly here.

Until next time, as long as we're all on this side of heaven.