[This article is syndicated from The Poetry Lab] In Part I of this series, The Guide to Building a Book Tour, I discussed how to secure venues for gigs: what worked for me, and what didn’t. Since launching the tour at the end of June, I’ve gained more insights into…

A book review | 2 out of 5 stars — Reader, let me tell you I have been seeking a spiritual place in this world for almost two decades since I left Christianity circa age 20. I was raised Catholic, and when my friend invited me to participate in the churchy events at her church, I was dazzled by the…

Workshop/event Dates, Writing Prompt, Poetry Opportunities, and Reading Recommendations Hey Poet, I am in the middle of Survived By’s book tour and so far I have performed and/or facilitated a workshop in Jackson, WY; Bend, OR; Port Angeles, WA; Coeur D’Alene, ID; and Boise, ID. I’ve learned a lot about the financial…

[This article is now available in audio on YouTube, read to you by the author.] In early April 2019, after finally escaping the toxic love cycle I had with my narcissistic ex, I wrote the first iteration of my article “The Healthy Relationship Trifecta — Love Advice Condensed.” I had…

Part 1: Hello? Is Anyone Out There? Finding Venues for Gigs [This article is syndicated from The Poetry Lab.] My first full-length poetry collection Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems recently debuted with Curious Corvid Publishing, and I knew even before I submitted it to publishers that…

While reading Stephanie Rogers’ Fat Girl Forms, I pondered the multiple definitions of the word “form.” Yes, quite literally, Rogers’ project collection is somewhat of a poetic checklist: Pantoum, check! Ghazal, check! Duplex, check! At the same time, each of the 51 different poetic styles weighs in on the myriad…

The handy acronym that will help you gain perspective. While visiting friends in Oregon this past week, the acronym for making decisions — BRAIN — came up in conversation. Doing some minimal research, I learned that it was originally developed in conjunction with Patient Voices Network, a Canadian-based coalition of…

Workshop/event Dates, Writing Prompt, and Poetry Opportunities Hey Poet, At the end of June, I officially launched my summer poetry tour, promoting my debut full-length collection of poetry, Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems. This month I add a couple extra events including a special FREE workshop for LGBTQIA+…

[This article is syndicated with permission from The Inspiring Bee] A Place to Expel Despair After my father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in September 2019, I needed a place to release the boiling lava that erupted from within. I turned to my Medium blog the way I turned to my Blogspot to report…