Isabelle Charlotte Kenyon's Blog, page 10

Author Interview: Cheyenne Raine

1. Can you tell me what inspired your newest book, Charcoal Thunderstorms?charcoal thunderstorms was inspired by the first poem in the collection: “king of the wild things”, a poem that was rooted in the children’s book “where the wild things are” and this man i met, who had told me that it was his favorite book growing up. so, in charcoal thunderstorms, i wanted to capture that youth, the monsters, the magic, the dark, the stormy, the colors, the art and the wild. i could honestly say that writing for charcoal thunderstorms opened so many creative thoughts and ideas. i am so in love with how it all came together!2. What do you love most about writing?i love that i am in control of where my words take me, yet, they surprise me as well. i like that i could be as detailed or as vague as i want to be, which makes it easy to leave things up to the imagination or to paint a clear picture in someone’s mind. writing is magic and i love to craft it!3. What book do you wish you had written and why?i wish i had written interview with the vampire. i recently (dec. 10, 2017) finished reading it and it has kept me inspired, entangled and in awe. the style, the scenery, the characters, the poetic thoughts. this book was beyond beautiful. i can only hope that my written voice grows into something similar to anne rice’s lovely style.4. A silly one! What fictional character would you choose to be stranded with on a desert island?oh, this is a tough one! but, i think i’ll have to go with will graham, from the hannibal lecter series, book one red dragon. his mind is completely fascinating and his attention to details and the way his thoughts overlap and work together is captivating. passing time with conversations would keep me occupied! plus, he’s pretty handy when it comes to surviving, so that’s a plus!5. How do you approach your marketing/small business development for your work?i really don’t have a set plan. if anything, the only things i try to keep on schedule are my weekly newsletter emails and a monthly spoken word video. other than that, i post and share everything based on my moods or feelings on when a good time to share things might be. i try to make my website user friendly, with links that take my viewers to wherever they are looking or exploring. i pretty much leave it up to my readers, viewers and strangers to decide whether or not they want to join my newsletter, subscribe to my youtube channel, purchase my books/ crafts, or read the articles from my blogs. authentic curiosity is my favorite way to bring new people in!6. Where can we find you and what would you be doing when you're not writing?i reside in san antonio, texas. you can most definitely find me exploring local shops in and around the city. i try to make a regular habit of visiting austin and boerne, texas, as well. so, if anyone is looking to find me, just shoot me an email and we’ll plan a sweet adventure. i adore meeting my readers, and my fellow writers! also, i always have a pen in my pocket or purse, there is no rest for this creative mind! but, i do enjoy finding new foods to try, visiting handmade home decor stores and other small things. i like to take my mind and body on little adventures!7. And lastly, can you share with us a poem you have written?i’ll share one of my most recent postings, because it is one of my favorites:you build bridgesout of lightningand refuse to let the cloudssit on the river below.you shake the thunderout of the iron nailsand hold the distance togetherwith pieces of rain drops.most days your fistsbecome bruisedfrom pushing the storminto the mouth of the sky.— your knuckles aretangled with saltwater.More about the author: cheyenne raine’s main art is writing, but she loves to craft projects together and work with others. she loves tea and handwriting her work. she is an introvert, but adores and cherishes the moments she spends with others. most days there is laughter in her chest and daydreams spinning in her thoughts. you can find her and her other works at: www.rainepoetry.combooks on amazon: www.amazon.com/author/cheyenneraineThank you Cheyenne Raine!

Ones for your Christmas List

Here in sunny New Zealand, (I'm doing Christmas all wrong, the tinsel on ice cream pop ups looks bizarre) I've been reading until the books equal my body weight. Let me recommend a few that you can get with your Christmas cash!My scenic reading view example A to your right...These recommendations will warm you up I promise.Ones for poetry lovers:Charcoal mist at cotton Fields by Eden SleepwalkerBianca is the author of 4 poetry books so this can be your sample if you want to read more of her work!Love is a song she sang from a cage by Bianca BowersHope and Healing by Kirstin McWhorterKirstin is a talented young writer who is currently working on a follow up to the below collection. Spoiler: she has sent me the second edition of this for exclusive preview reading and I can reveal it's even better than the first. This one is a Kindle version.Ones for fiction lovers:The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBethFly Me by Daniel RileyOnly published in June this year!It's 1972 in Sela del Mar, California - a hedonistic beach town.

Grab a coffee because my December book recommendations are in!

Apparently I'm ranking at147th in the Top UK Book Reviewers...I don't know who judges that so take that as you will (I think this is an achievement that I didn't know I was aiming for.)As of the 7th of December I will be away in New Zealand, no doubt consuming books on the 24 hour plane journey faster than most people breathe. SO let me leave you with some books that I've already read and loved (would I recommend you anything I didn't? No. You can trust me.)P.S. There seems to be a black and white book cover theme going on this one!1. A.L.D. Chalom knows what she wants to say and understands the form that she wants to say it in. This series is a breathe of fresh air. (And all the 3 books together cost about £11 which is pretty great.)Hover over my review and scroll to reveal more.2.I am very happy that Julia Cirignano approached me for this review, she is an exciting new writer to read!3. A book that I stumbled along happily by accident...'XQ' is a pseudonym of Naveed Khan (perhaps this book was too personal for them to feel comfortable sharing under their name?Stuck for Christmas Ideas? Everyone loves a good book. Put this one under the Christmas Tree (click on the picture to follow the link!) 

Author Interview: Katie Lewington

Born with a pen in her hand, Katie Lewington has continued to write since the year dot, and develop her unique style of writing. She has self-published several chapbooks of poetry on her travels, experiences of love, and humorous food themed pieces too. She works on her blog The Poetry Hub reviewing books, sharing poetry, and interviewing writers. She likes to engage with other writers and bibliophiles through social media. Isabelle: What do you hope to achieve through your writing?Katie: Short term, something that will entertain people. I'm told my writing is good at pointing out the little things other people might miss, so if I'm encouraging people to be aware of what is around them, that's good. I see so many people on their phones these days, they seem to have forgotten they have five senses, and technology is only enabling people to use one of those senses. Long term, something that outlives me.Isabelle: What themes do you find emerge through your work?Katie: Mental health is a theme. I find more and more I'm writing about people. Partly because I'm very much a fly on the wall in social situations and find listening in on people can be quite eye opening. I also have a sense of humour, but because it's a very dry sense of humour, it often goes unnoticed, but it's always evident in my writing. I rarely take anything seriously. Apart from football. There's nothing funny about your team losing a match 1-0.Isabelle: Which writers inspire you and why? Katie: The ones that write without an audience, or fans, just write because they love to, and hope in the future maybe they'll be picking up awards, and earning a decent wage from it.  And the ones that write despite a lack of education, or encouragement. Isabelle: How do you go about promoting and marketing your work? What advice would you give to writers who are not sure where to start on this?Katie: I would start with a website that you update regularly. I think you've got to let people in and be open with your potential audience. Giveaways and freebies help too. I usually throw out the odd tweet or Instagram post on my books.  I'm currently concentrating on my book blog, which helps gets fresh eyes on my books, but you shouldn't start a book blog BECAUSE you want to exclusively promote your books. It's always best to remember engaging with potential readers is what will work wonders. The human touch. Nobody likes spam. Isabelle: What are you most proud of? (Doesn't have to be writer related, can be more personal if you prefer.)Katie: That's a good question. I think personally, six years ago I was going to commit suicide and the fact I'm still here is quite extraordinary. That I've managed to turn my pain into poetry that resonates with people I'm proud of.Isabelle: What are you working on at the moment?Katie: I'm working on a personal collection of poetry, which will be about my experiences of depression and anxiety, as well as having inspirational poems in there too. I post examples of these on my blog every Wednesday, under the title of #breakthecycle which I think is a process everybody is going through. I also have a chapbook out on the twelfth of December We have a few good memories, don't we? which I think has some of the best poetry I've ever written. I'm looking forward to its release! Links links links (follow Katie all over the web!)https://katiecreativewriterblog.wordpress.comTwitter: lewington_katieFacebook: KLpoetryInsta: katielewingtonPsstt I'm on Amazon...

I've got your next book covered.

I've been flying through some top quality books. Let me share with you the best so you don't have to ever read a bad book again...Hover over the reviews and scroll to reveal more.Just: A sign of the TimesKatie LewingtonThis was published in 2015, so I have been going back in time with Katie's published books! It's a varied poetry book, from a window - view into stranger's lives to Katie's experiences and observations at 16 and 17. In general, you really can't go wrong with Katie's books.Empty Hotel Rooms Meant For Usby Christina HartPoetry is powerful when the writer chooses a subject so open and so significant to them personally, that it makes the reader believe in its power and feel the emotions too. In this collection Christina lays her heart on the line.The Dogs I Have Kissedby Trista MateerThis one won the Goodreads Poetry Prize in 2015. I have read a few of Trista's books now, and her style and voice is unique throughout. This is a great book for you to start with if you are not familiar with her work.The Lonely Heart Wandersby Matt BankThis book is inspired by Matt's wandering heart - all the things he loves and which he muses over, condensed into one book. Matt's writing style is accessible and tender.Pssst! I'm out now! Click on me!

Author Interview: Melissa Jennings

This week I interviewed poet Melissa Jennings:Melissa Jennings is a Scottish, non-binary poet and is rather fond of poetry and books. Melissa studies English Literature at the University of Glasgow, they are currently in their second year. They published their debut poetry collection in May 2017, 'Afterlife'. Melissa is currently working on their next full-length poetry collection, 'Underworld', and new chapbook series, 'dear judas'. Melissa spends their time chilling with their cat Dora, watercolour-painting, and trying to lessen their overwhelming TBR list on their bookshelves. Isabelle: I loved reading Afterlife. How do you imagine that the two books you are currently working on, Underworld and Dear Judas, will differ?Melissa: Underworld is a companion to Afterlife. The collection expands on the same themes in Afterlife, but delves much deeper. I wouldn't call it a sequel as such, but they are interconnected. However, Underworld is much more pessimistic and darker for that matter. I also feel that my writing style has evolved massively since composing Afterlife earlier this year. I really think I have found my voice. Afterlife was very much a scream into the void. Dear Judas, in the same way, is connected to Afterlife and Underworld, but it differs in format and theme variation. Dear Judas is a precise poetry collection, questioning, in fact, interrogating the process of human nature. Isabelle: How long have you been writing for?Melissa:I have been writing for as long as I can remember. However, poetry was not the first genre I started with. I wrote short stories, even performed some of them. I have so many unfinished stories, but hopefully one day, I will get round to them again. Isabelle: How do you get the idea for a new poetry book and is there a creative process you go through?Melissa: Sadly there is not really a process. It's more of a Eureka moment at 2 in the morning. Beyond that, I always try to keep the purpose of the book in mind. When writing, I let the words come to me. I never force them. To help my writer's block, I look at images that I find particularly interesting. Pinterest and Tumblr is pretty good for that. I sometimes create playlists on Spotify to help me with the mood. I'm very much a mood writer.Isabelle: How would you describe your style as a writer?Melissa: Honest. Interrogative. Dark. Isabelle: What would you say to writers about to go down the self-publishing route with their work?Melissa: Be authentic. Be patient. If you feel your work is ready for publishing, leave it for a week or two, and return to it. Be thorough. Check that you want this out in the world. Ultimately, write from the heart. Also, you will be told by people what is and isn't poetry, don't listen to that elitist nonsense. Your words might save a life. Isabelle: When you're not writing, what would we find you doing?Melissa: Probably reading 10 books at once. Reviewing books. Catching up on my favourite TV shows. And probably buying more poetry books that I definitely can't afford. Thank you to the lovely Melissa, read more about their work here: https://melissaljennings.com/PSSTT I'm out now and if you click on me you can buy me!

A Big Thank you

Sometimes you just need to say a great big thank you to your readers - you have taken This is not a Spectacle (the chapbook edition) tonumber three on the UK Chapbook Chart!(This is based on both hits and sales.)To celebrate this (and the release of the extended edition in just 2 days) the chapbook is only £3.59on Amazon!

A Stunning 5* Review for This is not a Spectacle: Extended Edition

Galya Varna is a blogger, poet and reviewer over at https://galyavarna.wordpress.comHer review of my extended edition is below:Link to original blog reviewIn “This is not a Spectacle” Isabelle Kenyon offers the reader a vivid and elaborate dramatization of human suffering and pain, doubts and fears. I had the privilege to read the extended version of the chapbook where the author explores the human condition with curiosity and care, offering a fresh view on the individual’s connection with the world around. The chapbook is divided into six sections, each of it featuring a different topic. “This is not a Spectacle” is a kaleidoscope, reflecting the lyrical persona’s experience of the surrounding world – abroad and at home, with the beggars on the street and in the house of a family where domestic violence is the norm, in hospital rooms and inside care home. Ms Kenyon’s background in theatre manifests itself in the skillful impersonations – her poetry is dramatic and full of evocative scenes. Her poems use a multitude of voices – from a blind girl on the corner of the street to a stranger on the train. Her poems give faces to faceless people, people we usually ignore, indifferent and unaware of their suffering. The author explores alienation from yet another perspective - cyber world versus real world, where even love is not more than a “fleeting – passing” opportunity and preoccupation with technology is viewed as an excuse for not having face-to-face and meaningful communication. If I were asked to choose a favourite, it would have probably been the poem “Letter to my younger self” with the lyrical persona’s loving advice to a younger “self”. Discovered by chance in cyberspace, I find Isabelle Kenyon a fascinating poet. I cannot be indifferent to her poetry and am really looking forward to reading her next collection!

Need a pick up? These 2 books will do the trick.

Evening all! It's been a tough weekend for me (missing some lovely people) and I've needed a pick me up myself - these books are perfect for that.Salt speaks for itself: Next we have Charcoal Thunderstorms (great name): I think this poem was my favourite because of the pleasure which Raine takes in her every day life - this translates through her poetry!Just 4 days left to preorder This is not a Spectacle: Extended Edition!I am very excited - please do get in touch with your thoughts after reading!

Winter Warmers

Books to warm your hearts this November! Hover over the reviews and scroll to reveal more.Moonriseby Kaliane FayeMaroon Daydreams by Cheyenne RaineAfterlife by Melissa JenningsMelissa is non binary and so I use pronouns 'they' and 'them' in this review.It Starts Like This by Shelby LeighSoft Magicby Upile ChisalaHave you added This is not a Spectacle: Extended Edition to your Goodreads shelf yet?https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36565851-this-is-not-a-spectacle