Harmony Kent's Blog, page 32
November 16, 2021
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #252 @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro #PhotoPrompt #Tanka
Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, which asks for a verse using metaphor and allegory from a photo supplied by Lisa – The Versesmith.
You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
I have chosen a Tanka, which has the following syllable format: 5-7-5-7-7
Growing pains of life
No safe perch when you’re not you
Stop!—smell the flowers
Make time for vulnerable
Self-reflection transforms us
November 14, 2021
Welcome to Day 4 of The HYPE Blog Tour @YvetteMCalleiro #Hype #NewRelease #BookPromo #YAFiction
Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to have fellow author Yvette M Calleiro over to tell us all about her new book! Take it away, Yvi >>>
GIVEAWAY: 3 e-book copies of HYPE! Leave a comment below for your chance to win!
About this Book:
Cici’s junior year in high school is going to be the best year ever. Popular co-captain of the varsity cheerleading team, she’s dating the starting quarterback. Even her jealous co-captain’s attempts to steal her boyfriend can’t curb her enthusiasm.
When her mom moves in with her fiancé, a handsome, wealthy man, only one small detail threatens Cici’s perfect life. The school’s social pariah is about to become her stepsister, and Cici wants nothing to do with her.
Everything changes when someone Cici cares about throws her life into a tailspin, and the one person Cici couldn’t stand becomes her only ally.
Warning: This story contains scenes of sexual assault.
From Yvi about Sexual Abuse:
Writing a story that includes sexual abuse is not easy to do, especially for a young adult book. When this story idea came to me, the character’s voice was so loud in my head that I couldn’t ignore it. Cici needed this story told because the truth is that it happens way too often. As a teacher of 25 years, I have lost count of the number of students who were abused in some way, some of them sexually. The aggressors were boyfriends, relatives, and stepparents. Not all instances were rape, but they were all unwanted advances and violations.
So, I wrote Hype. It’s a story of a horrific violation, but that isn’t the full story. It’s also a story of strength and resilience, of despair and hope, and of trauma and healing. The first part is light-hearted and full of high school drama. The second part goes through the different stages trauma victims must process. It’s heavy at times, but those are sprinkled in around moments of normalcy and love.
I took extra care when writing the rape scene. Honestly, a huge part of me just wanted to skip right over it, but I couldn’t. Rape is real and violent and traumatic, and we need to be able to have open discussions about it. So, I wrote the scene. I kept the details out of it because they weren’t necessary. I focused on Cici’s thoughts during that scene. My beta readers and critique partners reassured me that the scene honors those who have been victimized without being graphic. This excerpt taking you into Cici’s thoughts after the rape:
I should tell the cops. They would arrest him, right? What if they believed his story? What if they believed I’m making it up because I wanted him, and he rejected me? Would my mom really believe his lies? I replay scenes from the past few months…me agreeing with Mom that he’s hot, me enjoying the tutoring sessions, me watching movies with him, us being in the Jacuzzi together. But those were all innocent moments. She would realize that, right?
I was raped. There’s proof. Had he worn a condom? It all happened so fast. I have no idea. Knowing him, how calculating this was, he probably did. I was bleeding. The doctors could show I lost my virginity. I start to believe I could prove what he did to me and then lose all hope as I play my own devil’s advocate. He will just say I had sex with Ryan and freaked out when we got into a fight. He’ll say I needed to blame it on someone and chose him.
And if I report it, everyone will find out. Ryan will hate me. No one will believe me. I mean, hell, I even told my friends how hot he is. But I need to tell someone. I can’t let him get away with this. I sit there crying until the water runs cold.
There is so much fear after a rape. Society has created a rape culture that tells the rapist that the victim asked for it and tells the victim that he/she will never be believed. It’s one of the many reasons why rape victims do not report the crime. Recent events, like the #MeToo movement, have started to turn that tide, and I hope we get to the day when rape victims are empowered to speak up and rapists are condemned and convicted.
Until then, we have open conversations and lend a helping hand when someone confides in us that he/she has been raped. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. There is a support network waiting to help you. Visit http://www.rainn.org or call 1-800-656-4673. You are brave. You are strong. You are worthy. You are loved.
To follow along with the rest of the Hype tour, please visit the author’s blog. Thanks for your support!
Author Bio:
Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.
Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.
Amazon Links:
Hype – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7BFNXG
The One Discovered (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4L2Q40
The One Enlightened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R0QI51I
The One Betrayed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 3) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191O1892
The One Revealed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 4) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBKJHIO
The One Awakened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 5) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781WT73J
The One Chosen – A Diasodz Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0986Q6P1D
Breathless – A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLVDHQX
Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/Yvette-M-Calleiro/e/B00I4RJMUU
Social Media Links:
Author Blog: http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YvetteMCalleiro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yvettemcalleiro
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7800735.Yvette_M_Calleiro
Thanks, Yvi! It’s great to have you over to visit. I wish you all the very best with HYPE. I’ve bought my copy and look forward to reading it! 
November 10, 2021
#BookReview: Word Craft: Prose & Poetry by Colleen M Chesebro @ColleenChesebro @SyllabicPoetry
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I respect immensely, and whom many of you know, Colleen Chesebro >>>
About the Book:
Are you ready to learn how to craft Japanese and American poetry? Consider this book the first step on your journey to learning the basics of how to craft syllabic poetry. Inside, you will discover many new forms, syllable combinations, and interpretations of the different Japanese and American forms and structures of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, renga/solo renga, gogyohka, haibun, tanka prose, the cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry.
So… what are you waiting for? Let’s craft syllabic poetry together!
My Review:
This is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write syllabic poetry such as Haiku, Senryu, Etheree, and many more. Section one covers Japanese syllabic poetry, and section two shows us American forms.
The author includes photos in the book to illustrate sources of inspiration for some of the poetry examples. In the paperback version, these pictures are black and white, but Ms Cheeseboro also lists aspects of the images, which mention the colours that were prominent in the original.
Each chapter introduces the reader to a certain poetic form and gives us the history as well as essential points to remember and excellent examples. The tone throughout is encouraging and easy to understand.
Along with this guide, aspiring poets will benefit from Colleen Cheeseboro’s weekly poetry challenges, which you will find on her blog (https://wordcraftpoetry.com/).
This is a reference I shall return to again and again, and it gets a solid five stars from me.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
November 9, 2021
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #251 @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro #Cinquain #ButterflyCinquain
Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, which asks for a butterfly cinquain on the theme of “Taste the Rainbow”. Pat (wildchild47) chose this week’s theme. Unfortunately, Pat’s websites are all deleted. I sure hope she’s okay.
You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
A butterfly cinquain has the following syllable format: 2-4-6-8-2-8-6-4-2
EnoughMy poem is dark this week. Don’t ask why … I’m sitting here smiling! Although, I am sporting a few bruises … self-inflicted due to being extra clumsy lately! Perhaps that’s where my muse is sitting! 
Image courtesy of Laura Vinck via UnsplashLegion
The many hues
Of Bruises which scar skin
The metallic taste of crimson
Of fog
Of rage of hurt of heart broken
Of dawn full of tumult
Resolution
No more
November 3, 2021
#BookReview: There’s a Hole in My Bucket by Royd Tolkien #MotorNeuroneDisease #ALS #Memoir
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for a memoir of a bucket list made by a man dying of Motor Neurone Disease (also know as ALS) for his remaining brother to complete. The surviving brother, Royd Tolkien, completed the bucket list and wrote about it in this book >>>
About the Book:
Having grown up on their great-grandfather’s stories, Royd Tolkien and his brother, Mike, have always enjoyed adventures. So when Mike is diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, the brothers decide to use the time they have left to tick off as much as possible from Mike’s bucket list, from remote camping in Norway to travelling through Royd’s beloved New Zealand.
Yet, when Royd loses Mike, he discovers his brother had been writing another kind of bucket list: fifty things he wanted Royd to do after his death. His first task? Mike wants his mild-mannered brother to trip up on his way to the lectern to deliver his eulogy. What follows is a set of emotionally charged tests that will push Royd firmly out of his comfort zone.
This is the story of Royd’s journey to accomplish a challenging, humorous, and often heart-breaking list of unknown tasks that chart the brothers’ lives from childhood to adulthood. But above all, it is a story of the sibling bond, of grief—and of treasuring every moment.
My Review:
The write up promised this would be an emotive read, and it was in many places, but some of it fell flat for me. Especially the latter 25% of the memoir. Perhaps this reflects the writer’s state of mind and mood at that point? Also, many of the bucket list activities got glossed over, and a few felt repetitive. Don’t get me wrong, much of the writing was enjoyable with some well written lines that stood out for me and show the author’s wonderful sense of humour, such as …
‘She speaks to the (clean-up?) crew on the ground, and tells them I’m about to jump.’
And …
‘I’m not a young man anymore, despite what I like to put on my Tinder profile.’
And one that rings true for anyone that bit older in years …
‘Fear comes easier as you get older.’
Because of the subject matter, I wanted to give this read five stars. I really did. However, it isn’t a book that will stay with me. All in all, a good read on a difficult subject, which earns three stars. See my notes on ratings below.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
November 2, 2021
No Such Luck! #NewBook by Staci Troilo @stacitroilo
Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to host fellow author, Story Empire contributor, and friend, Staci Troilo, with her latest book: No Such Luck! I’ll let Staci tell you all about it >>>
Take it away, Staci!
I appreciate you inviting me here today, Harmony. Hi, everyone. Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat with me about my new release, No Such Luck. It’s a quick and quirky clean romance just in time for the Christmas season.
Piper Seidel has had a crush on Tommy Burnett since they were kids. Now that she’s back home, she finally has a chance—if she can take her foot out of her mouth long enough to form a coherent sentence. The few she’s managed so far have all been full of double meanings, which is just as bad if not worse. The following is a brief excerpt from the novella, when she finally has herself put together and is composed enough to start an adult conversation.
“I heard you’re a rider,” Tommy said. “Aren’t you kind of big for that?”
“Excuse me?” She pulled on her sweater, wishing it wasn’t so clingy around her middle.
“I thought jockeys were those tiny little guys that weighed about ninety pounds or something.” He looked her up and down and cocked a brow.
“Oh. Oh! Not rider. Writer. Journalist. I’ve written for newspapers in Detroit, Dayton, and Fayetteville.”
“Oh. That makes more sense.”
Did he have to stare at her hips while he said that? “Sure. I’m not really the buck-wild-in-the-saddle type.”
He smirked.
What was wrong with her? She was a writer. Did she not know how to form a coherent, non-humiliating sentence?
“The horse-thing sounds more exciting to me, but I was never much for academics. Always preferred to work with my hands, if you know what I mean.”
She nodded. Best to keep her mouth shut than blurt out another ridiculous innuendo.
“What made you get into writing?”
“I always liked reading. And writing. I wrote for the school newspaper in senior high, remember?”
“Not really. I never read it.”
“Oh.” She finished her eggnog and poured another.
Even prepared, Piper can’t get the upper hand. Poor thing.
I hope you enjoyed that quick sneak peek. No Such Luck, the first installment of the Keystone Couples series, is available now on Amazon.
Blurb:
Seeds of luck usually wither. The rare one grows and blooms.
Piper Seidel has one thing going for her—a red carnation given to her by Tommy Burnett in the tenth grade. It might have dried over the years, but it’s still her good luck charm. Losing it sets her life in a downward spiral, forcing her to return to her hometown where she comes face to face with her high school crush.
The years have been kind to Tommy, who looks better than ever. Unfortunately, Piper is at her worst, continually embarrassing herself whenever he’s around. The only plus? Her long-time friend, Jack Rhodes, still lives in town. Since she last saw him, his legs have grown longer, his biceps thicker, and his shoulders broader. He was always the brother she never had, but now she can’t help noticing him in an unsisterly way. Jack is every bit as caring as he’s ever been—until her bad luck drives him away, maybe forever.
Piper needs a new good luck charm, and fast, before she loses her final chance at happiness.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J31935Z?
Website | Blog | Social Media | Newsletter
Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads
It’s wonderful to have you visit today, Staci! My copy hit my ereader on release day, and I really enjoyed it!
My Review:
A wonderful quick romance read.
No Such Luck follows Piper, who’s had a life of more downs than ups. When she returns to her hometown for the festive period, she feels anything but. And the issues just keep on piling higher.
There’s no ‘meet cute’ in this little gem, but rather a ‘remeet’ and not knowing what you’re missing. At fifty some pages this is a fast and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next novella in the series, Pour It On.
Wishing Staci all the best with her latest book!
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #POETSCHOICE @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro #Acrostic
Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge and have written an Acrostic verse. An Acrostic poem is a form not requiring rhyme, but requiring letters or words to form word(s) or messages when read from consecutive lines.
You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
This week’s challenge is poet’s choice with no prompt to follow.
Denied AccessThis poem is inspired from my own recent difficulties when venturing out on my mobility scooter and the news today that an Israeli Minister was unable to attend the COP26 due to a lack of accessibility. The word formed at the start of each line forms ‘Disabled’.
Image courtesy of Matt Artz on Unsplash
Denied access
Inadvertent or deliberate?
Sad in this day and age
Alone and marginalised still
Because of things not our fault
Less able doesn’t mean
Extraneous
Deftly different, more like
October 27, 2021
#BookReview: Life is Like a Mosaic by Sally Cronin @sgc58 #poetry
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for fellow author and friend Sally Cronin >>>
About the Book:
“Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” Arthur Brisbane 1911.
An image offers an opportunity to see endless possibilities depending on the viewer’s perspective. Where some might see beauty and joy, others imagine sadness and loss of hope.
In this collection, images and syllabic poetry are brought together to tell a story based on the author’s perspective. The poetry explores our human experiences such as love, happiness, hope, aging, friendship, new beginnings, dreams and loss.
The world around us is an amazing playground and source of all our essential needs as well as sensory experiences that bring wonder into our lives. What lies beyond the horizon? What surprises will we discover as a garden bursts into bloom? Where do the night creatures live?
At the end of the collection there are some longer poems celebrating memories of the author’s life of travel, teenage exploits and love of food!
My Review:
I’ve had this book on my Kindle for a while … too long, especially with the absolute gem of a read it is. This book of poetry may be small in size but it’s big in content. The poems use various syllabic formats and some of them are a work of art in themselves … such as the butterfly Cinquain, for example. Sally Cronin packs a lot of life into few words and evokes so many emotions.
Each poem is accompanied with a photograph, which adds to the artistry of this book. The topics covered include birthdays, ageism, secrets, friendships, advanced years, and so much more. The final section of the book treats the reader to slices of life in rhyming verse. I enjoyed them all, and The Lure of the Waltzer took me right back to my teenage years.
While the whole collection is wonderful, here are some lines which stood out for me …
“ In a house where the jungle merged with the sea.”
And …
“it’s good to know you can still come home
rebellion packed in your case.”
And …
“ So if I sound a bit pickled
The leftovers carry the blame.”
And, finally a poem in full … from FIRST STEPS:
“First steps
new beginnings
hesitancy and fear
one foot in front of the other
deep breath
Focus on smiles and
hands outstretched
for you are not alone
on this journey
through life.”
Life is Like a Mosaic gets a resounding five stars. A must read book.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
October 26, 2021
#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 249, #ThemePrompt #Haiga #Haiku @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro
Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge and have written a Haiga in a 5-7-5 syllabic format. You can find Colleen’s post HERE.
From last month’s challenge, I chose the theme for this month:
KindnessDid you know November is Kindness month?
Image courtesy of Photo by Sirisvisual on Unsplash
October 20, 2021
#BookReview: The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman @hannahbeckerman @NetGalley @AmazonPub
Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, who I discovered via NetGalley >>>
About the Book:
From bestselling author Hannah Beckerman comes a moving story about memory, secrets, and what it really means to feel that you’re one of the family.
When Nell’s father makes a deathbed declaration that hints at a long-held secret, it reignites feelings of isolation that have plagued her for years. Her suspicions about the family’s past only deepen when her mother, Annie, who is losing her memories to dementia, starts making cryptic comments of her own.
Thirty-five years earlier, Annie’s life was upended by a series of traumas—one shock after another that she buried deep in her heart. The decisions she made at the time were motivated by love, but she knew even then that nobody could ever understand—let alone forgive—what she did.
As the two women’s stories unravel, a generation apart, Nell finally discovers the devastating truth about her mother’s past, and her own.
In this beautifully observed and emotionally powerful story of identity, memory and the nature of family, Hannah Beckerman asks: To what lengths would you go to protect the ones you love?
My Review:
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a free Advanced Review Copy of this book. I haven’t read this author before, but after this stunning read, I’ll be sure to check out her other stuff.
This is one of those reviews where I can’t say too much without putting in spoilers. Suffice it to say, this is a WOW read that I would have read in one sitting if life had allowed. As it was, I finished this amazing novel in two stints.
The narrative is split between “then” and “now” and follows the main character, Nell, and her mother, Annie.
Nell’s father is dying of cancer, which has taken him down at speed. Meanwhile Annie has developed Dementia. Nell’s world has turned upside down already, and then her father says something on his deathbed that changes everything she thought she knew about her life. The rest of the story unfolds from there, and the truth is revealed in stages via each trip back in time.
Here are some lines that stood out for me …
“Her breath smells tired, musty, like air that has been trapped in a room for too long.”
And …
“… the urgency creeping around the corners of her consonants.”
And …
“… bland euphemisms filling the space where her worst fears lie.”
And …
“The rest of Bill’s question hangs in the air, unsure whether it wants to settle or fly away.”
I could go on. The imagery, description, and emotion in this is superbly done. The Impossible Truths of Love gets a resounding five stars from me. Go and read this book!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
