Where the Butterflies Go

by Heather Grace Stewart

Sales surpassed Heather's initial goal; she continues to donate 50 percent of revenue from the sale of each book to Unicef's Gift of Education fund. Heather Grace Stewart (hgrace.com) is an author, poet, and photographer. Her poems have appeared in Canadian literary journals, international anthologies (Routes, Babylon Burning) e-zines, and the British small presses. Where the Butterflies Go is her first complete collection. Reviews: "Whirlwind poetry that never hesitates...always delightful and rarely what you expect. We need poetry like this." -Sally Evans, poet and Editor, Poetry Scotland. "Thanks to an exhilarating directness and a worked-for simplicity of language, not to mention a nicely self-deprecating sense of humour on occasion, this is a book full of sharply drawn images, honest poignancy and frank admissions."-Poet-Journalist Tom Phillips. "These poems have a humanity, a goodness, an almost other-worldliness about them." -Tony Lewis-Jones, Author of Anytime and nine other collections

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2014

About the author

Picture this: an eight-year-old freckle-faced blonde girl, perched in a rickety treehouse, surrounded by a fortress of Archie comics and armed with a bag of Jujubes. That's where the writing bug bit me, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride ever since. Fast forward to my drama class days, where I ran lines with no other than a young Matthew Perry—yes, Chandler Bing himself. Could I BE any luckier?

But wait, there's more! I even auditioned for a musical alongside Alanis Morissette, the powerhouse behind "You Oughta Know." Spoiler alert: She got the gig. Apparently, the universe decided my destiny was more "pen to paper" than "jazz hands on stage."

Now, I could bore you with the usual author bio stuff—you know, degrees (Queen's University and Concordia for Journalism), accomplishments (22 books published, over 360K readers worldwide, and the prestigious "I Survived Cruel 1-Star Reviews" award), and how I've managed to raise a kind kid who likes me (most days) and live with another human for 26 years without turning us into characters in 911: Montreal.

But let's be real. What matters most here is what I can offer you. That’s simple: I'm here to be your literary escape hatch from the daily grind. When Netflix has betrayed you with its "Are you still watching?" judgment, and your phone is just one scroll away from being practically grafted to your fingers, that's where my books come in.

My mission is to make you laugh so hard you snort your coffee, cry just enough to release that pent-up emotion from your awkward ex-partner encounter at the corner store, and love the story so much you can't help but text your bestie at 2 AM saying, "OMG, you have to read this!"

So, whether you're into my romcoms, time-travel romances, screenplays, or poetry that's "for people who don’t think they like poetry" (their words, not mine), welcome to my world of words.

You can find me on Instagram, Threads, or my Facebook Author Page, where I'm probably inline skating, dancing with oven mittens, or trying to convince one of my cats to do my marketing for me. Drop by and say hi! Just don't ask me to audition for anything. Unless it's for "woman juggling dinner, a manuscript, and a strawberry yogurt face mask"—I've got that one nailed.

Reviews

[Natasha Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premier release from Heather Grace Stewart is a breath of fresh air. Her poems touch on the seriousness of world issues, but rather than leaving the reader wondering where we go from here, the collection, above all, leaves the reader with hope for bigger and brighter tomorrow. Heather's voice is one that is easy to relate to, her poems are approachable and this collection is one I can personally recommend.

[Mark Stratton · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is s sense of earnestness that pervades this collection. Couple that with honesty, add a touch of humor blended with whimsy and a heart on the sleeve, and you get a good picture of the earlier poetry of Canadian Poet, Heather Grace Stewart.

Topics range from the personal, to the world around all of us, world events to doings in her back yard, Stewart’s simple, yet elegant poetry breathes humanity into the everyday. The love poems are realistic and don’t drip with perfection or idealised bliss. The lack of perfection displayed in the people around her adds to their perfection for her, and she expresses this stunningly well. The poems about her child and her role as a mother are honest, tinged with awe and an eye for humor.

The words paint vivid pictures of a life well lived, lived in and enjoyed for what it is. They are deceptively simple, these words joined together in poetry. It’s that deception that makes these poems and this collection a joy to read. I recommended it quite highly.

[James Brush · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is divided into three sections: Pain, Growth and Family and it was the last that resonated most with me. Equal parts meditation, celebration and reflection on family life, marriage and parenting, the poems here are full of keen observation of relationships and the small details that make each family unique and special to its members. My world now is so full of learning this whole parenting business, I found myself frequently smiling and nodding along as I read. I especially enjoyed the way Stewart’s book moves between poems that recollect the transition from childhood to adulthood and others that celebrate childhood innocence through the eyes of a wise mother who knows that innocence is fleeting. Beautiful work.

[Kellie Elmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Grace Stewart makes poetry fun to read with her human connection. Her perspective on the world is completely enchanting and engrossing, you cannot stop reading.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work of collected poems by Heather Grace Stewart is original and truly unique, that digs deep within your soul and touches your heart. The writing is beautifully mesmerizing and captures the essence of life, from youth to adulthood. I was touched and moved by how I could relate and empathize with what the writer was trying to say, that connected to my own life and self in such an analogous way. I found them emotive as I connected to them, being deeply touched by an author whose observations on life are spot on. They painted an honest, clear picture of growing up with a touch of added femininity that is memorable and poignant. These poems seem to speak for themselves and take on an entire new deeper meaning, as you relive life surrounding you with the past, present and future before you. The sections pain, growth and family were well thought out and introduced you to each different phase within life, with fluidity that made you want to read on. Each poem tells a different story, presenting to the reader a new message that is thought-provoking to the core and which you ultimately identify with. Each poem is truth-drawing, showing the world as it is in vivid color with nothing glossed over but left bare for you to explore. This has to be the most wonderful anthology of poetry that I have ever been fortunate enough to have read; hence I cannot enthuse enough to all those readers who as yet have not discovered Heather Grace Stewarts work. It is atmospheric, genuine, unforgettable and truly remarkable by an accomplished and skilled writer who has something to tell. I could feel what the writer was feeling through each word, which was carefully chosen to express those emotions and thoughts that were happening. Every poem was brought to life with imagery and description that was so precise and defined; all down to the meticulous effort that was apparent by the writer. This collection of poems is highly readable, enjoyable with underlying poignant messages.

[Victoria Slotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Stewart offers her readers a collection of accessible, emotionally engaging poetry. She covers pain, social issues and family in a manner that is both accessible and eloquent, presenting her poems with simplicity. Her treament of social issues is subtle and non-divisive, which is refreshing in this age of political extremism. The section on family covers both the difficulties and delights of marriage and parenting and could be used as a primer for young couples. I recommend her work to those who have an aversion or fear of poetry because of its clarity and emotional balance.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful collection of poems where the heart is foremost, for all of us to dwell. I particularly liked the one about Christmas - which shows us the things we could do differently - thinking of others is always a good thing.

If you like poetry, you'll enjoy this collection, which, like butterflies, will flit into your mind, and may not always stay, yet will certainly give you pleasure when you see them.

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an inspiration to all those who appreciate the written word and is very touching to your soul. I highly recommend this book and look for others by Heather because she loves her profession and it is very apparent in her literature.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Butterflies Go has a voice from the common every day to the horror of war. Heather Grace Stewart uses her unique writing talent to awaken the conscience of the reader to want to do their part in making the world a better place. She proves their is power in the poetic voice!