Inspiration, National Poetry Month

Get Inspired: 10 Engaging Ideas to Celebrate Poetry Month

The month of April brings showers, flowers, and poems!

This poster was designed by Marc Brown, creator of the famous Arthur book. The artwork incorporates an excerpted line from one of my favorite poets: “Carrying” by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón

Ten Ways to celebrate Poetry Month:

  1. Sign-up for Poem-a-Day, curated this month by U. S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, and read a poem each morning.
  2. Record yourself reading a poem and send it in a text to your child, grandchild, friend, partner, or all of the above.
  3. Post the same poem to your social media. Use @poetsorg on Twitter and Instagram.
  4. Read about your state poet laureate. Give them a shout-out on social media!
  5. Buy a book of poetry from your local bookstore, stroll to the coffee shop, and enjoy the read.
  6. Share a book of poetry by donating it to a little library in your area.
  7. Attend a poetry reading, open mic, or poetry slam via Zoom.
  8. Take a walk and write a poem outside. Try a Haiku.
  9. Share a poem for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 27, 2023, on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem.
  10. Encourage your writing, blog, or reading community to write short poems or haikus to be performed at your next meeting. You can even create a prize for the most creative entry.

April 4th was Maya Angelou Day. This quote is from the famous poem “Still, I Rise,” which she wrote in 1976.

“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.”

Maya Angelou

The poem speaks to the idea that even when we come from a place of oppression or pain, we have the power to rise above it and create a better future for ourselves and others.

Book Stuff:

In my latest newsletter, I wrote about Guns to Gardens. This was about an organization forging buyback guns into garden tools. What a brilliant idea. And keeping with the garden theme, I wrote about how plants grow good vibes. I can attest to that finding. I’m happier when I’m out in my garden or in nature.

For my newsletter subscribers, I had two ARCs (in print form) given via a raffle. They were the first to receive the code for the e-Arcs of THE GARDEN OF SECOND CHANCES.

This month, I’m sharing the codes with blog subscribers. 

If you’re a NetGalley member, my novel is now featured on their front page. I’d love for you to read it and leave a review.

Click on this link to Goodreads. Scroll to my book cover, and click “Vote for this book.” It takes you to June 2023 Books. This pushes my book up to higher levels and gains visibility.

While you’re there, you can add it to your Want to Read stack.

Lastly, I wrote a prequel for TGOSC. It’s a short ten pages.

If you subscribe to the newsletter, I’ll send it to you. Use the home page to subscribe.

Thank you for reading and helping out this debut author. Be well.

Authors, Inspiration

7 Reasons to Sign Up For the Newsletter

photo by Binti Malu for Pexels

Yes, I know. Everyone and their mother (except mine) writes a newsletter. There are quite a few good ones that offer marketing, book reviews, writing, and saving the planet tips. They are all valuable.

Reasons to sign-up for my newsletter:

1- Most of the followers of this blog are on an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed handled by WordPress. While it’s possible to manually add your name to an email list, I’d never add anyone unless they gave me permission.

2- The current MailChimp newsletter subscription box is the only way to get permission. (On the right side above the teal button or if you are on a mobile device, the sign-up is at the bottom). When you sign up, I know you trust me with your inbox, and more importantly, you trust me with your time and attention.

3- Sharing news about my upcoming book (June 2023) will be easier. We can discuss why I wrote this specific book, answer questions, and link to podcasts or interviews about the book’s subjects and themes.

4- When the time gets closer for the book’s debut, the cover reveal, pre-orders, giveaways, and Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) will be announced first in the newsletter.

5- I enjoy sharing inspiring writing, poetry, and links with other readers and don’t want to lose communication with you all.

6- A newsletter is one connection I can make with readers that aren’t part of a Facebook, Twitter, or other social media algorithm that decides what to show to whom.

7- The email list is mine, and I don’t have to worry about a social media network canceling my account.

The monthly newsletter will be sent on the fourth Saturday of the month.

The blog will still exist, but updates will be sporadic and brief. Pretty much listing the subject of the newsletter.

So, I’m ready to get started with this new venture. Delivery will be on the last Saturday of the month (July 23, 2022).

I hope you will sign up. My friend over at The Story Farmer reviewed my trial newsletter. She sent me the nicest comment:

I really enjoyed the (letter) We Are Made For These Times. Your newsletter is comforting and hopeful.

Mikko Cook
pexels.com

And that’s what I intend with the newsletter. To provide a bit of hope. Talk to you soon.