Welcome to the WordCrafter “Behind Closed Doors” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 23, 2021 Filed under: book marketing, Book Promotion, Books, Guest Post, Poetry, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Behind Closed Doors, Poetry Collection, Robbie Cheadle, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, Writing to be Read 51 Comments
To kick off the WordCrafter Behind Closed Doors Book Blog Tour today, we have a guest post by author and poet, Robbie Cheadle. In addition to being an author and poet, Robbie is a wife and mother of two boys, which shine through in her poetry. I always find Robbie’s poetry fun and heartwarming, and her fondant masterpieces are delightful. Today’s post discusses the inspiration by one of the poems in her newly released collection of unusual poems, Behind Closed Doors. I hope you will follow the tour this week, with a different guest post from Robbie at each blog stop, it should prove to be quite interesting. Join us to learn more about this fascinating lady and her poetry.
Behind Closed Doors, a collection of unusual poems blog tour – Day 1
On the 9th of February 2021, I had been married for 20 years. So much has happened since that Friday two decades ago. We’ve lost loved ones, moved to a new house, enlarged our family with two lovely boys, progressed in our careers, and are now living through a pandemic.
Through all these years, some periods of which were joyous and some difficult and strained, my husband and I have remained the same; two contrasting personalities that complement each other.
Terence is the conservative one. He reflects and considers before he takes any action. He rarely gets angry or emotional and is peaceful and calming to be around.
I am the colourful one, always busy with four or five projects on the go. I have great passions and become deeply obsessed with things. My obsessions have changed over the years from instructing spinning and weight training in the gym, to baking, teaching Sunday School, fondant art, blogging, and writing. The subject of my enthusiasm may change, but my single-minded devotion and addiction has not.
In the beginning, Terence had one emotional, arty, and obsessive person to deal with and now, two sons later, he has three of us. Gregory and Michael are both more like me in personality and behaviour.
I wrote Contrasting Colours, one of my few metaphorical poems, as a celebration of our difference.
Contrasting colours (a metaphorical poem)
| My husband is…. | I am…. |
| a calm expanse of water; glass smooth and clear, | a whirlpool of relentless, swirling motion, |
| a gentle zephyr, mildly puffing through life, | a tornado, tearing across fields and dales, |
| a leader with a firm attitude and commanding tone, | a soldier, determinedly marching through life, |
| a tawny owl, silent, watchful and wise, | a red breasted robin; bright eyed, perky and daring, |
| a spacious cavern, silent, restful and still, | a babbling stream; vibrant, noisy and turbulent, |
| a grandfather clock, steadily marking the seconds, minutes, and hours, | a cuckoo clock that loudly announces the hour, |
| a dictionary, providing an exact and definitive meaning, | a mysterious poem with different shades of meaning, |
| a mighty redwood, solid, sturdy and dependable, | a daylily flowering in a myriad of deep and bright colours, |
| a mural painted in calming blues and greens, | a collage of bright colours; yellows, oranges and pinks. |
| classic piano; gently soothing, relaxing, and soft, | raucous Broadway tunes; loud, lusty, and energised. |
Do you think relationships work better if the couple are similar or different? Tell me in the comments.
Book blurb
What goes on behind closed doors: in the boardroom, after death, in the home, during lockdown, and in nature? This collection of poems, ranging from rhyming verse to twisted nursery rhymes, captures the emotions and thoughts people hide behind the masks they present to the world.
What thoughts are hidden
Behind her immobile face
Quite expressionless
Eyes cold and indifferent
Scrutinising me – hawk like
This book includes some of Robbie Cheadle’s spectacular fondant art and cakes.
Robbie Cheadle author bio
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with 9 children’s books and 1 poetry book.
The 7 Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie has also published 2 books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has 2 adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories in the horror and paranormal genre and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie writes a monthly series for https://writingtoberead.com called Growing Bookworms. This series discusses different topics relating to the benefits of reading to children.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/ where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Social Media Robbie Cheadle
Website
https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog
https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/
TSL Books Author Page
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
Purchase links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BBR94NC
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Closed-Doors-Robbie-Cheadle/dp/B099C8R3T4
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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
Writing to be Read 
Congrats on the new release, Robbie! Loved the poem about you and hubby – opposites attracted in our case also. Happy belated anniversary!
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Thank you, Teri, I am glad to know you are also an ‘opposites’ couple.
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Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
Today is Day 1 of my Behind Closed Doors, a collection of unusual poems blog tour. This post features a metaphorical poem called Contrasting Colours. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
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Happy to promote your work, Robbie. 🙂
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Wonderful poem, Robbie! Sharing and wishing you a grand tour with Behind Closed Doors.
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Thank you, Bette, I appreciate your support. Hugs.
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I love this collection and have begun reading it. Like you, Robbie, I have charted the contrast between my husband and me. And at the risk of being considered a “spammer,” I give you my reflection on our last wedding anniversary: https://marianbeaman.com/2020/08/05/compensation-wedding-anniversary/
Thank you, Robbie and Kaye Lynne! 🙂
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Hi Marian, thank you for your support. I am glad you like this poem which is rather special to me. Thank you also for the link. I’m coming over to read about it now.
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Thanks for dropping by and commenting Marian. Your willingneww to share is appreciated. 🙂
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Love this book and am reading it again before I leave a review. Contrasting Colors was most enjoyable as your contrasts are complementary thereby creating a whole.
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Hi Annette, I am so pleased you like Behind Closed Doors. That is so lovely to know. Hugs.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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Thank you, Ed.
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Thanks for sharing, Ed. 🙂
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Wonderful post, Robbie. I love your poem about you and your husband. Congratulations on your new release.
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Hi Miriam, I am so glad you enjoyed this poem. Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Robbie.
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what a wonderful poem comparing and contrasting you and your husband. And I am not surprised to read that when you decide to pursue an interest, it is with a single-minded devotion!
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Hi Jim, yes, that is one of my strengths [or failings, depending on how you look at it].
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I guess like many things, there’s a fine line separating whether a personality trait is a strength or weakness… 🙂
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Very excited to be on the tour!
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Thank you, Jay, I appreciate your support.
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Lovely to see Robbie here – she looks beyond stunning in her wedding gown! Loved her poem. Toni x
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Thank you, Toni. Brides tend to scrub up well, don’t they? My sons were making up [rather rude] names for family members which we were away. Michael said “Terence the Tryer” which surprised me so I asked him what he meant. He said that dad always tries so hard to make things nice for us and to ensure our holidays are lovely. I thought that was so nice.
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How gorgeous!💖
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That’s a lovely poem and a great photo, Robbie. You were married on my daughter’s birthday. I think it’s good to have contrasting personalities. Bob and I are quite different too. As with you and your hub, he’s the calm and patient one. I’m the passionate one who wants to do everything, and do it now.
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Hi Norah, so your daughter is an Aquarius star sign. I have many Aquarians in my family including two sisters and my son, Michael.
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Yes, she is. I’m a Gemini. According to the stars Geminis and Aquarians are very compatible so I’d get on well with your family too. 🙂
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I am a Pisces and so is Gregory. I also have a Pisces sister and niece. 90% of the birthdays in my family are between 1 Jan and 31 March.
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Mainly autumn conceptions. That’s interesting.
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It’s interesting question: why couples work? In our case we have many differences not all opposites and some fundamentals where we are aligned. One is that we tolerate and give space to those differences often glorying in and being a little jealosy of the other’s characteristics. I envy her placidity under stress, her ability to stay outwardly calm and clear eyed for instance. Whatever it is that makes our cogs fit together and keeps them lubricated, I am not totally sure and maybe I don’t what to look under the bonnet and show our workings: I’m just eternally grateful that the clockwork continues to function.
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Geoff, you have such a great way of putting things. I know your relationship works from your post, even if your cheeky tongue-in-cheek humour does rule the day.
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I think it may be part of why it works… that and the fact Linda has an appalling sense of smell
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Reviewed Robbie’s poetry book on my site. Have a great and wonderful day.
http://www.undawnted.com/2021/08/wordcrafter-blog-tour-robbie-cheadles.html
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Thank you, I appreciate your feedback and review.
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I’m going to pick up your book now, Robbie. I’m tempted to write a poem on the same theme though I think it will end up being very similar to yours. Enjoyed reading your poem and couldn’t help noticing a striking similarity in the differences between you’ll and us.
You look stunning in your wedding photograph. Reminded me of ‘Maria’ in the Sound of Music. 🙂
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Hi Smitha, I am sure artistic people like us all have similar impulsive and slightly fiery temperaments. I think people like us need the contrast of a calm and collected partner to keep us grounded. I hope you enjoy the collection, Smitha.
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I enjoyed your poem “Contrasting colours.” It was quite thought-provoking, as my husband and I are very different. Best wishes for a successful blog tour!
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Thank you, Liz. I learned about metaphorical poems from my son and thought they were rather interesting.
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I appreciate a good metaphor, particuarly an extended metaphor. They can be hard to pull off!
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Love those comparisons, Robbie. I relate more to your husband but love being around people like you. I’ve never seen a poem written like that.
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Hi Jacqui, my son, Greg learned about metaphorical poems at school and I thought they were a great idea. Every now and then I get an idea for one. It is interesting that you are a calm and collected person, but that suits the genre you write and all the meticulous research you do.
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I am, which probably explains why I draft my books with a spreadsheet! My kids think I’m creative because I write. Good ’nuff.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing Michael. 🙂
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Thank you, Michael.
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Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, like on this lovely posting and the poetry, Robbie! You are wonderful multitalented, and i hope you also will keep on writing history related books. Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you, Michael. I appreciate your kind comment and support.
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I love your methaphoric comparison poem Robbie. Absolutely, opposites attract. You two seem to mesh beautifully Hugs xx
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Hi Debby, thank you so much. We do make a good team.
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You surely do! 🙂
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