Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Freya Pickard, and my book reviews #poetry #bookreviews

Posted: March 19, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Freya Pickard, Insides, Interview, My Mythology, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 42 Comments

Today, I am delighted to feature poet and author, Freya Pickard, as my March Treasuring Poetry Guest. Freya is a great supporter of the WordPress poetry community and runs a bi-annual haiku challenge on her haiku blog which you can find here: https://purehaiku.wordpress.com/.

Welcome Freya.

What is your favourite style of poetry to read ie haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc?

I’m not sure I have a favourite style of poetry. I enjoy both modern and traditional haiku, as well as tanka and other short form poetry due to their ability to create startling, vivid images and contrasts. But I also enjoy other poetical forms, including free verse. I usually look for poetry that captures my imagination, that allows me to connect the dots without the poet telling me how I should feel or think or believe. I enjoy any kind of poetry that allows my inner being to connect with ideas and concepts too. My favourite reads from the last couple years include Linda Imbler’s “Twelvemonth” and Willow Croft’s “Quantum Singularity”. I’m also a huge fan of Italian poet, Claudia Messelodi and love her collections “Blue Moon” and “Sky-Blue Wisteria”. I also love JRR Tolkien’s epic poems, especially those in The Lays of Beleriand.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

A poem I return to again and again is The Lay of Leithian by JRR Tolkien. It tells of a tragic love story between a human man, Beren, and an immortal elf woman, Luthien. Their love is forbidden by Luthien’s father and the story covers many years of suffering for both protagonists. There are horrendous monsters and dark peril for both to overcome. Beren’s task is to obtain one of the elvish jewels, a Silmaril, and in doing so, he loses his life. If you’ve not read it, I won’t spoil it by telling you the ending, but it really is worth reading! (No, I’ve not seen The Rings of Power because I can’t stream images. Plus, I’ve seen trailers for it and the characters are not how I imagined them to look/act!)

I suppose this Lay satisfies my need for both poetry and stories. The narrative is also dark, which suits me fine, and contains both vampires and werewolves amongst the monsters who tread the shadows! The romance isn’t cloying and the ending is bittersweet, which, for me, is a true reflection of life. The Lay of Leithian is incredible long, so here are just a few excerpts which I love.

The first excerpt sets the scene for Luthien’s dancing beneath the moonlight:

There darkling stood a silent elm

And pale beneath its shadow-helm

There glimmered faint the umbels thick

Of hemlocks like a mist, and quick

The moths on pallid wings of white …

The second excerpt describes the vampire that haunts the tale:

A vampire shape with pinions vast

Screeching leaped from the ground and passed,

It’s dark blood dripping on the trees …

And the last excerpt describes one of the many fight scenes:

From shape to shape, from wolf to worm,

From monster to his own demon form,

Thu changes, but that desperate grip

He cannot shake, nor from it slip …

What is your favourite style of poetry to write?

I write from my heart, how I feel, what I see, what I experience, so more often than not I write free verse. Sometimes this outpouring of poetry is rhythmical such as in

Down through the dewy woods, damp and leafy

Wading rivers that rush and whirl

Lost in the mist, in the moors and marshes

Stumbles at last to a steep-sided cliff…

Sometimes it rhymes:

I dream of mermaids, magic and myth,

Of silvery fish tails, immortal gifts,

Flaming red hair and liquid green eyes,

Of laughter and singing old sea-songs.

Songs that whisper of seaweed, wind-rippled sands

That tell of the monsters who walk on land,

That speak of Ancients who dwell in the deeps,

Hinting at languages no man can speak.

I dream of dolphins so free in the sea

Of the whale and the seahorse,

Of what might have been…

But normally I find a rhythm of words that reflects my emotion:

this blurred moment

when

hydrogen combines with

oxygen –

too much water

I drown

swiftly rising

I gasp

draw air

to resurrect myself

wavering

on the edge

I feel life

flickering

doused in moisture

I reach for the wind

bursting full

I skim, I dance

across this strange

ocean called

death

I do use poetic forms to express myself and have experimented with many different short forms in the past. My favourite styles are haiku, tanka and elfje because they are short and focus my attention on one thing at a time. I love haiku, particularly traditional haiku because it tests my ability to say something in just 17 syllables!

eggshell thin fragile

touch me and I will shatter

empty, blank inside

What is your favourite of your own poems?

My favourite poem, so far in my life, is I, Vampire from my most recent poetry collection, Vampirical Verse. I, Vampire sums up how I feel post cancer and encapsulates the experience of near death, open surgery and chemotherapy too.

I understand emptiness

I feel no fear

no pain

no joy

no sorrow

I am hollowed out

what used to live within

has long since fled

yet still, I am not dead

unable to care

to be concerned

no heart beats within my breast

no hormones surge inside

I feel nothing –

un-dead yet un-alive

Please tell us about your poetry book trilogy, This Is Me. What is your main intention with this collection of poems?

This Is Me boxset/paperback contains the frost three published volumes of my poetry. Each volume has a different reason for being in the collection.

Volume 1 – Insides

These poems were written between July 2014 and October 2015 and covers my near death experience of bowel cancer, open surgery, chemotherapy and the start of my recovery. Most days I wrote something in my journal, even if it was just one sentence. I found it hardest to write during chemo due to the utter exhaustion I experienced for 6 months. At other times I was lucid enough to experiment with poetic forms and often, some of my prose sentences became poems when I looked back in my journals during recovery. My intention in this section was to help people understand what it is like to go through the above-mentioned experiences.

Volume 2 – My Mythology

The poems in this section were written between 1990 and 2015. My intention was to allow readers an insight into the sources of my creative inspiration. Again I use free verse as well as poetical forms to explore biblical imagery, Nordic influences and tales of vampires, zombies and werewolves! These poems show others what is important to me as a prose writer as well.

Volume 3 – This Is Me

This section is a compendium of real-life and fantastical imaginings and were written between 1990 and 2017. I explore how important certain things are to me; dancing, writing, the seasons, being single, being married, having cancer, and, of course, reading! This volume gives readers a different kind of insight into my everyday life and routine.

All three volumes together form a poetical auto-biography that I think is more dynamic than a prose re-telling of my life so far. This Is Me was designed so that the reader can dip in an out of it as they wish, or read great chunks at one time if they so desire.

Anyone who reads this book will understand me, the real me!

My reviews of Insides and My Mythology by Freya Pickard

Insides

I have read several memoires of journeys through the horrors of cancer and its treatment and they have been very compelling. Depicting this journey using the short and powerful lines of poems took the poet’s experiences to a higher level of emotional involvement for me. Each poem is vivid and visceral and sliced right through my heart. I related deeply to the poet’s reaction to medical confirmation of cancer which took me back to my mother’s diagnosis of cancer. I couldn’t take about it for two weeks because the shock was so great.

This book comprises of four parts and I am going to share a poem or verse from a poem from each section to illustrate the gut wrenching power of these poems.

Part One Colostomy

Stoma-ached
“my insides on my outside,
red blancmange in jellied form,
dark innards encrusting
pale, tired flesh,
interruption of natural order –
raspberry flavoured belly belches.”

Part Two Surgery
“cancer;
cancer;
barren fruit
inside my flesh,
pierced through,
cut free,
removed from
within”

Part Three Chemotherapy
“frustration of not being able to do what I
want to do; no energy to do anything

this long haul of weariness seems never-ending

endless waiting, patiently sitting in three different
waiting rooms – checking my swollen arm for clots …”

Part Four Recovery
“fogged
landscape
reveals
my future path;
life”

The poems in this book depicting cancer in all its stark reality have stayed with me. They brought back my own memories of countless waits in hospital for news – sometimes good, sometimes not so good. It feels like I’ve spend a huge portion of my life waiting for outcomes. It was psychologically uplifting to me that Freya’s treatment process, unbelievably hard as it was, had a successful outcome.

Purchase Insides from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M2UQAWJ

My Mythology

My Mythology delves into the poet’s interest in mythology and legends which is an important aspect of who she is as a person, poet, and writer. My mother is English and I was brought up on a diet of dragons, unicorns, Arthur and the knights of the round table, and other British myths and legends. My mother’s home town of Bungay has an array of ghosts and the church my mom attended as a girl is home to a famous story about the Black Shuck of Bungay. I knew all of these stories as a youngster and as I grew older, I expanded my interest into Greek and Norse mythology. As a result, I recognised many of the figures and creatures featured in this book.

The poet has written beautiful and lyrical word pictures and stories incorporating elements from various myths and legends, all of which are vivid and a delight to read. The poems are divided into ten sections: Roots, Imaginate, Oceansong, Legend, The Lizard, Fringes of Fear, Blank Mirror, Spectral Visions, Time & Space, and Deity.

I am going to share extracts from a few poems that particularly captivated me under the specific section heading.

Roots
“I am the lifting of your heart
I am a candle in the dark.

I am the cry of a new-born child
I am a cub in the bitter wild.”
from ‘Hope’

Oceansong
“The sun was dying through the mist
And in the waves that kissed the beach
Bright blue and purple, grey and green,
Tails flickered with a rainbow sheen.”
from ‘Shifting Wave of Green’

Legend
“metalled
horn spirals up
gleams between dark, liquid
eyes contrasting with his pale coat
that shines
with starlight, moonlight – luminous’
from ‘Silvered Constellation’

Deity
‘Air is
Breath of my sould,
That which will last beyond
My body’s destruction, living
Always.’
from Substance

This is a book for the dreamers of this world. Those of us that revel in the possibility of a bit of magic and wonder around the next corner. A superb book of gorgeous poems.

You can purchase My Mythology from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NGQQ3DJ

About Freya Pickard

Picture caption: author picture of Freya Pickard

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen.

A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to rest the prose side of her brain. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing.

She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). Her most recent relaxation techniques to get her through lockdown include hatha yoga and painting landscapes and monsters in watercolour.

Find out more about Freya and her books at https://dragonscaleclippings.wordpress.com

Freya blogs at:

https://purehaiku.wordpress.com

https://nirunen.wordpress.com

https://dragonscaleclippings.wordpress.com

Her spoken word poetry and prose can be found at https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PL9e82GWvh7Sxzb3LcN4iuHJjtZ0CVw3eB/videos

About Robbie Cheadle

Photo of Robbie Cheadle standing in front of trees.

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle and Toad in the Hole #fiction #cooking

Posted: March 12, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Uncategorized | 35 Comments

The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

Picture caption: Cover of The Museum of Ordinary People showing people organising display items in a room against a yellow background

What Amazon says

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she’s ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold. As she sorts through a lifetime of memories, everything comes to a halt when she comes across something she just can’t part with: an old set of encyclopedias. To the world, the books are outdated and ready to be recycled. To Jess, they represent love and the future that her mother always wanted her to have.

In the process of finding the books a new home, Jess discovers an unusual archive of letters, photographs, and curious housed in a warehouse and known as the Museum of Ordinary People. Irresistibly drawn, she becomes the museum’s unofficial custodian, along with the warehouse’s mysterious owner. As they delve into the history of objects in their care, they not only unravel heart-stirring stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long-buried secrets that lie closer to home.

Inspired by an abandoned box of mementos, The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant novel about memory and loss, the things we leave behind, and the future we create for ourselves.

My review

Most people have items in their lives that are special to them. Items that may not hold a high numerical value but which represent a special time and/or memory in their lives. These are the things we all try to hold on to over the course of our lives. The things stored in a memory suitcase or box that we would save first in the event of a fire or disaster. These are the things that constitute the Museum of Ordinary People.

This book is an extraordinary idea that builds on the concept of beloved possessions with which we do not want to part when someone dies, but which we may not have the space or ability to keep. The author has built a heartfelt and brilliant story around the interesting idea of a museum where these special items from ordinary people can be housed and displayed.

Jess Baxter grow up in Northampton in a single parent family. Her mother is incredibly dear to her and when she dies unexpectedly, Jess is overwhelmed with grief. Jess is left with the dreadful job of going through her mother’s possessions and disposing of them in order to empty her home, ready for sale. With the help of her best friend, Luce, Jess manages to get this task completed, but she hangs on to a set of battered and well used encyclopedias from her childhood. She takes them home to the posh London flat she shares with her boyfriend, Guy, and stores them for a period to time. A year later, Guy decides they should formalise their relationship and purchase a house together. Jess is faced with having to get rid of the encyclopedias. A search uncovers the existence of The Museum of Ordinary People and Jess decides to take the encyclopedias there where they will be safely stored. When she arrives, she finds that the owner has recently died and his business, including the museum, have been inherited by a man called Alex. Alex has terrible scars which have impacted his whole life and turned him into an introvert. Alex doesn’t know what to do with the museum and Jess desperately wants to save it. She also sees the museum as an opportunity for her to act in the capacity of curator of her own museum, a position she has dreamed of. Jess persuades Alex to give her a chance to turn the museum into a money-making venture.

Jess is a lovely character. She is anxious and full of self doubt but she has an inner strength that comes out strongly over the course of the book. She has made some mistakes including her involvement with Guy who is stifling her creativity and preventing her from pursuing her dream. Jess has the strength of character to go against Guy’s wishes and follow her dream which I really enjoyed. She demonstrates determination, a great work ethic and ability to achieve success in difficult circumstances. As the novel progresses, Jess also gets a second chance at love.

A thoroughly entertaining read with a strong female main character.

You can purchase The Museum of Ordinary People here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538740842

Toad in the Hole, a traditional British recipe

This recipe is available for free on line from Tin Eats here: https://www.recipetineats.com/toad-in-the-hole/

Ingredients (I made double of the Toad in the Hole)

16 pork sausages (pricked on both sides)

Olive oil for cooking the sausages

Yorkshire pudding batter

500 ml egg (I used 10 1/2 eggs) – you need to measure the egg

500 grams all purpose or plain flour

375 ml milk

125 ml cold water

2 Tbspns mayonnaise

1 tspn salt

White pepper to taste

100 ml olive oil

Onion gravy (I did not double this part of the recipe)

Sausage fat and olive oil for frying

1 large red onion chopped

1 tspn garlic flakes

45 ml all purpose or plain flour

500 ml beef stock

5 ml Worcestershire sauce

Black pepper to taste

Method

In a bowl, whisk the flour into the egg. I used an electric mixer. Add the cold water, milk, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth. Place in the refrigerator.

In a frying pan, brown the sausages in a little olive oil. Retain the sausage fat.

Heat the oven to 220C. Place the olive oil (100 ml) into a baking pan and place in the oven for c. 10 minutes. When sizzling hot, remove carefully from the oven and quickly place the sausages all around the pan. Pour over the batter and replace in the oven to cook for c. 35 minutes until golden brown.

Picture caption: Toad in the hole ready to be baked in the oven

Add some olive oil to the sausage fat and cook the onion. Mix in the flour, garlic and black pepper. Add the beef stock stirring continuously. It will thicken quickly. Add the Worcestershire sauce.

Serve immediately.

Picture caption: A serving of toad in the hole with onion gravy

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Feild of colorful flowers and butterflies in background. Digital copies of "Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend, Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans, and Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home in foreground. Text: My Backyard Friends Kid's Book Series

The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Cindy Georgakas and a book review #poetry #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview

Posted: February 19, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Uncategorized | 59 Comments

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2025 banner featuring a city at night reflected in water

Today, I am delighted to introduce you to poet and author, Cindy Georgakas. Cindy is one of the most upbeat and positive people I’ve ever met and her book and poetry are a delight to read.

What is your favorite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc.

I love everything about spoken word poetry. The story, the inflection, the rhyming at times, the metered lines, the buildup, emotions that come with it and the message it sends. Like most of us, Amanda Gorman is so talented and hearing her spoken word resonates deeply with me. I also love Sara Kaye and Phil Kaye and they are not related I might add. I have posted about them which you can find here if you like https://uniquelyfitblog.com/2023/04/14/update-spoken-word-poetry-shark-tank-tonight/. This is a wonderful poem they did together which explains their story.

I love reading poetry or anything else for that matter that reaches my heart and soul and if it doesn’t it’s very difficult for me to engage with it. If it’s too ambiguous and I have the think too long, I’m not interested.

And although I love lot’s of styles and it fascinates me, my time is so limited, I need to adhere to what I love at the moment. Perhaps someday it could be fun to explore other forms but for now, I have to honor my truth.

I find it the same with movies. I’ll give them 10-15 minutes and if I’m not engaged, I’ll walk out. Life is too full in my world and I value my time and the people in front of me so I have to be selective to protect my sanity and those I love.

The same is true with engaging with others online and in “real life”. We can’t be all things to all people nor can we respond to everything or we wouldn’t get anything done. So do what you love and do it well and be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

What is your favorite poem in your favorite style to read?

I would have to say that freestyle/prose poetry is a favorite of mine. As you know, I am a non-poet turned poet without any formal training. Words come to me day or night and I write them down as they get downloaded to me, from where, I don’t know but deep inside my unconscious brain at times. Sometimes they rhyme, sometimes they don’t, some lines appear metered but not by intention, some I use refrain and repeat which happens if it happens but not by design. Often its stream of consciousness that appears on the page.

With your question came the opportunity to visit poets that write similar in nature or of those I respect and admire. Thank you, Robbie, for these questions that I have to say felt daunting to me at first. I even asked our friend Diana Wallace Peach https://mythsofthemirror.com/ about freestyle poets I might connect with, and she gave me some insight. In her review of my book, she said:

“Most of the poetry reflects a style I’d refer to as “delineated prose,” more conversational and accessible than poetry dense with metaphor and lyrical imagery. This style makes the collection a quick, easy read, primarily addressing “you,” the reader/seeker of a happier, more balanced life.”

This was very enlightening to me because I had never heard that term before. Digging deeper was a lesson in getting to know poets of my similar genre that I enjoy reading and writing and finding out what it is I love about each one. Many poets came to mind, each that have a brilliant way with words. Jack Kerouac, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickenson, Allen Ginsberg, Mary Oliver, Maya D’Angelo and many in our community as well, including you and Diana. Thank you, Cindy.

While there are so many amazing authors, I have to say I truly connect with Maya D’Angelo. Here writing is always aimed to connect people, stop the segregation and differences between us and look for the similarities. She was bright, witty, funny and poignant all at the same time and left a piece of her heart in every word so we might share her message to those who might need to hear it. I love this poem she wrote which is an example of her courage, compassion and love of humanity.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud by Maya Angelou

I’ve had so many rainbows in my clouds
I had a lot of clouds
So I don’t ever feel
I have no help

I’ve had rainbows in my clouds

And the thing to do it seems to me
Is to prepare yourself
So that you can be a rainbow
In somebody else’s cloud

Somebody who may not look like you
May not call God the same name you call God
If they call god at all
You see

May not eat the same dishes prepared the way you do
May not dance your dances
or speak your language

But be a blessing to somebody

That’s what I think.

What is your favorite style of poetry to write? Why?

I love how it flows from my brain to my fingertips, tongue and quill, otherwise mostly my computer.

What is your favorite of your own poems?

This was the poem Diana chose that was one of her favorites of my work, and I think it is a great example of words flowing through as a facet of myself and how I connect spiritually to the universe and my day. Although a short poem, one that brings peace when I read it.

The Way

It’s between the familiar and the unfamiliar where I meet my soul. The calling, the dance, the way, where  clouds shift, birds sing, around  my head buzzing in my ears and eyes and  the boulders of my mind, that wake to what’s important in this  uncharted territory.

Please tell us about your poetry book, Celebrating Poetry. What is your main intention with this collection of poems.

My poems are a culmination of poems moving the reader from dark to lightness in 4 Steps mirroring my first book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps To Turn Your Dreams Into Reality.

Step 1 Finding Your Path

Step 2 From Darkness to Light

Step 3 Ignite Your Light

Step 4 Celebrate

My intention and hope is that as one of my word press friends says “reading Cindy’s books to find a warm embrace on a dark night”. That really hit home with me as the writer of my own words and as a reader when I heard them in a review. My hope is that we can heal the wounds of our past, grow from obstacles in our path, light a way to the future and celebrate each moment of our lives and hold ourselves through each facet of joy, pain, sadness and happiness by loving ourselves and others. There is a place to write your own reflections and maybe even write a poem of your own. Life takes us to places we least expect as I have found that keep unfolding before my eyes.

About Cindy Georgakas

Picture caption: Author photograph of Cindy Georgakas

Cindy is a San Francisco native and currently lives nestled in the trees in a small community with her husband. She is a health and wellness professional, a certified life coach, personal trainer, yoga/meditation teacher,and bodyworker. She draws inspiration from her clients, friends, four children, 4 legged furry kids and nature.

Her new book Celebrating Poetry is a #1 New Top Release on Amazon. It is a companion guide to her book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to Live the Life of Your Dreams, has over 41 5 Star Reviews. She was voted Author of the Month on Spillwords Press in April 2023 and Publication of the Month on Spillwords in October 2022.

She is a co-author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, #1 Best Seller of Hidden In Childhood: A Poetry Anthology and is also a Treasured Contributor to MastecadoresUsa.

You can read more of Cindy’s work at Unique Times by Cindy Georgakas.

Author New Release Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to turn your Dreams in Reality Amazon
Author Of The Year 2024 Spillwords Press
Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women
Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Hidden in Childhood, A Poetry Anthology
Co-Author, # 1 Amazon New Release, Petals Haiku: An Anthology
Monthly Contributor, 2022/23, MasticadoresUSA
Website: uniquelyfit.net

My review of Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas

Picture caption: The colourful and uplifting cover of Celebrating Poetry featuring a blue lake, yellow and orange grasses and yellow and blue sky

This delightful book of poetry is a companion to this poet and author’s motivational book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to turn your Dreams into Reality. Celebrating Poetry shares the same helpful and uplifting messages on how to help yourself make the most of life and find joy. Celebrating Poetry is divided into four distinct sections, namely, Trusting Your Path, From Darkness to Light, Ignite Insight, and CELEBRATE! Each of the sections starts with a motivational message of how the author has achieved the goal set out in the section title. The main messaging being as follows: “It is my hope that you move through these poems and grow more in acceptance and self-love so you can enjoy life to the fullest.”

The poet is an exceptional person with a strong character and ability to guide and provide strength to others. These characteristics shine through in every poem in this collection. I finished reading this book feeling revitalized and ready to take on the world and make the most of every opportunity presented to me.

One of my favourite poems in this collection is Enjoy the Music of Silence. This is an extract:
“Enjoy the music of silence
where stillness resides:
Feel your heartbeat,
your very first instrument.
Some days it might be out of tune,
and other times, in perfect harmony.
March to the beat of your own drum,
For you are the conductor of your life.”
These are words to live by, for me.

The collection finishes with this empowering quote: “The length of our life is love, not length of time or years, and as we love, eternity appears.”

A most delightful collection that I highly recommend.

You can purchase Celebrating Poetry from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Poetry-Cindy-Georgakas-ebook/dp/B0DNBPC4GP

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen and a Japanese cooking class #Japan #bookreview

Posted: February 12, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, Supernatural | Tags: Book Reviews, Read and Cook, Recipes, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 59 Comments

Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen

What Amazon says

“A haunting and immersive read.” – Eva Wong Nava, author of The House of Little Sisters. “With lyrical prose that evokes the mystique of 19th-century Kyoto, this meticulously researched narrative weaves together historical authenticity with the ethereal allure of ‘yokai’ folklore.” – Jake Adelstein, journalist and author of Tokyo Vice and The Last Yakuza

Set in 1877 Kyoto during the early years of the Meiji “Restoration” Era, Ghost Train tells the story of Maru Hosokawa, a samurai daughter who is thrust into a life opposite how she grew up. Her father has surrendered his sword with other samurai, assimilating into a role as a civilian merchant. As his work takes him further and further from home, she is left to find work of her own to help rebuild the family wealth — and protect herself, “just in case,” her father says. But during the summer festivals, ghosts begin appearing before Maru. Unsure of where to turn or who to trust, Maru fends for herself, facing an abusive employer, unreliable friends, and insecurity at home. In the search for answers, a kitsune offers to help in exchange for Maru’s aid in confronting a demon rampaging Kyoto at night. As summer passes on, more ghosts appear, plagues sweep through the city, and a stench of blood in the streets, and rumors of a samurai rebellion obscure reality, driving Maru to make a choice against all instincts, to save herself, her father — and Kyoto. Inspired by true historical events and based on myths of yokai, this story began taking shape first in 2010. With guidance by historians both in Japan and the US, subject matter experts in geisha, kimono, and samurai life, and countless beta readers and supporters, Natalie Jacobsen has carefully crafted this historical fantasy to reflect 19th century life during the tumultuous, society-altering leadership of Emperor Meiji… just with a few more ghosts.

My review

Having recently visited Tokyo, Japan, and being exposed for the first time to the concepts of Japanese Yokai and other supernatural beings, this book immediately caught my attention. During my short time in Japan, I also learned a little bit about the coming of the Black Ships to Japan in 1853, which marked the beginning of the end for the Tokugawa shogunate, and the last Shogun. This book, set in Kyoto in 1877 during the Meiji Restoration Era, addresses both of these fascinating aspects of Japanese history and culture.

The story revolves around a young girl, Maru, the daughter of a former-samurai, and her journey to understanding and acceptance of the end of the reign of the samurai and transitioning of her city (and country) into a new era of progress under the ‘young’ emperor.

Maru’s father has gone away, theoretically on ‘business’ and left her in the care of the geiko of an okiya – a traditional geisha house, in the role of shikomi, a junior position to the geiko and maiko of the house. Maru clearly dislikes her new role and is struggling to make the adjustment from the daughter of a former-samurai to her new life having to survive as a woman in a misogynistic, male dominated society where women were either wives, geiko/meiko (entertainer of men) or oiran (prostitute). The fate of women, in the new society under the Emperor, was worst than before and many girls had no option but to resort to prostitution in order to survive. Maru clings to the thin hope that her father will soon come for her and her life will return to how it was in the past.

Maru is traumatised by scenes of death and destruction from the past during the period of the demise of the samurai and daimyo, and has blocked out memories relating to her father and his decisions in order to adapt to her new situation. She is also surrounded by anxiety in the general population as people, especially women, struggled to integrate their superstitions and beliefs of the past with a new society including technology like trains. Maru hears stories about yokai and disappearing girls, and is conflicted about strange metallic smells caused by rain on the new electrical wires and which are reminiscent of blood. Many people believe the train and electrical wires are killing girls and feeding on their blood as well as causing general illness. All of this anguish and mental strain ultimately manifests as visions by Maru of various yokai and also kitsune, foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. Maru meets a kitsune which has the ability to shapeshift into various forms but which is ‘damaged’ by the new technology and needs her help to survive.

Maru must walk her path alongside her kitsune manifestation to find acceptance of her father’s decisions, her own rejection by her former friends and acceptance of her new life and progress in general.

This is an exciting tale with an abundance of amazing historical information and Japanese folklore woven throughout. There are exciting scenes of conflict and a grand finale which, the way I understood this story, are effectively all part of Maru’s spiritual and mental healing, in other words, in her imagination.

This is a clever and well research story, the history is fascinating, and the folklore mesmerising. It is a complex tale that requires attention throughout and the understanding of Maru’s mental state and internal conflicts for the story to pull together effectively.

An excellent book for people who are interested in Japanese history and folklore. It helps to have some knowledge and understanding of this era of transition and cultural shock in order to best appreciate the historical nuances and information presented.

I wrote this review as a member of Rosie Amber’s book review team. You can find out more about Rosie’s reviews and review team here: https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Purchase Ghost Train from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-Natalie-Jacobsen-ebook/dp/B0DHSXH8FM

Cooking Sun Tokyo

During my recent trip to Japan, TC and I attended a 10-course Japanese cooking class. It was great fun and the food was delicious.

The basis of Japanese cooking is dashi stock made with water and 1 – 2 kombu strips (dried kelp seaweed). The cold method for making good dashi stock is simple. Put water into a bottle with the kombu and let it steep overnight.

The dashi is used in all the recipes of which I am sharing two here.

Dashimaki Tamago (rolled egg)

Ingredients: 1 egg, 1 TBsp dashi, 1/2 tsp light soy sauce

Method:

In a small bowl, whisk the egg, dashi and light soy sauce.

Heat the prepared Japanese rectangular egg pan after drizzling the pan with a little cooking oil. When its hot, pour half the egg mixture into the pan ensuring the egg covers the full surface. Once the egg is starting to set, use cooking chopsticks to roll the egg to the far end of the pan. Pour the rest of the egg mixture into the pan. Allow it to go under the rolled egg by lifting the roll using the cooking chopsticks. Once the fresh egg mixture sets, roll it up over the previous rolled egg to make a bigger role. Remove from the pan and place on a bamboo mat. Shape the egg roll into a rectangular shape with patterns.

Picture caption: My egg roll is finished and on the wooden board. TC is cooking his.

Picture caption: Both our egg rolls presented with two other dishes.

Grilled stuffed lotus roots with chicken

Ingredients: 30 gram portion of lotus root, 30 grams of minced chicken, finally diced Japanese leek, finally diced carrot, a little fresh ginger, 1 tsp sake, sprinkle of salt, 1/2 tsp potato starch, 1 TBsp dashi

Method:

Dice Japanese leek and carrot and mix into chicken mince. Add the grated ginger, sake, salt and potato starch.
Powder one side of the lotus root with additional potato starch. Stuff the meat mixture into the lotus root holes and layer the rest of the meat on top of the lotus root.
Heat the frying pan and place the lotus root into the pan, meat side down. Cook for approximately 3 minutes. Turn the lotus root over, pour on the dashi and steam in the pan with the lid on for about 5 minutes until cooked.

Picture caption: lotus root turned over and dashi added, just before putting the lid on the frying pan.

Picture caption: Fully cooked stuffed lotus flowers

Picture caption: TC and I with our final meals.

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

Treasuring Poetry – Enjoying poetry with Dave Williams and a review of Gasp! Poetry! #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview #poetry

Posted: January 15, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | Tags: BookReview, Dave Williams, Gasp! Poetry!, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 81 Comments

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2025 banner featuring Tokyo at night with buildings reflected in the moat waters.

I am very excited to welcome talented artist, poet, and author, Dave Williams to “Treasuring Poetry”. Dave is discussing his thoughts on poetry and I’ve reviewed his unique poetry book Gasp! Poetry!

What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc?

Freestyle. I like playful poetry, and poetry that causes me to think of stuff in different ways than my status quo. Also, I’m a big fan of short poetry about nature. Doesn’t have to be haiku. Poems that focus on one aspect of nature, be that a particular animal or plant or season. This kind of poetry is like a seed for me to meditate over that aspect of nature.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

My favorite poem by another writer is “maggie and milly and molly and may” by E. E. Cummings. I love it because it’s lively and frisky and profound. And because it reminds me of growing up near the Atlantic Ocean. And because one of my daughters is named Molly (with a capital M, not lowercase like in the poem — although she’s welcome to be creative with the capitalization of her name if she likes).

The poem:

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

Source: https://poets.org/poem/maggie-and-milly-and-molly-and-may

What is your favourite style of poetry to write? Why?

I enjoy writing freestyle the most. Limericks and haiku can be fun to write by following their rules. But I typically go with freestyle because I don’t have to worry about rhymes or syllables or meter.

What is your favourite of your own poems?

A tough question, Robbie! One poem of mine doesn’t jump out as a favorite. I looked through Gasp! Poetry! to find one to include here. I chuckled over several poems, but the poem that clicks with me right now isn’t aimed at humor. Rather, it feels hopeful:

Chickadee

Seeing an eagle,

the chickadee

aspired to greatness:

soaring high in the

Great Blue

Yet he could not

transform into that epic bird

In her son’s sullenness,

mama chickadee asked

the elders to offer wisdom

They told him

there’s a quiet dignity

in being a chickadee

and that

warmed his heart.

**Your poetry collection Gasp! Poetry! has a most unusual name and blurb. Please tell us a bit about this book, what the poems are about, and what your intentions were will the collection.**

The cover tries to warn people who have no interest in poetry. The title and cover illustration pretend what such a person’s reaction might be to a poetry book. They might throw up their hands and shriek, “Gasp! Poetry!” Then they’d run for the safety of a Non-Poetry Zone. Where, after catching their breath, they might tell other people how close they got to a poetry book and how terrifying it was. The cover uses drama for humor (hopefully).

Some poems in the book aim for silliness, while others are serious. The topics are assorted. One short poem is about a monkey taking a bath. One long poem is about how Scheherazade told a thousand tales to avoid being murdered. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, chances are good that you’ve read poems from this collection.

My intention was to package a bunch of poems on my blog, and ones that haven’t been published there yet. I hoped to entertain readers who like playfulness and absurdity in poems.

You write both novels and poetry. Which do you prefer?

Novels. Even when short, they’re more immersive than poems — which are like sketches to me (since I don’t write epic poems). I enjoy pondering possible plot paths of novels, as well as possible backgrounds of characters. It’s akin to reading a book and being immersed in the story. But with novel writing, the story can unfurl in various, potential directions. Joy is in exploring and shaping the story. So is frustration. But it’s worth the frustration when the book is finished.

My review of Gasp! Poetry!

Picture caption: Cover of Gasp! Poetry! featuring a hand drawn circle man with his arms thrown upwards in anguish.

The amusing title of this poetry collection by Dave Williams is indicative of the nature of the poetry. All of the poems are clever, slightly dark, and poke fun at humans and humanity in general. In other words, these poems are brilliant and hugely entertaining.

Is a Poem about Grains of Sand on a Beach Too Pretentious?
“I wondered that question,
lying on a floral beach towel,
a speck in a crowd
of swimsuited people –
all of us were lumps of cookie dough
glazed with sunscreen and coconut oil
baking in this oven.”
The short extract above is a great example of Dave dark humour in relation to human behaviours and his engaging descriptions.

Valor is a great example of the poet’s quick and clever mind and attitudes towards adversity:
“”You’re not sharp enough?”
“Get some sides!”

Yells were hurled from
the crowd of octagons
at the little circle.
“You look ridiculous!”

The circle puffed up
with valor,
said “I am what I am,”
refused to conform,
then rolled defiantly towards home.”

This was my favourite poem in the book. I really enjoyed the personification of shapes and it reminded me of Flatland by Edward Abbott Abbott.

There is some wonderful life wisdom encased in these freestyle poems. A short extract from Ocean Inside which captivated my mind:
“Meanwhile I work against the urge to liquefy myself
and pour myself into the container
others have sculpted for me”

Having gone through my own teenage years and watched three sisters and two sons go through theirs, I am acutely aware of how very real this pack mentality is with young people. Sometimes, people never manage to escape its grip and find their own path in life.

If you enjoy dark humour, excellent poetry, and life truths, you will love this engaging and entertaining collection.

You can purchase Gasp! Poetry! from various suppliers here: https://books2read.com/u/mBJjRk

You can find all of Dave William’s great books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dave-Williams/author/B08662D961

About Dave Williams

Picture caption: Author photograph of Dave Williams

Surely many people are named “Dave Williams” and this particular Dave is a redheaded one who enjoys writing speculative fiction, drawing, and reading. He lives in Maryland with his wonderful wife, two inspirational daughters, and two cats (a lazy one and a playful one).

You can find Dave Williams on his blog here: https://davewilliamswriter.wordpress.com/

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

________________________

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Cook and Read – My review of A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute and Peach Chicken #CookandRead #fiction

Posted: January 8, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, romance | Tags: A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute, Peach Chicken, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, romance, Writing to be Read | 45 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for Read and Cook, A reading and culinary adventure with Robbie Cheadle

My review of A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

Picture caption: The cover of A Town like Alice. It’s very uninspiring and shows a dirt track.

This was my favourite classic book read of 2024. A delightful romance initially set in Malaysia during World War II and then moving between post-war London and Australia, Jean Paget’s story of strength, endurance, and leadership made for an amazingly uplifting read.

The novel commences with the main character, Jean Paget, a secretary in a leather goods factory, receiving notification from a solicitor, Noel Strachan, that she has inherited a large sum of money from an uncle she never knew. Noel is the trustee of the funds until Jean can inherit at the age of 35 years old (this age was set by the uncle who believed that women were incompetent fools who couldn’t be trusted with money until they had a family and life experience). Strachan acts as Jean’s financial advisor and, over time, a good friend. His part of the story is all the more interesting because of the secret love he develops for Jean. Noel is the narrator of the story.

Jean announces to Noel that her first priority is to build a well in a village in Malaysia and this introduces her poignant backstory as a prisoner of war in Malaysia during WW2. This part of the story is based on a real survival story which makes it all the more fascinating. Jean was working in Malaysia when the Japanese invaded and she was taken prisoner along with a large group of other European women and children. The Japanese authorities doesn’t know what to do with the group so they end up walking from one village to another for months. The lack of good food, exposure of the elements and hardship results in the deaths of a large number of the group. Jean meets an Australian soldier, Joe Harman, who is also a prisoner of war and is driving a lorry for the Japanese invaders. He tries to help the women and ultimately steals five chickens from a local Japanese commander. He is eventually caught and beaten, crucified and left to die by the Japanese soldiers. Jean believes that Jo Harman is dead. Soon after, the women’s Japanese guard dies and they take shelter in a Malaysian village for the rest of the war. Jean wishes to build a well in this village as a gesture of gratitude to the villagers who saved the lives of the remaining women and children by taking them in. During the construction of the well, Jean discovers by accident that Joe survived and returned to Australia. She decides to go in search of him in Australia and this sets the stage for the rest of the story and the romance. Joe had mentioned the town of Alice Springs during their short time as friends, and this is where Jean heads.

The writing is completely engaging and the characters of both Jean and Joe are well developed and admirable. As a reader, I become completely involved in both their stories and was rooting for their romance and success as individuals and a couple. Jean is portrayed as a strong willed survivor with a strong sense of compassion and responsibility. She is a remarkable leader and an excellent role model for young women.

Joe is portrayed as being recklessly brave and this results in his undoing. He is a very determined and strong willed person, however, an these characteristics result in his miraculous survival.

I read this book because I am interested in learning more about the war in the Pacific and the Japanese involvement in World War II. I have read several books on this topic and A Town Like Alice is the one that stands out the most in my memory. I highly recommend this book to lovers of romance and war literature.

You can purchase A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842323008

Recipe for Peach Chicken

This recipe is based on Matt Preston’s recipe for Apricot Chicken in his book, Cook Book. I made some variations. If you are interested in purchasing Matt Preston’s book, you can do so here: https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Book-recipes-incredibly-popular-ebook/dp/B016NIBORU

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs and 8 chicken drumsticks, on the bone with skin

160 ml olive oil

1 Tbspn garlic flakes

1 heaped Tbspn dried oregano

5 ml dried thyme

1 tin peaches and the juice

24 caperberries

24 green olives, pits removed and cut in half

2 bay leaves

1 Tbspn chicken stock (powder)

Ground black pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) white wine

Method

Heat the over to 180 C. Line the bottom and sides of a oven baking dish with silver foil. Lay the chicken skin up on the bottom on the dish. In a separate bowl, mix the oil, wine, herbs and caperberries. Pour the tinned peaches over the chicken. Add the wine mixture. Lastly, place the olives over the chicken. Cover the dish with tin foil.

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Turn the oven to grill. Remove the tin foil and grill the chicken until nicely browned. Do not let the peaches burn. About 15 – 20 minutes.

Enjoy with rice.

Picture caption: My peach chicken served with rice.

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

_______________________________________

This post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

Treasuring Poetry – Sunflower Tanka: An Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka collated by Colleen M. Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle #poetry #treasuringpoetry

Posted: December 18, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Anthology, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Colleen M. Chesebro, Robbie Cheadle, Sunflower Tanka, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 52 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for Treasuring Poetry, 2024

For this final post of 2024, I am sharing about Sunflower Tanka: An Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka collated by Colleen M. Chesbro and myself, Robbie Cheadle.

The theme for this collection, “Into the Light,” was influenced by how a young sunflower bud always faces the sun. This sun tracking is called heliotropism.

It is believed that sunflowers participate in heliotropism because they possess an internal clock similar to humans. This internal clock enables the plant to maximize its growth and absorb optimal energy.

The buds are heliotropic until the end of the bud stage. Upon reaching maturity, the sunflower ceases to follow the sun.

The combination of sunflowers as an emblem, and “Into the Light” as a theme is intended to throw shards of brightness out into the world. By actively seeking out happiness and sharing love and light, we can make this planet a better place for all its people and creatures.

golden sunflowers

watch Apollo’s chariot

move across the sky

from dawn’s first light to sunset

forever seeking the light

by Colleen M. Chesebro

Picture caption: Cover of Sunflower Tanka featuring a sunflower turned towards the sun on a pale pink background. Shards of light spill across the cover.

Blurb

Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle & Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology of contemporary tanka, tanka prose, & experimental tanka from a broad mix of new and established poetic voices from across the world.

Our theme, “Into the Light,” draws inspiration from the way a young sunflower bud constantly turns to face the sun. Poets delved into the realms of death, love, and the natural world, capturing their human experiences in the timeless form of syllabic poetry.

Contributors to the first edition of the Sunflower Tanka: Suzanne Brace, Yvette Calleiro, Kay Castenada, Luanne Castle, Robbie Cheadle, Colleen M. Chesebro, E.A. Colquitt, Melissa Davilio, Destiny, Tamiko Dooley, Lisa Fox, Cindy Georgakas, Chris Hall, Franci Hoffman, Marsha Ingrao, Jude Itakali, JulesPaige, Kenneth, MJ Mallon, Brenda Marie, Selma Martin, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Lisa Nelson, D. Wallace Peach, Freya Pickard, Dawn Pisturino, Gwen M. Plano, Jennifer Russo, Aishwarya Saby, Reena Saxena, Merril D. Smith, Nicole Smith, Ivor Steven, Ben Tonkin, Trilce Marsh Vazquez, Cheryl Wood.

A few examples of the poetry in this book

All the poems in this book are gorgeous, so I have just randomly selected three pieces to share here:

echoes of despair

hushed as tears fail haunted eyes

silence expresses

a quiet faiths’ grip on hope

firm through darkened horizons

Tanka By Destiny

***

ash and dust reclaim

from flames of passion or shame

born this, raised as that

do butterflies from cocoons

ditch all that was, for petals?

Extract from Intertwined Essence (garland tanka) by Jude Itakali

***

within the forest
there’s a glen where children play
under a white light
where mystical faeries
flit around, happy and free

Tanka by Ivor Steven

Jacaranda Blue

As a photographer and painter, I am always trying to capture light in my work. This series of three photographs of my painting, Jacaranda Blue, was intended to demonstrate how this painting captures light in different ways.

This painting is dedicated to my amazingly artistic blogging friend, Resa McConaghy, who recently shared a most extraordinary series of articles about The Painted House. You can find the last article, with links to all the rest, here: https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2024/11/24/exterior/. In addition to her amazing photography, Resa creates the most incredible art gowns out of recycled materials. Click on Resa’s name to discover more about her gowns.

This is a short extract from my poem Jacaranda Blue, a rensaku, inspired by this painting and included in Sunflower Tanka:

dressed for a spring ball

frocks of filmy organza

Jacaranda blue

delicate forms gently swaying in softly flowing fabric

Sunflower Tanka Video

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

___________________________

This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien and a recipe for Christmas cake #bookreview #recipe #Christmas

Posted: December 11, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: Christmas, Christmas fiction, J.R.R.Tolkien, Letters From Father Christmas, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 43 Comments

My review

Letters to Father Christmas is Tolkien at his absolute best. A series of letters written to his own children and featuring Father Christmas as a very real and relatable person who experiences lots of setbacks, both small and large. Set over an extended period, the letters also run through World War II and explains how the war and its deprivations impact on the folk at the North Pole. Although WWII is a long time past, this messaging of resilience and making the best of things is still relevant in our modern time of uncertainty and warfare.

Father Christmas relies on his number one helper, Polar Bear, to help him in his work. As time passes and more and more children are born, Father Christmas also gets help from the elves. His elven secretary also starts assisting him with his letter writing. Polar Bear is a delightful character, full of fun and very naughty, he is always getting into trouble and creating mishaps. Father Christmas has to move house after Polar Bear tries to rescue his hat from blowing away in a wind and falls through the room and into the family room.

Father Christmas also faces adversity in the form of the hostile goblins who keep attacking his home every couple of hundred years. The goblins are mean and treacherous creatures and the folk at the North Pole have to call upon the red dwarves for assistances from their attack. An interesting way of explaining war and its meaning to young children.

A delightful book for children and adults and one I highly recommend.

You can purchase Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618512659

Quotes from Letters from Father Christmas

“if you remember him, is still fast asleep, and quite thin after so much fasting. He will soon cure that. I shall tickle his ribs and wake him up soon; and then he will eat several months’ breakfast all in one). More love, your loving Father Christmas There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your device. The caption for this content is displayed below. Christmas Eve 1934”

“I hope you will like the little things I have sent you. You seem to be most interested in Railways just now, so I am sending you mostly things of that sort. I send as much love as ever, in fact more. We have both, the old Polar Bear and I, enjoyed having so many nice letters from you and your pets. If you think we have not read them you are wrong; but if you find that not many of the things you asked for have come, and not perhaps quite as many as sometimes, remember that this Christmas all over the world there are a terrible number of poor and starving people. I (and also my Green Brother) have had to do some collecting of food and clothes, and toys too, for the children whose fathers and mothers and friends cannot give them anything, sometimes not even dinner. I know yours won’t forget you. So, my dears, I hope you will be happy this Christmas and not quarrel, and will have some good games with your Railway all together. Don’t forget old Father Christmas, when you light your tree.”

Christmas cake recipe

Picture caption: this year’s Christmas cakes are decorated with wreaths made from Lindt chocolate balls. I rather like them.

Ingredients for Christmas cake

250 grams currants

240 grams sultana

200 grams mixed berries

240 grams raisins

120 grams mixed peel

180 grams chopped cherries

300 grams plain white cake flour

pinch salt

2.5 ml mixed spice

2.5 ml cinnamon

300 grams softened butter

300 grams sticky brown sugar

30 ml lemon zest

6 eggs, lightly beaten

45 ml brandy

Method for Christmas cake

Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Celsius. Double line the cake tin with thick baking paper.

Beat the sugar and butter in an electric mixer. Add the lemon zest. Add the eggs, beating in one at a time.

In a separate bowl mix the dried fruit, spices, salt cherries and flour. Add the egg mixture and mix well. Lastly, pour in the brandy and combine.

Scoop the mixture into the baking tin and level with the back of a spoon. Wrap a layer of tin foil around the base of the baking tin and place in the oven. Bake for +- 3 hours.

Last year’s Christmas cakes had a roses theme:

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About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet Maggie Watson and a review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity #bookreview

Posted: November 20, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review | Tags: Interview, Maggie Watson, Pieces of ME, Poetry, Review, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 72 Comments

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2024 banner

Today, I am delighted to introduce poet, Maggie Watson. Maggie writes incredibly compelling poetry which you can find on her blog here: Ephemeral Encounters

Over to Maggie

Robbie, thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest on Treasuring Poetry. I loved your questions, and I hope everyone finds my answers, at the very least, a little interesting.

My favourite style of poetry to read is haiku.

Haiku poems are easy on the eye, yet they can evoke strong emotions in a few words. If a poem is too long, I lose interest halfway through unless it grabs me in the first couple of lines.

My favourite haiku is “A Poppy Blooms” by Katsushika Hokusai

I write, erase, rewrite

Erase again, and then

A poppy blooms.

The writer here uses the imagery of spring to describe his writing process.

I would use winter, as I sometimes find the whole writing process frustrating, especially when I am blocked, staring at a blank piece of paper (a barren landscape in winter).

My favourite style of writing poetry is freestyle. I am ashamed to say that I have not tried any other style. I did attempt a few haiku a while back, but not consistently. As I write, it comes from my heart and soul and usually reflects my mood or thoughts at that moment. I hope no one shoots me down in flames for saying this, but poetry should be as free as a bird set free, not confined or restricted to parameters.

My favourite poem written by me is one of the first I ever wrote in 2020, one of the better ones, I hasten to add. The Mask is also in my new Collection, Pieces of Me and is related to the subject matter.

She puts it on before she goes outside,

just in case anyone should see inside.

The darkness, the hurt, the years ripped and scarred with dirt.

No one knows.

No one cares.

They only see the Mask she wears.

She tries but can’t forget all the angry words and threats buried deep within and the pain that never seems to dim.

So she smiles, wears the Mask, and hopes that no one ever asks.

I had originally planned to call this collection Bouquets of Barbed Wire, however, it was a little too close to the title of a television programme that I remember my parents watching, so I decided against it.

Pieces of Me is another poem from another Collection, “In the Shadow of my Pen: A Collection of Poetry and Prose.

Not long after joining WordPress, David from A Skeptics Kaddish reblogged it. I then decided to write two other parts, all three are in the new Collection. The new collection is my story in poems about my abusive relationship. The main form of abuse was gaslighting, which is a gradual erosion of your spirit, piece by piece. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Thank you again Robbie for giving me this space.

It’s my pleasure, Maggie. Thank you for being a wonderful guest.

My review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems by Maggie Watson

Picture caption: Cover of Pieces of Me by Maggie Watson

Pieces of Me is a collection of powerful poems written by a survivor of domestic abuse. The abuse the poet suffered was not physical or sexual, but rather mental. The kind that slowly and insidiously destroys your spirit.

The collection is divided into parts reflecting the various stages of the poet’s abuse from the early days of her marriage until she found the determination and courage to exit her destructive relationship.

Red light spells danger: These poems are about the warning signs that the poet was to young and inexperienced to understand. It is awful to think of a young person being lured into such a terrible set of circumstances like a fly into a spider web.

“I was blind.
I did not see it.
Too young, too naive.
Red light spells danger, but I ignored the colour of your aura.”
An extract from Red Lights Spell Danger

When I think back over my own youth, I sigh with relief that I never fell victim to such a man’s charms. It could have happened so easily as we are gullible and innocent when we are young.

Eggshells is the next section and eloquently describes living with a bully and gas lighter.

“A soul in pain, cute with a blade, the wound
then stitched together with words unkind
Spirit erased, replaced with doubts and fears.
Thoughts of unworthiness grow among the stitches sown
Drip, drip, they slowly infiltrate the mind.”
Extract from Soul in Pain

I am becoming is an uplifting section where the poet describes her escape from the vicious clutches of her abuser and path towards reclaiming her life.

“Never be a lamb to their slaughter
don’t let them watch you bleed
It is they who are weak as they plant their
seeds in your womb
for the pleasure that they seek.”

A collection of strongly worded and evocative poems that make you walk the poet’s path hand-in-hand with her. With compassion comes understanding.

Purchase Pieces of Me: A collection of poems from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DH32JKQ8

About Maggie Watson

Picture caption: Maggie Watson author picture

Maggie was born in Cape Town, South Africa.

She now lives in Scotland.

She has CFS which is a very debilitating/unpredictable illness, but she refuses to let that define her.

She began writing in 2020 at the start of the Pandemic.

At that point, she had no idea it would play such a huge part in her life as it does now!

In 2021 she self-published her first collection of poetry and has since self-published five others.

Maggie draws a lot on her life experiences when she writes.

As a Domestic Abuse Survivor she uses her voice through her words to empower.

Her work has also been published by Gypsophila Zine, Glass Gates Publishing, Spill Words and Edge of Humanity and others.

And, also included in three anthologies.

For more examples of her writing visit her blog here: https://poetrybymaggiewatson.uk/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor and American Crabcakes #bookreview #cooking #crabcakes

Posted: November 13, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, cooking, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: American Crabcakes, Jeff Shaara, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, To Wake the Giant, Writing to be Read | 47 Comments

Read and Cook Banner: A purple eye, a shrimp dish, a chocolate frosted cake with rose fondant, a scary frankenstein face with a chain across it, and aplate of corn chils with a green souce over it.
Text: Read and Cook, A reading and culinary adventure with Robbie Cheadle — Picture caption: Banner for Read and cook

November 11 is Remembrance Day or Poppy Day, a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. With this in mind, and to feed my growing interest in USA history, I selected To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Jeff Shaara for this month’s book review. Last month, the month of Halloween, I reviewed Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. If you missed that post, you can read it here: https://writingtoberead.com/2024/10/09/read-and-cook-with-robbie-cheadle-interview-with-a-vampire-by-anne-rice-and-new-orleans-gumbo-bookreview-recipe-readandcook/?_gl=1*akw5pe*_gcl_au*MjgyNDk3NjkzLjE3Mjg3OTgxMTQ.

Are you noticing the book choices are themed? They are, to the extent possible, and next month is Christmas. I’ve got a treat in mind for you …

To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Jeff Shaara

Picture caption: Cover of To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Habor featuring a ship in the harbour sinking and the ocean full of oil.

I have read a few of Jeff Shaara’s books and they have all be entertaining, informative, and well researched. My historical knowledge of both WW1 and WW2 is much greater as it relates to events in Europe and from a British, Dutch, French, and Polish perspective. I have been making a point of learning more about WW2 from an American perspective and this book did not disappoint. It provided copious detail about the events leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the USA’s entrance into a war they fought on two fronts, in an interesting and relatable way.

The author tells his story through the eyes of three main characters, two of whom are real historical people and one who appears based on a real person but whose life would have been more fictionalised for purposes of this book. These main characters are as follows:

Cordell Hull is President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of State and the real historical figure who tried to negotiate for continued peace with the Japanese through Ambassador Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura and Special Envoy, Saburo Kurusu. He failed and the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbour on Sunday, 7 December 1941, marking the USA’s terrible and spectacular entrance into WW2. Cordell tells the story from the US government’s point of view and perspective.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is the force behind the attack on Pearl Harbour. A real historical figure, he understood that war was inevitable and planned for an early victory and delay tactic for an American response by destroying the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour in a preventive strike. Yamamoto believed that aviation was the way forward and opposed the building of the battleships, Yamoto and Mushashi, proposing investment in a strong Japanese arial force instead. Yamamoto tells the story from the Japanese perspective.

Seaman Tommy Biggs is an ordinary nineteen-year-old from a small town in Florida. Having finished school, he is faced with no job opportunities as a result of the Depression. When his best friend decides to join the Navy, Tommy is convinced to sign up too. Tommy has aspirations to work in the military hospital service and, after successfully completing boot camp, manages to get assigned to the USS Arizona as a hospital apprentice.

Seaman Biggs’ role in this book is the one that interested me the most as he represented the ordinary seaman. The reader learns about his life on the USS Arizona and the abuse he suffers at the hands of the military system which allowed senior personnel to bully junior staff. Through his eyes, I experienced daily life aboard the ship which was repetitive and boring, and off short time in the town. Most of the seamen spent their time ashore drinking cheap booze and making use of prostitutes. The boredom of the life on board ship, eroded alertness and interest and, in my opinion, helped set the stage for an attack that was such a complete and utter surprise.

This book is fascinating and shares details of the historical event in a heart rending and personable way. The descriptions of the event of the day were a shock to me, I didn’t know about the terrible fires and the oil the water that burned and horribly maimed many of the seamen. Having read this book, I understood the mindset of the American people and how the events that followed came to unfold the way they did.

If you are interested in books about and like to learn and expand your knowledge in a fascinating and compelling way, this book is for you.

You can purchase To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor here: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Giant-Novel-Pearl-Harbor-ebook/dp/B07X8D1B1Y

Quotes from To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor

“We believed we knew everything they were thinking. Those Magic intercepts made us feel invulnerable. No, a better word is cocky. Their diplomats are chatting back and forth with Tokyo about the weather or color of their new Cadillacs while their military put a plan together to kick us in the teeth. We thought we knew everything. We didn’t.
-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt”

“All I propose is an attack that will paralyze the Americans, for perhaps six months. This attack is not about victory, about winning a war…It is about delaying them, keeping them back, damaging their military might and pride.
-Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto”

“How were we taken so by surprise? Everything we have gone through at the State Department, for most of the past year has pointed unmistakably to Japanese aggression, to their deceitfulness, duplicity, and backdoor actions. We knew exactly what they were doing in Southeast Asia in the Netherlands East Indies in China. We had access to their diplomatic communications we have outstanding people in our intelligence offices, both army and navy. How could this have happened?
-Former US Secretary of State, Cordell Hull”

THIS IS A SMASHING BOOK. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT, YOU REALLY MUST!

And now, on to the recipe. I made three dishes for this post and I loved them all. I decided to share the crabcakes recipe today and will keep the others for another post.

Robbie’s version of American Crabcakes

Ingredients

2 large eggs

90 ml mayonnaise

2 Tbspns (30 ml) onions grated

120 ml lemon juice

10 ml dried tarragon

2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

500 grams uncooked crab meat

30 ml melted butter

1 1/2 cups (750 ml) crushed melba toast slices (you can use any plain savoury biscuit)

Method

Mix the eggs, mayonnaise, onions, lemon juice, tarragon and pepper flakes together in a mixing bowl. In a frying pan on a medium heat, cook the crabmeat in the butter. Add the crabmeat to the egg mixture and combine. Add the crushed melba toast and ensure everything is properly mixed together. I always use my hands.

Shape the mixture into cakes and fry in a little olive oil until nicely browned. We enjoyed the crabcakes with rice and Greek lemon roasted vegetables.

About Robbie Cheadle

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Read and Cook” with Robbie Cheadle is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.