Treasuring Poetry – Meet talented poet Paul Cannon
Posted: January 21, 2026 Filed under: Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: #Poetrycommunity, #RobbieCheadle, Paul Cannon, Poetry, Poetry Challenges, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 33 Comments
Hi everyone, welcome back to Treasuring Poetry 2026. My first guest of the year is talented poet, Paul Cannon, who I met through the d’Verse Poets Pub. You can find the latest d’Verse challenge here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/01/15/its-open-link-night-and-our-live-session-is-just-around-the-corner/. d’Verse hosts three challenges a week and they are all very interesting.
Tell us a bit about Paul Cannon. How and why did you start writing poetry?
My earliest memory of my interest in poetry is my parents encouraging me to listen to them reading poetry to me from the Children’s Book Of Verse. I remember in later primary school having to memorise poems like Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and Southey’s ‘The Inchcape Rock’ along with Patterson’s ‘The Man From Snowy River.’ Poetry captured my imagination.
Later, in high school, we were introduced to many poets and forms from around the world. We were also tasked with writing poetry which I enjoyed. One poet who I continue to read from that time is Robert Frost, I love the way he draws me into observing human behaviour and feelings, and how he observes nature.
After high school I continued to write. The incentive was, naturally, love interests. My girlfriends were always polite about my writing, not least Lyn my wife to be. From the time I married in 83 to the mid nineties I was hit and miss with writing, what brought me back in earnest was my journey into becoming an Anglican priest and the pathway of training to be a spiritual director or companion for those needing a sounding board for personal discernment. This journey opened me up to the poetry of Mary Oliver, R.S. Thomas, Denise Levertov, Blake, Milton, Edwina Gateley, Noel Davis, Rumi, Hafez, Layli and many more. These poets inspired me and I became intentional about my writing at this point.
I didn’t go online with my poems until 2017. I was writing prose on Face Book and switched to WordPress in 2013 and it was through the WordPress community that I was encouraged to take the plunge into poetry after posting some tentative pieces.
Calm Kate from aroused blog prodded me along. Through the late Sarah Conner I discovered the wonderful world of dVerse and she encouraged me to keep working on my craft. Liz Gauffreau, Melissa Lemay are two people who have supported my desire to go further with my work. dVerse offers a broad and rich palette to enjoy and learn from.
Last year I joined Tanka Tuesday and I’m enjoying the community that Colleen Cheseboro has created, as well as the poetry. I was thrilled to have three of my poems in the Sunflower Tanka 2025 Anthology. I also write on bluesky, where I have joined a few poetry challenge sites, including The Broken Spine – Alan Parry #PoemsAbout (thank you Merril), Paul Brookes’ Starbeck Orion and others. I haven’t posted yet (coming soon) but I have become a friend of Melissa Lemay’s Collaborature and I’m interested in the venture of collaborative writing having done a little bit elsewhere. In 2021 I was faced with a decision, when events overtook me. I had been thinking of resigning as a priest, I was disillusioned with the institution of the church and policies and procedures and my views had radically changed by experience. While mulling that over I experienced a series of aggressive and violent incidences over three weeks resulting in PTSD. I fell apart, but I continued writing, and in fact, my poetry became a life line (there are more than a few journals based on writing and poetry as healing). I resigned. I continue in private practice as a spiritual director but one who is eclectic and open minded and not tethered to a theology or philosophy. In that work I belong to a professional body and we have a journal for which I am the poetry editor and I facilitate a monthly online group for which I send out a prompt. So many wonderful people and such delightful contemplative poetry.
So, why do I write? I can’t not write! I enjoy expressing myself, I love writing, I enjoy community. I was also formed for it from my earliest days, through school and through friends, and especially the online community now.
So now if anyone asks what I do, I reply – “I’m a Poet.”
Which poet has influenced you the most and why?
Who do I pick? Neruda, Li Po, Basho, Bukowski, Dickinson, Hejinian, Whyte, Heaney, Eliot? So many have been instrumental in my life. The poet I come back to the most is Mary Oliver. Her love of people, her passion for nature, her metaphors and the simplicity of her poems have all captured my heart. Oliver speaks my language and touches my experience.
Please share your favourite poem by your favourite poet
There are so many poems I could list. One of my favourites by Mary Oliver is ‘The Journey”
The Journey – by Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.
Please share your favourite of your own poems and tell us a bit about it.
I have written so many, but one that is recent and is close to my heart is:
Light Dreams by Paul Cannon
If the whole world were
in an impenetrable darkness
the sun in hibernation
I would dream some light,
reach in and carefully gather it
up into my cupped hands and
cast it across the hungry sky
until every speckle sparked
in every living thing.
In 1979 I had a brief conversation with Bob Dylan around meaning. I asked him what he attached to his lyrics and poems and he said that his work meant something to him, but in the wider world audience his work would take on whatever meaning others found in it. In short, a poem means what it means for you. And I stand by that. What ‘Light Dreams’ is about for me is that we can sit around and worry about the state of the world (and it is, in my view, dire politically, economically and environmentally) but what is needed is for us to be an agent of change, and agent of light, and agent of hope, of love in some way. It fits my belief that all things have an intrinsic right to be treated with dignity, fairness and care. It also fits my belief that love makes the world go round.
You enter a lot of poetry challenges. What attracts you to poetry challenges?
I really enjoy the challenge of writing to a prompt, it stretches me, makes me think and feel. The other side of a challenge is the communal aspect, people interacting through their work, and offering their perspective. The communities I engage with for prompts and challenges are so supportive and encouraging. It is also an opportunity to learn and grow, I know I am not the same poet as I was twenty, or even five years ago as a result.
My Blog Parallax can be found at https://pvcann.com Parallax means that we can see something, see it from another angle and therefore see it differently, so too no two people see things the same – hence – a poem means what it means for you.
You can also find other poetry I write at @pvcannon.bsky.social
About Paul Cannon
Paul is a poet and writer who lives with his wife Lyn in Augusta, Western Australia, they have two adult sons and now grandchildren. Paul loves being creative whether in the garden, with wood, with paint or clay, and not least with the pen. Paul enjoys hiking, camping, reading, wine and a good single malt whiskey.
About Robbie Cheadle
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
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures
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LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE
Posted: January 7, 2026 Filed under: Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Writing, writing exercise | Tags: Imagist Poem, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Writing to be Read 20 Comments
Imagery: Here’s one method to capture a reader’s attention—and evoke feelings. In fact an entire poetry movement was formed around this element: The Imagist Movement.
A MERMAID LIVES HERE
She flicks her tail
mornings,
sprays me with
sea foam
when I
so want to sleep one
more hour
before arising
Again flicking
her tail, she leaps in
the bathtub
so smoothly
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen
Penned by William Carlos Williams, the following poem is an example of the Imagist Movement, wherein the poem was “the thing.” In other words, Imagist poets ignored symbolism, rhyme, rhythm, and other poetic elements and focused upon creating an image.
Consider this your opportunity to attempt writing an Imagist poem. Using your own words, copy merely the style—and perhaps the “beat”—of the WCW poem (on the left) to create yours. And remember to enjoy writing this.
THIS IS JUST TO SAY
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
and so sweet
and so cold
—William Carlos Williams*
*WCW also wrote numerous short stories that included other essential elements in writing, such as dialogue, action, symbolism and so forth. He was also a physician, who wrote between appointments with patients, some of whom he used as sources for characters in his fiction.
One of my college students (a sophomore) wrote the poem (below). I submitted it to the campus literary magazine, Shorelines, which published it:
I have ruined
your lipstick
that was hidden
in your purse
the coral
shade you wore
only
to special events
I’m sorry it
was just so rich
and soft
and so bright
—Melissa Brower
Please feel free to submit your imagist poem to me. Happy New Year, too. May 2026 bring you joy, prosperity, and other blessings.
If you would like to try your hand at this, please submit your efforts in the comments below, or post it on your own blog and link back to this post, then submit the link to the post in the comments below. We’d love to see what you come up with.
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4 th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
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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 “Lindsey’s Writing Practice” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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Mind Fields: End of 2025
Posted: December 31, 2025 Filed under: Mind Fields, Poetry | Tags: Arthur Rosch, Mind Fields, Poetry, Writing to be Read 2 Comments
It’s hard to acknowledge that
while I sit here in my chair
I am also flying across a field of golden light
towards the unknowable source of that light
only that It is and I am here.
It beckons me to follow.
Contemplate a god who can present us with the incredible structures of the cosmos. Might that god also be able to form connections within the thinking populace of space/time? Within all their multifold mind/body vehicles spread across the voids, is god possible, or even probable? These connections are features of a divine pathway toward an intelligence of love and meaning. It contains an apparent infinite supply or energy for us to avail ourselves in building an Art Of Universes
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On Playing Music
I can puff the keys with different parts of my fingers.
A brush to the side of my callused index; a flurry across
the black notes. Hands are wing- like in their facile adaptions.
No disorder survives. Music resolves most of the time
in harmony or obvious discord but it resolves
it doesn’t leave you hanging there wondering
what happened? Did he walk out on stage
and break a bottle over his head?
Remember this always: it takes two bottles over the head
to qualify as music.
ABOUT MUSIC
The most fun my fingers can have is when they
twiddle the keys, fingers going round and round amid
black and white follicles
jungles
of notes like towers
chords like suns
feeling for the right spot
to sit on the right spot
the fingers don’t forget the flowering pleas
to the pleading towers. Ancient note structures
float in the desert. Across the dunes camel tracks
vanish in the wind.. Natural heritage from generations
lurching rhythms hustle elbows knees flying.
I’m working on it he says.
mocking the entire enterprise.
I can puff the keys with different parts of my fingers.
A brush to the side of my callused index; a flurry across
the black notes. Hands are wing- like in their facile adaptions.
No disorder survives. Music resolves most of the time
in harmony or obvious discord but it resolves
it doesn’t leave you hanging there wondering
what happened? Did he walk out on stage
and break a bottle over his head?
Remember this always: it takes two bottles over the head
to qualify as music.
About Arthur Rosch
Arthur Rosch is a novelist, musician, photographer and poet. His works are funny, memorable and often compelling. One reviewer said “He’s wicked and feisty, but when he gets you by the guts, he never lets go.” Listeners to his music have compared him to Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Randy Newman or Mose Allison. These comparisons are flattering but deceptive. Rosch is a stylist, a complete original. His material ranges from sly wit to gripping political commentary.
Arthur was born in the heart of Illinois and grew up in the western suburbs of St. Louis. In his teens he discovered his creative potential while hoping to please a girl. Though she left the scene, Arthur’s creativity stayed behind. In his early twenties he moved to San Francisco and took part in the thriving arts scene. His first literary sale was to Playboy Magazine. The piece went on to receive Playboy’s “Best Story of the Year” award. Arthur also has writing credits in Exquisite Corpse, Shutterbug, eDigital, and Cat Fancy Magazine. He has written five novels, a memoir and a large collection of poetry. His autobiographical novel, Confessions Of An Honest Man won the Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest in 2016.
More of his work can be found at www.artrosch.com
Photos at https://500px.com/p/artsdigiphoto?view=photos
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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 “Mind Fields” is sponsored by the Roberta Writes blog site, where you can find the poetry, photos, videos, and book reviews by Robbie Cheadle and so much more.
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WordCrafter News: January Release – “The Ones Who Stayed With Me” & What’s Ahead in 2026
Posted: December 29, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Book Sales, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Debut novel, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Memoir, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Fiction, Time travel, Western, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: 2026 Publishing Schedule, Happy New Year, New release, Nurse Sammy, The Ones That Stayed With Me, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 12 Comments
The Ones Who Stayed With Me, by Nurse Sammy
I’m pleased to announce the release of a collection of true-life stories from the career of an L.P.N., written by a debut author known only as Nurse Sammy on January 13, 2026. I am so excited to be partnering with Nurse Sammy on this book and publish it through WordCrafter, because my own experiences in the health care field makes Nurse Sammy’s accounts ring true. Some stories will make you laugh. Others may make you cry. But there’s never any doubt that these stories come straight from the heart.
Chronicles of the journey into the medical field as a young nurse and beyond, told with raw sensitivity and compassion. The Ones Who Stayed with Me offers small glimpses into the world of an L.P.N. put in difficult, often touching or humorous, situations—and Nurse Sammy’s courage, vulnerability, and insight are a gift to us all. In these pages, Nurse Sammy tells her story and that of those she met along the way.
What’s Ahead in 2026
WordCrafter Press has a busy year planned for 2026, with a book release almost every single month, and two months designated to the writing of my own works, I may find little time to breathe. But, I’m excited about the new works by rising authors that are scheduled, including the one above, by Nurse Sammy, a paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater, and two novels by rising author Lindsey Martin-Bowen, as well as a nonfiction work on a new approach to treating diabetes, by Daniel Cox, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
We’ll also be publishing two themed anthologies which are by invitation only, as well as our annual short fiction contest and the resulting anthology, which will be book 4 in the Midnight Anthology Series.
February: Writing Month
I’ll be using this month to finalize the second book in my Time Travel Series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions, which will be scheduled for release in March. This book was originally scheduled to release in 2025, but due to unforeseen technical difficulties, (my laptop died), I was unable to make those deadlines, so I’m excited to be releasing it at last.
March: The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions – Book 2 in the Time Travel Adventure Series, by Kaye Lynne Booth
In 1887, LeRoy is stuck, bringing trouble down on those around him. When Sissy is kidnapped and he’s the only one who can save her.
In 2030, Amaryllis will stop at nothing to find LeRoy fix what she messed up in the past, when she wakes up in a future very different to the one she knows, one in which she may not be born.
She and a version of Monique which is different from the one she grew up with travel back to 1887 to try and make things right.
When they cross the other time loops, already created, things change, but not the way Amaryllis intended.
Add two time travel regulators from the future who are after the time module, and things start to get wild.
April: Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons poetry anthology
The annual WordCrafter poetry anthology, Poetry Treasures will be released in April in celebration of National Poetry Month. 2026 brings us volume 6 in the Poetry Treasures anthology series with a theme of ‘Seasons’. The contributors for this anthology are selected from the guests on Robbie Cheadle’s “Treasuring Poetry” blog series in 2025.
May: The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder, by Lindsey Martin-Bowen
A Romantic Comedy set in Boulder, Colorado, in the late 1970’s. Charli Erickson is a “rock poet” who’s a bit “flippant.” Each chapter will be music to your ears.
June: Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater
A paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater.
June: Diabetes: How to prevent or treat it with a new and effective approach that does not involve supplements, weight loss or medication, by Daniel Cox Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
Personalized, research based, practical, empowering, effective workbook. For individuals who want to take control of their diabetes.
July: Marta – Book 3 in the Women in the West Adventure Series, by Kaye Lynne Booth
Marta is a woman trying to make a new start in hostile territory.
Marta is not the timid Mormon woman, who was abducted by Utes as her husband and children were killed in the raid. Now she is determined to make her way as an independent woman, after her partner tried to cheat her out of her share of a gold mine.
Determination and inner grit bring this strong and spunky heroine into the company of a cast of colorful and unique female characters and together, they face down banditos, Comancheros, and angry husbands and fathers, as well as Marta’s disgruntled partner as they travel the rugged desert landscape to unruly border town of El Paso, Texas.
If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you’ll love Marta.
August: Legends anthology
A WordCrafter themed anthology
September: Deep City in Times Roman, by Lindsey Martin-Bowen
A “Roman Clef” based upon the Moony movement, popular in the 1970s and ’80. Set in the 1980s, Lynette and Shirley are quite angry at the Reverand Yun Sung Ghunne, who has separated their husbands from them as he is forming his Ghunies movement. This story spoofs the Mooney movement, or any movement that is mainly designed to dupe persons into supporting the leader and building his wealth.
October: Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares dark fiction anthology
Volume 4 of the WordCrafter
Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series
November: Writing Month
This month I’ll be working on revising what I have of my Playground for the Gods science fantasy series. (It’s been a while since you heard about this one. I bet you forgot all about it, but I didn’t.) Originally planned as a massive four-book series, I now plan to release this entire series in serial installments on Ream.
This series started out as my thesis project for my first M.F.A. degree. I left off with the first book completed, and part of the second, as well as a few chapters for the third. Once these have been revised, which is planned for the month of July, I should be ready to take off with new chapters and continue the saga. Look forward to seeing this series released on Ream as a serial in 2027!
December: The 12 Dark Nights of Christmas anthology
‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the crypt
Not a body was stirring
Not a single bone twitched.
The corpses were nestled in eternal beds
While visions of the macabre lurched through their heads.
The Spirits were restless and flitting about
In anticipation of mayhem when the demons came out.
Twelve dark stories that prove Santa isn’t the only thing stirring on Christmas.
Happy New Year – Have a Great 2026!
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In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
Posted: December 24, 2025 Filed under: Holidays, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 50 CommentsI am ending my “In Touch With Nature” year with a Southern Africanised version of 12 Days of Christmas.
12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
A leopard in a great tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Twelve guinea fowl running
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
Happy Holidays!
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Treasuring Poetry – Sunflower Tanka Dreams anthology compiled by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro
Posted: December 17, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: #Poetryanthology, #Poetrycommunity, #RobbieCheadle, #TreasuringPoetry, Colleen M. Chesebro, Dreams, Poetry, Poetry Anthology, Robbie Cheadle, Sunflower Tanka, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 66 CommentsHi everyone, this is my last Treasuring Poetry post 0f 2025 and I’m thrilled to be ending with a post about the second anthology in the Sunflower Tanka anthology series with the theme of dreams.
This wonderful anthology has 54 contributors and the variety of fascinating takes on the theme of dreams is fascinating. Colleen M. Chesebro and I are contributing editors of this collection and Colleen created an amazing cover using one of my watercolour paintings. The green-haired flower maiden is based on Meadow, a character from one of Teagan Riordain Geneviene’s imaginative stories, Atonement in Bloom. You can learn more about this book here: https://teagansbooks.com/2025/12/08/a-bloomin-snippet-for-cffc/
Blurb
Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology showcasing contemporary tanka, tanka prose, and experimental tanka. Each volume brings together a vibrant tapestry of voices—both emerging and established—from across the globe.
For 2025, our theme “Dreams” invites poets to explore the symbolic language of dreaming, where metaphors blur the line between reality and imagination. Dreams often serve as gateways to layered meaning, offering fertile ground for syllabic poetry.
This year’s contributors journeyed deep into their dreamscapes, opening portals to boundless creativity. Through the timeless form of syllabic verse, they captured visions that transcend waking life, weaving poetry that resonates with mystery, wonder, and the infinite possibilities of the human imagination.
This is the promo video on YouTube:
I am going to take this opportunity to share one of Colleen’s poems and one of my collaborative poem’s with my son, Michael, from this collection.
Writing Through Dreams (tanka Puente) by Colleen M. Chesebro
in the fog of lies
honesty outlines a path
beyond my worst fears
my dreams, a shining lighthouse
nudge out my darkest secrets
– Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. president
dreams empower me
to use my curative skills
a fresh cup of tea
affords me the wisdom to
write syllabic poetry
The End In Sight (Tanka Puente Collaboration) by Robbie and Michael Cheadle
on the brink of change
bright eyes viewing the future
my son and his friends
graduation imminent
transition to adulthood
– If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right – Henry Ford
anxiety creeps
deep despair spreads like fire
spars fear of failure
disappointing those you love
mother’s nagging tongue lashes
My review
This is a collection of beautiful syllabic poems contributed by 54 poets from around the world. All the poems centre around the theme of dreams and the range of interpretations is fascinating.
The poems in the collection comprise of tanka, tanka prose, garland tanka, tanka Puente, bussokuseki, rensaku and taiga which includes a black and white image and they collectively form a delightful poetry adventure.
The collection is introduced with an interesting overview about the inspiration for the theme and the various meanings of the word dreams. This section closes with a delightful tanka by partnering editor, Colleen Chesebro, as follows:
rain cools with sky-mist
sweet drops spark my appetite
whispering prayers
moonlight breaks through the darkness
a feverish dream of you
The collection concludes with a selection of each of the partnering editors favourite poems and the reasons why those specific poems resonated with each of them.
One of my favourite poems is by Yvette M. Calleiro:
miracle baby
you came to me in a dream
blessing from above
missing puzzle piece in life
my greatest accomplishment
I feel this way about my own two sons and so this poem has stayed in my heart.
A delightful collection of poetry that will make a lovely gift to others or to yourself.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Sunflower-Tanka-Anthology-Prose-Experimental/dp/B0G51RKG61
Tanka Tuesday
You can join in weekly syllabic poetry challenges on Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/12/09/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-42-gift-gifting-12-09-25/
About Colleen M. Chesebro
Colleen M. Chesebro grew up in a large city in the Midwest. Keen on making her own way in the world, she joined the United States Air Force after graduation to tour the world and find herself. To this day, that search continues.
An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction.
In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on her blog on by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.
Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan, surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.
You can find Colleen M. Chesebro on her personal blog here: https://colleenchesebro.org/
About Robbie Cheadle
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
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures
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The Gift of Poetry Sale
Posted: December 11, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Book Promotion, Book Sales, Books, Collection, Poetry | Tags: Behind Closed Doors, Feral Tenderness, Poetry Treasures, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships, Poetry Treasures 3: Passions, Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature, Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures, Poetry Treasures Series, Small Wonders, The Gift of Poetry Sale, WordCrafter Press 4 Comments
Starting Black Friday, November 28th and running clear through December 25th, for those last-minute gifts.
Click on the book title to go to the landing page. Then, select the distributor of your choice.
The Poetry Treasures Series
Open the cover
and you will discover
Poetry Treasures
from the guests on Robbie Cheadle’s “Treasuring Poetry” blog series on Writing to be Read.
Poetry Treasures – $2.99 – Open the book and discover the poetry treasures of Sue Vincent, Geoff Le Pard, Frank Prem, Victoria (Tori) Zigler, Colleen M. Chesebro, K. Morris, Annette Rochelle Aben, Jude Kitya Itakali, and Roberta Eaton Cheadle.
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships – $2.99 – Relationships are golden and each of Arthur Rosch, Elizabeth Merry, D Avery, Robbie Cheadle, Harmony Kent, Lauren Scott, Jules Paige, Leon Stevens, Colleen M. Chesebro, Miriam Hurdle, Marjorie Mallon, and Lynda McKinney Lambert pay poetic tribute to their most intense personal moments.
Poetry Treasures 3: Passions – $2.99 – Passion treasures within. Included are treasures from: Patty Fletcher, D. Wallace Peach, Yvette Prior, Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro, Abbie Taylor, Yvette Calliero, , Smitha Vishwanath, Chris Hall, Willow Willers, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, and Robbie Cheadle.
Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature – $ 2.99 – Included are poetic gems from: Andrew McDowell, Robbie Cheadle, Patricia Furstenberg, Marcia Meara, Luanne Castle, D.L. Finn, Emily Gmitter, Kaye Lynne Booth, Selma Martin, Merril D. Smith, Frank Prem, and Colleen Chesebro.
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures – $2.99 – Join poets DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pasturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesebro share their own small pleasures in poetic verse.
Individual Poetry Collections
Small Wonders: Reflective Poems, by Kaye Lynne Booth – $1.99 – The world is filled with amazing things, if we will just stop a moment and take notice. In this vast universe, we are but tiny individuals, filled with awe and amazement. From reflections on first love, to reflections on growing old. The poems within these pages express a lifetime of unique reflections in Small Wonders.
Behind Closed Doors: A Collection of Unusual Poems, by Robbie Cheadle – $2.99 – 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.
Feral Tenderness: Poetry & Photography, by Arthur Rosch – $2.99 – A lifetime of poetry and photography gives a unique view of life, nature, the world, and the universe.
November 28th – December 25th, 2025
Get your copies today!
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Book Review: “Tome of Stars”
Posted: November 28, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Kaye Lynne Booth, Poetry Collection, Stargazer, Tome of Stars, Writing to be Read 1 Comment
About Tome of Stars
What is Tome of Stars?
Tome of Stars is equal parts art, therapy journal, and (failed) exorcism, both a celebration and an elegy. As a single narrative arc tracing the birth and death of a relationship, the poems follow a timeline of passion, longing, and prolonged grief.
Cosmic imagery saturates the collection, a tribute to the beloved, who transformed the heavens into symbols of devotion, wonder, and longing. The work is a flawed attempt to chart a universe of feeling and experience through emotional and psychological labyrinths that have for decades left the author lost and bewildered.
All poetry is by Stargazer. The verse and accompanying synthetic art/music are public domain, CC0, with no restrictions on use. Nothing is monetized.
Purchase Link: https://www.tomeofstars.net/books
My Review of Tome of Stars
I received a color illustrated hardback print copy of Tome of Stars from the author, Stargazer, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. The author sent a beautifully color illustrated hardback print copy. I was led to believe that it was available in other formats, such as black & white, or digital formats, but I have no purchase links available.
My first impression was that the entire collection is a love poem to the universe. I’m very fond of sonnets, which made the reading easy and smooth, and quite enjoyable. As I read on, I discovered that although these sonnets speak of the universe, and sometimes, to their intended as a goddess in the stars, they actually chronicle the rise and fall of a love relationship which is viewed through the eyes of the poet in cosmic proportions.
I found it refreshing to find the obvious Eastern influence expressed in this traditional poetry format. The sonnets in this collection would make Shakespear proud. I had several favorites; too many to reprint them all here, but I feel the need to include a small sample. Tome of Stars is a large collection, literally a tome, and the choosing is difficult indeed.
Divine Mud
Beneath this grin, my grave of secrets rots,
Both vile and pure, each thread too lightly grasped,
A knotted web where truth and silence fought,
Too dark for light, too precious to unclasp.
Agleam within the ruins of my mind,
A single shard shines bright amongst the waste:
A sublime rose once shattered in my crimes,
Revealed as glow no gloom could ever fade.
For love is godly – bright and black the same,
A mixture rough of mortal mud divine,
Where sorrow mangles joy, yet gestates flame,
Jailed soulmates thrust within the genes’ design.
We build from what we break towards light,
Or so we dream in fever through our night.
And another:
Alarippu
On verdant stage, a rose begins to prance,
Inhaling astral breath; her sepals wink,
To rhythmic beats, the bud shakes off her trance,
As lim s unwind, aroused to softly sync.
In graceful arcs, the petals stretch and bend,
Sure steps of symmetry, precisely placed,
Grand geometric lines their glamour lend;
Each stem and lead their destined roles embraced.
Beneath starshine, a lush crescendo swells —
Potential bursts into kinetic power
With fragrant splendor, stunning beauty melds;
The world’s rapt audience beholds the flower.
The cosmic Gardener, with fertile breeze,
Bestows the blessing on the dance, well-pleased.
Easy to read and beautiful to enjoy, Tome of Stars is a delightful collection of sonnets with a story. I give it five quills.
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About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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WordCrafter News: Holiday Book Deals
Posted: November 24, 2025 Filed under: Adventure, Book Sales, Books, Children's Books, Collection, Dark fiction, Fiction, Holidays, Poetry, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Time travel, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Behind Closed Doors, Christmas for Kids Sale, Feral Tenderness, Hidden Secrets, Holiday Book Sales, My Backyard Friends series, Poetry Treasures Series, Shadow Blade, The Gift of Poetry Sale, The Rock Star & the Outlaw, Women in the West adventure series, WordCrafter Holiday Book Bash, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 2 CommentsHappy Holidays!
WordCrafter Press is running some great holiday sales this season, because I believe that to give a book is to give a gift of love. All sales run from Black Friday, November 28, all the way through December 25th to help out with those last-minute gifts.
Christmas for Kids Sale
Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend – $2.50: https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird
Timothy Turtle Discovers Jelly Beans – $2.50: https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle
Charlie Chickadee Finds a New Home – $2.99: https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee
The Gift of Poetry Sale
The Poetry Treasures Collection – $2.99 each
Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships
Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/PT3Passions
Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures
Behind Closed Doors: A Collection of Unusual Poems
by Robbie Cheadle – $2.99
Feral Tenderness: Poetry and Photography
by Arthur Rosch – $2.99
WordCrafter Holiday Book Bash
Women in the West Adventure Series
Delilah – $1.99: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1
Sarah – $2.99: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West
Marta: Coming in 2026
Shadow Blade, by Chris Barili – $5.99
The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions – Coming in 2026
Hidden Secrets, by Kaye Lynne Booth – .99 cents
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In Touch With Nature – Meet Pumbaa the Warthog and a treat #southernafricanwildlife #intouchwithnature
Posted: October 22, 2025 Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Nature writing, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Warthogs, White Giraffe, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 40 Comments
Disney was as kind to warthog’s as it was unkind to hyenas in its movie, The Lion King. Pumbaa the Warthog is a well-known Southern African cartoon figure among many people, young and old. This is intriguing to me as warthogs, together with poor unloved hyenas, are both part of the Southern African ‘Ugly Five’ group of animals.
I always laugh when I see warthogs running about in the veld. I immediately think of ‘pigs in blankets’ and they are definitely ‘bush snacks’ for many carnivores. So, let’s learn a bit more about these funny looking creatures.
Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time foraging for food. Socially, they are found in three groups: solitary boars, bachelor groups, and matriarchal groups which consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Outside of mating, the boars seldom associate with the sows and play no role in rearing the piglets. Did I mention that warthogs are a member of the pig family? Warthogs are the only pigs that have adapted to living and grazing in savannah like habitats.
A few interesting features of warthogs are that they kneel on their front knees while feeding and foraging and they shelter in (frequently borrowed) burrows at night which they enter tails first. Although they like more dry surroundings, warthogs enjoy wallowing in muddy water every day. This wallowing process is how they stay cool on hot days in the same manner as elephants and buffalo.
Warthogs tend to breed and give birth at the beginning of the rainy season in regions where the seasons are defined. In other environments, warthogs can breed all year around. Warthogs generally have two to three piglets in a litter.
Although I said these creatures are bush snacks for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and painted dogs, they have longer legs than most pigs and can run very quickly. They are difficult to catch and also difficult to photograph.
Interesting warthog facts
- Warthogs have two pairs of tusks
- Warthogs trot with their tails in the air
- Warthogs can run up to 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour)
- Warthogs fight in a ritualistic way and use their heads and tusks to try to push their opponent over.
- Warthogs have warts on their faces which act as a cushion for blows from their adversaries. Large warts also help protect their eyes during fights.
- A group of female warthogs with young is called a sounder
- Mama warthogs like orderly behaviour and the piglets always run in a fixed order in a line and not in a disorderly group.
- Warthogs are attentive mothers; they leave the sounder when about to give birth and find their own burrow or hole. Mama remains in this hole with her young for the first six to seven weeks after birth, only leaving for short periods to graze.
- Warthogs are hunted for their tusks which are carved for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa (don’t buy these!)
- Warthogs communicate using a variety of different noises including loud grunts, growling and squeals. Clacking noises are used by males to entice females.
My Youtube video of a sounder having breakfast:
Poem about warthogs
This poem is extracted from my favourite of my own books, Lion Scream.
Home Thief
I am not beautiful
My head is too big
My face is covered in wartlike protrusions
To protect it during fights
I have four large tusks
***
I prefer to trespass
On ready-built homes
It’s easier if aardvark does the digging
Creating a safe hole
And I just move in
***
My babies enter first
I have up to four
Backing in leaves me prepared to protect them
From many predators
Who view us as snacks
Lion Scream is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766
White headed giraffe – a special sighting
During a trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve we had the good fortune to come across this giraffe with large white patches on its face. Very unusual. The guide was very patient and waited for me to get my shots.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? 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 “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
