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My Review

Robbie Cheadle’s latest release, Lion Scream, is a book-length photo essay prompted by visits she and her family made to the South African bush. The book comprises photography (including a cake art piece), poetry, commentary, and short fiction to provide a range of perspectives on the plight of wild animals in Cheadle’s home country.

I found the photo essay form to be particularly well-suited to the author’s intent: “to share insights about the impact of habitat loss, hunting, and poaching on the wild animals of South Africa . . .” (“About My Poems and Photographs,” p. 3).

The photographs clearly communicate that these animals are in their natural habitat, and their natural habitat is where they belong. Moreover, humans need to respect their natural habitat as such. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words”!

That said…

Hi SEers! Denise here to talk about supporting our fellow writers.

Have you ever wished people would be more supportive of your writing? Or wonder how to help other writers? I know I have.

An author’s body of work can vary, including novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, articles, or blogs. One thing they all have in common is they are all looking for readers. Does that make it a competition? No. Each audience is unique. A writer offers personal insight and life experience on any given subject. The wonderful writing community is where we can all exist successfully. I am always cheering for every achievement of my fellow writers.

What are the best ways to offer our support?

• Read! There are many genres out there, and it’s impossible to read all of them. So read the ones you enjoy.
• If you enjoyed the book you’ve read—write a review. Didn’t like…

Writing Marta – Strong female characters right out of history

One of the cool things about Delilah and the Women in the West adventure series is the fact that there is a true-life historical female character in a supporting role, along with the strong female protagonist in each book. In the first book, Delilah, the supporting character is Elizabeth “Baby” Doe McCourt Tabor. In Book 2, Sarah, the supporting character will be Big Nose Kate, and I’ve begun the pre-writing process of outlining for that one. In Marta, book 3 in the series, the supporting historical character is Clara Brown. An emancipated slave, Clara was one of the first women to go to the Colorado gold camps, providing domestic services for many of the miners, including the first laundry service in the Colorado territory.

I’m not that far with the third book. Marta is still a loose…

Today, I am delighted to host Kaye Lynne Booth with an author interview as part of her Delilah Book Blog Tour.

What inspired you to write a Western? Have you always been a fan of Westerns, or did it fit in with an idea for a historical novel with a strong female character?

Delilah began as a challenge to write outside of my comfort zone from one of my graduate professors, Russell Davis. Up until that point, I’d written short stories mostly in the fantasy realm. My step-dad used to read Zane Grey and Loius L’Amoure and he had many of them, so I had read a few westerns, and I watch a lot of the old cowboy shows, and I’m a huge fan of Clint Eastwood and the spaghetti western movies.

When the challenge was issued to write a western, I knew I wanted to have a female protagonist…

I received this book and read it in one sitting. It is staggering in its beauty and message. Robbie Cheadle has crafted an excellent book, filled with syllabic poetry, commentary, and a short story. Taken as a whole, this text is an important lesson on the impact of humanity on the wildlife of Southern Africa and, by extension, the rest of the world.

“Lion Scream”, the title of the book and one of the poems within, is my favorite. It is short but deeply impactful. Cheadle shows her talent with words as she creates this poem, and then many others in a fascinating form called the Double Enead, which has 99 syllables.

Cheadle’s book is a masterpiece! I do not use these words lightly or easily, but this book moved me emotionally and intellectually. I was shaken and in tears while I read it. As a man of my age…