Join us for Day 2 of the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour over at Robbie’s Inspiration with a guest post from author Chris Barili on the inspiration for the story. Drop by to join in the fun, and don’t forget to leave a comment, so we know you were there and give you an entry in the give away.
Today, I am delighted to welcome Nolcha Fox as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Nolcha is an accomplished poet and also the editor of Chewers by Masticadores. You can find out more about Chewers by Masticadores here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/
What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc.?
I don’t have a favorite style. What I enjoy is poetry with unexpected twists, poetry I want to continue past the end. I enjoy poetry I can dance to because of the rhythmic quality of the words. My favorite books are still “Alice and Wonderland” and “The Cat in the Hat.”
What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?
I’ve always loved Robert Frost, especially “The Road Not Taken.”
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Every time I read this poem, I find something new.
What is your favourite style of poetry to write?
It’s a toss-up between freestyle and pantoum. I don’t like to write rhyming poetry (funny because I enjoy reading it, when well-written). Needless to say, I break many poetry form rules.
I enjoy writing poems with a strong rhythm. Internal rhymes happen accidentally. As I write, I internally feel the bum-bum-bum-bum-bum.
What is your favourite of your own poems?
Robbie, almost every poem is my favorite when I write it. Until the next poem. This is my latest favorite (published in Medusa’s Kitchen), even though I have no idea what I wrote:
Sunflowers in My Hair
I can’t untangle flowers
from the memories of youth.
They are the knots I can’t brush out
until the withering winter.
If it’s not a favorite after I write it, I hit it on the head with a shovel and bury it in the backyard. I’ve learned to run my unfavorite poems past a poet friend (or two). Many poems have been allowed to live because of the feedback I received.
My favorite poems are included in two books, if you want to check them out:
Here is my favorite poem in “My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis:”
My pelvis wants to be Elvis
on The Ed Sullivan Show, you know,
I want to be that cutie who shakes her booty
while Elvis bumps and grinds. Who minds
gyrating hips and snarling lips?
The truth be said, my darling Ed,
the rest of me wants to be
in bed.
Please tell us about your poetry book, Finger Painting with Words. How did this book come about? What would you like readers to take away from this collection?
“Finger Painting with Words” is a collection of short poems written to inspire readers to see the world with refreshed eyes — through imagination, through the senses, through the emotions. Not through a cell phone (although that could be a different book).
I also wrote this book to thrill my mother. She loved that her daughter was an author. Unfortunately, she died before this book was published.
Book reviews
Seesaw: Quirky Poems by Ken Tomaro and Nolcha Fox
Picture caption: Cover of Seesaw: Quirky Poems
This poetry collaboration between Nolcha Fox and Ken Tomaro is darkly humorous and most entertaining. The poems celebrate daily life in all its boring ordinariness and, by demonstrating how much worse it could be if these chores and activities were not undertaken, highlight the charm of ordinary life. They also ‘take the mick’ out of people’s ridiculous obsession with social media and watching life being lived by others. These poems made me smile and reminded me of the poetic works of Roald Dahl.
Two short extracts that highlight the style and content of the poems:
“Debris that hurries by becomes a melody and why aren’t we taking cover instead of videoing this hurricane on our phones?
Aluminum siding and a trampoline whiz by. So, I’ll snap a pic for all the wandering eyes, just to break the monotony of cat photos on my phone.”
“I come to a door I open it. Not because it is easy, or because I’m curious, or because I’m bored, but because it is the only one that will open. I take weak little steps. Not because I am unsure, but because I am tired. I follow the same path. Not because it is worn, but because all paths are the same.
The only door that opens is to dirty dishes, unmade beds, laundry someone left behind. By the time I clean this house, I’ll be too weak to find a pathway out of here.”
A book that will give your spirits a lift as you laugh at yourself and life.
This is a relatively short collection of fascinating and different poems and the first collection I’ve read by this poet. I have read a lot of classic books and poems written by British authors and poets and have only recently started exploring American writers and poets. The difference in style and content is intriguing to me and I have developed a real appreciation for the boundaryless thought processes and unstructured writing styles of American writers.
For me as a reader, Nolcha Fox’s poetry is a wonderful example of thinking and writing outside the ‘box’ and I enjoyed each poem in this collection a great deal.
An example of this freedom in writing is her poem, Catch Them, as follows: “In morning dark, the stars are blinding white, rampaging fireflies on steroids. Hollyhocks defy gravity and aphids to kiss the sky before the weight of summer tilts them to kiss the ground. Heat bakes the sidewalk into squares of peanut butter fudge, sweet sludge from oven top. Each second a butterfly I scoop with net of tangled words before it flies pastward to cocoon.”
This is an interesting and thought provoking short collection of poems designed to make you think. I must also mention the lovely cover which I found very attractive.
Nolcha Fox’s poems have been curated in print and online journals. A best-selling author, her poetry books are available on Amazon and Dancing Girl Press. Nominee for Best Of The Net and Pushcart Prize. Editor of Chewers by Masticadores.
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/
________________________
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.
__________________________
This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.
Pachinko is an amazing family saga set in Korea, Japan and America from when Japan took control of Korea in 1910 to 1989. Admittedly, this book was a real eye opener. I had no idea the japanese treated the Koreans so badly and how much the Koreans suffered, both in Korea and in Japan if they immigrated. This discrimination, abuse, and racism towards Koreans by Japanese people continues right up to the end of the book in 1989. It did leave me wondering what the current situation is for people of Korean descent living in Japan.
The book starts with the story of Hoonie, the son of a poor fisherman and his wife who was born with a cleft lip and a club foot. The couple are hard working and have a good sense of business, taking in lodgers and building a secondary business as a boarding house for working class people. This business helps them maintain a reasonable life during the first years of the Japanese occupation when the livelihoods of ordinary Koreans were devastated by high taxes and poor treatment. A matchmaker arranges a marriage for Hoonie, despite him being illegible in terms of cultural law due to his disabilities, to the daughter of a farmer rendered destitute by the colonialization. Hoonie and his wife, Yangjin, continue to build the boarding house business and have one surviving daughter, Sunja. Hoonie dies when Sunja is still a girl and Yangjin and Sunja continue the business alone. When Sunja is sixteen she is singled out by a wealthy fishtrader, Koh Hansu, a Korean living in Japan, who slowly woos her and ultimately seduces her. Sunja becomes pregnant and hopes to marry her loves, but discovers he is already married with three daughters. He proposes to support her as his mistress but Sunja rejects this idea as it goes against her principles. Fortunately for Sunja and her mother, salvation arrives in the form of a sickly Korean minister, Baek Isak, who is travelling to join his brother in Japan. Sunja marries Baek Isak and goes with him to start a new life in Japan as a minister’s wife. The story continues with Sunja and Baek’s lives in Japan and their family of two sons, Noa, son of the wealthy Korean fisherman, and Mozasu, Baek’s son. The saga ends years later when Sunja’s sons are older men with childen of their own.
Sunja was an excellent character. The author aptly captures the innocence of a young girl and demonstrates how Hansu inveigles his way into her life, ultimately seducing her. Hansu is not depicted as being a terrible man in these early days. He wants to support his son and Sunja and keep up his relationship with her but on his terms. These terms would result in Sunja and her mother’s disgrace in their community and her son having no name, but so would Sunja’s having an illegitimate child. If Baek hadn’t entered the story, practically, Sunja would have had to capitulate to Hansu’s request as there would have been no other way for her and her mother. Sunja is a woman of much inner strength and she accepts her situation and marriage to Baek and does her best to be a really good mother and wife to him. She demonstrates much fortitude in overcoming the difficulties she faces in Japan and shows that she is hard working and also has a good business brain and survival abilities. I felt that Sunja was a magnificent tribute to the fortitude and resourcefulness of many women forced to face terrible hardship and find a way to feed their children.
Sunja’s second son, Mozasu, is another wonderful character. Hard working and also an astute business mind, he makes the most of his situation and builds a good business for himself and his family. He also manages to overcome a lot of hardship and tragedy. He is a devoted father to his only son and demonstrates much support of, and affection for, his own people and community. He is not a criminal personality despite being involved in a gambling business that is rigged as all such business must be. He does his best to help other people and be as law abiding as possible in a society aimed at subjugating and even destroying Koreans. His attitude towards the end of the book, when faced by a disappointing (to him) decision by his son, is exemplary and shows what a good parent he was and sensible in the face of life facts.
The author demonstrates in many places his deep understanding of the human condition. One particularly striking demonstration of this understanding is towards the end of the book when Sunja goes home to see her sick mother. This scene really stayed with me and, having experienced similar situation with aging relatives, I found it deeply compelling.
I highly recommend this compelling and fascinating read that shares so much information about the history of Korea and Japan between 1910 and 1989 and also shows a deep understanding of people and their relationships, reactions, and emotions.
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/.
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.
__________________________________________
This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
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/.
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.
__________________________________________
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
Posted: June 11, 2025| Author:robbiesinspiration|Filed under:Uncategorized|41 CommentsPicture caption: Read and Cook bannerPicture caption: The cover of Volcanic Adventures in Tonga featured a small boat on the ocean heading towards an island.
What Amazon says
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the remote islands of Tonga with Ann, a young conservation scientist, in this captivating travel memoir that will leave you breathless. From smoking volcanoes to fierce cyclones, Ann braves the elements while racing against time to save an endangered bird. But as she immerses herself in the rich culture and untouched beauty of Tonga, she discovers the true power of stepping outside her comfort zone. Join Ann as she uncovers the secrets of this breathtaking destination and navigates the challenges of living without modern comforts in “Tongan Time”. This thrilling adventure will ignite your wanderlust and make you appreciate the comforts of home like never before. It will transport you to a new world filled with tropical delights, adventure, a unique culture, and self-discovery.
Here is what you will discover in this book:
A captivating 17-month-long travel story that takes you on an exciting armchair adventure.
Original photos documenting the journey and showcasing the vibrant life in Tonga.
Unique insights into authentic Tongan culture, revealing experiences that go beyond what most short-term tourists encounter in the South Pacific.
Fascinating glimpses into the life of a remarkable bird that relies on a volcano to incubate its eggs.
My review
I read a recommendation for this book on a blog and its premise fascinated me. I am a great lover of southern African wildlife and a part time environmentalist so the idea of a young couple being so devoted to saving an endangered species of bird delighted and intrigued me.
The book tells the true story of the author’s experiences on a remote island in Tonga in the early 1990s. I am slightly younger than the author and grew up in South Africa so the descriptions of rural life and how the Tongan people lived and ate, are quite relatable to me. Having lived and worked in southern Africa for years and studied many reports about corruption and administrative red tape in setting up projects and businesses, those aspects of Ann’s story are also very understandable and relatable to me.
The difficulties faced by this young European couple in gaining entry to Tonga, setting up the project, and ultimately conducting it, were interesting, but the most interesting part of this memoire was the coming of age aspect and the information about the birds.
The couple were idealistic and full of good intentions when they set out on the project. They were going to help save an endangered an highly unusual bird on a remote island in Tonga. These are wonderful intentions but it was obvious to me from the outset, that the reality of what they were undertaking would be difficult and even disillusioning. The hardships the couple faced with illness, getting good food, understanding the culture and the language, and overcoming cultural obstacles and mindsets were fascinating. The story is actually a triumph for this couple who managed to stay true to their objectives in many ways, despite the huge obstacles and, towards the end, deteriorating health.
On reflection, I would never had done what this couple did at their young age, and even less so now. Perhaps because I always had a much greater understanding of what they would encounter on their path. This knowledge makes me even more admiring of their great achievement.
A fascinating story for lovers of wildlife and animals but also a story of enthusiasm, courage, and overcoming obstacles and staying true to an objective despite everything life throws at you in the process. An excellent book that I really enjoyed.
Preheat the oven to 180C. Mix the spice ingredients in a small bowl. In a wok or frying pan, brown the lamb chops using olive oil. Place the browned chops in a greased casserole dish. Fry the onions in the pan. Once soft and browning, add the spice, tomato paste and combine. Do not let the spices burn. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Pour the chicken stock mixture into the casserole dish and cook in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and top up the liquid with more stock if necessary. Add the apricots. Return to the oven and cook for a further 1 hour.
I served with rice and garlic naan bread.
Picture caption: Lamb tagine with rice and roasted vegetables
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/.
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.
_________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Cheetah cubs are known for their adorable, fluffy appearance but, sadly, they face a high mortality rate in the wild. Only 10% of cheetah cubs survive to adulthood in the bushveld due to various factors including predators and environmental changes.
Picture caption: Cheetah cub of about twelve weeks old. It still has the silvery white fur mantlePicture caption: Frontal shot of a cheetah cub aged twelve weeks
Cheetahs do not form lasting pair bonds so once mating occurs, a relatively brief process of no longer than one hour, the male departs. Female cheetahs assume full responsibility for the pregnancy and care of the cubs. The pregnancy lasts between ninety and ninety-five days and during this time the female continues to hunt and see to her nutritional needs and those of her developing cubs. As the birth approaches, the female seeks isolation and a suitable birthing location. This period of solitude is necessary as cheetahs do not share cub-rearing responsibilities.
Picture caption: A female ‘mother’ cheetah
Cheetahs usually have litters of three to six cubs which are born blind and weighing between two hundred and three hundred grams. Cheetah cubs have a thick silvery-grey mantle down their back which helps camouflage the babies by imitating the look of the aggressive honey badger. This deception is aimed at deterring predators such as lions, hyenas, leopards, and eagles who all kill cheetah cubs. A day or so after the birth, the mother has to leave the cubs in order to hunt for herself so she can continue to feed and care for the cubs. This is a dangerous time for the cubs as they are left unprotected. For the first six weeks of their lives the cubs remain behind while their mother hunts. She moves them from one secluded hiding place to another in order to avoid detection by predators.
Picture caption: Mom and twelve week old cubs feeding
At about six weeks, the cubs begin following their mother as she travels around looking for prey. During the first few months, the mother and cubs can’t move far or fast, so they are at their most vulnerable. This is the period when cub fatalities are highest. This is the time when the cubs learn life skills for their survival.
At approximately three months old, the cubs lose their ‘honey badger’ mantle and by one year they are hunting with their mother. At about eighteen months old, the cubs leave their mother. The cubs usually stay together for a few months while they hone and perfect their hunting skills. When the adolescent females start maturing, dominant males will chase their brothers away.
Picture caption: Older cheetah cubs (approximately one year) feeding on a baby impala killPicture caption: A shot of the same cheetah cubs
This video is of a cheetah kill. Don’t watch it if you are squeamish.
Note: Cheetah cubs mimic honey badgers in appearance. They have a thick silvery-grey mantle running down their backs that gives them the appearance of a honey badger. This is a form of camouflage and makes the cubs look like an animal known for its fierce and fearless nature. Cheetah cubs are at risk of being eaten by most other predators so this honey badger disguise acts as a deterrent to potential predators giving them a better chance at survival.
Picture caption: Cover of Burning Butterflies by Robbie 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/.
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.
__________________________________________
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
Today, I am delighted to welcome Michelle Ayon Navajas, poet and curator of After Rain Skies Global Anthology, back to Treasuring Poetry.
About After Rain Skies
After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology is the third installment in the After Rain Skies series, bringing together writers, poets, and storytellers from around the world to speak out against all forms of abuse and violence. Each poem and prose piece is either a personal story or one that inspired the writer—a voice raised in solidarity with those who have endured hardship. These are raw, real stories of resilience, courage, and the search for light after darkness, told through powerful prose and poetry.
Michelle Ayon Navajas, The Curator Published by Michelle Ayon Navajas Publishing House
Over to Michelle!
There are two books in the After Rain Skies series. The first, After Rain Skies: A Compilation of true and inspiring stories of abuse and violence in prose and poetry, comprises of your own poetry based on your experiences speaking to victims of abuse. The second is a global anthology, with contributors from all over the world. What were your aspirations for each of these two poetry collections?
It was in 2019 that I met the women of Perak Women For Women Society in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. I learned from them the devastating effects of abuse and violence on women and children. At that time, I was running an anonymous blog on WordPress for a while, and I thought if I could help them reach more people to amplify their cause and voice, then maybe, together, we would make a difference. I started writing about it on my blog, and I was surprised to receive emails from hundreds of women around the world sharing their stories, and those of someone they know and loved experiencing abuse and violence. It was then that the founder of PWW said, maybe we can do more than just listen and read their stories, that was when the first book was born. I’ve interviewed victims of abuse and violence and put all of their experiences in one collection written in prose and poetry. The first book was a success, it helped PWW generate funds to support their advocacy in helping distressed victims of abuse and violence, and the proceeds of the sales of the book went to the foundation. They also started receiving support from people around Malaysia. We were also able to provide immediate reading material whenever they needed to do campaign talks about abuse and violence. The book was an eye-opener for some victims who were afraid to speak up and tell their truths. More people started to speak up since then. Five years later, I’ve realized that abuse and violence are still a rampant societal problem worldwide. And so with the support of my fellow poets and bloggers, the Global anthology was born. It is aimed to amplify voices rallying against abuse and violence on a global stage coming from the experiences and perspectives of poets, writers and authors around the world.
There were two teenagers and two young adults who contributed to the global anthology. What are you hoping younger readers will gain from this collection?
I was very delighted to receive submissions from Arshien Deticio, an 18-year-old Senior High School student from the Philippines, and Michael Cheadle, a 19-year-old student from South Africa. These are indications that even teenagers are becoming more aware of the effects and tragedy brought about by abuse and violence. Having the voices of young people is a great help in seeking more support from the youth. Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ National Hero, once said, “The youth is the hope of our motherland.” this is true not only to the Philippines but to the youth worldwide. They will be the hope of our world, and having youths who take part in issues and concerns about issues like abuse and violence is an assurance that our world will be in good hands.
Arshien and Michael are the representatives of the great leaders and advocates of the future. I hope these two will continue advocating for causes and issues that are pertinent to making this world a better and safer place to live.
It seems from the contributors to the global anthology that gender-based violence is widespread. What do you see as the leading factors that contribute to this on-going issue? Do you see hope for change in the future?
With my experience and exposure to actual victims of abuse and violence, I’ve realized that they have one common denominator that is they are afraid to speak up because of the social stigma on victims. We as a society also lack the facility to provide immediate care to the distressed victims of abuse and violence. If we have a home for the ages, which caters to our elderly people, and an orphanage for abandoned children, maybe we can also have homes for distressed victims of abuse and violence. The number of victims skyrocketed over the years because they are afraid to speak up and afraid to report, or even seek help. And when they finally find the courage, they don’t have a safe place to go. Another aspect that I believe contributes to the rampant cases of abuse and violence is the lack of awareness and education, especially at home. Maybe it’s time we teach and raise boys not to hurt or abuse a girl or a woman, maybe it’s also time we change the family dynamics. As we all know, men who come from abusive families are highly likely to become abusive during their adult lives. And finally, there is a strong need for efficient legislation on abuse and violence. It is time for our government officials to strengthen the laws concerning abuse and violence. In the Philippines, we have the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262). You could just imagine what happened to victims of abuse and violence in the Philippines before 2004. Their stories were forgotten. Despite this, the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from their intimate partners. Why? Because the law itself has so many loopholes. The abusers can just easily get away, especially if they have the power and the money. And I am sure this is also true for the rest of the world.
I know that we have a long way to go in the battle against abuse and violence, but with our collective voices, we will make a difference.
My review of After Rain Skies The Global Anthology
After Rain Skies is an incredible collection of strong voices crying out against abuse in all its forms. There are contributions from countries all across the planet, reminding me that abuse is alive and well everywhere, from the most developed countries to the least developed. The poems involve a variety of different settings and are not exclusive to one sex which reinforced my own views and experiences never to judge people as you don’t know what their circumstances and life obstacles where and continue to be.
Every poem in this collection resonated with me even though I have not personally suffered many of the abuses shared. I have seen it in the world around me, read about it, and can feel it. While all the poems are incredible, visual, and powerful, there are a few that have stayed with me.
Extracts from three poems that really ate into my heart and soul:
“Father said
For because I am selfish
I shall make you want
For because I am angry
I shall make you timid
For why should you, my son
Benefit from the ability to love yourself
When I have not”
From In My Image by Michael L. Utley
“at 31, she just wants to be present for herself.
Sometimes, she feels selfish for it, but being
everything to everyone has drained her. she longs
for a break, a moment of solitude in silence”
From At 31 by Scarlet Rose
“Women, you don’t need to walk around broken.
Pick up every piece that’s been snatch away from you.
Every piece that’s been stolen.
Every piece that’s been smashed to pieces.
Search for them, find them and put them back where they belong.”
From Fine Piece of China by Martha Gloria Byng-Cornwell
Picture caption: Banner of Michelle Ayon Navajas featuring a selection of her books
Michelle Ayon Navajas (born June 23, 1976) is a Filipino poet, writer, and educator. She is a Best-Selling international Poet known for her books reaching the #1 spot within days of their release. Her 8th poetry book, “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark,” went straight to the top of both the best-sellers list and new releases on Amazon on short notice. Her 7th poetry book, “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” went straight to the best-sellers list on Amazon in less than 24 hours of release by pre-orders alone and eventually became the number Poetry Book on Amazon India on its actual release day, soon after the book rose to the best- sellers list as well in all other Amazon Markets worldwide.
Currently, Michelle holds the title of having 4 books published in a row to have made it to Amazon’s Best-Sellers List (“I Will Love You Forever, Too,” “After Rain Skies, 2nd Edition,” “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” and “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark”) and 3 books on Amazon’s #1Hot New Releases/New Releases (“I Will Love You Forever, Too,” “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” and “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark”.)
Her poetry appeared in several international literary magazines and anthologies such as Spillwords NYC, MasticadoresUsa, and MasticadoresIndia. Her poems “Holding Hands” was voted as Spillwords Publication of the Month for November 2021 and “Love Happens” was voted as Spillwords Publication of the Month for December 2022.
She is also part of the award-winning ensemble of authors in two Poetry Anthologies, that are both Amazon Best-Sellers: Hidden In Childhood and Wounds I Healed.
Graduated with a Master of Education majoring in English in the Philippines (University of San Agustin, Iloilo City). Michelle was a former college professor, teaching literature, speech & oral communication, creative writing, drama, and theatre arts. She is also a graduate of Mass Communications major in Journalism (Centro Escolar University, Manila).
Michelle is active in her writing profession and works as a freelance creative writer.
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/
________________________
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.
__________________________
This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.
The Willows is the story of two friends, the narrator and his companion, called ‘the Swede”, who embark on a canoe journey down the Danube River. As they approach an isolated region, they are warned by the locals to turn back, but they continue, believing the locals to be superstitious peasants. Their adventure quickly turns from an ordinary camping trip into a confrontation with an ancient, elemental force that appears to have been awakened by their intruding into its remote and peaceful territory.
The force that besieges the canoers remains mysterious and undefined throughout the story, thereby heightening the tension and creepiness especially as the two men’s perceptions of what they are seeing and experiencing differ.
This difference in perception is illustrated by the following short extract:
““Good heavens, it’s a man’s body!” he cried excitedly. “Look!”
A black thing, turning over and over in the foaming waves, swept rapidly past. It kept disappearing and coming up to the surface again. It was about twenty feet from the shore, and just as it was opposite to where we stood it lurched round and looked straight at us. We saw its eyes reflecting the sunset, and gleaming an odd yellow as the body turned over. Then it gave a swift, gulping plunge, and dived out of sight in a flash.
“An otter, by gad!” we exclaimed in the same breath, laughing.”
The narrator describes himself as being the more imaginative of the pair and rather included to overdramatise situations. The Swede is depicted as a pragmatic and sensible fellow with little to no imagination. As the story progresses, however, the Swede is the first of the pair to acknowledge that there are strange and unnatural forces at play. This narrator is the one who attempts to explain away all the peculiar things that are happening.
The bread goes missing and the narrator tries to explain it away as follows:
““How criminally stupid of me!” I cried, still determined to be consistent and find an explanation. “I clean forgot to buy a loaf at Pressburg. That chattering woman put everything out of my head, and I must have left it lying on the counter or –“
“The oatmeal, too, is much less than it was this morning,” the Swede interrupted.a
Why in the world need he draw attention to it? I thought angrily.”
This role reversal and the narrator’s increasing agitation amid desperate attempts to explain away all the mysteries adds to the dread.
This story is very unsettling and at the end, the reader is left unsure whether any strange occurrences actually took place or whether the creepy surroundings and natural elements like the wind and water unsettled the pairs minds to an extent that they imagined the entire episode. This sense of uncertainty by the reader is created by paragraphs such as the following:
“And, apart quite from the elements, the willows connected themselves subtly with my malaise, attacking the mind insidiously somehow by reason of their vast numbers, and contriving in some way or other to represent to the imagination a new and mighty power, a power, moreover, not altogether friendly to us.”
An extraordinary novella that will appeal to readers of dark psychological horror stories that expose how reason and sense can be worn down by terror.
Speculaas Cake with Raspberry and Butterscotch a la Robbie
I found a recipe for this cake in a magazine. I liked the idea but preferred my own spice cake recipe. The recipes below are the result of my experimenting.
German Spice Cake recipe
Prepare two cake tins, one slightly smaller than the other. Line the bottoms with baking paper and use a non-stick spray for the sides.
Picture caption: My two German spice cakes after they came out of the oven
Pre-heat the oven to 180 C.
Ingredients
1 kilogram cake flour
10 ml salt
320 ml castor sugar
6 ml bicarbonate of soda
20 ml baking powder
10 ml ground cinnamon
10 ml ground ginger
5 ml ground cloves
5 ml ground black pepper
5 ml ground nutmeg
250 grams butter
350 ml golden syrup
160 ml hot water
2 egggs
300 ml double thick yogurt
Method
Sieve all the dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl. Heat the butter, syrup and water together until everything is melted. Beat the eggs and add to the yogurt. Mix into the dry ingredients and then add the butter mixture. Mix until all the lumps are gone.
Bake for 45 – 60 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
Picture caption: My final decorated Speculaas cake with Raspberry and Butterscotch
Place the frozen raspberries in a pot with the lemon juice and simmer until you have a pulp (about 10 minutes). Strain the mixture to remove the raspberry seeds and pulp. Beat the icing sugar into the softened butter until smooth. Add the raspberry juice and beat until completely combined. Refrigerate until soft but solid.
Butterscotch icing
Ingredients
250 grams full-cream smooth cream cheese
250 grams tinned caramel
Beat the caramel and the cream cheese until smooth.
Assembly
I used the raspberry icing to stick the two cakes together, the smaller cake on top of the bigger cake. I then layered the butterscotch icing over the top and along the front and back of the two cakes leaving gaps at the sides. Where the two cakes joined, I used icing to fill the gap and make the icing smooth. I then layered the raspberry icing along the sides of the cakes, filling the gaps. I decorated my cake with Easter eggs.
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/.
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.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
I’m thrilled to announce that Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures made the list of Best New Poetry /anthologies on Amazon. This is the fifth year that WordCrafter Press has published a Poetry Treasures anthology, but the first time we’ve made this list, so it really tickled me to learn this. We have a great group of poets this year and an uplifting topic for the theme. Below are links where information about Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures can be found. I hope you’ll check it out.
Check out all the places you’ll find Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures.
