I got published… again! In two issues in a row!
This is such an unbelievable feeling!
I got published… again! In two issues in a row!
This is such an unbelievable feeling!
I shared a fortnight ago that The Australia Times Poetry Magazine published one of my poems in their Vol 4, No. 25 issue.
I’ve just opened Vol 4, No. 25 to find that it contains another of my poems, Rogue Wave. That’s the poem that was shortlisted by Wildsound Festival of Poetry in November, and performed by Michelle Alexander as part of the Wildsound Festival.
My poem, Rogue Wave, has been recorded by Michelle Alexander as part of the WildSound Festival.
Link to video in post.
A few weeks back I announced that my poem had been shortlisted in the Festival of Poetry selections for November.
That poem, Rogue Wave, has now been recorded by Michelle Alexander as part of the WildSound Festival.
It’s really rather cool to hear my poem being interpreted and spoken by someone else. I’m really pleased, though, that the performance is exactly how I thought it should be.
You can watch the video of Rogue Wave here.
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video. I really appreciate it.
Please feel free to like and share with your friends and social media followers.
So, after spending a November on the very attractive pages of Yours & Mine magazine, my work is now gracing the pages of The Australia Times Poetry Magazine!
So, after spending a November on the very attractive pages of Yours & Mine magazine, my work is now gracing the pages of The Australia Times Poetry Magazine!
The amazing editors there have given me a great bio and a three page spread for my poem, ‘The Sea’, enhanced by some lovely photography, on pages 22-25 of Issue 24.
It’s always a thrill to find out someone likes something that I’ve written. That kind of connection is why writers write, and why artists paint, sculpt and create.
Can you imagine my excitement when I saw the beautiful treatment they’ve given my poem?
I hope you’ll take the time to click through and read my poem.
Of course, my poem isn’t really just about the sea. It uses the sea, and the shore, as an allegory for depression and anxiety. The poem itself is about living with and through that, and surviving.
TAT Poetry is a great magazine every month, and I am really honoured to be featured in it!
I’d also really appreciate it if you’d share it around on twitter, facebook, or your other preferred social media.
Let me introduce you to my books.
There’s no denying that in many, many ways, 2016 has been a rough year.
People around the world mourn leaders and entertainers, and there seem to be plenty of those that have left us this year. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, Leonard Cohen…just to name a few. And I’m not even going to start talking about politics – nope, I’m leaving that one right alone.
I also know a lot of people personally who are struggling with illness, pain, grief, money problems, relationship issues. I know those things happen every year, to everyone at some point.
Personally, my year has had very few highlights.
One of those highlights was the launch of my book, ‘Leaf’, in June. That was the one positive event in a very dark patch of grief and sorrow like I have never experienced before. Thankfully, my launch of ‘New Horizons’ ten days ago was plagued only by end-of-year teacher fatigue, so it was a much more enjoyable event.
Imagine my surprise when this little poetry book made it onto a number of selected reading lists on Goodreads! I’m so excited that people are reading and enjoying my work, and that it’s starting to get some attention.
If you’re on Goodreads, check out ‘Leaf’ on these lists:
Favourite Books That Released in 2016
Best Indie Books 2016/2017
Beautifully Written
Poetry
Wow! I’m humbled that ‘Leaf’ is in very fine company, and not even last. ‘New Horizons’ is also on those first two lists, which is even better!
If you love reading, and you’re not on Goodreads… let me recommend it.
It’s a great place to find new books, network with other readers, and connect with writers whose work you enjoy.
Tonight I launched my new book of short stories, ‘New Horizons’ into the largely unsuspecting literary world and, at the same time, won first prize in a poetry contest at AllPoetry for my poem ‘Fusion’, based on Emily Bronte’s classic novel, ‘Wuthering Heights’.
Multitasking at its finest, perhaps!
‘New Horizons’ has also received some rather lovely reviews today.
It is rather nice to feel so affirmed as a writer. I think I’ll keep going.
My second book, ‘New Horizons’, launches on Sunday, November 20!
My second book, ‘New Horizons’, launches on Sunday, November 20!
I’m seriously excited about that.
New Horizons is available as a paperback on Amazon or blurb.com
and as an ebook on Amazon, iBooks, & kobo stores.
These sixteen short stories offer insights into how people respond when they encounter experiences and events they have not foreseen, or when they discover new horizons in their lives.
So, there’s supposed to be a supermoon tonight. And my inbox had two email alerts that conditions were great for seeing the southern lights – the Aurora Australis.
In fact, ever since I signed up for those email alerts, it’s been overcast or raining every single time the “conditions have been ideal”.
And true to form, it’s pouring rain tonight. The only thing anyone around here is seeing in the night sky is lots of water.
So, what’s a girl to do?
Write nutty poetry. That’s what.
Just for fun, I wrote this and put it up on Twitter. It had a pretty positive response, so the evening has not been a total flop.
I am excited to announce that Festival for Poetry have featured the poem I submitted to them for consideration.
I am excited to announce that Festival for Poetry have featured the poem I submitted to them for consideration.
You can read the poem here: Rogue Wave by Joanne Van Leerdam
I hope that if you enjoy it, you’ll go to www.jvlpoet.com and look under “new writing” for more.
You can subscribe to my mailing list there, too, so you don’t miss another update!
Remember to check out ‘New Horizons’, too! It’s launching next weekend and I’m keen to see it take off!
I’m very excited about the launch next weekend of my second book, ‘New Horizons’.
I’m very excited about the launch next weekend of my second book, ‘New Horizons’.
I’ve crossed into another genre and publishing a collection of my short stories, related by a common theme of people encountering new things, making a fresh start, or finding a new direction in their lives.
‘New Horizons’ will be available as a paperback or ebook from Amazon or Blurb.com, and as an ebook on iBooks and kobo.
Follow this universal book link to pre-order:
books2read.com/newhorizons
WordyNerdBird 