Woohoo! My book is available. (Where’s that champagne bottle again? Empty?)
Since Doll God is now up on Amazon here, I thought I would tell you a little more about the collection. Here is the full description:
Luanne Castle’s debut poetry collection, Doll God, studies traces of the spirit world in human-made and natural objects–a Japanese doll, a Palo Verde tree, a hummingbird. Her exploration leads the reader between the twin poles of nature and creations of the imagination in dolls, myth, and art.
From the first poem, which reveals the child’s wish to be godlike, to the final poem, an elegy for female childhood, this collection echoes with the voices of the many in the one: a walking doll, a murderer, Snow White. Marriage, divorce, motherhood, and family losses set many of the poems in motion. The reader is transported from the lakes of Michigan to the Pacific Ocean to the Sonoran Desert.
These gripping poems take the reader on a journey through what is found, lost, or destroyed. The speaker in one poem insists, “I am still looking for angels.” She has failed to find them yet keeps searching on. She knows that what is lost can be found.
It’s really hard to describe your own book! Seriously. I wrote the above description, but it seemed agonizing to do so. After all that work crafting those three little paragraphs, you better believe I’m going to use it ;).
If you’re so inclined to buy Doll God and see what I’ve spent so much time on for the past 20 years, I will be thrilled to hear how the poems make you feel. Because above all, poems should be felt as a sensation or series of sensations.
I was so blessed to get pre-publication reviews from some absolutely stellar poets and writers. Although Stuart Dybek is most well-known as one of the most important short story writers of the time, he began his writing career as a poet and has published two poetry collections, in addition to many other books. Matthew Lippman and Caroline Goodwin are highly successful and absolutely wonderful poets. Their styles couldn’t be more dissimilar, and yet they both write exquisite poetry. You can find these blurbs on the back of Doll God.
“Every day the world subtracts from itself,” Luanne Castle observes. Her wonderfully titled collection, Doll God, with its rich and varied mix of poems part memoir, part myth and tale, shimmers as it swims as poetry is meant to, upstream against the loss.
Stuart Dybek, MacArthur Fellow and author of Streets in Their Own Ink
In her haunting first collection, Luanne Castle has created a space where “the sounds/of the schoolchildren/and the traffic/grind down/to nothing” and where the reader is invited to experience the lasting echo of our primal human past. Who makes our toys, and why? Which toys and in whose likeness? With startling imagery and a keen eye for the subtler shapes of violence and redemption, Castle asks us to consider and re-consider these questions. Like a “world of broken mirrors waiting” the poems call us back to ourselves, our childhoods, and the potential rewards of prayer and reflection. I find both hope and despair in these pages, where “every day the world subtracts from itself and nothing/is immune,” and every object contains a voice and a story. This is a fierce and beautiful book.
Caroline Goodwin, author of Trapline
Luanne Castle’s new collection, Doll God, is sublime. The manner of these poems– that they embrace the doll and bring to it humanity and divinity–is something to behold. The voice in these poems is tender, visceral, and wonderfully human. Ms. Castle has forged a vision that feels like something you want to dance with, dress up, talk to like a child, but with an adult’s sensibility. I love these poems with my whole heart because they make me feel both childlike and grown, simultaneously. Doll mistresses, primordial conches, Barbies, infuse these poems with tremendous humanity, and they delight with purpose, sadness and joy, and an incredible range that will leave you breathless.
Matthew Lippman, author of American Chew
I’m so nervous and so excited for you to read my book. I hope you like it. Better yet, I hope some of the poems resonate with you and your life.
Bought it! I can’t wait to get it in the mail!
Sweet! Oh, I love it. Maybe you were the first person?!
As soon as I saw your post, I whipped over to Amazon and bought it. I hope I was the first!
Luanne, congratulations–truly a great accomplishment.
Thanks so much, Sally. It sure feels like it!
I’m so happy for you, Luanne! I know you’ve worked very hard for this. I’ll be toasting you tonight! xo
Jill, how was the champagne??!!!! xoxo
We had some wine to toast your success…it was great! xo
What wonderful news! And on a Friday too (so proper celebrations can take place ;))
Haha, thanks, Marie! Very excellent point! I xo
Reblogged this on S.K. Nicholls and commented:
Luanne Castle Has a new poetry book available!!!
SK, thank you so much for reblogging. I appreciate it more than you know.
My pleasure. Hope it helped. I saw some interested folk on Facebook “liked” it. Every little bit helps 🙂
Oh, that’s great! Thanks so much, SK!
This is fantastic! I just ordered my copy 🙂
Woot! I hope you enjoy it, Windy! Thank you so much for your support!
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
Charles, I love that you reblogged this. Thank you so much for supporting another fellow blogger writer!!!
You’re welcome. Always happy to help.
Great! I’ll toast you tonight! Job well done!
Kate, how was that champagne, huh? Pretty good over here!!! Thanks so much!!
It was great!
I am so happy for you! What an accomplishment. The book sounds so lovely and intriguing. The blurbs are wonderful as well as your write-up (I know what you mean about how difficult it is to write about your own book!). Now I’m itching to read it. I’ll let you know what I think. Knowing already how much I enjoy your writing from this blog, I am sure I will love it.
Now go find a champagne bottle and get tipsy with delight. You’ve earned it.
Deborah, I love that you’re “itching” to read it! Thank you so much for supporting me in this big moment in my life!! I was so lucky with those blurbs from those wonderful, generous writers.
Luanne – I am so happy I ‘found’ you for many reasons. I look forward to reading, digesting, musing and appreciating. Seeking angels 😊
Sammy, I know what you mean–I’m so glad we found each other! Enjoy!!!! xo
Congratulations on your book!
Thank you so much! So happy for the support!
Congratulations, Luanne! I just bought it, and can’t wait to receive it next week!
Oh, how exciting. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think/feel!
Woohoooooo!!! And I love the title…empty? Get another bottle, fast!!! So many congratulations to you Luanne, you deserve every success, and what fab reviews! Wow 😀 xoxo
Hehe, I know, huh? Thank you so very much. Yes, I was super lucky to have these amazing generous souls write the reviews!!!
Another milestone for you, Luanne. Congratulations!
I really didn’t know for years and years if this would happen, Anneli. Finally it has. Thank you for your support!!!
It’s a great feeling, isn’t it!? Enjoy it!
Thanks, Anneli!
Congratulations! I am so happy for you!
Thank you, Lindsey. Your support means so much to me!
Awesomeness!
Hah, that’s a great word for this time in my life. I am so happy I finally pulled it off ;)!
And there’ll be more to come I’m sure!
Thrilled for you, congratulations!
Your support makes me feel so happy. Thank you so much!
Congratulations Luanne!
Thanks so very much, Andrea!
I’ve just ordered it, and am eager to read it. (It is not widely known, but prairie dogs can read.)
Woohoo!! Thanks so much! I knew that about prairie dogs, but they usually read while they’re standing.
We read while standing because we have to watch out for black footed ferrets.
And I thought it was because you guys don’t have knees!
Many congrats, friend. So proud of your success. I am off to order on Amazon. Would love your signature in my copy. xo
Absolutely! Thanks so much, Rudri!!! xoxo
Congratulations, Luanne. It sounds like a collection of poems I’d like to read! 🙂
Ah, music to my ears, Carol! Thank you!
Congratulations Luanne it must feel great to finally finish such an amazing dream.
Thank you so much, Kath. I can’t believe how long I’ve worked on what turned out to be this book!
YAY!!!!!!!
That about sums it up!!! Thanks, Sharon!!!
Great blurb writing! I can hardly wait to read Doll God and add celestial comments to your Amazon page!!!
Ah, thanks so much, WJ. I understand it’s really important to have good reviews on Amazon. Wasn’t I blessed though with those blurbs? So lovely of them.
Bought it, shared it, tweeted it — can’t wait to get it!
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