Harbor Review has published a gorgeous advance review of my new collection Rooted and Winged by Carla McGill. I really love seeing what she found in my work. Check it out here: Harbor Review: Review of Rooted and Winged by Carla McGill
The first paragraph just to get you started:
Luanne Castle’s third collection of poetry, Rooted and Winged, is a striking exhibition of poetic intuition and skill. Comprised of forty-four poems and structured in four parts, the poems take readers on a journey through contrasts, dilemmas, and disturbances, all witnessed or summoned by a narrator who offers unflinching observations of nature, scenes, and moods. In keeping with her first two collections, Doll God (Aldrich Press, 2015) and Kin Types (Finishing Line Press, 2017), Castle has woven family members and childhood memories into sometimes quiet, sometimes tumultuous present-day reflections.
This is a reminder that the eligibility period for the Rooted and Winged Writing Contest ends on July 15, which is a week from Friday. However, the deadline for submissions is not until July 27! Read the guidelines here: WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES

Congratulations on the glowing review, Luanne!
And please accept my condolences on the loss of your kitty. xx
Thank you so much, Jennifer. She left a big empty place in our family, even though we’ve taken on my son’s two cats so are up to five. Nobody else will ever be like Tiger Queenie.
She looks a lot like our Maisie who we lost in 2020. Hugs!
Aw. The cutie pie face or the patched tabby type calico?
Congratulations!!
Thank you so much, Carole.
Looking forward to my own copy!
Yay! Thank you, Joy! (I hope you enter the contest since you are already eligible haha!)
I’m doing last edits this week of “Leora’s Early Years” or I probably would!
Have fun!
Wonderful, Luanne!
Thank you, Merril!
You’re welcome!
Congrats on a terrific review, Luanne! I’m so sorry about Tiger. xo
Thank you, Jill. And thank you so much about Tiger Queenie. What a terrible loss for us. 🙁 xo
I loved the review — beautiful, insightful writing about a collection of poems I am eager to read!!
Carla McGill is a rockstar reviewer!
Wonderful!
Yes, Carla is a wonderful reviewer!
What a stunning review Luanne. Very thoughtful. Congratulations.
And, deep condolences on the loss of Tiger Queenie.
Thank you and thank you! Yes, I’m so very sad about Tiger Queenie. She was such a serious little person. This review did perk me up a little bit!
Congrats, Luanne!
Thank you so much, Cynthia! 🙂
Wonderful review! I can’t wait to get my copy!!
Yay!!!! Amy, because you ordered a copy you are automatically eligible for the writing contest with an award of $250 :). Please check it out and see if want to give it a try!
I looked. But I am no poet and I know it! LOL!
No! It’s for prose, too. In fact, two of the judges are novelists!
OK, I will look again. But there is just so much going on right now that I am not sure my creative juices are flowing. Thanks!
I totally understand that feeling! Still, it’s worse another look since it’s less than 800 words and can be loosely related to the prompt.
Will do!
Gorgeous review, Luanne! It fairly sings!
Yes! She is quite the review writer!!! So happy she turned her skills on my book!
Such a wonderful review!!! Congratulations! I agree with the commenter above…the words in this review simply ‘sing’.
Congratulations on the glowing review, Luanne!! I so look forward to reading.
Condolences on losing Tiger Queenie. It’s so hard to lose another furry family member.