Writer Joy Neal Kidney has written a review for both my full-length collection Rooted and Winged and Our Wolves. Thank you, Joy!
Tag Archives: book review
The Meaning of Lily: #TankaTuesday
Colleen Chesebro posted a prompt today to write a syllabic poem using an image of a lily as a starting point.
The photo is by photographer, Terri Webster Schrandt, from secondwindleisure.com.
When I see or hear lily I have several other images in my mind. Here is a haiku sequence:
*
When my father died
we asked for cause donations
instead of lilies.
*
I love daylilies
more than waxy white blossoms
reminding of death.
*
Do not choose lilies
in a home with cats, ever.
Each part is poison.
*
Cuddly Lily lies
on my chest, face tucked under
my chin, gently purrs.
*
Filed under #amwriting, #TankaTuesday, Cats and Other Animals, Our Wolves, Poetry, Writing, Writing prompt
Review of Our Wolves by Robbie Cheadle
Our Wolves has been given a lovely review by Robbie Cheadle! A big thank you to Robbie!
“If you like interesting and thought provoking poetry, you will love Our Wolves.“
On another note, I looked for an African-American Red doll for my collection and found a gorgeous one on ebay by artist Stacy Bayne: $250! Here’s a link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225374443246 While I can’t justify that (hah), it’s certainly beautiful. Here’s one of my $20 antique mall goodies.
Spring Walk: #TankaTuesday
Colleen at Wordcraft poetry suggested this prompt today: to write a shadorma using 3-5 selected words. Syllable count is 3-5-3-3-7-5. I think I used 8 of the words, but I am writing the poem on my iPad in this post so I can’t go over the word list again.
Spring Walk
This spring month,
not yet hot, cloudy
over rocks
and bushes,
I walk with a book and grapes
and wish spring to last.
I hope you enjoyed that, especially knowing how hot it will get here in Arizona by mid-May. I am lying on my back with this iPad because I am resting my legs. For over ten weeks my right leg has been a monster. Saturday I had an MRI, but I’ve had other tests with no diagnosis or idea of what’s wrong. So why did I write about walking? For one thing, it’s a word on the list. But I can and do like to do light walking with the leg issue. But then I have to rest it. And the leg prefers very limited sitting (at the computer).
Serena Agusto-Cox on Savvy Verse & Wit has written a great review for my Red Riding Hood chapbook Our Wolves: https://savvyverseandwit.com/2023/04/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle.html She argues that the poems are not retellings of Red Riding Hood. Read her review to see what she says they are.
Filed under #amwriting, #TankaTuesday, Arizona, Book Review, Our Wolves, Poetry, Writing, Writing prompt
Our Wolves Book Tour: 2 Lovely Reviews
Marie A. Bailey had written a review of Our Wolves that looks at the autobiographical nature of some of the poems. This is what I love about poetry: how it can be specific and universal, as well as open to different interpretations. Read what she has to say here: https://1writeway.wordpress.com/2023/03/23/in-the-company-of-wolves-bookreview-poetrycommunity/
The wolf dressed up as Grandma:
A bookstagrammer, Books Parlour, has posted a review of Our Wolves as well:
Two More Visits on the Our Wolves Book Tour
Deborah Brasket has written a very smart review of Our Wolves. I love how she notices the “slippery, slantwise versions” of Red Riding Hood in the book. You can find her review here (and check out her beautiful blog while you’re there): https://deborahjbrasket.com/2023/03/19/red-the-wolf-slant-wise-and-slippery/
True Book Addict has also written a loverly review of Our Wolves. http://www.truebookaddict.com/2023/03/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle-review.html The reviewer says: “I don’t think I’ve ever read a collection quite like this. I have an extensive poetry collection and I know I will be returning to this volume again and again.”
Yesterday a Bookstagrammer named Genia Blum @bookscarves shared Our Wolves with a gorgeous Hermès scarf.
Another Visit on the Our Wolves Book Tour
We have another stop on the Our Wolves blog tour! A delightful book review by Anthony Avina can be found here: https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/2023/03/16/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle-review/?fbclid=IwAR3-P-XbBCjBaFroFc7rxfhvOULUEFcPVW16-vFil_aZtXOFHd7lenJeK8c
“Heartfelt, memorable, and captivating, author Luanne Castle’s “Our Wolves” is a masterful and engaging poem collection.” Anthony Avina
I love these Red Riding Hood Russian nesting dolls because Red is the largest doll and swallows up the others! And who is that littlest one?
An Award and a Review–a Good Day for Rooted and Winged
I have a little Rooted and Winged news. It’s a Book Excellence Winner in Poetry! Oh yeah, baby.
This is a nice little present to me for the work I put into the book.
Poet Carol Bachofner has posted a review of Rooted and Winged on her new Substack newsletter/blog. I hope you enjoy the review. It is the first in a series of poetry book reviews she plans to write. The second one is already up and it’s about Patricia Smith’s Unshuttered. Please consider following Carol’s newsletter as she continues to write about poetry. https://carolbach.substack.com/p/books-that-say-something-we-need?utm_source=facebook&sd=pf&fbclid=IwAR14BDVHsEnnFldy_xIVPNUKNOt0lV658jNbwn_264sDHCAEVxV9Ud3TOdk
My boy Meesker trying to keep me from reading Meg Pokrass’ micro stories or my Kindle. “ Pet me, Ma.”
Filed under #poetrycommunity, Book Award, Book Review, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing
Visit the Our Wolves Book Tour Today
Next stop on the Our Wolves blog tour, a book review, can be found here:
https://bookwormnai.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle/
The last book review for Our Wolves was published here: https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle/
If you missed my interview by Deborah Kalb, here it is. I think it really shows my inspiration for writing about Red Riding Hood. http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2023/03/q-with-luanne-castle.html
And finally if you missed the video of me reading four poems from the book here it
Visit the Our Wolves Book Tour 3-7-23
First stop on the Our Wolves blog tour, a book review, can be found here:
https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/our-wolves-by-luanne-castle/
On another note, I wanted to give you a Perry update. His meds seem to be holding everything bad at bay for now, so we are doing well on that count. But Meesker has decided he doesn’t like Perry in his “room,” so he beats him up occasionally. Yesterday, he left Perry’s fur flying all over the floor! It funny with cats how it works: Perry chases Sloopy Anne who chases Meesker who chases Perry. See the circle there? Then Kana and Perry both intimidate Lily, but if we didn’t have a gate up in the house she would beat up both Meesker and Sloopy Anne! Otherwise, we live in peace and harmony . . . .
I submitted a request to the Phoenix Public Library to purchase 3 books, including Rooted and Winged. I received an automated email saying they had purchased Rooted and Winged. Yay! But the other books were by friends, and they gave me no response on those! I wonder what happened? Next month I will try again. By the way, it’s very easy to request your local library purchase a book, especially if you have a library card.
