The days of autumn are upon us, and with the waning sun and the darkening sky, I have two events in store for my readers. As the leaves fall, I would love to have you attend if you live in Greater Vancouver.
I have included the costs of the books in case you want to attend and obtain a signed copy: Invitation
The book LITTOP, Love in the Time of Plague, took shape, and I have finally published it under the imprint of WLI, Potter's Press. This is so exciting to see in the end stages. I have designed a paperback, and Commemorative Hardcover edition, along with the e-book. They will all be available on Amazon, and on the publisher's website by September 22.
This may well be my final book of poetry, as I have decided to stop writing formal poems except for maybe a short book of prose poetry. I have ended my poetry career with the publication of eight requiems in the final section, called Requiems in the Mist. The last poem, the finale is a tribute to King Charles the III and his wife: A Townswoman's Cloak. It is like painting an oil painting to write for the royals, and I do not mind doing so.
I first learned to write poetry in an advanced challenge class in grade five, and they did publish a little book of our poems then. That is to say my very first poem written was published, but I don't have a copy of it today. I worked at this skill for many more years before becoming published in a journal.
photographs by emily isaacson
Ever since then I have written in my spare time until 2005 when I decided to become a full-time writer. It is kind of like making scones, which I happened to make today. I love having afternoon tea with a nice pot of decaf. Like I said before, no one knew I was secretly writing in my bedroom, but I had a cast of characters, novels in the works, and even wrote a play in grade five.
The first song I wrote at age nine, was played and sang by the church congregation in the evening service. The pianist had me tell him the tune and was able to play the chording. I did not write songs again until I was nineteen and on a break from university. By the time I graduated I had two songs published on a CD.
I am still working on a novel that I have been working on for five years, and hope to publish next year under the name Lilith Street. I am also publishing a book under that name in November of this year that is like a novel, but is in fact a series of stories. As you will notice on the cover, this is a new form of novel. The stories don't necessarily intersect and can leave the reader wondering what they have in common. But they have the issue of mental illness in common, and how it traverses social classes, and is no respecter of persons. Read the reviews.
The poetry was a surprise to me, since I don't know where it comes from, except my grandmother used to write poetry, as did my mother, but usually only for cards or on special occasions. It is like a well from which I draw water, and which I hope will sustain me when I am not paid.
Bless you all,
Emily
