Discussing Do What You Love with MJ Mallon | Linda’s Book Bag

Thank you so much to Linda Hill for this wonderful chat and review about my new book: Do What You Love. Do pop over to her blog to share in with some dim sum, cake and chit chat!

Source: Discussing Do What You Love with MJ Mallon | Linda’s Book Bag

Linda’s review:

A small and perfectly formed collection about finding your way in life.

Do What You Love is simply lovely. Marjorie Mallon bases her collection on an iterative image of and conversation with the Fates as well as the concept of doing what a person loves and she affords the reader a personal insight into her life and family as she does so. I really recommend reading her author introduction in advance of the rest of the book because it sets the scene so beautifully.

Given that this is a very personal book, I was concerned that it would be too specific to the author. Not a bit of it.  There’s a wide range in Do What You Love that encompasses poetry, prose and photography so that there really is something for every reader. I particularly enjoyed the variety of writing style. The first entry, Fragility Of Your Flame, feels very traditional in style, reminiscent of traditional fables and this is continued throughout the collection, giving balance to the shorter entries as the author imagines conversations with the Fates that enable her to reflect on her life and family.

There’s such a range of emotion in Do What You Love. Parents will experience the pain of letting go of their children even whilst they might be immensely proud of them. Marjorie Mallon illustrates love, joy, sadness, pride, the impact of nature on an individual and so much more. Her sense of place and history comes through with just a tweak of her pen and she so celebrates a childlike sense of awe and joy that she helps readers connect (or indeed reconnect) with their own happiness. I especially enjoyed the entries about trees because the author reignited my love of nature.

Do What You Love is a highly personal collection to Marjorie Mallon, but at the same time as giving readers a glimpse into who she is and where she has come from, she gently guides readers to contemplate their own lives, to live more positively and to appreciate each moment. This is such a wonderful message. and a much needed one in today’s world.

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5+ stars for Mr. Sagittarius Poetry & Prose by @Marjorie_Mallon @NNP_W_Light #NNLBH #nature #poetry #prose #bookreview

Thank you so much to Vine Voice Reviewer N. N. Light for this 5+ stars review for Mr. Sagittarius Poetry & Prose.

REVIEW:

Siblings grieving the loss of their brother find magic in nature. William is lost without his twin brother, Harold. He lashes out at his sister without meaning to. She almost leaves but he convinces her to stay. Will they honor Harold’s request, or will nature make sure it’s taken care of? A heartfelt story about the circle of life and death told through poetry, prose, and photographs.

Mr. Sagittarius Poetry & Prose is a beautiful tale about life, death, and nature. There’s magic in the natural world. I feel it each time I walk outside, and this magical feeling is poignantly portrayed in this book. It weaves seamlessly from prose to poems to photos. The prose is crisp, and clean, with a fair share of emotion. The poems are creative and capture the reader’s imagination. The photographs are snapshots of nature and are expressive without words. Together, they present an emotive experience to the reader. Expertly crafted, Mr. Sagittarius Poetry & Prose is a must-read for any nature lover. Highly recommend!

Rating: 5+ stars

Buy it Now:

Source: 5+ stars for Mr. Sagittarius Poetry & Prose by @Marjorie_Mallon #nature #poetry #prose #bookreview

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51004313-mr-sagittarius

https://www.bookbub.com/books/mr-sagittarius-poetry-and-prose-by-m-j-mallon

N. N. Light

Website: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com

N. N. Light’s Book Heaven is a heavenly place for authors and readers to connect, discover new books, and share their love of reading.

Take your book marketing to the next level — 60 million social media reach and growingAmazon Vine Voice Reviewer and Verified Influencer

Freelance Editor and Graphic Designer
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NNLightsBookHeaven
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NNP_W_Light
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nnlightsbookheaven
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nnlightsbookheaven

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The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet – New Book #poetry #flashfiction #new #release #preorder

Delighted to announce that the preorder of The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet is now available. Amazon Kindle Pre-order buying Link: https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet is a collection of poetry and flash fiction celebrating the beauty and the vulnerability of the forest kingdom. It begins with the poetic tale of the kind-hearted Hedge Witch, Fern, who discovers an injured stranger in desperate need of her woodland spells and magic.

The sweet pairing learn from each other and through Fern’s guidance, Devin embraces the power of magic to leave behind his troubled past to become The Musical Poet.

Poetry/flash fiction titles in section one of the collection include: 

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, Rain Forest Love, A Forest Baby Boy, A Forest Baby Girl, A Modern Witch, Rock of Mine, Chester Don & I, The Network of Trees, More Trees Not Less, Two Boys Watching War, Mum Climbing Trees, Let’s Play, The Scorched Tree, Owl’s Holiday Home, A Man’s Holiday Home, A Child’s Excitement, The Teddy In The Woods, Run! The Organutans, All Hallow’s Eve Candy Girl The Forest Bash, Dreaming At Halloween, A Face on Bark, Golden Willow Tree, Rainbow – Parasol of Light, Lollipop Sunshine Tree, 

In Section two I pay tribute to the following poets:Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, Ruby Archer, King Forest, Bliss Carman, Woodland Rain, Emily Dickinson, Who Robbed the Woods, Rupert Blake, Stopping by The Woods on A Winter Evening,Oscar Wilde, In the Forest.

With my poetry inspired by their works:

The Forest Weeps, The Forest King, Raindrops and Childhood Dreams, The Woodland Treasures, Winter Woodland Moon, Child Me.

Cover and Formatting by Colleen Chesebro’s new formatting service, more about that here: https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/my-services/

Author Bio

MJ’s  favourite genres to write are Fantasy YA, Paranormal, Ghost and Horror Stories, various forms of poetry and flash fiction. She celebrates the spiritual realm, love of nature and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious at her blog home: https://mjmallon.com 

She is a reading, blogging and photography enthusiast!

M J Mallon was born in Lion city Singapore, a passionate Scorpio with the Chinese Zodiac sign of a lucky rabbit. She spent her early childhood in Hong Kong. During her teen years, she returned to her father’s childhood home, Edinburgh where she spent many happy years, entertained, and enthralled by her parents’ vivid stories of living and working abroad. Perhaps it was during these formative years that her love of storytelling began bolstered by these vivid raconteurs. She counts herself lucky to have travelled to many far-flung destinations and this early wanderlust has fuelled her present desire to emigrate abroad. Until that wondrous moment, it’s rumoured that she lives in the UK, in the Venice of Cambridge with her six-foot hunk of a rock god husband. Her two enchanting daughters have flown the nest but often return with a cheery smile.

MJ writes fantasy/magical realism because life should be sprinkled with a liberal dash of extraordinarily imaginative magic! Her motto is to always do what you love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too, even it if appears that the odds are stacked against you like black-hearted shadows.

AWARDS

The First book in the Curse of Time series Bloodstone has received many fantastic reviews on AmazonGoodreads and other platforms and was awarded a finalist book award recently from Amazon influencer N. N. Light, receiving a review rating of 5+ stars.

INDIE PUBLISHED BOOKS

Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose, (with photography,) This is Lockdown, (an anthology,) and Lockdown Innit Poems about Absurdity and The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet.

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

mybook.to/Thisislockdown

mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

NEXT CHAPTER PUBLISHED BOOKS

Next Chapter Publishing

YA Fantasy series,  Bloodstone and Golden Healer in The Curse of Time.

For details of publications please visit:

https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/mj-mallon

Bloodstone Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgW

Bloodstone Audiobook:

UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Bloodstone-Audiobook/B09SK9GFB1/

US: https://www.audible.com/author/M-J-Mallon/B074CGNK4L

Golden Healer Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgjY67

CONTRIBUTIONS TO VARIOUS ANTHOLOGIES

Word Weaving #1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse

Moons of Autumn by Colleen Chesebro (Poetry,) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DWDMXWK

Poetry Treasures 2 Relationships compiled by Kaye Lynn Booth & Robbie Cheadlehttps://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK

100 Ways To Write A Book Alex Pearl (proceeds to Pen International.) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09R2CQGWS

Stay Home A year of writing through lockdown – Chantelle Atkins (Chasing Driftwood Writers Group.) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stay-Home-Writing-Through-Lockdown-/dp/B09HVB6SZ6/

Contributions to Best Selling Horror Anthologies

Nightmareland compiled by Dan Alatorre

“Scrabble Boy” (Short Story)

Spellbound compiled by Dan Alatorre

“The Twisted Sisters“ (Short Story)

Wings of Fire compiled by Dan Alatorre

“The Great Pottoo” (Short Story)

Nightmareland: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZG3ZXP3/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZG3ZXP3/

Spellbound: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DM83XKR/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DM83XKR/

Wings & Fire: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08KJ5SQND/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KJ5SQND/

Contributions to Ghost Anthologies: 

Ghostly Rites 2019 compiled by Claire Plaisted “Dexter’s Creepy Caverns“ (Short Story) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZQV2Y4Q/

Ghostly Rites 2020 compiled by Claire Plaisted  “No. 1 Coven Lane” (Short Story) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9HYBLH

AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Linktree: (all my links in one place.) https://linktr.ee/mjmallonauthor

Author Blog: https://mjmallon.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L/ 

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mjmallonauthor,

Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjm_reviews/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-mallon

Authors, Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/

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Cover Reveal: The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M J Mallon #arc #poetrycommunity #flashfiction #new #release #indiepoet #coming soon! @colleen_chesebro

I’m pleased to announce that I have a new book coming out this summer The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet. I’m delighted that Colleen Chesebro designed the cover and formatted the files for me. She did a grand job… And I can recommend her wholeheartedly.

Colleen has a new formatting service… https://wordcraftpoetry.com/unicorn-cats-publishing-services/

Member: Midwest Independent Publishers Association

If you’re looking for quality eBook & print book publishing services, please email Colleen at unicorncatspubsvcs@mail.com, or contact her via the above link.

There is a google sign up form for the blog tour below.

Also, there is a free promo at the beginning of July for my poetry and prose book Mr. Sagittarius, so read on to find out more about that too!

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet is a collection of poetry and flash fiction celebrating the beauty and the vulnerability of the forest kingdom. It begins with the poetic tale of the kind-hearted Hedge Witch, Fern, who discovers an injured stranger in desperate need of her woodland spells and magic.

The sweet pairing learn from each other and through Fern’s guidance, Devin embraces the power of magic to leave behind his troubled past to become The Musical Poet.

Poetry/flash fiction titles in section one of the collection include: 

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, Rain Forest Love, A Forest Baby Boy, A Forest Baby Girl, A Modern Witch, Rock of Mine, Chester Don & I, The Network of Trees, More Trees Not Less, Two Boys Watching War, Mum Climbing Trees, Let’s Play, The Scorched Tree, Owl’s Holiday Home, A Man’s Holiday Home, A Child’s Excitement, The Teddy In The Woods, Run! The Organutans, All Hallow’s Eve Candy Girl The Forest Bash, Dreaming At Halloween, A Face on Bark, Golden Willow Tree, Rainbow – Parasol of Light, Lollipop Sunshine Tree, 

In Section two I pay tribute to the following poets: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, Ruby Archer, King Forest, Bliss Carman, Woodland Rain, Emily Dickinson, Who Robbed the Woods, Rupert Blake, Stopping by The Woods on A Winter Evening,Oscar Wilde, In the Forest.

With my poetry inspired by their works:

The Forest Weeps, The Forest King, Raindrops and Childhood Dreams, The Woodland Treasures, Winter Woodland Moon, Child Me.

BLOG TOUR

I’d be delighted if you sign up for the blog tour via the form below.

Any questions, comment below, or email me at: marjma2014@gmail.com

Also, I’m delighted to announce as a double celebration my poetry and prose book Mr. Sagittarius (which has received many 5 star reviews,) is on free promotion in July for two days on these dates:

Free Book PromotionSaturday, July 2, 2022, 12:00 AM PDTSunday, July 3, 2022, 11:59 PM PDT
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#TANKA TUESDAY WEEKLY @ColleenChesebro #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 225, #SYNONYMSONLY

LIFE & MOVE” are the prompt words this week.

For life I chose fate, for move I opted for disturbed

I saw these trees whilst out for a walk with friends. There was something quite melancholy about their soaked roots.

I see a wonder

Trees disturbed in deep water

Soaking up their  roots

Drinking in fate’s wilful woes

Sorrow is an endless pit

I originally wrote this before I knew the prompt synonyms! The 2nd line was: Trees submerged in deep water, which I changed to Trees disturbed in deep water. And thereafter, I made a few other adjustments – fourth line – was Drinking in life’s wilful woes, I changed to fate’s wilful woes. Colleen’s SYNONYMS made me dig deeper for a different word!

Congratulations to Colleen on her new release and on her new poetry journal. So exciting!

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Just Her Poetry By D. L. Finn @dlfinnauthor #Book #Poetry #Review

Synopsis:

Take a journey with D.L. Finn as she blends her love of nature with her deepest emotions. Sit with her on the forest floor observing its tranquil beauty, or stroll along the ocean’s shore admiring the vastness of its horizon. Here in these peaceful moments you’ll be able to experience her thoughts and feelings in the light—and in the darkness. This is a thought-provoking collection of poetry that invites the reader into all the seasons of a soul. 

Book Review

I’ve been curious for some time to read D.L Finn’s work. In fact, she has so many enticing novels, short stories, and poetry to choose from it was quite a job to decide on which to try first. I opted for Just Her Poetry, it is a sweeping poetry book with part one focusing on poems about nature, the seasons, and musings from the back of a Harley! Part Two is entitled Seasons of A Soul and expresses the author’s emotionally poignant poems about her experiences in darkness and light. There is a bonus section of Some Readers’ Favourites and bonus poetry too.

It’s a lovely book of poetry, so personal and moving. It’s almost as if you are sharing a day out with the author sharing her life, loves and sorrows via her words. In the author note at the end she mentions how nature inspires her writing. I am the same; I loved it. I particularly enjoyed the section of poems written on the back of her husband’s Harley motorbike! Journeying, seeing little details, observational poetry at its best. And some special mentions of poems that I particularly related to: Fingers of The Sea, Trees, Ocean, (as the sea is my spiritual home and I adore trees!)

My recommendation: A wonderful collection of poetry. Highly recommended.

5 stars.

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#TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 220, @ColleenChesebro #POET’SCHOICE #Swans #Nature #Poetry

I wrote a series of short poems inspired by photographs I’d taken during a walk at my local country park lake.




Hidden behind reeds, 
Swan sits, her neck curls, twirling,
Twigs bend in circles,
I pause, observe, imagine,
White tiny cygnets hatching.

© M J Mallon

A White Mound,

I see you flash by,

Concealed, nest.

© M J Mallon

No White Mound

Trees, lake, hidden life

Bright Yellow

© M J Mallon

I hope you enjoyed!

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#TANKA TUESDAY POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 202 SYNONYMSONLY

This week, Kat Myrman, from Like Mercury Colliding, selected the words:

Imagine & Gratitude

So, I decided to write about my recent walk in the botanical gardens in Cambridge. It was a glorious autumn day which filled my spirit full of imagination and gratitude. There is a small area which is normally for school children only but this has been opened to the public.

I took various photos. I particularly loved this lovely writers throne which I shared on my Instagram…

Visualise

A writers garden

Blessed with thanks

And this was so unusual, just a couple of broken branches but they looked like a crocodile’s head and tail!

My head’s tail!

Give crocodile thanks

Picture this…

These are so cute too…

The autumn colours are fabulous.

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