Thank you so much to D. L. Finn for featuring me on her blog today with a wonderful 5 star review for my new release. Do pop over to her blog to celebrate my launch!
A loving collection of poetry that delicately weaves in relationships at many stages. Many are sensual, full of texture and images, and some offer unique takes on human interaction. Here are a few beautiful passages: “The Sweetness/The longing/Each kiss deeper/different and the same/Like I belonged to more than him/Like I belonged to the poetry.”—Dining on Poetry, “…beautiful calligraphy to highlight/tiny ink splodges to add character/tear drops to remind me of sad days.”—Love Hidden In the Margin, and “She is fair and I am dark/Slight and I am robust/We fill our together/completing our silhouettes.”—Silhouettes. “Shh, Purely Poetry” is meant to be savored more than once by lovers of sensuous and thoughtful poems.
Thank you so much to D G Kaye for sharing her excellent review of my new book of poetry.
Her 5 Star Review:
Mallon has created this volume of poems inspired by daily writing prompts and her observations and interpretations of the people and places she’s seen in her travels. She uses various poetic styles to showcase her thoughts in prose and poetry, including free-verse poetry for her longer pieces, which resonate with me most.
The sections are broken down into appropriate categories of poems. Many of the poems in the first section are written with food and drink as subject matter, with underlying tones of sensuality. Some of the poems also touch on holiday themes, love and discovery, love and loss, strangers, forgiveness, war, and nature. Much of the poetry is evoked with intimate and imaginative stirring of sensual images and others being quirky tales – as well as some with explicit sexual connotations. And an interesting spin I found with some of Mallon’s poems, that some were written from the male perspective.
I quite enjoyed this interesting twist on poetry story-telling, something very different than Mallon’s previous poetry. Here is a sampling:
Silhouettes
She is fair and I am dark.
Slight and I am robust.
.
We fill out together.
Completing our silhouettes.
.
As we explore each other.
Strangers a moment ago.
.
Now lost, unable to fade away.
.
Because we kissed the deepness
of each other’s shadows and stayed.
.
If you enjoy poetry that tantalizes and stimulates, you will no doubts enjoy Mallon’s poetry.
Delighted to announce the launch day for my new poetry collection, Shh Purely Poetry.
Blurb
A compilation of sensual, love and relationship poems. Quirky, unusual and evocative.
Shh, Purely Poetry is a collection of poetic pieces about love, sensuality and relationships with sections entitled: love as fuel, (food and coffee love,) the summer and winter of love, strangers in love, quirky aspects and nature as sensuality.
Inspired in part by daily prompt poems written for the 365poetrypromptchallenge, observations of places, people and my travels.
Early Reviews
I have been delighted by some of the wonderful comments I have received via early reviews… here are some…
Thank you so much to wonderful author and poet D L Finnfor reading and reviewing.And for being my first review and my first 5 star review!
Thank you so much to Amy B Garratt Author and Poetfor reading and reviewing and creating this lovely graphic for me. Amy is a fantastic poet you will find on Instagram.
Thank you to a new reader Reggie for the above quote via Book Sirens!
E E’s name came to my mind while reading M J’s poems; I felt a similar sweetness, honesty, pleasant rebelliousness and force in their writing. The major concerns are about readership: is it the same numeric audience today like one hundred years ago? And who’s still reading poetry in 2024? We witness the fact that it is more and more difficult for the modern society to cultivate reading habits and a culture of written (and published) words, when it lacks a reading culture. Thus, I ask myself: how brave must an author be to write poetry in the 21st century?
Mrs Mallon proved (again) her bravery in the first line of the poetic flank on the publishing battlefield. I have come to believe that almost ninety percent of the art of versification is about courage, and that the courage to spend time with yourself and write poetry is much more than daring of letting lines go; it’s about allowing the life experiences to inevitably unfold and evoke powerful pictures in the reader’s mind. And yes, poems don’t exist on their own, but are co-created by observers; like beauty in the eyes of the beholder. No question or doubt about it.
“I can still feel her lips on mine Salty like the caramel snack That she turned down for peanuts. My hands caress her breasts They sit up pert. Asking – no begging to be touched.” ~ fragment from ‘Valentine’s In Chocolates’ Review Quote – Dan Quijote Book Sirens. Thank you so much for Dan for his considered and utterly wonderful 5 star review!
Thank you so much to Richard Dee for featuring me on his blog. Below is a snippet of his wonderful review. Touched to read that I am amongst his favourite poets! Please pop over to his awesome blog to read the full review: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/book-review-purely-poetry/
Love in the romantic sense is a heady complex combination of physical and emotional attraction to another, sometimes bordering on the obsessive that completely takes over to the point of shutting out everything around you. Senses are heightened bringing a new perspective to the most mundane of activities, sights and sounds.
The author captures the depth of this sensual awakening and also the changes it brings to our lives in her poetry. The poems start slowly taking the reader through courtship into full blown relationships highlighting the highs and the lows along the way. The path of true love is not always smooth and as well as passion, one needs forgiveness and compassion.Review Quote Sally Cronin.
Thank you so much to Sally Cronin for featuring myself and fellow authors, Robbie Cheadle, Judith Barrow, Jan Sikes and Fiona Tarr on her review roundup.
Reviews as below!
The first review this month was for Robbie Cheadle, Square Peg in a Round Hole: Poetry, Art & Creativity.
Sally’s review for the collection May 8th 2024
The author is a talented artist moving from her exquisite fondant art to wonderful charcoal and watercolours of Africa’s wildlife and plants. You immediately feel her connection to nature and in this collection of poetry and micro-fiction that connection is strengthened.
As you move through the sections of the collection you are invited into the lives of a family not only at one with nature but also one that has undergone significant challenges, particularly with health. It takes resilience as a mother to watch your children go through multiple operations and more recently her parent’s and husband’s health.
Robbie Cheadle also has a senior executive role that means her time management skills are highly honed. Corporate life can be complex and this comes across in her section on her work and striking a life balance.
There are some wonderful photographic contributions from Wayne Barnes of Tofino Photography whose wildlife images are accompanied by some lovely syllabic poetry catching not just the beauty but humour too.
Also contributing is her son Michael who has co-written the children’s books focused on the adventures in a fondant world. His poetry shows a maturity and depth of emotion and reflected his vision of a world from a health and environmental perspective. Very profound and thought provoking.
This is a collection that requires careful reading and should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace rather than read in one sitting. I have no particular favourites as each poem and image deserve reflection and respect.
The next review was for Her Covered Bones: An Australian Outback Crime Thriller (Opal Fields Book 6) by Fiona Tarr…
Sally’s review for the book May 11th 2024.
This has been an excellent series that has kept readers engaged over the five books so far. I was eager to discover the truth behind the overarching mysteries behind Jenny William’s cousin reasons for going missing ten years before, and the murder of her boyfriend Nick’s father.
This book picks up shortly after the last one finished and this times the discovery of bones is closer to home, as far as Jenny is concerned too close to home. Just how involved are her cousin and aunt with the murders and why have the rest of her family been keeping secrets. As she works hard to discover how involved they might be, she begins to feel her ongoing relationship with Nick will suffer.
Most of the main characters come together in an effort to resolve this mystery once and for all and a new character arrives to lead the investigation Detective Dawn Graves who stirs up the rest of the team with her approach.
As always there is plenty of action and revelations to keep the reader guessing as to the truth behind the murders, and it is a very satisfactory end to the series.
The author promises more from Jenny Williams in the future, but in the meantime is focussed on a new series featuring Detective Dawn Graves which I look forward to.
The next recommended book is by Judith Barrow... Live and Let: Tales of a Pembrokeshire Holiday Let
Sally’s review for the book May 15th 2024
This is a wonderful short book filled with treasures. The author takes us on a poignant journey through her teen years, marriage and growing family to set the scene for the highly entertaining stories of taking paying guests.
Having lovingly restored a neglected house in Pembrokeshire and wanting to add to the family income, a flat is created on the side of their home and over a number of years an assortment of guests take up residence during the summer season.
Some are clearly remembered with fondness, but others stand out for a variety of reasons and not always in the best light. Whilst laughing at the accounts of the antics these visitors got up to, it must have been extremely stressful to have to deal with them in person. The author has a lovely way of bringing these episodes to life and I would love to have been a fly on the wall.
These temporary lettings gave way to the arrival of a beloved aunt whose declining memory made from some heartwarming and also heartbreaking moments.
To round off a very satisfactory read, there is a short story about another house, another family facing challenges which ends with a twist.
I read Live and Let in one sitting and I am sure that anyone picking up the book will do the same. Highly recommended.
The latest collecton from Marjorie Mallon and my advance review for the book. Shh, Purely Poetry: Sensual, Love and Relationship Poems. On Pre-order June 2nd.
Sally’s advance review for the book May 18th 2024
Love in the romantic sense is a heady complex combination of physical and emotional attraction to another, sometimes bordering on the obsessive that completely takes over to the point of shutting out everything around you. Senses are heightened bringing a new perspective to the most mundane of activities, sights and sounds.
The author captures the depth of this sensual awakening and also the changes it brings to our lives in her poetry. The poems start slowly taking the reader through courtship into full blown relationships highlighting the highs and the lows along the way. The path of true love is not always smooth and as well as passion, one needs forgiveness and compassion.
This is a collection about love and relationships but also celebrates sensuality and whilst I don’t read erotica, this collection is a gentle reminder of the beauty that can exist between two individuals within a passionate relationship. There is a flow and softness that follows the cycle of love and passion..
As always with this author nature and humour also mingle with the more serious business of finding and expressing love. As a small taste of what is to come if you read this collection here is the opening verses to the first section in the collection: Love Is Fuel
Breakfast Nibbles
Avocado spread on toast, Like her bikini, green, shiny, lush, Skimpy but oh so satisfying!
Full breakfast, or bacon roll? Depends on afters… Your place or mine?
Head over to pre-order the collection for June 2nd: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
And Sally’s final review this month was for the latest release by Jan Sikes… a world war two romance – A Beggar’s Bargain.
Sally’s review for the book May 25th 2024
A lovely heartwarming story of two young people who have lost so much and have little hope that their lives will change any time soon. Set just after WWII, times are hard, especially when drought and lack of work is being faced by millions.
For Laykin Martin having returned from the war to find his family farm has been left devastated following his parent’s death, and Sara Beth whose affluent father has his own plans, an unexpected turn of events throws them together to face an uncertain future.
The author always creates interesting and engaging characters and slowly over the story other down on their luck waifs and strays find their way into their home as they rebuild their lives. They expect hard work but not the kindness of others or how their own relationship will develop.
There are some devils in their lives who are determined to bring their hopes crashing down and it is a race against time for both crops and the safety of those they have come to consider familly.
It is a book I found hard to put down and read in one sitting and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the journey of two young people determined to prove to themselves and to those who might doubt their decisions, that there is hope and love to be found.
Thank you so much to Richard Dee for this early book review and feature for my latest release due out 2nd June.
REVIEW
Well, where do I start?The author paints a picture in every poem, cleverly intermixing themes and providing a running commentary on aspects of love as part of life.With sections called LOVE IS FUEL, THE SUMMER & WINTER OF LOVE, LOST LOVE/DISCOVERING LOVE, LOVE, LIFE, WAR & FORGIVENESS, STRANGERS IN LOVE, QUIRKY! and SENSUAL SIGHS, there really is something for every mood, every stage of love, seduction and sensuality.The wordplay is deft and draws on powerful imagery, like this, from Breakfast Nibbles,Avocado spread on toast,Like her bikini, green, shiny,lush,Skimpy but oh so satisfying!or this, from Punk Music Babe,bold eyes blink in shadows,saucy salmon pink arch of eyebrows,her unrealluscious lookexcites me.There are so many other great examples, but I can’t show them all. Get a copy, you won’t be disappointed.This volume is recommended for anyone who likes to be taken on an exploration of the beauty, joy and exhilaration that can be found in relationships.
Thank you so much to Sally Cronin for featuring me on her wonderful blog today. A new release, ✨️ different (never written sensual poetry before,) but early reviews have been good.
Hope it will appeal!
Shh, Purely Poetry – pop over to Sally’s blog to find out more!
A collection of poetic pieces about love, sensuality and relationships with various sections including: love as fuel, (food and coffee love,) the summer and winter of love, lost love/discovering love, forgiveness, strangers in love, quirky aspects and nature as sensuality.Inspired in part by daily prompt poems written for #the365poetrypromptchallenge, observations of places and people on my travels.
Alternatively, I’d be delighted if you’d like to support me by downloading a copy.
Currently on kindle preorder, releases June 2nd, paperback thereafter.
One of the poems in the collection is a collaboration between myself and the lovely originator of the amazing #the365poetrypromptchallenge, Melissa Davillio.
I’m delighted to announce that I have a new book on preorder, Shh, Purely Poetry.
It’s different from my usual poetic pieces here’s the …
Blurb
A collection of poetic pieces about love, sensuality and relationships with various sections including: love as fuel, (food and coffee love,) the summer and winter of love, lost love/discovering love, forgiveness, strangers in love, quirky aspects and nature as sensuality. Inspired in part by daily prompt poems written for the 365poetrypromptchallenge, observations of places and people on my travels. My latest poetry collection Shh, Purely Poetry in kindle is now available to preorder !
This is to be published, (as is all my poetry,) under my publishing imprint Kyrosmagica Publishing. I’m keeping my rights, my way! That way I can get these darlings in UK libraries, choose or create my own cover, etc, etc.
Release date June 2nd. Will also be available in paperback.
Cover created by myself with images in Canva, line drawing of girl by Victoria Rusyn.
I’m so thrilled to be a contributing author to this anthology!
And delighted to share the cover reveal for the first volume of The 365 Poetry Prompt Challenge Compendium, including the prompt responses for days 1 – 61 of the challenge chosen by the judging panel. The editor, Melissa Devilio The Poetry of Me MD has now made the compendium available for purchase via Lulu. Expanded distribution will follow.
The selected charity to which all proceeds from the sale of this volume will be donated is The World Literacy Foundation, because EVERYONE should be afforded the opportunity to learn to read.
Melissa wishes to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that helped make this project a success thus far, and CONGRATULATIONS again to all of the following poets whose contributions were selected for this volume!!!
and a poem about the tree at my mums which I put up for her…
Have a lovely Christmas 🎄 xxx
We are away for a few days in Cockermouth, enjoying the lake district. 1st photo taken in Carlisle, beautiful christmas tree spotted in Cockermouth. Rest Bassenthwaite Lake Nature Reserve near Keswick.
Thank you so much to D. L. Finn for featuring me on her blog today with a wonderful 5 star review for my new release. Do pop over to her blog to celebrate my launch!
M J Mallon YA Author and Poet 