About
Discovering My Creative Side
From a young age, I discovered my creative side, a journey that aligns with the evolution of modern poets. I remember crafting short stories and little rhymes, reading them to my family—shyly at first, but gradually gaining confidence as their positive reactions encouraged me. My family wasn’t very big, but they could be loud, often interrupting me at the dinner table.
So, I learned early on that if I shared a story verbally, I would be brushed aside. However, if I wrote something down and said, “I have something to read,” I would capture their attention. They would take the time to listen—whether out of politeness or interest, I can’t recall—but I had their attention nonetheless.
A Memorable Poem
One of my earliest creative memories is the poem “Chitter,” which I wrote at the age of ten. It centers around a mischievous little mouse with a tragic ending. I vividly remember reading that poem to my parents one night. They listened politely until I reached the tragic twist, at which point my dad’s eyes widened in shock and surprise, and he literally sank to his knees in laughter. Long after I finished reading, I could still hear him chuckling about that poem.
Truth be told, my parents probably should have signed me up for therapy! But in that moment, I learned that my words could evoke emotions and provoke reactions, a powerful realization that brought me immense joy.
The Evolution of My Poetry
As I got older and matured, my poems matured along with me and started to get deeper and more personal. I dabbled in the romance genre, as most young girls do, and then branched out into writing about my father’s sudden death in the beloved poem “His Garage” and feeling his guidance with the poem “So Long For Now.”
In my early 20s, as life got busy with work, school, and social life, my writing went dormant. I actually believed that whatever creative spark I used to have was no longer there. I didn’t really think about my writing too much and kept my poems to myself, like a secret I was too embarrassed to reveal.
Rediscovery During Lockdown
During the lockdown of 2020, amidst the COVID pandemic, I found my binder of young poems while taking on the project of cleaning out some drawers. As I read through them, I made the brave but scary decision to publish them into a small work called “Walk Through a Field of Flowers,” which was named after one of my creative writing journals in grade school.
The reactions from friends and family must have created a spark because I soon found myself writing again and have just recently released my fourth book of poems. My second book, Scatter Seeds of Kindness, was an Amazon bestseller and has won numerous awards for its contribution to award-winning poetry. Furthermore, my third and fourth books have also been multiple award winners. More about each of my books can be found under the Books tab.
Through this journey, I’ve embraced modern poetry presentation, allowing my voice and experiences to resonate with readers in ways that feel both authentic and impactful.
The Impact of Words
Words can have such a profound and everlasting impact on our lives. One of my earliest impressions of someone else’s work came along when I was in the 7th grade. Suddenly, there was this saying, and you might remember it: “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.” Whoa! My 12-year-old mind was blown!
These were deep and insightful words, and they nestled comfortably into the space of my young and impressionable mind. This quote was everywhere: on folders and notebook covers. I remember I had a T-shirt with a gray seagull flying, wings outstretched, and that quote in the background. The fact that I remember that quote 40+ years later speaks to the impact of those words. Back then, the author of the quote was noted as Anonymous, but it has since been credited to Richard Bach, the author of the 1970 book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which now explains the seagull on the background of my T-shirt.
What Makes My Books Unique?
Sometimes, when we read a poem, we may not be sure that we are interpreting it correctly as the author intended. That’s okay. Poetry, like all art, is open to interpretation. However, it’s nice to know if you are on the same page as the author. This understanding helps build a bond or kinship between you and the author/artist.
With my books, I don’t want to take that interpretation away from the reader. Instead, I offer my own unique perspective regarding each poem. In each of my books, I provide my insights before each poem, sharing the backstory, thoughts, motivation, and inspiration behind its creation. This modern poetry presentation allows you to engage with the text more deeply.
You can choose to read that or skip right to the poem. It might even be fun to read the poem first and then the story to see if we are on the same page. And if we’re not, that’s okay! I’d love to hear your interpretation or views on the poem in the comments section, so please feel free to share!
So Why the Practical Poet?
Let’s face it: poetry can be intimidating and hard to understand (remember dissecting a poem in English Lit class?). One reaction that I have heard time and again from many people is that my poems are relatable. Readers have shared that they understand my poetry in ways that they are not always able to grasp other poetry. This connection has encouraged them to embrace poetry in a way they may have shied away from previously.
I remember speaking to a man once who said to me, “I am a sixty-year-old accountant. I don’t read much poetry. In fact, I don’t read any poetry. But I read your book (Scatter Seeds of Kindness), and I loved it.” What an amazing compliment! Another friend recently wrote to me that she loves my work because the poems and writings remind her of her grandparents, who were farmers, and that we share many of the same values and common-sense approach to life.
Embracing Diverse Perspectives in Poetry
Will everyone find me or my work relatable? Of course not. Some people seek deeper and more profound poems, and that’s perfectly fine. Poetry, like music or art, is a very personal experience. However, if you found The Practical Poet through an internet search or someone shared the link with you, and you were intrigued enough to check it out, I am hoping you are looking for the type of poetry that I can provide.
The aim of my work is to present award-winning poetry in a way that feels accessible, yet profound. I want to engage readers through modern poetry presentation, bridging the gap between emotional depth and relatability.
P.S. I considered calling this blog The Relatable Poet, but I struggle with spelling the word “relatable” (is there an “e” before the word “able,” or does that get dropped off?!), so I decided that “Practical” was more…well, practical!
Why this blog?
I feel like, in this day and age, people are searching for content that touches their hearts and speaks to their souls. But people are very busy, so picking up a book can seem daunting or like too much of a time commitment. Conversely, the small 4- to 5-verse excerpts that I post on my social media pages may not provide enough content. This blog bridges that gap by offering the entire poem for those who wish to read it without having to commit to an entire book.
The Magic of Words
I love the magic of words when they flow together, whether or not they rhyme. I want you to experience that same feeling, and I hope that I can provide it. My mission is not only to inspire you to love poetry in all its forms but also to cultivate a love for words—to feel their weight, absorb their impact, and carry them with you in your head and heart. Perhaps a word, a line, or a verse will resonate, sticking with you for future reference. Much like that 7th-grade quote that I still remember all these years later, I hope you find something here that stays with you. That would be the greatest compliment I could ever receive.
My Journey and Achievements
What else can I tell you about myself? I have worked with and been featured by esteemed groups such as Literary Titan, The BookFest, Reader Views (including their Inside Scoop Podcast), and the syndicated radio show America Tonight hosted by Kate Delaney. I am also a huge animal lover and cat mama, a full-time employee, fitness enthusiast, certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor, and a lover of all things wine. I hold an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix.
Feel free to reach out to me for more information.
