✏️Exploring Collective Nouns: A Fun Poetry Challenge

Collective nouns are a blast! They’re those super fun words that let us talk about a bunch of people, animals, or things as one single unit. Even though there are multiple individuals, we treat the whole group like it’s one big, happy family. I challenged myself to write a poem about nature and it’s collective nouns which I’m sharing with you today. I hope you enjoy it and it inspires you!

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Discover ‘Born of Orange Blossoms’: A Seasonal Poetry Collection

Announcing the arrival of my poetry book, Born of Orange Blossoms! This vibrant collection celebrates the beauty of nature’s cycles, with poems that capture the essence of each season. I’m so excited for you to experience it!

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Challenge Yourself with Wordplay Poems

I recently stumbled upon a challenge from Margaret Simon’s blog, reflections on the Teche. The challenge was to write a “Word Wandering” or “Wordplay” poem based on Nikki Grimes’ idea on Today’s Little Ditty. So, I thought I’d give it shot today.

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Judy Zalesne Reflects on Billy Collins’ Profound Poetry

Billy Collins is a renowned poet loved by millions for his accessible yet profound exploration of everyday life and the human condition. His unique ability to blend humor with poignant insights has captured the hearts of readers across generations.

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Celebrating the Keepers of Knowledge: Happy National Librarian Day!

April 16th marks a special day for book lovers and knowledge seekers everywhere: National Librarian Day! It’s a day to celebrate the incredible individuals who dedicate their lives to connecting us with information, stories, and community. And let’s be honest, where would we be without them?

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Grab Indie eBooks for $0.99-$1.99 at PoetryPalooza!

PoetryPalooza is happening now! For the next three days, April 12-14, 2025 , indie poets (including me) will be offering their eBooks for $0.99-$1.99 and optional discounts on print books across platforms like Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and direct sales sites like Gumroad, Payhip, KoFi, and direct from their publisher.

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Celebrate Baby Milestones with Poetry

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the incredibly talented Lee Wardlaw and her delightful poetry book for babies, My Book of Firsts: Poems Celebrating a Baby’s Milestones. This charming collection beautifully captures the essence of those fleeting moments that parents cherish, from the first day to first steps. In addition to this wonderful book, I’m thrilled to share an insightful interview where we get to peek inside Lee’s creative process and discover the inspiration behind her writing. Join us as we explore her thoughts, techniques, and the heartfelt journey that led to the creation of this fabulous book that not only entertains but also helps to celebrate the victories in a baby’s early life!

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Celebrate National Haiku Day with This Handbook

In celebration of National Haiku Poetry Day on April 17th, I’m excited to share my “How to Haiku” handbook for ages 8 and up. This book teaches simple ways to write haiku while encouraging creativity and worth in one’s poetry. It offers a mix of techniques, motivation, and playful templates for haiku crafting, and I hope it will be shared with children, teachers, librarians, and parents on National Haiku Day and beyond.

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Celebrating Poetry in the Digital Age

Remember the “old days” when you wanted to enjoy poetry? You’d find it in a book. These days, we often turn to the screen for our pop of poetry. This got me thinking that poetry in modern times is like a parade. Poems of every subject and tone march across the screen for all to see. And we, as readers, writers, and lovers of poetry, can join in the parade whenever we want (no shoes required). Of course, for me, random thoughts like this often turn into a poem. Cotton candy, anyone?

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