I’ve had a passion for poetry since my early childhood, when I fondly remember listening to my elders recite—specifically, my teachers reading rhymes by Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. As I grew into my adolescence and adulthood, my interest in literature only amplified with my introduction to works by Maya Angelou, R.H. Sin, and Rupi Kaur. Now, as a self-published poet and self-proclaimed enthusiast of the genre, I continue to spend my time browsing shelves, attending readings, and supporting writers/artists debuting work into the world. I hope you enjoy the books on my list.
I loved this book by K.Y Robinson because the short collection possessed power on every page, and K.Y’s exploration of vulnerability, navigating emotions, and expressing sexuality helped me understand myself in a way that I didn’t before being introduced to her work.
The Chaos of Longing provided company during a time when I believed I was alone in this world and grew into a lifelong poetic companion as I continue to grow into myself.
The Chaos of Longing is a brutally honest exploration of desire-physical, emotional, and spiritual. This revised and expanded edition contains over 50 pages of all-new material.
Organized in four sections - Inception, Longing, Chaos, and Epiphany - K.Y. Robinson's debut poetry collection explores what it is to want in spite of trauma, shame, injustice, and mental illness. It is one survivor's powerful testimony, and a love letter "to those who lie awake burning."
I was actually introduced to this title due to its 2010 film adaptation by Tyler Perry of the same title. I was captivated by the different points of view, characters, and lives that unfolded on the screen, so much so that I sought out a physical copy of the publication it was based on.
I loved this book because it taught me strength—told and shown from the points of view of multiple women in different challenging circumstances. I loved that there was an exploration of love, lust, happiness, tragedy, and ultimately becoming and accepting the version of woman that you are.
This publication was actually very instrumental and inspirational in my own journey of writing and publishing. This story inspired me to tell my own, out loud and unapologetically.
'A revelation. I am so thankful to Ntozake Shange for seeing us, reflecting us and showing us how beautiful we can be' JESMYN WARD
'Encompassing, it seems, every feeling and experience a woman has ever had' NEW YORKER
The Lady in Red has adored her lover for eight months, 2 weeks and a day, but now she is leaving. The Lady in Blue has an abortion, all alone. The Lady in Brown can read fifteen books in three weeks.
The Lady in Purple has met a man, and is finally being real. The Lady…
I first fell in love with Alex Grey’s art before I found his book that described his career and experiences that solidified the themes he has chosen to explore throughout his craft.
The Mission of Art was an incredible read that took me on a journey of art appreciation, self-discovery, and the concept of creativity. My favorite part of the book includes the illustrations and backstory behind their conception.
I appreciate that Alex reminded me and other readers that all art deserves to exist as evidence of humanity & culture and should not be limited to what is “good” or “bad,” but it should all be accepted for what it is. (Cause it says a lot about who we are as people and the current time we live in)
This is an inspirational book about art's power to bring about personal catharsis and spiritual awakening. Alex Grey's reflections combine his extensive knowledge of art history and his own first-hand experiences in creating art on the boundaries of consciousness. Included are practical techniques and exercises that can be used to explore the spiritual dimension of art. Challenging and thought-provoking, The Mission of Art will be enjoyed by everyone who has ever contemplated the deeper purpose of artistic expression.
As an independent author and creative, at times I lose sight of my personal “why” and motivation for creation.
I love Black Women Writers at Work by Claudia Tate, because it served as a reminder of the importance of diversity, the range writers can have, and the longevity creative output can maintain with the support of their audience. I appreciated that Claudia asked each author specific questions related to their work and not just generic questions related to the topic and technique of writing.
This book was not only entertaining for me, but extremely informative. I loved it so much that I started with the audiobook and was gifted a physical copy!
"Black women writers and critics are acting on the old adage that one must speak for oneself if one wishes to be heard." -Claudia Tate, from the introduction
Long out-of-print, Black Women Writers At Work is a vital contribution to Black literature in the 20th century. Through candid interviews with Maya Angelou, Toni Cade Bambara, Gwendolyn Brooks. Alexis Deveaux, Nikki Giovanni, Kristin Hunter, Gayl Jones, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Tillie Olson, Sonia Sanchez, Ntozake Shange, Alice Walker, Margret Walker, and Shirley Anne Williams, the book highlights the practices and critical linkages between the work and lived experiences of Black women…
I love this book for many reasons, but to start, I love that the title is a poetic metaphor, I love that the story is almost a hundred years old but still speaks to the rebellious spirit alive within young readers, and I love that the book is loosely based on Zora’s real life and the real place of Eatonville, Florida.
I love that readers get to experience the past and can envision their own future while reading this book. I laughed, cried, and found pieces of myself within the quotes snitched to this story.
Cover design by Harlem renaissance artist Lois Mailou Jones
When Janie, at sixteen, is caught kissing shiftless Johnny Taylor, her grandmother swiftly marries her off to an old man with sixty acres. Janie endures two stifling marriages before meeting the man of her dreams, who offers not diamonds, but a packet of flowering seeds ...
'For me, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD is one of the very greatest American novels of the 20th century. It is so lyrical it should be sentimental; it is so passionate it should be overwrought, but it is instead a rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece…
Dismantled Damsel is an exploration of femininity, adolescence, and overcoming different mental health challenges told from the perspective of a young woman coming of age in modern times. It captures the unfiltered truth of navigating heartbreak, healing, and identity in a world that often expects young women to stay silent.
Each poem serves as a doorway into the quiet places of the soul, offering moments of reflection, awakening, and empowerment. Dismantled Damsel invites readers to step beyond the weight of their problems and into a place of clarity, renewal, and inner strength.
This is a personal story of Carole and her rise from the ashes of tragedy as a fourteen year old, to success in many areas of her life. Carole graphically depicts the story of how success is the result of a passion and determination that comes from deep inside
Truth told, folks still ask if Saul Crabtree sold his soul for the perfect voice. If he sold it to angels or devils. A Bristol newspaper once asked: “Are his love songs closer to heaven than dying?” Others wonder how he wrote a song so sad, everyone who heard it…
