Category Archives: Blog Tour

Poetry, book reviews, announcement, book release, Blog Tour

Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour – Jean-Jacques Fournier and Colleen Chesebro

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Welcome to Day 2 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons Book Blog Tour, where we’re sending off the sixth volume of the Poetry Treasures anthology series, Seasons.

Each volume of this poetry anthology series features the work of the talented poets, spotlighted as guests on Robbie Cheadle’s blog series, “Treasuring Poetry”, from the previous year. Seasons’ poets were guests in 2025.


For this tour, you’ll meet two poets at each stop, with fun facts about them and reviews of their work. Some of the contributors also share guest posts or poetry readings. Today, we’re introducing Jean-Jacques Fournier and Colleen Chesebro.

And we’re giving away three digital copies of the anthology in our Giveaway. Each comment earns a chance to win, so be sure to give a shout out and let us know you were there.


Giveaway


We’re giving away three digital copies of Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons.


Follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop for additional entries.
Winners are selected in a random drawing following the tour.

Tour Schedule
Mon. – Cindy Georgakas (Reading) & Kevin Morris – Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, Masticadores Phillipines
Tues. – Jean-Jacques Fournier (Reading) & Colleen Chesebro (Reading) – Dragons Rule OK
Wed. – Freya Pickard & V.M. Sang (Reading) – JoyNealKidney.com
Thurs. – Joy Neal Kidney & Yvette Prior – Roberta Writes
Fri. – Michelle Ayon Navajas (Guest Post & Reading) & Marsha Ingrao (Guest Post & Reading) – Prior House
Sat. – Nolcha Fox & Robbie Cheadle – Writing to be Read

Introducing Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons

Picture caption: Cover of Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons

Blurb
Open the cover
and you will discover
Poetry Treasures
from the guests on
Robbie Cheadle’s 2025 
“Treasuring Poetry”
blog series
on Writing to be Read.
 
Join poets Robbie Cheadle, Cindy Georgakas, Freya Pickard, V.M. Sang, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Marsha Ingrao, Nolcha Fox, Joy Neal Kidney, Kevin Morris, Jean-Jacques Fournier, Melissa Lemay, Yvette Prior, and special guest, Colleen Chesbro share their personal seasons of poetry.

Purchase link
https://books2read.com/PT6Seasons


Meet Jean-Jacques Fournier


Jean-Jacques Fournier is a native of Montréal, in the province of Québec, Canada. He continued his studies while in the Canadian Navy and travelling substantially over the world. He started writing in earnest while living in California in the early eighties. In the process of reinventing himself numerous times, his penchant for the language of poetry seemed best suited, for him to express his emotions and life experiences. He then spent several years pursuing his writing in the south of France, during which time he published his first three books.  He has long since moved back to Canada and is presently living in the Eastern Townships of Québec. He has published twenty-one books of poetry to date.


Jean-Jacques Fournier’s blog is Poetry on a canapé 

Picture caption: Author photograph of Jean-Jacques Fournier

Fun Facts about Jean-Jacques Fournier


He’s always loved France, had moved to France, married a French woman, who in the end pulls him back to Canada.


Because he was constantly on the move, he was never truly interested in animals but now, he is surrounded by two indoor cats, as well as birds, racoons, deer, chipmunks, coyotes, foxes who all inhabit the garden.


He loves dancing since he was young and now, basically still young considering years passed, he continues dancing but mostly with the words.

Poetry Reading: “I the Bumble Bee – in bombinate flight”https://youtu.be/ETprgKugzfM

A review of Poetry in Brief – a blissful silence – (review by author Paulette Mahurin)

Picture caption: Cover of Poetry in Brief – a blissful silence – by Jean-Jacques Fournier


From the lovely cover of “Poetry in Brief – a blissful silence” designed by Marianne Dessis and the book’s various represented artists like Paul Klee included on the pages of this special book of poetry to all the words depicting the human experience, I am stunned by masterful poetry. This is a special book of poetry and author Jean-Jacques Fournier has a great gift in his usage of words. A minimalist, he writes vast emotions that run deep and strong of all that it is to be alive. Each and every poem, unique in its message, draws the reader into thoughts and emotions. Way too many to enumerate on. This was an enticingly enjoyable book right down to the last poem: “Ye May Not Hear-past silent fear” with its beautiful artwork by Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis – Silene, which was my favorite. Kudos to the author for this lovely achievement.


Purchase Poetry in Brief – a blissful silence – from Lulu here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/jean-jacques-fournier/poetry-in-brief-a-blissful-silence-/ebook/product-9vppw2.html?srsltid=AfmBOooRgWPVvjnWCRJTOlOhMUNgzKa7UNzAFgbFECsxQhkepWVd1d_T&page=1&pageSize=4


And from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Brief-Forever-After/dp/B0GT7CJ29R


Meet Colleen Chesebro


Colleen M. Chesebro hails from the heartland of the Midwestern United States. After graduating, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, launching a lifelong journey of self-exploration. Following a successful career in accounting, Colleen returned to her creative roots, reigniting her love for poetry. Today, she enjoys crafting poetry, flash fiction, and both creative and nonfiction work.
In addition to her poetry books, Colleen has contributed to numerous anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry.
She actively supports her writing community on tankatuesday.com, by hosting a community syllabic poetry challenge called Tanka Tuesday, and by co-editing the Sunflower Tanka Anthology with Robbie Cheadle. This annual syllabic poetry anthology celebrates tanka, tanka prose, and other experimental tanka forms.
Residing in her dream home in mid-Michigan, Colleen enjoys the beauty of the Great Lakes with her husband and their two (unicorn) cats, Chloe and Sophie.
You can find her at Tanka Tuesday on http://www.tankatuesday.com.

Picture caption: Author photograph of Colleen Chesebro


Fun Facts about Colleen Chesebro


When I served in the USAF, I lived in England for several years. 


I crochet old-fashioned doilies with thread.


I’m taking a class in Jungian psychology and dream tending. 

Poetry Reading: “The Fight for Spring” (Haibun)
https://youtube.com/shorts/KMhNk_dNFNU?feature=share

A review of Sunflower Tanka: A 2025 Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka compiled by Colleen Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle (Amazon review)

Picture caption: Cover of Sunflower Tanka: A 2025 Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka compiled by Colleen Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle


Sunflower Tanka 2025 anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose and Experimental Tanka begins with an introduction and a short explanation of the different forms of poetry included in this collection: Tanka, Tanka Prose, Bussokuseki, (a new form for me to try,) Rensaku, Experimental Tanka, Garland Tanka, Tanka Puente, and Taiga!

The topic is dreams. And what dreams they are for poets to indulge their creative juices in! Resulting in such a range of marvellous interpretations.

You’ll find poems from a wide variety of international poets to connect with. There are 54 poets in the 2025 anthology!

It is lovingly compiled by the contributing editors, Robbie Cheadle and Colleen Chesebro with a short analysis of their favourite poems at the end.

It’s a delightful collection and a great introduction to new poets to enjoy as well as old favourites to return to again.

I bought a paperback copy. What a treat.


Purchase Sunflower Tanka: A 2025 Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Sunflower-Tanka-Anthology-Prose-Experimental/dp/B0G51RKG61

Wrap-Up


That wraps up Day 2 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons. Join us again tomorrow over at JoyNealKidney.com, where we’ll be meeting Freya Pickard and V.M. Sang.

Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!

announcement, Blog Tour, book release, Poetry

Trailer for Poetry Book

11 Comments

I am delighted to say that at the end of this month, an anthology of poetry will be released. It’s called Poetry Treasures 6. Seasons, and, I’m excited to say, some of my poetry is featured.


Here is a link to a video trailer: https://youtube.com/shorts/NUxIn1dcghg

Do pop over and have a look.

There’s also a blog tour happening next week. Wednesday’s visit will feature me! and includes a link to me reading one of my poems.

Tour Schedule

Monday, April 20th, 2026: Hotel by Masticadores, Masticadores Phillipines will feature Cindy Georgakas and Kevin Morris

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026: Dragons Rule OK will feature  Jean-Jacques Fournier and Colleen Chesebro   

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026: Joy Neal Kidney will feature Freya Pickard and V.M. Sang

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026: Roberta Writes will feature authors Joy Neal Kidney and Yvette Prior.

Friday, April 24th, 2026: Priorhouse blog will feature authors Michelle Ayon Navajas and Marsha Ingrao

Saturday, April 25th, 2026: Writing to be Read will feature Nolcha Fox and Robbie Cheadle.

All the poets here would be delighted if you’d visit.

If you want to know where you can buy the book, click the button.

Seasons.

announcement, Blog Tour, book release, book reviews, fantasy, Guest Post

A Visit from Diana Wallace Peach, and an Exciting New Release.

107 Comments

Today, I am honoured to be a part of Diana Wallace Peach’s blog tour. She is stopping by to tell us about the book she has recently released. It’s called The Necromancer’s Daughter, but I’ll let Diana tell you about it.

Take a seat and help yourself to a biscuit while I pour you some coffee.

Isn’t this a beautiful cover?

Now you’re comfortable, I’ll hand you over to Diana.

Thanks for having me over to your blog, Viv. I’m delighted to share a thought or two about The Necromancer’s Daughter, and in this case, the challenges of crafting “good” characters.

My latest book has a couple of virtuous characters, different from my usual mixed bag of flawed souls. I think characters with flaws, inner conflicts, and ambivalence are easier to write because they’re inherently more interesting and often more active as they go around messing things up.

So, what did I do for my characters who aren’t emotionally compromised or moral wrecks?

Barus, my necromancer who starts off the book, is one of the sweetest people around. He’s led by his heart, and though that gets him into some dicey situations, his main challenge is simply to stay alive.

Fortunately for this writer, he fades into the background early on when Aster, the necromancer’s daughter, takes the forefront. She’s more of a challenge since she has to carry the story to the end.

She’s also “good,” and in her case, it’s that quality that creates danger for her and ambivalence for other characters. Her sweet nature gets her into trouble more than it saves her.

One way to make life miserable for our nice characters like Aster is to give them lose-lose choices. (Writers are ruthless, aren’t we?) And that’s exactly what I do to my poor heroine. She is constantly having to choose between two bad options, and that creates a lot of inner turmoil while also testing her convictions. By the end, she just might discover that there are worse choices than death.

Something about the story

A healer and dabbler in the dark arts of life and death, Barus is as gnarled as an ancient tree. Forgotten in the chaos of the dying queen’s chamber, he spirits away her stillborn infant, and in a hovel at the meadow’s edge, he breathes life into the wisp of a child. He names her Aster for the lea’s white flowers. Raised as his daughter, she learns to heal death.

Then the day arrives when the widowed king, his own life nearing its end, defies the Red Order’s warning. He summons the necromancer’s daughter, his only heir, and for his boldness, he falls to an assassin’s blade.

While Barus hides from the Order’s soldiers, Aster leads their masters beyond the wall into the Forest of Silvern Cats, a land of dragons and barbarian tribes. She seeks her mother’s people, the powerful rulers of Blackrock, uncertain whether she will find sanctuary or face a gallows’ noose.

Unprepared for a world rife with danger, a world divided by those who practice magic and those who hunt them, she must choose whether to trust the one man offering her aid, the one man most likely to betray her—her enemy’s son.

A healer with the talent to unravel death, a child reborn, a father lusting for vengeance, and a son torn between justice, faith, and love. Caught in a chase spanning kingdoms, each must decide the nature of good and evil, the lengths they will go to survive, and what they are willing to lose.

My Review of The Necromancer’s Daughter.

OVERVIEW:

This book is a definite page turner. I loved it all the way through and although I couldn’t put it down, I definitely didn’t want to get to the end.

The cover is beautiful.

CHARACTERS

Fantastic characters. D. Wallace Peach has brought us amazing people. They seem real as they have failings as well as good points. They struggle with knowing what is right and wrong amid conflicting views.

Aster has the ability to resurrect the dead. Is it evil to do so? She does not think so. Some think the Blessed One alone should have this right of who lives and who dies, and to go against her wishes is evil. But can Aster stand by and allow a death she could prevent? If the Blessed One did not want the dead person to be revived, surely she would not allow it?

Facing danger in the Forest of Silver Cats, Jorah questions his whole life. He has promised to help Aster get to Blackrock, against everything he has been taught to believe—that necromancy is evil and necromancers should be put to death. He is conflicted as to why he agreed to do so. His concerns trouble him throughout the book.

<p>Teko is a simple man. One whom the ‘civilised’ people consider to be a barbarian, but he is a loyal protector of Aster.

Finally, there is Barus. He is a man with a crooked spine. A truly good person. He resurrected Aster after she was stillborn and brought her up as his own daughter. He is a wonderful man whom I find difficult to forget. </p>

WRITING

The writing is amazing. This is one of the few books I’ve read recently that I have not had to get my metaphorical red pen out to correct errors.

D. Wallace Peach has a wonderful way with words. Her descriptions are beautiful, and I love her metaphores and similes. She takes you into the world of magic, dragons and kingdoms at odds with each other and makes you believe in it.

If you are a fantasy fan, I would recommend you go and buy it now.

Here’s a bit about Diana.

A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life when years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books. She was instantly hooked.

In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.

Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

You can buy The Necromancer’s Daughter by clicking here or on the cover of the book.

Blog Tour, book release, interview, novel

Silent Payback Book Tour

7 Comments

I am excited to welcome Jaye Marie as part of the blog tour for her new book, Silent Payback. I have been reading her blog for quite some time now, and so it is an honour to welcome her to mine.

Good to have you here, Jaye.

I hear your friends have a nickname for you. Would you like to share it with us?

*Laughs* Yes. My friends often call me the Giant Redwood because I am very tall, just like the tree.

That’s not the only reason, though, is it?

No. I am very fond of trees and the outdoors. I have quite a large bonsai collection and like to spend my afternoons repotting and generally tending to them.

But you obviously don’t spend all your time with your trees. You must go in to write sometimes.

Yes. It’s usually my love for detective mysteries that sends me back indoors.

Have you written any other detective novels?

Yes. In fact, Silent Payback is my fourth book.

Would you tell us the titles of the others?

Yes., certainly. My first book is called Nine Lives, then there are Out of Time and Crossfire. They are all in the detective mystery genre.

What do you do when you aren’t tending your bonsai or writing?

Currently I’m learning all I can about self-publishing. There are a lot of obstacles associated with it, but I’m determined not to give up. *laughs* Some people say I’m as stubborn as a mule when I start doing something difficult, and refuse to give up.

I believe you have a website.

Yes. I share a website, http://jenanita01.com with Anita Dawes.

Please visit Jaye’s website. I’m sure you will find it interesting. And thank you, Jaye, for coming to tell us about your new book. I believe it’s now available.

Yes. It was released on October 22nd.

Can you give us a link to it?

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for. A bit about this exciting book.

Silent Payback.

A city on edge – a detective on shaky ground…

A serial killer roams the streets of Brighton, hunting for his next victim.

When the case lands on detective David Mallory’s desk, will his personal demon prevent him from bringing this vicious monster to justice?

As the body count rises, Mallory finds himself sinking under the weight of his heavy secret – one that could jeopardise his job and his reputation.

With the pressure building, can the troubled detective reconcile his issues and solve the case, before more women die?

Click here to go to Amazon where you are and buy the book.

You can find Jaye in the following places:

Jaye’s Links

e-mails jayemarie01@btinternet.com
website https://jenanita01.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/jaydawes2
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/doubletrouble44/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6586480.anita_dawes
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jaye-Marie/e/B00O2ZUFOK/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/anitajayedawes
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jenanita01/
Medium https://medium.com/@jaydawes2

Blog Tour, Poetry

Blog Tour by Yecheilyah Ysrayl, a poet.

2 Comments

I am Soul Virtual Blog Tour – Day Two

I would like to welcome Yecheilyah to my blog today. She is a poet, and is doing a virtual blog tour. Today is the second day of the tour. You can find out more about her by visiting the other blogs she is appearing on. The dates and addresses are at the end of this post.

BLOG TOUR
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 @ 1:00p EST

portrait

Bio.

Yecheilyah (e-SEE-li-yah, affectionately nicknamed EC) is an Author, Blogger, and Poet and lives in Marietta, GA with her wonderful husband. She has been writing poetry since she was twelve years old and joined the UMOJA Poetry Society in High School where she learned to perfect her craft. In 2010, at 23 years-old, Yecheilyah published her first collection of poetry and in 2014, founded Literary Korner Publishing and The PBS blog where she enjoys helping other authors through her blog interviews and book reviews. The PBS Blog has been named among Reedsy’s Best Book Review blogs of 2017 and 2018 and has helped many authors in their writing journey. I am Soul is her fourth collection of poetry.

I am Soul - High Resolution
THOSE WHO LOVE

It’s their presence alone
that lifts the floor
commanding the clouds to unclench their fist.
Love wraps its garment around
their bodies
like insane prisoners to compassion,
confined and restricted
to the affection that binds them.
Stitched and knitted
like a fresh garment,
like fresh skin
to the beautiful body of genuine,
Call them
the mentally insane
‘cause they’ve got to be crazy
to be binding themselves
like this.

 

 

Fun Facts about Yecheilyah:
She loves to laugh, and her favorite comedy TV show is Blackish
She is originally from Chicago, IL
She’s been married to her husband 8 years, together for 11 years
She believes eggs makes everything better
She is a twin
She is addicted to reading and new notebooks
Her favorite desert is ice cream
I am Soul is now available on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and Scribd.

Click Here to choose your retailer.

Greenbriar Mall
The Medu Bookstore
2841 Greenbriar Pkwy SW
Atlanta, GA 30331
Author Website: http://www.yecheilyahysrayl.com/
Blog: https://thepbsblog.com
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Yecheilyah-Ysrayl/e/B00ML6OHFA/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/literarykornerpublishing
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/yecheilyah/
Twitter: twitter.com/ahouseofpoetry
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdquShfqCN6lIX8IDK9MnSg