Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on September 7, 2017 by Colleen M. Chesebro
“I have started a new feature on my blog, called Author Spotlight – Guest Posts. As you can see from the image above, I am looking for themed posts about fairies, myths, and magic. If you are an interested author and would like to be featured on my blog, please click HERE to find out more.” ~Colleen~
Something magical happens when you contemplate the writing of a fantasy story. Your mind expands and the possibilities of ‘what if’ somehow become real, if only in your mind. Other fantasy authors recognize that enchanted streak of genius that runs through our creative minds. We wear it like a badge of honor as if we share a deep connection to nature and all things miraculous. That’s just it… We do!
That’s how it was for me when I was introduced to the mystical writings of Adele Marie Park. Not long ago, I read her book called, Wisp and wrote a review. You can read the review HERE.
Adele and I share a love for the elementals and especially, the fey. We’ve both had experiences of the fairy kind. Unbeknownst to each other, we both published books at the same time – Her’s about Marsh fairies and mine about a Swamp fairy. Coincidence? I think not, but you can be the judge of that. 😀
The world we live in is alive.
Every animal and insect.
From the highest mountain to the smallest pebble on the beach.
They all have a spark of creation inside them.
Humans included and the fey.
This spark connects us all and if we stop running on the treadmill for a second and be still: breathe in the magic and listen. You can hear the earth beat as it travels up through the soles of your feet and into your heart. Now look with your heart and see the magic that surrounds us every second of the day.
The fey are there just out of reach, for now.
Image Credit: Pixabay.com
When I was a child, growing up on Rousay, the fey folk were everywhere. They were respected and lived side by side with humans.
The knowe-faery hill in the field beside our house that my uncle never ploughed over or planted on.
The bridge across the river to my uncle Willie’s cottage the trow-troll lived under.
The whispering wind playing in my hair and tickling my skin.
Blades of grass that held so many secrets as I lay gazing into them.
The faeries who let me know when it was time to go home for tea.
Stones that told stories and selkies who loved music.
The tall ones who soothed me to sleep and brushed the tears of fright from my face.
Traditions we upheld, and I brought them with me when I travelled to the mainland of Scotland, leaving behind my island home with a heart that has never recovered from that wrench.
Every Halloween, Midsummer, and Beltaine we would leave a dish of food outside the door for the faeries. Bread soaked in milk with honey was a favourite.
Tommy’s father blessing the four corners of the field and asking for the faeries protection.
Respecting the guardians of the bridges and asking their permission to travel across them.
Thanking the flowers for their beauty and taking care of them.
We lived side by side with these wonderful beings, and life was good.
My influence for the fey of Edra, in Wisp, came from my childhood and also from experiences later on in my life. I’ve listed the types of fey that you can read about in the pages of Wisp.
These are just a few, but as you can see, they are all nature based.
I live in Britain which is divided into Scotland, England, and Wales on the main island. The energy and power of our land know no such division. The magical ley lines that run from top to bottom, over and under the sea know no division. They are the blood of our land, our mother who nurtures us and feeds us all.
Our ancestors respected the land and her blood. Traditions were kept, and everything was valued.
The only divisions are in men’s minds.
© 2017 Adele Marie Park
Writing stories is a passion which has been with me for as long as I can remember.
Brought up on the small Orcadian island of Rousay, I was fed tales of myth and magical beings in my everyday life.
My first expedition into world building came about when I was ten.
Ithlian and its magical dragons soaring the skies possessed me, and I spent many hours drawing maps and creating the characters and the lands they lived in.
My mother was Irish, and through her and my family, I learnt the tales of the Tuatha De Dannan and the heroes of old sagas.
This heritage plus the Orcadian heritage gave my imagination and open mind enough fodder to keep me going through some of the blackest times.
Wisp is my first published novel. Self-published last year, it was an experience that I had not been prepared for even though I read up on self-publishing. The reality is different for everyone.
Wisp 2 “Spells of Sea Dragons” has been completed and set aside for now. The editing will begin soon, then the beta readers and then the formal editing. I am hoping to self-publish it before Christmas 2017.
I have entered numerous short story competitions and find them beneficial for the learning curve they have.
I will never stop learning my craft and improving on my work.
My wish is for readers to love the stories I bring them. The memorable characters and the messages that some of my work carries.
Oh, and eventually, I want an eco built house by the sea with a round window to gaze out of. Returning to the place where all my senses come alive. The sea.
Blog – Website: Firefly465.wordpress.com
Facebook – Adele Marie Park
Facebook Author Page – Adele Marie Park
Thanks for stopping by to learn about Adele and her connection to the magical fey. ❤
Category: author interviewsTags: Adele Marie Park, Author Interviews, Author Spotlight Guest Posts, Dryads, fairies, fantasy author, Goblins, Marsh fairies, Mermaids, Pookies, The Spark of the Fey, The Wulden, Wisp, Woodland Faerie
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“A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.”
—Dylan Thomas
Click: What is a Rhyme Scheme?
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Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Poet who loves crafting paranormal fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre flash fiction, syllabic poetry, and creative nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry. Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems.” She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com. In 2020, she won first place in the Carrot Ranch Folk Tale or Fable category, with her story called “Why Wolf Howls at the Moon.” Colleen is a Sister of the Fey, where she pursues a pagan path through her writing. When she is not writing, she is reading. She also loves gardening and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art.
It was lovely meeting Adele, Colleen. I’m sure the two of you must be sisters.
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Ha, Ha! What a lovely thought, Michelle! ❤
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😉❤❤
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Sisters in fey, I believe. xx
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OH, I love that! Sisters in Fey!!! Spectacular! ❤
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We are indeed. xxx
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Indeed! 💕
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Beautiful connections with the often unseen inhabitants of our planet. Thanks to you both, Adele and Colleen.
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Hi, Viva. It has been great fun learning how to write fantasy stories. Pure serendipity. ❤
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Thank you 🙂 🙂
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I’m sure the two of you must be sisters. It was lovely meeting Adele, Colleen.
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It does seem to be a phenomenon found in our writing community – many of us feel like we know each other after never meeting. Glad you stopped by. ❤
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Thank you. 🙂 🙂
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Thank you so much for sharing, Traci. ❤
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This had me entranced Adele, will have to add to my TBR shelf. 🙂
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I loved Wisp, Marje. A really different fantasy. Can’t wait to read the next book. ❤
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Sounds great, I love how your author spotlight writing posts are doing such a fabulous job encouraging us to read authors. Well done. 🙂
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Thanks, Marje. I think it’s the perfect way to read an author before you buy. ❤
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Thank you, Marjorie. xxx
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Please do, I think you will love it. xxx
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Can’t wait. 🙂
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It was adorable coming together Adele, Colleen. I remember it’s the perfect room to take an author before you bribe.
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Thanks, Harold. Adele and I both love to write fantasy. What could be better? ❤
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Thank you, Harold. 🙂
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Sounds expectant, I making love how your author spot written material posts are doing such(a) a mythical line encouraging us to show authors. It was making lovely merging Adele, Colleen.
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed.
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Thank you. 🙂 🙂
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I got lost in this wonderfully magical post. As a child, I never understood when my mother would say, ‘Oh, you’re just seeing things.’ Of course I was, and I didn’t realize she was not. I love you sisters, Adele and Colleen. Thank you for this sprinkle of magic that I sorely needed 💚💚
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We love you too, sister and just let us know anytime you need that sprinkle. Hugs and love. xxx
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Thank you, Adele 💜
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I am so happy that you enjoyed Adele’s discussion about the fey. I am in the process of writing a story called, “The Sisters of the Fey.” Stay tuned. ❤
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Looking forward to it, Colleen 💜
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I’ll be looking forward to reading it, Colleen. xxx
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Wonderful post Adele and captured the atmosphere and possibilities beautifully.. xx
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Thank you, Sally, xxx
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Great fun, Sally. ❤
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Thank you so much, Colleen, for hosting me and I hope to let other people know about the fey that live alongside them. “We believe”. xxx
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Absolutely, a pleasure. I will be writing a story about the “Sisters of the Fey.” Stay tuned. ❤
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❤
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Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
Colleen’s faery post by Adele Marie Park
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I loved this discussion of the fae, Adele. You and I have a deep connection to your swamp fairies. ❤
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We do, Colleen and it’s strange because Rousay had no swamps but I have always loved to look at pictures of them and can often picture myself in one and hear the sounds. xxx
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Oh, that’s interesting. Here in Colorado it is totally different also. I’ll have to get some photos. ❤️
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Yes, please. That would be amazing. xxx
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What a lovely post, Adele and Colleen. I loved learning all of this about faeries.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed, Robbie. Hugs to you! ❤
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Thanks, Robbie, I think we both hope to write more about the faeries in the future. xxx
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This is a wonderful post, Colleen and Adele! It seems the “creative one-mind” was at work when you both were writing those books.
I really enjoyed spending some time with this post. Hugs on the wing!
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Thanks, Teagan and massive hugs to you and Crystal and faerie sparkle on your day. xxx
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Thank you Adele. I’ll try and carry the twinkles throughout the week to Mordor. 🙂
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Oh no, Mordor…but it needs the sparkles too. Hope your week is good, sending wishes for it your way. xxx
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Hugs on the wing right back to you, Teagan. ❤️
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So fantastic to see Adele here. And thanks Adele for letting us into your world and introducing the characters in your book. Looking forward to reading. ❤
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Thanks for popping in, Debby. You are part of the sisters of the Fey… ❤
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You got that right Sis! ❤ xoxo
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Thanks, Debby and yes you are our sister too. ❤
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Of course I am! ❤ 🙂
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❤
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