Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on November 6, 2019 by Colleen M. Chesebro
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”
– JM Barrie, Peter Pan
Hello everyone! This week I’m thrilled to bring you one of my favorite children’s authors, Eloise De Sousa. I asked her to pick a few questions from my huge list HERE, so we could get to know her better.
The saying goes that children are our future and we should all encourage children to read and write. As a teacher, Eloise does that and more.
Please meet poet and multi-talented adult and children’s author, Eloise De Sousa.
Eloise De Sousa is a crime fiction writer with a penchant for penning poems and children’s stories.
Free to write about the dreams that keep me up at night, I sit at my computer some days, contemplating murder. Of course, there are moments of passion and adventure.
When I’m not in my bat cave creating new worlds, I transform into a mother of four rather large sprogs, four cats and a dog called Henry. If you don’t find me out in the forest walking the sprogs and the dog, or bent over at awkward angles photographing nature, you’ll find me tapping away at my keyboard coming up with my next nutty adventure.
E. De Sousa Author
When I look at the authors who have sky-rocketed to fame, my introvert self cringes and wants to run and hide. That sort of fame is definitely not what I am looking for, although I am aware that it is part and parcel of becoming a well read author.
Literary success is knowing that your reader has enjoyed your book and asks questions about the characters, where the plot could go in the sequel (even if there isn’t one) and how they pictured the character in the book.
I love the narrative driven by a good story and I hope that all my books have that special mix to encourage discussions about future stories. That is what literary success looks like to me: no bells and whistles but just pure enjoyment of those words on paper.
We’re going on a trip in Big Ox’s canoe. Watch the fire bears roar on Venus as pepper pot trees grow on the moon. As Big Ox steers us to the planets, Little One wonders if Mum will come home soon.
Writing for children is an opportunity to involve moot subjects in our society’s culture, subjects that may not be openly discussed yet affect children in numerous ways. When I write stories for my young audience, I choose those subjects and implicitly tackle the social stereo types, making my characters act out their conflict and giving my readers a chance to figure out a way forward. Their take away from my stories would be an element of a moral code for the children to follow.
I think the influence of writing in this genre includes a responsibility to ensure that the moral code is implicitly in place with characters that can question the code, giving children the opportunity to explore their own self doubt and insecurities.
The short answer to this is my love of story-telling. The long, boring answer is me telling you about my lonely childhood filled with books that sent me away to foreign places where I could be whatever I wanted and not have a care in the world.
Having the ability to share that same love of stories with others is something I cherish. Whether it’s writing for adults or children, creating a world of passion, suspense, or adventure where a reader can lose themselves for a few hours is my greatest wish. I can’t imagine a world without books and if I can contribute to that world, how lucky am I?
Thank you, Colleen, for inviting me to your blog and giving me an opportunity to chat with you.
Check out my review of “Space Dust,” HERE.
Blog: E. De Sousa, Author
Facebook Author Page: Eloise De Sousa’s Book Corner @eloisebookcorner
Twitter: Eloise De Sousa @mello_ello
Christmas is coming! It’s never too early to buy books for your children or grandchildren. ❤
Category: author interviewsTags: Author Interviews, children's author, Eloise De Sousa, Space Dust, story telling
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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.
What a lovely interview! Working with children
and writing for them is very satisfying 💜
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This book is so sweet. It would be lovely for your little ones. ❤️
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I have read it!!!
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Oh! Wasn’t it sweet? I really loved it. ❤
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It was indeed 🥰
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Another great interview, Colleen. Nice to meet you, Eloise.
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Thanks, Craig. Eloise also writes crime novels. Both have been great and filled with suspense and murder!
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I salute the writers who can teach children to see reasoning without being preachy. I love your interviews. Writing for children is most difficult, I think.
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I agree. It takes a special person to write children’s fiction. ❤
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I agree, writing for children is not always easy but it is so rewarding. Sharing that love of reading with the next generations is such a joy. A wondefful interview. Your books look and sound delightful, Eloise. All the best.
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Hi, Darlene. Thanks so much for stopping by. ❤
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Colleen, it’s always lovely spending time with you. Thank you for having me.
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Any time, my friend. I wish you all the best with your sweet book. Come back soon. ❤
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🌸💗🦋 thank you.
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So nice to see Eloise here and learn a little more about her writing. I admire children’s author’s ability to write in an easier form for them to understand and pick out the messages. ❤
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El also writes crime novels and mystery novels. She’s good at both. ❤️
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Yes, I do know that she’s a multi genre author. What a talent ❤
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I’ll say! Pretty cool! 🥰
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Absolutely! ❤
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Lovely to see Eloise over here with her new book, Colleen.
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I’ve been a fan of El’s books for about 5 years now. She writes amazing crime novels too. ❤️
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Such a joy to read, Eloise and Colleen! Thanks so much for sharing this with us. 🙂
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You’re so welcome, Natalie. ❤️
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Hello! It’s lovely to see Eloise on your blog, Colleen. I enjoyed the interview very much. Thank you! ❤ xo
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Thanks, Sis. Eloise’s children’s books are a joy to share. ❤️
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I enjoyed your interview with Eloise very much! I particularly appreciate her definition of literary success. A woman after my own heart!
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Eloise is the best! So glad you enjoyed her interview. ❤️
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