Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on January 2, 2020 by Colleen M. Chesebro
Life’s Rich Tapestry is a collection of verse, microfiction and short stories that explore many aspects of our human nature and the wonders of the natural world. Reflections on our earliest beginnings and what is yet to come, with characters as diverse as a French speaking elephant and a cyborg warrior.
Finding the right number of syllables for a Haiku, Tanka, Etheree or Cinquain focuses the mind; as does 99 word microfiction, bringing a different level of intensity to storytelling. You will find stories about the past, the present and the future told in 17 syllables to 2,000 words, all celebrating life.
This book is also recognition of the value to a writer, of being part of a generous and inspiring blogging community, where writing challenges encourage us to explore new styles and genres.
Sally Cronin ~ Amazon Author Page
“Life’s Rich Tapestry” is a brilliant collection of syllabic verses, flash fiction, and short stories inspired by various poetry and writing challenges from within the author’s writing community.
Each selection introduces the reader to characters richly woven from a pathos of life experience. Some stories championed the underdog revealing the human condition in such a way that left the reader cheering by the end. Other stories offered a feel-good ending which I found attractive.
There’s something here for everyone, from fairies to pets, the natural world, and those we never want to forget.
This collection also provided a selection of stories dedicated to animals. The Haiku called a “Walk Across a Bridge” touched me deeply. In seventeen syllables, this author penned a tribute that will resonate with all who’ve ever loved and lost a beloved pet.
And that is Cronin’s gift. She shares her life perspective through her writing, making clear how connected we really are to each other through thoughts and feelings.
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
I have been a storyteller most of my life (my mother called them fibs!). Poetry, song lyrics, and short stories were left behind when work and life intruded, but that all changed in 1996. My first book, Size Matters was a health and weight loss book based on my own experiences of losing 70 kilos. I have written another twelve books since then on health and also fiction, including four collections of short stories. My latest book is a collection of verses, micro fiction and speculative short stories titled Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words.
I am an indie author and proud to be one. My greatest pleasure comes from those readers who enjoy my take on health, characters and twisted endings… and of course come back for more.
As a writer, I know how important it is to have help in marketing books as important as my own promotion is, I believe it is important to support others. I offer a number of FREE promotional opportunities on my blog and linked to my social media. If you are an author who would like to be promoted to a new audience of dedicated readers, please contact me via my blog. All it will cost you is a few minutes of your time. Look forward to hearing from you.
BLOG: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com
TWITTER: @SGC58
FACEBOOK: Sally Cronin
If you have your book listed on BookBub, I will add my review there also! Click HERE to follow me! (Colleen M. Chesebro) Let me know in the comments if you follow me so I can follow you!
Category: Book ReviewsTags: #poetry, Book Compilations, Book Reviews, flash fiction, Micro Fiction, Sally Cronin, short stories, Syllabic Verse
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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?
Disclaimer: My book review posts contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I earn a small commission to fund my reading habit if you use the links on my book reviews to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me supplied in books that I can review. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Thank you.
This website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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.
A beautiful review 😀
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I love the review and Sally and Colleen I love the title, “Life’s Rich Tapestry, ” was a favourite saying of my dad’s. 💜
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💜
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Thank you Willow.. I love the review too… and a saying in our family as well.. Happy New Year.. hugsxx
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Thank you Sally and happy new year to you too💜
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How lovely, Willow. Sally and your dad captured the reality of life with that saying! ❤️
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It’s a saying I have always loved 💜
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Thanks Ritu.. I am so chuffed… hugsxx
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Thanks, Sis. I love the way Sally’s stories always touch your heart. ❤️
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They always di 🥰
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What a wonderful review. It sounds like a lovely collection and a must read.
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Thank you Brenda Marie.. it is a lovely review and delighted as always by Colleen’s support..
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This book will definitely touch your heart, Brenda. I love that kind of connection! 😍
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Great review:) This is on my 2020 reading list!
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Denise, this such a great read. I know you’ll enjoy. ❤️
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Thank you Denise and I hope you enjoy when you have time to read. – Happy New Year.
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This book sounds wonderful and your review was excellent, Colleen.
I always love stories about animals and the poem you mentioned sounds like I would love it,
Her book sounds like one most people would enjoy, something for everyone, as you mentioned.
Thank you for sharing about this book from Sally Cronin,
I so enjoy learning of authors I have not known of before and I am quite sure I will be purchasing this book.
Also, so nice to read about Sally.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
May 2020 bring you and yours all good things ❤
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A lovely review of Sally’s new book, Colleen. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Robbie and of course I am thrilled… xxx
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Thanks, Robbie. I love Sally’s books. ❤️
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This book sounds wonderful and your review is excellent, Colleen.
I always enjoy learning about authors I have not known of before,
I think this is a book I would very much enjoy and quite sure I will be purchasing it.
My best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful New Year,
May all good things come to you in 2020. ❤
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Golly Gee, I see I have 2 comments here! I thought the first did not take, ,hence this one. Oh well, the more the merrier, so they say! 🙂
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No worries, Margie. ❤️
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Thank you Margie and Colleen does write wonderful reviews and always honoured to receive one… Happy New Year.
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Thanks so much, Margie. This is the feel-good book of the year! ❤️
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Another wonderful book penned by the amazing Sally Cronin. A great review!
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Thank you very much Darlene..hugsxx
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Thanks, Darlene. Sally’s books always touch my heart. 😍
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A great review, Colleen, of another work by multitalented Sally Cronin. ♥
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Thanks very much Olga..hugsx
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I love her writing. Always positive and uplifting. 😍
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Colleen this is a wonderful start to the year, thank you so much for such a lovely review and so pleased you singled out that particular haiku… thank you too for the motivation throughout the year to write more verse and experiment to find our voices…♥♥
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Sally, I saved your book to read over New Year’s because your prose and poetry are always positive and uplifting! What a way to start the new year! 📝😍
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♥♥
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That is lovely Colleen, thank you..♥
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Excellent! I read it recently too. I’ll be sharing next week. What a wonderful start to 2020!
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Thanks, Jay. What a marvelous read. It’s the feel good book of the year! 😍
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Thanks James I am one lucky person and an embarrassment of riches… Happy New Year.
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Wonderful review. Happy to share this one around.
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A delightful book, Craig. Sally has a knack for bringing out the best in her characters. This was a joy to read. ❤
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Thank you very much Craig. Happy New Year.
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I can’t wait to read this one- fabulous review!
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Thanks… and Jacqui, you’re going to love this collection. ❤️
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A lovely review… and I hope you enjoy Jacquie..hugsx
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A wonderful review Colleen! What a lovely new year gift! Congratulations Sally.
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Thanks, Balroop. This was such a lovely read. ❤️
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Thank you Balroop, a lovely start to the year.. over the moon.. ♥
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Bravo for Sal, Sis. I totally concur with your review! ❤
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Thanks. It’s a great start to the new year to read something that is uplifting and fills your heart with joy. ❤
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That’s for sure!!!!!!!!!! ❤
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Thank you Debby and for all your support through the process…♥
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Yay Sal! ❤ xx
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I’m in the mood for uplifting must get to Sally’s book soon. 😦
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Great idea Marje! 🙂 x
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If you purchase from my site you will help me to qualify as an Amazon Associate. ❤
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Ok will bear that in mind. 🙂
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Thanks. ❤
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I didn’t realize that the book included responses to writing prompts. I am definitely intrigued! I just followed you on BookBub, Colleen.
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Thanks, Liz. Yes. That was the idea. Participate in different challenges and save your work to compile into a writing collection. I often use my flash fiction (99 words) for inspiration by making them into longer short stories. My poetry challenge is perfect for this. Sally included many new poems she wrote too. ❤️
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Great idea!
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Definitely something I will keep in mind!
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Thanks Liz… I love the weekly challenges… looking forward to more in 2020.. xxx
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I look forward to reading the results!
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The cover of Sally’s book caught my eye, so of course I had to check it out and add it to my TBR. A wonderful review, Colleen! Love and hugs.
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Happy New Year, Michelle. Sally’s book will make your new year perfect! ❤️
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Thank you Michelle.. I am thrilled with Colleen’s review and delighted it tempted you.. I hope you enjoy.. hugsx
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I’m looking forward to reading it, Sally. xxx
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Thanks Michelle..hugsx
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A wonderful review, Colleen. I thoroughly enjoyed Sally’s book too and it was great to revisit some of the poems and fiction from writerly prompts. Thanks for sharing!
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I so agree. Many of my flash fiction pieces grow into something bigger. The inspiration from the challenges are perfect! ❤
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🙂
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Thank you Diana… I loved your prompts and that elephant was such a joy to write about….♥
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Sally’s beautiful book, Colleen!
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Thanks Jan, Colleen’s reviews are always so insightful and welcome. hugs
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Thanks for reading, Jan. She’s a talented author. ❤️
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Thanks for giving your lovely review a boost Colleen ♥
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WP is pulling the posts and a few more of these might show up. ❤
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I am certainly not complaining Colleen the book needed a boost, and a lovely reminder of your review..xx♥
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Awww, thank’s Sally. So good to know. ❤
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