"They Won't Shut Up" by Cindy J. Smith -review & interview

Title: They Won't Shut Up

Author: Cindy J. Smith

Genre: Poetry

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cindy J. Smith to chat with her about her new release today. It's her second collection of poetry titled "They Won't Shut Up."

Hey there, Cindy! Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.  

I am married and my husband and I drive a semi over-the-road.  Currently, I am promoting the release of my second book of poetry, They Won't Shut Up, which is being published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing on July 13.

What does your writing space look like?  

My job keeps me away from home, so my writing space is my lap, lol.  I use a voice recorder to write my poems then type them on my laptop.  

What do you do when you’re not writing?  

If I am not writing or working, I love to read and listen to music.  I used to garden and bake but my job makes that almost impossible.

Has reading a book ever changed your life? Which one was it and why, if yes?  

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.  I started to really see what the government was doing.  It is so scary to realize that, even with the proof of history, we are still repeating the same mistakes.

Which poem from "They Won't Shut Up" is the most important to you, and why?  

The most important to me is the set of poems titled Cosmic Conversation.  It is written as a message from my daughter telling me to move on and my answer to her explaining my tears.  I wrote it at a time I was really having trouble handling the grief.

What do you do to stay sane as a writer?  

Stay sane?  Is that a requirement?  Actually, I use my poems to keep me sane.  If something is getting to me, I write it out so that I can look at it from a different perspective.

Where can readers find you online?

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CindysVoices

Barnes and Noble:  http://tinyurl.com/cu4q7c8

Amazon Author Page:  http://tinyurl.com/clybzs8

Amazon Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/cv6mcwg

Amazon Kindle:  http://tinyurl.com/cjt3ka6

AmazonUK  paperback:  http://tinyurl.com/clbxnbl

AmazonUK kindle:  http://tinyurl.com/ccnn3bf

Goodreads:  http://tinyurl.com/cc65z86

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/cindysvoices

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/cindyjsmith1

Here's my review of the collection:

**** 4 Stars

I'll start off by saying I'm not a huge lover of poetry. I feel like a lot of folks just take whatever comes to their minds, throw it into stanzas, and call it poetry. That's not the case with Cindy Smith's second collection "They Won't Shut Up"! This book covers a lot of very real topics, ranging from everyday occurrences to playboys, dream lovers, children, and the Westboro Baptist Church. 

I have to say that my favorite poem in the collection is "Evil & Twin." It speaks of an optimist who only sees the good in the world, and the polar opposite: someone who sees the reality of the damage mankind does to the planet and themselves. 

My only complaint with the collection is that I wish she had a bit more free verse, or something that broke her usual pattern of four line stanzas. But poetry is unique to each author. I can honestly say there's probably at least one poem in here that will speak to every person, in some way.

Darq Deviant Press

After much debate and planning, I've decided to start up my own indie publishing house. The name of it is Darq Deviant Press, and we're seeking submissions for our launch anthology! Here are the details, and you can follow us on facebook or just check everything out on the website! Come and see how we're going to shake the foundations of independent publishing.


"Bitter Blackout" Anthology: compiled and edited by R.A. Sears

Despair. Desolation. Haunting echoes through a midnight forest glen on a moonless night. A glimpse of an impossible beauty disappearing into the snow.

Mix and combine any of the main genres we accept (paranormal, urban fantasy, science fiction, horror), as well as adding splashes of others if that strikes your fancy.

~No limit to gore and language, if erotica: please mention so in your description blurb.
~Word count: 3k-10k for stories, poetry is at our discretion (mainly 1-2 pages).
~Please be sure to self edit/have someone beta read your piece before submission. Also, follow our formatting guidelines to expedite the publishing process. No previously published works will be considered.
~Each individual may submit 2 stories and/or 3 poems to be considered. More submissions do not guarantee inclusion in the anthology.
~As most anthologies are for exposure purposes for new authors, there will be no royalties paid for submissions to this anthology, as a contract will state if your piece is chosen.
~Send your submissions as a .doc or .docx attachment (send multiple submissions as individual attachments)with the subject "Bitter Blackout Submission" along with your name and the title of the piece(s). In the body of the email, please include the biography information requested in our guidelines.
DEADLINE: November 30th, 2012 for December 20th, 2012 publication. Pre-holiday, this will be eBook only, but we may do a print run of it post holiday if demand is high enough.

Email submissions to: rasears@darqdeviantpress.com

Inspiration! - Oscar Wilde

While starting to pack up all my books, since the hubby and I are moving in a week, I came across a collection of small poetry books by classic authors. I flipped through a few and a poem by Oscar Wilde kinda jumped up and grabbed my attention. So I'm copying it here for easier location later, since it sparked some ideas in my brain already.

Chanson
A ring of gold and a milk-white dove
Are goodly gifts for thee,
And a hempen rope for your own love
To hang upon a tree.

For you a House of Ivory
(Roses are white in the rose-bower)!
A narrow bed for me to lie
(White, O white, is the hemlock flower)!

Myrtle and jessamine for you
(O the red rose is fair to see)!
For me the cypress and the rue
(Fairest of all is rose-mary)!

For you three lovers of your hand
(Green grass where a man lies dead)!
For me three paces on the sand
(Plant lillies at my head)!

"Chanson" by Oscar Wilde

SO many places I could go with this. Definitely digging it. <3