Author: Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld is the founder/manager of Prolific Pulse Press LLC and a widely published poet and writer. She is an editor of numerous anthologies and for Fine Lines Journal. She is Poet Laureate Emeritus of Garden of Neuro Institute and is an organizer for Living Poetry in North Carolina. ProlificPulse.blog ProlificPulse.com
Happy Holidays!
This has been a fantastic year! We could not do have these wonderful experiences without your support!
Thank you so much!
How do you celebrate the holiday season?
What are three things you like the most about the holidays?
What are your favorite winter movies?
Happy Holidays however you celebrate!
Prolific Pulse Press LLC
Ten Things of Thankful-December 6, 2024
Happy TTOT!! WooWee!! Am I glad to be back at it this week! Let’s see what’s happening here!
- Sweetie and I have had that creepy crud going around and around. It’s finally doing the Dosey-do and leaving the house! WOOHOO!!
2. Getting caught up at work! I made a big list and checked it twice… It’s whittled down to manageable. and WHEW!!
3. Holiday Shopping is easier with the web, for us, anyway. When you want to get the list down quickly and it’s not a good idea to go out around people, we are grateful for surfing abilities. We don’t have a big list and it’s pretty much done.
4. Thanksgiving was accomplished without any hitches. It was the three of us and nice and quiet. Again, happy for ordering and pickup at Aldi’s. All we had to do was park, open the trunk, and they plopped everything, including the turkey (wow, they picked out a lovely one), into the trunk.
5. Egg drop soup. It seems to have magical benefits, and we live right across from a restaurant that carries it.
6. Heat! Glad we have it and my heated lap blanket.
7. Watching my extended family follow their dreams. They aren’t small children anymore. In fact, they have their own children and even grown ones. I love hearing about their growth experiences.
8. Daughter is keeping busy with her job and church activities, getting ready for the Christmas party at her church. They are collecting clothing for the folks in Western Carolina, affected by Helene.
9. Grateful to see community food pantries are popping up in Raleigh. I see the pictures of the donations and how they disappear pretty quickly. Isn’t this awesome that there is this option? No judgments and no means testing. Just take what you need and leave what you don’t need.
10. You! What’s happening over yonder?
Congratulations to Zaneta Varnado Johns!
Check out the new addition to Encore! Zaneta Varnado Johns entered her latest poetry collection, “Encore” in the American Writing Awards and received the Finalist Badge!
Finalist: 2024 American Writing Awards
Internationally recognized poet and author Zaneta Varnado Johns is back, fueled by passion, purpose, and steady acclaim. She is spiritually grounded, filled with love, appreciation and awe. In response to the loud applause garnered by her two previous poetry collections, Johns presents Encore: A Collection of Poetry. Featuring ninety-nine select poems, Encore is a gift from the author’s heart. In the book’s Dedication, Johns states, “For every relative, friend, poet, and organizational leader who pushed, prodded, nudged, and encouraged me: this one’s for you. I titled this book to acknowledge your applause. I heard it. I loved it. I responded. This is your encore-from my heart to yours.” Some poems, previously featured globally in anthologies, make an encore appearance in this collection.
Take your seat and prepare to be enchanted by Encore’s stellar performance. Encore begins with romantic musings and essences sparked by the poet’s life and thoughtful interpretations of the lives of others. Poetic threads are woven through lyrics inspired by favored locales. From Hawaii to Boston’s Cape Cod, Colorado to Greece, Johns writes as she marvels at her surroundings and experiences. Her compassion for people is beautifully expressed either as poetic observations or unique tributes found in the chapter titled, “In Awe.” The heartwarming “Joy in Her Swing” celebrates the resilience of five-year-old Azaria whose mother and grandmother passed away within three years of each other, entrusting her care to her grandmother’s devoted selfless childhood friend. Johns’ prose poem, “She Speaks for Me,” is a masterpiece showcasing renowned African and African American women poets who persuade her writing.
Johns has a lot to say about the human condition. Some poems are concise while others are grouped in the chapters titled “Rants and Spiels” or “Keynotes.” She passionately addresses hunger, gun violence, women’s empowerment, and prejudice, among other contemporary issues. Anyone with a heart will be stirred by “Hunger, a Global Tragedy” and “It Has to Stop,” two poignant poems illuminating the realities of hunger and the poet’s gut-wrenching reaction to yet another senseless school shooting. Johns is a personal figure in “Not Eclipsed” and “Life as a Breeze,” expressions concerning skin color and prejudice.
Johns imparts the spirit of Hawaii’s aloha in Encore’s message. “My Walk Along the Ocean” and “Blessed Life” are examples of poems reflecting tranquil moments of immense gratitude. Encore’s expressions are accompanied by complementary images and quotes-the poet’s signature accent found in her two previous collections. With Encore, Zaneta Varnado Johns leaves an indelible mark with every word and artistic rendering.
Congratulations to Zan!
You can check it out on ProlificPulse.com It’s front-page news!!
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