In Which I Lie, Twice

Please, visit Crystal Collier's blog.

On it, I play "Two Truths and a Lie." 

See how well you know me.

By making a guess, you enter for a chance to win a signed copy of my book.

Good luck! 

Enter to win. 

Moments to Relive and Winners

Thank you again to everyone who agreed to host me on their blogs for my tour for Time & Circumstance. I’m overwhelmed with how much support you’ve given me. I already knew it was going to be a tough time for the tour because of Applied Behavioral Analysis class. It wound up being an even more difficult time for a tour because of the death of a dear family friend, and so I didn’t get the word out about the tour as much as I’d planned. I’m sorry, hosts.

The good news is I just finished the class, and so I’m finally getting around to choosing winners. I put every commenters’ name in Random Name Picker (Winners are listed at the bottom of the post.)

I also want to thank the commenters, especially those who answered my question: “If you could relive any moment in time, what would it be?”

Here are some fantastic answers:

Seeing Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address.

Oh...question...Relive a moment in time...too many to mention, but flying into Paris for the first time I'd like to repeat that. Unfortunately, like all such moments, we only get to do them once.

That's a tough one, if I could relive one moment I think I would choose my first visit to Paris. It went by too fast T_T

As for a moment I would want to relive- maybe my release day for my book. It went by in a magical blur and reliving it would help me try to prolong the excitement. :) 

What moment would I relive? So hard. Probably the last outing we had before my dad passed away. My kids were little and he found such joy in going on rides with them at the local fairground. Lots of fun.

As for a moment I would like to relive- I am not sure. So many wonderful moments. Maybe reading Harry Potter for the first time. I love rereading it, but it would be amazing to read it with the same surprise and awe I had that very first time.

My moment in time would be Woodstock. I’d love to know what it felt like to be enmeshed in so much energy.

If I could relive a day, I'd pick my wedding or the day we adopted my daughter. The first moment I held her was priceless.

I’d save events from my life as a young wife, my daughter as she grew up, and my grandson who is growing up way too fast. I’d take about every four to six months, keep those times in an appropriate container so I could shake them out and relive those moments. 

Best moment -- wishing on a shooting star with my kiddos when they were wee folk. I think they'll always believe in magic because of that night. 

Last year, in the weeks before my mother died, I had the privilege of spending many moments with her, sometimes in complete silence. I used to sleep so well in the same room as my mother. Don't we all? Sometimes, in the quiet moments of my hectic life I relive that time. You never get it back again.

What's your favorite response here? 

Please share your own favorite moment to relive.

And now …

The WINNERS!

Grand Prize Winner: ($25 Amazon Gift Card) Patsy

Signed Book: Nick Wilford

Ebook: Natalie Aguirre

Congratulations! xo

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March Madness

My book comes on 3/21, and so blog tour begins today. YaY! I’ve written a variety of posts--from how music influenced me to how the collection came about to the challenge of writing in our new political reality.

Dates and links are listed below. Please visit. If you comment on them, you’re automatically entered to win 1 of 3 prizes.

And if you scroll to the bottom of this post, I’ve written a poem. It’s my birthday near the end of this month, so I figured it would be fun to write something that is also in theme with my book, Time & Circumstance.

  

3/13    Nas Dean

3/14    Annalisa Crawford 

3/15    Wendy McDonald 

3/16    Judy Mintz 
3/17    Kid Lit Universe 
3/18    Iris Blobel 
3/19    Sharon Mayhew
3/20    Jemi Fraser 
3/21    Denise Covey 
3/22    Marcy Hatch
3/23    Janet Buttenweiser 
3/24    Jessica Haight  
3/27    Alex Cavanaugh
03/28  Unicorn Bell
3/29  My Memories of a Future Life 

Thank you to everyone who has hosted me! xo

Middle Age March Madness

My regrets shadow me—

long in dusk.

And like a bewildered toddler,

try as I might,

I can’t outrun the damned thing.

Is this middle age madness

looking back?

If a groundhog sees his shadow,

we’re all screwed.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Why didn’t I get grandma’s recipe

for brown bread

and those creamed turnips too?

Better yet,

let’s dish about the speakeasy.

Then all my dumb fear decisions.

Pathetic.

Landed, stranded, instead of airborne.

Practical.

Confidence wasn’t on sale, I guess.

Why didn’t we do this or that

way back when?

Would it have killed me to try?

Seemed so then.

Whatever … it all worked out, I guess.

Book Promotion: 5 Pieces of Advice

Vine Leaves set me up with an hour session with a marketing consultant. On a recent snow day we Skyped for an hour. Even though with work, a grad class, etc, I don't feel like I have a second to spare, I have to make many seconds to spare. My book is coming out in 6 weeks.
So far, I've taken five pieces of advice.

First piece of advice:  Consistency between social media platforms is key. I updated my blog to look more like my Twitter, and Facebook profiles and my website. I've got tree branches, more consistent color, and style. What do you think?

Second piece of advice: Plan a blog tour with prizes, contests, and hashtags. I put up a note on Facebook, and a few people kindly volunteered their blogs. Now I've actually got to write some posts!

If you would also like to be a part of my blog tour, I'd love to have you. :)  I can write a post, you can interview me, or other ideas that work for you.

Dates available:

3/21 (taken), 3/22 (taken), 3/23 (taken), 3/24 (taken), 3/25, 3/27 (taken), 3/28 (taken)

Please comment if you're interested.

Third piece of advice: It's important to minimize the number of clicks people have to make to find your book. Rather than just linking to Vine Leaves Press, I'm providing individual links.

TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE ebooks are now available for preorder!

$3.99 AUD (eBook)
Kindle AUS
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle CA
iBooks | Kobo | Nook

If you want to preorder a paperback copy, that's available too.

$12.99 AUD (paperback)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
​Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo

Fourth piece of advice: It's also important to set up local events. I'm trying to connect with the local poetry community like I'm part of the kid lit community. The other day, I attended a poetry book reading. Sure, I hardly talked to anyone, and I left early. But I met a couple of nice poets, bought one of their books, found out from a bookstore how to order books for events, and took a few pictures that I shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Fifth piece of advice: Build relationships online, which I think I already have pretty much covered. I've been blogging since 2009 and attending writing-related events even before then. I've appreciated getting to know you over the years. Thank you for your support.

xo,

Theresa

Promotion and Pre-Orders

I finally held an advance copy of TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE.

It became real and surreal. 

Suddenly, Vine Leaves Press is promoting my book. 

With two months left, 

I’m feeling the push 

to promote my book. 

Promote myself. 

Yesterday, I visited a local poetry group. 

In two weeks, I’ll do my first poetry reading.

I teach, I have read excerpts of my kid lit aloud. 

I don’t know why this is SO HARD.

Maybe it’s because some parts are autobiographical.

My blog’s been up since 2009. 

I’ve already shared a lot about my life.

I ask myself, Why is this different?

Finally, I’ve gotten to the bottom of things.

Even though I’ve critiqued poetry, 

and even determined what poetry is fit for a journal,

Now a publisher is taking a chance on

JUST ME.

People I don’t know will review my book.

Now that the book is available for PRE-ORDER ,

I’d better get used to it.

Because I actually became a top seller for a time.

People are actually buying my book.

If you do too, I hope you enjoy it.

I wrote it from my heart.

xo,

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Theresa

I'm in some good company.

Did You?

Did You?

Did you notice Me

entering the car

trying to find a place to

rest my weary bones?

Looking back, can you

approximate just

how many people I

passed in search of a seat?

In the seconds that ticked

between My demands and

your action, did you assess

My age and wonder more?

Was My crankiness a sign I 

might suffer from something--

could I have a cancer,

heart disease, dementia?

Did you wonder if I had a

family hoping strangers

looked out for Me like you’d

want for your elderly beloveds?

In the minutes that could’ve

passed with introspection,

you snapped my picture

without My permission.

You posted it on social media

Because I didn’t say PLEASE.

- Theresa Milstein

In/Divisible

After the election, I haven't been able to write much. 
But poetry found me again yesterday morning.

This poem is those who feel like the other right now,
especially for those at Standing Rock.

I wish you a hopeful Thanksgiving. xo 

In/Divisible

In the time of

Then,

We used to share

The

Whole

Truth

So help us God, except

Now we have pie

In

the face for our

Un

I

Ted

States of Misunderstood.

With a jolt of

Shock

A Yes vote for

In

Jus

Tice.

They burned the witch.

In the time of

Now,

Closed groups gather.

Lib

Er

Ty

Unwise, Unsound, Undone.

Theresa Milstein

Untitled

Good morning.

Bad things happened in the world

While you were sleeping

As usual,

But this time it hit closer to home

I’m left here

Feeling hopeless, powerless

Because I can’t protect you

Never could

But now the big, bad world looms

Bares sharp teeth

And extends its razor claws

Videos, memes, likes, and shares

Not a match

Against ignorance and hate

Reason’s snuffed

By blasts of bullets and bombs

Sound bites, headlines, and rants

Let’s snuggle

A little longer before we face this day

- Theresa Milstein

Wonder Woman?

Wonder Woman?

I think I’m making progress

But more likely I’m in regress

I digress

Unsure of what I’m working toward

I keep moving onward, forward

Or backward

This success for which I’m striving

There’s more thrashing than there's thriving

I’m depriving

This fear I’m spinning round and round

An affirmation won’t be found

It’s aground

Each passing year, I’ve become bolder

Time has made the trail much colder

I’m older

Who said I had to be the hero

Time to go on with the ebb & flow

Let it go

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2016/01/mag-303.html

My Inbox

My Inbox

We’re past the time of

Return receipt requested

From slush pile to inbox

Right to spam.

I’ve initially been reviewed

While my submission’s been received

I should expect to hear back or

Not at all.

If they’re interested,

They’ll let me know

In other words, don’t call us,

We’ll call you.

Phone interview screenings

Lead to real in person views

Let’s play 20 Questions before

Mock lessons.

Like what we’ve read, so

We’re requesting pages

A partial, a full, a

Rejection.

The position’s been filled

Form rejection’s been sent,

Expiration date’s passed 

Like bad milk.

Crafted resume, cover,

Query, synopsis, pages

It’s all the same in the end

No, thank you.

I collect interview requests

Like business cards,

Third time’s the charm

Job offer.

As they like to say,

it just takes on yes 

Maybe’s an agent’s next...

One more try.

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/09/mag-287.html

Haikus and Summer Notes

morning chill, midday

swelter, wind-swept dusk, crisp night

stars succumb to rain 

morning after road

puddles scar, a reminder

on this journey sought

white. barren. ink sketch.

bursts of lemon drop color
on lush green canvas.

sunset walk with dog

his nose never leaves the ground

I gaze at hushed sky

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/09/mag-284.html

Summer Notes: 

My summer poems are not available on this blog because I'm entering a local poetry contest.

 Vine Leaves Literary Journal , where I'm a poetry editor, now comes in a print edition and will be published twice a year. 

I received a job offer in July, and I just started my job working as a special education teacher. I'll post when I can. 

Happy Labor Day!

Time...

Time…

There’s all those cliché songs about time:

Time like a clock, precious

Time after time

Time keeps on ticking…

And at first it seems impossibly far

And you fear you’ll never catch up

And then you want to hold onto that time

But before long it slips away.

Then those “well meaning” busybodies

you want to throttle when they

tell you to appreciate time

because it goes too fast…

They’re just twittering

because they can’t wait

until you join them on the other side

where the sand’s settling on the

Bottom of the hourglass.

But you can laugh

Bitterly a little bit longer

Because your time isn’t up yet…

tick, tick, tick, tick….

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/07/mag-279.html

not exactly wonderland

not exactly wonderland

second apartment, a

rocky, rebound relationship—

left the beat of the city

to the middle-of-nowhere-special.

our eat-me sized furniture

loomed over drink-me sized spaces.

narrow strip of carpeted

kitchen invited takeout delivery.

shackled to the second

bedroom—my  office prison

for scholarly pursuits—

with ample room for self-doubt.

three children and a baby

below served as regular alarm clock.

yard bug zapper droned

throughout suburban summer nights.

the only reprieves from

steady silence of study and stress.

long island isolation—

living three disparate identities.

with husband often working,

the drink-me sized second-floor apartment

seemed super-size-me large

that first, endless year of grad school.

at least there was cable.  

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/02/mag-258.html