Poetry That Delves Into the Heart – Words of Alchemy Review

May 8 2020

A heart warming gift received this afternoon. Thank you, Marje of Kyrosmagica Publishing!!

“What a joy it is to read this gem of a poetry book. Full of beautiful free-verse, a memoir about friends, family, relationships and the love of the nature. This is for you if you enjoy the natural world, (as I do,) if you appreciate poetry that delves into the heart and doesn’t hold back. In many ways it is an intimate and brave expression of the author – Camilla Downs’s – thoughts and feelings.

I highly recommend.

5 stars.” … Go here to read the full review …

Book Review: Words of Alchemy by Camilla Downs #FreeVerse #Poetry #Nature #Family #Relationships #Love

Found Poetry Hidden Within Mailed Books

April 14 2020

It was a great day to mail books! Thank goodness for these drive through postal drops. And …. thank you to those who are buying books and sharing about books.

May 6 2020

Creating more Found Poetry to hide within Words of Alchemy. Preparing to mail a book to a lovely winner in Massachusetts. Some of these still need a word or two trimmed. Found within books that were destined for the trash.

May 9 2020

Ready to be hidden within outgoing books.

Words of Alchemy – A Celebration of Family and Adaption

April 22 2020:

“Words of Alchemy is warm and personal, like being invited to sit on the author’s couch and listen to her talk to family and friends. Intimate and loving, these poems are a celebration of family, of friends, of life, of nature, and of adaptation.”  – Amazon Customer

Inspiration for Words of Alchemy – An Interview with Kyrosmagica Publishing

April 12 2020

What a beautiful Easter gift to receive this morning! How did the title come about and how did it come to be that Thomas and Lillian are published authors too? Thank you Marje of Kyrosmagica Publishing for this incredibly thoughtful interview. xoxo

  • Where are you from and in which area of the world do you live now?

I have lived in Reno, Nevada, USA for the past 14 years, moving here from the Seattle, Washington area in 2006. I spent my first 18 years in Jackson, Mississippi and Houma, Louisiana.

  • Tell me about the inspiration/s for your new book “Words of Alchemy.”

About six years ago, I visited Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe, California. The beauty was quite overwhelming, bringing me to tears. As I drove home, I made several stops along Lake Tahoe, sitting to take it all in. While doing this, poetic words bubbled to the surface of my consciousness. This was the beginning of a six year journey of being inspired by nature with poetic words, then later, inspired by life events.

Here’s that first poem and a few photos from Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe.

Earth Dance

As the sun’s rays dance upon you like stars twinkling in the night sky, so ……  Follow the link below to read further … 

 

Author Interview: Camilla Downs #Poet #Writer #WordsofAlchemy #Nature #Inspirational #Family

How I Describe My Writing Style – Camilla Interviewed by Clare Rhoden

April 6 2020

What 5 words best describe my writing style and what’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done? Thank you to Clare for this thoughtful interview on her book blog …

Delightful! Do you write for yourself or for a particular audience?

To date, I have always written for myself. Writing is how I process and experience life. The feedback received when sharing what I write is what encouraged me to pursue publishing the content.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Making the decision fourteen years ago to leave my marriage, becoming a single parent to two children; 1 year old and 5 years old at the time. I had no idea how … Follow the link below to read further …”

Camilla Downs, soul writer, on giving and receiving

Eight Years in the Making Along with Creating Mini Poems

February 22 2020

8 years in the making …. Team TLC – Thomas, Lillian, Camilla … 3 family members …. 4 published books …. There are more to come. However, I need to take this year to press the reset button, for my physical health and for the emotional health of Thomas and Lillian. We’ve drifted from the Team in our Team TLC; which I know will happen as they get older. Yet, I’ve let vital areas slip by the wayside over the past 4 or 5 years, especially this last year.

One major struggle is about to end for us. Once that gift is showered upon us, the rebuilding of Team TLC begins. Of course it will look and feel different than when Thomas and Lillian were younger, and that’s the beauty of it, tempered with the longing of the way it used to be.

I get the feeling the next book will be authored by all three of us. We shall see. I never really know until I become focused on the book’s creation. xoxo

There were days
She could see no reason to continue

There were days
Shrouded in darkness and despair

There were days
Bubbling with joy and love

There were days
She knew the reason to continue

These were the days
The 18,250 days of riding the wheels of her life.

April 10 2020:

Creating more mini poems and messages to hide in Words of Alchemy. Tedious Yet, there’s nothing like the feeling when phrases come together for a perfect fit. 🖤

An Interview with Clare Rhoden – Why Writing is Important to Me

March 30 2020

Why is writing important to me and what five words best describe my writing style? That and more in this great interview with fellow author, Clare Rhoden. I’m grateful to Clare for putting together such thoughtful questions ….

Welcome, Camilla, and thanks for speaking with me on Last Word of the Week. Why is writing important to you?

Writing has been a sanity saving bridge, in processing life experiences, in being a single parent, in being a parent to a special needs child, in making decisions. Writing has been my way of sharing what I’m experiencing, getting it out of my head, being comforted, assured, cheered on, and, at times, receiving direction.

It’s definitely a two-way street. What’s the best response you’ve ever had to your writing?

The best response is a compilation of the responses in which others share how my writings have inspired or helped them in some way. There’s nothing better than receiving a message or review that lets me know that my writing was useful to someone.

What five words would best describe your style?

Wild, unfiltered, from the heart.

Delightful! Do you write for yourself or for a particular audience?

To date, I have always written for myself. Writing is how I process and experience life. The feedback received when sharing what I write is what encouraged me to pursue publishing the content ….. Follow the link below to read further …

Camilla Downs, soul writer, on giving and receiving

 

Authors Unite – Enter to Win a Book A Day for 30 Days

Would you like the chance to win a book a day for 30 days? Here it is!

(In the spirit of COVID-19 solidarity, we are not asking you to follow us on social media, sign up for a newsletter or share the contest details with friends in order to enter this contest.)

My latest book, Words of Alchemy, will be given away on May 2, 2020. If you’d like to enter to win, visit this link … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/words-of-alchemy/

To see the full list of books, with descriptions, and to enter to win, go here … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/

30 Days of Free Books — A COVID-19 Book Giveaway Contest: Authors unite to offer literary escape to housebound readers.

Twenty-three authors, many of them award winners and best sellers, have banded together to offer “30 Days of Free Books” — a month of giveaways to provide some free books to housebound readers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, children’s books or Young Adult or Adult, memoir or historical fiction or mystery, print or ebook format, you’ll find something you like on this list.

COVID-19 Note: Many writers are offering the winners of their books a choice of print book or ebook. We encourage winners of print books to check the latest expert guidance on how long the virus lives on cardboard and paper before opening their package.

HOW TO ENTER: Click on the name of a book (here … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/) for more details including a book description, book format (paperback or ebook) and the contest entry form. Enter for as many books as you like. On the date noted, a winner will be chosen to receive that day’s book. Winners will be notified by email. Open to U.S. residents only.

Happy reading, and stay safe.

Oh Where, Oh Where Did the Proof Book Go and Hidden Messages While Singing M I Crooked Letter

January 21 2020

There once was a proof book titled, Words of Alchemy. It had its photo taken, it traveled in the author’s bag here and there, proudly shown to all who had been following the journey of the book’s creation.

One day, the author copies of the book arrived. The proof book was pushed to the side in the author’s joy to get the books signed and mailed. Now the proof book cannot be found.

The author has looked everywhere. It very well could be buried underneath something as the author is unpacking from a move. However, she may have mailed the proof book to someone by accident! 😳 Please let her know if you received the proof book so she can get you a proper copy. She’s such a goofball sometimes! 😂🙃

January 26 2020

Received another shipment of books on Thursday and headed to the post office to mail more. Let me know if you’d like one coming your way. Each is personalized with a note to the reader along with a creative message hidden within the book. xoxo

January 30 2020

Headed to the post office tomorrow to mail a book to M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, humpback, humpback, I …. Always feel like a kid when I do that, as it’s said in a sing song way! HA! xoxo

Words of Alchemy – Kindle Version with Chromosome 18 Registry Information Page

October 27 2019:

Just emailed the proofed manuscript back to the book designer. A few grammar errors, along with a few apostrophes removed or added, with a dash or two removed or added. Now, circling back around to the back cover; which I think is in its final state so that the cover can be loaded to Amazon. I like to include a page at the end of our books with information about The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society. Nearly there!!

October 29 2019:

Back cover is finished! Just need to decide on which photo of me to use. Would you mind helping? I’ve not had professional photos taken since 2012, so will be using what I’ve got!

I’m attaching the back cover with the photo that Kate used as a place holder (yet, I like the one she chose) along with other photos to choose from .. Comment with “yes” or simply “like” the photo to let me know your choice. Thanks for your input! Deeply appreciate it! 💜💜💜