What’s Coming Up? I am having a book give away!
My book birthday for my poetry chapbook, Life’s Inspiration and Reflection in a Few Words, is this Saturday May 6th! Do you have a copy? Would you leave a review on Amazon for it in exchange for a chance to win a $20.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Card?
Just write your review on my Amazon page, https://www.amazon.com/Lifes…/dp/B09ZR1P9K3/ref=sr_1_1… and then either respond to this post or PM me that you participated and what name you left as a reviewer. The person that already left a review is automatically entered to win the gift card.
I will pick a randomly generated winner on May 21st. One winner will receive a $20.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Card (the winner agrees to provide their mailing address).
There’s plenty of time to get the book and respond if you don’t already have a copy! Thanks! I hope to have some participation! Good Luck!
Book Sales:
Speaking of my book, I made two sales in April! Cool! Thank you to those who continue to buy it!
Poetry Readings
I also read from my chapbook, Life’s Inspiration and Reflection in a Few Words, early in April at a public library reading in La Crosse County. Four poets read their own works for ten minutes each. We were all members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. It was a good experience for me.
Medium Site Update
April continued to be a good month for me on Medium.com. It was not as good as March when I had an article boosted and made over $30.00 on the site for the month. But, I still had some gratifying experiences.
- I got my first tip ever! Someone read one of my articles at gave me a $5.00 tip on Ko-fi! I have to tell you it was a good feeling knowing that someone appreciated my work enough to tip me! Thank you!
- I had another article go “viral.” While this is great, it did nothing for my income despite the article’s popularity. 99% of the views and reads were external to the Medium.com site. This means it was picked up on Google Searches and such but unless the reader belongs to Medium.com, I don’t get paid for their reading time. It was tough to watch the reads and views go higher and higher and yet not be compensated for it!
- I am regularly having my pieces published by the editors of other publications on Medium. These give me a wider readership and exposure. Some of the publications are: Globetrotters, In Living Color, Bouncing and Behavin’ Blogs, The New Outdoors, MIDFORM, and most recently, The Narrative Arc. I appreciate being able to submit to these pubs and have my work supported by their editing teams. Thank you!
What About Your Novel? Are You Still Working On That?
Yes, I am still working on it. Unfortunately, stopping my evening writing ritual over the holidays really hurt my momentum. I need to just start again and write every night like I did last fall. My total word count is just over 32,000. Unfortunately, I’ve been trolling Twitter for agents accepting queries and one of the people I follow stated that 50 – 60,000 words for a novel was not near enough. I took that to heart and felt deflated. But, I have to remember that it is just one person’s opinion.
I am just at the climax of the story. There’s a lot to wrap up. But, I’m hoping I can do it in the 20K words I have left to make a fifty thousand word mark. We’ll see. I have to get ramped up again to finish the story.
Lastly, I am contemplating a writing project where I would be the author – publisher of an anthology. I have two ideas for what the anthology would be about. I have to sit down and map out a timeline and some guidelines for submissions. Stay tuned.
In closing, I’d like to offer this poem. I read it as my opening at the poetry reading a month ago today.
Anymore
Shortly after midnight,
© Carol Labuzzetta, 2023.
There was a knock at the door.
I knew who it was before
My feet hit the floor.
Still up I got, and
Opened it a crack,
Yup, it was who I thought
And shut it with a smack.
I will not let you in
Shouting the words in my head.
Sleepily, I returned
To my warm & comfy bed.
But instead, there I laid
Wondering why you came.
Nothing popped into my mind
Thinking more of the same.
I thought and thought
But my worries were few,
Therefore, I simply
Had not expected you.
Still, you chose to visit me
What’s on your mind?
Or tell me what’s on mine
I hope the worries are easy to find.
Here in the dark
With nothing to distract
No noise at all, but
I hear my heart, stating the fact.
I am not pleased at your visit,
Insomnia, you old adversary
Happier when you’re gone
Being here, you make me wary.
There is no choice but to
Listen to what you say,
Hurry, hurry, and then,
Be on your way.
Next time, I’ll know
Better than to open the door,
I can’t let you in, I just can’t,
Anymore.
Today is Poetry Friday. Our host is Linda at Teacher Dance. Thank you for hosting, Linda. Linda has tasked us with another collaboration – one on kindnesses. Be sure to check out her post for details. I know what I will share – do you?!
The Apples in My Orchard 
Wow, Carol, you are busy & that really is rewarding, isn’t it, to have various projects going and to love the challenge of them. I was curious when reading the first of the poem and then I slowly “kind of” understood it was going to be “insomnia”. Glad you put your foot down and will not let it in “anymore”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda. The poem is meant to be somewhat of a mystery!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your book! Keep writing. You are on a roll.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Margaret. I intend to. I need to be less fearful of queries…one doesn’t know unless they try!
LikeLike
Thanks for the updates, Carol, and congratulations on your news!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laura!
LikeLike
You have an amazing work ethic, Carol! I know another poet whose participation in her state’s poetry group has led her to wonderful writing connections. I will have to look into this type of community! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Patricia. My work ethic is one of my best traits but it can also be a double edged sword when I work hard and don’t get results. In writing and publishing – sometimes results are elusive!
For the most part the state poetry group has been great – I am a little frustrated on their lack of follow-up for some of their contests. I’m getting to the point of emailing to ask when results would be posted for a contest that ended in February.
LikeLike
Congratulations on all your news and your many projects, Carol. I was amused by your poem since I sometimes suffer from insomnia, too. I like your determination to not let it in anymore!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rose. We’ll see. Insomnia is a stubborn visitor! lol. I hope it’s not annoying you too much!
LikeLike
Congratulations on all your accomplishments. Sorry to hear about your late night visitor…not one of my favorite visits to get, but I usually make lemonade by getting up and reading, knowing that exhaustion will carry me through the next night!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mary Lee. If insomnia won’t leave, I usually get up too – read and have a cup of decaf or chamomile tea. The warm cup in my hands does more to comfort me than the drink! And, yes – avoiding a nap the next day is key to having tiredness carry one through the next night. Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
Carol, I missed this post a couple of weeks ago. I just ordered your chap book. I’ll add my review this week. Congratulations on all the writing you are doing. Good for you. That Insomnia visits me occasionally. I loved these lines for it is an expert at reminding us what is on our minds:
“What’s on your mind?
Or tell me what’s on mine”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Denise! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your kindness in buying my chapbook – I’ll look forward to your review. I hope there’s something in it that you can connect with.
I think the insomnia is partially due to age and partially due to personality type. I’ve learned to cope with it over the years, but I still don’t like to be reminded of what’s worrying me!
Thanks, again!
LikeLike
I should mention that the chapbook has another insomnia poem in it! 🙂
LikeLike
Denise, Thank you so much for your kind review! I will enter your name in the drawing for a Barnes and Noble $20 gift card. I’ll pick a name on June 1st. I’m hoping for a few more participants! Again, I really appreciate your kind words! about the chapbook! Thank you!
LikeLike