Best Poetry Book for 2019/2020

March 30, 2020 by BLP in blog posts, book recommendations, book reviews, creative support, independent bookstores, inspiration, meditation, nature, positive, self publishing, Vermont poetry, voluntary self-isolation, Jon Meyer Poetry

Love Poems from Vermont by Jon Meyer (Brilliant Light Publishing) has recently been awarded First Place in Poetry 2019/2020 by Readers Reviews Readers Choice Awards, and a Second Place Award in the Travel/Nature category. Also, Best Regional Book and Best North East Book for 2019/2020. (awards images)

The National Readers Choice Awards Reader Views is highly rated among top awards globally, and for this first collection of poems (soon to be followed by a second volume, Can Love Save the Planet?) we’re pleased to see such a positive reception.

Susan Violante, the Director of Contests had this to say:

“I knew I wanted to read Love Poems From Vermont by Jon Meyer as soon as I saw the book. It is a beautiful collection of pictures and poetry presented to readers in the perfect package.”

“The author did an amazing job expressing an array of different ways we can experience love through short poems, visuals, and insight and inspires readers to reflect their own love experiences while enjoying the beautiful pictures as the words linger within.”

Love Poems from Vermont serves as a treasure map to locate the visual and poetic delights that give Vermont its reputation as a haven for the soul. Like the intensity of fresh love where the lover thinks of the beloved night and day, each short poem will last long after you close the book, and prompt you to pick it up again.

With over 60 poignant poems in all, each is embedded in a color photo image of a beautiful place in Vermont. Jon receives each poem and then begins his search for the perfect photo image, to pair with the words. Love Poems from Vermont is the result of 16 years of attentive and dedicated writing, and much traveling.

Embark on an inspired Vermont road trip and discover a love of your own, either online at the author’s website, Indiebound.org, or at your local independent bookstore.

The Time Is Right To (Self) Publish Your Book

August 05, 2019 by BLP in creative process, publishing advice, self publishing, independent, writing community, creative support, online marketing

Many writers are using social media tools and finding routes towards making themselves known to readers, eventually gathering an audience and a loyal following for their work. These new pathways often do not involve a traditional publishing house, as authors have turned to independent small publishers, cooperatives, online magazines and journals, blogs, and self-publishing. The Internet has indeed changed everything related to book publishing.

Welcome to Brilliant Light Publishing

Brilliant Light Publishing

October 01, 2018 by BLP in Vermont poetry, creative process

We are excited to launch Brilliant Light Publishing/Media, L3C as a celebration of excellent writing and poetry in New England. We are honored to have Jean Connor as our first featured poet. Her poetry emphasizes a frank beauty that handsomely articulates details, as well as the grand picture.

Welcome!

It is instructive to learn about poets’ ideation process. Ruth Stone said that poems floated toward her from the universe. Her job was to grab them and write them down. If she didn’t snag them soon enough, they would float by and disappear forever! Being quick is part of success.

Chard DeNiord in his poem, "The Gift" memorializes Ruth Stone's process.

The Gift

In memory of Ruth Stone (June 8th, 1915—November 19th, 2011)

“All I did was write them down

wherever I was at the time,

hanging laundry, baking bread, driving to Illinois.”

Mary Oliver wrote a two line poem, “Humility.”

Poems arrive ready to begin.

Poets are only the transportation.

Begin is the operative word. The arrival is an exhilarating moment. But after the poem arrives, there is still much to do. Revision ideas arrive as improvements, and they are an equally creative and important part of the process.

We appreciate these extraordinary poets’ results, as well as how they arrived:

Poet Showcase edited by Alice B. Fogel and Sidney Hall, Jr. and published by Hobblebush Books is an anthology of New Hampshire poets. The editors ask the question, “Why do we have so many poets in New Hampshire?” The poems themselves offer a wide range of answers.

Roads Taken: Contemporary Vermont Poetry, edited by Sydney Lea and Chard DeNiord, and published by Green Writers Press states, “With its mystical landscape and fiercely self-reliant citizenry, Vermont has inspired poets from its earliest days.” This certainly resonates. Vermont is an inspiring state to live in and to write in.