I wanted to say a very special thanks to friends, readers of SpillWords Press NYC, and my family for taking precious time and effort to like the original post and then for voting for me.Ā I feel extremely celebrated when my work is published by SpillWords.Ā When my first Spillwords publication in March of 2020, āMy Paso Finoā was originally published, I finally felt validated as a writer.Ā I both danced around the house and cried when I received the e-mail from Dagmara, Editor-in-Chief.Ā
Writing my first poetic lyrics and songs, which I sang on the radio when I was in the second grade. My parents took me to a place with a live band and my parents pushed me up on stage where I started singing and they started accompanying me.Ā It turned out that these kind musicians, who didnāt know that Iād be singing that day, ended up in the Grand Ole Opry.
Then, as a teenager, I began to write about how I felt growing up in a crazy house.Ā After sending many pieces through U.S. Mail and waiting for months, only to then receive rejection letter after rejection letter, I stopped writing.Ā I realize now that a young writer who is so tender and passionate at that age and who has had so many rejections, that their desire to write can be destroyed.
To all the editors that I have worked with, I will forever be grateful. Here are a few: Joelcy Kay, Edge of Humanity, Gabriela Marie Milton and Barbara Leonhard with MasticadoresUSA. Ā I had the honor of also working with Terveen Gill at MasticadoresIndia, who encouraged me to write stories and edited more than one story, which took time she did not have.Ā Blessing me in many ways was HotelMasticadores editor Michelle Ayon Navajas.Ā I have learned so much by watching her find a niche audience and write five books that have been number-one bestsellers not only in the United States but in several Countries. She is a profoundly gifted marketer and writer. Ā I have been blessed to be included in Masticadores publications, working with Juan re Crivello, the humble and gracious brainchild of the magazine Masticadores.Ā
To all the wonderful editors who have blessed me with a spot in their Anthologies, I am very grateful.Ā A special thanks to Gabriela, Susi, and, of course, my editor and publisher, Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld. I also wanted to thank Dr. Claudia Black for endorsing, āOne Petal At A Time,ā and writing back and giving me some powerful advice that I pray I will always follow.Ā Thank you, Dr. Black, for writing a book, āIt Will Never Happen to Me,ā that helped me to have the courage and understanding I needed to live differently than my parents and their parents before them.Ā A special thank you also to Zaneta Varnado Johns and Nanci Arvizu.Ā
However, it is the blessings of friendship that I have found in WordPress, Instagram and Twitter.Ā These friendships have stayed and continued to gift me love. At times it has, I am sure without hesitation, felt like I have abandoned these great friends and people who cared about me, and this is especially true of my four-year relationship with all those people that I looked forward to talking to each week through their blogs.
I feel like I owe you all a great apology for when I stopped my communicating online with my supportive and loving group of people in the WordPress Community.Ā I donāt deserve nor do I expect to ever get the same respect from the people who truly gave me the courage to believe in my writing through our faithful communication, most weeks sharing my words and you sharing your amazing words, art, and photography.Ā However, I want you all to know that I truly did do the best I could at the time given all the things going on in my life.Ā My goal was never to become a multi-best-selling author or to become famous.Ā My goal was to write a book that would help others.Ā I feel confident that I have achieved that.
I would also like to ask those of you who graciously gave their precious time to write amazing reviews of my book to give me some grace in getting their reviews out.Ā Except for Barbara Leonhardās book, āThree Penny Memories,ā all of them came while I was in the process of trying to get settled after a move, finishing my book as well as dealing with multiple projects related to my book.Ā After the heavy promotion of the book by my publisher and many very dear friends, I felt the impact of what it felt like for the world to know what my life was like growing up.Ā Although, I am so grateful that I was able to achieve my dream I did not believe that it would have such a toll on me emotionally. Reliving that trauma and having to reread the poetry repeatedly was difficult for my soul.Ā
For those of you who think this is a goodbye post, it is not.Ā I beat to no one elseās drum, and write with my heart and soul only.Ā That will never change with me.Ā I will never be a fit for everyoneās books, magazines, anthologies, etc., and that is ok.Ā This writer will always be her conscience that is guided by her beliefs and her faith.Ā
One of my goals is to spend time trying to reach out more to the WordPress community who believed in me before I started submitting my work, which gave me that courage.Ā Another goal will be to spend much more time with my husband and read all those special people who have done so much for me.Ā
My prayer in all of this is that my book will reach the people who will benefit from my story and learn that there is help and hope.Ā You donāt have to be alone.Ā I grew up during a time when resources were very limited but they are plentiful now and I pray you will get help and change this multi-generational abuse cycle.Ā
All of my dear WordPress and Instagram friends, thank you for loving me with all my flaws.Ā I am but a human being, trying to spread myself like the seeds of flowers.Ā My prayer is to sprout and share my colors where they are needed the most.Ā My faith, family,Ā and then my health must come first.Ā I have three beautiful grandchildren that I truly miss and my daughter and her life partner.Ā
Love and thanks to every one of you.Ā Those just getting started and those who are spreading their branches in other directions, may you all be blessed, but please continue to always use your gift.Ā Love Joni
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I’m glad you’re writing, Joni, for your writing always touches deep in my heart. ā¤ļø
Thank you so much Timothy. You have been a wonderful friend. I write when I can. I feel blessed to have made so many amazing friends on WordPress. Many of us have reasons we can not spend as much time as we would like on-line or life is challenging at times. Whatever the reasons, I am a blessed person who have found many wonderful people on-line that have enriched my life so much. You are such a good man Timothy. I have met many good people who you have reposted and shared with us and I am grateful for both your friendship and your sharing of other’s talent. A compassionate and caring soul. Many blessings my friend. Much love and blessings to you and all those you love. ā¤ļø
Yay! So proud of you, Joni, for adding another award to your resume’. Congratulations on having your poem named Publication of the Month. And I hope you can find your balance again after all the stress and chaos of the book release and everything else. I’m glad this isn’t a good-bye note–your presence here on WP means so much to so many of us. So, relax, get some rest, and enjoy life. You’ve earned it, my dear friend. š
My dear friend, I know you can appreciate or imagine the stress the book was for me to write. I wanted to write it but it wasn’t until I was done that so many things hit me. Even today some people judge those who grew up like I did, which is painful to me – I find it sad that our world has not changed enough to all understand that children don’t choose a world like I grew up in. We were children and we did not deserve to be abused. It is not the wonderful on-line community that has treated me differently, I actually feel sorry for those people. I forgive them because all that children living in horrid conditions like I did had to do was try to survive everyday and remember – making a life better for those around them. Our job is to be kind to those who have been hurt like we have been and remember they were never to blame, they were innocents. Thank you for your kind words my dear friend. I will be spending more time for my family but that includes my WordPress family too. Hope your day was a good one my friend. Sending much love, Joni
ššš So pleased for you my dear. You have blessed many. Congrats on the award. More to come, by Gods grace.
Dearest Nigel, thank you so much for your kind words as always and your friendship. God has already brought such grace and so many blessings, more than I would have expected in my wildest dreams. Thank you Nigel, for your wonderful interviews, postings to your site, and literally six weeks of marketing and work to help promote my book. So many of my dear friends gave so much of their precious time. Sending our love, hugs and blessings to you. Love Joni
You’re welcome my dear
Joni. Glad this is not a dear John letter of sorts. I wonāt accept that. We love you.
Youāre so gifted. Bless you dear one.
Take a break please. Recharge. Congratulations š a million congrats. Blessings and hugs, Joni
Thank you Selma and what a tender and gracious heart you have my kind friend. I love this community as well Selma. You are gifted Selma and a treasured voice in this community and grateful to be a part of it. Many thanks to you always Selma. Blessings, love and hugs coming your way. ā¤ļøš¹ā¤ļø
Your openness is bravery, courageousness at work. Your writing enriches the souls of those who read you works. It’s a blessing to know you and to work with you.
Thank you dear Lisa. I so appreciate your words, and am grateful that you believed in me. Lisa I am also grateful that you saw the openness as bravery. One of the highlights of this process was you asking for me to be a monthly poet and the Garden of Neuro. I felt so safe and loved within that amazing group of people that showed up – I also understood why it is difficult for many to attend something in the early part of the day. I felt so welcomed and realized that we all have our stories which can be heartbreaking but it is my belief that we, as women are a very strong group of people. I felt surrounded by an emotional band of protection and safety enveloping us all and found many words pouring out of me which I would have never foreseen happening. Again, thank you for believing in me Lisa. Sending many hugs and lots of love your way!
Congrats! Great work Jon! (sorry but WP now does not prnt the letter that comes after “h”!)! š
Thank you so much Francisco, sending lots of love, hugs and appreciation always of your wonderful contribution towards the success of my book. Your gorgeous artwork brought a special visual meaning to my words and each line drawn was a gift. I also appreciated your help in the promotion of the book. I was very happy to have made publication of the month for the second time with SpillWords Press, NYC, always an honor to be on their pages. Hope you all have the most fabulous working vacation. Hugs, blessings and love to you both from us, Joni
Youāre very welcome Joni!
Great for you. Keeping writing. You are among great company.
John thank you so much, I really appreciate your kindness over the years, you are a dear friend. Yes indeed, especially all the beautiful people in our WordPress community. Many of our friends post on SpillWords and Masticadores as well. Sending great big love and hugs dear friend
You are very graciously welcome.
š¹š¤ā¤ļø
You deserve all the best and it is a present to read you. I feel totally happy for what you achieved and for writing with us. Hope everything is fine with you. Big hug dear.
I am good dear Miriam and thank you for all your sweet kindness. By the way I loved your post with your photographs on Masticadores, It was a treat to read and took me back to my daughter’s spring break. I loved it. By the way I am fine just doing some healthy prioritizing, that is all. I have always been blessed to write on Masticadores, the editors are so supportive and kind and all so talented as well. I am always excited to read you all on Hotel. You know the magazine is getting so big sometimes I have a hard time knowing where to go in to read. It kind of feels like a big family – in fact the editors are very loyal to their writers which I love. J re Crivello sure knew what he was doing when he picked his editors. YEA!! Hugs, love and kisses – under your latest post on Hotel I did mention you need to send my fairies š§ back home. They will teach me some yoga classes. I know I will have to listen to how dreamy your yoga instructor is, but that is ok, I will gladly do so. You are in great shape! YEA!!!!
I am so happy to see you here on WordPress Joni. WP has a very loving, kind and supportive community of writers. I am honored and blessed to know them.
The advent of technology has brought us all closer, despite the distance, and time difference.
Publishing you on Hotel is an honore. Your works are profound pieces of valuable literature that has to be read by the world.
Congratulations on being the Publication of the Month on Spillwords.
Continue to inspire others through your works. -always, Mich
Thank you so much for your continuous support and your kind words about my work it means so very much to me. You are such a wonderful mentor to me, you are such an advocate for young writers and they are so fortunate that you are. Those who are not encouraged by someone who is talented may give up their search for someone to support them but you are always there for them. You have taught me much and your writing and causes are the same, always touching subjects that are difficult to write about with the hopes of making the world a better place. It is my honor to write on Hotel and to be read by your growing audience and the incredibly young talent that you have ignited with your enthusiasm and example. Thank you for your words of congratulations as well, I will do my best to continue to inspire others. – always, Joni
I wonder why my comment appeared as anonymous š¤
I don’t know my dear friend. I have had mine do the same thing before. I have decided that WordPress has a mind entirely of it’s own. I get lots of anonymous comments but those are never signed. I have left a comment before on someone sight and later saw that it did that to my post. I was happy to see your sweet name at the end of that very gracious comment at the end. Thank you my friend. š¤ā¤ļø
Congratulations on all your publishing successes Joni! Your work has reached and comforted so many, don’t ever stop sharing your story! ā¤
Dearest Tiffany your words mean so very much to me. Thank you for your kindness it truly touches my heart. I hope your getting time to do the things you love – your painting is becoming more and more amazing. I think having that sketch pad helps when you are so busy it keeps you in the zone and continues to just add to your talent so much. I always wonder how people who have a job find the time to do so much. Then I remember all the things I did when I was young like yourself and it comes back to me but I am very grateful those days are gone and I get to plant flowers, feed the deer and just watch birds and the mood hits me I can write. I have a lot of down times with my poetry but glad you don’t have that problem. Much love to you Tiffany. Thank you again my friend for your very encouraging words. ā¤ļø
Your compassion, gratitude, and sincerity are valued, Joni. Your drumbeat is a beautiful one! Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. š
Thank you Michele, I so appreciate your kindness and friendship. You shine a positive life in all you do. Big hugs, Joni
Big hugs! Thank you, Joni. Wishing you abundant beauty and happiness. š¼
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Congratulations, Dear Joni. You are more than deserving. Your words and work touch so many lives and help change the trajectory or at least give understanding to a past that was out of their control.
Keep celebrating your wins and touching others. ššš
Dearest Cindy, thank you for all your kind words, they really do mean a lot to me. After reading your post the other day, the only person I know that juggles as much as you do is my daughter. With three children and a company to run and still attending all the children’s activities, she like you, is a bit of a rock star. I don’t know how I ever managed so much before I retired early. It amazes me all that you still do. Anyway thank you for again for the kind words, and I will continue trying to spread love and compassion, as do you, to others. Much love and many blessings always for your beautiful family. š¹
You are a flower. I adore you. It is a great honor to have so many strong females who are an inspiration for many. Bravo! All the best and achieve loads of success. Congratulations on the publication, I still have to read it š
Congratulations for the book! Cheers š
Dearest Kritika, thank you for these beautiful words. They mean so much to me. What a kind thing to say. I appreciate your visit and your words about my book. The book is to help others by sharing my horrifying experiences as a child. So many innocent children suffer everyday. These children can be lost when they grow up and don’t understand why they feel the fear they do. My hope is that my book helps those people to know that there is hope, book, and resources for help and therapy. Big hugs and love to you my friend. ā¤ļø
I hope the book has wings and goes to every such person who has experienced the horrors in their childhood. And this multiplies at a fast rate.
All the best. You are a gem. Hugs and Love to you too (hearts)
What a kind person you are. You couldn’t have said a nicer thing. Blessings and love to you my friend. I hope your week is a special one. š„°š¹š
Yours too! Enjoy.
Joni, you’ve accomplished so much! Be proud of yourself. Writing is hard work. Keeping up on social media is hard work. It’s exhausting. Your friends will not abandon you. Hugs & Kisses, Dawn
Dawn you are so kind. What an extremely thoughtful comment. I am very proud of what I have accomplished, but I am also very hard on myself. I think it came with the territory of growing up like I did. Social media is hard because there is only so much time in a day and when I read or write to someone it comes from the heart and it takes time. It is just not in me to get lots of numbers because when I read someone I truly read and think about their work and what I want to say. I think you are like that too. You are a very hard worker. I admire you and the success you have already accomplished with your publishing company. I hope you realize how well you have done as well. We both have not had it so easy, but we are both blessed in so many ways. You have been a wonderful friend and I am always glad to see you doing so well. I am happy for you, it couldn’t happen to a sweeter person. I really have to spend time with my husband too, he has been wonderfully patient about the time that I spend with my work. Sending you hugs and kisses right back, Joni ā¤ļø
You are so awesome!!!!!
You are like me you catch up several post when you can read two to six people and concentrate on what you are reading. This is what I do as well. Thank you my friend. Sending you my prayers for many blessings.
Yes! If I don’t have time then I wait until I do and can catch up on all my favorite bloggers, which you are definitely one of them.
I approach WordPress the same way too. That way I can read several post by people I care about at the same time. It makes more sense to me, but that is because I don’t like to zip back and forth and it gives me a chance to concentrate on what I am reading. Glad I am not the only one doing this. haha – I always thought I was the odd girl out (big hugs and lots of love Belladonna)
Nope we are the same! I love getting in the flow of one blog at a time. Hugs and love to you Joni.
Yea, me too my friend, it just makes more sense then jumping around all the time. Much love to you and your gorgeous family. Lots of love my friend.