The wonderful D. Wallace Peach posted a beautiful review on GoodReads that is soon to be on Amazon. Here is the beginning:
Readers who gravitate toward lush, emotional poetry won’t want to miss this generous offering of over 80 freeform poems. Though I don’t often read Author’s Notes and Forewords, these heartfelt and eloquent introductions provided insights that enriched the collection, and I recommend starting there.
I took my time savoring these poems—the imagery is rich and evocative, and there’s nothing within these pages that can be hurried. This collection felt like an inner journey, a story of a soul’s transformation from childhood fear and helplessness into love. The poems about Caggiano’s experience of abuse as a child felt deeply personal, and they read like a mosaic, broken pieces meticulously glued together, which is often the way traumatized children internalize and try to make sense of their world. The “red bricks” of her home became the symbol that tied many of these poems together, and though not especially graphic, the suffering and fear is heartbreaking. It’s a privilege to read someone’s soul laid bare.
To continue reading, please visit the following: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7235570447 Thank you so much, Diana, for spending the time reading my book and writing such a wonderful review!
And if you haven’t already, be sure to pick up your copy of “One Petal At A Time” on Amazon and many other places!
Be sure to check out the latest fantasy book, “Tales of The Seasons’ Weaver,” by D. Wallace Peach and also see The rest of her books. My husband, who is also my narrator, and I are enjoying it together and the descriptive phrases are so brilliant that I am hoping to learn a lot as a writer by reading this book. And, our dear friend and amazing poet, Mike Utley, has his poem “Wisdom” featured in the book!
Such a wonderful review Joni!! I know how much you admire and respect her, so this review must mean so much to you. Congratulations…It’s one of the very best I have read. How she connected to your poetry, in each section is almost uncanny…it felt like she knew you!! You deserve every golden word my friend…your book is absolutely exceptional!!
My dear friend Karima, You are such a sweetheart. I appreciate your reading so much. It was a very gracious thing for her to do, just like you, I had so many wonderful friends who surrounded me in my effort to get the word out with my book. I will forever be grateful to all of you. You thought the same thing I did. It is uncanny how well Diana got me and the great depth in which she understood the book. The part that I loved was how Diana understood and could see that the “Red Bricks” were like the umbilical cord almost. They tied all the emotions and feelings together. They still do. Anyway, thank you for reading, my dear friend. I plan on visiting some folks today, and that means you. Yea! I love you!
Joni, this is a beautiful, moving review of your masterpiece, One Petal at a Time. Diana is brilliant, articulate and so compassionate, and it shows in this review. I love imagining what happens when two accomplished writers come together in such a way (author/reviewer, collaborators, or other pairings), and this review doesn’t disappoint. What a joy to read Diana’s thoughts about your sublime and deeply personal poetry. 😊
Mike, you are so kind, thank you so much for all these gracious words. I am so grateful for this beautiful review, and Diana understood me so well, finding me in every page. The connection she got about the “Red Bricks” was so intuitive and true. They will forever be part of my past that never really goes away. I agree about how incredibly a woman she is, and her writing is amazing. Mike, your writing is amazing, and Diana writes splendidly perceptive reviews about your work. I always enjoy reading what she writes. You know how I feel about your pieces. Most of them bring me to tears, and you have such a gift. I always end up reading your work several times, each piece. It only takes a few lines of your work to show your amazing gift. It was an amazing surprise to see and to read this review from Diana. She is very kind. Sending our love and wishing you a good week. Thank you so much for reading Diana’s review.
It’s great to get such wonderful review from a talented author like Diana, Joni. Your poetry is so moving that it doesn’t surprise me.
Hello, Dear Timothy. This was such a blessing and a surprise. I was not expecting this, and she truly understood every section of the book. She got the connections, and I was thrilled with what she had to say. I loved her review and know she is an incredibly busy woman, so I appreciated her both reading and reviewing my book. It was an unexpected gift, which is always the best kind. Her words touched my heart deeply. Every review or person I meet who has read and enjoyed my book is a gift to me. It was not easy writing this book, and it took a lot out of me, but the real impact didn’t hit until it was over. Then there was a bit of reliving a lot of stuff that happened to me, and that was hard. I never expected that. Diana is a kind and creative soul who seems so down to earth and modest – I don’t know about you, Timothy, but that makes her pretty special! Thanks for reading as it always means so much to me and I am sending you and your family love and blessings, Joni
Love and blessings to you and yours, Joni. 😍🙏
I’m sooo glad that you appreciated the review and felt like I “got” the book and understood you through it, Joni. Making interpretations about such personal poetry sometimes feels like a risk, in case I get it wrong. But usually I go for it anyway. Lol. This collection is deeply moving, beautifully written and constructed, and every review shows how much it’s appreiated. I was mesmerized. Thank you also for the kind comment about my book too and about Mike’s poem (which I believe is the highlight!). Spreading the love! <3
I really did and like my dear friends Karima and Mike they could tell that you truly got the book. I also loved the two poems you shared. Thank you so much for your graciousness. Your new book is mesmerizing and the concept alone is priceless. Plus I have a thing about tapestry so beautiful to look at, when you find a very old one. Mike is one of my favorite poets. He is like the golden clasp holding the precious wedding ring. One gorgeous thing lifting up a jewel to share. I think it was a wonderful idea, and I know how much it meant to him. It’s a win-win believe me. I am so happy for you and for Mike. My husband looked at the list of your books the other night and said oh my goodness she is a busy lady. Thank you so much for your comprehensive read and incredibly intuitive review and understanding of my book. Hope your week is amazing. I love that, “spreading theLove.” This is so true and you are spreading the love, what a fantastical and things do. ❤️💕🤗
<3 <3 <3
❤️❤️❤️
Such a beautiful review by, Diana. Your book still has pride of place in my personal collection, and I am glad it is still touching lives.
Oh, Nigel, thank you, my dear friend, for this kind comment. Diana did a gorgeous review, and it meant so much to me that she both read and reviewed my book. It was right on target; she understood the important connections and deep meaning within the book and the symbolism of “The Red Brick House.” I am touched that my book has a place of pride in your collection. I can’t wait till I have your book in my collection, Nigel. Sending you our love, Nigel
Well deserved! <3 <3 <3
Thank you my dear friend. Sending you, your beautiful daughter and grandchildren my love and prayers. ❤️🙏
Congratulations on your book. Diana writes incredible book reviews. It takes a lot of courage to bare your soul, but it is cleansing. Thanks for stopping by Story Chat and leaving a comment about Nigel’s story. This is the post that will be linked to the name of your blog on the attendance list. It’s good to get to know you. Your story is more than touching. It’s incredible.
Hello Marsha, Thank you for your kind comment. Yes, Diana is a writer who paints a picture with every sentence. My husband wants to read her latest book with me but I think I will have to read it without him. It is difficult to find time when I am not working on something, and we can sit down and read more than a few pages at a time. She is also an extremely kind woman besides being enormously talented. Thank you for your kind words about my book as well. I truly appreciate your graciousness. Nigel is an amazing storyteller, and I truly hope a book is in his near future. I enjoyed the Story Chat, thank you. Happy Valentine’s Day to you Marsha. Hugs, Joni
Thank you, Joni. You might want to consider a story for Story Chat in your future! 🙂 xxx
How very kind of you, Marsha. I would love that. It is gracious of you to think of me. My books were given out to three battered shelters in Seattle, WA that provide safe housing for deaf women. Deaf people are an easy target because you can not hear their screams. I know this sounds horrible, but three shelters are full all the time and each of those women not only received a complete box for a Christmas dinner, but toys for their children and bikes for them. They also received a copy of my book, “One Petal at a Time.” My daughter works as a VP for a commercial company just outside of Seattle, and she donated the books, but the rest of the wonderful gifts were donated by a foundation that she also oversees, which is funded by the CEO. They don’t take any donations. My daughter and I have done mission work together in other countries, and those were some of the best days of my life. She has been all over the world doing mission work. Abuse and slavery, especially slavery, is currently higher than it has been in many decades, she has seen this first-hand. Especially the trafficking of humans. Children are often isolated and abused, and I can spot a child that is often abused. If I can see them out with their whole family, if you watch the mom, if she stops speaking at all, if the father comes out and looks down, there may be something going on. So yes, feel free to contact me, or I will reach out to you. I appreciate your interest and your kindness. The purpose of this book was never the money, it was to help educate people. I am grateful that Lisa at Prolific Pulse Press saw the value in publishing this book. So thank you again for your kind words. Have an amazing weekend.
Wow, what a testimony! We hear things like that going on in the news. I used to go with my mom when she worked in the ghetto areas in Indianapolis, but my job was primarily playing with kids. I learned how to befriend people. But I know many of them were abused because young teens had their father’s children.
Sounds like you had a wonderful mother and she wanted to teach you that many people live difficult lives. You were doing your part too by being a friend to those children. Bless your heart. ❤️
I did have a great mom. She was my best friend.
I can’t think of a kinder thing for a woman to say about her mother than that. I am guessing she is smiling in heaven having heard such an incredible phrase from the mouth of her child. You are indeed blessed. It makes my heart smile just thinking about any mom having achieved that honor from her child. I am very happy for you. Hold on tight to such a rare blessing. ❤️
I am blessed beyond measure, my friend. I hope you have many blessings in your life as well. 🙂 xxxx
I do, thank you, Marsha, and I am so glad that you are blessed beyond measure. It is truly nice to hear someone say that. Have a magnificent Sunday and big hugs and love, Joni
You, too, Joni. 🙂
🤗