I inadvertently took a lil break. It’s been good for me. It was needed. #Rest #TakingCare #TakingTimeForSelf #ListenToSelf
I have a few events coming up that I can’t wait to share! I’m ready to reconnect and be in community again. There are so many writers, artists, creative people that I’ve been learning from. It feels like a blessing to have access to them. #Gratitude🙏🏾
Stay tuned! And make sure you’re following on twitter (@authorkasmith)
Image by Sincerely Media (Unsplash 2018)
It’s extremely cool to see your work show up on lists, and get reviews. This definitely helps authors get recognition and reach readers who might not otherwise consider one of my books. Check out the cool places where my work made the grade.
April’s Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books – Lambda Literary
2021 Poetry For the Rest of Us – Ms. Magazine
5 Authors Like Carmen Maria Machado – Book Riot
Two Moons Review – Forward Reviews
🤗 Makes me happy just to be recognized!
Image by Mohamed Nohassi (Unsplash 2017)
This week has been too much and then some! I found my self disassociating because of the news, racism, and injustice.
I had to BLOCK some folks on social media (for their own good really cos folks play too much and don’t be ready for the TRUTH).
But I took stock of all that I’m grateful for and gave thanks this week. Also I had the pleasure of celebrating other people’s good news this week. That kept me lifted as well! And now the weekend is here blessing me with rest. 🙏🏾
Celebrate your life today!! Leave nothing on the table. 🥳💜
I’m still celebrating my latest book! This is Not About Love is getting excellent reviews and readership! Thank you to everyone who has shown off your copies and who have written reviews!
Are you curious what all the talk is about? Get a copy for yourself and a friend here
Upcoming Events :
May 1st at 6pm I’ll be in conversation with Almah LaVon Rice! Join us. Email for Registration
(Image by Trust “Tru” Katsande Unsplash 2018)
Happy Weekend, Wordsmiths! 🌈I’m excited for poetry month even though I celebrate poetry and writing all year there is something fun about a concentrated month of it. I won’t be writing a poem everyday this month. I did it last year and it took me out. By the end of the month my mental faculties were absolutely wiped! LOL
I’m so thankful to my publisher, BLF Press, who is dedicated to putting out incredible work by women of color. I feel so supported working with this Black press and having my work respected and taken seriously. I’m treated the same way and shown how much I matter in this industry. I received an awesome care package from BLF Press this week too with all the things writers need and love: A book of poetry, a fancy notebook, a totebag, and SNACKS! Thank you so much!
It’s been such a good week. With the release date for This is Not About Love right around the corner (April 6th) I feel excited! And I can admit also that I’m a little nervous. I keep telling myself this is normal. This is normal. 😬
As promised I found a tasty and refreshing recipe for our LOVE LIBATION!
Cherub’s Cup
Here’s what you’ll need:
Assembly instructions here And of course adjust it to suit your tastebuds! 😋
I hope I’ll see all of you at the virtual launch event on Saturday April 10th at 6pm. It’s not too late to register. Use the link here.
Enjoy the weekend! 🤗
Image by Denise Chan (Unsplash 2015)
Happy Friday!
I feel like this week TRIED it and lost! LOL 😆
I’m glad tho because we all have so much to offer ourselves, and each other. Being able to look into the center of a struggle or problem and pull ourselves to the other side is absolutely INCREDIBLE!
This week reminded me to rest, reach out, listen, and reimagine what could be.
Yeah, this week tried it & LOST! ✊🏾
Time to fall into the joys of the weekend! Sending you all #Rest #Peace #Support and #Healing🙏🏾
Upcoming Events:
BLF Press presents Krystal A. Smith in conversation with DeMisty D.Bellinger. April 10th 6pm to 7:30pm EDT Register here
Image by Caique Silva 2018 Unsplash
Daylight Savings is so unnecessary! ⏰ I don’t know why we even still do this. Is it for farmers? Is it because of the time space continuum? Is this the only way to keep the earth on its axis?
I’m exhausted! Always this springing forward warps my sense of everything! My body has the hardest time adjusting. I’ll be sleepy but can’t sleep.
The weather this week didn’t help either. A little bit of sun ☀️ and a whole lot of rain ☔️ and wind 💨 and tornado 🌪 warnings!
But! 🤗 The week wasn’t all bad. No siree! I got to experience a joyous (virtual) gathering of time traveling letter writing creators! I wrote a letter to my favorite wig – Mermaid Tendrils and tapped into a future self that will be absolutely instrumental in living my best life. #Living🙌🏾
I read two short Black lesbian romance novellas and even got some writing done.📚💜
I got some stellar cocktail recipes and suggestions from my Facebook pals today (hence the late night post) and yummy 😋🍹 My bar cart is adequately stocked again!
This gives me an idea! What if my poetry collection had a signature cocktail🧉 Yep! I’m gonna make one and post it before my book release.
Stay tuned for 💕Love Libations💕🍸😉
In the meantime preorder This is Not About Love and sign up for the launch party on April 10th! I’ll be in conversation with DeMisty D. Bellinger!
Register for the launch party here
Get some rest, Wordsmiths! And treat yo’self this weekend! 🛍😘
Photo Alt text: Stems of lavender on pink background. Quote text overlay: “Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn’t matter. I’m not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn’t make us better, then what on earth is it for.” – Alice Walker
That’s a wrap! 3-5-21
It’s Friday! Huzzah 🙌🏾 Another week down. We did it.
Lots of story and project ideas popped up for me this week. I wrote them down and started on one I’m extremely excited about!
The urgency to create and produce has come upon me in such a way this week. It’s flared my anxiety with time. There’s never enough time it seems. The What Ifs started knocking at me. Then the doubts. #TheStruggleIsReal😔
Somehow I keep on keeping on. Maybe that’s why I’m so proud of my work. Maybe that’s why I cant shut my mouth about this poetry collection. Writing was just a thought one day in Mrs. Ramey’s English class. Now it’s a way to say something, feel, represent! #WritingIsTheWay #WritingIsEverything
Anyway…
Event scheduling continues for This is Not About Love #TINAL. I GOT CONFIRMATION this week that a writer/creator I absolutely adore and respect will host me in conversation. I feel so honored that they are making time for me and my collection of poems! More details on who and when coming soon but it’s 🤫 for now.
This week also had me thinking about writing advice and information. I enjoy talking about writing, process, and the act of creating. I don’t necessarily like the way people try to take advice as one-size-fits-all gospel. I do feel like I have some fresh thoughts on writing so I’m going to roll out some videos soon to share those thoughts. 👍🏾
That’s it for the week! I hope you all get to do something fun this weekend. Eat something really delicious and take a nap. 💜
UPCOMING EVENTS:
BLF PRESS Presents:
Krystal A. Smith in conversation with DeMisty D.Bellinger. April 10th 6pm to 7:30pm EDT Email info@blfpress.com to register
What a month! 30 poems 30 days! Congratulations! While this challenge was great in so many ways I am likely never doing it again. The unnecessary anxiety that hit late in the evening was too much!
I asked for a few suggestions on social media on what to write today’s poem on. I got some great suggestions: doors/beginnings and endings, triscuits (lol I wrote a short and silly bop for my friend Kristie).
The suggestion that is today’s poem was an elegy for April – Thanks, Stephanie!
Fare Thee Well
Like most things that come
and go, we must mourn
appropriately- April 2020!
So much changed. So much
still to come. We don’t
know. But we hold fast
and let go. Let go!
Day 29! I don’t know what to say. A poem a day keeps the blahs away (unless you’re living through a pandemic and then it’s really hit or miss). Tonight’s poem is my attempt at a William Carlos Williams creation called Triversen (six tercets to put it simply).
#29
The way she joked
made me laugh deeply,
but I should have wondered.
Those quick to give a laugh,
or anything really,
are usually hiding.
Laughter hides them
from what they fear
and makes it easier.
Easier to walk away,
say goodbye, when
the hard time comes.
I don’t know what
it was that scared
her enough to leave.
She was funny and
so absolutely beautiful
when she laughed.
Krystal A Smith 