I Get Around – Or At Least My Books Do!

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!

Too Much & Then Some

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

BLF Press presents Krystal A. Smith in conversation with Almah LaVon Rice

The Morning After! #TINAL Book Launch

Good morning Wordsmiths! How you feelin’? You good?

I’m good. So good! 👌🏾

Last night’s book launch went off without a hitch! So much joy, love, book talk, and laughter. Being in community, sharing insights, and performing made me feel so absolutely lifted. This writing life ain’t bad at all.

Big thanks to everyone who joined us last night and asked awesome questions and engaged. Our conversation was not only fun but much needed. There is so much secrecy in publishing and there is no need for it. There is room for all of us.

My next reading event will be May 1st! Details to come. I hope you’ll join me.

Happy Sunday!🌈

It’s Release Day!

Hey Wordsmiths! Do you know what today is? Of course you do!

It’s release day! This is Not About Love #TINAL is out in the world! I feel so happy, grateful, and free!

I’ve honestly always dreamed about writing poetry and stories and having my words published for all the world to see. Today is a dream come true! One of many!

I want to give a huge heartfelt THANK YOU to all you Wordsmiths! You show up, encourage, and support me with no question.

Also to my publisher BLF Press, thank you for taking a chance on me yet again. Stephanie I still look at your editorial notes and get chills! Lauren thank you for this banging cover! You did that!!!

JL Herndon, Jason B Crawford your blurbs brought me to tears! Thank you for taking the time to read my words and see me!

Friends, lovers (past and future) get ready. Grab a copy of this collection and be prepared to sit with how you feel and just know it’s all LOVE even though…This is Not About Love

Join me Saturday April 10th for conversation and community as we celebrate the launch of #TINAL

Good Friday Indeed! National Poetry Month 2021

(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!

My publisher sent me an awesome care package! Thank you BLF PRESS!

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:

1 large strawberry, sliced
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce elderflower liqueur
2 to 3 ounces sparkling dry rosé wine
Strawberry, garnish

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! 🤗

National Poetry Month Day 30 – The Finale

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!

National Poetry Month Day 29 –

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.

National Poetry Month Day 28 – It’s Gettin’ Real

Have y’all seen those Navy/Pentagon UfO 🛸 videos? Oh my goodness! What I’ve always known is coming out! But also the government thinks we are some dum-dums. This year is all about the truth coming out! I thought an echo poem would best speak to that.

#28

UFOs in the sky now?
Now
the government thinks we’re fools!
Fools
killing us one by one by one!
Un-
do what they’ve done to your
  minds.
Mind 
what your parents & teachers
 taught you!
You
matter! This life is up to you!!

National Poetry Month Day 27- Cinquain

Just a couple days left in April. I’m determined to get a few more poetic forms in. Today’s poem is a cinquain, or five liner. Dedicated to my Tiny Cat who occasionally shows an interest in my feet.

#27

My cat 
thinks my foot 
is a toy under the blanket. 
Even if I’m still
my toes will not be safe.