I welcome the new year with open arms. 2020 was challenging and full of blessings. As I settle into 2021, the word I chose as my companion is LOVE. This is my first time selecting a word for the year. Thank you to my niece, Marquita Myrick, for the prompt. I said that I chose the word LOVE, but actually it's the other way around; LOVE chose me! I am continuously on the receiving end of endless love, from near and far. I seem to have an object with the word "LOVE" in every room of my house. These objects have been selected and placed over many years; but today I noticed that LOVE surrounds me aesthetically and abstractly.
Given where we are and what's going on (in my Marvin Gaye voice), I know that LOVE is the best focus for me in 2021.
Always grateful, I appreciate the love that flows toward me. I felt vulnerable when I published my book, Poetic Forecast. Sharing my innermost thoughts with the public required bravery. It required a readiness for criticism and praise. When I write, that is not my focus. I write because it is my calling--I write to inspire and connect with the reader. When asked who my audience is, everything I read said that if you don't know who it is, i.e. your target, you won't sell many books. I felt then and am still convinced that my audience is everyone who has a heart--everyone who wants to feel, or needs encouragement, comfort or joy, everyone who wants to challenge their own thinking, everyone who wants to celebrate themselves or anyone else. I selected keywords for Poetic Forecast in order to attract certain groups. However, I want to share a cross section of my readers to demonstrate that demographics are secondary when it comes to reading and appreciating poetry. They include:
The childhood friends I haven't seen in decades, reconnected
The family members and friends reliving our experiences of joy and pain
The friends of my children; the friends of my spouse
The 91 year old female role model: independent, vibrant and impressive
The couple who (separately & unknowingly) ordered 2 books each to be autographed for themselves
The COVID-19 patient who ordered books for his family from his hospital bed
The stroke survivor who asked early on for help with her ordering
The cancer survivor who sought her daughter's help with ordering
The COVID-19 ICU nurse who found time during her break to read poems
The Vietnam War veteran, impressed and personally touched by the book
The Gold Star mom whose son was killed in Afghanistan
The grieving daughters who recently lost their mothers
The decorated retired US Army Sergeant Major who also related to my new poem he read online
The Washington, DC teacher who discussed my book with her students
The national education leaders; the equal justice and social justice leaders
The retired university library professional; the early childhood education teachers
The former university professor and associate vice chancellor who asked his daughter to purchase a book for him
The heralded physical therapist; the oral surgeon; the psychotherapist
The reader who gifted books for family at Thanksgiving and doubled back on "Giving Tuesday" to purchase books for people in her community
The readers who gifted books for Christmas, including a local shop owner, numerous friends and family members, and strangers who are now considered family
The human resources professional who completed a bulk order on behalf of her church
The human resources executive who completed a bulk order for colleagues
The millennials I met as babies, intently absorbing every word
The consignment shop owners who gladly carry and promote my book
The retired judge; the pastors and ministers; the colleagues who encourage me continuously
The professional singer and "artivist"; the published authors and journalists
The machinist who gifted books to family and friends
The hurricane survivor who ordered a second book after her first order was sent to the home destroyed by the hurricane
The CEO whose reaction to "What Matters" led her to feature my poem at the front of her book, Voices of the 21st Century: Resilient Women Who Rise and Make a Difference
From young adults to a 93 year old woman recovering from a recent fall . . . from men and women of all ages with varied relationship or socioeconomic status, I dare say that my audience is anyone who has a heart! I dare say that I'm grateful for each and every one!
Soon I will highlight some of the feedback from readers in a link called: "Love Shared: What Readers Say." Please stay tuned! Please stay well!
With LOVE,
Happy 2021
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