Happy February from Literary Revelations. May this month bring you happiness and success. Stay safe!
Haiku for Soulmates – Front Cover Reveal
Literary Revelations is thrilled to reveal the front cover of Haiku for Soulmates. I hope you like it. Please let us know.
The art on the cover belongs to our Artist-in-Residence, the Japanese painter Hikari. Cover design: Iuliana Irimia.
In the meantime, please continue to submit. The deadline for Submission is February 25. Send 5 haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me. Please make sure to label your submission “Haiku for Soulmates”. We will have an answer for you around March 1. If you have any questions, please let us know. One question I want to clarify: Literary Revelations accepts traditional as well as non-traditional haiku.
Hainka – Just for you – Please do not submit Hainka, but you can try your pen after submitting to Haiku for Soulmates.
Hainka is a modern poetic form created by Pravat Kumar Padhy that merges the objective, nature-focused imagery of a 5-7-5 syllable haiku with the subjective, emotional depth of a 5-7-5-7-7 tanka. It is typically structured as a 48-syllable piece (5-7-5, 5-7-5-7-7) that uses the haiku as a pivotal, bridging image for the following tanka.
Key Aspects of Hainka:
Structure: Follows a 5-7-5 (haiku) and 5-7-5-7-7 (tanka) structure, totaling 48 syllables.
Pivot/Linking: The first part (haiku) acts as a pivot, and the second part (tanka) develops the imagery, with a necessary thematic, or sometimes, lyrical link between them.
Themes: Often explores nature, emotions, love, and humor.
Origin: Created by Pravat Kumar Padhy to fuse the two Japanese forms, notes Tanka Tuesday and All Poetry.
Presentation: A small, distinct gap is recommended between the haiku and the tanka for the reader to absorb the imagery.
It is an exciting form of poetry that has taken off, and it’s discussed in various outlets, such as Writer’s Digest. On ALL POETRY, the largest platform for poetry writers, HAINKA is highly appreciated. We do not yet have non-traditional forms of hainka, as we do for haiku.
Pravat Kumar Padhy: widely published and anthologized including “Contemporary Indian English Love Poetry”. Literary work referred in Spectrum History of Indian Literature in English, Alienation in Contemporary Indian English Poetry etc. Short Poems, Haiku and Tanka appeared in number of literary journals (both print and web) in India, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Africa including Poetry Time, Poet, Creative Forum, Poetcrit, Kritya, World Haiku Review, LYNX, Akita International Haiku Network, Poetry Pages, The Notes From the Gean, The Four Seasons of Haiku, Poetbay, Anglo-Japanese Society (Tanka Online), Ambrosia, Sketchbook , Atlas Poetica, Kokako, Berry Blue Haiku, Simply Haiku, The Houston Literary Review and others.
Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller by Gabriela Marie Milton – Coming in June at Literary Revelation
Meet one of the main characters of the novel: Jezebel
My dear followers and subscribers,
I am absolutely elated to share the exhilarating news that my novel, Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller, will be published by Literary Revelations this June!
A short Excerpt from Jezebel’s Island: A Mystery Thriller
…….thirty years ago.
We were in the main square of the town when he appeared among us. It was hot; I was sweaty, dusty, and very thirsty. I carried a wicker basket full of tomatoes, potatoes, and cauliflowers. The braided strap had cut into my skin; it was heavy, very heavy. The bright silks hanging from the merchants’ stalls trembled in the dry, burning wind. The afternoon sun seemed to melt over people and things like a boiling river.
I felt its rough touch; my back and hands ached. A moment earlier, he had given a coin to a begging child, who had thanked him, closed his fist around the coin, pressed it to his heart, and then bent down to kiss my dusty feet. I parted from him with a strange sadness. I don’t know why, but that day I wished the sky were purple. Yet the sky was never purple there. I was looking for an ice cream vendor when I noticed his blue eyes, expressionless, the eyes of a winner…
-Yes, he had the eyes of a winner. Winner’s eyes exist, just as there are bricklayer’s hands, three-eyed frogs or prostitutes. He turned to me and said: I feel lost in this City, Miss. Could you help me? He wore a wrinkled, dirty suit of a cut I had never seen before. Later, I was to learn that it was a military uniform. I asked him: Where did it come from? He didn’t answer me. He laughed, and the skin around his eyes gathered into deep wrinkles. I told him: To this place no one comes and from here no one leaves. Then he burst into even louder laughter. I felt myself being watched and looked around, but everything was the same…
From the Foreword
In Milton’s novel Jezebel’s Island, somewhere between the motif of quest and goal, thereare several gnoseological, political, even moral obstacles. That is why this novel is structured as an investigation over which, as we come to know half-truths, other layers of ambiguity are superimposed. This fact results first of all from the gnoseological interdependence, maintained by the author, between the characters in the book. In the constellation of the plot-investigation, Jezebel and Lady Swarthy represent the points of emission of some fundamental information that the reader needs to pay attention to.
At the other end of the circulation on the Island is Anastasia. She is the witness, the recipient, and the actor of events destined to place her between necessity and chance. As the first characters appear on the stage (Anastasia, Jezebel, David), readers are not yet aware of any biographical details of their existence. The narration begins like a cinematic tape that is suddenly set in motion….
In the Beginning – Poetic Prose – Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton
In the beginning, the sky was dark, swollen with braided longings. The earth lay beneath it, clothed in smiling flowers and the slow breath of gods. Petals parted like whispered confessions, damp with promises. Desire had no name.
On that day, I bent and chose one bloom. My fingers lingered,. At the first trembling touch love burst from the ground.
The earth arched upward, aching, rising to meet the weight of the sky. Roots tightened, winds sighed, and the night thickened with roses and heavy steps. Your name became the name of desire spoken by birds.
The second day of creation started.
Gods of my many worlds, I beg your forgiveness.
Featured Art: Shutterstock
A thought and some reminder
I was asked in an interview how I write “lush poetry” and “haiku”, such different poetic genres. The answer is I do not know. I just can. I leave the beauty of both genres raining over me. I became one with my writings.
Please do not forget our fabulous Artist in Residence, Hikari, and me published Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art.
Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce an open call for submissions for our upcoming anthology, Haiku for Soulmates. Whether you have a soulmate and wish to celebrate your connection, or you dream of finding one, we invite you to share your poetic voice. If you have a soulmate, please compose five haiku for him or her. If you do not, let your imagination shape five haiku that describe the soulmate you hope to meet.
To participate, please submit your five haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me and clearly label your email subject as Haiku for Soulmates. Please note that unlabeled submissions may be misplaced and not read. The submission deadline is February 25. Your five haiku will be accepted or rejected as a block.
This was first posted in Literary Revelations. For those of you who do not follow Literary Revelations, I hope this read is interesting.
The Economy of Emotion: Why Poetry Struggles at the Checkout Counter
In the literary world of 2026, a strange paradox exists. If you scroll through Instagram, you will find that poetry is more “viral” than ever. Short, punchy verses from “Instapoets” are screenshotted, shared, and tattooed at record rates. Yet, when we look at the hard data from 2025, a familiar trend remains: poetry unit sales continue to lag significantly behind other genres like Romance, Thriller, and Non-fiction.
While the Romance genre alone generated over $1.4 billion in sales last year, poetry remains a niche category, often struggling to break the million-copy mark across the entire industry. Here is why the “most shared” genre is often the “least purchased.”
1. The “Single Verse” Consumption Model
The primary challenge for poetry in the digital age is that it is inherently snackable. In 2025, 62% of poetry readers consumed work primarily via mobile devices.
• The Problem: Readers feel they have “experienced” the work by reading a single poem on a feed.
• The Contrast: A Mystery or Thriller novel requires a 300-page commitment to reach the “payoff.” You cannot “consume” a thriller via a single screenshot; you must buy the book to get the resolution.
2. Lack of “Binge-Ability”
Other genres thrive on the “just one more chapter” effect. Romance and Fantasy—the two highest-selling genres of 2025—rely on narrative momentum. * The Hook: Fiction creates a dopamine loop through plot and character development.
• The Barrier: Poetry is an emotional or intellectual “stop and think” medium. It is difficult to “binge-read” a collection of 80 poems in one sitting without suffering from emotional fatigue. Consequently, readers buy fewer books because they spend more time digesting the ones they already have.
3. The Utility Gap
Non-fiction (Self-Help, Memoirs, and Finance) remains the industry’s largest segment because it promises a tangible ROI (Return on Investment). * The Value: Readers view a $25 non-fiction book as an investment in a skill or a solution to a problem.
• The Perception: Poetry is often viewed as a luxury or a purely aesthetic experience. In an era of economic caution, “utility” often beats “artistry” at the cash register.
4. The Academic Shadow
Despite the rise of modern, accessible poets, the genre still carries the weight of “high art.” Many consumers still associate poetry with the difficult, coded language they were forced to analyze in school. While “Romantasy” (the 2025 breakout genre) promises pure escapism, poetry is often perceived as “work,” which can deter casual readers looking for relaxation.
On a different note,
Statistically, the vast majority of poets sell very few copies on Amazon. While the platform offers massive potential reach, most self-published poetry titles struggle to gain visibility without an external audience.
The Harsh Reality of Poetry Sales
Average Lifetime Sales: Approximately 90% of self-published books (across all genres) sell fewer than 100 copies in their entire lifetime.
Genre Challenges: Poetry is statistically one of the lowest-selling genres; it is estimated that of the roughly 10,000 new poetry books released annually, the top 10 titles account for 25% of all sales.
Typical New Author Performance: Industry data suggests that many new poets may only sell between 25 and 30 copies total. Without active marketing, a first-time self-published book might sell as few as 0 to 5 copies in its first year.
Why Sales Are Low for Most Poets
Lack of Organic Discovery: Amazon does not heavily promote poetry in its main browsing menus, meaning readers rarely “stumble upon” new poets unless they are specifically searching for them.
Saturation: In 2025, over 1.7 million books are self-published on Amazon KDP annually—roughly 4,700 new titles per day—making it extremely easy for a single collection to be buried.
Marketing Gap: Success on Amazon typically requires an existing following. “Instapoets” or those with large TikTok or Instagram audiences drive the majority of high-volume sales.
When is it Still “Worth It”?
Despite low average sales, Amazon remains a “worth it” tool if you adjust your expectations:
Zero Financial Risk: Unlike traditional printing, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is free to use, meaning selling even 10 copies results in a small profit rather than a loss.
The “Business Card” Effect: Having a professional book on Amazon can serve as a credential for speaking engagements, open mics, or local workshops.
Global Distribution: It is the only platform that allows a niche poet to be accessible to a global audience instantly, even if that audience is small.
The Blogging world – as a venue for sales
The philosophy behind buying poetry in the blogging world is reciprocity. By buying each other’s poetry and exchanging reviews, bloggers foster a sense of camaraderie and encouragement. This dynamic helps build trust, expand audiences, and create a network where creative work is appreciated and amplified through shared engagement. In the blogging world, it’s about cultivating a collaborative environment where everyone benefits from the collective growth and exposure. Nevertheless, that may give a poet 20-30 sales. Not more than that. But it gives everyone online friends and a nurturing community. Yet, what about quality?
Reminders:
1.
Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton is now available in eBook format. It’s a wonderful album of poetry and art that showcases different perspectives on the same painting.
A local Japanese restaurant got Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art and Naoki Kimura’s Fine-Art Photography: Lullscapes in Light and Shadow, and now its walls are adorned with splendid art from within, framed and shiny. I thought I would share that with you.
Here is a short promotional video optimized for IG, so the video may appear blurred. My apologies for that.
2.
Literary Revelations – Haiku for Soulmates -Call for submissions
Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce an open call for submissions for our upcoming anthology, Haiku for Soulmates. Whether you have a soulmate and wish to celebrate your connection, or you dream of finding one, we invite you to share your poetic voice. If you have a soulmate, please compose five haiku for him or her. If you do not, let your imagination shape five haiku that describe the soulmate you hope to meet.
To participate, please submit your five haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me and clearly label your email subject as Haiku for Soulmates. Please note that unlabeled submissions may be misplaced and not read. The submission deadline is February 25. Your five haiku will be accepted or rejected as a block.
The Alchemist of Ink and Light: The Odyssey of Gabriela Marie Milton, A Profile in Modern Mastery
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My dear followers and subscribers,
I am absolutely elated and profoundly humbled by this incredible feature in New York Glamour Magazine! It would mean the world to me if you could find a moment to dive into it.
Wishing you a beautiful day/evening
Love Gabriela
In an era of fleeting digital whispers, Gabriela Marie Milton writes with a pen dipped in the eternal. To encounter her work is not merely to read, but to step into a curated sanctuary where the ancient echoes of the Mediterranean meet the disciplined stillness of the far East. As a three-time #1 Amazon bestselling poet and a 2022 Pushcart Prize nominee, Milton has emerged as more than an author; she is a custodian of the sublime.
The Lyrical Architect
Milton’s voice first commanded the literary world through her seminal collections, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (2020) and the hauntingly beautiful Woman: Splendor and Sorrow (2021). Her prose does not merely describe emotion—it inhabits it. This visceral honesty earned her the distinction of Author of the Year at Spillwords Press in 2019. Her verses, exploring the tapestries of womanhood and philosophy, have traveled across borders, translated into the melodic cadences of Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Literary Revelations: Where Artistry Finds Its Home
In 2023, Milton birthed Literary Revelations Publishing House, an institution founded on the radical notion that literature should be a high-art experience. Her vision was immediate and transformative.
She has created a sanctuary for voices that prioritize aesthetic precision, intellectual depth, and timeless beauty. Milton believes that a book is not merely a product, but a cultural artifact. Her mission is to bridge the gap between contemporary expression and classical excellence, and the new Motto of Literary Revelations is “We do not publish only books, we curate legacies.”
Under Milton’s editorial stewardship, books are not just bound paper; they are cultural artifacts. This is evidenced by the historic inclusion of her edited anthologies, Petals of Haiku and Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku in the Museum of Haiku Literature in Japan. Perhaps most stirring is the permanent installation of Petals of Haiku, a painting by Literary Revelations Artist in Residence Hikari, used to create the cover of Milton’s Petals of Haiku, in the Treasure House of Rinsenji Temple, where its curation sits in sacred proximity to centuries of Japanese tradition.
The growth of Literary Revelations and Milton’s personal literary journey have been chronicled across several prestigious platforms, noting her commitment to “beauty, precision, and timeless artistry.”
ArtistHighlights:Featured in a comprehensive profile titled “Gabriela Marie Milton and the Rise of Literary Revelations—A House That Defied Expectations.” This feature explored her cinematic methodology and her success in crossing the boundaries between poetry and the visual arts, such as in Milton’s latest #1 Amazon Bestseller with Hikari, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmoni and Power in Japanese art, a fabulous collection of poetry and art, and in Naoki Kimura’s photography and poetry album entitled Fine Art Photography: Lullscapes in Light and Shadow, curated and published by Literary Revelations at the same time that the artist’s work was being exhibited at Hilton Tokyo Hotel.
Bizweekly:Formally recognized Milton’s editorial leadership by naming Literary Revelations as the “Best Publisher of Artistic Excellence in the US” (2025), specifically citing her ability to curate works that span diverse cultures and genres.
Best of Best Review:featured Milton and her publishing house in a beaming piece that accompanied Milton and Literary Revelations’ award for Best Publisher in the USA 2025, describing the press as “one of the most influential independent publishers in America.”
The publishing world really took note, crowning Milton and Literary Revelations with the Evergreen Award for Best Poetry Publisher in the US……..
Now in eBook format, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art
My dear followers and subscribers, Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce that Literary Revelations’ bestseller Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton is now available in eBook format.
Own 87 original Japanese paintings done by our Fabulous Hikari!
Experience the enchanting collaboration between Japanese artist Hikari and American poet Gabriela Marie Milton in Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art. This stunning poetry and art album gracefully bridges Eastern and Western sensibilities, inviting readers on a vivid journey through tradition, perspective, and creative imagination.
I have created a wonderful A+ content that will tell you more about the book.
Literary Revelationsis thrilled to announce an open call for submissions for our upcoming anthology, Haiku for Soulmates. Whether you have a soulmate and wish to celebrate your connection, or you dream of finding one, we invite you to share your poetic voice. If you have a soulmate, please compose five haiku for him or her. If you do not, let your imagination shape five haiku that describe the soulmate you hope to meet.
To participate, please submit your five haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me and clearly label your email subject as Haiku for Soulmates. Please note that unlabeled submissions may be misplaced and not read. The submission deadline is February 25. Your five haiku will be accepted or rejected as a block.
Grace the pages of our forthcoming anthology with your fantastic writing. The cover art will feature the work of our fabulous Artist in Residence, Japanese painter Hikari. We look forward to receiving your beautiful haiku and celebrating the magic of soulmates together.
Before you submit, please visit our website on the about page – terms and conditions.
Now in eBook format, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art
My dear followers and subscribers, Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce that Literary Revelations’ bestseller Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton is now available in eBook format.
Own 87 original Japanese paintings done by our Fabulous Hikari!
Experience the enchanting collaboration between Japanese artist Hikari and American poet Gabriela Marie Milton in Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art. This stunning poetry and art album gracefully bridges Eastern and Western sensibilities, inviting readers on a vivid journey through tradition, perspective, and creative imagination.
Hikari’s masterful paintings immerse you in the splendor of Japanese art, each brushstroke echoing the beauty of cultural heritage and the depth of historical narrative. Her tanka, deeply rooted in Japanese traditions, transports readers to landscapes and moments of spiritual introspection.
In contrast, Gabriela Marie Milton’s evocative haiku offers a fresh, Western perspective—crafted in direct response to Hikari’s artwork. Her concise yet profound verses highlight the magnificence and subtlety captured on canvas, creating a dialogue between image and word that transcends borders. This unique approach allows readers to view the same artwork through two distinct cultural lenses, underscoring the rich possibilities of artistic perspectivism.
Upcoming call for submission
The call for submissions for Literary Revelations’ upcoming haiku anthology, Haiku for Soulmates, is coming up tomorrow. Please stay tuned.
Featured picture Hikari. This art will be used to create the cover.
Wishing you an exhilarating 2026 brimming with boundless love and vibrant creativity!
Gabriela Marie Milton – Updated Bio
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.
I am Gabriela Marie Milton, a 3-time Amazon bestselling poet, award-winning poet, and internationally published author. Vita Brevis Press nominated me for the 2022 Pushcart Prize. My poetry has been published in various journals in the US and abroad (sometimes under the pen name Gabriela M) and translated into Italian, Greek, Romanian, and Albanian.
In 2023, I founded Literary Revelations Publishing House to honor the memory of my mother, who was beautiful, generous, and loved literature with all her heart. Presently, I am the Editor in Chief of Literary Revelations.
I am three times an amazon bestselling author. My books are:
In Addition, I have edited the following poetry anthologies: Wounds I Healed, Hidden in Childhood, Petals of Haiku, and Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. You may want to visit Literary Revelations to see more of my work as a publisher and curator, and my awards.
Cultural Journalism
Beyond the written word, I am a cultural journalist known for my cinematic storytelling and immersive digital reportage. My multimedia clips from Greece and Portugal offer a sophisticated exploration of the Mediterranean’s historical and aesthetic soul, blending high-production visual artistry with her signature lyrical commentary. These original works bridge the ancient and the modern, documenting the genius loci of the Hellenic world through a lens that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. By integrating these visual narratives into her broader body of work, I continue to redefine the boundaries of contemporary literary journalism, bringing the ‘splendor and sorrow’ of human history to a global digital audience.
Visit my IG @gabriela_marie_milton
Call from Submission
Literary Revelations will open on January 5, with a new call for submissions for a haiku anthology entitled Haiku for Soulmates. Please visit and subscribe to Literary Revelations Journal for more updates:
Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton.
Featured image by Hikari
My dear readers and subscribers,
I present you again with Literary Revelations’ newest #1 Bestseller, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton (me) The Literary Revelations Website is now under update, welcoming visitors with an even richer experience (You can still visit and subscribe). In celebrating the art of haiku and tanka, we invite you to discover the subtle elegance and profound depth these forms of Japanese art and poetry bring us.
In Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton, haiku distills emotion and love into just a few lines, creating a moment of reflection and wonder with its carefully chosen words. Hikari’s tanka, with its slightly longer structure, allows for more personal expression, weaving together images and feelings into a tapestry of thought, history, and justice.
Japanese art, paired with haiku and tanka, reveals layers of meaning through simplicity and refinement. Each poem echoes the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, the tranquility of gardens, and the stirring energy of seasonal change. By embracing these forms, we connect with centuries-old traditions that celebrate the fleeting nature of beauty and the diversity of human experience. Let the site’s new features inspire you to craft your own verses and appreciate the artistry behind every word and brushstroke. Each open reflects also power and justice.
The album’s structure allows you to add your tanka and haiku to each painting. Add them, and you will have one of the most beautiful gifts for the holiday and for years to come.
Promotional video
Gabriela Marie Milton 3 x times #1 Amazon bestselling author Founder and Editor in Chief of Literary Revelations
Wishing all my followers around the world a wonderful weekend! May magic, love, and peace be with you.
Poetry in English and Basque & A Quick Reminder.
Poetry in English and Basque
I am who I am, and who I am breathes in the hush between desire and devotion — hidden in the tears that slide down the cracked face of an iconoclast’s old church, glistening like skin after rain.
My essence stirs in the murmur of the waves that caress Bilbao’s restless shore. There, beneath the trembling light, I unfold — a secret pulse, a body made of memory and prayers, aching to be touched by the world again.
————————
Ni naizena naiz, eta naizena arnasa hartzen du desioaren eta debozioaren arteko isilunean — ikonoklasta baten eliza zaharraren aurpegi pitzatuaren gainetik behera irristatzen diren malkoetan ezkutatuta, euriaren ondoren larruazal bezain distiratsu.
Nire esentzia mugitzen da Bilboko itsasertze bizkorra laztantzen duten olatuen xuxurlan. Han, dardarka dabilen argiaren azpian, zabaltzen naiz — taupada sekretu bat, oroitzapen eta otoitzaz egindako gorputz bat, munduak berriro ukitzeko gogo biziz.
Haiku and Tanka, Lull Harmony and Power in Japanese art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton in now #1 Top Release in Canada
After being the #1 Top Release in the USA and still a bestseller, the #1 Amazon Bestseller in Japan, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art, published by Literary Revelations, is now a #1 Top Seller in Canada too. Australia, how are we doing? Thank you to everyone who bought our book.
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A Reminder
Please do not forget to check my new #1 Amazon Bestselling book, co-authored with the fabulous Japanese painter Hikari, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art.
