On Love and Novels #literature #prose #fiction

He was a great novelist. He avoided the big juvenile traps: on the one hand, repeatedly writing about one’s childhood and one’s limited experiences, and, on the other hand, confining his characters to slogans such as do good or better days are ahead.

He knew he went against the grain of what was considered acceptable in his country; a country in which the novel frequently used everything from camaraderie to horror, and from war to sex, in order to avoid the birth of a new Emma Bovary. Emma’s sensuality would have scandalized a society in which some, if not most, deified violence and crucified sensual love. Should I mention The Scarlet Letter?

He loved me. In his last note to me he wrote:

“Love and sensuality include divination: a thirst for deciphering the signs inscribed in the sacred area of our subconscious, a craving for knowing what the future holds, and the supplication that providence or god will fulfill our desires.

How much we want that which is not only given to us but that which we create too: Mircea Eliade’s homo religiosus, that alter-ego who lives inside us and conjures the meanings we create in sacred times and spaces.

Love and sensuality are the well of eternity.

Will I advise you to write about love? No.

Yet I know you will do it.”

Coming soon from Literary Revelations

A call for a poetry anthology
A book for children
Please subscribe and stay tuned for more news. Literary Revelations brings you poetry, short prose, art, and interviews,

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology (ed.), Literary Revelations, 2023
Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (ed.), Experiments in Fiction, 2022.
Woman: Splendor and Sorrow :I Love Poems and Poetic Prose, Vita Brevis Press, 2021.
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings, Vita Brevis Press, 2020

Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh is now a #1 Amazon Bestseller

I am thrilled to let you know that Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh, published by Literary Revelations, is now a #1 Amazon Bestseller [Haiku and Japanese Poetry]. We made to #1 several hours after the launch.

I am proud to be the publisher of this gorgeous book.

Thank you to those who support us.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Live on Amazon – Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh

Dear Readers,

I am thrilled to let you know that Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh is now live on Amazon. A publication of Literary Revelations, Building Sandcastles is a superb collection of haiku and senryu. I am proud to be the publisher of this book. Thank you everyone for the love and the support I received.

Amazon Description

Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh is a spectacular collection. From every page the beauty of haiku and senryu poetry jumps, inscribing itself in the soul of the reader with color, sonority, melancholy, grief, and love. Water, clouds, memories, do not only mark chapters. They become the real soul of the book. The transitory nature of haiku and senryu – with their delicate and ethereal qualities – is magically transformed by the authors into permanence. That is no easy thing to do. C.X. Turner and James Welsh create a world of splendor and depth that will forever mark those who read the book.

The book showcases seven wonderful sketches done by C.X. Turner. You will find beauty and great substance in them.

Building Sandcastleshas received plenty of advanced praise:

Bryan Rickert, Editor: Failed Haiku Journal of Senryu, President: The Haiku Society of America writes: “With both broad brushstrokes and intimate details, these two poets paint the beautiful experience of their haiku worlds.”

Joe Woodhouse, Editor: Wales Haiku Journal states that: “In one breath tender and poignant, in the next stark and arresting, this collection of short poems is a journey of discovery through an evocative series of moments in nature. It is an exploration of that yearning to glean meaning from the chaotic lives we all lead.”

Roberta Beach JacobsonEditor, Cold Moon Journal and Five Fleas (Itchy Poetry) tells us: “Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems, the stunning new collection by C.X. Turner and James Welsh, is a must-have for your shelves. These thought-provoking haiku and senryu left me breathless.”

Literary Revelations is proud to publish this unbelievable poetry collection.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh to be released by Literary Revelations on August 11 – Full Cover Reveal – Foreword

I am thrilled to let you know that Literary Revelations will publish Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh on August 11. The book is a splendid collection of haiku and senryu. It contains seven sketches done by C.X. Turner. Literary Revelations hired a highly professional formatter who vectorized C.X. Turner’s sketches and worked on every image to make sure that no pixelation will occur on page. The authors choose the have 3 haiku per page beautifully positioned. The formatter made sure that no matter what devise you may use to read the eBook the integrity of the pagination will be kept. A lot of work went into getting this book ready for publication. I am proud to be its publisher.

The book has received plenty of advanced praise some of which can be found HERE. Below please find one of the sketches from the book entitled Water and the foreword I wrote.

Water by C.X. Turner

Building Sandcastles: A book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh

There has never been a collection of short poems and haiku that stirred so much beauty and so many emotions in my soul like Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X.Turner and James Welsh. I want to be clear from the beginning. There is always a certain degree of disparity between the consciousness of a poet and reality. C.X.Turner and James Welsh fill that gap with intricate feelings, fragrances, colors, flowers, birds, and memories, until we do not understand anymore where dreams stop, and reality emerges. The delicacy of their word and sound impregnates every poem.

around a bend
on a woodland path
the chime of bluebells

river walk—
the gentle weeping
of white peony petals

Make no mistake. Their poems are not only delicate and breathtaking in imagery. They are also philosophical. Moreover, the authors steer clear of “fixing” feelings. They live the good and the bad, a remarkable move in a world in which commercialism and slogans bombard us every day; a world that denies an entire repertoire of human feelings to replace it with the today’s socially engineered state of “happiness.”

weeping cloud
I don’t try to fix
melancholy

a grieving friend
love, blown from a candle
in the wind

C.X.Turner and James Welsh transform the impossible into possible. They transmute the physical world into a world of magnificent beauty and depth that will forever mark those who read them.

Gabriela Marie Milton
author, editor, publisher

Afterword

As I mentioned in the ABOUT section of Literary Revelations we value quality, not quantity. We strive to make sure that our books are high quality and our talented authors get the best publicity. We are proud of who we are. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports us.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Waltz – Poem by Gabriela Marie Milton featured in Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen (2019)

Waltz – poem

I waltz into an empty ballroom
yesterday the ghost of Maja haunted Goya in the streets
hungry demons haunted you
effervescence, the molecules of those who’ll never be,
a door gets slammed
a key gets turned
the breath of earth is choked
initiation
I buried our wedding bands
inside the mist of that which never is
I snow on you white flowers from the one forbidden tree
I jump like a wild lynx
I look for prey
you make pianos sneeze old rhapsodies
stop
it is too late to understand
who’s me

featured image – Goya, La Maja Vestida, Public Domain

Literary Revelations is getting ready to publish a new poetry collection Building Sandcastles: A Book of Short Poems by C.X. Turner and James Welsh.

You can read the advanced praise for Building Sandcastles from the President of the Haiku Society of America Bryan Rickert HERE.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Swarn Gill’s book Love, Stars, and Paradigms is now a #1 Amazon bestseller in the US, the UK, and Canada

I am thrilled to let everyone know that Swarn Gill’s new book Love, Stars, and Paradigms released a few hours ago just became #1 Amazon bestseller in the UK, the US, and Canada.

Congratulations to Swarn! My publishing house – Literary Revelations – and I are thrilled. Thank you to those who support and believe in us.

Have a great weekend everyone.

The book is available in all Amazon markets.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Love, Stars, and Paradigms by Swarn Gill is live on Amazon – Poetry Collection

Dear Readers,

I am thrilled to let you know that Swarn Gill‘s poetry collection Love, Stars, and Paradigms is now live on Amazon. A publication of Literary Revelations, the book speaks about love, social issue, nature and human relations.

Here is the Amazon description I wrote:

Swarn Gill’s poetry collection, Love, Stars, and Paradigms is a must-read for anyone looking for original and stunning poems about love, social, and political issues. Through his work, Gill explores the connection between the natural realm and the human condition with an eye for detail that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Through powerful imagery and vivid language, he paints his own unique perspective on the world around us. Whether it’s about heartache or joy, Gill’s words will touch your soul. Love, Stars, and Paradigms is an unforgettable journey through the beauty of love and the complexities of relationships.

Swarn jokingly telling us why we have to buy his book.

Thank you and have a glorious weekend.

Reason #3 to buy my upcoming book #love #stars and #paradigms #ClimateCrisis @shortprose1 pic.twitter.com/QpExdu8iQu
— Arliden the Bard (@theedemaruh) March 31, 2023

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Love, Stars, and Paradigms by Swarn Gill – Full Cover Reveal and Foreword

My dear readers,

I am thrilled to reveal the full cover design of Love, Stars, and Paradigms by Swarn Gill. This stunning poetry collection will be published by Literary Revelations early April.

The art on the cover belongs to Magdalena Gill.

Follow this space, Literary Revelations and my social media, Twitter @sortprose1 and IG @gabriela_marie_milton, for more updates on the release date.

Please read the preface I wrote and support us.

Thank you!

Foreword

Writing a poetry collection is one thing, but to write one in which every poem shines like the brightest star in the sky is to take the reader to an entirely different level, inside a universe in which words permeate hearts and transform souls. This is where the poems of Swarn Gill take you.

While within the pages of this book each poem stands on its own, one can notice thematic issues resembling circumpolar constellations. Swarn Gill’s poetry concerns itself with perennial matters such as: love, pain, identity, social justice, building a better self, rituals of daily life to name just a few. The depth and beauty in his poems are remarkable. In Lovestruck he writes “I chose to face wrathful clouds/and I saw/such beauty in the maelstrom/and though you struck me hard/ you hardened me like glass/ and in those semi-opaque reflections/ we hold, we sip, we float.”

In Diurnal Dreams winds of liberation from the conventions of a society plagued by commercialism blow, “free me from grey/break me out/of concrete prisons/prostrate me/among the daisies/let emerald butterflies/send me to slumber.”

Love and nature are married in a remarkable way in Under Nature’s Power. It’s not a marriage of convenience. It’s osmosis. Nature leads. “The stars were lecherous/making you lay down/in the cool grass/then the moon/made your invitation/clear as glass/what choice did we have/under cruel skies.”

Hold Still is a poem of substance, simplicity, and beauty with a hint of laissez-faire, “there was also/something I was/looking forward to/no matter…. we are the moment/time vibrates.”

Irene Solà wrote, “The infinite dwells in each of us. Like a window on the top of our heads that we didn’t even know was there,” [Canto jo i la muntanya balla] and she continued claiming that only the poet can open that door and reach the infinite. All you must do to know she was right is to read Swarn Gill’s book Love, Stars, and Paradigms.

Literary Revelations is proud to publish such an unbelievable poetry collection.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Neurosis by Gabriela Marie Milton – poem – poetic prose

Neurosis

I suspect I suffer from an acute crisis of half-bloomed neurosis. My past emotions do not fully interfere with my current experiences. The converse is true too. No sophistry added. How boring.

I work my magic. I jump in the water dressed in black lingerie made from Calais laces and Lyon silks. I can feel the waves pounding my body while my mind drowns in the ambiguity of the French Nouveau Roman standing mid-way between modernism and post-modernism like a drunken sunset that cannot distinguish between yellow and orange.

The foliage of the sea turns burgundy. Your fingers contour my face.

Oh, you.

I forget that my favorite poet is Arthur Rimbaud with his “A thousand Dreams within me softly burn” and “I shed more tears than God could ever have required.” All I remember is that once I wrote: “I’ve never existed outside of your obsession with me and my interpretations of you.”

There is something about these interpretations that make you burst in cascades of laughter and art your love for me with lust.

One morning, left by my pillow, I found your reply written on a large index card: “I had to bury your existence inside my obsessions. If not, your love could not have been fully stabilized. You above anyone else know that an absolute correspondence in love does not exist. Love is a mathematical singularity.”

From my #1 Amazon bestselling book Woman: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis Press, 2021)

Reminder

Please remember to visit Literary Revelations site for new posts and updates on the upcoming poetry book Love, Stars, and Paradigms by Swarn Gill.

Thank you.

Gabriela Marie Milton
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Publisher, Editor, Award Winning & #1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:

Gabriela Marie Milton – poem – poetic prose

Poem – Poetic Prose

You knew where the world began. I will find too. I will drown in the sea where olive trees end, and Rimbaud’s atrocious sunsets start. I will become the forget-me-not of the waters.

Do you remember when there were 14 days in a week, all of them Sundays?

My blood, first thought to be of a certain type. Now classified differently. In the entire world there is only a very small number of people that have the same type of blood as I do. It must be a mistake. Can we start over?

Sweet love don’t cry.

The 15^th day of the week will be the day of mirth. Yellow laughter and photographs stretched from my soul to the ledge of the windows.

Waters.

Forget-me-not.

featured image: Claude Monet – Water Lilies