Havoc & Solace : Poems from the Inland West
Carol L. Deering
Jackson, Wyo.: Sastrugi Press [2018]
The perfect size to bring and read while exploring “wild and rural lands,” Havoc & Solace: Poems from the Inland West is an artful collection from award-winning poet Carol L. Deering. In her first book Deering shares poems of “witness, wonder, and revelation” that can be read in order or chosen to suit mood and circumstance. I read “The Air is Fresh & Wild” beside a creek on my first hike of the season, and I simply want to thank the author for framing a perfect moment. Deering creates a space where the natural landscapes and powerful wildlife of our beloved West are accessible and engaging in their majesty. She gives credit where due to her inspirations and will doubtless inspire further creation and appreciation with this lovely collection of poems.
Amanda Lehman, Digital Collections Librarian
William Robertson Coe Library, University of Wyoming
Shaping the Story: An Introduction to Writing Fiction
John D. Nesbitt
Independently published, 2019
Shaping the Story is written like a text book but has all the no-nonsense advice you need to get your writing life on track. Nesbitt doesn’t sugar coat anything and can be quoted saying things like “In addition to taking responsibility for the little things, the writer needs to be self-sufficient and take initiative in the world of writing and publishing.” And “A writer should not expect anyone to go out of his or her way to help, and the writer will soon learn that the world is not waiting for her.” This particular guide made me think of things I had never thought of before. Shaping the Story can help you get there with a roadmap to success and a kick in the pants.
Helen M. Pugsley, Circulation/Reference
Goshen County Library