Blog Archives
Losing Mom
Losing Mom, by Peggy Ottman, is a memoir about a daughter walking with her mother through the last stretch of her life. The story moves through medical crises, small moments of grace, old family rhythms, and the shifting power dynamic between parent and child. It opens with years of near misses, each one convincing Ottman that maybe her mother would never actually die, and then follows the final days with an honesty that feels both intimate and strangely universal. At its heart, it is about love, caretaking, and the long letting go that comes when a parent fades.
The writing is simple, direct, sometimes almost breathless in the way it tumbles forward. That works for this kind of memoir. The scenes of crisis feel sharp because they are told the way we remember trauma, in fragments and quick flashes. I appreciated how she didn’t try to polish herself into some perfect caretaker. She shows the guilt, the second-guessing, the resentment, the deep tenderness. Her relationship with her sisters adds texture, too. They each carry different responsibilities, and you can feel the family history in every conversation.
What struck me most was the author’s honesty about fear. The fear of losing her mom, yes, but also the fear of doing the wrong thing, of missing a sign, of not being strong enough. Those moments felt very emotional. Some scenes hit hard, like when she speaks nonsense during what might be a stroke. Other moments are quiet, almost gentle, like the nurse patiently washing her mother’s hair. The memoir doesn’t try to turn grief into something tidy. It lets it stay messy and human, which makes it more powerful.
By the end, Losing Mom feels like a long exhale. It doesn’t offer big lessons. Instead, it gives you the feeling of having walked alongside someone through something real. I’d recommend Peggy Ottman‘s story to anyone who gravitates toward memoirs that deal with caregiving, aging parents, and the complicated love that sits underneath family stories. Readers who value emotional honesty over dramatic storytelling will appreciate it most. This is a memoir that keeps you thinking, especially if you’ve ever watched someone you love slowly slip away.
Pages: 300
What Bear Said: About Life, Love, and Other Stuff
What Bear Said is a tender and beautifully illustrated children’s book following the conversation between a wise bear and a curious child. Through a series of heartfelt exchanges, the book explores themes like friendship, love, forgiveness, grief, and the importance of being present. Each chapter touches on a different life lesson, framed in simple yet profound dialogue that feels timeless. The story doesn’t follow a traditional plot but instead unfolds like a walk through the woods, where each stop along the trail offers a new truth about what it means to live, love, and grow.
Reading this book felt like sitting by a fire with someone who understands life’s messiness. The writing has this soft rhythm that slows you down. I loved how Wiens captures the innocence of a child’s questions and pairs them with Bear’s gentle wisdom. It’s not preachy or forced. It feels natural, even when the topics get heavy. The artwork complements the words perfectly. The imagery is warm, earthy, and full of quiet emotion. I found myself smiling at some pages. The talk about grief and forgiveness hit me hard. It reminded me of my own moments of letting go, and how much courage that takes.
What really stood out to me was the honesty of the book. It doesn’t sugarcoat pain or pretend that love fixes everything. It just says, “This is how it is, and that’s okay.” The simplicity of the language makes it easy to read, but the ideas stay with you long after. There’s a humility in Wiens’ voice, like he’s still learning along with us. The bear isn’t some all-knowing creature; he’s patient, kind, sometimes unsure, and that makes him real. The book feels less like a children’s story and more like a letter to anyone who’s ever struggled to understand their own heart.
I’d recommend What Bear Said to anyone who loves reflective, soulful reads. It’s perfect for parents and grandparents to share with kids, but also for adults who need a quiet reminder that love, kindness, and forgiveness still matter. This isn’t a picture book you rush through. It’s one you sit with, maybe under a tree or on a rainy afternoon, and let its calm wisdom sink in.
Pages: 98 | ASIN : B0DNRH1H8F
The Right Inspiration
Whisk of Dust is a collection of poems that weave together themes of love, faith, struggle, and beauty. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
I’m often inspired by simple things that others might take for granted. I found inspiration from different aspects of my life in writing this collection.
Were there any poems that were particularly difficult to write? If so, why?
None were difficult to write. With the right inspiration and motivation, the words were not difficult.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
I like to think of this collection as universal. They are for anyone who can relate and or just enjoys poetry.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
There has been no change, my desire has always been and still is to inspire and uplift with my writing.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | YouTube | Amazon
The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid
The book follows Missy Kinkaid, a fifty-something woman navigating the mess of family baggage, complicated friendships, and the ghosts of old loves. It digs into her rocky relationship with her mother, who spent most of her life institutionalized, her bond with her late father, who adored her, and her often-fractured but deeply entwined connection with her cousin Margo. Around her orbit, other women, like Scarlet and Amber, form her circle of truth-telling, wine-drinking allies. What unfolds is not a neat story but a layered patch.
Reading it felt like sitting across from a friend who doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I laughed out loud at Missy’s breakdown in the cereal aisle, and then I teared up when she admitted how much her mother’s coldness still cut into her. The writing had this strange magic. At times, it was witty and biting, other times, it felt like someone opening an old wound right in front of me. Some parts rambled, but even then, I didn’t want to look away. It felt messy in the best way, like life itself.
I found myself torn between wanting to hug Missy and wanting to shake her. Her bitterness toward Margo stung, but I understood it, and the honesty of that relationship was one of my favorite parts. The book isn’t afraid to show women being selfish, being cruel, and being brave, sometimes all at once. That’s what hooked me most, the refusal to paint anyone as simply good or bad. The emotional swings kept me on my toes. One page I was chuckling at sarcastic banter, the next I was heavy with grief. It felt real in a way most novels don’t.
I was left thinking about how family shapes us, even when we try to escape it, and how friendship can carry us through the darkest corners of memory. I’d recommend this book to readers who like character-driven stories that don’t flinch away from uncomfortable truths. It’s especially for women who have lived through complicated families, failed relationships, and the ache of trying to start over. If you want something tidy, this isn’t it. But if you want to feel like you’ve lived a whole other life, then Missy Kinkaid’s story is worth your time.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0FPYKKFTP
Emotional Timing
Resonance of the Soul – Flowers and Harmonics is a heartfelt and unfiltered collection of poems that dives into the human condition, exploring themes of love, identity, culture, struggle, healing, and faith. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
I was inspired by a love story—one that stirred memories of what truly matters in life. That experience, along with moments spent with patients nearing the end of their lives in hospice, reminded me how fragile and sacred our time is. A mentor also nudged me to complete my writing, reminding me that unfinished words can become unfinished healing. This collection became a way to honor those stories, those lives, and the emotional truths that often go unspoken.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
I wrote for those without a voice—those caught in the throes of indecision, those marginalized by circumstance, and even those who seem entitled or indifferent but are quietly searching for meaning. While the journey began as personal, it quickly became communal. I wanted these poems to reach anyone who’s ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated. It’s a companion for the lonely, the faithful, and the quietly resilient.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in putting together this poetry collection?
Time. Not just the literal hours needed to write and revise, but the emotional timing—knowing when I was ready to revisit certain memories, and when the world might be ready to receive them. Balancing my clinical responsibilities with the vulnerability required to write was also a challenge. But I learned that when something truly matters, you make time for it.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
I’ve come to appreciate the effort and emotional discipline it takes to create something meaningful. Writing this book taught me that poetry isn’t just about language—it’s about listening, about honoring silence, and about crafting space for others to feel seen. I learned that my voice carries weight not because it’s loud, but because it’s rooted in truth. And I discovered that healing—whether clinical or poetic—requires presence, patience, and grace.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Each poem reflects the delicate interplay of life’s harmonics—the highs and lows, struggles and triumphs—capturing its essence with thought-provoking depth and emotional resonance. With a voice that is both evocative and intimate, the anthology invites readers to embark on a transformative journey through the intricate beauty and complexity of existence.
“Resonance of the Soul – Flowers and Harmonics” showcases Dr. Edwards’ ability to infuse profound truths into his work, creating moments of reflection and celebration that resonate universally. It is a collection that bridges the personal and the universal, making it an unforgettable literary experience.
Find a Balance
Journal of a Black Man is a lyrical exploration of Black identity in British Columbia, weaving together themes of love, faith, family, and resilience against systemic inequities. Why was this an important book for you to publish?
It was an important book for me to publish because Black people in Canada, especially in British Columbia, make up a very small proportion of the overall population. Therefore, I had to inform people about the things that we truly face. Visitors are often sold the glitz and glamor of the country, and while Canada is definitely beautiful, there are many dark moments. Also, there are a lot of things that I personally experienced, such as love. Overall, the start of the year had been tough for me, and I only made it through with family, faith, and resilience, which is why I highlighted those themes.
Many poems balance vulnerability with strength. How do you navigate writing about pain without letting it overshadow joy?
I navigated between the themes of joy and pain by understanding that there will be bright moments and there will be dark moments. Life isn’t perfect, but I know that I had to find a balance that I was truly happy with.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some themes that were important to me in this book were migration, love, the nuclear family, faith, and resilience.
What do you hope readers carry with them after sitting with your words?
I hope that readers truly enjoy the book, but what I really want them to understand is that nothing is truly what it seems. Be careful with each opportunity.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
I allow you to see my feelings,
I am vulnerable…
This powerful fifth collection from prolific poet Marlo Browne is an exercise in vulnerability. He
exposes personal feelings about the Black experience in Canada, his adopted home.
Topics touched on in this work include the high incidence of missing youth in provinces like
Ontario, prevalence of drug use and abuse in Ontario, exploitation within the migration process,
biases in the workplace, and more.
Experience vulnerability in a bold new way within the pages of JOURNAL OF A BLACK MAN
today!
Beyond Spoken Words
The Summer Knows is an emotionally layered novel about a single mother who returns to her hometown one sweltering summer to confront buried family trauma, a long-lost love, and the shadows of her past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I weaved my childhood experiences, growing up on the Southeast shore of Florida, into The Summer Knows. My eccentric and undiagnosed bipolar grandmother co-raised me alongside my mom and grandfather. I also had two best friends who were brothers, and they came to visit their grandparents, who lived down the street from me, every summer from age six until we all went to college. The Atlantic coast was always a backdrop for my childhood memories. It was fun taking elements from my growing up and creating a new fiction story.
Adrienne is an intriguing character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
I am always fascinated by coming-of-age stories, and so I wanted Adrienne to have that coming-of-age tale, and then we also get to see her return and face the aftermath of her coming-of-age summers. By running away so young, she never gets to resolve and heal until she is an adult. I wanted to capture that feeling of unfinished business that many of us experience as we transition into adulthood. I also wanted her to come to find some understanding as to why her grandmother was such a bitter and controlling person. This understanding allows Adrienne to free herself from the idea that she caused her grandmother’s misery. So many of us go around thinking we are the cause of other people’s problems, and that is a heavy weight to carry, when most of the time this idea is self-imposed. We see this ideal recur with her relationship with Quinn and Lucas, and her struggle to see herself as a chef.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Communication was a big theme I wanted to explore. None of the characters are very good at it, which is the cause of all the trouble in the novel. I wanted to examine different ways of communicating beyond spoken words, such as cooking meals and feeding each other, as a form of communication. Food becomes a mode for coaxing characters to communicate, to share things they have kept hidden, and ultimately a source of healing.
Place was also a theme I wanted to work with. I feel that the town and the natural world surrounding the story are almost characters. Harbor Point, South Road, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Back Bay are all deeply connected to each moment of the story, shaping how we perceive and understand the actions of the plot.
What do you hope readers carry with them after finishing The Summer Knows?
Not everyone is redeemed, and the girl sometimes does not end up with the guy, but we can get what we need when we realize the guilt and shame we have held onto is nothing but our own invention. That food and feeding people is an ancient form of communication with powerful healing properties.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Adrienne’s world is upended again when she gets the call that her eccentric grandmother has nearly burned down the family cottage. Adrienne has no choice but to return, and the town wastes no time in thrusting her back into the harsh limelight. When local fishmonger Christopher Crane offers Adrienne a chance to be the chef at the fish market her grandfather once owned, Adrienne might just figure out how to face the past and forge a new future.
Just Myself and Pen and Paper
Ten Years of Bliss, Poems is a collection of over 300 poems spanning a decade, highlighting topics ranging from spirituality to love and grief, and from the mystical to the mundane.
Were there any poets or other writers who influenced your work on this collection?
I always write alone. Just myself and pen and paper and a whole lot of meditation in between. I’d say that sense of peace was the inspiration. I think it’s a gift that’s more of a reflection of the world around me. I prefer to maintain objectivity rather than seek.
I think I’ve read three poets in my life. Poe, when I was 11 years old, Yeats, I read once, and before I ever picked up a pen to write I found Virgil’s work at the library and I fell in love with Virgil. I spent the summer with a latin dictionary to decipher some of it. I don’t compare my work with his, who could? But wow, it made an impression.
How do you approach writing about deeply personal or emotional topics?
I don’t approach writing with that sense of direction. If someone can glean something from my work that they can reflect on then that’s great. Hopefully it has meaning for them. I try to write positive poetry, with spiritual meaning embedded in every corner of understanding. It may be floral, it might go deep but it’s never really dark and is always spiritual or about the human experience.
There are two kinds of artists, and poetry is a form of art. There are poets who emote, and ones who have something else to say or express themselves differently. There is a perception that poets are all emotion and I don’t think that’s always the case. To me, emotion is baggage. Passion is love, is a better feeling and I’d rather spend time expressing that.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your collection?
I would hope that they see an evolution within the themes. The point and the growth. That there is enlightenment for the reader. I want someone to feel good, or to feel better after reading it. To know that’s it’s an act of love.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to discuss my work. I appreciate that so much.
Author Website
LITERARY TITAN 