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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
Ten Years of Bliss, Poems
Lisa A. Lachapelle’s Ten Years of Bliss is a sweeping and soul-baring collection of 300 poems written over a decade. The work explores spirituality, love, grief, enlightenment, intuition, and the vivid experience of being alive. Lachapelle’s writing shifts effortlessly between meditative verses and emotional bursts, forming a layered mosaic of personal growth and cosmic musings. Divided into thematic clusters, spirituality, love, identity, and time, the book feels like a quiet unfolding of the author’s inner world, told in rhythm, metaphor, and unfiltered thought.
What struck me most was how Lachapelle’s voice dances between the mystical and the matter-of-fact. Her lines are often like whispered prayers or flashes of revelation. Poems like “Greet the Morning” or “The Majesty of Trees” feel rooted in the earth yet always reaching skyward. There’s a humbling beauty in her spiritual reverence, but it never gets self-important. It’s earnest, raw, and sometimes cryptic. A few poems do drift into abstraction, where the emotion is clear but the imagery loses grip. Still, I found myself going back to those pieces, confused at first, then weirdly comforted. The book doesn’t just present poetry; it invites quiet reflection.
On the flip side, her poems on love and human connection made me ache in the best way. There’s so much longing and gentle devotion, lines that made my chest tighten or my heart flutter a little. “It Was Always You” and “Count With Me” hit like confessions. She doesn’t write romance for show. It’s the kind of love that feels lived-in, broken a bit, healed again, then handed to the reader. The style can feel meandering at times, almost like journal entries dressed up in rhyme, but that’s part of what makes it feel honest.
I’d recommend Ten Years of Bliss to anyone who finds comfort in introspective writing or enjoys poetry that blends the mystical with the mundane. If you’re someone who has sat in stillness and asked big questions with no expectation of answers, this book will meet you there. It’s not a fast read, and it’s not always easy, but it’s emotionally resonant.
Pages: 328 | ASIN : B0F5N7MWLN
My Own Healing Journey
Bare It All is a raw, no-holds-barred poetry collection where you share your deeply personal and emotional journey with readers, one that leads to self-love, survival, and transformation. Why was this an important collection of poetry for you to write?
Writing Bare It All was important for me because it allowed me to share my journey of self-love and transformation without reservation. This collection serves as a testament to the healing power of vulnerability and the strength that comes from embracing one’s truth. It’s about shedding fears and acknowledging my experiences to inspire others to do the same.
Can you share a bit about your writing process? Do you have any rituals or routines when writing poetry?
I wouldn’t say I have any specific rituals, but I do like to pray and meditate before writing. This practice of self-reflection helps me connect with my emotions and understand what’s on my mind. I write whatever flows naturally, allowing my thoughts and feelings to shape the poetry.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
Initially, I wrote Bare It All for myself, without considering an audience. It was a personal endeavor reflecting my own healing journey. However, if my words resonate with others and encourage them to share their truths, that would be a beautiful outcome.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
This poetry book has shown me the beauty and bravery of being an open book, no pun intended. I’ve learned that I am a deeply emotional person, and while I used to shy away from that, I now recognize it as a beautiful and important aspect of my identity. Embracing my emotions has not only enriched my writing but has also deepened my connection with myself.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Hidden Emotions
Oceans of Thoughts: An Inspirational Walk through the Inner Self, Life and History is a soul-stirring collection of poems and reflections that journey through loss, memory, identity, and spiritual awakening. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
My work in poetry is written to resonate with those who read and those who hear about Oceans of Thoughts. My writing style in poetry is thought-provoking and is focused on my life experiences, to influence you to look within your inner self and experience some self-healing and inner peace.
In Oceans of Thoughts Book One, I wrote a beautiful poetry series about my experiences with the loss of my sister Yvonne and the emotions that loss had on my life. I dedicated Book One to Yvonne.
I also wrote in another section, about the dysfunctional effects of other family relationships and family discord. There are many differences and prejudices hanging over families. Oceans of Thoughts is written to touch lives, speak about social issues and current affairs, and to draw you to the effects those psychological trends have on mankind. Also, I expressed the grace of the selfless service in everyone to be able to give in unexpected circumstances. The desirable respect for seniors in ‘I AM SENIOR’ is another very impactful piece in Book One. There are also the lighthearted joys in poetry and Caribbean History that I share and are certain to enlighten the experience with Oceans of Thoughts.
I am inspired and guided by the limitless inspiration that directs my work in poetry. Oceans of Thoughts is inspired wholesomely by my life experiences and is directed to change lives and to touch the hidden emotions of its readers.
How did you decide on the themes that run throughout your poetry book?
Oceans of Thoughts is an inspirational poetry book series. I believe that the effects and emotions of the passing of my sister Yvonne propelled the direction and selection of the poems for Book One.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
Oceans of Thoughts is written to influence a target audience in the age range of teens, young adults, adults, and seniors. The targeted audience can most certainly benefit from my work in this book series.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
Oceans of Thoughts Book One is the beginning of my published inspirational poetry book series and my life as a published author. Book One embarked on a journey of self-healing and motivation that influences people to look within the self. It is the beginning of many accomplishments achieved as an author globally.
One of the most important things that I learned about myself as the author of Oceans of Thoughts is that I must stay focused on the limitless inspirational gifts and talents to direct my path in poetry.
Author Links: GoodReads | Barnes & Noble | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon
Writing in the Moment
Always Something Heartfelt: Life, Love, and Heartbreak is a raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal collection of poetry and reflective prose exploring a myriad of human experiences. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
Every piece in this collection was hand-stitched with everything I was feeling inside at the time of its inception. Growing up, it felt like the only time I was allowed to be sad, disappointed, hurt, etc. was at funerals. I started journaling when I was 17. It was a newfound outlet to what started to feel like a form of freedom to be able to communicate my raw emotions. Then, one near-fatal curveball in life, in the form of a car accident that physically propelled me from a vehicle, pushed me to open up to the world because life wasn’t promised. I gained the confidence to boldly articulate things I felt. Life became too short to be anything other than authentic. Through performing at spoken word events, I got feedback that showed me that my expressions were relatable. When I chose the poems from my collection to put together Always Something Heartfelt, I focused on providing my most genuine expressions. The goal was to expound on the notion that my experiences, though deeply personal, were relatable to others.
How do you approach writing about deeply personal or emotional topics?
I write what I feel in the moment with as much honesty as I can manage. I approach emotion the way I used to approach music—as therapy. Whether I’m hurting, reflecting, or just trying to understand something, I let the pen run freely. Free verse gives me the room to speak plainly and honestly, without worrying about form getting in the way of truth. I aim for clarity, and I hope that clarity resonates with people who’ve felt something similar.
Do you have a favorite poem in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
I do not have one particular favorite, but there are some poems I really like. That list includes poems like “She trusted Me”, “TV Failed Me”, “Maybe I never loved her”, “Windows”, “The next guy”, “Temporary insanity”, “I really wanted to”, and “Like you”. These are poems that are pivotal spaces and times in my life. To me, it’s like going through the pages of your life and marking them with a highlighter.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
Writing this book showed me that authentic emotions, though deeply personal, are very relatable beyond just the community that I’ve shared my expressions with over the years. These poems represent universal concepts that express how we all can feel at any given moment in life. That notion encourages me to keep writing and count myself as blessed to even have experiences to share. Though considered fleeting and temporary, emotions provide substance to your experiences and help you set, change, or stay the course in life.
Before the World Moves On
Nathaniel Terrell’s Before the World Moves On is a soul-bearing collection of poems that dig deep into themes of love, regret, faith, struggle, masculinity, and survival. Delivered in conversational free verse, the book reads like a personal diary cracked open for the world to see. Terrell shares moments of heartbreak, brushes with death, spiritual awakenings, and everyday reflections that pulse with honesty. Each poem feels like a snapshot of a lived experience, from backbreaking labor to falling in and out of love, from political disillusionment to spiritual resilience.
What really struck me was Terrell’s unfiltered voice. Some lines had me nodding, others hit me in the gut. There’s a sadness throughout the book, but also a sense of grit—like he’s been knocked down more times than he can count, but keeps getting back up. The poetry isn’t dressed up in metaphor or fancy language—it’s real, immediate, and often sounds like a man talking to himself in the mirror, wrestling with his past and daring to hope for better. The emotions are heavy, but the writing has rhythm and style. A few pieces, like “Dream catcher” and “Sequel,” resonated with me personally.
The collection is lengthy, and while not every piece resonated equally with me, that variety felt intentional. Some poems have the rawness of journal entries, which adds to their emotional depth, though it occasionally slows the momentum. Certain themes—like betrayal or self-doubt—echo throughout and gives the sense of someone working through their pain in real time. Terrell doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, and that repeated reckoning feels honest.
I’d recommend Before the World Moves On to anyone who appreciates poetry that bleeds truth. Especially men trying to process pain in a world that often doesn’t let them. It’s not a book for those looking for tidy endings or polished sentiment. It’s for folks who’ve been through some stuff and are still standing.
Pages: 165 | ASIN : B0F7LWL7ML
How to Find God on the Dance Floor
Marlene Rhein’s How to Find God on the Dance Floor is a soul-stirring collection of poetry that doesn’t tiptoe—it stomps, dances, and rages its way across the messy floor of human emotion. Rhein paints an unfiltered portrait of what it means to crave connection, wrestle with loneliness, and dig through the ruins of trauma in search of joy, self-worth, and transcendence. At its core, this is a book about movement—of body, of spirit, of memory—and the sacred power of music, particularly house and hip-hop, as a lifeline to God, to self-love, to sanity.
This is not the tidy, soft kind of poetry you wrap in a Hallmark card—this was truth with cracked lipstick and a pounding bassline. Rhein’s voice is funny, furious, messy, and sharp as glass. The poems are wild and untamed. They jump from nightclub floors to childhood wounds, from pop culture absurdity to sacred vulnerability, and somehow, it all holds together. There’s something deeply cathartic about the way she refuses to keep it cute. She says what we’ve all felt but were too afraid or ashamed to admit. That sometimes you need to dance to remember you’re still alive. That sometimes love comes in the form of sweat and strobe lights, not church pews and neat prayers.
I loved how she blends humor with heartbreak. One minute I was laughing at a dig about pop music at the dentist’s office, the next I was crushed by the weight of a poem about childhood neglect. It’s a rollercoaster, but one you don’t want to get off. Her writing is vulnerable in a way that makes you want to both cheer and cry for her. She doesn’t flinch from her pain or disguise it in metaphor—she spills it, owns it, dances through it. Her spirituality isn’t the polished, book-club kind. It’s gritty, found in flashing lights and gut-level knowing. She makes you believe that healing is possible, even if it’s slow, sweaty, and filled with bad DJs and loneliness.
This book is for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong, anyone trying to claw their way out of depression, anyone who finds God not in silence but in the chaotic joy of movement. It’s for the feelers, the survivors, and especially the dancers. If you’ve ever needed a reason to get off the couch and reclaim your magic, this book might just be your anthem.
Pages: 112 | ASIN: B0FBX5PDXZ
Always Something Heartfelt Life Love and Heartbreak
Always Something Heartfelt is a raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal collection of poetry and reflective prose by Ashton Harper. Spanning multiple emotional phases of the author’s life, the book travels through love, heartbreak, fatherhood, self-doubt, spiritual resilience, depression, and healing. Divided into five parts, it weaves a nonlinear journey of introspection and reckoning, delivered through conversational yet impactful language. Harper reflects on intimate experiences and societal observations with unfiltered honesty, never shying away from emotional depth.
Reading this book felt like being invited into someone’s private journal—except the handwriting was lyrical and honest to the bone. Harper’s writing isn’t polished in the traditional literary sense, and that’s what makes it special. His language is colloquial, immediate, and unpretentious. There’s something deeply brave about the way he lays his pain bare—whether it’s about being alone, yearning for his child, or admitting where he’s gone wrong in love. He manages to ask the kind of questions we all keep buried. And when he’s angry or defeated or full of love, he lets it rip. It’s messy, but it’s real. At times, I found myself underlining lines like I was trying to hold onto pieces of someone else’s heartbreak to better understand my own.
The emotional weight can be heavy, and the lack of traditional structure might not be for everyone. But then again, that may be the point. Love, grief, identity—none of it follows rules. And Harper’s refusal to wrap his pain in bows or follow poetic conventions feels like an act of rebellion. A lot of his strongest pieces come when he shifts from personal reflection to cultural critique, challenging toxic masculinity, absentee parenting, and community disconnection. That balance of personal story and broader relevance gives the book its power.
If you’ve ever loved someone who left you, struggled to find your place in the world, or looked in the mirror unsure of what you saw, then Always Something Heartfelt Life Love and Heartbreak will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed. I’d recommend this book to readers who crave vulnerability and aren’t afraid to sit with discomfort. It’s soulful, heavy, and at times, beautifully healing.
Pages: 148 | ASIN : B0CTFPG56X
