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At the Foot of the Mountain
At the Foot of the Mountain is a stirring collection of poems that wanders through memory, trauma, heritage, and healing. The book moves between landscapes in the natural world and landscapes within the self, tying the two together in ways that feel tender and raw. Erzinger writes about loss, cultural identity, motherhood, grief, and the slow, patient climb toward recovery. The imagery often returns to mountains, forests, animals, and weather, using the outdoors as both a mirror and a refuge.
I found myself pulled in by the writing’s honesty. The poems feel unguarded, almost conversational, yet they also hit with a kind of quiet force. I caught myself pausing after certain lines, taking a breath, thinking about how plainly the emotions sat on the page. The simplicity of the language made the feelings feel even sharper. Nothing here is dressed up. Nothing hides behind cleverness. I liked that. It made the pain feel real, and it made the small moments of hope feel like little glimmers you want to cup in your hands before they disappear. Some poems made me uneasy in that good way, the way art does when it nudges you to look straight at something you usually avoid.
I also loved the way the natural world acts almost like a character. Animals appear and vanish. Weather shifts. Mountains hold people up or swallow them whole. The poems made me think about how the outside world can reflect our insides without us even noticing. Sometimes I’d read a line and feel a jolt of recognition, like I’d stepped into one of my own memories. Other times I felt the poems drifting far from me, into experiences that aren’t mine. Instead of feeling shut out, though, I felt invited in. The mix of cultures, countries, and family histories gave the collection a restless energy, and that restlessness felt honest. The book breathes in two places at once, maybe more, and I found that tension both sad and beautiful.
I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy poetry that feels lived in. It’s a good fit for anyone who has ever carried invisible hurts or tried to piece themselves back together after breaking apart. People who find comfort in nature writing will enjoy it too, since the landscape shows up in almost every poem. This is the kind of collection you read slowly, maybe outside, maybe with a cup of something warm, letting each poem settle before moving to the next.
Pages: 98 | ISBN: 198911945X
I Enjoyed Writing All Of It
Queen of the Mountain follows a sad older woman who arrives in a tiny village where she meets a young farm girl who relates to her feelings of loss and befriends her. What was the inspiration for your story?
My inspiration for this story began with a hike through Switzerland. I hiked through some of the areas where the Countess of Kent (Queen Victoria) visited in Switzerland. She put them on the tourist map for early English travellers. Furthermore, as a child, it was the kindness of my elders who helped me to overcome and deal with some painful losses in my own life.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main idea for this book was to encourage and foster empathy in children. Also to show that friendships can form organically across generations and backgrounds with kindness and openness.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
This is a difficult question to answer because I enjoyed writing all of it. However if I had to choose, I would say the part that show’s Vicky, the young farmer girl, following the Countess of Kent and discovering that despite her age and otherness, she likes and appreciates the same thing that Vicky does in nature and that they have both experienced loss.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am currently working on three projects: submitting a chapbook for publication, my first novel and a collection of envirnonmental poems.
Realistically I think the chapbook will be available next fall, given I find a new publisher for it soon.
Author Links: Instagram | Facebook | X
In this gentle and loving story, a carefree farm girl strikes up an unusual friendship with an interesting foreigner.
Soon they both realise they have a lot in common, even though they have very different lives.
Queen of the Mountain
Queen of the Mountain is a beautifully woven children’s book about an unlikely friendship between a young mountain girl, Vicky, and a grieving Queen Victoria. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the story follows Vicky as she observes and eventually befriends the mysterious countess who visits her village. Through small acts of kindness and honest conversations, the two form a bond that transcends class and circumstance, ultimately revealing that the so-called countess is actually Queen Victoria.
What struck me most was the simplicity and warmth of Erzinger’s writing. The story unfolds like a gentle breeze—quiet but powerful. Vicky’s innocence and curiosity make her an endearing protagonist, and her small yet thoughtful gestures, like leaving a bouquet of flowers for the countess, carry so much weight. Erzinger doesn’t overcomplicate emotions. When Vicky asks the queen why she is sad and openly shares her own loss, the moment is raw and real. There’s no grand speech or overly dramatic exchange—just two people, young and old, connecting over shared pain. That restraint makes the emotions hit even harder.
The relationship between Vicky and Queen Victoria is the heart of the book, and their moments together are pure magic. When Vicky sneaks a peek at the queen’s painting, you can see her awe and admiration. Later, when Vicky learns the truth about her friend’s identity, her reaction is heartbreakingly human. She doesn’t care about titles or status, only that their friendship suddenly feels fragile because of the divide between them. It’s a brilliant reflection of how children view the world.
The colorful hand-drawn artwork in Queen of the Mountain is utterly charming and perfectly complements the gentle, heartfelt tone of the story. The soft, expressive illustrations bring the Swiss Alps to life, making the landscape feel both magical and real. The characters, especially Vicky and Queen Victoria, are drawn with warmth and personality. The vibrant colors add a sense of nostalgia, almost like flipping through the pages of a treasured storybook from childhood.
Queen of the Mountain to anyone who enjoys historical fiction kids’ books with an almost fairytale-like quality. Readers who appreciate stories about friendship, loss, and healing will find something truly special here.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0DNLSSWHK
LITERARY TITAN 