I visited One Woman’s Quest last month. I’m not sure how I found the site, but since I wrote Shattered, I’m navigating to a lot of different places in this internet sea that I might not have otherwise. I’m so glad I found it because this poem touched me deeply, and I knew I wanted to share it with my readers. V.J. graciously gave me permission to re-post it here. Thank you, V.J. Your thoughts are couched in such beautiful language.
Sufficiency
Disability corners me
twixt two directions –
the hurried rush
of ambition’s call
and the gentle nudge
of wisdom settling
Confined to four rooms
I am distanced from –
invisible to –
the weekend warriors
whose self-satisfied grimaces
race by my window
I remember that push –
not enough hours to the day
not enough money to succeed
never thin enough, fit enough
always grasping for more…
Legless and exhausted,
I am disqualified
from competing,
immersed in retrospection,
luxuriating in perspective –
I’ve always had, indeed,
continue to have
everything I need:
a home I can navigate,
the endless beauty of nature
and the care of loved ones.
Abundance, I’ve discovered, is attitude:
recognition and acceptance
that life is sufficiency
by
“I’ve derived this poem from a post by the same name, dated October 2014.
At the time, I was five months into the losses that were Myalgic Encephalomyelitis…”
And now for our monthly question. Remember, the question is optional!
In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
The awesome co-hosts for the December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando,Diane Burton,Louise – Fundy Blue,Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!
Since I’m going through the most stressful part of this writing business right now, this question is easy to answer. Releasing a book into the world shoots my stress level to “explosive”. Picture that emoji of the guy with the top of his head erupting like a volcano, and you get some of how I feel. The publicity deadlines, the obligation to winners of prizes, the delays in getting books for special promotions, the uncertainty of public response. All of these combine to make me vow never to do it again. So far this has been a vow I haven’t kept, and I’ve repeated it 10 times with 10 books. I always think, “This time will be easier because I’ve had practice.” Ha! That is not the case.
Maybe I don’t stop because I know I’m always ready to enter the delightful period, and that will diminish the stress, and I’ll be sane again. When I’m at the re-writing stage of a book, I’m in heaven. The characters are there to “play” with, the plot is laid out to twist for more interest or smooth out for more plausibility, the narrative and description are ready for those final touches. Ahh. Now that is heaven.
Shattered’s Blog Tour
Shattered is featured in a few blogs from Nov 29 to Dec 3. If you have a moment, I hope you’ll stop by some of these great sites. I so appreciate bloggers who help get the word out about books, and I like to encourage them for their efforts.
November 29:
1: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
2: Write. Read. Live.
3: Mythical Books
4: Gold Dust Editing & Book Reviews
5: Literary Gold
6: The Avid Reader
7: Straight from the Library
November 30:
1: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
2: Long and Short Reviews
3: Readers Roost
4: Splashes of Joy
5: Kit ‘N Kabookle
6: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
7: Westveil Publishing
December 1:
1:Books in the Hall
2: Fabulous and Brunette
3: https://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com
4: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
5: Sapphyria’s Books
6: Triquetra Reviews
7: Author C.A.Milson
December 2:
1: Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog
2: Welcome to My World of Dreams
3: The Faerie Review
4: Don’t Judge, Read
5: Coffee and Wander Book Reviews
6: Jazzy Book Reviews
7: Let me tell you a story
December 3:
1: Locks, Hooks and Books
2: Novels Alive
3: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
4: Sandra’s Book Club
5: Girl with Pen
6: It’s Raining Books
Quote of the Week: “Sometimes your destiny is wrapped up in a veil of fear to check if you really have the courage to face it.” Marcus Hades, Poet
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) says
That is an excellent poem. Thanks for sharing the work of that writer.
Hope you had a great book tour.
🤯
Hope you had a good IWSG day!
I’m enjoying #WRiTECLUB2021 over at DL Hammons blog. The entries are fun to read and vote on with feedback.
Plus, I’m currently reading Patricia Lynne’s Being Human. (The IWSG Goodread’s book club choice for December.)
And I’m scheduling debut author interviews at Operation Awesome.
I hope you have some fun plans for the rest of 2021. 🎆⛸🥁✉🥂⛄ May your days ahead be merry and filled with positive experiences.
Bookworm says
I like that moving poem especially the line about abundance. Good luck with your writing and that’s wonderful about Shattered being in virtual tour! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on writing and releasing your books.
Deniz says
Love that line about abundance!
Wow, what a great blog tour lineup! Isn’t that funny about writing? The creative arts seem to be the one field where things don’t become easier or more routine no matter how often we do them…
Michelle Wallace says
I’m late to this party. Just trying to recover from what has been a brutal school term. I always imagined that, as time passed, I’d relax more into my role as educator and that, with experience, it wouldn’t be as consuming…
Ha! This past term has proven otherwise. I’ve worked harder than I ever thought possible. It’s been crazy!
Congrats on the new book!
10 books? That’s just amazing!
The poem is beautiful.
We need to recognise that we have more than we realize.
It makes me think of something I often tell students: if you have a roof over your head, a plate of food on your table, and a warm bed to sleep in, then by world standards, you are amongst the wealthy…
H. R. Sinclair says
Beautiful poetry.
The part of the process you’re in right now would be so stressful, and you are undertaking a huge blog tour, also stressful.
Jeff says
Lovely poem and I liked the idea of abundance being an attitude! I think that can also have religious meanings and maybe even providing an antidote to the heretic concept of the “prosperity gospel”
Toi Thomas says
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Thanks for sharing the poem by V.J. Knutson.
Promoting can be very stressful. I’ve never been very good at it, but that may be why it doesn’t bother me so much. Hope the blog tour is a huge success.
I really enjoyed Shattered. Kudos to you.
H A Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – you’ve got the bug and we’re here to enjoy your reads, as those books reach out into the wider world. So don’t stop – just know that that point as you express so well here will come:
Lee’s words: “Maybe I don’t stop because I know I’m always ready to enter the delightful period, and that will diminish the stress, and I’ll be sane again. When I’m at the re-writing stage of a book, I’m in heaven. The characters are there to “play” with, the plot is laid out to twist for more interest or smooth out for more plausibility, the narrative and description are ready for those final touches. Ahh. Now that is heaven.”
I certainly can feel and see your love of writing, reworking and enjoying the characters in the lives you’ve created for them.
Congratulations – and here’s to more books – cheers Hilary
Yvette Carol says
First, congratulations on releasing a new book! And second, I feel for you, because that is such a hard part of this business. Good luck!
Sandra Cox says
That poem is unbelievably moving.
The stress definitely doesn’t ease up when you type The End, does it, Lee?
Wishing you much success with Shattered, though I’m sure you won’t need it;)
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
That is a powerful poem by V. J., Lee! Abundance is attitude. Actually attitude governs most things. I like that she focuses on the positive, that she is immersed in retrospection and luxuriating in perspective rather than her losses. You’ve lined up a great blog tour for “Shattered.” I won’t be able to read your book until the new year, but when I do, I will post a review on my blog on an IWSG Day.
Patricia Josephine says
Putting the book out into the world is stressful, but it’s also so awesome to have that finished story to hold. I think that outweighs the stressfullness.
Mary Aalgaard says
Congratulations on all your success! You’re killin’ it! That poem speaks volumes. Thanks for sharing it.
Sonia Dogra says
Thanks for the lovely share Lee. I will try visiting some of those blogs. I love your persistence.
Denise Covey says
Thanks for sharing the heartfelt poem.
Just can’t get that picture out of my head of the emojie exploding. LOL. Very apt for any of us.
Sorry I didn’t see your call for you blog tour, but seeing your fat little list I don’t feel so bad. I hope it’s good for you. I’ll try to catch some! I love that book but I daresay it’s quite different to the version I read. Haven’t had time to read the latest.
Nick Wilford says
Beautiful poem. I think it’s important to run your own race and not too get caught up in how others are doing. Easier said than done!
Sherry Ann Ellis says
Great poem! Yes, release week can be very stressful because you want to give your book the best chance for being seen and picked up. Good luck with your new one! It sounds great!
Diane Burton says
That poem is filled with so much emotion. Thank you for sharing it here. Beautiful.
Liz A. says
That is a lovely poem. Yes, I imagine marketing a new book is quite the stressful endeavor. Good luck.
Michael Di Gesu says
Hi, Lee!
Thank you for sharing VJ’s poem. It was so moving. True emotion hits my soul. I am one of those extremely sensitive people and I feel words. I’ve shed many lately. But, to me, it is a cleansing of the soul and they bring out our humanity.
All the best on your tour. I hope to post a review on my blog once I get a chance to read it. I’ll also leave a review on Amazon. I am behind on my reading since my escape to Colorado. And, now with all my Christmas decorating… I often ask, “WHY?” I always spend WEEKS pulling it together. I just can’t seem to help myself. Lol
Keep breathing. You are doing GREAT!
Shannon Lawrence says
That’s a wonderful poem. Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry I missed that you were doing a blog tour. Good luck with all things Shattered! Even though I’m not on the tour, I’m happy to share if you want to send me the information. (My email is same as my website, at Gmail.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
That’s really nice of you, Shannon. I will send you the information and you can do whatever works for your site.
Olga Godim says
Yeah, the business of selling is certainly extremely stressful.
Great poem, very emotional. I almost cried.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It touches some very deep places. I cried.
ChemistKen says
“So far this has been a vow I haven’t kept, and I’ve repeated it 10 times with 10 books.”
So, in other words, you’re a slow learner. 🙂
Hey, if the process that gets you there is delightful, then keep going for it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So now you know. I’m sure there are some of my teachers out that would agree. It takes me a long time “get” things. 🙂
Jemima Pett says
A very moving poem, I can see why you asked to reblog it.
Picking up on something you said elsewhere… no I’m mildly more in favour of asking for reviews than cleaning ovens. But only just.
I hope the blog tour is going well – and the book too. And I expect there’ll be more, even though they have to be launched!
Good luck!
C. Lee McKenzie says
So glad you found the poem moving, Jemima. It deserved to have more readers.
My sense of humor isn’t always top drawer, but I did like that little review vs. oven cleaning moment.
Melissa Maygrove says
What a touching poem! Thanks for sharing.
Writing is the best. And positive reviews. The rest of publishing is necessary evils.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’ve nailed it very succinctly, Melissa! It’s those necessary evils that really get to me.
Jacqui Murray says
What a wonderful poem. I’m going to visit VJ’s website. And your book–Shattered. I’m not on the list because I didn’t think I’d finish it in time. I did because I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be reviewing it… soon… I just loved it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’ve been a busy mom. Hope you had a great time with your son and a relaxing trip. I’m surprised you’ve had time read with everything going on, but I love that you did. Thanks so much.
Cathrina says
I’m being repetitive, a poem that tugs on a persons emotions. Brilliant.
Offering a new book to the world is overwhelming, I totally agree. It seems endless and then, eventually you’ll come back down to earth.
Good quote by Marcus.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We’ve both had a lot of these times, haven’t we? Glad you liked the quote.
diedre says
The poem and post by VJ Knutson are eloquently written, profoundly moving glimpses of how “Relevance is an attitude, humor essential.” So beautiful. Thank you both very much for sharing.
“The characters are there to play with, the plot is laid out to twist…” I love this, Lee! It may just be the mindset I need to rise above loose ribbons and tie them all together. Thanks!
Very best wishes on the blog tour!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Aren’t her words beautiful? I love poetry when it touches people so deeply.
Glad you found what I wrote of some help. We all knit our stories together in unique ways, so isn’t it interesting that we come up books that we each appreciate and enjoy.
Loved your comment, but I always do.
VJ KNUTSON says
Thanks so much for sharing my poem. It’s lovely we’ve discovered one another – so good to find more inspiration.
As to your question – what stresses me most is knowing whether or not I have the correct word, mind being unreliable these days. What delights me, is coming across something I’ve written and actually finding value there.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It’s so wonderful to have you visit today. I hope you’ve had a chance to read some of the comments because they might also be inspiring. You struck a chord with your words, so this time you absolutely found the right one–many times. I’ve been reading some of your poetry, and I think there is a lot of “value” in your work.
I love being connected with sensitive and talented writers, so I’ll be hanging out at your blog frequently.
Carrie-Anne says
Best of luck with your release tour! It takes a lot of organization and planning to do something like that. I can only imagine the levels of stress.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’d think I’d have an easier time by now, but even by book 9, I’m in a twist. I suppose that’s just how it’s always going to be. Thanks, Carrie-Anne.
Elephants Child says
That is a truthful and powerful poem. As the best poems so often are.
Huge thanks to you, and to so many other authors. You delight me. You educate me and I am so grateful for the hard yards you put in.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You know that song The Wind Beneath My Wing is a good fit, Sue.
Tyrean Martinson says
What a powerful poem of truth! Thank you for sharing it.
I’m so glad to see all those cool stops for your blog tour and while I know your writing is beautiful and always good, I understand those stresses at the end.
Wishing you many relaxing moments of celebration each and every day to get you through – lots of deep breaths, prayers/meditation, and what you need to have a good book launch.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Your comment is so thoughtful and kind. Thank you for it, and the encouraging advice. That helps so much.
Yvonne (@Fiction_Books) says
The poem was so powerful, emotional and poignant, I so wish I was able to express my feelings so eloquently.
The last verse in particular lifted me and gave me cause to rethink the relatively insignificant things I can find wrong with my own life and put them into perspective.
Thanks to both of you for sharing such a lovely post 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you, Yvomne. That is a wonderful comment and I’m sure VJ will love reading it.
Patricia Anne Pierce-garcia Schaack says
Hi,
I love the poem. It speaks to my heart. Many do not realize what they are missing in life is not more money, a new house, or youth. None of these things can take the place of love and acceptance that comes from the heart.
I don’t know how I missed your tour. I would have loved to be a part of it. Well, I purchased Shattered today from Amazon Germany and look forward to reading it over Christmas.
Wishing you all the best, Lee. Have a Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2022.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
C. Lee McKenzie says
I didn’t organize the tour this time, Pat, so I didn’t know who was going to be hosting me. No worries.
This poem is all about was is real and importance in our lives. It’s a beautiful reminder, isn’t it?
Thank you for buying Shattered and letting me know! That’s very special.
L. Diane Wolfe says
It never gets easier.
That was a delightful and profound poem.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes, it was. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it.
Natalie Aguirre says
Releasing a book and marketing it would be the most stressful for me too. Glad you are on blog tour. I think that’s a really smart move, especially because they are new sites with new followers to learn about your book.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Everytime I come to a new and interesting site, I love it and wonder how many there are that I’m missing and shouldn’t. The tour is interesting, and I’m discovering a lot of new places doing it.
joylene says
Yes, it’s a very touching poem. I can see why you were moved. Congratulations on your new release, Lee. I’m going through similar circumstances so I totally understand your emotions. Best of luck finding a wide audience.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m pretty realistic about this business after being in it for over a decade now. If I have a few followers, I feel lucky, but it’s always fun to hear from someone new who likes the book.
Jemi Fraser says
LOVE this line in VJ’s poem: Abundance, I’ve discovered, is attitude.
That is such an important & liberating concept. Beautiful!
I didn’t even think of releasing and promoting for this question – and that’s definitely the worst stage – which is why I tend to ignore so much of it… Gotta fix that one day 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’re smarter than I am, but you’ve given me an idea. I’d be much happier if I followed your lead! Thanks, Jemi.
Thomas Anderson says
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
Happy December and First Wednesday, dear friend! “Sufficiency” is indeed a powerful poem. Thank you for sharing it. Regardless of the circumstances, when you practice your reframing skills and come from abundance rather than scarcity, you are empowered. You lower the threshold for what it takes to experience joy and satisfaction.
I feel you, feel what you are going though at this stage of a book launch when carefully laid plans tend to go sideways and you experience anxiety wondering if your labor of love will be well received by critics and readers. In my case, I become stressed because I have difficulty keeping it simple. I get too many ideas at once and feel the need to include them all in a single project. It becomes unwieldy, requiring a massive amount of editing .
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You always have such a way of expressing yourself. I love reading your comments and am amazed at your blog posts. How does he do that? I ask every time I visit your site and see what you’ve put together. Of course, I stay a long time for the music, too!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
You can keep vowing but it doesn’t sound like you’ll ever swear off writing books.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Probably not, but I do often wonder how it would be to just read for a change.