Hello my friends
Finally my project for 2023 is now out on amazon for pre-order. It took a bit longer but it is here! Thanks to my beta readers who reviewed and made great suggestions, from them, I decided to use one of my paintings for the cover.
During the winter upon discovery of an art studio tucked away within the medieval old part of Tolfa is Artiamo run by art teacher Silvia Di Silvestro. I was drawn to a stone dwelling warmed by a central fireplace. The intoxicating smell of oil paint and mixed berry tea or tisana as its called in Italy had me inside quicker than I realized. Welcoming smiles of ladies set up with easels and dressed in their painting smocks, all sense of intimidation thinking that I could learn to paint at my age went out the door.
I have always wanted to paint but never had the time or resources to take painting classes. I often watch the videos of my friend Maureen who paints on a daily basis and wondered where she got the time. “A few minutes each day” she said. Which got me thinking, if I organized my time it could happen. Just a few times per month. And that’s what happened. Thanks Maureen for the inspiration.
Travels around Jamaica and Italy have my sense of color on overdrive. In Jamaica its green. All kinds of green. In Italy especially in the spring, I go mad with the explosion of colours.
So this winter I decided to go for it. Another thing on my bucket list. To combine a few paintings with my poetry. Thanks to Silvia I could fulfill this dream in time for publication. This project was not about perfection but living in the moment. Embracing all experiences of creativity. Writing poetry and painting do go hand in hand. It draws out all the senses.
My debut book THE COLOUR WHEEL OF MY DREAMS stems from the dreams of nostalgia of the country of my birth that were particularly enhanced in the winter time while living in New Jersey. Each year the winters just seem to get worse. And with each year the colours of the tropical flora of Jamaica would get brighter and brighter to match the pain of my nostalgia. I had no choice but to fill a journal with words that came to my mind. Actually several journals. This book is a compilation of poetry that I wrote from 2007 to 2023. It tells of my journey from childhood in Jamaica to wanting to come to America and then the decision to leave and live in Italy.
It is my story and experiences which written with an unaltered voice to suit any particular audience. It even has a bit of Jamaican dialect, known as patois.
I hope that you will purchase while it is at the pre-order stage. First as an ebook to give you a chance to read and hopefully leave a review on Amazon.
The paperback will be out in July which I truly look forward to having in my hands.
Please order at the link below.
Thank you so much for your continued support. I always look forward to your replys and look forward to any questions that you may have.
All the best
Juli-Anne
Fantastic Juli! I pre-ordered. And I'm happy to help anytime. Congratulations!