Celebrated since the 1800s in Australia, Australia Day can mean different things to different people. It can be a celebration of the formation of a modern nation, the mourning of the loss of land and culture for many of the first peoples, an acknowledgement of the diversity and contribution of immigrants from around the world to our nation.

For many it’s an excuse for a barbie, a day at the beach and  having a good time.

And here is one more thing to celebrate this Australia Day — a celebration of  Christian writers through a fantastic giveaway of twelve books by Australian authors and/or set in Australia.  Books I’ve read and enjoyed or that are on my to-read list. And one of them is mine.

The Books

Akrad’s Children by Australian author Jeanette O’Hagan – a YA epic fantasy with courtly intrigue, a touch of romance and imagination – set in the world of Nardva.

The Boy in A Hoodie by Catriona McKeown – a contemporary YA novel set in Queensland

A New Resolution by Rose Dee – romantic suspense set in central to north Queensland

Too Pretty by Andrea Grigg – a Christian romance set in NSW

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac -  a contemporary romance set in Sydney

The Bridesmaid’s Hero (A Snowgum Creek Novella) by Narelle Atkins – a sweet romance set in the Snowy Mountains

Charter to Redemption by DJ Blackmore – a historical romance set in Sydney

Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon – contemporary fiction set in Sydney, that asks some big questions

Blaze in the Storm by Jenny Glazebrook – a contemporary YA that has circuses and horses

The Elusive Miss Ellison by Australian author Carolyn Miller – a regency romance

The Manse by Meredith Resce – historical romance set in colonial Australia

Waltzing Matilda by Lucy Thompson (in The Captive Bride book set) – historical romance set in Sydney

Why not discover new authors and enter the giveaway to win books and $50 Amazon Gift Card?

Happy Australia Day!

Enter

7 – 11 July 2017

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN READERS BLOG ALLIANCE

Is Introducing

Lakwi’s Lament

By the Light Books 20 January 2017

by

Jeanette O’Hagan

Book Description:

A middle-grade to Young Adult short story set in the fantasy world of Nardva:

Lakwi would love to read the books in the Royal library, but girls aren’t allowed inside. Her passion for books attracts the attention of her dashing older brother, Prince Rokkan, and her suave cousin, Lord Haka. Will her drive for knowledge lead her into more trouble than she can handle?

Lakwi’s Lament originally appeared in Like a Girl Anthology and is related to The Herbalist’s Daughter and the Akrad’s Legacy series.

About the Author:

JEANETTE O’HAGAN first started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of nine. She enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing.

She is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements. Her short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl. She has recently published her short novella, Heart of the Mountain and, in Mixed Blessings: Genrellly Speaking anthology, also a flash fiction ‘Space Junk’.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master of Arts (writing). She is a member of several writers’ groups. She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends and pondering the meaning of life.  Jeanette lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Sign up to Jeanette O’Hagan’s Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bbLJKT

Website: jeanetteohagan.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JeanetteOHaganAuthorAndSpeaker
Twitter: @JeanetteOHagan
Instagram: @bythelightof2moons

My Review:

This is more an author’s note than a review.

I wrote ‘Lakwi’s Lament’ for the Like a Girl anthology, inspired by Mirren Hogan, to raise money for girl’s education across the world. Like a Girl is available on Amazon and includes stories and poems about girls and women overcoming difficulties, the sacrifices made and potential reached. Even in the 21st century girl’s equal access to education remains a significant issue and keeping girls at school during the teen years have much better outcomes for their health and the prevention of issues such as child marriage and abuse.

Set in Tamra, ‘Lakwi’s Lament’ occurs some years before the events of Akrad’s Children and its sequel, Rasel’s Song, but about ten years after ‘The Herbalist’s Daughter’. While in most Western countries, few would question that girls should have equal access to education to their brothers, this has not been the case throughout history—and indeed in many countries even today. A woman’s role may be seen as confined to wife and mother.

Lakwi’s Lament is a fun story, an adventure with (I think) an exciting finish.

I had fun with the cover design which includes two of Lakwi’s great loves—her puppy Butterbur and her love for books and stories.

You can check out some books reviews of Lakwi’s Lament on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32705336-lakwi-s-lament

I hope you enjoy her story.

3 – 7 July 2017

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing

My Brother Tom

(By Wombat Books, 1 April, 2017)

By
Michelle Worthington
Illustrated by Ann-Marie Finn

About the Book:

Tom was born earlier than expected and had the doctors worried. His big brother wasn’t worried though, he saw angels outside his window and knew everything would be okay. My Brother Tom is a story for older siblings of premature babies to help them make sense of what is happening at a difficult time.

About the Author:

Michelle is an author of children’s books, who is also available for workshops on writing for children, book signings and school readings. Michelle Worthington was born in Brisbane, Queensland and currently works and lives in the Redlands. She enjoys travelling and has spent time studying in France where she lived for a year.  Winner of the 1988 Little Swaggie Award and other Australian poetry competitions, she has been published in numerous Australian and International poetry anthologies. Since a very early age, Michelle has shown a love of words and rhyme, and has always excelled at English and Creative Writing. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from University of Queensland in 1996, Michelle is currently undergoing studies to further her career as a published author and book publisher. Australian publisher, Wombat Books has released her first children’s picture book titled The Bedtime Band. It is the story of what the animals in the Australian bush get up to when children are at home asleep in their beds. Michelle has two sons, Jordan and Cody, who she has read to every day since they were born, as she believes in the importance of fostering a love of books in children. Her books encourage children to use their imagination and dare to dream big. Michelle’s other titles are available at www.michelleworthington.com.

My Review:

My Brother Tom is a a beautifully illustrated picture book that tackles the issue of prematurity from the perspective of an older sibling with the touch of the miraculous.

Tom’s big brother processes that fact that Tom was born to early and must spend time in a humidicrib and long weeks in hospital. The older brother connects with Tom despite the tubes and finds comfort from a startling source that all will be well.

I loved the simple and evocative drawings and the theme of My Brother Tom and the way the book addresses the issues of prematurity. My daughter was born 5 weeks early, weighted 1.9 kg, and was in hospital for 5 long weeks. I remember the hours I spent at the hospital from dawn to midnight to be with my daughter, while my husband worked. I can only imagine the added logistics of an older child in this scenario and the likely confusion and fears they might experience. If anything, the story speeds over some of the challenges and procedures – as well as the joy of the firsts – first time to touch, first time out of the humidicrib, first bath …  Still, this is a book written for young children. It should be a great resource for families with young siblings – to help them understand what is happening.

My Brother Tom is another lovely book from Wombat Books, the award-winning Michelle Worthington and illustrator Ann-Marie Finn.

I would like to thank Wombat Books for a free copy of My Brother Tom in consideration for a fair and honest review.

On the previous blogstop author Lynn Fowler reviewed Like A Girl anthology here. Lynn is an Australian writer who delights in sharing with readers about her writing and reviewing good inspirational books.

Maree Long is the founding curator of Café Soiree, providing events and a platform for poets, writers, playwrights, musicians, and artistic photo media to share their talent. A prolific writer of poetry herself and, being inspired by nature and her surrounds, she is well known for her lyrical unique style.

Maree has kindly allowed me to reproduce the interview here:

Like a Girl Blogtour

I would like to introduce Jeanette O’Hagan, one of the contributors to Like a Girl anthology, who has agreed to share as part of a blog tour

As you will see Jeanette has been very busy writing. I had the privilege of working on and collaborating on the anthology Let The Sea Roar with her with the inclusion of my own story ‘Catherine and the Dry Stone Wall’

Please enjoy the following interview:

1. How long have you been writing?

A long time. I started imagining my narrative world when I was nine and wrote some of the stories down soon after. In my early twenties I wrote my first novel but put it on hold for many years, only really taking writing up again seriously four years ago.

2. Do you have a particular writing process you employ?

I usually need a story idea which could be based on a character or a situation. I reflect on it a lot, allow my characters to ‘act out’ and interact with other characters to work out what happens before I start writing the story down. So in part the story comes from allowing my imagination free reign, in part from the flow of actually writing it down and in part from planning and research. I like to ask questions, to turn the scenes and plot around and look at it from different angles.

3. Who is your favourite author?

It’s always hard to pick a favourite. C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien were the most influential authors, but I would say Lewis because he has influenced me both with his fantasy fiction and with his theological works.

4. What inspired you to write this book?

Like a Girl is an anthology, the ‘brain child’ of the talented Mirren Hogan who wanted to contribute toward Plan International Australia’s support of girls education around the world. When she mentioned her idea and asked for contributions, I immediately began thinking of how I could write about the theme of girls education in my narrative world and the result was my short story ‘Lakwi’s Lament.’ (I also have two poems in the anthology.)

5. How has this book impacted you? And who do you think will enjoy this story?

It’s been a privilege to see the enthusiasm of the contributors and editors of Like a Girl and to see how each author approached their stories in a different way. One of the stories is written by 15 year old Kathryn Hogan. I also had the opportunity to help with some editing and proofing along with our head editors Mirren Hogan and Christina Aitken.

I think the book would appeal to anyone who enjoys fiction and values girls’ education. There are a number of sci-fiction and fantasy stories, some contemporary and also historical stories – as well as a handful of poems. The book could also appeal to teens.

6. Briefly what is the story about?

My story in the anthology is about a young princess’ desire to read the books in the Royal library, but girls aren’t allowed inside. She is lonely and is flattered by the attention of her dashing cousin. Will her drive for knowledge lead her into more trouble than she can handle?

7. What other projects are you working on?

2015 has been an exciting year for me with five short stories and seven poems published in 7 anthologies. In particular I was co-editor of an inspirational anthology Glimpses of Light (with Nola Passmore) – stories and poems on the theme of light in dark places. I continue to work on my Akrad’s Legacy series and hope to have the first couple of books in this series published this year. I’m also planning on publishing a longish short story – Heart of the Mountain – which follows the adventures of three young people as the lights in the below ground kingdom begin to flicker out.

8. To write what do you need in terms of aesthetics, environment etc?

I can write just about anywhere – as long as it’s not super noisy – or I’m not being constantly interrupted. I often write at home but also love to write in cafes or libraries.

9. What other books have you written, and do you have a favourite?

Written or published? I’ve finished or am close to finishing five fantasy novels, all part of the Akrad’s Legacy series. Of the seven anthologies with my short stories and/or poems – my favourite would be Glimpses of Light. I loved writing ‘Ruhanna’s Flight’. Like a Girl would also be a favourite.

Thanks for some great questions. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you.

Jeanette O’Hagan

Jeanette O’Hagan enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing and is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy. She has stories and poems published in another anthologies, including Glimpses of Light, Like a Girl and Let the Sea Roar. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Website: Jeanetteohagan.com
Jeanette’s Books: http://www.amazon.com/…/B00RBSE85C/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Like a Girl anthology

Fourteen Authors from around the world have contributed their stories to raise money for PLAN Australia.

‘Like a Girl’ is a celebration of the strength and resilience of women, told in a variety of genres and voices, the proceeds of which will help empower girls and women all over the world. It turns the derogatory term ‘like a girl’ on its head, celebrating the contribution girls and women can and have made.

Featuring stories and poems by Jeanette O’Hagan, Avril Sabine, V. Hartman Di Santo, Kathryn Hogan, Mary Grace, Coralyn Swift, Christina Aitken, Mark Taylor, D.L Richardson, Mimi Emmanuel, Erin Yoshikawa, Druscilla Morgan, Michelle John and Mirren Hogan.

The stories and poems use humour, adventure, imagination and emotion to explore themes of resilience, determination against odds, empowerment, relationships and women’s achievements.

It is available in print and e-book from Amazon

Win a Copy

There is still time to enter the Goodreads Giveaway or the Like a Girl Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance of winning a print copy of this beautiful anthology .

More Behind the Scenes

For more behind the scenes information about Like a Girl anthology – check out the rest of the blogtour, the coffee chats with D L Richardson and news items:

Stop 1 24 Jan – Jeanette O’Hagan

Stop 2 25 Jan – Paula Vince

Stop 3 27 Jan – Mimi Emmanuel

Stop 4 29 Jan – Lynn Fowler

Stop 5 1 Feb – Maree Long

D L Richardson’s coffee chats with Jeanette O’Hagan and with prolific fantasy author Avril Sabine.

Girl power with the pen - Mirren Hogan, Kathryn Hogan and Debbie Richardson interviewed by Bay Post.

2015 has been full of a number of exciting developments, particularly with respect to writing.

I attended a number of workshops, festivals, conferences and retreats in 2015 – including giving my first workshop on Writing Description, Giving a Sense of Place at the Omega Christian Writers Conference in October.

In July I finished my final subject for the Masters of Arts (Writing) through Swinburne University of Technology. I flew down to Melbourne in December to attend the graduation ceremony – and to connect with family, friends and look at Art Galleries with my daughter.

Seven of my poems have been published this year.  I was particularly pleased to make the Judge’s Choice with Poetica Christi’s Inner Child anthology (with ‘Thunderstorm’) and runner-up in the FAWQ 2015 Toowoomba Poetry Prize (with ‘The Real Thing’).

A number of my short stories have also been published – starting with ‘The Herbalist’s Daughter’ (Tied in Pink anthology for Breast Cancer Research) in December 2014 – and then this year, ‘Broken Promises’ in Another Time, Another Place; ‘Sandy: Perfect Plans’ in Let the Sea Roar; ‘Ruhanna’s Flight’ in Glimpses of Light; and ‘Lakwi’s Lament’ in Like a Girl, Plan anthology.

Anthologies available on Amazon.com (and as e-books on Amazon.com.au). Check out my Amazon Central Author’s Page.

Let the Sea Roar

My association with this Let the Sea Roar began a few years ago, when the editor Madeleine accepted my story ‘Sandy: Perfect Plans’ and then asked to include the poem ‘Lighthouse’ as well. An earlier version of ‘Lighthouse’ was published on Jenny’s Thread in 2013.

There are nine authors with twenty-eight stories about women of different ages, in different circumstances and walks of life, who find themselves in difficult, even overwhelming situations. Despite the pressure to give up hope, each of the women find a way forward – with faith, determination, new understandings and new possibilities. The stories are written with differences in style, reflect different life experiences and insights.

I also had fun designing the cover (with Lynne Bickhoff’s beautiful painting – used with permission) and the book design of Let the Sea Roar.

I hope that many others will also enjoy the stories in this inspirational anthology.

Glimpses of Light

Glimpses of Light celebrates 2015 as International Year of Light. It started as an idea in late 2014 and wouldn’t have come to fruition without hours of work from my co-editor, Nola Passmore as well as our team of supporting editors, proof-readers and contributors.

The anthology has an engaging and inspiration collection of short stories, poems and creative non-fiction centred around the theme of light – especially, of finding light in dark place.

It’s been wonderful having multi-published and award winning authors contributing as well as fresh new talent. I particularly enjoyed the number of spec fic, though there is also contemporary suspense, family drama, personal reflections and allegory.

We are currently holding a Goodreads Giveaway for Glimpses of Light (running until the 10 January).

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Glimpses of Light

by Jeanette O’Hagan

Giveaway ends January 10, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

I’m looking forward to more exciting developments in 2016. More on that later.

Jenny

Friendship Across the Years

I didn’t come easily to making friends.

This verse in my poem ‘A Long Time Ago’ captures something of how I felt in the primary school playground.

It was
the
silence
the closed games
and head shakes
acid that etched
corroding self-confidence
as yet again
I trembled “Can I play?”
Averted heads
closed looks
leaving me to wander
and circle
overtures of friendship
rejected
adrift in solitary pursuits
until at the end of the day
I could return to riotous play
and daring adventures with
my brothers.

Verse 4  A Long Time Ago by Jeanette O’Hagan 29 January 2014

Books were my friends. And, yes, as the years passed I did get better at making school friends as well but we moved often – over eight different schools. So every year or two I would have to start all over again.I spent much of my school years finding friends between the pages of a book and in my own fertile imagination. Yet as I read Anne Shirley’s adventures and especially her enduring friendship with Dianna Barry, I felt a sense of discontent. “Mum, why can’t I find a special bosom friend like Anne?” I’d ask.

….

Read More

The fires of countless galaxies

wheel against the dark expanse

in clotted coloured whirls

like Catherine wheels’ mad dance.

And in the deep soundless space

sun roars with warmth and light

As nine planets circle round,

alone the blue-green one, just right.

This marbled ball cradles prolific life

Towering mountains, heaving seas,

verdant forests and grass filled plains;

habitats shaped and honed to please.

And from the smallest microbe

to the grandeur of the blue whale,

life’s complex detail spins

as Great Artificer weaves time’s tale.

Vast space and wild energies

mutely obedient to natural laws

our small minds’ grasp emerging pattern

‘til immense timeless mind gives us pause.

Jeanette O’Hagan c April 2014

First published in Omega Writers Words With Wings April 2014

Read on and meet this fascinating author.

About Paula:

Award-winning author, Paula Vince loves to evoke tears and laughter through her novels. A wife and homeschooling mother of three, she resides in the beautiful Adelaide Hills of South Australia. Her youth was brightened by great fiction and she’s on a mission to pay it forward.

Her novel, Picking up the Pieces, won the religious fiction section of the 2011 International Book Awards. Her novel, Best Forgotten, was winner of the 2011 CALEB Award in the fiction category and also recognized as the best overall entry for the year. She is also author of The Risky Way Home, A Design of Gold and the Quenarden Trilogy.  Paula is also one of the four authors of The Greenfield Legacy.

Her new novel, Imogen’s Chance, will be published in April, 2014.

Paula’s books are a skillful blend of drama and romance tied together with elements of mystery and suspense.

Find out more at www.justoccurred.blogspot.com

Welcome to Jenny’s thread, Paula. I’m thrilled to have you with us today and am looking forward to learning more about you and your writing.

Imogen’s Chance is your ninth book to be published and more than one of your books has won awards. How did you start writing and why?

I think writing has been in my DNA since I was small. At school, whenever we got a chance to do some silent reading or write stories, I’d be instantly happy. I found it very easy to get involved in the worlds of story book characters, so it followed naturally that I wanted to write them. The initial choice was to make myself happy, so if I could make others happy too, it would be a bonus.

Paula, your books are often about troubled young men and women in their early 20s usually facing some big questions in life. What attracts you to writing about this age group?

I first started trying to write novels when I finished University and got married, which happened at the same time. Back then, I was the same age as my characters, which made it easy for me to relate to them. Since then, I’ve kept the habit going and suddenly I’m older, while some members of my family are a similar age to my characters. I have a nineteen-year-old son and a 23-year-old nephew boarder, as well as younger children.

I also remember those twenties as a memorable transition time in my life. I felt that childhood was finally behind me, and the adult world beckoned. It was an interesting stage where I’d switch from anxiety to enthusiasm and back again in a flash. I decided that, as I could swing so easily between apprehension and anticipation, it was a perfect age to set in stories.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

I think there are bits of me in all of them. I can certainly relate to Imogen’s honest longing to do all the right things, without knowing how much of her past she ought to reveal to the people in her life. I can even relate to Asher, who I initially thought was completely unlike me. His personal uncertainty and sense of not living up to expectations is something I’ve been familiar with at different times.

As a reader, what do you think makes a good story?

I think that, first and foremost, the characters must be easy to love and empathise with. Readers should find it easy to imagine their physical appearances, even though descriptions may be sparse. In the same way, we ought to be able to hear their distinct voices in our minds’ ears while we read their dialogue.

Secondly, the plot should be tense and fast-moving enough to bring the best out of the characters and hold our interest. The very best stories leave us with that ‘book hangover’ feeling, when we don’t want to begin a new book because our head is still too full of the last. (I find these are the times I pick up non-fiction instead, until the impressions begin to fade away.)

Who/what are the biggest influences in your writing and why?

I think I’d have to say every author whose books I’ve immensely enjoyed, although there are far too many to single out. I might also mention my husband, Andrew, who has always encouraged me. When we were first married, I told him that although I’d always wanted to write fiction, I didn’t think I had it in me. He kept urging me to give it a go, telling me that he was certain I’d come up with a good story.

What do you find is the most difficult aspect of writing and how do you cope with it?

The marketing part, which comes with each new book, is always a challenge for me. I’m not a natural salesperson. Daydreaming is easy, but recognising opportunities as they whiz past is not so easy. Often, I’d hear about opportunities in retrospect, and think, ‘If only I’d known, I could have gone to that.’ Unlike my hero, Asher, I don’t have the gift of the gab, which means coming up with the right things to say when I’m trying to sell books at public forums can be a strain.

As for coping strategies, I think it’s just a matter of doing it often enough to get used to it.

Faith is woven through your books sometimes more understated, at other times more obvious. Can you tell me what faith means to you?

I’ve battled with fear and uncertainty at different times in my life, and my faith has always pulled me through. Since I was very young, I’ve had a fascination with the way God may choose to work in people’s lives. This makes it easy to create characters who become intrigued with the same subject.

Without giving too much away, what is your favourite moment in Imogen’s Chance?

Okay, I’ll say the bit with the lights in the cabin. It made me very happy to write that. I hope that’s cryptic enough to make everybody want to read the book. Apart from that, I liked all of the interactions between Asher and his brother, Seth. In the early stages, I had the feeling there might be a bit of friction between those two, but had no idea why. As I let them have their way and converse with each other, the hidden chinks in their attitudes toward each other started showing, surprising even me. I loved it when the buried feelings of those two young men came to light.

Launching a new book is a very busy time so I know you have lots of things on your mind, but I can’t help wondering – do you have some other writing projects on the boil?

It’s all still in my head at the moment, except for a few rough jottings on paper. As well as wanting to write a nostalgic story based on my grandfather’s real war experiences, I have some ideas regarding more romantic triangles, guilty secrets and unexpected turns of events like nothing I’ve written so far.

Thanks for inviting me to discuss my book with your readers, Jenny. I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

Thanks for talking with us Paula. I’ve enjoyed reading a number of your books over the last couple of years, including Imogen’s Chance. I find your books entertaining as well as giving me lots to think about. Thank you so much for sharing about yourself, your books and your life as a writer. We wish you great success with the launch of your latest book Imogen’s Chance.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Paula. Let me encourage you to check out her blog for information about Paula’s Blog Tour through April – with the chance to win copies of Imogen’s Chance along the way and a special promotion Greenfield Legacy Pack for the first three people who leave a comment at every visit spot, and tell Paula about it on her blog. Don’t forget to comment today too.

Jeanette O’Hagan

***

About Imogen’s Chance:

She has given herself a chance to fix her personal history. But will old mistakes bring up new emotions?

Imogen Browne longs to make up for past mistakes before she can move on. She quietly resolves to help the Dorazio family, whose lives she accidentally upset. Her biggest challenge is Asher, the one person who may never forgive her. And he is facing a crisis of his own. Imogen must tread very carefully, as trying to fix things may well make them shatter.

A sensitive story about misplaced loyalty, celebrating life and falling in love. Can family secrets concealed with the best intentions bear the light of day?

A Dark Glass

Now we see through a tarnished mirror

Then we will see your beloved face.

Now we see in tantalising part

Then we will know you as you know us.

Now we see through tarnished mirror.

Dark glass spotted and rimmed

reflects divine face undimmed.

Then we will see your beloved face

no longer blurred by earthly tears

or distorted by our doubts and fears.

Now we see in tantalising part

dotted lines, misty ladders to the sky

caterpillars cocooning in faith to fly.

Then we will know you as you know us

deep, tender, pure, complete, delight

no longer straining for full sight

transformed by your eternal light.

Based on 1 Cor 13:12

Jeanette O’Hagan © 26 February 2014

Don’t Compare

Be sure to do what you should

for then you will feel satisfied

having done your work well

not having to compare yourself.

For then you will feel satisfied

knowing you have done your best

not trying to get away with any less.

Having done your work well

loving God who is love and light

and loving others in all delight.

Not having to compare yourself

with others young or old, big or small

knowing He loves you what’ver your score.

From Galatians 6:4

Jeanette O’Hagan c 7 February 2014

Then along came The Month of Poetry (MoP) . The challenge of MoP is to write one poem a day in the month of January. I was a little tempted – but really, one poem a day! But my friends Michelle and Nola said, “Go on, you can do it.” So I signed up. And I have had an absolute ball – both writing poetry, learning new forms, reading my fellow MoPettes poems, and receiving feedback.

I’m planning on signing up next January.

All of this is a long winded way to say – I am going to have to confess to being a poet. Maybe not an accomplished one, or a brilliant one – but a poet nonetheless.

I want to say a big thank you to Kat Apel – moderator and instigator of MoP.  I also want to encourage you, my reader, if you have desire to tinker with poetry, don’t worry whether you have the skill or not – don’t hold back, just let go of the hidden poet.

One of the forms I learned from one of my fellow poets during MoP was the Trimeric invented by Dr Charles A Stone.  It’s a neat little form. I wanted to give it a go – and I was taken by a verse in Isaiah that resonated with me. The result was my first Scriptural Trimeric.

The Good Shepherd

He gently tends his flock
gathering little lambs in his arms
carries them close to his heart
shepherding those who have young.

Gathering little lambs in his arms
holding them tight and secure
our fears he softly calms.

Carries us close to his heart
hammering strong in rhythm of love
only prideful fears can push us apart.

Shepherding we who have young.
Scaling the depths of mother-father love
To his footsteps we have clung.

Based on Isa 40:11 NIV

© Jeanette O’Hagan 16 January 2014