Tag Archives: poetry

Third Coast Festival Books & Authors set for March 21 in Grand Haven, MI

Release of The Quest for the Lost Town

Author Emma Palova will celebrate the release of her new book, The Quest for the Lost Town, at the upcoming Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors on March 21 in Grand Haven starting at 11 a.m. The festival provides the perfect setting for the debut of the new title as book lovers, writers, and literary enthusiasts gather along Michigan’s lakeshore for a day dedicated to storytelling and the literary arts.

“I am extremely excited about this unique opportunity to present my new book in the literary capital of Grand Haven,” Palova said. “This is my first time at this unique festival.”

“First, we do this festival to honor all the hard work that authors do. We promote literacy and books year round but wouldn’t have either without you,” organizer Mike O’Brien, The Book Cellar owner said. “This is why we provide this opportunity for you to meet the fans, sell your books and keep the money, and do not charge you for the tables. This is all about you and we want you to know we care and want the best for our authors.”

The annual festival brings together regional and national authors, readers, and publishing professionals for a celebration of books and creativity. Held in the heart of Grand Haven, the event offers visitors the opportunity to meet authors, attend engaging panel discussions, explore new books, and learn more about the writing and publishing process.

From fiction and memoir to children’s literature and history, the Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors highlights a wide range of genres and voices from across Michigan and beyond. In addition to author presentations and readings, the festival provides a welcoming space for readers to connect directly with writers, discover new titles, and celebrate the vibrant literary community that continues to grow along Michigan’s “Third Coast.”

In addition to author meet and greet, the Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors provides a welcoming space for readers to connect directly with writers, discover new titles, and celebrate the vibrant literary community that continues to grow along Michigan’s “Third Coast.”

Whether you are an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about the stories behind the books, the festival promises a lively and inspiring experience for all who attend.

Stay tuned for a special episode about the festival this Friday and Saturday on the For the Love of Books Podcast at https://emmapalova123.podbean.com

Downtown Hub will host the followsing authors.

Down to Earth.  Marie Allen and Halli Starling

GH Vinegar and Oil Susie Wilcox 

                                and Jessica Foster

Lark- Kate Moynihan and Jade Havenaar

New Holland Tasting Room

                        Jay Leigh Brown and Katie May

Barefoot Dave-Samantha Moran 

                         and Joshua Veith

MacKite- Danica Davidson

Must love dogs- William Jones

Algeria- Susie Finkbeiner

Paper Place-   Alby Blake and A.M.Darling

Silverfire- Laura Klynstra

That Hat- Bailey Vos

Tlaquepaque- Dana Reeves and Ann Boyle

J Morgan- Renee Prewitt

Soulshine Juice- Kelly Ohlert

Blueberry Haven- Jennifer Dornbush 

                           and Wndy Byard

Patricia’s Chocolates- Ms.Z and Abigail Evink

Salon 206- to be assigned

Borrs. Lisa Childs-Megan Davidhuizer-                     

                 Veronica Bane

Surf Shop- to be assigned

Pinwheel Kitchen- Cindy Schrauben and 

                               Mary Marthey

Grand Finale- Drew Reichard and 

                        Martin L Shoemaker

Aldea- Adriane Leigh

Gliks- Megan Davis and Jeffe Boats

Gliks men’s Marissa Malson

Bookman- Parker Russell Cyrus Keith and 

                  Kelly M Parker

HUB 2 Grand Haven Historical Museum

This HUB does not need to be contacted. If you are ill or something happens please text Mike 616-638-6639 directly so we can plan accordingly. 

M. Kelly Peach

Megan Shikora

Steven W Simon

Lynne Schmidt

Joseph Neely

Katryna Delle

Thomas Ford Conlan

Vera West

Carolyn Striho

Dana Vanderlugt

Sophrina Scott

Christopher Cosmos

Emma Palova

Henry Granger

K M McIntyre 

Nina Mandell

Stacy N Elliott 

Brenda Haas

Rich Nelson

Angela Shupe

Cecilia Garcia

Andrea DeBoer

Ann Goethais

Edward R Rosick

Amy Piper

A.D.Rhine

Dawn Michaels

Ross J Smith

Brian Zemba

Kevin Brown

Ann Marie Kelly

Michael G Farrell

Christina MM Norris

Brian Plescher

Ashley Kammeraad Zuidema

Kevin W Brown

Anna Marie Fernyak

Nancy Collander

Kate Motaung

Brian Plescher

Joseph LaLonde

Isabella J Mansfield

Cecilia A Garcia

HUB 3 Central Park Place 

This HUB doesn’t need to be contacted. Text Mike at 616-638-6639 if you are ill or can’t make it so we can plan accordingly. 

Richard Chizmar

Billie Chizmar

Johnny Compton

Jimmy Juliano

Giano Cromley

Samantha Moran

Kassidy Vangundy

Dylan Dunbar

Rod Vick

Jean Davis

Meghan Johnson

Kenya-Moss Dyme

Stephanie Gilmore

Brandon G Kroupa

Troy D Wymer

Angela Crandall

Mark Love

Marissa Malson

Megan Davis

Sylvia Hubbard

J.Arens

Melanie Hooyenga

Erin R Hodges

Kathryn Den Houter

Neena Laskowski

Zack Schoppen

Victoria M Sorenson

Michael Asselin

K.W.McLindsey

Lindsey Clement

AA Ralynn Karman

V.L. Barycz

Molly Collier

Dany Crooks

Lewis G Gazoul

Kayliani Shi

Angie Dickinson

Alyson Kuch

D.L. Taylor

Cassidy Clarke

Jenni Howell

Lauren Anderson

Calley Clover

Lia Duchaine

Megan Hart/Mina Hardy/ Rob E Boley

Grace Worthington

Dr.Sarah Monday

Alaina Rose

Pamela Gauthier

Jason Schubert

Jillian Arly

A.S Adams

K.S.Moore

Sara Furlong Burr

Tana Jenkins

Jessica Gomez

Sue C Dugan

Eden Rose

Rachel Esterline

Monica Amore

Anastasia Wilder

Kaila Rose

Cathy Shouse

D.K. Marie

Megan Monarch

A.L. Wilder

Danielle Baker

Jennifer Lowery

Erin R.Hodges 

Anne Stone

Jacquie Sewell

Susie Wilcox

Emily Dunckle

Leslie Papp

Kristin Wolden Nitz

Karen Rieser

Isabel Estrada

Copyright (c)2026. Emma Blogs, All rights reserved.

Finalist for the Author of the Year 2025

1759595159

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Hollywood Gala Author of the Year 2025

Dear Emma,

It is with deep respect and admiration that we congratulate you — you’ve officially been selected as a Finalist for the Author of the Year 2025 at the International Impact Book Awards, in the category of Non-Fiction – Cultural & Historical Memoir.

Your work was reviewed among hundreds of exceptional entries, and your message rose to the top. This recognition is more than a ranking — it’s a reflection of the impact your voice has had on readers, on the judging panel, and on the world of thought leadership.

You’ve done something most people only dream about: you’ve written a powerful book, you’ve put your truth on paper, and you’ve created something that moved others. That is no small thing. This moment is yours.

What Happens Next

The Author of the Year winner in your category will be announced live on stage at our Hollywood Gala on October 4th, 2025 — an unforgettable evening honoring thought leaders and changemakers from around the world.

We would be truly honored to celebrate this milestone with you in person. Finalists in attendance will receive:

A finalist certificate

An achievement medal

Recognition on stage during the ceremony among peers, media, and industry leaders.

More importantly, this is your moment, a chance to stand in a room of excellence and be acknowledged for the work you’ve already done.

We understand not everyone can attend, and we respect that deeply. However, in fairness to all finalists, if the winning author in any category is not present, the award will be presented to the next finalist in attendance.

A Night to Remember — and a Platform to Grow

The International Impact Book Awards Gala isn’t just a celebration — it’s a once-a-year opportunity to grow your brand, elevate your credibility, and be seen by the media, industry leaders, and potential collaborators.

Our team has poured every ounce of heart, labor, and intention into planning this event to honor you and every author selected. We would love for you to be part of it.

Explore the Gala details and reserve your ticket here:
👉 https://internationalimpactbookawards.com/hollywood-gala/

Whether you’re able to join us in person or cheering from afar, know this: you are already seen, already celebrated, and already a winner in our eyes.

With deep respect and warm congratulations,
 Nim Stant
Founder, International Impact Book Awards

I would like to thank everyone for voting for me in the memoir category.

Copyright (c)2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Poetess Preethi Saravanakumar pens ”A Mirage of Golden Glitter”

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3jjfk-149e462

In “A Mirage of Golden Glitter,” author Preethi Saravanakumar paints a breathtaking tapestry of reflections.

 

This book is more than just a collection of poems; it’s a voyage that resonates deeply, guiding readers to introspect, celebrate their authenticity, and cherish the shimmering threads of wisdom that weave the fabric of their lives.

A captivating symphony of emotions, wisdom, and self-discovery.

Even if the poems have difficult themes, they always have a good light-hearted ending, according to Preethi.

 

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Mirage of Golden Glitter.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger. Together we’ve been bringing you stories for 150 years.

Victor Volkman publishes U.P. Reader Volume 6

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-bektn-1264ea5

Victor Volkman is the publisher of the U.P. Reader, senior editor at Modern History Press based in Ann Arbor, and president of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association.

The U.P. Reader is the brainchild of author Mikel Classen. Volkman said he can’t be a Yooper because Yoopers are born, not made. The hefty publication features thirty to 50 contributing writers, most are members of the UPPAA.

“People who live in the U.P are great writers, the U.P. Reader exposes their writings for other people to explore,” said Volkman.

Volkman said he’s especially proud of the inclusion of Cottage Dandelion winners, young writers who receive a traveling trophy for their school, kind of like the Stanley Cup.

“We’re making the next generation of writers,” he said. “We provide training wheels for young writers. We’re able to accept 90 percent of writing.”

The all-inclusive publication, which is distributed to all the libraries in the U.P.,  features contemporary fiction, short stories, humor, history, memoir, poetry, and much more.

“I am a publisher, and this helped me build a relationship with writers,” he said. “We work hard to keep the price reasonable.”

Some of the highlights of the UPPAA are the spring conference in Marquette in June and the picnic on the first Saturday after Labor Day in Marquette.

Submissions for the U.P. Reader Volume 7 will be accepted until November.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I love the sense of community in the U.P.”

To become a member of the association go to https://www.uppaa.org/

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and Modern History Press

Have an awesome Fourth of July.

 

 

Roaring 2022

The twenties are delivering suprises with twists and turns

“You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.”

Indira Gandhi

By Emma Palova

The predictions for 2022 are taking shape and form just like in an irregular pentagon. So far, it has been full of surprises, twists, and turns with discoveries along the journey. I will list the first 10 discoveries of the year, followed by a list of more discoveries, less sensational.

Later, I take a step back to gain perspective and shake off negativity and criticism after being in the public eye and scrutiny. The balancing act is important to me. At times, like on this sunny day, my psychic reaches out to me which I am grateful for, and then I know I am loved and embrace all the cosmic energies. Thank you Diana Plopa for bringing sunshine into my day. Yes, I am lucky enough to have a personal adviser, because we’re all in this together.

  1. Be careful what you wish for because you might get it.
Zoom interview with poet Donny Winter

The blitz and downfalls of podcasting

I wanted to have a podcast show, and I got it with all its blitz and downfalls. First the blitz. The podcast “For the Love of Books” hosted and produced by Emma Palova, co-produced by author Colleen Nye and sponsored by Doc Chavent immediately garnered attention, both from the authors and the public. Not too many authors have podcast shows. Why? Because it is a technological and scheduling nightmare for one person including a whole new layer added to already a full stack of tasks. I had to close down the Sigh Up Genius because it was flooded with requests and start sorting through the authors.

2. Discoveries and insights

Discoveries and secrets

Author Luba Lesychyn

Secrets should just stay secrets regardless of what they are. They shift around like the loose grains in the sand. They evolve like the characters in our books. All secrets have their own hidden energy behind them. Once uncovered, they’re not secrets anymore with different energy attached to them causing havoc and chaos in everything. And then comes another secret that needs to be hidden. And it’s a chain reaction of secrets and hiding them under the mask of goodness and sweetness. Like the Russian nesting dolls, inside one secret is hidden another one and so on.

3. Insights

Insights versus secrets

Why do we do the things we do? Are we troubled, unhappy, not motivated enough? Or just unappreciated. Maybe we don’t want to lead a normal life bored to death. So we start acting out like the Lansing killer Steve Miller. I totally enjoyed the interview with true crime author Rod Sadler.

At the end of the interview, I asked him, “Would you like to read to us?”

“I thought you would read to me,” Sadler said.

I chuckled. Luckily I had Sadler’s book Killing Women so I did read to him although not his horoscope or like a psychic from his hand.

4. The unrelenting quest for money

Money is like poison

Money or the quest for it poisons everything including relationships. This one covers a wide spectrum from partners, families to neighbors. You can chase after money and never have it, or you have it and don’t know what to do with it because you are bored and unappreciated.

5. The pretense of kindness and sweetness

Kindness and sweetness get results

You can get almost anything under the pretense of kindness and sweetness including a slice of bread. You can even have both, the icing and cake. But you can’t have peace.

6. Beyond anger

Anger manifesto

Former Lowell police chief Steve Bukala

Anger follows the act of getting caught doing evil and denying it or standing behind your citizens’ rights. It manifests on daily basis in your actions and reactions, as well as in the behavior of people around you.

7. Cheating on tests

Cheating on tests

So your notes written in the palm of your hand didn’t help you or the three geniuses sitting in the back of the classroom during a calculus exam, because a stupid Canadian ass turned around to confirm the insecurity of her own results. And you spend the summer studying for a make-up exam instead of being with your family. Some celebrities went to jail for cheating bribing and casting on the couch. But you never pay the price. You just blow it off into the wind and someone else catches it for you.

8. The polygon effect

The Polygon Effect using characters in plots

A pentagon-shaped circus tent

A classic circus tent is an example of an irregular pentagon, not to be confused with the most famous pentagon of all, the government building in Washington D.C. A regular pentagon is a five-sided polygon with five sides and angles in geometry. It can rotate into a concave resembling a crown, turned upside down it is the shape of a baseball field, it can change angles and sides. Sometimes stars shape pentagons or other polygons. When combined with vectors they become constellations.

In the Polygon Effect plotting, the characters rotate positions. You never know who is going to be at the top or flipped to the home base in the baseball field at the bottom. The sides too are not equal in an irregular pentagon, and the angles or positions change, just like politicians in the government, clowns in the circus, or royalty in the court.

10. The lightness of being

The Unbereable Lightness of Being II from Czech Republic to the U.S.

Apartment complex Jizni Svahy in Zlin

And it all started here inside the somber apartments of the mega-complex where there was nothing else to do but watch hockey, drink beer or just get creative about how you achieve your goals, any goals you wish to accomplish. That’s when I started writing……a diary.

Check out Kundera’s “Unbearable Lightness of Being,” a novel based in Prague made into a movie. The plot uses the polygon method of four characters.

To be continued……a downscaled version.

Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Author Jared Morningstar delves deep into the American experience in his poetry and short stories anthologies

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-365ki-110b96e

Author Jared Morningstar takes on different aspects of the great American experience ranging from fake patriotism as reflected in the title of the first collection of poems and short stories- “American Fries” to fear in “American Reality.”

“American Reality captures the darkness of 2020,” Morningstar said. “The fear of politics and our health concerns, but it’s not just about Covid.”

For a chance to win both books listen in to the episode.

April, poetry month inspirations

I ‘ve been getting in my inbox selected poetry from the Knopf Doubleday Publishing.

I chose to do that, once I found out that April showers not only bring May flowers, but also some of the best poems. So, I get a poem-a-day.

Today, “Louie Lies” poem by Philip Levine arrived.

I was so enchanted by it, that I bought the book “The Last Shift.”

Now, poetry has always inspired me; everything from French poet Charles Baudelaire, Czech poet Jiri Wolker, American poet Stanley Kunitz to my Rumanian friend Valeriu Dg Barbu.

And now this delight by Levine came just in time to further inspire my writing video shoot tomorrow @LowellArts.

I am finalizing the script for the video today. I want to have it on hand when I talk about my writings at various events.

Whenever I explain the creative process from idea to final product; whether a book, a screenplay, video or movie, I start with the empty room analogy.

This originates in Picasso’s: “Give me a museum, and I will fill it.”

You need a Faceless room to put a face to it.

I will post a link to it once we’re done. I am really excited about the video. Screen and playwrighting are my second love.

I wrote a full-feature film screenplay “Riddleyville Clowns” @emmapalova in 2009 that I am looking to produce.

I ‘ve also been following my Indian friend and moviemaker Ashray Dravidian on his film making journey with his latest short film “Nirvana.”

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