Early Release for A Heart Made of Tissue Paper

 

“Warm hand on my cheek. Soft lips press against my own. You taste of cherries.”  ― Richelle E. Goodrich, A Heart Made of Tissue Paper

Early Release      Well, I did it again.        My latest book, A Heart Made of Tissue Paper, was scheduled to be released on September 16th, 2023, but due to a minor mistake made in the Amazon publishing process, the book was released early on August 14th, 2023. (I need to remember which buttons not to push!) Luckily, the formatting, editing, illustrations, and poetry were complete, so this early release poses no problem. It simply means readers have access to my new book sooner than planned. Yay, you!

What to Expect

What can you expect from my first complete book of poetry? Eighty-six original poems penned by me. Experience heartfelt verses relatable on a deep level as well as poetry meant simply to make you smile. This book is divided into seven chapters, each one touching on a specific emotion felt by the human heart. For example, the chapter titled TO LOVE includes a dozen poems about the emotions dealing with aspects of love. The chapter titled TO LOATH includes poetry touching on harsher experiences. Every chapter includes a variety of poetic styles from sonnets and free verse to cinquains, haikus, and other formats. It is poetry for the whole of humanity.        A Heart Made of Tissue Paper is now available to order on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle formats. Look for my book of poetry online at Barnes & Noble too.        I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy the variety of verses I compiled in this book. If you do... please, leave a positive rating and a short review on Amazon and Goodreads. It truly does help sell more copies. Thank you in advance! There is a woman named Sage Rosemary Who works her green thumb at the nursery. Her older brother, Forest, Became a retail florist. Their sister, Holly, owns a fernery.

What am I working on now?      I am writing a few short stories for another book similar to Smile Anyway. It includes 365 original quotes, poems, and short stories for every day of the year. I am considering ideas for the cover art of this book, which will be titled Hope Evermore.

Recent Reads

I read this book in high school as an English class assignment, but this time around the book held deeper meaning for me. The fictional societal conditions created by Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451 are highly effective in suggesting what tragedies might exist at the far end of any road that promises to eliminate hard work and thinking in exchange for an easy, painless existence. It certainly gives good reasons to appreciate the richness of culture, the depth of knowledge, the creative and imaginative growth that books afford us. It would be a tragedy to lose what we have gained from the past, vital lessons recorded in the pages of books.

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Author Website

Cover Reveal for A HEART MADE OF TISSUE PAPER

         This is the big COVER REVEAL for a book that has been six years in the making. In the spring of 2018, I penned a simple poem that echoed a heartbroken moment in my life. It made me think about how fragile and yet at the same time how resilient the human heart is. That poem sparked the idea of creating a compilation of poetry based on emotional experiences every human heart endures in a lifetime. The following short poem was the beginning of this book:

 

It seems
my heart is
made of tissue paper;
I wish
the world would
handle it more delicately.

—Richelle E. Goodrich © 2018

       From 2018 to 2023, as trials and triumphs occurred in my life, I penned a variety of verses to add to the book. A few deeply-personal poems were a creative and healing outlet for me, a way to put my emotions as well as a portion of my story into writing. Other verses were written purely for lighthearted fun. Each one—whether simple or complex, lighthearted or severe—has relatable lines that every heart in the world can appreciate. 

       About the cover... I tried a variety of possible cover ideas before settling on the final artwork. I even took photographs of pink tissue paper folded into the shape of a puffy heart! But nothing spoke to me (so to say) until a painting on the wall caught my eye. It hangs in a sunny room of our house where my husband keeps his keyboard. When we were dating, I painted that modest acrylic picture of him and me, our features basically undefined. He loves that painting because I made it for him. I love it because it was my attempt at expressing tender feelings for him in a simple work of art. Seeing it on the wall reminded me that I have dedicated this book to my wonderful husband. How perfectly appropriate to incorporate aspects of our cherished painting into the book. 

       So, I took the woman from the painting and placed a big, delicate heart in her arms. The background was created as an abstract marriage of a bright sun cutting through a dark storm. The final artwork pleases me. So, with no further delays, here is the cover reveal for my latest book. . .

 A Heart Made of Tissue Paper. 

Look for it now to preorder on Amazon.

Richelle E. Goodrich Copyright 2023

Down to the Cover Art

 

“It seems my heart is made of tissue paper; I wish the world would handle it more delicately.”  ― Richelle E. Goodrich, A Heart Made of Tissue Paper A Heart Made of Tissue Paper      The title above is the title of my soon-to-be-released book of poetry. The completed manuscript was edited and approved for publication mid-June 2023. Shortly afterward, a copyright request was filed. So what are we waiting on now?        The artwork.        A book cover is in the works, including a few sketches for black-and-white illustrations to be printed below individual poems. I think the most challenging part, and probably the most time-consuming part, is deciding on a final cover picture. How do you narrow it down? And yes, the artwork itself takes significant time once the idea for a cover is decided.         What can you expect from this book of poetry? Eighty-six original poems penned by me. Be prepared for heartfelt verses you might relate to on a deep level as well as poems that simply make you smile. This book is divided into seven chapters, each chapter touching on a specific emotion experienced by the human heart. For example, the chapter titled TO LOVE includes a dozen poems about the emotions dealing with aspects of love. The chapter titled TO LOATH includes poetry touching on harsher experiences. There are seven chapters in all with a variety of poetic styles including sonnets, free verse, cinquains, haikus, and other forms of poetry. It is relatable poetry for the whole of humanity.        A Heart Made of Tissue Paper will be available for preorder soon (August 2023.) When it is released, the book will be available for purchase in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble bookstores.        I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy my poetry, and if you do... please, leave a positive rating and a short review on Amazon and Goodreads. It truly does help sell more copies. Thank you in advance!  The Tarishe Curse, my latest book, was released last October 2022. If you have not found a copy yet, it is still available in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. SUMMARY: "Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled."  --Richelle E. Goodrich Tarishe is a modest village surrounded by fortress walls meant to keep out one thing: werewolves. In truth, the wolves are scarcely bothersome and seldom seen excepting one night a year when a blood-red moon appears. This full Tarishe moon never fails to herald the arrival of an entire pack of hairy beasts, drawn to the village like greedy dragons to golden treasure. It is difficult enough to protect a young family in this world of dangerous creatures, but such a feat proves near impossible when an old witch bent on vengeance casts a curse that manipulates both heart and mind. The battle for survival is not only with a sword but an internal struggle to love those the curse has targeted for hatred, and to hate the one who through evil enchantment manipulates her enemy’s affections. How long will it take to learn that the old monster, vengeance, is insatiable? This Tarishe tale is a thrilling piece of fiction told from the Queen of Werefolk's point of view. What am I working on now?      Presently, I am concentrating on finishing the book cover and a few illustrations for A Heart Made of Tissue Paper.  Expect a pre-order date in July 2023.      While I have been creating original works of poetry, I have also accumulated new quotes and short stories for another book similar to Smile Anyway, which includes 365 original quotes, poems, and short stories for every day of the year. This upcoming book will be titled Hope Evermore.   Poem by Richelle E. Goodrich:  How does a tiny heart harbor so many clashing sentiments? One moment it is devoted. The next, purely disdaining. Weeping at tremendous heartache and then laughing, lighthearted, through the same tears. How can a heart rage so fierce as to boil blood while it turns to ice?     How is this done?     To love, hate, esteem, deride, rejoice, deplore, favor, resent—all of these and more swirling inside. This sensitive heart, so full and resilient, buoys up to the point of bursting and then deflates on a dime. It is a slave to whims and whispers. How is it that the human heart beats so wild and untamed?   —Richelle E. Goodrich, A Heart Made of Tissue Paper                                          —Copyright 2023 Richelle E. Goodrich _  _  ________________  _  _    As always, help out authors whose work you love by leaving kind reviews on Amazon, iTunes, Goodreads, BandN, Kobo, and other online book retailers. Your positive ratings and reviews help us sell more books. Thank you! Author Website #RichelleGoodrich #books #poetry #bookideas #readers #amwriting #RichelleEGoodrich #poet #author #writer #novelist

A Heart Made of Tissue Paper

      I am currently working on an original book of poetry titled A Heart Made of Tissue Paper.  This book got its start a couple years back when I put together a few poems I had written to express personal feelings regarding trials that distressed me at the time. Since then, I have added to my developing book and now have a nice collection of poems. I decided early on to divide the book into seven separate chapters, each  bearing the title of an emotion or feeling that human hearts endure in a lifetime, experiences that strongly affect soft hearts. 

     Of course the first chapter covers the passion, warmth, and uncertainties of love. I believe the majority of poems written throughout the ages (no, not all) attempt to convey what it means to love. The opposite sentiment, to loathe, has its own chapter in the book as well because we must experience opposites to understand what we feel.

     Look for A Heart Made of Tissue Paper on Amazon in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats sometime this summer, 2023. For now, I would like to share a few poems from the book; something to wet your appetite. I hope you enjoy them.

"It seems

my heart is made of tissue paper;

I wish the world would handle it more delicately." 

        - Richelle E. Goodrich

“I am falling in love with you,
but I can’t say a word.

You don’t care for love.
It has bruised you, broken you, burned you.
You call it a curse. Yet, I fear I am captive of this enemy, love.

You warn of its destructive power.
Oh, but it warms me like none other! It engulfs me in caressing flames, and foolishly I crave more. I can’t bear to suffer the cold, so I let you feed the fire unwittingly.

I am falling in love with you.
I am in love with you,
and it’s getting worse.”  - Richelle E. Goodrich

“I want to hear her laugh.

 

To watch sunbeams awaken her visage and shine through her eyes. To see the gray clouds of regret that hang heavy over her head rain away to nothing.

I want to hear her sunny voice dance on the breeze, as light and free as glossy bubbles, floating up…up…up to pop like hiccups. I want to know the type and form of key I must cut to unshackle even a portion of her joy.

If I could pluck the winning feather; if my smile could convince; if I could stroke her vocal chords like harp strings and make each treble note ascend to euphoria. Oh, to hear the giggled melody she would release into a world craving the balm of mirth!
I ache to experience that. I am desperate for it.

I live for the day I hear her laugh.” - Richelle E. Goodrich

“I found a room, both quiet and slow,

a room where the walls are thick.

Where pixie dust is kept in jars,

and paper rockets soar to Mars,

and battles leave no lasting scars

as clocks forget to tick.

I guard this room, both small and bare,

this room in which stories live.

Where Peter Pan and Alice play,

and Sinbad sails at dawn of day,

and wolves cry 'boy' to get their way

when ogres won’t forgive.

With you I’ll share my hiding place,

this room under cloak and spell.

We’ll snuggle up inside a nook,

and read a venturous story book,

that makes us question in a look

what nonsense fairies tell.

In fictive plots and fabled ends,

Our happy-e’er-afters dwell!”

 -Richelle E. Goodrich

“Love by the sweat of thy brow.
Not through whispered words of hollow sound or lofty dreams ne’er substance bound that more than oft do run aground. Nay, love with mighty, blistered hands that turn the soil and carve the land. A bearer of toil and golden band.
Be strong! A founder of the feast!
Protective knight who slays the beast!
For promises and vows aloud are naught but wispy veneer shroud like cobwebs, frail, the airy words and wooing fail. So work, my darling. Toil as proof. Thy loyal heart be drained of youth and yet beat on, incessant sound. Both feet take root within the ground, and service be thy kingly crown.
Love by the sweat of thy brow.” - Richelle E. Goodrich

“Hush, hush.

Hear the earth breathe.

Watch the wildflowers bloom.

Feel the calm of the silent dawn.

Be still.”

-Richelle E. Goodrich

“A thousand times over with you,

I yearned to linger in a perfect moment

and stop the passing of time.

A thousand times over with you,

I caught your tender smile and tucked it

carefully away in my heart for safekeeping.

A thousand times over with you,

I took in your sunny gaze and

hoarded its light for the wintry season.

A thousand times over with you,

I heard your laughter and sat silent

as it vibrated like music in my soul.

A thousand times over with you,

I saw your eyes twinkle like stars,

and I made a wish for forever.

A thousand times over with you,

I noted wisdom in your years,

and I filed away your thoughtful words.

A thousand times over with you,

I felt the warmth of your hand in mine

and squeezed tight, reluctant to let go.

A thousand times over with you,

I pondered how quickly mortality ushers us

from sunrise to sunset, and I dreaded the night.

A thousand times over with you,

I embraced the promise of immortality,

dreaming of a day when perfect moments

linger pleasantly on and on and on

a thousand times over with you.” 

-Richelle E. Goodrich

Copyright 2020 Richelle E. Goodrich 

Halloween Poems by R.E.Goodrich

In the spirit of All Hallows Eve, I dug up a few of my original short Halloween poems. I put some new verses in the mix to celebrate this spooky holiday. I hope you enjoy them.

A pumpkin lives but once a year

when someone sets its soul afire

and on that night it stirs up fear

until its flame is snuffed.

But e'en one night of eerie light is fright enough.

— Richelle E. Goodrich

Monsters excite us in this way or that.
They make our pulse thrum and steal lives from the cat!
They're frightening creatures, one peek and you'll see.
Yet life without monsters, how dull it would be.
Your tense, nervous laugh tells me you disagree?
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

Witches cackle.

Goblins growl.

Spectres boo,

And werewolves howl.

Black cats hiss.

Bats flap their wings.

Mummies moan.

The cold wind sings.

Ogre’s roar.

And crows, they caw.

Vampires bahahahaha.

Warlocks swish their moonlit capes.

Loch Ness monsters churn the lake.

Skeletons, they rattle bones

While graveyards crack the old headstones.

All the while the ghouls, they cry

To trick-or-treaters passing by.

Oh, the noise on Halloween;

It makes me want to scream!

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

A Halloween flower,

if ever there was one,

would smell like an onion,

have thorns like a rose.

With charcoal black petals

and vines that entangle,

t'would grow under moonlight

in mud, I suppose.

— Richelle E. Goodrich

Treats and tricks.

Witch broomsticks.

Jack-o-lanterns

Lick their lips.

Crows and cats.

Vampire bats.

Capes and fangs

And pointed hats.

Werewolves howl.

Phantoms prowl.

Halloween’s

Upon us now.

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

 

Haunt an old house.

Ask for a treat.

Laugh like a witch.

Lick something sweet.

Offer a trick.

Wander a maze.

Echo a boo.

Exclaim the phrase—

Normal's unnatural on Halloween!

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes

The jack-o-lantern follows me with tapered, glowing eyes.
His yellow teeth grin evily. His cackle I despise.
But I shall have the final laugh when Halloween is through.
This pumpkin king I’ll split in half to make a pie for two.
— Richelle E. Goodrich

The coldest day in fall

is at the Hallows Evening ball

where ghoulish fun

avoids the sun

as monsters mingle wall to wall.

— Richelle E. Goodrich

Copyright 2016 Richelle E. Goodrich