Tag: photography

Interview with Author Airie McCready 

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I started writing at the age of seven. We were given a poetry assignment in class, and I never stopped! My first poem was about a greyhound. I was fascinated with dogs and fairies, and the sighthounds (greyhounds, salukis, whippets, Irish wolfhounds, Scottish deerhounds), anything with those long, tapered legs that could run so fast.

My second poem was slightly better. Golden Fawn was the title; I composed it upon the death of my beautiful golden hamster. Writing about animals that I loved, or that were a part of my life, just came naturally to me. The imaginary kingdom that most people couldn’t see started weaving itself into my writing very young as well.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

Every single poem or story, photograph, or drawing in this book is heartfelt. Again, my beautiful pets cross back and forth to the ether realm, making pictures of themselves in the sky or even in my bedroom. Their births, lives, and deaths are commemorated here. Often, instead of saying, “I wrote a poem,” I’ll say, “I poemed,” like giving birth to a piece of writing. 

Inspiration comes from intense emotions, whether it’s about a pet or something I’ve experienced in my life — unfortunately, a lot of abuse — but out of that is born writing that can help others. 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

That it’s okay to feel deeply about your pets, whether they’re a cat or a dog, hairless or furred, people are beginning to understand that it’s okay to grieve for a pet like you would for a person. A relationship between two species possesses inherent magic; so it’s okay to give voice to that magic and the love that you have for your cat, dog, horse, or whatever. Animals are children, too.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

Initially, I frowned upon long writing assignments; writing a poem, a short essay, or a story was easier for me. Now I have the freedom to write whatever I wish, but I value poetry’s capacity to traverse lifetimes, periods, or annum, truly anything. I love finding the words to express exactly what I’m feeling or what I want others to feel.

5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Facebook is number one for me. From 2013 to lockdown, I had a store online that made clothing for cats. My wish remained to write, though the garments rose in popularity, restricting my availability, leaving no time for writing. So, what I would do is, when I felt something forming in my mind, I would type it into my Facebook feed and see what kind of response it’d get. A lot of it got an excellent response. I waited, confirming that it was not simply loved ones offering praise, but those I admired and respected who offered honest praise. Then my Facebook followers kept saying that I should make a book or a coffee table book because they also liked my photography and art. This took years to bring together, so this debut is for my followers. 

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

This is one of the most challenging questions I get asked, because we’re all very different. I would say, find your voice first. Don’t copy others except if you like the cadence they’re using in their poem. You can use it in yours, but don’t steal. For instance, I tried to write a vampire story, and I love Anne Rice, but it started sounding too much like her voice and not mine. So, I stopped, and I do have a novella coming out now, working title: Bella and Lee and Me. It has immortal creatures, some that you’ve never heard of before, and a lot of spiritual, but differently stated storylines that are truly my own. 

Find a Facebook group that has a lot in common with your tastes, and you can show them something that you’ve written, but be sure to write all rights reserved and your name underneath.

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I have several new books and development poetry books, one a novel, one a novella, all almost all the way finished. I have several chronic diseases, which limit me in my day-to-day life and in my writing as well. However, writing is something I continue to do, whether by typing or using speech to text.

Aber Stoat, my publisher, is wonderful for working with indie authors and has been great with me.

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About the Author

Airie McCready got her journalism degree, but spent her early years in fine art, computer graphics, and freelanced as an art director for photo shoots. After her marriage ended, she changed her name in order to get out from under the shadow of her ex-husband‘s writing and set out on a journey of self-discovery, which led to her mission today, helping people understand the love of cats. After observing cats’ behavior for over 20 years, Sphynx and Devon Rex specifically for over 10 years, she now shares her expert knowledge with others. She views her bond with her cats as deeply spiritual, describing it as a symbiotic unit.   

Links:

https://linktr.ee/airiemccreadybooks

https://aberstoatpublishing.com/caught-in-a-cat-romance

https://amzn.to/4o9jWz6

Caught in a Cat Romance by Airie McCready Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Airie McCready shares a heartwarming collection of poetry and photography surrounding cats in the book “Caught in a Cat Romance.”

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The Synopsis

A love letter for cat owners, this beautiful photo-poetry book combines stunning cat photography by Jeff Bray, heartfelt poetry, and the unique art of Airie McCready, an expert on Sphynx and Devon Rex cats. McCready shares her personal collection of poetry, which she wrote about her feline family, beginning with the joy of a kitten and then walking us through each stage of life to the end. Caught in a Cat Romance is a celebration of the magic and deepest connections between these beloved creatures and their human.

The Review

This was such a unique and compelling read. The balance between the author’s moving poetry and exploration of what makes these two specific types of cats so fascinating, combined with the beautiful and focused imagery of the photographs, made this book a truly memorable read. The creativity and artistry of the poems themselves brought their own sense of imagery to the page, infusing heart and emotion that speaks to anyone who has ever felt the call or been a pet parent in their lives.

The realism of the photography and the way these beautiful cats popped off the page was incredible. The images helped bring a face to the loving poems that showcased the author’s knowledge and experiences, and the earnestness, and the way each page captures both the highs and lows emotionally of being a pet parent made this one book that readers would instantly connect with.

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The Verdict

Engaging, thoughtful, and heartfelt, author Airie McCready’s “Caught in a Cat Romance” is a must-read nonfiction book of poetry and photography. Whether readers use this book for emotional connection, stunning photography, or simply as a conversation starter, it will instantly resonate with them and become a sensational read altogether. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Airie McCready earned her B.A. in journalism, then set out on a journey of self-discovery. After her marriage ended, she changed her name to shed the shadow of her famous ex-husband’s writing, which led to her life today; strengthening the bond between humans and cats. She’s now an expert in Sphynx, Devon Rex and Domestic Cat behavior, professionally writing and informally counseling others. She views her bond with her cats as deeply spiritual, unique and symbiotic. https: //aberstoatpublishing.com/airie-mccready

https://linktr.ee/airiemccreadybooks

Interview with Author Richard Sherman

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I am a professional photographer and former Navy Officer and Gulf War veteran.  I became interested in writing and photography during high school where I was editor of the school newspaper and won a small creative writing prize. I began college as a journalism major but shifted to International Relations and Economics at Lehigh University.  My dad had his own dark room when I was a young boy, so you can say photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  My father was a Korean War veteran and so when I left for the Gulf War as a young Navy Officer, he didn’t give me any advice, but instead he gave me his Minolta camera and lenses. I captured a couple of shots on our way to the Persian Gulf that helped me understand the power of photography.

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What inspired you to write your book?

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The inspiration comes from a desire to say thank you to our fallen heroes from WWI and WWII.  Several years ago, I met a Ukrainian cab driver years ago in Vancouver who fought for the Red Army during WWII, and he told stories of the terrible atrocities of the Nazis and how cruelly they were treated by the Russians.  He said the Ukrainians were stunned when the American military came to help them fight on their own soil.  Some 60 years later, he was still grateful to the American GIs for their help and their generosity.

What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The key takeaway is that these were real people, and they deserve much more than to be remembered as a statistic in a history book. They were brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and they had real dreams and aspirations but sadly they never made it home.

What drew you into this particular genre?

Photography is a perfect language to express the complex mixture of emotions one feels when visiting any of our 23 overseas WWI and WWII cemeteries.  It is hard to articulate those emotions, but you can evoke those feelings in others by showing them a powerful image. Photographing Normandy American Cemetery for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings was a very moving experience for me.

What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

I am not certain, the book only recently came out so it is evolving.  My website, www.NeverHomeHeroes.com/index has gotten some decent traffic, and I think LinkedIn has been impactful because many veterans use it, and there are numerous companies and organizations that try to do right by the veteran.

What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

After six years working on this book, it often seemed the road would never end.  But you will get there.  Life will try to derail you, but you just keep going. Trust your vision.

What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Right now, it is all about getting these stories of our fallen heroes into as many people’s hands as possible.  I have hopes for another book, but that is a ways off.

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About the Author

When I was four or five years old, my Dad purchased Time-Life’s books on photography, bought a Minolta SLR camera and built a darkroom in our basement. Since that time, photography has been a part of my life.

I even remember the giant, heavy flash that ran on D-sized batteries and the smell of the leather case for his manual light meter. In my teens, Dad taught me the basics of photography on that Minolta. And today his photographs remain among our family’s most prized possessions. Though my father passed away a few years ago, I feel a special connection with him every time I pick up my camera bag.

I hope you enjoy the images here and that you find peace and tranquility in them. Perhaps your mind will drift to days gone by, or trips you have enjoyed with your family and friends; perhaps it will make you think about your next vacation. Thanks for visiting today, and please come back soon.

https://www.richardshermanphotography.com

https://www.neverhomeheroes.com/p/buy-the-book

Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned by Richard Sherman Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author and military veteran Richard Sherman shares this powerful collection of images and passages surrounding the cemeteries and monuments depicted to American soldiers who never came home in the book “Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned”.

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The Synopsis

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“Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned” by Navy veteran and professional photographer Richard Sherman takes you on an emotional journey to all 23 of America’s overseas World War I and World War II cemeteries managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The book includes powerful images coupled with more than 50 biographies of individuals who perished during the wars and, even in death, have still not made it home. From Normandy to Manila, from Tunisia to Florence, and from Luxembourg to Provence, this book honors those who sacrificed everything to ensure our freedom.

The Review

This was such a powerful book. While the majority of the book is infused with photographs, the depth of emotion and history that each photograph brings to life on the page not only speaks to the author’s unique vision and eye for detail, but the power and sacrifice so many people fro m the United States military have endured around the world. No matter a person’s party or political affiliations, or their preferences for each war in general, the respect and gratitude that so many feel for those who gave their lives for us all can be felt on every page of this book.

The honesty and conviction that the opening passages from the author gave allowed the reader to feel the personal connection the author had to this subject matter. Of all the images, each with its own title and location, the image of the veterans in Normandy really spoke to the WWII era that a person can only read so much of in school, but cannot experience in life what the soldiers endured in that time. 

The Verdict

Thoughtful, memorable, and engaging, author Richard Sherman’s “Never Home” is a must-read picture meets history book. The exploration of American soldier’s impact on overseas wars and the special exploration of specific graves and the soldiers who inhabit them gave the reader a sense of humble respect and emotion as the author perfectly brought these photographs and the people behind them to life. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

When I was four or five years old, my Dad purchased Time-Life’s books on photography, bought a Minolta SLR camera and built a darkroom in our basement. Since that time, photography has been a part of my life.

I even remember the giant, heavy flash that ran on D-sized batteries and the smell of the leather case for his manual light meter. In my teens, Dad taught me the basics of photography on that Minolta. And today his photographs remain among our family’s most prized possessions. Though my father passed away a few years ago, I feel a special connection with him every time I pick up my camera bag.

I hope you enjoy the images here and that you find peace and tranquility in them. Perhaps your mind will drift to days gone by, or trips you have enjoyed with your family and friends; perhaps it will make you think about your next vacation. Thanks for visiting today, and please come back soon.

https://www.richardshermanphotography.com

https://www.neverhomeheroes.com/p/buy-the-book

A Body Hair Experiment by Eli Cohen Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Eli Cohen and photographer O Zhang share an intimate look at the question of gender through a series of photos outlining an experiment on body hair in the book “A Body Hair Experiment”.

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The Synopsis

As an experiment, Eli Cohen removed the hair off the left side of his body and began to journal about the experience. The result is a luscious and intimate photo essay that invites us to challenge assumptions and unearth hidden beliefs around masculinity, femininity, and gender. These tenderly provocative photos and words create a powerful prompt and open a doorway to the vast potential of experiences within our human bodies.

  • Can our seemingly inconsequential decisions around body hair limit or expand our relationship to our own bodies, to desire and pleasure, and our range of emotions? 
  • What paths toward personal and societal transformation lay upon our skin? 
  • Does it make sense that most sweaty men never consider trimming their underarm hair? 
  • How much meaning is braided into our body hair?    
  • Is body hair a marker of masculinity, femininity, gender or genderqueer-ness? 
  • How would society change if each of us had access and the ability to choose with ease and intention, smooth or hairy, for each and every body part? 

The acclaimed O Zhang’s works have appeared at Guggenheim Museum and Miro Art Museum, as well as solo exhibitions in New York, Beijing, London, and Istanbul. In A Body Hair Experiment she works her magic again. These luscious black and white photos will have you going back for more. 

A Body Hair Experiment is a gentle and delicious invitation. Eli Cohen presents his body in his vulnerability, showing and telling. His words weave through reflections both personal and societal, while inviting the reader to do the same. 

The Review

This was a completely short yet powerful read. The author’s intimate and personal writing style allows readers to connect to the deeper themes of sexuality, gender identity, and gender norms as a whole as it relates to the human body and how we perceive it. The thoughtful atmosphere each passage invoked in the reader allowed for a more introspective reading experience that challenged the reader to fully grasp these themes.

For me, the power of this book came from a balance of the author’s moving words and the photographer’s stunning imagery. The themes speak to so many people and reflect on how our society forces certain roles and perspectives on different groups of people. From men not being able to feel comfortable being in touch with a more “feminine” ideal to the need to assign physical and material aspects of our daily life to a specific gender, and having these impact our perception of a person’s sexuality as a whole, really moved me, and to see this stem from something that seems so simple such as a body hair experiment and to see it blossom the way it does was powerful to read.

The Verdict

Heartwarming, thoughtful, and reflective, author Eli Cohen’s “A Body Hair Experiment” is a must-read photography book. Due to its release in January of 2023, the author and photographer both deliver a moving story of redefining our relationship with our bodies and separating society’s expectations from our own feelings and emotions. The passionate way the author shares his story and the deeper themes really will speak to many readers out there. Be sure to grab your copy early 2023.

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Eli Cohen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of fifty, he began to share his personal journey through the prevalence of arbitrary gender markers and his transgression of them. He is the founder of Spacious Human, a movement to create thoughtful awareness for human expression. 

Cohen is a personal embodiment activist and a facilitator of events and experiences during which people can explore clothing and appearance norms with intention and feel in their bodies the corresponding freedom that alternate choices can provide. He uses the transformative powers of dress and expression to provide humans with the opportunity to excavate their own hidden emotions and beliefs relating to both masculinity and femininity. 

Cohen is also a writer, dancer, and speaker, and has been featured on podcasts such as Late Night Health Radio, The Positive Head, and The Pleasure Report, among others. He has given talks at venues such as the Lightning Society and has appeared in the Gothamist. 

He is a father, grandfather, and lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, New York. 

www.spacioushuman.com

She Ran Away From Love by Mawson Bear Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young bear searches for answers to some of life’s toughest questions in author Mawson Bear’s novel, “She Ran Away From Love”. 

The Synopsis 

The Light of Love pours down on Frilly. It shines so brightly that she quails and runs away.

Upset with herself for feeling scared, she wakes her good friend Mawson and pours out her confusions. She wants to learn how to be bold and is convinced that she can do this by going on a quest.

With muddled help from Mawson she sets off into the great Out There. But is a quest to find oneself really the answer?

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The Review

This short yet heartwarming tale of a young bear struggling to find herself and write the story of her life will really speak to both children and adults. A beautiful blend of original photography with a creative, one of a kind narrative that brings the iconic classic teddy bear to life makes this read truly engaging. 

Whether you read it to your child or are fascinated with the world of antique and collectible teddy bears, this book will really entertain and touch an emotional chord within the reader. The age old question of who we are in the grand scheme of things and what our place in the universe is are eloquently highlighted in this profound book for audiences of all ages. 

The Verdict

If you are looking for a blend of humor, original photography and artwork, and even a hint of meditation that can teach readers younger and older the path to finding their place in the world can come from a place of calm meditation, then author Mawson Bear’s “She Ran Away From Love” is the book for you. Emotional and heartwarming in the story’s narrative, this is a book that is not to be missed, so be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In Review
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About the Author

Mawson, the big hearted, soul searching teddy bear, is here to help. He is one of the few writer-bears in this bright world. He ponders about how to be one’s best. Then he puts his ponders into books.

A modest bear of generous proportions, distinctive in his white fur coat and bow tie, he is confident that things are going to be All Right.

In It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In he ponders the loss of love. Can you rescue yourself from loneliness when you feel you have been left behind? (viewbook.at/ABrightWorld)

In She Ran Away From Love, Mawson helps his friend Frilly in her quest for answers to big questions. (Viewbook.at/SheRanAwayFromLove )

BookDepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/She-Ran-Away-From-Love-Mawson/9781925652543

Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1925652548/

https://mawsonbear.blog

https://www.instagram.com/mawsonbear/