Above: Hospital selfie snapped in November 2020 at Grady in Atlanta, GA, USA
In August 2019, I began writing SOVEREIGN: Recovery Poems. In December 2020, I finished it and changed the title to Queen of Wands.
The 83-page compilation of poetry and prose explores my unconventional journey with cancer and COVID while shining a light on large-scale issues of health equity.
While some poems also appear on Medium, Queen of Wands stands on its own as a unique artistic vision. The poems that you’ve seen have changed form—losing lines, gaining verses, connecting with other writing in ways that highlight how a whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
Now that the manuscript’s complete, the next steps are simple. I have to edit for formatting and then approve a test copy of my work. After that, it will be available for purchase via Amazon and other retailers.
Meanwhile, everyone who donates $20 USD or more to my campaign will receive a signed copy and invitation to a launch event. Across GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo and CashApp, my original campaign raised over $6K USD! However, I’m still set on reaching my overall goal of $9K USD. This means raising a minimum of $2500 USD this December.
These funds will help me print copies of Queen of Wands, fulfill all shipments and possibly compensate visual artists for adding their designs to the book.
These funds will also help me meet the increasingly high cost of supplements, healthy food and pharmaceuticals while also ensuring that I can maintain a safe, functional living environment for myself and my children in the days and weeks following my upcoming procedures.
Any and all contributions and shares are welcome. A signed copy of the book will also make an excellent present for anyone with an enduring interest in deeply personal writing about the many facets of healing we humans experience.
To donate and secure your copy of Queen of Wands today, please use the following links:
Be sure to add a note with your name and preferred contact information!
Meanwhile, if you’ve already donated, please watch for a message confirming details about delivery options.
I’m deeply grateful to each of you. I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, compassion and sparks of beauty throughout the dark.
Above: From my home to yours, my tweens (pictured) & I send you joy. And, yes. That’s Remy the Rat atop our tree.