I usually write fiction novels. But I like to write poetry too. In fact, I’m sure nobody can miss what my logo includes the word “poet.”

I adore poetry. Who can miss the beauty of such fleeting messages so elegantly and musically crafted with rhymes, rhythm, similes, and metaphors?

“Step Into Creativity” is my first poetry book. Writing poems surrounding the theme of creativity was such a joy for me. It was also the first-ever book that I self-published on Amazon KDP, and the first book of mine to have been enrolled in KDP Select.

Sometimes poetry feels like it is so underappreciated nowadays! So it’s great to know that April is National Poetry Month. And as much as I enjoy writing free verse (and yes, I even have published poems in free verse), I really want to see a comeback of the old rhyming styles. There is so much to explore with rhyming schemes. So, for all aspiring poets out there, I highly recommend “The Book of Forms” by Lewis Putnam Turco. It’s a wonderful poetry handbook that teaches you all about the different styles and forms. It includes a glossary of poetic terms, pretty much all the different lyric poetry rhyming schemes, and sections on dramatic and narrative poetry.

“The Book of Forms” is a college textbook that never left my bookshelf, and never will. When I declared my English BA with an emphasis in creative writing, I took a few poetry classes taught by Tami K. Haaland, who has her own published poetry books, which I really love. Why, I dedicated “Step Into Creativity” to Tami. What I really loved about Tami’s classes was that she taught us the old forms. I think I remember that she really favored sonnets and ghazals (look them up!).

I even got a chance to listen to Tami read poems from her latest poetry book, “If I Had Said Beauty” at an event at my local library! What better way to celebrate the last day of National Poetry Month, huh?

Needless to say, I plan to write more poetry in the future!