2nd Edition, Winter Quarterly
December, 2014
Life’s Poetry News “The challenges and journeys through life help form and compose who we are” Life’s Poetry Pg. 11
Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R S P E C I A L S E A S O N E D I T I O N INSIDE THIS EDITION _________ Introduction Felicia GuyLynch Anna Anita Sponsors Contributors Poetry
WELCOME! Life’s Poetry News is a quarterly newsletter, which showcases inspirational individuals within our community. All of these individuals have overcome challenges in life and are now making a difference in our community. They demonstrate that having faith, determination and believing in
Josephine Casey Life’s Poetry
ourselves will help us to achieve the goals and dreams that each one of us has. Life’s Poetry News will feature two influential individuals who have overcome challenges and continue to pursue their dreams and strive towards using their God-given talents to fulfill their potential. These stories will encourage all of us
_________
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
I n s p i r a t i o n a l WELCOME! Life’s Poetry News is a quarterly newsletter, which showcases inspirational individuals within our community who have overcome
p e o p l e
obstacles and achieved positive outcomes despite challenging circumstances. Felicia GuyLynch, and Anna Anita share their journey within these pages in hopes to inspire you.
“Showing ambition when obstacles arise on difficult missions, that’s a tremendous decision.” Josephine Casey, Author of Life’s Poetry Pg. 12
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Writes from the heart...
My story started when I began to write poetry in August 2011. I had no intention of getting published. I just wanted to get some things off my chest. Free up my mind. Test how far my words could go.
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
In February 2012 I had a conversation with my cousin and I read some of my poetry to her without telling her that I had written it. Why? Because if she thought it wasn’t all that good, I wouldn’t have to reveal that I was behind those words. I did it to protect my ego. “Better safe than sorry” is my motto. To my surprise, my cousin loved my poetry. That’s when I revealed to her that it was my words and then I even mentioned that I wanted to be published, just for the heck of it. She encouraged me, but I’m not going to lie: I was scared. I was scared of being vulnerable and revealing my most intimate thoughts. News flash: no one’s thoughts are really their own. It may sound ridiculous but I’m going to break down why this is a timeless truth. Here it goes: there are over 7 billion people on Earth. We may not have the chance to meet each and every one but if you just speak about what you go through with people in your immediate circle, you’ll be surprised at how much of your “business” really isn’t your own. Someone else is going through something similar. I said all of this to tell you that I didn’t mind being vulnerable anymore. This brave step in airing out my so-called “business” led to me publishing my first book, Scattered Thoughts: A Stream of Consciousness. It’s a poetic anthology of 46 poems. I talk about sex, love, politricks, the environmental degradation of Mother Earth, and social commentary on the constructed “isms” that divide humanity.
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Selling my first book was a summer hustle that I didn’t take too serious at the time. I felt like being an author was an experiment and it went very well. So well, in fact, that the people I sold my book to at my part-time with Tim Horton's told me to keep writing. I welcomed the kind words but I could have sworn I was never going to write another book. I went to York University for International Development. It’s a multidisciplinary program that explores the social determinants of development in other countries. Call me naïve, but I majored in that program because I wanted to be like the next young Mother Theresa: feed the poor and stay close to the Most High. After graduating in October 2011, I pursued Project Management at Sheridan College. After graduating from college, I thought I was set. I had the best of both worlds: theoretical knowledge from university and the practical application from college. Unfortunately, due to the job market as a young graduate, I couldn’t even get an entry-level job in what I actually went to school for. So, I applied for jobs through agencies and took what I could get. “Beggars aren’t choosers,” they say.
Be Inspired! Feel Although I was living with my parents, had a part-time job, and a degree as Inspired! well as a diploma under my belt, I was feeling deeply dissatisfied with the, Stay “same ‘ol, same ‘ol.” So, I moved out not knowing where I was going but Inspired! knowing I wasn’t lost. You have to do something you never did to have someThis is thing you never had. After collaborating with my beloved, Bradley Lindsay, on your time my 2nd and 3rd publication, 365 and Time for Healing, I discovered that I Just could have my own publishing company. After feeling frustrated from not getShine! ting the job I wanted, I decided to become an entrepreneur and founded Si Obi
Publishing. It’s only been 2 months since I started but I am pleased to say that I got accepted into the Futurpreneur Start-Up Program, which gives young entrepreneurs funds to start a business. Although I’m at the beginning stages of building my business, I would rather look forward to trailblazing on unknown grounds than to be a pathfinder seeking mediocrity. If I can do it, what are you waiting for? Sincerely, Felicia Guy-Lynch
Felicia Guy-Lynch Author | Owner | Founder | Author of Si Obi Publishing | Educator | Musician | Visual Artist | Screenwriter www.siobipublishing.com www.feliciaguylynch.com
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Writes from the heart...
My name is Anna Anita and I am an author, writer, speaker, and artist. I have written three published books: “The Love Trilogy”, (inspired by the Biblical book “Song of Songs”, a book on love).
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
My journey began when my perfect world shattered. In that moment, I cried out to God and God gave me the gift of writing. At that time I only had a grade 10 education and a dollar in my pocket. My story goes back to when I was hidden in my marriage, in my church, in my children, and I lived in my own universe not knowing the outside world. The Church and my family were my world. I had never worked or used a computer. I thought marriage was forever, or so I believed. I thought my fairy tale was forever and strongly believed that it wasn’t supposed to end. Naïve and innocent, I had a selective belief structuring the walls of my world. This unfortunately was only makebelief as my walls began to fall and I could not hold them up. The bricks started to fall on my head one by one and I found my world shattered. I was thrown out on the street with my two children with no money, no education, no training, and no work experience. My world was shattered, but I believed that God was always with us and his angels protected us. I became sick and I was not able to work but God always provided shelter and food for my children and I. I cried out to God when all was lost and God said four words: “Come Away My Love”. These words instructed me and I strongly believe that he gave me the gift to write. He said I would write three published books in three years and in three years, my love trilogy was published.
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A n n a “Come Away My Love” “Come With Me My Love” “My First Love”
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During the hard times, I would go to bookstores and read books on business successes in order to try and upgrade my skills. With one dollar in my pocket, I began to write different quotes such as “Miracles Happen” and “Impossible is Possible” on stones. These stones soon began to sell in stores. I remember, I had one pair of shoes and I walked up the stairs of City Hall when my shoe ripped off my foot and God said to me: “You will stand in front of kings and queens.” Today “The Love Trilogy” is now available for sale, I make TV appearances and magazines publish my story. I also speak at events and have a designer line for glass stones called “Love Stones”. Each stone has an individual quote. My future plan is to write my fourth book titled, “All About Love”, which is coming out soon. Throughout my journey, I have learned to believe in myself, believe in my dreams and to have faith in God. Anna Anita
Anna Anita Author | Poet | Entrepreneur | Speaker | Writer | Artist www.annaanita.com
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
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P O E T R Y Crossroads Avoid love or simply fall? Say too much or nothing at all? Be brutally honest or be a crook? Turn the page or close the book? Cop an Escalade or a Range Rover? Fix what's broken or start all over? By: Felicia Guy-Lynch
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
Our Love Relentless Our love flies into eternity A relentless love Love relentless My love relentless Forever eternal love I chase you into eternity I catch you in eternity Forever I love you A love relentless Endless love Eternal love Divine love Our love flies into Heaven A paradise For you and me Our love lives forever On angel’s wings Our love flies over the clouds To eternity A forever love Eternal love Endlessly I love you “Our Love Relentless” By: Anna Anita
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Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
Josephine Casey, Founder and Creator of Life’s Poetry News
Inspired Again I’ve been feeling inspired again So inspired to tie up loose ends So Inspired to make things mend Could this be a God-send To start writing again I’ve been inspired again By: Josephine
Josephine Casey is the author of Life’s Poetry, which is a collection of poems written by her that expresses freedom of speech in everyday challenges through life’s journey. It is a balance of our emotions and a combination of inspirational messages throughout the good and bad times. Life’s Poetry is realistic and portrays our human nature in what we feel and do. For all readers who experience life’s struggles, this collection will inspire you. Josephine is currently working on her second book of poetry which she anticipates will be released in 2005. Life’s Poetry is available at: Kobobooks.com, Knowledge Bookstore, Amazon.com, Accents Bookstore, ASCEND, barnesandnoble.com, and the Gospel Café. Season’s Greetings! See you for the Spring Edition.
Life’s Poetry @Lifes_Poetry
For Inquires or further information please contact: Josephine Casey josephines.poetry@gmail.com Tel: 416-668-4511