The poetry anthology project titled Heart Whispers now has 16 poets contributing a total of 66 poems. The deadline for sending poems for consideration is May 31, so there is still a little time left! I’d love to experience your creations. Please send them to russtowne@yahoo.com.

I’m thrilled to announce that one of the participating poets has volunteered to create a marketing video for Heart Whispers! I’m withholding his name until it is complete to keep the pressure off of him, but I like what I’ve seen so far and believe this will be a wonderful way to help spread the word about this book.

The cover designer is also at work creating cover ideas so I may be able to share some of those with you soon.

Heart Whispers is much more about listening to the quiet messages of the heart and spirit on a large variety of subjects than it is about narrower topics such as just romantic love.

Some of you have inquired about the type of poetry I’m looking for. I seek poetry that touches readers so powerfully that tears of the joyous or healing variety flow freely and naturally, that readers feel they aren’t merely reading poems, but experiencing them. That create a sense of connection between the poet readers and world, touch on universal themes but in unusual ways, and is accessible and enjoyable for ages 12 to 112 regardless of education level. I’m less interested in highly structured unusual formats than I am in feeling I’m experiencing glimpses of the heart and spirit of the poet. Heart is far more important to me than polish or technically perfect poetry.

At this point, my best guess is Heart Whispers will be published in August, so in plenty of time for the holiday shopping season.

Thank you to all who are participating in this project and those who are helping to spread the word to poets and poetry lovers!

With Love,
Russ