MARCH is National Reading Month ! It's time to READ!!!

MARCH is National Reading Month! 

~*~ READ ~*~

Many schools kick off the celebration of National reading Month with a birthday party honoring the beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2nd.
Green eggs and ham, along with a birthday cake, are often featured fixtures at those parties!

The goal of National Reading Month is to get children excited about reading, as well as improving their reading skills.  It is the perfect time to emphasize the importance and value of reading and to help them understand how important reading is in daily life and how it will help them achieve goals and become successful in life.  

My books, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and My Magnolia Memories and Musings are perfect books to READ, BUY and GIVE during National Reading Month. With very simple language and relatable themes, they can be read, enjoyed and understood by readers of all ages 8 to 80 (and beyond). 
There is definitely something in my "little books of southern poems" for EVERYONE.

 

 

 Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. After attending Dartmouth College and Oxford University, he began a career in advertising.  Dr. Seuss's first children's book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, hit the market in 1937.  In 1957, Seuss's The Cat in the Hat became the prototype for one of Random House's best- selling series, Beginner Books. 
This popular series combined engaging stories with outrageous illustrations and playful sounds to teach basic reading skills.

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - A Life in Poems - Link to Amazon

Magnolia Memories and Musings - In Poems - Link to Amazon

My Little Books Of Southern Poems Are Absolutely ...DREAMY!!!

I always tell the same story over and over about how my poetry writing and first poem came into existence.  On February 14, 2007, I wrote my very first poem.
I woke up out of my sleep, with this poem swirling around in my head.
I got up out of the bed and quickly scribbled it down.
After that the poems just started to flow and flow . Many of my poems have come just as I am drifting off to sleep, waking up or in the middle of the night.
Early on, after the publishing of my first collection of poems, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, I would often get an odd response ( I thought ) to me telling the story, in interviews. The "academic literary types" would tell me that I might not want to say that this was the way that my poems came about. They indicated that it might take away from the validity of my "craft". They said that it might somehow diminish the respect that people would have for my work. I thought it very odd because I was thinking ...What OTHER way could I or should I say that they came about ... other than the way they ACTUALLY DID come about ??!!! Were they suggesting that I make something up ??!!! To me that idea was totally absurd. I totally ignored that "marketing " advise and kept on telling my story...over and over and over again.
I am very proud to tell the story of how my poems come/came. Of course, there was/is no hiding it, anyway! 
In the foreword of Reflections I wrote: I always hesitate to call myself a poet. I feel more like a vessel or conduit through which the poems flow. I never intentionally sat down to write any of them. They all came to be fully complete and neatly packaged, title and all. I just put them down on paper. (I consider them gifts from God )
Actually, as far as "creative dreaming" goes, I think that I am in very good company !
Consider this :

On May 7, 1965, in a motel room in Clearwater, Florida, a bleary-eyed Keith Richards awoke, grabbed a tape recorder and laid down one of the greatest pop hooks of all time: The opening riff of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." He then promptly ...fell back to sleep.

"When I woke up in the morning, the tape had run out," Richards recalled many years later. "I put it back on, and there's this, maybe, 30 seconds of 'Satisfaction,' in a very drowsy sort of rendition. And then it suddenly—the guitar goes 'CLANG," and then there's like 45 minutes of snoring." It wasn't much to go on, but he played it for Mick Jagger later that same day. "He only had the first bit, and then he had the riff," Jagger recalls. "It sounded like a country sort of thing on acoustic guitar—it didn't sound like rock. But he didn't really like it, he thought it was a joke... He really didn't think it was single material, and we all said 'You're off your head.' Which he was, of course."

Yesterday was written by Paul McCartney. He says that he literally woke up out of a dream with the song in his head, and went right to the piano. The working title was "Scrambled Eggs", in G, until he came up with "Yesterday".
In 1965, Paul McCartney, famous singer/songwriter then with The Beatles, was staying at his parent’s home in London. McCartney stated:
"I woke up with a lovely tune in my head. I thought, 'That's great, I wonder what that is?' There was an upright piano next to me, to the right of the bed by the window. I got out of bed, sat at the piano, found G, found F sharp minor 7th -- and that leads you through then to B to E minor, and finally back to E. It all leads forward logically. I liked the melody a lot, but because I'd dreamed it, I couldn't believe I'd written it. I thought, 'No, I've never written anything like this before.' But I had the tune, which was the most magic thing!"
The tune McCartney was speaking about was the arrangement to the gigantic hit “Yesterday” (from The Beatles album “Help!” (1965).
In 1997, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1999, the song was voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners as the best song of the 20th century.
In 2000, “Yesterday” was voted the number one pop song of all time by MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine.
Furthermore, The Guinness Book of Records holds that “Yesterday” is the most covered song ever with over 3000 versions recorded, and Broadcast Music Incorporated asserts the song was performed over seven million times in the 20th century alone... all from a dream.


                                      MY VERY FIRST POEM
                            Written February 14, 2007

"When the mind rests, the subconscious whispers"

Interview information and more on amazing dreams here:

Famous Dreams - Paul McCartney

http://www.dreaminterpretation-dictionary.com/famous-dreams-paul-mccartney.html

.

POETRY MONTH! Have you met this MISSISSIPPI POET?

APRIL is NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.
The goals of National Poetry Month (from the Academy of American Poets)
Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry.

Some ideas on how you might celebrate National Poetry Month

* Try writing an original poem
-Memorize a poem
-Attend a poetry reading
-Organize a poetry reading
* Read poetry to your children or grandchildren
* Recite some poetry to family and friends
* Read a biography of a famous poet..see what made them tick
*Send a poem to a friend or loved one
*Support/Promote the work of a local poet
*Buy a wonderful book of poetry (preferably one of mine ) (smile)



LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF...
 and my little books of southern poems

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems

  My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems

MARCH is National Reading Month ! It's time to READ!!!

MARCH is National Reading Month! 

~*~ READ ~*~

Many schools kick off the celebration of National reading Month with a birthday party honoring the beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2nd.
Green eggs and ham, along with a birthday cake, are often featured fixtures at those parties!

The goal of National Reading Month is to get children excited about reading, as well as improving their reading skills.  It is the perfect time to emphasize the importance and value of reading and to help them understand how important reading is in daily life and how it will help them achieve goals and become successful in life.  

My books, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and My Magnolia Memories and Musings are perfect books to READ, BUY and GIVE during National Reading Month. With very simple language and relatable themes, they can be read, enjoyed and understood by readers of all ages 8 to 80 (and beyond). 
There is definitely something in my "little books of southern poems" for EVERYONE.

 

 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - A Life in Poems - Link to Amazon

Magnolia Memories and Musings - In Poems - Link to Amazon

 

MY NEXT BIG THING...is Showing (More) Love for Mississippi !

MY NEXT BIG THING...is Showing (More) Love for Mississippi ! 

Welcome to......

Blog Hop ...............


I was absolutely THRILLED when fellow blogger friend NancyKay Wessman
at  www.wessmanwords.com invited me to participate and be "tagged" in the “The Next Big Thing,” blog chain “Blog Hop” started by the She Writes blog site to help female authors promote their current work by answering a set of questions and then “tagging” other writers, inviting them to do the same. 
 
Here are the questions and my answers: 

1: What is the working title of your book(s)? 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems (2008)
My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems (2012)

2: Where did the idea for the book originate? 

As the bible says, out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
I believe that my poems all came from an overflow of my great love for Mississippi and the southern way of life. 

3: Under what genre does your book come? 

Poetry...... more specifically Southern Poetry.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Jennifer Hudson ... I absolutely love her !!!
"Jennifer, Play Me ! Play Me !!!!" 

~Jennifer Hudson~

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

I call both books "a celebration of the south and things southern "
My slogan is "Always, Always Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi ".  One reviewer called Reflections "A love letter to the south".
In My Magnolia Memories and Musings, the love affair continued.
Now, there is, yet another book to come, showing even more LOVE ! 

  

6: Will your next book be self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency? 

Self-Published 

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 

Most of the poems in both of my books were written in a span of about 6 months.
I wrote my very first poem February 14, 2007.   I woke up out of my sleep with a poem just swirling around in my head.  I quickly got up, and scribbled it down.  After that, the poems just started to flow and flow.  In a span of about two months,  I had over 200 poems.  Those poems became the first and second books.
My first book was published February 2008 and the second February 2012.
The poems that were not published there, will be included in my third book.

8: To what other books within your genre would you compare this story? 

The Collected Works of Maya Angelou 

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

My love for Mississippi, the south and the life that I have lived are at the root of all of my poems. 

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

For readers, I think the book will bring back a lot of very fond, familiar, shared memories of growing up in Mississippi and/or the south. 
Here are some of my poetry titles....... 
JUST SEE IF THEY DON'T CONJURE UP SOME WONDERFUL 
SOUTHERN MEMORIES FOR YOU .................................

~'Summer Nights' ~ 'The Rules' ~ 'Country Breakfast' ~
~'Preaching Sunday' ~ 'Southern Comfort (Food)'  ~
~ 'Fall in the Country' ~ 'Going to Town' ~
~'Neighborhood Groceries' ~ 'Childhood Christmas'~ ......  :)

Please click this link and ......
LISTEN to me read a few of my "Mississippi" poems.


~ MY NEXT BIG THING ~
 
The 3rd book in the Reflections "trilogy"
It will be entitled Mississippi In Me - Poems and More.
Set to be published early 2014.
I am also working on audio recordings of a selection of my poems.

Always, Always Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi

CHECK OUT these other blogs in hop tour :


Christy Williams
http://www.godsdesignforyou.com/2013/article-blog-hop-waste-storm.html



Emerald Barnes
http://ebarnes23.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/why-yes-i-am-participating-in-the-next-big-thing/


Kory Wells
http://korywells.com/2013/02/the-next-big-thing-is-there-still-a-novel-in-this-poets-future/


Susan Cushman
http://susancushman.com/writing-on-wednesday-the-next-big-thing-authors-blog-hop/


Stephanie MacAfee

http://stephaniemcafee.wordpress.com

Home Is (DEFINITELY ) Where My Heart Is !

My name is Patricia Neely-Dorsey. I am from Tupelo, Mississippi... located in the beautiful red clay "Hills" of Mississippi and yes, the birthplace of Elvis Presley!

I am the author of two books of poetry: 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia -A Life In Poems.

My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems.I call both books a true celebration of the south and things southern.   There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. 
I try to give a positive glimpse into my home state and region.  There is much to love about this much maligned and misunderstood part of our country.   I invite readers to get to KNOW Mississippi (and the south) in a different light I invite EVERYONE to Meet Mississippi Through Poetry, Prose and the written word.

I travel all around my state speaking at schools, churches, libraries and various civic organizations, delivering the message of a positive Mississippi and a positive southern experience....According to me, one of the best places to live in ALL of the world is POSITIVELY MISSISSIPPI !!!

LINKS TO AMAZON ..............

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems  -  


My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems  



ENTER AT the BOX in the top of this blog post
for a chance to WIN these prizes......... 

1st Grand Prize: $40 Gift Certificate from your
favorite eBookstore
2nd Grand Prize: $40 Gift Certificate from your
favorite eBookstore
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, and more!

Any time from February 15th, 8:00 a.m. CT to February 18th midnight CT you can enter both individual blogger prizes and the Grand Prize by commenting on each blog. Be sure to give us an email address so we can contact you if you win.

TO WIN 1 OF MY BOOKS.... 
JUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS - For More info please go here...

To visit the other blogs on the tour...
Please follow these links below......

Gloria Harchar: Steampunk Novels

Bonnie Blythes: Pure Romance

 
Emerald Barnes Dreaming Awake Blog

 
Under the Trolls Bridge

 
Prism Book Group Publisher Blog

 
Just For Laughs

Catherine Chant Time Travel Romance

Cause Everyone Needs Romance

 Pauline Creeden Blog

 

 

Mississippi Author Patricia Neely Dorsey to speak at Calhoun City Library

Calhoun City Public Library 

Link for directions and map

Patricia Neely-Dorsey - (Unofficial) International Mississippi Ambassador

OMG!!! IT'S A SMALL, SMALL WORLD !

Recently, a Facebook friend posted  this comment on her wall :
"I've been reading 'My Magnolia Memories and Musings In Poems' written by Patricia Neely-Dorsey. What a lovely book of poetry that truly captures the beauty of The Deep South!"

This Facebook friend is from Mississippi but, now lives in TEXAS
One of her friends (from SPAIN) replied:
"Thanks for sharing, have been looking for Southern literature."
I suggested that my Facebook friend's friend check out my website for more information and to read a few poems.
She replied: to me saying:
"I visited your state two years ago, and found it to be the most welcoming and warm state! Many greetings from Spain! Xx"

AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE, SHE WROTE:
I just read that you are from Tupelo, which is where we visited. I read your Magnolia Tree poem, and it brought back childhood memories of a Magnolia Tree in our garden. Sadly we had to leave it behind when we moved to Spain, and I have pined for it since.

A LITTLE LATER , SHE WROTE:
"The Southern Man poem is exactly why we love the South, and why it will be in our heart forever more. We feel southern in our hearts, even if we are a mixed breed Thank you for sharing your beautiful words with us."
"I'm half Serbian half Burmese, but was born in Germany "

SHE SENT A FRIEND REQUEST, I ACCEPTED.
She responded::
"Thanks for adding me! I just realized you’re a fellow BU alumni, I attended BU in '91!"

PND: OMG!!!!
I Now I have a new Facebook friend in Spain ..
who loves my poetry and the South ....especially Mississippi...
AND loves the ways of our southern men...
AND loves magnolias...
AND HAS VISITED TUPELO...
AND WENT TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY, My alma mater !!!
Did I say .."It's a small world " ???!!!
Yes, I think I did !!!! 

I am so proud of my two book babies, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia -A Life in Poems and My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems.
Because of the many negatives so commonly associated with Mississippi and the South, I have taken on a personal campaign of "Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi." I want to show that there is absolutely MUCH to love about my state and region. I have used my poems to help convey my platform and they have been very well received from people all over the United States ..and now , I see , beyond our borders! I am very encouraged to continue what I am doing:

"Always' Always,Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi"
PND -INTERNATIONAL MISSISSIPPI AMBASSADOR Signing off!
Woo Hoo !!! 

The Female Morgan Freeman??!!! Me??!!!!

Recently, I received one of the most amazing compliments from a Facebook friend after listening to my short audio readings of a couple of my poems.
He said that I had the perfect southern voice to go along with the verbally painted pictures of my poems.
THEN, he asked if I had heard Morgan Freeman narrate a book?
Duh! !!! Have I heard him???!!! Who hasn't heard him??!!!
Morgan Freeman is THE MASTER of narrations!!!! Period !!! 
And... he's a Mississippi Man ! Woo Hoo!!!! 

Anyway, my Facebook friend said :
"You have the female version going on . I would buy any book that was narrated by you.  You have that voice like the ones that I grew up hearing all my life... The voices of intelligent southern women. It's the sort of voice that will cause you to stop what you are doing and listen"

That has got to be among the best compliments I have EVER received ... comparing (in ANY way ) my reading to Morgan Freeman !!!! WOW!
The only thing that could even come close is the couple of times that people have said that my poems and reading reminded them of Maya Angelou. I ,also, will always remember one elderly gentleman coming up to me after one of my library readings and saying that he could listen to me read my poems all day long. 
I have been truly blessed through the sharing of my life in poems!
I only hope that others are being blessed even half as much by what I do ! 
Always, Always Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi.

 
NOTE TO SELF: I must get on the ball with those books on tape !

DECEMBER is National Read A New Book Month (I've Got a Suggestion For You !)

I LOVE to read ! I LOVE good books !

There is almost nothing more exciting than starting a new book!

One of the happiest moments in my life was when my son Henry came up to me (at about age 5 or 6) and told me " I just love to read!"
It kind of took me by surprise, because it just came out of the blue. 
I still remember it like it was yesterday . We were living in Memphis at the time. I was coming out of the kitchen or going into the kitchen and he stopped me in the dining room with his proclamation.
I gave him a big bear hug and told him that I was SO glad and that he had made his mother VERY happy. He REALLY had! After he walked away, I just stood there for a moment frozen, basking in the afterglow of this new found knowledge about my son.
My son was a "reader"! Of course, I knew that he could read and that he had hundreds of books to encourage him to read (courtesy of two parents who are crazy about books) ,but reading and being a "reader" are two totally different things. Readers know EXACTLY what I mean ! Being a reader runs in my family and I was so happy to find out that it was continuing in my son! I can't even image a life /my life) without books!

I wish that everyone could/would experience the joy of being a true "reader "!

Reading is Fundamental !

If you love Mississippi and you love the south or would like to have a little more 

insight into the southern way of life .

I know that you would really enjoy my books 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - 

A Life In Poems - © 2008 

My Magnolia Memories - In Poems - © 2012

Think about them when you are looking for your 

next NEW book ! 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - A Life In Poems = LINK TO PURCHASE

My Magnolia Memories - In Poems  = LINK TO PURCHASE