Velvet Dusk Publishing

18/07/2024

A five-star review by Victoria G. Smith for "Not Your Kid's Nursery Rhyme Haiku" by Bona M. Santos and Susan Burch SusanBill Burch.

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure box of wit, wile, and revelation
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2024
Verified Purchase

It’s an understatement to say that one “reads” NOT YOUR KIDS’ NURSERY RHYME HAIKU by Bona M. Santos and Susan Burch. One does not “read” it; rather, one “experiences" its thirty single-line haiku, which are an innovative adaptation of the traditional Japanese literary format that render resonant, sometimes even spine-chilling, snapshots of global narratives. As a novelist, I stand by this description, “narrative,” for this haiku collection. Together, they tell the story of the human condition that is both timeless and contemporary. As a poet, they impress me as the manifestation of literary craft discipline. Although I write in genres that afford me a lot more space to express my art, I recognize the value of literary form, not to limit nor confine, but to encourage and promote the development of the best expression of the work’s themes and thoughts. This is certainly true for the pieces in this collection. Compelled by the discipline of their genre’s craft to encapsulate their message in the fewest possible words, down to the syllables even, they thereby succeed in achieving the ultimate embodiment of the soul of the complex social issues they boldly address. This book is a treasure box of wit, wile, and revelation that haunts the reader long after its single-line pieces end.

15/07/2024

Three awards garnered by "How the Wind Moves" last June. :-) :-) :-)

Special Commendation for Link Verses- The Haiku Society of America (HSA) Merit Book
Gold (Poetry) - Northern California Publishers and Authors
Gold (Book Cover and Inner Design) - Northern California Publishers and Authors

14/06/2024

Have you purchased a copy of "The Poodle Wears a Pink Tutu" on Amazon? Grab your copy here. https://shorturl.at/X1Yhn
Here's a sample of Susan Furst's poetry. This one was included among the haiku selection in the Golden Haiku poetry competition 2023, displayed at the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, Washington DC.

14/05/2024

"The Poodle Wears a Pink Tutu" with its new, flamingo pink color cover. Available on Amazon. https://tinyurl.com/y6x59hke

26/02/2024

HOT OFF THE PRESS

A beautiful, whimsical, quirky collection of poems by Susan Furst.

Signed copies at Literaryfurst.WordPress.com
Also available at Amazon.com

17/12/2023

Just received the news the other day that "How the Wind Moves" received an honorable mention in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards! Congratulations to all the poets who are included in this anthology! Thank you so much to all of you!!!

29/11/2023

A sample of Mary Kendall's stunning haiga in her poetry book, "The Last Camellia." Available on Amazon! https://tinyurl.com/33ckznr7

28/11/2023

A beautiful tanka included in Mary Kendall's full-length poetry book, "The Last Camellia."

Available on Amazon. https://tinyurl.com/33ckznr7

21/11/2023

We are proud to announce that "The Last Camellia," a collection of haiku, tanka, haiga, and tanka art, by Mary Kendall is hot off the press! Purchase your copy on Amazon.

The Last Camellia

15/07/2023

First published in Poetry Pea journal and was later included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu

https://youtu.be/kJ_wmnVjh8M

First published in Poetry Pea journal. Second publication was in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."Available on Amazon:Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry9...

12/07/2023

First published in Failed Haiku. Delighted to add this to the collection of collaborative sequences in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

https://youtu.be/QiKwwceoYQs

This collaborative split sequence was first published in Failed Haiku. It is included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."Available on Amazon:Paperback - ...

06/07/2023

One of the collaborative split sequences of Carol Judkins and Chrissi Villa in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

https://youtu.be/8FMw9h16h1I

A collaborative split sequence which is first published in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." Available on Amazon:Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sauK...

04/07/2023

This collaborative split sequence was first published in Cantos 2023. Then it was included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

https://youtu.be/YxoJ09OZpPc

A collaborative split sequence by Bona M. Santos and Christine L. Villa, which appeared first in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." The mixed media art is ...

04/07/2023

One of the two collaborative split sequences written by Claire Vogel Camargo and Christine L. Villa in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

https://youtu.be/m_D5Q99k8Hk

This collaborative split sequence was first published in Failed Haiku. It is included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."Available on Amazon:Paperback -...

01/07/2023

A collaborative split sequence with Mary Kendall. It is included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

https://youtu.be/SAAKkLCBVOI

A collaborative split sequence included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." Available on Amazon:Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sauKindle ebook - h...

24/06/2023

Enjoy this collaborative split sequence that inspired many more collaborations with other poets! Deep gratitude to the creator, Peter Jastermsky! This was first published in hedgerow: a journal of small poems. You can now find this in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves."
Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZFQHXAjj-w

A collaborative split sequence included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." It was first published in hedgerow: a journal of small poems.It is available ...

20/06/2023

Here's the video that we weren't able to show during the poetry reading last Saturday-- collaborative split sequence "Depths of the Heart" by Jay Friedenberg and Christine L. Villa included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." Enjoy!

How the Wind Moves is available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

A collaborative split sequence included in the anthology, "How the Wind Moves." How the Wind Moves is available on Amazon:Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2r...

24/05/2023

Collaborative split sequence with Michael Henry Lee published in “How the Wind Moves.” Mixed media art by Chrissi Villa.

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

17/05/2023

One of the three collaborative split sequences of Hifsa Ashraf and Chrissi Villa published in “How the Wind Moves.”

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

09/05/2023

Sharing a split sequence with Hazel Hall published in “How the Wind Moves.” Artwork by Chrissi Villa

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

06/05/2023

Sharing a collaborative split sequence with Claire Vogel Camargo published in "How the Wind Moves." Artwork by Christine L. Villa

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

25/04/2023

Did you know that the Kindle ebook of "How the Wind Moves" is only $4?

Available on Amazon:
Paperback - https://tinyurl.com/2ry93sau
Kindle ebook - https://tinyurl.com/46yezmu7

So happy and honored to these praises below! Thank you so much, Garry Gay, John J. Han, and Patricia Mcguire!

24/04/2023

We are so proud to announce that "How the Wind Moves," the first anthology of its kind, is hot off the press!

Here is the sneak preview - https://youtu.be/ImaMBvQv6oo

“It’s almost as if this new genre called the ‘split sequence’ reveals the white and negative spaces hiding between and behind each line of any haiku you have ever read. If you want to see for yourself how a small poem is but a gateway for worlds you could inhabit, dive into this book and don’t worry about ever resurfacing.”

—Alan Summers, founder of Call of the Page

“The first of its kind, How the Wind Moves features a diverse collection of split sequences by Christine L. Villa, co-authored with a well-rounded cast of writers from the haiku community. Interspersed throughout is gorgeous multi-layered collage work, created by Villa herself, which is a parallel medium that ties in with the sequences. One need not be familiar with the split sequence form or even haiku to appreciate this book. All lovers of poetry and art will enjoy this landmark collection that flows like the wind between universal subjects such as nature, love, loss, illness, healing, hope, and faith.”

—Robin Anna Smith, co-founder & co-editor of whiptail: journal of
the single line poem

Thank you so much, Alan Summers and Robin Smith, for your wonderful blurbs!

Here are samples of collaborative split sequences included in the anthology, How the Wind Moves. This book is a collection of 62 collaborative split sequence...

24/03/2023

So very excited to announce that the anthology of collaborative split sequences, “How the Wind Moves," will be released soon! Just waiting for the proof copies. To all the contributors, please wait for my email. 🙂 🙂 :-)

04/03/2023

Sharing a review by Heterodox Haiku Journal of "Not Your Kid's Nursery Rhyme Haiku" by Bona M. Santos and Burch. https://twitter.com/HeterodoxHaiku/status/1628117133228924928?cxt=HHwWgICzrYL6nZgtAAAA
We think this chapbooks is one of the best things released all year, hope you will find opportunity to read it, thoughtfully meditate upon artful techniques employed within, learn from & apply fruitfully within your own process & practice!

“We think this chapbooks is one of the best things released all year, hope you will find opportunity to read it, thoughtfully meditate upon artful techniques employed within, learn from & apply fruitfully within your own process & practice! https://t.co/9JU7ms3rBP”

08/12/2022

A wonderful review of "Not your Kid's Nursery Rhyme Haiku"by Maxianne Berger published on beyond the pages of Haiku Canada Review ShoHyōRan. Here's the link - http://hcshohyoran.blogspot.com/2022/10/hcshr-513-bona-m-santos-and-susan-burch.html

18/09/2022

Velvet's Dusk Publishing new book release - "Not Your Kids' Nursery Rhyme Haiku" by Bona M. Santos and Susan Burch. Get your paperback copy on Amazon now! shorturl.at/abPS2

These nursery rhymes or lullabies won’t lull you to sleep!

The format is “single-line haiku,” producing its own delivery of pace, as an impact similar to the tenacity of the original stories in rhyme.

—Alan Summers, Founder of Call of the Page

What’s not to like about this new book of “Not Your Kid’s Nursery Rhyme Haiku,” which takes the punch of a monoku and combines it with nursery rhyme memories of our childhood, starting with Humpty Dumpty and ending with the Farmer in the Dell? Along the way, the authors explore s*xual abuse, classroom bullying, and anorexia, along with other difficult subjects. The nursery rhyme references strengthen each scene, providing an extra sock to the gut every time. It’s a very strong collaborative debut collection, and I recommend it highly.

—Deborah P Kolodji, California Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America

These nursery rhymes or lullabies won’t lull you to sleep! The format is “single-line haiku,” producing its own delivery of pace, as an impact similar to the tenacity of the original stories in rhyme. —Alan Summers, Founder of Call of the Page What’s not to like about this new book of “N...

17/07/2022

A powerful haiga from "Alone, I am Not" by Vandana Parashar.

You can buy the paperback (black and white) on Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/ms25n865
If you want to buy the e-book, which is colored, please go to www.velvetduskpublishing.com

08/07/2022

A stunning haiga from Vandana Parashar's latest haiku collection, "Alone, I am Not."

You can buy the paperback (black and white) on Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/ms25n865

If you want to buy the e-book, which is colored, please go to www.velvetduskpublishing.com

28/04/2022

We are proud to announce release of Vandana Parashar's haiku and haiga collection, "Alone, I am Not." You can purchase your paperback copy on Amazon. https://amzn.to/3OKGVzy E-book (colored version) is available on this website www.velvetduskpublishing.com.

Vandana’s second collection, Alone, I am Not, is dedicated to all those subjected to prejudice, harassment, injustice because of s*x, race, colour, ability and s*xual orientation. The collection does not disappoint in poetic quality at a time when the world is mired in widespread bigotry and hatred. Vandana’s poems take the personal and make it political in the best possible way. There are some high-quality haiku, haiga, and senryu poems in this collection which display sensitivity, irony and wit. My personal favourites are the combination of Unsplash’s art with Vandana’s poetry: “victim-blaming a lacy bra on the clothesline” and “in the deep spaces between polarities my self-worth.” An excellent chapbook well worth checking out for topical and political poetry.
—Dr. Tim Gardiner, former tanka prose editor of Haibun Today and poetry editor of Suspect Device punk fanzine.

Alone, I am Not