Many of you know that I have pushed my two bigger projects back but I’ve been low-key working on another one and yesterday, I revealed the news to my email list.
I have wanted to publish many of the poems featured on this blog (by featured I am referring to my own poems) in a book for a long time. I tried it with my third collection but since then I’ve written a lot more poetry. To make a long story short, I’ve finally submitted the final copy of I AM SOUL in to be edited last week and we’re looking at a release date as early as December 20th, my mother’s birthday.
COVER REVEAL – I AM SOUL
Inspiration Behind the Title
“You have an old soul.”
I don’t particularly like this phrase and I cringe when people tell me this. But, it is a fact that I’ve heard this many times over the course of my life, disguised in many different ways.
“You act older than you are.”
“You’re mature for your age.”
Or as my big sister so elegantly put it: “You old.”
So, I decided to drop the “Old” (because I’m young shooo lol) and just go with Soul.
Personal
I read something once that said, “The best writing is vulnerable.” I kept rolling this around in my head. It’s so true. I am extremely shy when it comes to my own personal feelings and I admit I am embarrassed to reveal too much of myself because, well, I think it will be too much. I’m too much yall (lol tee hee). But, the person was right. We connect deeper with people who we can relate to. People who are just as human as we are. People who make mistakes and are dripping with flaws. They may not always be this way, but they help us to see there is still hope. Their testimonies make redemption real. They are not somewhere in heaven while the rest of us are here on Earth. Their mistakes are a bridge of commonality that connects them to the rest of mankind. It is why we connect with people who are real.
This book is also a compilation of the Black History poems published to this blog which is another inspiration for the title. We have always had a unique way about us from our rich history to our style of dress to the way that we speak. We are the salt of the Earth. We are flavoring. We are Soul Train and Soul Brothers. We are soul.
I AM SOUL is personal in more ways than one and seeks to tell the truth. To be honest. To be vulnerable. To be weak and in that weakness, to be strong. ( 2 Co 12:10) This book is all things personal. This book is all things, soul.
So, there you have it. I’ll have more details and developments as we get closer to release but I am excited and I hope you will enjoy this collection just as much as you enjoy the poetry on this blog.
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Thank you for sharing. I almost forgot I scheduled this lol.
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Good luck on the release of your book and congratulations. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones/family.
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Thank you. I don’t celebrate Holidays though 😌 lol ☺
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Then just enjoy your Month Of December, and the start of a new 2018. Namaste & Ciao Bella.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out the cover reveal for Yecheilyah Ysrayl’s new book, I am Soul, as announced in this post from her blog.
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Thanks Don! 😆
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You’re welcome.
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Congrats EC! 🙂
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Thanks Debby! 😆
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Welcome. 🙂
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