Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – New Author on shelves for Christmas – Poetry – Chicken Shift by D. Avery

I am delighted to welcome poet D. Avery to the bookstore in time for Christmas with her two poetry collections beginning with Chicken Shift

About Chicken Shift

Poems of life; Crossings & Roadkill; fun, philosophical inquiries into why the chicken crossed the road and the consequences therefrom. Short witty, multi-layered poems. Thought and laugh provoking

The most recent review for the collection

Why would you want to cross the road? By Norah Colvin on October 16, 2017

This book of poetry, inspired by the riddle “Why did the chicken cross the road?”, is a delightful collection of humorous philosophy or philosophical humour. You choose. Whichever way you read it, and in whatever order, its combination of light humour and deep thought provides hours of engaging reading. That D. Avery can write so many poems starting from the inane childish riddle is amazing. Each poem is different and provides another intriguing way of looking at life and contemplating its big questions. Why did the chicken cross the road? Read this book to consider the possibilities.

Read the other reviews and buy the collection: https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Shift-D-Avery/dp/1304008363

and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicken-Shift-D-Avery/dp/1304008363

About For the Girls

Humorously serious poetic reflections on breast cancer. Complete with fears and hopes, losses and learnings. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed, or have lost someone to cancer, read this book. It’s for the girls. Buy it for your friends.

One of the reviews for the collection

Read it. Give it to a friend featured on shiftnshake.wordpress on October 23, 2016 Reviewed by Pat Jones

I read every word of this book–For the Girls–and then I read it again. From the title, which is very clever, to the scrabble tiles, which work symbolically, it is a beautifully crafted book. Even the back cover is great with the hospital gown and the ties in a heart. It is funny, poignant, witty, wise, and full of humor and pathos. I think it should probably be required reading for every woman diagnosed with breast cancer. It should be in doctor’s waiting rooms and hospitals.

I loved all the poems but the ones I loved best were “Knockers”–serious and funny–a very bad knock-knock joke. Despite the wit and humor, it is clear that this is a serious poet. The second poem–“name game”–is clever. It is characterized black humor, but it also a serious consideration of the power of language to define and to name and by naming call it into being. After all creation, according to the Bible, is about the word and it is the word that creates. Nothing unsophisticated about this book. I also love “landings”–two kinds of time–before and after. Powerfully true and so frightening. Everything can change in a second.

“Dream Change”–my very favorite, I think. I love it–in any context. I am going to give it to a boy I know who has, I think, forgotten how to dream. I also like the section on women–collective women and individual women. Jeannie who graduated chemo and radiation, others who graduated in the final ceremony. My friend Bev died at 36 leaving behind two sons. Some women who endure–everywhere–some in silence, some giving it voice, and some falling apart. “That Girl”–perhaps a poem for every girl–no matter what. And, maybe best of all, the hour glasses “letting go”–“letting God”–the perfect poem to end with. Buy this book. Read it. Give it to a friend.

Read the reviews and buy the collection: https://www.amazon.com/Girls-D-Avery/dp/1365022218

And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-D-Avery/dp/1365022218

About D.Avery

D. Avery (196?-20??) has long been a compulsive poet. Despite a very important day job educating public school children, she is often distracted by this compulsion, as well as by life’s great questions, such as “Kayak, or bike?”. Though she has come to realize that nothing difficult is ever easy, she believes that it’s all good.

From the author

I live on an island off the coast of Massachusetts with a husband and a cat. I am a teacher of middle school mathematics. I enjoy kayaking, yard-saling and reading. I sometimes write. People sometimes read what I write. ShiftnShake is a place for you to read some of my writing.

Connect to D. Avery

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/D.-Avery/e/B00IXZIX3U
Website: https://shiftnshake.wordpress.com/
Poems: https://shiftnshake.wordpress.com/prompted-poetry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/daveryshiftn

Thanks for dropping in today and these two collections look like they would make gifts for lovers of witty poetry. Thanks Sally

If you are a new author to the bookstore or have published a book since November 1st 2017 please get in touch. sally.cronin@moyhill.com