The Poetry Launch: Up, Up and Away!

Hotep and Greetings!

The launch of Obamatyme: Election Poetry and Soul Poems: Life as Fertile Ground has been awesome and continues to unfold as an experience I will cherish and always remember!

Beginning with the International Book Launch held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel in Bermuda, guests were greeted by the pulsating rhythms of drummers, setting the tone for the evening's events.  The guests arrived to a beautifully decorated Gazebo Ballroom overlooking the Hamilton harbor: lots of candles and African accents of statues and fabric - mudcloth and kente - along with lovely palm ferns and the scent of frankincense wafting throughout.  With tasty hors d'oeuvres and punch, guests mingled, chatting and chewing, until the main event - the poetry reading.  But I'm getting a little ahead of myself...

Having sent out press releases, I was delighted to be featured in all three Bermuda newspapers - Ira Philip, MBE, columnist at The Mid-Ocean News, wrote a wonderful piece and a follow-up article entitled, "Melodye was in captivating form at book launch;" articles were also featured in The Bermuda Sun and The Royal Gazette's Lifestyles' article, "Igniting the passions of a poet" is featured on-line; I was delighted to see my picture on the front page of the paper!  An interview on popular radio station HOTT 1075 completed a bit of a publicity blitz prior to the event.

Scheduled just before the actual launch, the Premier of Bermuda, Dr. Ewart Brown, JP, MP, graciously invited me to a formal Cabinet visit in his office in honor of the publication of Obamatyme.  Of course, it was a humbling experience to present my poetry book to the head of this beautiful island, but to have him offer to personally deliver my book poetry to the President of the United States during his visit to Washington was overwhelming!!!  Needless to say, I was nearly overcome with emotion - first shock, then gratitude - and have since delivered signed copies for Premier Brown to present to President Obama... and look forward to his report!  It was on the heals of this visit that my husband and I went to the book launch at the Princess.

Warmly introduced by Bermuda Senator Thaao Dill, I proceeded to read from Soul Poems and Obamatyme... The audience of 50 included friends who had flown in from the United States, Bermuda family, friends and colleagues; all received the poetry with appreciation - clapping, laughing and reflecting on the various messages of history and hope, love and challenge - a standing ovation filled my heart with love, humility and pride and my eyes with tears.   God is awesome!!!  It was a glorious day followed up with guest appearances on Progressive Talk Radio, a book signing at True Reflections Bookstore and the featured poet at Chewstick, the premier poetry venue in Bermuda!  CITV interviewed me and filmed the affair; Bermuda Rocks! will air a special segment on this poet next month...  Underscoring the success of the launch: of the 100 books shipped to Bermuda, 98 sold in 4 days!!!

It was a book launch whirlwind that followed me to Philadelphia.

Borders, Borders, Borders!  I am so excited to read and sign books at my favorite bookstore!  First the Warrington store let me get my feet wet and enjoy the moment.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will share my poems at the Borders Bookstores in Center City (10/2), Chestnut Hill (10/3), Plymouth Meeting Mall (10/9) and Willow Grove Mall (10/10). 

In between, the event at Renee Bolden Designs was another warm and wonderful weekend of poetry reading, provocative discussion, good eats and fellowship.  I was blessed to be supported by good friends, family and neighbors who did not count it robbery to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon poetry-engaged...  And engaged they were, telling me they need to have a CD of my reading, do a one-woman play, when is the next book coming out, etc., etc.!  Whew!!!

The photos from these events tell the story...  Both my Bermuda-home and my Philadelphia-home book launch for Obamatyme: Election Poetry and Soul Poems: Life as Fertile Ground were welcoming, encouraging and embracing, taking me up, up and away!

More later!

Poetically yours...