"Like all complicated things, it began very simply" Sarah Martin goes to university in York to study English and be free to reinvent herself. Soon, however, she finds herself locked in a tempestuous lesbian affair with Jules, whilst secretly lusting after her best friend Suzanne's boyfriend, Dick. Things get more complicated when her break up with Jules causes total writer's block and her writing professor threatens her with ejection from university if she doesn't turn in her major poetry project. Sarah discovers a secret store of Suzanne's poems and submits one as her own. Then Suzanne dies suddenly. Sarah marries Dick. Shifting from present to past and back, the pieces of Sarah's story start to fit together. Why is she so guilty? Where are the rest of Suzanne's poems? What happened the night of Suzanne's death? Interwoven with the action, the scenery of Yorkshire, the Lake District, Cornwall, Greece and Petra provide a stunning backdrop to the revelations that could destroy Sarah's marriage.

This book is a compilation of haiku written over a period of seven years and a range of life experiences, bitter and sweet. The topics range from abstract images, nature, the seasons to virtually every dimension of life one gets to experience in the process of living. The poetry is soft and subtle at times and shows varying hues in other places. The writing is sensitive and thought-provoking and has a meditative feel to it. The standard structure of the conventional haiku has been broken at places and this interesting change brings in a new perspective to haiku-writing in English (structurally a very different language from Japanese), being the preferred language of expression by the poet. The small—yet powerful impact of a haiku is often associated with the masterful usage of the language of choice. This compact book offers the reader a convenient medium that can be read and re-read, with varying interpretations according to the state of mindfulness or contemplation he or she is in. This offering could be a reflection of the self for every human being who is able to absorb its true essence. It is also a tribute to one of the oldest and yet one of the strongest forms of poetry—the haiku. Incidentally, the illustrations are also by the author.

All the fruits gather together and enjoy a rhyming party, but poor Orange feels left out because he does not rhyme with anything--until Apple invents a new word.

On 29 April 1841, a week after his thirty-fourth birthday, Louis (Aloysius) Bertrand died of tuberculosis. This malady, his destitute poverty, and his errant existence qualify him as a quintessential poete maudit, whose one great work, Gaspard de la Nuit: Fantasies a la maniere de Rembrandt et de Callot, was not published until 1842. Now widely considered as the first collection of prose poems to appear in France, Gaspard inspired writers like Baudelaire, Mallarme, Huysmans, and Andre Breton. This study offers a rereading of Bertrand's book grounded in modern critical theory, including the work of Derrida, Bakhtin, Barbara Johnson, Genette, Lacoue-Labarthe, and Nancy. It elaborates a new perspective on a work that contains all the paradoxes of the genre, with which theorists still struggle.

Vasanthi’s debut book of poetry is a collection of her thoughts on a wide spectrum of themes -some interconnected, some disjoint and some contradicting too. It explores myriad emotions, relationships and perspectives. There’s humour, some solemn thoughts, a few intriguing and self- introspecting and some random thoughts too. Overall, it’s a painting on a canvas with different strokes.

Words can be a comfort to anyone who reads them. Words carry the voice of people, their experiences and beliefs. It is words that connect us, words that bring us closer. Through these words people find each other and themselves. Such is the power of words, the power of expression. This book is an anthology of poems written in such words: words that found me and words that are bound to find you. Each one of us finds a special meaning in words, meanings that change continuously. We must find our own special meaning. These poems are not about politics or agendas, these are about feelings, about thoughts that most of us have but we hardly give importance to. These poems take form from my experiences as a normal teenager and recount every tiny thing that made me think. These poems are merely a teenager’s thoughts.

""Nicky has found a creative way of channeling her feelings and has produced a piece of work that is an inspiration to people who have experienced mental health problems. It is also of great value to us professionals and we should not forget that an essential part of our continuing medical education is listening to patients"" - Dr Eleni Palazidou MD, PhD, MRCP, MRCPSYCH DescriptionNicky Thomas' extraordinary book of poetry charts her feelings and experiences of depression and the recovery of some stability in her life. Nicky found that writing her book proved a cathartic process and helped her to overcome her depression and stop self-harming. Nicky hopes that this book maybe able to help someone else feel less alone in their despair and help families, friends and health professionals gain a greater understanding. This is a wonderfully strong book from a very strong and determined woman.Depression, although so common, is still so badly misunderstood - on the one hand it is not taken seriously and people are told to 'cheer up' and 'try harder'; on the other hand the stigma leaves many people further isolated and discriminated against. Taking medication is often seen as admitting defeat, failing; when taking medication for any physical order is socially acceptable. Nicky Thomas About the AuthorNicola Thomas was born in 1968. Diagnosed with clinical depression at an early age, Nicky has had to endure twelve separate hospital admissions and years of psychotherapy before her eventual recovery. Nicola feels that her recovery has been aided by her writing - whenever she is depressed she writes about her feelings. It is no coincidence that when she is writing Nicky stops self-harming. As well as being a successful author, Nicky is currently studying at college and works voluntarily.