Poetic Perspective with Antonio Eramo

Today we have the privilege and honor of sitting down for virtual coffee with best-selling poet Antonio Eramo.

His book is in the Top 100 in all 3 Kindle Categories, and even in the Top 20 in 2 categories with more than 168 reviews.

My review of his book is available on Instagram here.

  1. What was your purpose behind writing Cicadas Serenade

Cicadas Serenade was written to be my own version of “song of myself” (Thoreau). My song, like the song of the Cicada, is loud and can be perceived as annoying…but it is nonetheless natural and beautiful in its own right. As far as purpose goes…well, it serves the same purpose as any song within nature, it means everything and nothing at the same time.

2. What’s your favorite thing about nature?

My favorite thing about nature is that it almost mocks man in its perfection. Every lesson I have ever learned I can see expressed in nature…and there is a great irony that we can only see the wisdom of nature after our own failures.

3. What do you hope people gain from Cicadas Serenade?

I hope to gain several things from this book. The number 1 thing would be understanding. Although the manner I express myself isn’t straightforward, I hope that those close to me can read between the lines and understand the overarching meanings. The number 2 thing I hope to gain is a bit of traction within the poetry community. The poetry community is oversaturated and it is very difficult to stand out or be heard. I am hoping that this book can help usher in a return to form for poetry. Most modern poetry is full of bromides and bad line breaks, and I think the reader deserves a bit more than surface level thoughts masquerading as a poem (insta-poetry).

4. As a poet and a writer, where do you see your career going next?

As a poet, I see myself slowly climbing the ranks on amazon and establishing my work as an indie publisher. I am adamantly against big name publishers, so I do not see myself submitting to any of them anytime soon. I do not foresee myself ever being able to live off my work as a poet, which is definitely a blessing in disguise…I feel that if you treat art like a job/career then the work suffers 

5. Any new books currently in the works?

I have a new book out called “The Day Prior” which features AI artwork. Most people have been using AI to create art…but I was more curious as to how ai interprets art. I plugged each poem in as the input and had an ai generator interpret the poetry and create a corresponding image. The point of the collection is to analyze the process of interpreting art. In general we have a major issue with something I like to call the “coerced consensus”…in school we interpret things as we are told to interpret them…likewise, ai can only interpret things based on its algorithm (how it is told to interpret). I am curious to see if the images impact the readers ability to interpret the poetry and if it influences their perceptions before they even read.

6. Who are some of your favorite poets?

T.S. Eliot and Robert Frost

7. Who inspired you to become a poet or was there a pivotal moment that made you become a poet?

I don’t really remember what kicked off my fascination with words, but I do recall that it was a sudden snap. One day I just started writing poems.

8. Anything else you want to share with my readers about poetry or your writing career?

A bit of advice for anyone new to poetry…learn the forms and learn poetic devices before embarking on the journey. After you learn the rules you can break them…but for the love of god, learn them first. 

Poetic Perspective with Matthew Gutierrez

Today, we have the honor and privilege of sitting down for virtual coffee with Matthew Gutierrez, author of Notes I Wrote Along The Way. A review of it can be found here.

  1. What was the exact moment you decided to begin writing Notes I Wrote Along The Way?
    I had been writing for years before 2019, so I had quite the collection, but in 2019 it dawned upon me that
    I should release them into the world so others may enjoy them and not keep them locked in my computer.
  1. One of my favorites from the collection is Universal Control? Can you tell us more about the backstory
    behind the piece?

This poem speaks about the complete control that the universe has over all living things; the universe
maintains complete control, and we are subject to the twist and turns that are thrown our way. I believe
that our existence is part of the universe’s plan and we must all play a part and complete a purpose to that
plan.

  1. Besides poetry, what else have you written?
    I have written screenplays, short stories and currently I am working on more poetry and a longer fiction
    piece that will become a novel.
  1. Do you plan to write another poetry collection? If so, do you know what the themes may be?
    I am currently working on writing more poetry and editing and rewriting pieces that I already have picked
    out for my next collection. I want the next book to be more personal, more direct about pieces of my life
    and things that have happened in my life. The themes will remain the same as the first collection, I like to
    focus on the universe, a higher power, love, life and death.
  1. Who inspires you most in your life?
    I inspire myself… my life inspires me and the people that come In and out of my life inspire me in some
    manner. Life is full or inspiration and sparks ideas to write.
  1. Who are some of your favorite poets?
    I would say that I am a fan of Pablo Neruda, John Keats, Langston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Phillip B.
    Williams, Roger Reeves.

7.What’s your favorite thing about poetry?
I love poetry because you can find the right words for a poem that you cannot seem to discover when
speaking to another human being. I started writing poetry due to the lack of courage I had to say a few
things on my mind. I found it easier to write them as poems instead.

  1. What is most misunderstood about poetry in your opinion?

The state of being abstract. I hear often, in my MFA program, that I can be a bit too abstract, and I need to
be more grounded and concrete when writing a poem. While I am working on being more focused on
describing a scene, I do believe that I am that poet and have to stay true to what I do.

#PressRelease: Sticks and Stones Mental Health Month Tour!

For Immediate Release

April 12, 2023

Chelsea DeVries

Publicist

chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

Sticks and Stones Mental Health Month Tour

    Chelsea DeVries, author of Sticks and Stones, is going on a 3 stop book tour. On May 6, 2023, DeVries will appear at the Community Appreciation Event at the Gulf View Square Mall, 9409 US 19 Port Richey, FL 34668, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. She will be selling her poetry stanza artwork and copies of her award-winning poetry collection Sticks and Stones. 

On May 10, 2023, DeVries will appear at the Spring Hill Library 9220 Spring Hill Drive Spring Hill, FL 34608 from 3-5 p.m. for a poetry reading and presentation of her collection Sticks and Stones: Full Story Edition. On May 24, 2023 DeVries will appear at New Port Richey Public Library 5939 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652 from 3-5 p.m. Books will be available to purchase at this event on May 24. Past appearances for Sticks and Stones Poetry readings include Centenniel Park Library, Hudson Library, and Neat Coffee Bar. For more information about each event, please email chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

About The Author: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication.She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @chelsealynnpoetry, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

About The Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.

#NationalPoetryMonth: In The Library by James W. A. Review

Venturing to check on my own poetry collection at the local library, I happened upon another local poet’s collection. Checking it out, I was immersed in a short narrative poetry experience that reminded me of one of my favorite childhood books that became a movie The NeverEnding Story

James W. A. writes of the freedom from rules and counted meter with the poet’s choice of free verse and also shares how that freedom then trickles down to the reader who can then interpret the poem as they see fit even if it differs from the way the poet intended it.

In The Library is a dark poetry narrative that utilizes a main character who’s dialog throughout the book is expressed through poetic stanza and verse, all while utilizing the image of a library to be similar to a graveyard where the main character is asked to read or “remember” 11 different traumatic events.

The library then becomes like the post-traumatic brain and the poetry is the inner workings of coming to terms with said trauma.

It is a different take on poetry but it is unique in it’s own light, and worth a read.

I found it to be hopeful to me as a free verse poet, and I am grateful that on a trip to the library I happened upon In The Library.

#NationalPoetryMonth: Diary of A Romantica by Celia Martinez Review

If you are anything like me, you read poetry to feel something. To feel sad, to feel angry, to resonate with the feeling of heartbreak expressed in a piece. Rarely ever, do I find romantic poetry a genre that I vibe with these days. That is until I happened upon a poet climbing the social media ranks named Celia Martinez.

What struck me most was the absolute effortless delivery with which Martinez delivers her poems, almost like she’s just saying what first comes to mind, and in terms of poetry and the complexity of language barriers, that is a rare find.

Her poetry reads like diary entries but follows a rhyme scheme with themes ranging from future love, past love, love as a concept, romance, fictional men, heartbreak, and themes of anxiety and depression as well.

The absolute best thing about Martinez’s collection is her imagery. You can literally picture two people meeting in the street, the young woman carrying bread. How she blushes when the man speaks to her, wondering if he’s actually addressing her or someone else entirely. It’s like paintings of romantic storylines come to life, and it fills the readers soul with such wonder, curiosity, and even dare I say, fulfillment similar to that of a romance novel you can’t stop reading.

I finished Martinez’s collection in two days simply because I had trouble putting it down like an insatiable romance novel, and that to me is poetry done absolutely right in a time of social media and short attention spans.

Thank you Celia for reminding us all that love is possible even if it hasn’t been returned to us yet.

Brand New Indie Author Tour Package

It’s a new package i offer with my book and music publicity firm The Smart Cookie Philes. I would basically find 20 bloggers to review and feature your book that are genre specific and 10 Instagrammers to review and feature your book.

All for $400. I would also make a custom graphic that i feature on my website to help promote you that i would cross feature across all my social media platforms.

If interested, please email Chelsea to get started.

#PressRelease: Author of Sticks and Stones wins Finalist place in Art Contest

For Immediate Release

September 4, 2022

Chelsea DeVries

Publicist

chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

Author of Sticks and Stones wins Finalist place in Art Contest

Chelsea DeVries, author of Sticks and Stones: Full Story Edition, was recently named a finalist in a Art Show International Figurative art contest. Her piece “Drowning in an Ocean of No Tomorrows” was awarded the prize.

For more on the list of winner’s, visit here. To purchase this art piece, visit the author’s etsy shop here.

Author Bio: 

Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication.She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @chelsealynnpoetry, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

About Art Show International: A virtual online art gallery soon to be housed in a physical location in Los Angeles, CA. check out artshowinternational.com for more information.

#PressRelease: Author of ‘Sticks & Stones’ Interviewed on Podcast Themed Around Resilience

For Immediate Release

June 23, 2022

Chelsea DeVries, Publicist

chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

Author of ‘Sticks & Stones’ Interviewed on Podcast Themed Around Resilience

Chou Hallegra, mental health consultant and owner of grace & hope consulting, recently interviewed Chelsea DeVries on The Grace & Hope Consulting Podcast. The 17 minute episode is focused on DeVries’s experience working in a toxic workplace and how it impacted her mental health but yet she found the strength to overcome from that experience by writing and compiling her poetry collection Sticks and Stones: Full Story Edition. This episode is available here or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

About The Podcast: This podcast is an outreach marketing effort expanded on Grace & Hope Consulting, LLC is a person-centered and community-focused company providing mental health, personal development, and inclusion supports to individuals, families, organizations, churches, and communities. Through con

sulting, counseling, coaching, training, writing, and publishing, we help individuals achieve mental and emotional wellness, reach their full potential, and live fulfilling lives. We are committed to promoting social-emotional learning, human potential, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Find out more at www.graceandhopeconsulting.com

About the Author: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

Sticks and Stones is a Four Time Best-selling Poetry Collection

Upon first releasing the poetry collection in 2020 during a pandemic, Sticks & Stones has now charted on Amazon Kindle Top 100 in Inspirational and Religious Poetry four times. The first was on Amazon India at #54 which held for an entire month following the release of the collection. The second time was on Amazon Canada at #11 upon releasing the Full Story Edition, the third was on Amazon US at #67 and the fourth time was #74 on Amazon US alongside other world renowned poets in that category such as Rupi Kaur and Morgan Richard Olivier. DeVries just held her first LIVE poetry reading last week on May 25, 2022 in Pasco County, FL in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month.

About The Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.

Author Bio: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

#PressRelease: Chelsea DeVries to give Author Talk at Centenniel Park Library

For Immediate Release

April 18, 2022

Chelsea DeVries

Publicist

chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

Chelsea DeVries to give Author Talk at Centenniel Park Library

Author To Read Poems From Her Collection ‘Sticks and Stones’ 

Chelsea DeVries, local poet and author of Sticks and Stones Poetry and Prose: Full Story Edition will do a reading/discussion or author talk at the Centenniel Park Library on Wednesday May 25, 2022 from 4-5:55 p.m. A small signing will follow the live reading and discussion of her poetry. The author talk event is Chelsea DeVries’s first live local appearance regarding her poetry collection that details the story of her experience working in a toxic workplace with themes of mental health, suicide, love and heartbreak. The Centenniel Library is hosting her during May in order to honor Mental Health Month, and the library is located at 5740 Moog Rd, Holiday, FL 34690. For more about the event, visit https://pascolibraries.evanced.info/signup/calendar?&lib=1 or contact Chelsea DeVries at chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

About The Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.

Author Bio: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

#PressRelease: Sticks and Stones Full Story Edition Available Everywhere 2.22.22

For Immediate Release

January 6, 2022

Chelsea DeVries, Publicist

chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com

Sticks and Stones Turns Pain Into Poetry

They tell you about the dangers of riptide but no one warns you that you could be swept down into the riptide of who someone else is.

-Drowning In An Ocean of No Tomorrows

In Sticks and Stones, DeVries uses poetry to paint a poetic picture of her experience working in a toxic workplace, toxicity and bullying she faced in her youth, her struggles with anxiety and depression due to undiagnosed Asperger’s, and turning the pain of love and heartbreak into poetry to help any reader find the strength to overcome whatever is pulling them under. The book is available in hardcover and ebook wherever books are sold but in the US at Amazon, Etsy, Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, and Target.com.

About the Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.About the Author: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of three dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.

Viewing Tampa Pro Through The Eyes of a Spectator

If you are looking for greatness, where would you picture you would find it?

Most people picture greatness as Olympic athletes and during Sunday night football but I’ve been visiting a place that’s full of greatness all year long.

William Shakespeare is famously known for the quote from his play The 12th Night, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.” 

Greatness is easy to see and spot at the Skatepark of Tampa specifically during the annual Tampa Pro contest.

Each year for the past 27 years, the Skatepark of Tampa has hosted the Tampa Pro skateboard contest. The prize has greatly increased since the first one, and both the sport and the venue have evolved with the constant progression of the times but you can expect to go to the local skatepark on the West Coast of Florida and be inspired, be handed a free beer, and a chance to tell your favorite skater how much that backside smith grind down the hubba they did in their last run, stoked you from head to toe.

Here is what a weekend at the Skatepark of Tampa looks like during Tampa Pro weekend. Welcome To Town parties start Thursday evening followed by trivia usually at the Bricks in Ybor City. Yes, that means you can share a pitcher of beer with Mark Appleyard or Mike Valleley, it’s a free country and you can do it.

As an avid 17 year fan of street skateboarding who doesn’t actually skate, people ask me all the time what I love about skateboarding or about the Tampa Pro.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUVGIqQtK7k/

For me, this year I was insanely moved by Felipe Nunes. Seeing out there on the course killing it made me feel that this is a place and an event where anyone can come and feel like they are a part of something greater than what they are currently facing in their day to day life. Sure, books, music, and movies are a great escape but hands down, I’d rather be at the skatepark during Tampa Pro weekend.

Two young guns smile from ear to ear because they are stoked to be here!
a super fan asking for a pro’s autograph.

Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been here 10 times, Tampa Pro is an event that’s high vibrational, continuously gets better every year, and even allows women skateboarders to compete. One thing is for sure, it certainly will have you coming back again next year because everyone who’s anyone can come and just hang loose.

Thanks Paul and all who put on such a fun time down in hot and sunny Tampa, FL. I can’t wait for next year’s event in April.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVEDBpysQRm/

Watch my entire weekend from start to finish.

#SmartCookiePR: My first time attending the Tampa Indie Author Book Convention…. — One Girl Revolution

It happened. The dreaded moment in an author’s book launch when social media was no longer pushing sales.. so i took a page out of the book I always use for my clients as their publicist and said: you need to be out in the open and meet people in real life. So I found […]

My first time attending the Tampa Indie Author Book Convention…. — One Girl Revolution

#ForImmediateRelease: Author Chelsea DeVries is set to appear at RVA BookLovers Festival 2021

One Girl Revolution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2021

Taking Local Bookish Love to the Internet:

3rd Annual RV(irtual)A Booklovers’ Festival

Chelsea DeVries is delighted to announce they will be participating in the Author Expo at the 3rd Annual RVA Booklovers’ Festival this Saturday, May 8, 2021 from 11 am to 5 pm EST! This year’s event, RV(irtual)A Booklovers’ Festival, will be accordingly hosted online on Hopin. Register for your free ticket here!

The Festival’s Author Expo will feature books by authors of many genres from around the country, as well as indie presses and literacy organizations. The Main Stage will boast several excellent panels like Framing History through Fiction, Middle Grade Magic, and Get Lucky: Romance, featuring authors like Amanda Quick and Simon Van Booy. The Kids’ Stage will feature book readings all day long, while the Poet-tree Stage will explore some spoken word, readings, panels, and more, emceed by Virginia’s first ever…

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Press Release: Sticks and Stones Nominated For Book of The Year! — One Girl Revolution

For Immediate Release April 13, 2021 Chelsea DeVries, Publicist smartcookiepr26@gmail.com Sticks and Stones currently #1 in Drama and Poetry Sticks and stones by Chelsea DeVries, which is a collection of prose and poetry for anyone healing from a painful experience bringing up themes of mental health, suicide, and love and heartbreak. It is currently nominated […]

Press Release: Sticks and Stones Nominated For Book of The Year! — One Girl Revolution

New Cookies for a Cause design saves cats and dogs from kill shelters 🍪

As most of you know, I love my dogs more than anything. They are my world and basically give my life both meaning and purpose.

Yet, so many dogs and cats are killed in shelters around the USA and I don’t think any furry friend should have to die just because it hasn’t found a home. About 3 or 4 years ago, I came across Best Friends Animal Society. They are a non-profit that advocates entirely for both dogs and cats to be rescued from kill shelters so that they have a chance at a decent and humane life. Every animal has it’s purpose, right?!

In order to help them in their no-kill 2025 initiative, every hoodie and dog bandana will 100% benefit Best Friends Animal Society and their life-saving work for this planet’s most precious and vulnerable creatures.

The Hooman Hoodie is available in a selection of primary colors and runs at $48 with $20 being donated to Best Friends Animal Society.

The dog merchandise has the same “fur-ever friends” design and is available in my new Squad shop but also still benefits Best Friends Animal Society. I will be adding more designs from past squad days in the shop soon but for now get a matching Dog Bandana here. The Dog Bandana is only available in white but is very large to fit any size furbaby. It is priced at $15.97 with 10% of that going to Best Friends Animal Society.

If you or someone you know is an animal advocate, please share this with them.

Until next time, We wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy 5th Birthday to The Smart Cookie Philes!

It all started with a dream five years ago…just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I was not going to let anything come between me and my dream of helping authors and artists get the right exposure for their project.

Like a fairy dust kiss from above, only one month after launching the site, I got the news that I was selected as a member of Rachel Platten’s Wildfire Tour Crew.

And I will never forget her words before she sang her anthem “Fight Song” the night of the concert. They had me tearing up and I knew without a doubt that this was what I wanted to do, where I belonged, and I wanted others to feel this way too.

So I began by building my audience. I started posting book and music reviews that nobody paid me for. And I launched both my Twitter and Facebook page so I could network with the people in my niche: other writers, musicians, and people who were just looking for a place to express themselves freely without any judgement.

I created a hashtag game to get people aware of my brand messaging without cramming it down their throat.

#ESPRESSOYOURSELF was a trending hashtag on Twitter when the game launched and it was fun for a while.

Yet, it became more of a burden than a blessing and I ended it in 2018. Yet, the site began to get offers for affiliates, brands that wanted to work with us, and even a queue filled to the brim with review requests.

I took a leap of faith the following year and launched my PR firm in hopes that I could be paid to do the work that I earned a college degree in. Turns out, authors were willing to work with me because they knew me to be a genuine supporter of all things creative and especially authors. (I am a bibliophile to my core).

Today, my first ever signed client is still with my firm!

In 2018, I wanted to begin giving back in a new way so I created a merchandise line through Teespring that is 100% cause based. Each design is created with love for a cause that I believe in. And I felt like maybe there were other people who would believe in them too. In 2021, we now have over 19 products currently available and 6 cookie based designs that 100% came from my brain, although I hired an artist to create them for me, and 7 causes that they 100% support.

In 2019, I gained the most clients I ever had at one time in my firm but sadly lost most of them at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. Yet, do to supportive donations and an ad campaign featuring my dogs, I was able to withstand the stormy weather and I learned how freeing it is to dance in the rain.

My reviews and marketing services are sought after from traditionally published authors, independent authors, other publicists, and even independent music blogs and musicians. My clientele and brands that we’ve worked with span from small to huge but it hasn’t at all changed the reason why I began this site: if I have a dream and a vision, chances are other people like me do too so why not work together to create a community that is inclusive and welcomes art and projects from people of all walks of life.

This year I am excited to announce that my goal for 2021 was to READ MORE and Worry Less.

With that being said, I am making reading a daily priority this year because books are the world I choose to live in, and I refuse to apologize for that. Yet, this is a business that I truly care about and want to continue to see it succeed which is why I am revamping all my services this year.

First I am launching my review service for a nominal fee and you get a lot for a little chunk of change (As always). And this week only, if you request a review for your book, I will guarantee you I will get it done in 20 days or less or it’s free. For me, I want to be accountable this year and every year to come so this guarantee will allow me to do that to start. The guarantee is only good for this week only. After 1/24/21, it’s $40 regardless of how long it takes me to read your work. Sign up here today! This unfortunately means I will no longer offer free reviews so please let people know that I no longer offer those.

Second, I am re-launching my PR services. There will be two types I offer: freelance and contract.

My freelance services are perfect for artists or authors on a limited budget or local businesses looking for marketing assistance.

Lastly, I am pleased to announce that I am raising my publicist fees. Anyone who now signs with my firm will now be required to sign an annual contract and agree to the monthly retainer fee to secure me as your publicist. Big time agencies charge way more than I am but I am willing to believe the value of my work is worth every single dollar. And besides, every dollar earned is always re-invested in making my services or my brand more curated to fit the needs of any and all clientele, and with these new prices I hope to do that but I honestly also hope to attract clients that value my services 100% and want to grow together, and trust me above anything else.

Before I end this rather long personal statement, I wanted to announce that The Smart Cookie Philes is featured in a Book Promotion Directory for 2021. It includes 180 bloggers who will feature your book as well as 40 companies (mine included) who want to help you promote your work at affordable efficient rates.

As always, you can reach me by email at smartcookiepr26@gmail.com 24 hours a day!

And thank you to everyone who has allowed me the chance to work with you, given you a safe haven to belong to, and supported me and this dream for five years!

I am so glad I took a page out of Dr. King’s book and boldly declared “I HAVE A DREAM…”

To the unicorns, the outcasts, and the dreamers,

We welcome you and I just want to say thank you all so much for sticking around.

It means so very much to me!

So much love,

Chelsea DeVries

Publicist and Founder of The Smart Cookie Philes

Salvaging 2020: My Interview with Armed With A Book’s Kriti

2020 was a rough year for everyone for various reasons but I never felt so far away from everyone myself but thankfully within the book community, we always end up meeting people who are both on the same page and also inspire us to share more of our story on blank pages..

Kriti from Armed With a Book is one of those people who I came into connection with through a client but I also really liked her review style as well as her professionalism. She has a unique way of sharing about authors, creators, and even about the people who support them such as myself as a publicist. Honestly, as I come up to my 5th year as a publicist and my own boss, it felt like such a nice way to cement that into being.

You can read her amazing post by clicking my custom creative roulette wheel below.

#FromTheTube: All About Cookies For A Cause

Bess The Book Bus Shirt: $21.99

Adopt A Classroom Tote: $15.00

Christina Grimmie Foundation Socks: $15.99

COVID-19 Shirt (Books, Coffee, and Music are my essentials): $25.87

Project Semicolon Backpack: $49.99

COVID-19 Hoodie: $49.99

COVID-19 Mug: $14.98

COVID-19 Long Sleeve: $30.99

Eco COVID-19 Tee: $27.78

Organic COVID-19 Tote: $24.99

The following designs help benefit the continue running and content creation of The Smart Cookie Philes:

Main Logo Mug: $14.99

Landscape Stickers: $6.00

Leggings: $44.99

Beach Towel: $30.99

Blanket: $45.00

#SmartCookiePR: What are the duties of a publicist?

When I graduated college, I knew without a doubt I wanted to be a publicist.

Not for all the perks but because I wanted to use marketing in a fun way.

As someone who made a career since her teens as a fangirl, I have a gift for encouraging others and highlighting the good that others say and do.

Some within the writing and music community, especially indie artists, are unfamiliar with the term “publicist.”

publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a company, a brand, or public figure or for a work such as a book, film or album. Publicists are public relations specialists who have the role to maintain and represent the images of individuals, rather than representing an entire corporation or business.

Publicists are also hired by public figures who want to maintain or protect their image.

Publicists brand their clients by getting magazine, TV, newspaper, and website coverage. Most top-level publicists work in private practice, handling multiple clients.

  • One of the publicist’s main functions is to generate press coverage on behalf of their clients and serve as the bridge between clients, their public and media outlets. A publicist manages campaigns and performs other public relations functions. It usually takes many years to develop the media contacts, experience and relationships necessary to be an effective publicist.
  • The main role of publicists is to get good press coverage for their clients. One way that publicists can do this is by sending press releases to journalists. A press release is written like a news story; including a headline, and attention grabbing quotes. However, because of the high traffic of e-mails, today, many press releases sent by publicists are lost within the other e-mails that journalists receive. 
  • Publicists tend to have good working relationships with journalists, TV news producers, and producers. In order to have these relationships, publicists usually network with these media professionals.
  • To protect a client’s image, publicists will often ask journalists what questions will be asked during interviews to prevent any surprises and discussion of any unwanted topics.Publicists determine how to manage a person’s or brand’s image by what is being said about them in the media. This pertains to websites and social media. More recently, publicists have the need to network with bloggers and scope out their websites to make sure the content on their client is appropriate.

    A typical day for a publicist consists of being on the phone, networking through e-mails, and can make themselves available at all times of the day for when conflict arises.

  •  Out of the office, publicists go to gatherings to network with media professionals.

The #1 I became a publicist is because I wanted to use my gift for writing from a marketing standpoint. And as someone who published novels before without an ally, I wanted to be that specifically for authors and musicians.

Publicists always do the work with the best interests of the client being served, and most of the times, it is a very thankless job.

Librarian signing her memoirs with stamp.

If you’ve stumbled upon this post, and you believe you need a publicist with a heart for writers and artists who the world has tried to silence, let me be your voice. Let me help you shine.

Smart Cookie PR

Send Me a Message

Some people hire a publicist but realize they just want book launch publicity and that’s it.

If you have a book or album about to come out, please check out the other service packages I have available.

 

How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Digital Innovation To Propel Their Business Forward

Guest Post by Gloria Martinez

How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Digital Innovation to Propel Their Businesses Forward

In a world where technology is changing at breakneck speeds, entrepreneurs must continually innovate if they hope to keep up with the competition. Thankfully, digital innovation provides numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses like never before. In this article, The Smart Cookie Philes explores the ways entrepreneurs can leverage digital innovation to take their businesses to the next level.

Use Data Analytics

Data analytics is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs looking to gain insights into their customer base, streamline operations, and make better business decisions. By analyzing data from web traffic, social media, and sales, entrepreneurs can gain a better understanding of their market and create marketing strategies tailored to their customers’ needs. With the help of analytics software, entrepreneurs can track key metrics such as conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, and customer lifetime value to make informed decisions about investments in marketing, customer retention, and product development.

Create a Mobile App

With the majority of internet traffic now coming from mobile devices, having a mobile app is essential for entrepreneurs looking to reach audiences on the move. A mobile app can improve customer engagement, build brand loyalty, and generate new revenue streams. By partnering with a mobile app development agency or using one of the many no-code app builders available online, entrepreneurs can create their own custom apps tailored to their business needs.

Adopt AI

Artificial intelligence is no longer just the province of science fiction. Today, AI-powered tools can help entrepreneurs automate routine tasks, improve customer service, and gain valuable insights into their market. Chatbots, for example, can provide customers with round-the-clock support, while AI-powered analytics tools can sift through vast amounts of data to identify trends and make informed recommendations.

Work With IT Specialists

Behind every successful digital business is a team of IT specialists who provide the necessary expertise to create, deploy, and maintain digital solutions. By partnering with an experienced IT services provider, entrepreneurs can access cutting-edge technology solutions and expert advice on how to implement them. From custom software development to cloud hosting, IT specialists can help entrepreneurs stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Use Automation Tools

Automation tools can help entrepreneurs streamline routine tasks, such as email marketing, social media management, and customer service, freeing up time to focus on high-level business strategy. With the help of automation tools, entrepreneurs can create personalized marketing campaigns, respond to customer inquiries in real time, and implement workflows that increase efficiency and drive growth.

Create Marketing Materials

If you want to create marketing materials that stand out from the crowd, consider using a PDF-to-JPG converter. With this tool, you can easily turn existing PDF files into high-quality JPEG images that can be used in a variety of marketing materials, such as social media posts, email newsletters, and brochures. By converting PDFs to JPEGs, you can ensure that your marketing materials are visually appealing and easy to share across different platforms. Check it out today and see how it can take your marketing efforts to the next level.

In conclusion, digital innovation provides a wealth of opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. By using data analytics, creating a mobile app, adopting AI, working with IT specialists, using automation tools, and using a PDF-to-JPG converter to create marketing materials, entrepreneurs can stay ahead of the curve in the constantly evolving digital landscape. The key is to remain agile, embrace new technology, and stay on top of emerging trends. With the right mindset and the right tools at their disposal, entrepreneurs can build successful businesses that thrive in the digital age.

Poetic Perspective: James. W. A.

Today we have the pleasure and privilege of sitting down for virtual coffee with poet and author of In the Library James W.A. Read our review here.

What was your purpose behind writing In The Library?

Originally, In the Library actually started out as my college thesis for undergrad before it was
published as a separate book. At the time, I was graduating from the honors program at the
University of South Florida St. Petersburg and a requirement was to write and defend a thesis
related to one’s respective field of study. I was a psychology major, but towards the end of my
degree I had decided not to pursue that career further, particularly because I wasn’t really
enjoying the research side of the field.
In talking with my director about this, he recommended that I write something creative instead of
science-related, and since I’ve always loved poetry, I asked if I could write a poetry book
instead. He agreed, with the stipulation that it had to showcase some psychological
phenomenon and provide some fresh insights to it. After I graduated, I tweaked what would
become the book a little further to make it a little more readable for the average person and add
some parts I thought were missing from the original version. A few months later, I decided to
self-publish and the rest is history.
As to why I chose the story and themes that I did, it fascinated me that even though every
person suffers, there are so many different ways of dealing with said pain. The variance is
almost endless, but I really wanted to showcase both healthy and unhealthy coping
mechanisms and dig into this concept a little more. Ironically, I was going through my own dark
time, so writing the book itself was a catharsis for me and a way to vent pain that I was going
through in a productive, creative way.

What’s your favorite thing about visiting your local library?

I have fond memories as a child going to the local library and seeing a bunch of cool new
people or things that I wouldn’t have otherwise. During the summer especially, ours often had a
wide range of speakers and events (I can remember a reptile expert and a magician in
particular) that I think at a young age helped instill in me an openness to experience by being
exposed to new and creative things. That’s definitely one thing I think is important: to have an
area where ideas are brought forth and shared.
As an adult, I think what makes libraries stand out is that they’re free to the public and offer so
much. I’ve heard it said once that libraries are the only indoor venue left you can hang out at
without any expectation of spending money and I think that’s huge. With all the busyness of life
and the Florida heat, having a quiet, cool place to relax in while also learning and growing is
incredibly undervalued.

3. What do you hope people gain from In The Library?
As I alluded a little bit to earlier, when I was writing In the Library I was going through a bit of a
dark time in my life and that shows in the dark themes of the book. That said, the point of it
wasn’t to simply make other people suffer or elicit a sad reaction. Rather, it was my hope that
people who read this book recognize their own pain, their own sorrow, and gain the resolve to
overcome it in the best way they need.

Some of my characters, like the Child, deal with things in a healthy way, and that’s great, I want
others to learn from that. Some characters, like the Degenerate and the Captive, don’t however
and I want readers that are doing the same to see that reflection and do better or avoid such
coping mechanisms if they’re tempted. There’s admittedly not a lot of hope in this book, but
sometimes life can feel hopeless too and at the very least I want readers that feel this way, who
feel that no matter how they try to deal with their pain it’s not enough, to not feel as alone and to
know that there’s always a better way forward.


  1. As a poet and a writer, where do you see your career going next?
    It’s funny you ask because this is something I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. It’s been awhile
    since In the Library came out and I’ve put my writing career on and off the back burner at
    different times. I never stopped writing though and poetry is something that I truly love and want
    to pursue.
    Lately, I’ve been really trying to get back out there and share some poetry at open mics around
    Tampa Bay, especially as my writing is much more in alignment with my current headspace and
    beliefs now. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for me, and I’m by no means chasing
    fame, but if I can share my stories, my dreams, my poems with as many people as I can, I think
    I’ll call it a win.

Any new books currently in the works?
As a matter of fact there is! It’s hard to believe it’s been a little over 8 years since my first book
came out, but in that time I’ve been fairly consistently writing more stand-alone poems. I’ve
amassed enough now and have a solid enough of a theme that I want to publish them into a
true collection, rather than write another narrative like In the Library was. I don’t want to give
away too many details yet, but I hope to announce something relatively soon and have a
release by the end of the year.

Who are some of your favorite poets?
As far as contemporary poetry goes, Billy Collins has to be my top favorite. I love how he is
whimsical sometimes and then really drives it home other times. E.E. Cummings is another,
obviously less contemporary, favorite poet of mine and actually one of the main reasons I chose
the pen name that I did. Sometimes I get the urge to read some classical poetry, in which case I
usually go back to Petrarch, whom I’ve kind of had a love-hate relationship with over the years.

  1. Who inspired you to become a poet or was there a pivotal moment that made you become a
    poet?
    There was definitely one series of events that led me to become a poet and it happened in
    middle school. One day after school, I was in the library (ironically, no connection to the book)
    and the school librarian recommended a book of poetry to me to read. I don’t remember the title
    of the book, nor why it was even suggested to me in the first place, but I was intrigued.
    In class not too long after that, we read “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes and it moved me
    deeply. From that day on, I fell in love with poetry and knew I wanted to write some of my own,
    to impact others the same way that poem impacted me. Obviously I had a lot to learn, I still do,
    but that was the avenue I chose to express my own emotions and ideals and I’ve never really
    looked back since.
  1. Anything else you want to share with my readers about poetry or your writing career?
    I think if I had to give some kind of advice or insight into writing poetry, for your readers that are
    poets or aspiring poets themselves, I would say to not be afraid to write. No matter what stage
    you are at, art, poetry, is always worth creating and has a place in the world. Don’t be afraid of
    rejection, of course, but also don’t be afraid of yourself. Don’t be afraid to reach into the darkest
    or the brightest parts of your heart to create something that’s real and something that’s
    beautiful.
    As far as my own writing journey goes, I hope you’ll join me on it by following my various social
    media outlets, links to which can be found on my website at https://thejameswa.com/ . I’m going
    to be making some big changes soon to this website and there are some great things in the
    works for later this year, so I would love to have you all aboard for that.
    Thank you Chelsea for this space to speak about In the Library and my writing career and I
    hope you

#NationalPoetryMonth: Notes I Wrote Along The Way by Matthew Gutierrez Review

Have you ever been completely swept off your feet by a book of poetry? I have many many times. The first time it ever happened I was in college and found a poet on Tumblr and I covered my dorm walls with their words.

Yet, recently sitting down to delve into Notes I Wrote Along The Way by Matthew Guttierrez I found myself in that same place, absolutely glued between the covers of his poetry collection, slowly digesting each and every poem as it spoke to my soul as nothing else has. 

As a poet myself, I find that to be an inspiring moment and a revelation of the true talents that poet has as if I feel inspired to write a piece after reading one of theirs then I truly know I was taken on a journey with the poet, and got to metaphorically walk in their shoes.

And sometimes those shoes are quite big, stuck in quicksand, lost and alone, feeling like a failure, heartbroken, grieving or just pondering a unique perspective of the human experience.

Matthew Gutierrez writes of memory, environment, love, sexual desire, dreams, madness, and death but they all speak to something profound and poignant.

Gutierrez’s word choice and imagery are what struck such a chord with me while reading this collection, and it makes me hungry for more work from this poet as I am certain this poet has many more notes that will need be written along the way.

Coming this Wednesday…stay tuned for an interview with Matthew himself.

For more from Matthew Gutierrez, follow him on Instagram @notes2poetry and @matthewjames_g

Follow The Smart Cookie Philes on Instagram to hear Chelsea DeVries read these poems, and to hear Matthew read one as well.

This FREE BOOK REVIEW was done in support of poetry and the arts. The Smart Cookie Philes is a independently owned and woman run company to help all people feel free to espresso themselves. It is a book and music publicity firm offering various marketing services and packages including the new Indie Book Tour Package as seen below.

Consider tipping Chelsea for her work on this piece at the following link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CDeVries26