2013 brings two brand new books
by: C. Steven Blue
To order them, click on "Books" above
by: C. Steven Blue
To order them, click on "Books" above
ISBN: 978-0-9635499-3-8
186 Pages - $14.95
Recovery/Self-Help/Inspiration
S.O.S. ~ Songs Of Sobriety ~
A Personal Journey Of Recovery
Over 20 years in the making, Songs Of Sobriety chronicles the first ten years in the recovery process, from newcomer to a strong foundation and new-found strength in dealing with life's problems. In this groundbreaking book, California/Oregon poet C. Steven Blue is a great source of inspiration, not only for those in recovery, but for anyone seeking to help themselves or someone else with the every day difficulties that life throws our way.
Inspirational and revealing, the book channels the struggles, the emotions and the healing processes of recovery, in linear story fashion, in verse. With over 25 years in recovery, C. Steven Blue's own experiences and observations serve as the basis for this moving book, filled with the wonder and renewal that recovery brings.
So what's in store for readers? To see some exciting samples of what's inside this book, click here: www.wordsongs.com/inside_sos
Praise for Songs Of Sobriety:
There is nothing else like this out there. An open window into the world of addiction. Filled with poetic insight and wisdom. C.S. Blue’s voice is soulful and speaks the truth.
—R. K. Johnston
This book is not only for those in recovery but for all those who've been in troubled relationships, whether with alcohol, drugs or people. Many of the feelings expressed in this book can be embraced by anyone. A comfort for life’s struggles.
—P. Schreiner
Excerpt from a review by Ingrid Wendt . . .
Your work comes from the heart, and puts into words some deeply personal thoughts, feelings, experiences, which have moved you to share them with others. They are brave poems; there is real risk in putting one’s soul out there for others to see. Your choices of subjects are very much in the territory of “the poetic;” they’ve called out to you, and you have heeded the calls.
I also very much admire your hard work at conquering your addiction. As an ex-smoker,
who quit three times, for many years in between each quitting time, I know I can never touch another cigarette, or I’m doomed. This isn’t nearly as difficult an addiction as the one you have conquered, but I know enough about such things to see and admire the strength you mustered, in your past life, and to applaud your entering the world of poetry, as you create a meaningful future for yourself.
—Ingrid Wendt
Amazon.com Review by Quinton Hallett: "Surrender to Win"
Enter C. S. Blue's S.O.S Songs of Sobriety and step onto a remarkable rescue boat of poems chronicling his journey to recovery from addiction. Follow the poet's frank accounts of acute distress, his discovery of a life raft (H.P., Love) and crucial keys for lifting himself out of the mire in the first ten years of that recovery. Blue's poems will resonate with those who
have endured epic loneliness and isolation. "Chair Dreams" is an anthem to the utter stasis of certain conditions before help is sought or accepted.
Section by section, Blue rocks the reader forward in a personal cadence. Rhyme, slant rhyme, riffs of language and mantra appear in free form and in poignant refrains. [This reader took off on the notion of 'refrain': refrain as reinforcement of the recovery message, and the need to refrain constantly from succumbing to the "Three Forty Four" dealer knocking at the door.]
Most lives get battered one way or another. Blue's S.O.S. collection gives readers in recovery of any kind one form of playbook, one person rescued, tapping out joy in fresh ability to feel, work, love--- small joys, finally accepted and allowed. Stay with Blue and acknowledge his work to "Turn it Over."
—Quinton Hallett
Excerpt from a review by Oregon Poetry Association . . .
The author relives his experiences and feelings during his journey of recovery. He looks back to the time before the first years, noting that every first step is hard as he reaches out of pain and sadness for help in "Barroom Blues". No doubt he's not alone, there must be many others who can relate to his journey.
Numerous steps are recorded during the first six months to one year expressed in "Hard Knocks". The author employs a rhyme suitable for songs as in 'Shooting star bright for a brief streak/A glimpse of the future takes a peek.' Yet pain and doubt accompany the progress to a 'better life' such as in 'Once in a blue moon/you can tell/. . .to return/from a living hell'.
The book is divided into stages of sobriety. "The Demon" equates the negative forces of
addiction with the power to 'kill' – a good metaphor for alcohol and drugs. "Rest In Peace," "Back To School" and "Night Of The Whispering Poet" attest to the return from chaos and pain to the joy of a 'normal life.'
—Ninette Freed
Inspirational and revealing, the book channels the struggles, the emotions and the healing processes of recovery, in linear story fashion, in verse. With over 25 years in recovery, C. Steven Blue's own experiences and observations serve as the basis for this moving book, filled with the wonder and renewal that recovery brings.
So what's in store for readers? To see some exciting samples of what's inside this book, click here: www.wordsongs.com/inside_sos
Praise for Songs Of Sobriety:
There is nothing else like this out there. An open window into the world of addiction. Filled with poetic insight and wisdom. C.S. Blue’s voice is soulful and speaks the truth.
—R. K. Johnston
This book is not only for those in recovery but for all those who've been in troubled relationships, whether with alcohol, drugs or people. Many of the feelings expressed in this book can be embraced by anyone. A comfort for life’s struggles.
—P. Schreiner
Excerpt from a review by Ingrid Wendt . . .
Your work comes from the heart, and puts into words some deeply personal thoughts, feelings, experiences, which have moved you to share them with others. They are brave poems; there is real risk in putting one’s soul out there for others to see. Your choices of subjects are very much in the territory of “the poetic;” they’ve called out to you, and you have heeded the calls.
I also very much admire your hard work at conquering your addiction. As an ex-smoker,
who quit three times, for many years in between each quitting time, I know I can never touch another cigarette, or I’m doomed. This isn’t nearly as difficult an addiction as the one you have conquered, but I know enough about such things to see and admire the strength you mustered, in your past life, and to applaud your entering the world of poetry, as you create a meaningful future for yourself.
—Ingrid Wendt
Amazon.com Review by Quinton Hallett: "Surrender to Win"
Enter C. S. Blue's S.O.S Songs of Sobriety and step onto a remarkable rescue boat of poems chronicling his journey to recovery from addiction. Follow the poet's frank accounts of acute distress, his discovery of a life raft (H.P., Love) and crucial keys for lifting himself out of the mire in the first ten years of that recovery. Blue's poems will resonate with those who
have endured epic loneliness and isolation. "Chair Dreams" is an anthem to the utter stasis of certain conditions before help is sought or accepted.
Section by section, Blue rocks the reader forward in a personal cadence. Rhyme, slant rhyme, riffs of language and mantra appear in free form and in poignant refrains. [This reader took off on the notion of 'refrain': refrain as reinforcement of the recovery message, and the need to refrain constantly from succumbing to the "Three Forty Four" dealer knocking at the door.]
Most lives get battered one way or another. Blue's S.O.S. collection gives readers in recovery of any kind one form of playbook, one person rescued, tapping out joy in fresh ability to feel, work, love--- small joys, finally accepted and allowed. Stay with Blue and acknowledge his work to "Turn it Over."
—Quinton Hallett
Excerpt from a review by Oregon Poetry Association . . .
The author relives his experiences and feelings during his journey of recovery. He looks back to the time before the first years, noting that every first step is hard as he reaches out of pain and sadness for help in "Barroom Blues". No doubt he's not alone, there must be many others who can relate to his journey.
Numerous steps are recorded during the first six months to one year expressed in "Hard Knocks". The author employs a rhyme suitable for songs as in 'Shooting star bright for a brief streak/A glimpse of the future takes a peek.' Yet pain and doubt accompany the progress to a 'better life' such as in 'Once in a blue moon/you can tell/. . .to return/from a living hell'.
The book is divided into stages of sobriety. "The Demon" equates the negative forces of
addiction with the power to 'kill' – a good metaphor for alcohol and drugs. "Rest In Peace," "Back To School" and "Night Of The Whispering Poet" attest to the return from chaos and pain to the joy of a 'normal life.'
—Ninette Freed
EXTRA:
To see a video of C. Steven Blue reading and performing poems from this book, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNLjGyoUx5I
To see a video of C. Steven Blue reading and performing poems from this book, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNLjGyoUx5I
ISBN: 978-0-9635499-4-5
92 Pages - $9.95
Romantic/Erotic Poetry Vignettes:
Tales of young love, lust and heartache.
Black Tights
(Poetry X)
In Black Tights, poet C. Steven Blue dives into love, passion, erotica and heartache. In this series of vignettes, we become voyeurs in the amorous adventures of young love, lust, longing and betrayal. At times titillating and inspiring, these tales of young love's yearnings and inspirations are emotional and sometimes heartbreaking. There is no linear poetry out there quite like this. A thrill ride of sensation that will leave you excited and longing . . . for more.
C.S. Blue proves once again that his poetry is so musical and balanced you can hear it in your head like a song—lyrical, with sensuous emotion and great imagery. It makes poetry fun to read when the cadence and repeats are very natural.
—Jennifer Chambers, Editor, Journalist and Author of Anna, Learning Life Again,
and Brambleberry Farm.
Amazing! Beautiful imagery here—direct, playful, yearning, showing overwhelm & doubt at times.
—Michele Graf, Author/Editor, Lifelines (a Poetic Muselings Anthology). Editor of
the award winning e-zine, Apollo’s Lyre.
C.S. Blue proves once again that his poetry is so musical and balanced you can hear it in your head like a song—lyrical, with sensuous emotion and great imagery. It makes poetry fun to read when the cadence and repeats are very natural.
—Jennifer Chambers, Editor, Journalist and Author of Anna, Learning Life Again,
and Brambleberry Farm.
Amazing! Beautiful imagery here—direct, playful, yearning, showing overwhelm & doubt at times.
—Michele Graf, Author/Editor, Lifelines (a Poetic Muselings Anthology). Editor of
the award winning e-zine, Apollo’s Lyre.
EXTRA:
To see a video of C. Steven Blue reading
and performing poems from this book, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx83EOxShp0
To see a video of C. Steven Blue reading
and performing poems from this book, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx83EOxShp0
C. Steven Blue is published by:
www.wordsongs.com
cstevenblue@hotmail.com
cstevenblue@hotmail.com