Life’s Rich Tapestry is a collection of verse, microfiction and short stories that explore many aspects of our human nature and the wonders of the natural world. Reflections on our earliest beginnings and what is yet to come, with characters as diverse as a French speaking elephant and a cyborg warrior.Finding the right number of syllables for a Haiku, Tanka, Etheree or Cinquain focuses the mind; … focuses the mind; as does 99 word microfiction, bringing a different level of intensity to storytelling. You will find stories about the past, the present and the future told in 17 syllables to 2,000 words, all celebrating life.
This book is also recognition of the value to a writer, of being part of a generous and inspiring blogging community, where writing challenges encourage us to explore new styles and genres.
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This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Cronin, but it won’t be the last. It’s a wonderful collection of poetry and short stories. In the first part of the book, there were many different types of poetry and subjects, but my favorites had to be nature and the faeries sections. The Haikus of the different seasons really stood out to me. I’m always amazed at how much can be said in flash fiction, but the short stories were my favorite part. From animals to human enhancement in the future, there was a lot of variety. The animal stories tugged at my emotions and were the highlight of the book for me. I highly recommend “Life’s Rich Tapestry,” especially if you love poetry and short stories with heart.
Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is the 6th book I’ve read from author Sally Cronin. It was published in December 2019 and moved to the top of my list given how much I enjoy following her blog and learning from her words and personal experience. This is a limited collection of poetry and short stories that focuses on seasons, human emotions, faeries, nature, memories, pets, and many other wonderful concepts.
With over one hundred individual pieces to choose from, you’ll find everything from ~10 word poems to ~10 page short stories that tickle your humor bone, tug at your heart strings, and teach you about emotions. What I love about Sally’s work is her ability to conjure imagery in her readers with sentiments and nostalgia. Whether we’re remembering a name from long ago, a loved one who’s passed, or a quirky stranger we met on the street, Sally’s work is a finely tuned realistic representation of regular life. Though a few stories stray into fantasy, it is secondary to the author’s natural ability to connect with her readers.
While her poetry is wonderful, it’s not a genre or style of writing in which I am a regular reader. That said, clearly, any of us who flip through the poetry section will notice immediately her strength in attempting different formats and approaches… all bound with rules of tense, punctuation, line length, rhymes, word count, layout, and shapes. Imagine being told you have x words to convey the poem’s intent, and you must rhyme, and you must increase and decrease each line to create a visual shape to the entire poem. Wow!
I most enjoyed the short stories, in particular ‘An Ugly Mutt.’ Though it deals with a controversial topic, and there’s a bit of violence, it breaks your heart and rebuilds it again all within a ten-minute read. I also adored ‘For the Love of Lilly,’ a story about an 80-year-old woman whose son wants to transfer her to a home for a variety of reasons. What ever shall happen to her cat? Ah, Sally knows how to gut punch her readers with anger and love, the vast spectrum of human emotions.
So… if you like short stories and poems, or you want to sample her work, this is a wonderful option. You can read a few each night, knowing you’d have a month to get thru the entire work if you just perused a couple of pages before bed. You’ll be a happier and more literate person when you wake up in the morning. And you’ll also find an author you want to keep reading more from. Thankfully, she’s published around 12 books, so you’ve got lots to catch up on!
What a lovely book from a lady who does so much for the indie author community. I’ve been following Sally’s blog for many years. The title: Life’s Rich Tapestry sums this beautiful book up perfectly. I enjoyed this immensely. It is like a treasure trove with a range of delights for everyone: poetry, micro fiction and longer pieces of writing too.
Sally Cronin is a talented story teller and I have so many favourite pieces in the collection!
Here they are:
Speculative Fiction section: A moment of alignment, Onions, The Enhancement Project.
There is a very cute dog section titled: The underdogs! Lol. And of course…The Superiority of Cats.
CAT FAVS: For the love of Lily. (my tied favourite in the collection – loved this.)
DOG FAVS: An Ugly Mutt, The Junkyard Dog (my tied favourite in the collection – loved this.)
Micro fiction:
FAVS: Strawberry Jam, Storm Windows, Splashing Good Time, Rock Star, Recycling Centre, My Mouse (so funny!) Following Elephants, The Charm Bracelet, Broken.
Poetry FAVS:
Random Thoughts: In touch with the earth
Celebrating Pets: My best friend, A Dog’s Life.
Fav poems in Remembrance: Wedding Anniversary Septhember 11th, The Poppies
Fav poems in The Natural World: The Beach, The Cave, A Magpie’s Prize, The Magnolia
FAV Poems in Fairies and Other Folk: Fairy Gold, Fairies at play.
FAV poems in the All Things Human section: Romance, Youth,
FAV Poems about the Seasons of the Year: Glorious April, March Hares,Hallowwen – This Night, Rust and Gold, November Trees, December.
I mention my favourites only so you can see the variety of stories, poems and microfiction in this collection. The cat and dog sections are superb so this collection will really appeal to those who love their cats and dogs!
My recommendation: 5 stars. An excellent collection. Highly recommended.
“Life’s Rich Tapestry” is a brilliant collection of syllabic verses, flash fiction, and short stories inspired by various poetry and writing challenges from within the author’s writing community.
Each selection introduces the reader to characters richly woven from a pathos of life experience. Some stories championed the underdog revealing the human condition in such a way that left the reader cheering by the end. Other stories offered a feel-good ending which I found attractive.
There’s something here for everyone, from fairies to pets, the natural world, and those we never want to forget.
This collection also provided a selection of stories dedicated to animals. The Haiku called a “Walk Across a Bridge” touched me deeply. In seventeen syllables, this author penned a tribute that will resonate with all who’ve ever loved and lost a beloved pet.
And that is Cronin’s gift. She shares her life perspective through her writing, making clear how connected we really are to each other through thoughts and feelings.
I have followed Sally Cronin’s blog for some time and always enjoy reading her writing of short stories, articles on health and well being and various subjects.
I read this book, Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words, with great expectation. By the subtitle, I knew it includes poetry, fiction and short stories. The book includes the four seasons, all things human, fairy tales, the nature, the pets and short stories.
In the Seasons of the Year. the scenes of the seasons passed in front of my eyes. I could see the colors of the seasons and smell the fragrance, feel the breeze of warm and cold air, hearing the joyful sounds in the family gatherings.
In All Things Human, rich words flowed from Cronin’s true experience or imagination, ranged from youth to old age, joy and sadness, human interactions and self-reflections.
From Cronin’s blog, I know that the author is a pet lover. There are stories covering the puppy’s unconditional love of the owner, the owner’s lessons learned from the pets, and stories about playful dogs and cats.
Among the short stories, I felt in love with the story You Are Never Too Old to Be Loved, which is about a beautiful old dog, Jack, whose owner, Mrs. Jones, died. The day before Christmas, a man greeted him. This man recognized Jack from his teen years and took him home and gave him a love and care.
The 99-word micro fiction and the Speculative fiction are enchanting. I especially love The ‘1812 Overture’ which was the music the author enjoyed and embedded this piece of music into the fictional story.
I write poetry, fiction and short stories and feel at home reading Cronin’s book and understand the rhymes and lines and syllable count of her poetry. The enthusiastic nature of the author brings positive resolutions to her stories. This book includes a wide variety of genres that all readers will find something interesting to read. I highly recommend this book to any reader.
Like the threads in cloth, Sally Cronin’s compositions lead us to a more fulfilling life!
Life’s Rich Tapestry is a variety of poetry, short stories and microfiction designed to engage the reader to look at the world in a different light. Whether delving into human emotion, nature, or flights of fancy there is something slightly magical about the author’s turn of phrase.
Here are a couple of my favorite passages:
Romance
When
a man
and woman
reach out and touch
one another’s souls
with open heart and mind,
it draws them into a place
that brings their lives significance,
with mutual empowerment and grace,
enough to sustain their desire through life.
Cronin, Sally. Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words . Moyhill Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Wedding Anniversary September 11th
On
this day
two people
young and in love
walked into the sun
of a September day.
Above them in the blue sky
machines of war flew in combat,
gunfire serenading bride and groom
on what should have been their
most treasured day.
Sixty-one years later on the same date,
an old woman reflects on her life.
Remembering all of the love,
still so strong despite her loss,
and saddened to the core,
that despite the years,
machines of war
in blue skies
still bring
death.
Cronin, Sally. Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words . Moyhill Publishing. Kindle Edition.
This is a beautiful book and one I would recommend to anyone. I give Life’s Rich Tapestry 5 lovely kisses- thoughtful and intelligent!
Cronin’s “Life’s Rich Tapestry” is like a box of Merci chocolates because her book offers an indulgent collection of short stories, micro fiction and poetry that match so many of life’s moments.
Her book made me smile and dream, it brought chuckles and it even made my eyes wet. Is a book you want to read on, as the author is a gifted writer, each chapter in her book a temptation, and so are the illustrations.
An appreciated work of literary fiction.
Engaging. Moving. Amazing.
As always, Sally Cronin’s writing (be it verse, micro fiction, or short stories) awoke in me a fountain of emotions. Some manifested themselves in goosebumps (Life’s Greatest Gift, Musical Interlude, Reunion, An Ugly Mutt, A Moment of Alignment-just to name a few), others brought a smile to my face, (My Mouse, Splashing Good Time, The Witch’s Handbook, etc.). The Enhancement Project was frightening in its futurological likelihood. You’ll find the tales grim or sad, yet most promise hope at the end. While reading all these beautifully written stories, I shook my head in disbelief: how is it possible to tell a life story in such a short piece of literature? Take my word, you won’t be unaffected by these poignant snippets of life, and after turning the last page, you will crave more from this remarkable writer. Can’t help but recommend Sally Cronin’s books to readers who seek tales that deeply move soul and heart.
I enjoyed everything about this delightful collection, from poetry to micro-fiction to shorts. I especially enjoyed the author’s ability to create a story with a beginning, middle and end in ninety-nine words. The subject matter is eclectic and a joy to read. Highly recommended.
Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is not your usual book of poetry – not at all. Sally Cronin stunningly beautiful book is a work of art to be read again and again. It is the kind of poetry and enchanting stories that lift you up, touch your heart, and make you see the world in an entirely new way.
Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is beautifully crafted with verse for every season of the year and a treasure strove of all things human too. There are enchanting fantasies where fairies and other folk are at play and Sally’s portrayal of the beauty of natural world with take your breath away. Her love of animals is represented here as well as she celebrates her love of pets, and all pet lovers will treasure this heartfelt telling that will capture your heart. Sally speaks to the past eloquently of soldiers old and young that are remembered here and speaks of those that are forgotten.
The beauty of her philosophy of life she represents in random thoughts that I see as a gift to all that will enrich everyone’s sense of being and opens the door to growth within our hearts and souls. Her superb writing talent is portrayed in micro fiction and short stories that are a wonder to read.
Last but not least at all, is Sally’s ode to The Duchess 1917-2012. I read this first and I felt Sally’s great love for the Duchess that brought tears to my eyes.