Hello, Everyone
I am SO pleased and excited to announce that my first book of poetry is being published by Nightingale and Sparrow Press! The book, River Ghosts, will be available on April 12! The stunning cover was created by my older child, Jay Smith. You can see more of their work on Instagram.
River Ghosts was compiled a few months after my mom died in the first wave of COVID-19 in April 2020. We could not be with her when she died. However, this poetry collection is about more than death and grieving. Many of the poems were written before this time, and they are about nature, the river, Philadelphia, love. . .and much more.
I walk by the Delaware River often, as regular readers of my blog know. In the months following my mom’s death, almost every morning, I tossed a stone in the water and thought of her—a sort of mourning ritual that I repeated again this morning.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This is super news. Just fantastic. And…I love the cover art. Knowing your work, it’s a wonderful visual accompaniment.
Thank you so much, Claudia!💙
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you so much, Paul.
Congratulations, Merril!
Thank you, Jill!
Look forward to reviewing it for The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you so much, Paul!
Congratulations, Merril💛✨
Thank you! 😊
Congratulations on this wonderful news, Merril! I look forward to reading. The cover is beautiful, and I’m sure the book would’ve made your mum very proud and happy!
Congratuations, Merril! I’m looking forward to reading River Ghosts. Kudos to Jay for the cover!!
What wonderful news! Such a perfect title and art to go with it. Congratulations! (K)
Thank you so very much, Kerfe! 💙
I know the poems in your upcoming poetry book will touch my heart in so many ways. Can’t wait to read it. And yes, the cover is fabulous!
Thank you so much, Pam. That’s very kind. 😊
Not long now! Congrats again, can’t wait to read!
Oh, that’s so kind! Thank you, Tricia! 🥰
💓
Congratulations 🎊
Thank you so much! 😊
I look forward to reading it, congrats
Thank you so much!
Wonderful! Congratulations!!
Thank you so much!
So well deserved, Merril. Congratulations to Jay, too
Thank you so very much, Derrick! 💙
Like others have remarked, I like the cover art. The poetry will be superb too. I have no doubt, Merril. Forward hot!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marian! 💙
Congratulations!!! I so look forward to reading your book! 🙂
Oh–thank you so much, Linda! 😊
This is wonderful, Merril. Congratulations!!
I’ll be watching for availability.
Thank you so much, Ken. I appreciate that.
Oh yay! I shall be giving myself a birthday gift!
Congratulations, my friend.
Awww–thank you so much! 😘
Weird… I’m supposed to get my copy on Saturday 😀
That is weird! It wasn’t up on the site the last time I looked, or Amazon. But thank you for ordering it! 😘
It surprised me! We shall see if it arrives tomorrow… And I do like to encourage my sister-friends! 😘
❤️
Oboy! Congratulations, Merril! Will it be available in ebook form on Kobo?
Thank you so much, Resa! I’m sure there’s an e-book version, but I don’t know anything about it (and I don’t know what Kobo is). It looks like the other books by Nightingale and Sparrow have a print option, a PDF version, and a Kindle version.
Okay!
Kobo is another book platform.
Thing is, I have been boycotting Amazon for over 6 years now.
I have a Kobo reader, so buy the odd book from there. I’ll see what Sparrow has to offer. I’m keen on PDFs!
Thank you for checking it out! The book should be available on April 12.
Congratulations 👏!!!!!!
Thank you! 😊😊