Overview

Faith, or lack thereof. Love, or something like it. Death in the world of medicine. The impact of childhood memories. In this universal yet intimate collection, Jo Taylor applies her skilled and gentle hand to pen deeply lyrical verses, offering poignant observations of everything from relationships that weren't meant to be, to sentiments on the meaning of faith, from an ode to a cherished baseball glove, to her years navigating life, death, and grief as an ER nurse. In her short stories, we are inspired by a blind artist, touched by a serendipitous pocket angel; our emotions are tapped as an elderly woman embraces her mortality, as a husband grapples with the eternal resting place of his young wife's ashes. Filled with the tender wisdom of a writer who has experienced the fragility of life, each installment in this collection is visceral and stirring, provoking questions and honest reflection through the author's candid yet compassionate lens. Symmetry is beauty found in flower, nautilus, and human face . . . Beauty is in the familiar and the divine, So, too, we find in faces the match to self or God. And, so too, such beauty sparks thoughtful interpretation on every page of Postcards.

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9781962504027

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Reviews

"""Postcards is a glowing example of a deeply underappreciated literary form-the single-author collection of both poetry and prose. Examples of such collections often feel as though one or both of the following objectives are at work: (1) to allow the author a fuller spectrum of intermingling lyrical and narrative gestures in the exploration of their subject matter and/or (2) to flaunt their skill across genres. Taylor's writerly persona-accessible, honest, heartfelt, and unpretentious-suggests she is not trying to show off in this collection. But the author assuredly puts a full range of talents on display in this deeply moving and complex book. ""Taylor's background in nursing permeates through the entire collection, not only as the subject of a particular poem or story, but also in the obvious empathy and compassion she exhibits for the human characters in her writing. There is a constant tenderness and care for the people populating the work. And this pervasive warmth tempts the reader to believe in a current of goodness running through human beings. ""As a poet, Taylor has a sharp control of the lines. Each is a powerful increment in her narrative style, almost always breaking with enviable intention as the captured moment is rendered with emotional depth and sophisticated play. Taylor is particularly adept at inviting multiple resonances and surprises. As these are also the poems of a master storyteller, the reader is consistently treated to a dynamic movement of the speaker-narrator's perspective, scene and meditation unfold their layers of possibility together. ""In all of Taylor's prose, unparalleled attention to organization and pacing creates a deeply embodied experience of drama for the reader. The audience is there through Taylor's calculated control of movement and timing. In short, Jo Taylor's Postcards: Collected Poems and Short Stories is a must-read collection. This is an author at the top of her craft, one who imbues each piece of writing with precise use of technique and powerfully emotional narratives. As an example of the poetry-and-fiction collection, this book might very well stand as an exemplary text that would behoove students of both genres to read."" -Stephen Dudas for Reedsy Discovery ""An amazing read that offers valuable life lessons and a deeper understanding of the human experience. . . . [Jo's] ability to craft a narrative that draws the reader in and keeps them captivated is a testament to her skill as a writer. . . . a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant literary experience."" -Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite ""Immerse yourself in a captivating collection of observational poetry and slice-of-life stories with Postcards . . . one of those rare collections that will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers from pretty much any background. I recommend you not miss out on this one!"" -Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite ""Poet and author Jo Taylor has a rare gift. . . . Equally adept at free verse, rhyming, and metered poetic forms, as well as the short story, Taylor moves seamlessly from one to the next in adroit and often surprising ways. . . . For a truly engaging and artfully diversified reading experience, Postcards is a sure winner."" -Golder Hazelton for Readers' Favorite ""Read along and be enthralled . . . Postcards has a melodic ring as [Jo] lets us into her world. . . . Appreciating the beautiful things around us we take for granted runs through the entire anthology."" -Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite"

Author Information

Jo Taylor is a retired ER nurse who grew up with three stepmothers (not at the same time), has lived on a boat in Santa Barbara Harbor with her husband and her dog, and can trace her genealogy to the year 310.A writer at heart all her life, Jo dove into the endeavors of poetry and short story writing to develop craft and style. Her first story won Honorable Mention for Glimmer Train in 2009, and a handful of poems and short stories have since been published in literary magazines. Postcards is the result of her desire to have a collection of her work in hand, if only to prove to herself that her literary labors are tangible. Jo has been married for years and has one grown son. She is also a psychic medium, mostly in retirement from performing readings, but retains the gift nonetheless. She currently lives in Daphne, Alabama.

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