Welcome, Miriam Hurdle, to my blog! It is so exciting getting to know you on your “Songs of Heartstrings” Blog Tour.
From the Author
This is Day 2 of “Songs of Heartstrings” Blog Tour. I want to thank 4WillsPublishing for setting up the tour and my host to have me here.
This poetry collection includes nine themes: Songs of Nature, Songs of Dissonance, Songs of Physical Healing, Songs of Marriage, Songs of Parenthood, Songs of Tribute, Songs of Reflections, Songs of Challenge, and Songs of Inspiration. Each of these themes covers various aspects of my life experience. Many poems are illustrated with my photos and watercolor paintings.
Songs of Heartstrings received a 5-Star review from Songs of Heartstrings received a 5-Star review from Readers’ Favorite: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/songs-of-heartstrings?fbclid=IwAR092vCKbtTdbUea6kW90qdVvrvxYHpUdkpCueW7XtcUzKNMzukisBgVBfs
Other book reviews are available on Amazon: http://wwAmazon.com/dp/B07K1S47W9
One Recent Amazon Review
“Songs
of Heartstrings – Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude” is a most enjoyable book of
poetry. Told in the first person, Miriam Hurdle takes you along on her many
journeys, in the ups and downs, of life. I particularly enjoyed the photos,
placed before many of the poems. It brought me closer to what Miriam was
relaying in her words.
My favorite poem is “Life’s Currents”. Here, the
author reminds us we are never alone, no matter the hardships we might face in
our time here on Earth. There is no doubt Miriam has a strong faith and relies
on it for many of life’s obstacles.
The book is broken up into eight different
sections, making it a very pleasant read. Miriam uses different styles of
poetry, so you’re never just reading. She easily gets and keeps your attention
throughout. If you are looking for a poetry book filled with inspiration, and
thought-provoking passages, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this
to any and everyone as I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Songs of Heartstrings –
Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude.”
– Dorinda Duclos
Highlighted poems from Songs of Dissonance: Life’s Currents and Punctured Wounds
Being trapped in a mentally and emotionally draining relationship, I felt anguished and powerless. My consideration of family value, cultural orientation and church expectation didn’t allow me to entertain the thought of dissolving the marriage. I bore the pain and held the false hope of improvement and a brighter future. As a wise man said, “It takes two to make a marriage.” After ten years of struggle, I concluded that only severance could keep my sanity.
Life’s Currents
Life’s currents keep pushing,
I feel much like drowning.
One wave after another,
I can hardly keep my head
from going under.
A little kick with
my frantic feet,
Catch the thin air
with a squeak.
Overwhelming waves
give no hope.
With a fainting voice,
I softly cry,
Oh God, I’m tired.
This is the end of
my effort to try.
Am I going to die?
Peace be still,
my precious child!
I’m always here
when your tears
blinded your eyes.
You will not die.
I know how much
you can endure.
I have never been late to
come to your rescue.
Cease your struggle,
cease your fear.
Just remember that
I am here.
Relax your body and
let it float,
I will guide you where
you should go.
Punctured Wounds
Inconsiderate, merciless words that
rang around my ears,
punctured through
the mind, the heart
beyond what I could bear.
Insulted the intact intelligence,
the confidence I held so familiarly.
They bruised the inner emotion that
once was pleasant and joyous;
pierced through the flesh with a twist
worse than any knives that sheared.
Scars on the flesh faded as
the sound of clash
absorbed by the air.
Wounds in the heart buried so deep
inside the subconscious mind,
I needed the miracle to
lift the deceiving mask.
With courage and strength provided,
I accepted the graceful healing,
the unconditional love from above to
piece the brokenness together.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Miriam Hurdle is a
multi-genre writer. She writes poetry, flash fiction, and short stories and
memoir. Her poems are included in Letters to Gaia, Whispers and Echoes Issue 2,
Whispers and Echoes Issue 3, and Outcast and More Words.
She is passionate about poetry and her favorite
poets are Robert Frost with his poems “The Road Not Taken,” and Linda Pastan
with her poem “To a Daughter Leaving Home.”
She is a member of PoemHunter.com, and her poetry may be read on the websites.
Music has rooted in her life. Being a soloist as
a teenager led her to taking voice lessons and to have ongoing singing
engagements. She continues to sing soprano in choral groups. Lyrics have a
major influence in the natural flow of her melodic writing. She writes memoir
in the form of poetry.
Along with her brother, she took photos when the
films were black and white. Photography is still her enjoyable hobby. Drawing
and painting were fun activities as a child. Her favorite was to draw a
Japanese girl with big eyes, long hair, small lips and chin. She resumed
drawing and watercolor painting several years ago. In her poetry collection,
photos and paintings are included to illustrate the poems.
She earned a Doctorate of Education from the
University of La Verne in California. After two years of rehabilitation
counseling, fifteen years of public-school teaching and ten years in school
district administration, she retired and enjoys life with her husband in
southern California.
Links to Purchase the Book:
Amazon Universal Link: http://smarturl.it/SongsofHeartstrings
Amazon UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07K1S47W9
Amazon.com Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1S47W9
Contact the Author:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Miriam-Hurdle/e/B07K2MCSVW?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
Website: https://theshowersofblessings.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhurdle112
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miriam.hurdle.1
***
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Lastly, Miriam is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
Shirley Harris-Slaughter 
Hi Shirley, I want to thank you again for hosting my blog tour. I followed up the tour with free download promo on Amazon and got #3 of the Top Best Sellers in Poetry. I’ll make an announcement on my blog but want to thank you personally!
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Hi Shirley, thank you again for hosting the blog tour. This is a good time to follow up with another promotion and I have this one on Amazon.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2019/03/05/free-download-promotion-songs-of-heartstrings/
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I don’t use to understand poetry or the mind behind it, but with so many #RRBC poets, that is changing. Congrats with your tour. Thank you, Shirley, for hosting.
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Thank you, Joy for stopping by and comment. If you’re interested, I’m running a promotion.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2019/03/05/free-download-promotion-songs-of-heartstrings/
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Miriam I just downloaded my copy. Thank you. I’ll spread the word.
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Thank you so much, Shirley. I’m not for making a profit, just want to share my journey!
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Joy, I don’t understand a lot of it myself. Poetry should be easy and fluid. When it is, I enjoy it tremendously.
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One more thing Miriam. I see that you sang soprano in a choir. I sang second soprano in a choir & sang in a band with a girl group once. Now we have two things in common although I suspect there’s more. Have a wonderful rest of your tour.
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Oh, Shirley, sorry not to come back sooner. It’s good to hear that you sing second soprano in a choir. My voice is getting slightly lower as I’m getting older. I’m not singing second at the moment, but I may have to, one day.
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Well, Miriam, I can no longer carry a tune. If you don’t use it, you lose it. I don’t know what happened but it could be age. lol
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It’s true, if you don’t use it, you lose it. I didn’t sing for 5 years during cancer treatment and recuperation. Fortunately when I started singing 6 years ago, it gradually came back, not as strong as before, but I’ve been singing Messiah for the last 5 years. 🙂
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Your poems are so expressive, Miriam. I am a fan.
Thanks for hosting, Shirley.
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Glad you made it over here Beem. And you are welcome.
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Thank you so much to know that you’re a fan, Beem. Thank you again for hosting. I went on you site with Stephen. It’s awesome.
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Miriam, it’s such a joy to follow your tour. Your journey and poetry are truly inspiring. Congratulations on the wonderful review, too! 🙂
Many thanks for hosting, Shirley, as always.
Cheers to you both! 🙂
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Thank you, Natalie for dropping by and for your kind comment. I also thank you for your comment about my sister who passed away. We’re thankful to be there for her. 🙂
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Miriam, did I miss something regarding your sister? My condolences on your loss. Sisters can never be replaced.
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Thank you very much, Shirley. Don’t worry. I had made two posts since I came back from Hong Kong on 1/25 and a direct post on Facebook. So it’s not something brand new. I appreciate your comment. All the readers from the tour who download my book help to get me on #3 of the Top 100 Best Sellers in Kindle. I’m grateful for your support.
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Two more wonderful poems today. I could get very spoiled following this tour. ^.^
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Thank you so much, Guy. It’d good to see you again. I appreciate your reading of the poems. 🙂
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Pingback: Welcome to “SONGS OF HEARTSTRINGS” Blog Tour! @Mhurdle112 #4WillsPub #RRBC Day 2 | The Showers of Blessings
Hi Shirley, thank you for hosting my blog tour. Yes, I met you at #RRBC yesterday. You blog is beautiful and present this post really well!
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I’m glad to be hosting you today Miriam. 4WillsPublishing created this beautiful website. I should have done it sooner. Enjoy!
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You still have a lot more coming if you’re available!!
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Hi, Miriam. I enjoyed checking out this stop on your tour.
Shirley, it was a pleasure to stop by your blog again. 😀
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Thank you Rhani for checking out the blog tour and comment. much appreciated.
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Hi Rhani, please check out my promotion and get a copy of my poetry. ❤
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2019/03/05/free-download-promotion-songs-of-heartstrings/
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Hello Miriam. Its a pleasure to meet you and host you on my blog today. Welcome to RRBC!
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Powerful poetry Miriam! I could really feel your emotions. Thanks for hosting Shirley:)
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Hi Denise, thank you for reading my poetry. I’m thankful for my survival and being able to come away with gratefulness. 🙂
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