Welcome to My Online Home

I hope you may find beauty and play here, perhaps a striking insight and renewing hope.

But for now, welcome. Check out my Blog, which has some of my poems, as well as commentary about poetry, book reviews, interviews with other poets, prayers, and writing prompts for you to try. On the Blog page, feel free to search the tags in the right column, which is where I tag for topics, as well as for the genres I just listed. Or if you’d like to search for more general categories such as faith, healing, and politics, then feel free to search the “Categories of Poetry Posts” drop down list on this page, right next to this text :).

The Publications pages show, in poetry and in prose, where I’ve been published elsewhere. Why Poetry? answers some common questions about why poetry matters (indeed, it’s my pearl of great price this season). Events & Speaking offers details about my speaking style and experience, including videos of several sermons I’ve preached, and a list of previous speaking venues. Speaking Requests has a list of possible topics for your retreat and/or event (though I’m certainly open to other ideas!), along with specifics about how to request me to speak. The related tab, Retreats, Book Clubs, and Workshops, is where I offer my own events. Sign up for my newsletter below to be the first to know about new retreats, book clubs, and other opportunities to gather with creative kinfolk!

About Melanie shares some of my story, including why I love house slippers. A Peek at Melanie’s Bookshelf provides a way to explore some of my favorite books, as well as to buy them through affiliate links that benefit both independent bookstores, and my calling to curate good words (at no additional cost to you). The Support page offers another opportunity to support this labor of love here, including through prayer and Bookshop patronage. And finally, the Contact page is where I’d love to hear from you! Another way we can stay in touch is through my newsletter (feel free to sign up below), which I certainly see as two-way communication. I look forward to journeying together in prayer and poetry, house slippers and all!

Sign Up For My Newsletter!

Submit your email address below for my free newsletter that I send out on the 27th of every month, which contains exclusive content such as:

  • a personal reflection about where I’ve found poetry lately
  • a “poetry around town” section of broader news, updates, and events
  • “why poetry?” observations from a kaleidoscope of poets
  • an invitation to conversation

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive a newsletter. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, the “highest task of a bond between two people” is to “stand guard over the solitude of the other.” I therefore value your privacy and solitude, just as I value mine, which means I never disclose your information to third parties. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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