#GuestDayTuesday – Scarred Resilience by Suzanne Cottrell

/ Marcia Meara

Today, I am welcoming my new online friend and kindred spirit, Suzanne Cottrell, who shares my love of gardening, wildlife, and the North Carolina mountains.  Please help me make her feel right at home as she tells you about her latest release. Suzanne, take it away!

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Thanks for having me today, Marcia. 

Scarred Resilience is a collection of poems that will resonate with readers as they pause and reflect on their lives. All people deal with different challenges such as loss, medical condition, heartbreak, aging, bullying, abuse, or stress throughout the course of their lives. They can succumb and fall victim to a challenge, or they can choose to overcome it. They may bear emotional and/or physical scars. Most likely, they will empower themselves by gaining new knowledge, skill, confidence, and/or strength. A key message of Scarred Resilience is that individuals, despite their scars, can move forward.

Many of the poems like “Nature’s Solace,” “Enlightened Silence,” “Transformation,” and “Silent Stroll” address aspects of self-awareness. As a survivor of breast cancer and a lumpectomy, I chose to include “Altered Silhouette” and “Yet, We Laughed,” signifying that a change in one’s personal appearance does not alter one’s inner beauty. Accepting, adapting, and laughing can help one heal. “Sole Mate,” “Aged,” and “Waning Time” instill the notion that one should live life to its fullest.

REVIEWS

Suzanne Cottrell’s poems create verbal jewels inspired by the natural world. These poems offer a healing movement-of-spirit, reminding us of why we fell in love with poetry in the first place.
Marilyn Kallet, Knoxville Poet Laureate and author of How Our Bodies Learned, poems from Black Widow Press

Suzanne Cottrell’s poems, a synthesis of visual details, combine with her all-seeing eye for nuance and change. Her collection speaks of a life spent in the sciences where things are viewed through a microscope, often distilled as in a vintage snapshot that illustrates competition for resources, quick change in circumstances or the eternal struggle to survive. Her poem, “Transformation,” provides a clinical description of biological statistics and specimens. But, in “Silent Stroll,” the poet reveals the inner life of feelings and search for clarity. The poems are a delicate balance between micro-views and personal internal longings.
Lynda McKinney Lambert, Author of Star Signs: New & Selected Poems

An emotional spark subtly ignites from deep within Suzanne Cottrell’s measured words and counted lines. Gently, yet distinctly, the reader becomes aware of the joy, understanding and love for life and nature her words convey.
Maxine Reynolds Chauvaux, Co-founder of the Granville Writers’ Group and Creative Life-Long Learning Workshop Facilitator

Suzanne Cottrell’s third poetry chapbook chronicles life’s difficulties wrapping painful memory with the beauty of nature and offering the possibility to “pass through the darkness into the light to follow your dreams.” Her poems express resilience, finding strength in laughter during darker moments. In her poem, “Aged,” the narrator asks the question — “Have all their pages been written?” I hope for those who love poetry, the answer for Ms. Cottrell would be, “Oh, no. There’s so much more to come.”
Anne Anthony, Author and Editor, Flash Fiction for Flash


Buy Scarred Resilience on Amazon HERE
And on Kelsay Books HERE

Author Suzanne Cottrell

Suzanne Cottrell, a buckeye by birth, lives with her husband in rural Piedmont North Carolina. An outdoor enthusiast and retired history and special ed. teacher, her interests include reading, writing, knitting, hiking, Tai Chi, yoga, and Pilates. She enjoys researching history and culture and loves nature and its sensory stimuli. She particularly likes to write and experiment with poetry and flash fiction, as well as working on collaborative projects, especially with her daughter.

Her work has appeared in numerous online and print journals and anthologies, such as the Best Emerging Poets Series, The Avocet, Poetry Quarterly, Plum Tree Tavern, Parks and Points, The Pangolin Review, Burningword Literary Journal, Three Line Poetry, Inwood Indiana Press anthologies, Personal Story Publishing Project anthologies, Proverse Hong Kong Poetry Prize Mingled Voices anthologies, Nailpolish Stories, Quail Bell Magazine, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, and Flash Fiction Magazine. She is the author of three poetry chapbooks: Gifts of the Seasons, Autumn and Winter; Gifts of the Seasons, Spring and Summer; and Scarred Resilience, published by Kelsay Books. She was the recipient of the 2017 Rebecca Lard Award for Poetry Quarterly (Prolific Press).

You can find Suzanne on social media here:
Website
LinkedIn
Email: cottrell_suzanne@yahoo.com

 

37 thoughts on “#GuestDayTuesday – Scarred Resilience by Suzanne Cottrell”

  1. I only write poetry occasionally, but writing and blogging have been a godsend in the past less than two years ( seems like longer ) of Covid, being widowed and getting breast cancer. And of course knitting, gardening and living by the sea are great for relaxation. Turns out it’s nothing really losing a breast and hair, I’m still me, though it’s easier being older, there are people far worse off than me, younger or with far worse things happening.

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    • I understand this all too well – been there and done that – BC, and other life changing situations. Currently caring for my husband through the past 8 years of cancer and dementia. Writing and reading help tremendously – and Suzanne certainly has a message of HOPE in her writings. I am honored to know her as friend and colleague in Poetry and publication of books. This is such a good way to meet Suzanne and learn about her books and other writings. Thanks to Marcia and this feature on her blog, we can learn about Suzanne and others.

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      • Lynda,
        I so appreciate your friendship, mentoring, and all your creative endeavors. You inspire me with your writing and artwork, positive attitude, and strong faith. Thank you for introducing me to Marcia and other writers. This experience has enhanced my writing journey in so many ways.

        All the best,
        Suzanne

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    • I’m sorry the last two years have been so hard for you, Janet. You’ve definitely had a lot thrown at you at one time, and I’m glad to know you are coping with at least some of it so well. Yep, there’s always someone far worse off than we are, and often with less ability to deal with it. Sending you huge hugs, and all the blessings of the season to bolster your days and help you get through this difficult time. And thanks so much for stopping by today and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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    • You’re very welcome. Lynda! I really enjoy helping writers get the word out about themselves and their work (you included), and I’m glad you enjoyed Suzanne’s post today! Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to let us know. 😀 ❤

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  5. This sounds like an inspiring and life-affirming collection and that cover is brilliant! Anything that helps deal with those ‘down’ moments is literary gold in my opinion. Thanks for sharing this, Marcia, and I hope your long covid symptoms are easing. ❤

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    • Alex,
      Thank you for your kind words. The cover photograph is extra special because my daughter took it. I was delighted when Kelsay Books decided to use it. I hope some of my poems, of which most were written during the pandemic, will resonate with you. Hope is always within reach.
      All the best,
      Suzanne

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    • Good to see you here today, Trish! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I agree with you about the cover. It’s a “bloom where you’re planted” moment, isn’t it? Lovely and I have a feeling it fits this book to perfection! Especially now that I know Suzanne’s daughter took the picture! Very cool! 😀

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    • Jan,
      I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to meet new writers and readers, so a huge thanks to Lynda Lambert and Marcia Meara. Most of the poems in my third poetry chapbook, Scarred Resilience, were written during the pandemic. I hope some will resonate with you. I look forward to getting to know you.
      All the best,
      Suzanne

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Roberta,
      Thank you for your message. Most of my poetry focuses on nature and wildlife encounters. During the pandemic, my writing became more reflective and therapeutic thus my third poetry chapbook, Scarred Resilience. I hope you find one or more poems that resonate with you.
      All the best,
      Suzanne

      Liked by 2 people

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    • Glad you enjoyed meeting Suzanne, Robbie! It was a treat to have her here today, and I hope you’ll check out her work when you get a chance. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Gwen,
      Thank you for your interest in my work. I write primarily free verse poetry, flash fiction, and personal narratives that frequently focus on nature. I hope you’ll check out both my Amazon author’s page and my website. I look forward to getting to know you and your work too.
      All the best,
      Suzanne

      Liked by 1 person

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    • It was a pleasure to introduce Suzanne today, Gwen, and I hope you’ll discover a new poet you admire. I’m sure Suzanne will enjoy your work, as well. Thanks so much for stopping by today and taking a moment to say hello! It’s greatly appreciated! 😀 ❤

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    • Yvette,
      Thank you for the message and for following me on my writing journey. Hopefully, my poems in Scarred Resilience will provide hope and resiliency for readers. Writing has certainly helped renew my spirit during the Covid pandemic.

      Congratulations on your newly released book, Hype. I look forward to reading some of your writing. I’m particularly interested in reading your short stories, Breathless and The Chosen One. I write some flash fiction, but I’d like to try my hand at writing some longer stories.

      All the best,
      Suzanne

      Liked by 1 person

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      • I agree, Suzanne. Writing comforted me during the isolation of the pandemic. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on whichever short story you read. The Chosen One is almost novella length and leads to the Chronicles of the Diasodz series. Breathless is a true short story and will lead to a standalone novel (whenever I get around to writing it…lol!). Happy reading!! 🙂

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