Tag: Publishing

Guest Posts

Meet my friend, The Candid, Vivacious and Smart Lady, Daisy.

jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

Daisy’s refreshing posts filled with candour drew me to her. When you read them, the bubbly spirit of the soul behind the writing seeps out and she has a way of making me smile. She’s been a supportive presence in this space and I enjoy our witty banters.

Daisy dear, thank you for taking the time from your busy life to share more of you with us. I truly appreciate you and extend my warm regards.

Jacqueline

Hi – I’m Daisy as I like to be called on my Blog. My real name can be  found on my website. I love the daisy because like it, I have felt like a weed most of my life and like the daisy when it turns its face to the sun it blooms. I liken myself to the Daisy because I am 100% imperfect. I’ve done terrible things, some amazing things too. I’m human.

Daisy 1

I have had a colourful life. I was born in South Africa and lived there until I was 18.

I am a French nationality, mixed with Russian and English and would liken myself to what I call ‘a pavement special’ or a mongrel. A good mix.

I have travelled a lot and lived in many different parts of the world. Miami, Marseille, Grenoble, England, Barcelona.

 

I am proud of my family. One of my aunts is from the Dominican Republic, another is Mexican and my cousin is married to a Chinese woman.

So, to say I was brought up in the Apartheid era, I can say that the government’s plan failed atrociously when it came to my family. Ha, Ha!

I love to socialise, write, connect, act, and write.

I am two months away from starting my Masters in Creative writing with the Open University. My aim is to become a creative writing specialist in the mental health sector.

Here is  a video of  me graduating  with my BA (Hons) in Art and humanities  in November 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/daisyinthewillows1/videos/10205820565647360/

I do a lot of volunteering with different mental health charities. I love doing workshops to raise mental health awareness and reduce Stigma.

We all have mental health and are all subject to good and bad moments. I think people need to really wake up and face up to the fact that having mental health issues does not make you crazy.

It’s something I am passionate about.

I really love going to music gigs, festivals and the theatre, movies and I love drinking cocktails.

Unfortunately, I have not had much of a social life for the past 3 years – we were saving up for our wedding. This is my G and my beautiful daughter Bella Bee – (as I like to call her).

I love writing stage scripts. I think I have always been creative but I had a few issues and many people saw this vulnerability in me and I let people take advantage of me .

I started this blog because I am always up for a challenge. If someone tells me, I can’t do something or have something or someone even.  🙂 I have a damn good go at making it my goal to get it. I sound terrible. Yes, I can be but I do have a good heart. I wear mine on my sleeve.

NANOWRIMO 2015 GOAL ACHIEVED
NANOWRIMO 2015 GOAL ACHIEVED

It has taken me many years to realise I am a good person and not crazy or insane.  I displayed “crazy” symptoms at an early age. I got involved in drugs, bad eating habits – I grew up way too fast and people judged me for it. I hear about people I used to know going through similar problems only now in their own lives.

It’s so easy to judge.

An example. In a place where I lived, there was a person who happened to dress as a woman. I do not know if he wanted to be a woman or just enjoyed it. It wasn’t my problem. It wasn’t a problem to me at all. People used to make fun of him. Take his pictures and put them on social media websites. It’s deplorable. I found out a bit about his background and it turned out his mother wanted a daughter but got him instead and forced him to act and dress as a girl.

So, I am one of those people with a lot of passion and drive and will stand up for the issues I am passionate about.

I remember way back in 20008/09 – I had just come out of an 8-month stint in an Eating disorder clinic.

GETTING NAKED FOR ISSUES I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT
GETTING NAKED FOR ISSUES I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT

I signed up to do a degree in acting performance. My confidence was way down in the gutter. People didn’t know how to take me. I know I had moments where I went manic and went on benders and was most certainly not stable- some people did try and reach out to help. I didn’t even know how to help myself. I got into a bad relationship.

Think: black, blue, purples, and yellows.

Lots of drinking and over-dosing to escape my situation. Arguments. Sexual boundaries blurred.

I had an abortion.

I then had my daughter Bella Bee and when I finally left the relationship – I got punished for it.

Long story short, social services got involved – I was fighting my ex and a draconian system to prove I could look after my child with support and some life-style changes. After 16 months, I won.

So, yeah – I am no innocent but then again not many people are. I think what bothers me the most is people who pick out vulnerable people to cover up their own insecurities.

The amount of secrets people have confided in me then  make out as if I am less of a person because nobody knows their story. They are not my secrets to tell but don’t wonder why I react the way I do when someone I know acts like they have never done a wrong thing in their life and well…..Whatever, right.

Smell your own crap before pointing fingers at someone else. Some people are in a better place than others and others are  not.

Life changes all the time. Nothing is fixed. The wheel is always turning.

I think I am a good person. I do shitty things,  but mostly my heart is in the right place.

So , back to why I started this Blog. I was sick of whispers and finger pointing so I went public and said – I am this person who is awesome, has a life, a heart , a brain , goals –purpose and so what if I have mental health issues.

I was very passionate about sharing my experience of  a 12-week course I had done with a volunteer charity – the program is  called WRAP.

HERE IS THE PROMO VIDEO:  https://vimeo.com/153148446

My WRAP  page: https://daisywillows.wordpress.com/category/wrap/

WRAP GRADUATES CLASS 2015
WRAP GRADUATES CLASS 2015

One year later (end of September 2016 )  and I will have done the training to be a WRAP group co-facilitator:  ready to reveal and create a supportive and safe environment  for other  people to explore other ideas about how they might like to look at how they deal with their lives and issues.

I’ve been completely blown away by just the WordPress community. I can’t believe how much support and praise I get. I don’t get this from people I have known or even met in my life, yet a total stranger can read my story and read what I have to say and actually validate that, in a positive manner.

It has really given me a new perspective.

I used to think everything that went wrong was because of me.

That’s kind of egotistical –I mean –there is more than little old me in this world. I finally know that many people like to project their shit on to another person.  I am not saying I haven’t done some messed up things. I’m the first to put my hand up when I do wrong.

Blogging has helped me see people differently. I am learning where and who to invest my emotional energy on and who is not significant. This is an ongoing process.

In the real world and the blogging world.

I –uh –am active in the WP community. I get to know people. I am learning that sometimes, there are only so many times I can reach out and if I get no reciprocation then I have to move on. There are only 24 hours in a day and life is short. Life is be lived.

I have found better-coping mechanisms over the last few years. There is a part of me who is impulsive and does want and does go out and seek out my chosen vices.

These moments –gladly are becoming less and less frequent as I grow as a person.

Yeah, what you see is what you get. Ha ha.

I don’t know what post links to share. My blogging content has evolved massively. I even write poetry now. Which is something I  have never thought I could do  –  until a few months ago.

I’m very much a free flow writer… I don’t do a lot of prepping unless it is to do with writing a script or fiction but even them I think the less planning and the more doing is where the work and my  best ideas and creativity are found.

I have said so much already…..

What is a typical day like for me?

I have my daughter and my Husband. I am very close to my Mom and my two Grans. My Gran is in the last stages of Vascular Dementia, I try and support my Mom as much as I can, even though it breaks my heart to see what this illness has done to my Gran and to my Mom.

I Blog, a lot of time goes into volunteering. Soon that will include lots more work with me studying again.

I think it is good to keep busy. Idle hands and all that … ha, ha!

I have a first born who happens to be a Bengal – here is Miss Tatiana

MISS TATIANA- FIRST BORN
MISS TATIANA- FIRST BORN

I do normal stuff, really. Nothing terribly exciting.

I was turned  down for a writing job recently but I got some feedback so that helps.

In terms of what is next for me and Blogging or publishing something. I don’t know yet. I need to find some balance and time for myself too. I want to use my Blog in some way as a platform for what I do in volunteering, in the future, to help people.

I’ve published one short story (totally on impulse) at kindle. The First story of mine ever graded in uni and I was super proud.

Here is the link: http://bit.ly/EBOOKNUMBERONE

Yeah… Lame, right. I know I am on a good path, right now. I’m enjoying the journey. The destination is moving forwards and bettering my life.

As I grow as a person –my idea of what is the “perfect” life may change. Happiness is the main goal –

That is it really. I have gone on for quite a bit.

Thanks Jackie for giving me this opportunity to share a bit more of myself with others.

It always seems impossible when I think about doing something and then I start writing /typing or doing whatever it is and all of a sudden I am at the finish line. I look back and I go” How the hell  did get here? “

‘Always Look for the silver linings’ is one of my favourite quotes.

Below is a song I love to listen to when I feel despondent “Make believe by Nora Bayes.”

Many people tell me to become a life coach.

Ha ha! The skies the limit.

https://youtu.be/bj0OPHdV8VM?t=22

P.S: If you are interested in guest posting, send an email to JacquelineObyIkocha@gmail.com.

You are cordially invited to our monthly blog party happening right now. Join in through this link.

 

 

Guest Posts

An introduction to my gorgeous friend Brenda Baker of Cybernetic blonde…

jacquelineobyikocha42 Comments

Since I met Brenda a couple of months ago, we’ve got on famously to such an extent that she made a decision to pitch a tent in my blogging camp as a strategic partner.

Her articles pull the writer in so much so that you follow the journey of her words and live in their nakedness. I admire her drive and I see her going far.

All the best my dear friend and thank you for accepting to step in and have a chat with us.

Rose[1]

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With one of her gorgeous daughters.

First of all, I would like to thank Jacqueline for interviewing me. I’m both honored and humbled.

Secondly, I ‘m a teacher who loves learning, writing, music and coffee.

I mostly substitute teach with replacement positions. I substitute teach by choice. It offers me the chance to see as many students as possible.

If I took a full-time position, I’d miss all the other students that I know. I’m lucky to live in the small town of Labrador City, Canada where substitute teaching is a full-time job.

I’ve known many of my students for years. They know how much I love seeing them 🙂

I started blogging last August, after a five-week road trip. I figured it was time.

I actually started my blog with no expectations whatsoever. I set up my account and just started writing about whatever came to mind.

My early posts were personal essays which are a little too formal for my tastes. It wasn’t until I wrote my first poem in October that I discovered my true passion.

When I wrote that first post in August, I had no idea how many amazing people I would meet. I love being part of the blogging community. I also had no idea how much support I’d receive or how interactive the blogosphere is.

It’s become my favorite place to be: my home in cyberspace. Bloggers rock!cute girls in the car

My life outside the blogosphere is nothing out of the ordinary. My daily routine includes work, workout, chores, blogging and Netflix. I tell students that I’m boring but consistent 🙂

Right now, I share mostly poetry through my blog. I’m hoping to branch out this summer with a fitness and music category. I’ll see what else develops. For now, I’m enjoying the journey with no set destination in mind.

Unlike some of my amazing fellow bloggers, I’ve never been published, nor have I published. I do, however, have an early poem about to be published. I’ll be sure to share when I’m notified of the date.

I wasn’t sure what post to include, but I decided on ‘Color Wheel’. A poem celebrating my belief that despite our differences, we all share a common humanity. A humanity that connects each and every one of us.

Inspired by my amazing friend Jacqueline (just sayin’) 🙂 I may start a series of poems for self-publication this summer. All in due time, right?

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

She is amazing at describing love and life in her poems. She creates such beautiful images with her words. Truly, she is a talented writer and I’m so excited to have her poetry book and to continue reading through it.

Out of the silent breath

appreciation · Personal · This Is My Life

I did nothing!…personal

jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

It’s a Friday morning this way and it’s the weekend already in the Middle Eastern World.

I write this with a lot of appreciation. It doesn’t take much to make me happy or to make me cry *tears of joy and maybe sadness too*

I scrolled through my comments and saw Tanya, Post Prodigal and Beth’s – Nutsrok’s comments:

Just got your book from Amazon. Will be starting it tonight!  From Beth

Thank you, Jackie. I’m still reading and loving your book of poems, btw. I’ll post a review on Amazon when I am done. It just blesses me! From Tanya

and the tears pooled in my eyes. Yes! I can be emotional, but that’s who I am.

I did nothing to deserve the show of kindness that I’ve received in this place.

I did nothing to receive the amount of care that I receive in this place.

I did nothing… Not one thing…

You did it all…and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You may not understand…

when someone is walking out of the valley of fear,

of deeply incinerated scars and doubts, reaching for the light…

a little shine of light is so much hope.

I wrote my poetry book from my heart and I’ve never thought that it would interest anyone. I couldn’t even afford professional editing.

I wrote it for me. To help me deal with some experiences and pain that life brought my way yet, several friends have reached out to me to express how the words have touched them that I have to go and read them again myself…

Publishing it was just a step up, to tell myself that “yes I can!
…and I said to myself, Jacqueline, if even 5 people buy this book, then consider yourself blessed…

It sold 5, then 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12…..19 and counting

Thank you, my dear friends. Thank God.

I have friends in high places and it’s YOU!

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Expose my heart

that I may understand your words

through every conscious,

awakened pore of each moment.

**

*an excerpt from my poem*

Guest Posts

Let’s get to know the enigmatic Kathy Myrman in her World.

jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

I started interacting with Kat not long after I started blogging a year ago and I’ve found her presence a charming and calming one.

Her posts are witty, creative and inspiring. She also contributes regularly to Echoes of my neighbourhood blogging challenge.

Kathy shares in her words below, her World, her work and her love for writing, her furry friends and family.

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By day I can be found in a corporate cubicle, corresponding with and for executives, creating reports, and planning fabulous events and travel to exotic places for other people!

I live in a century-old historic home in Southwest Virginia, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, though my roots can be traced back to Chicago where I was born. Moving from the Midwest to the South was a bit of a culture shock.

Some people in the Southern United States, particularly rural Virginia still believe that the Civil has not been settled and long for a “do-over”.

Before I had children I did a short stint in the Marine Corps, not because I was uber patriotic. I saw it as a way to move out and get paid while training for a career. As you may have guessed, my strengths were assessed in the Administrative field.

Today, my four grown daughters, have presented me with 6 and counting grandchildren (one is due this July making it 7!) and 4 grand pups.

When we all gather for Thanksgiving or Christmas we are 16 in number. I do love having a big family and we are all very close – an added blessing!

These days I am “mom” to a house full of critters, three dogs, three cats, a tortoise and a sun conure. They keep me busy! I also like to post photos of my beautiful garden and the trees in my neighborhood, but gardening is not my thing.

I am very allergic to green stuff, especially in the Spring, Summer and Fall. So I leave getting in the dirt to my partner Traci and take in the view from my library. Which brings me to things I do love…books! Oodles and oodles of books. We dedicated an entire room to books!

I also like to paint, mostly in acrylic and I play the guitar and love to sing. When my kids were younger, we would travel from nursing homes to revivals, and even private family reunions.

I even cut a few albums of original songs back then. I peddled them out of my trunk and gave most of them away. I discovered poetry a few years later and found that I loved it.

Oh and a few more things I love…trees (yes, I’m a tree hugger!), the ocean (any type of moving water really) and faeries.

You can probably tell I am a pretty positive person. I tend to be optimistic and trusting and not a big planner. Change is exciting to me.

One of my favorite sayings is, “I don’t worry about getting lost, I just change where I want to go.”

I have been writing for most of my life. My first poem when I was around 7 was called The Purple Cow: I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one, but I can tell you anyhow, I’d rather see than be one!

Fast forward to the 21st century. I had done a bit of creative writing on social media, but I really didn’t feel comfortable pouring my heart out in that platform. I had signed up with WordPress a year before I actually wrote my first post.

I was so nervous about sharing my writing with anyone, inviting only a few close friends who I knew would be encouraging (it’s good to keep a few of those friends around in a pinch).

In a wild moment of abandon, I threw caution to the wind and left the site “open” to the world when I set my preferences up. To be honest, I didn’t really expect much traffic or notice. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to write or what I wanted this blog to be so it became an online journal more or less.

A place to simmer thoughts, reflections, and perceptions while also sharing a bit of photo art…my new found artistic passion. In the past year, I have discovered Flash Fiction, which I love, and of course my first love, Poetry.

I took the WordPress Blogging 101 class and by joining several challenges I have sought to improve my writing skills. I think the post that sums it all up for me is the one I wrote about my love of writing.

It’s called “A Beautiful Obsession”

Well now, I do hope I don’t bore you to tears! My typical day starts at dawn, or 6 am or so. My first order of business is breakfast for all the animals. And of course outside potty breaks for the dogs.

Then it is a shower, fluff and scoot down the road to my day job. Thank goodness for my floor to ceiling windows. As an executive assistant, I spend the next 9-10 hours at my desk working on schedules, travel, memos, spreadsheets, and communication.

In the winter, I leave after the sun has already slipped below the horizon, but in the Spring, Summer and Fall, I enjoy a ride home in the evenings with the top down on my little red Fiat car.

Then it is supper-time for all the animals, an occasional load of laundry or run to the store and finally, when everyone is taken care of, I settle in to watch an occasional reality show or read and write a bit, or both, until it’s time for bed.

I’m a light sleeper, so it’s not unusual for me to be roused at 3 am. I find that I do some of my best writing at this time. Years ago, I loved writing with fountain pens on thick paper. These days I do a lot of writing on my phone’s notepad.

On the weekends, I do chores, shopping, watch movies, get together with family, and if I’m lucky, on Sunday I catch a nice nap. Like I said…I live a rather boring life. Being artistic is what keeps me going. It helps to see the world through a quirky lens.

My art and writing are the color and life of my existence.

When I started the blog, as I mentioned, I really didn’t have any grand plans. Not much has changed. I am so happy to be here. To write, to interact with readers and to read other blogs.

I have been published in a few online and in print anthologies.* That is always a thrill! Because I am writing more, I do think about publishing a book of poetry or short stories every now and then.

I’m thinking if there is a next step, getting my collection of thoughts between the binding of a book might be a nice thing to leave behind for my children and grandchildren. I will also likely sign up for a few more of the WordPress classes. They are well worth one’s time.

Anthologies in Print:

The Circle Continues: Women Respond to Circle of Stones, Published: August 1, 2001, by Judith Duerk – Poem, “Icons” by Kathleen Hurt (nee Myrman)
Dreams for Our Daughters: A Collection of Dreams, Wishes and Perspectives for Our Collective Daughters, Published: 2000 by Bonnie Allmon Coffey – Poem: “A Mother’s Last Wish for her Daughters” by Kathy Hurt (nee Myrman)

Collections Online:

 The memory of you by Kat Myrman
On Women’s Spiritual Poetry: Women’s Spiritual Poetry Blogspot
When you ask me to pray…this…By Kat Myrman
On Women’s Spiritual Poetry:
A Beautiful Obsession by Kat Myrman
On Women’s Spiritual Poetry: I spend a great deal of time spinning

A thank you rose for you, Kat 🙂

Rose[1]

P.S. If you are interested in a guest post or interview, you can contact me.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Blog · Personal · Writing

365 Terrific Blogging Days Later…Hurrah!!

jacquelineobyikocha67 Comments

Blogging was an unknown concept. I had no concrete idea what it meant or where to start from. All I had was the desire to write beyond journalling in my diary. FaceBook had been my medium of sharing bits of my thoughts, which was a lot, but something about FaceBook just never settled well with me, so I didn’t share as much.

Backtrack to May 5th, 2015 after a friend encouraged me yet again to start blogging, I googled the word ‘blog’ and WordPress came up. I researched further and before I could say Hey! Presto my first post was published.

I started it afraid. My doubting part told me that since I wasn’t technically on-point I probably suck at it. I didn’t know what a good or bad blog was meant to look like. I didn’t know what ‘spam bots’ were. I had never bothered my life about SEO’s, didn’t know what it was and still don’t know exactly what that Greek word ‘search engine optimization,’ means in real terms. All I had and still have is the burning desire to write and to learn.

I wondered who in their right mind would bother to read what I wrote but after my initial trepidations and decision to leave the excuses, I decided to plod along knowing that I am writing for me.

Why am I back-tracking a bit, because, sincerely speaking, it truly amazes me to think that I started this blog from zero, knowing nothing, with no idea how to blog and what it would be like, to this point where I wonder why I took forever to get started?

Am I glad that I am here? Absolutely, yes.

I have made wonderful friends on this journey. My thoughts have grown exponentially. I’ve pushed myself beyond my comfort zone over and over again and without trying to sound too smart, I look back and say to myself ‘well done, you’ve not done badly, babe.‘

Just a quick view of my present circumstance as they also serve as a measure of growth online…

a. Published my first poetry book.

b. Published 1,178 posts

c. I gained a partner and looking for more 🙂

d. Joined several challenges.

e. I started two blogging challenges that you can join.

f. Attended a number of BU classes.

g. Did my first Nablopomo last November.

h. Hostess to an exciting, monthly blog party 😉

i. Started earning some cents in WordAds 😉

j. Many positive offline strides that my online presence brought about.

Stats: 92,807 views, Visitors: 22,842, Friends: 7,980, Likes: 53,277, Comments: 28,706

Well, there you have the bare bones. These days, this may not seem like much to some, but in my eyes, these are giant strides for me. To another 365 days, I say, let’s go!

Thank you all for choosing to stay with me. For your supportive hands of fellowship, I remain humbled in appreciation. Have a drink and a cupcake on my behalf 🙂

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Dance to your heart’s delight my African child, until echoes of your stamping feet, beating heart; bright eyes, smiling lips; and waving hands, resonates over and over like thunder claps, reverberating throughout the Universe.

Just dance.

Gratitude · Personal

For these one’s, I give thanks…personal

jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

There’s always a reason to be thankful no matter how minutiae, but today I have lots of reasons to be full of gratitude.Gratitude, Grateful, Prayer, Thanks, Blessings, Open

I am 2 day’s away from clocking 365 days of non-stop blogging and it puts me in a reminiscent mood. It may not mean much to some people, but I am still chuffed over the fact that I have diligently stayed the course.

My first book also got published over the weekend and I am totally excited about it.

The exemplary gentleman/publisher who worked with me on this project David Cronin of Moyhill publishing, Sally Cronin’s husband has been so supportive to this novice, answering all my questions down to the nitty-gritty and the book is already receiving excellent reviews.

I gained a worthy and supportive partner this last week, a fellow blogger whose articles inspire me very much. Kaylaa Blackwell of Inspired Beacon, I thank you for having enough confidence in me and finding it worthwhile to partner with me. I will be writing more on this in another post.

For amazing family and friends who don’t cease to surprise me, I am thankful you are all in my life. Your encouraging words literally fuel me. I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s  or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.

Discover Challenges · Personal · The Daily Post

Stumbling Forward…personal

jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

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Obstacles. No single existence is devoid of hurdles to jump as they journey through their path in life and these encompasses all living things. The strength of a plant is predetermined from the state of its seed, thus even before we make our grand entry into this World, we possibly started our struggles right from the womb that bore us.

These hurdles come in different forms and in various shapes and sizes. Some knock us so hard on our backside, flat on our faces or at the cusp of a precipice where we are left grasping for release from the clenching holds that threatens to suffocate us to death.

Every human enjoys having a good sense of well-being and in the midst of these trials, a human can literally clutch at straws in the bid to stand upright. They either turn to the bottle, drugs or the Lord, seeking for strength.

Severe depression and suicide are the end result of a life that finds no glimmer of hope at the end of the turbulence that they are passing through. At that point in time, it seems as if the demons that they battle overwhelms and the only way to end the torment would be to stop living.

I have been in very deep pits. I have battled mental health, mental torture, and depression. There have been points in my life where the misery that permeated every pore of me was a living, breathing pain.

One of the instances, I would briefly share for now is when I lost my pre-term child. Please believe me when I say that the pain is beyond words. I carried this beautiful being inside me, but for some reason that I don’t know, I left the hospital after hours of horrendous labour with empty hands.

Fortunately, I have no head for drinks, no penny for drugs and never felt suicidal. I clung to the Cross and to writing. With every fibre in me, I held on and my husband held me.

God, family, friends, books and writing, have been my greatest support. When I am crossing one of my many rivers, I look up above, I look around me and I look forward. Life is a constant battlefield in our minds and except we personally buffer ourselves and wage an onslaught to find peace, we remain subjugated by these trials.

What I have learnt over the years is not to wait for the boat to get rocked, but to be mentally prepared to steer the boat as it rocks, so that I don’t capsize.

A couple of books that helped me when I struggled through these obstacles are, The battlefield of the mind, Your best life begins each morning, Purpose driven life, Women Of Faith Bible and lots more.

Writing my own books has been a challenge of doubt, of wondering if I am good enough. Of constantly questioning myself about who would want to be bothered to read my words when there are billions of books out there, but you know what, I said to myself, Jacqueline, you may not get it right, you may not be the best out there, but my girl, you are definitely more than good enough.

So that’s another hurdle jumped. Publishing my first poetry book is a positive affirmation that indeed, I might stumble in my quest but instead of the obstacles making me fall behind, they will cause me to stumble forward and give me some fulfilment.

Buying my book will go a long way to support me and clicking to purchase from any of those links will possibly earn me a commission of a few cents, but this is yet another curve in my journey. Finding ways to break through the obstacle and earn from the sweat of my brow.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Obstacles, The Discover Challenge

 

Uncategorized · Writing

PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE MY BOOK COVER…

jacquelineobyikocha103 Comments

Dear friends of mine,

Please help me choose the cover that catches your eyes from this link or below.

It’s for my poetry book due to come out this April, all things being equal 🙂

Just add a little comment and the number of the picture that you prefer.

You can help me share if possible.

Thank you for your support and kind regards,

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

OOTSB Cover tests

Challenges · Hope · The Great Book Of Lists · Travel · Weave that Dream

Desires of Mine…The Big Book Of Lists

jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

For Laduchessederat’s  great big book of lists  challenge for this week, some of the things that I presently wish for, might be daydreams, but, I so love daydreaming.

I wish that I could breeze through editing my manuscript so that I can move on to the next stage. Editing is not as much fun as writing the rough manuscript.

I wish I could get better toe-hold of my health/weight. I know that I can do better than I am doing right now.

For no specific reasons, these two cities have been on my mind: Vancouver and San Francisco. They have always sounded very posh to my ears and out of the long list of places that I would love to visit, thoughts of these two are dangling in my head.

I wish that I would be able to start my authors blog soon, but then again, that is tied to number 1.

I wish to put my short stories together, dust them up and publish them. *Sigh* There is so much to do.

I wish that I could continue with my piano lessons, but over here in Dubai, things tend to cost an arm and a leg, so I can’t afford that right now :/

I am holding my cap out for a Mediterranean cruise or a repeat tour of Europe by train.

My wish for each day of 2016, is to remain at peace within myself and give the best of myself for each day in achieving my goals.

This thought is rather a far-fetched thought, but a wish that seats deeply in my heart. Sometimes, I am scared at the rapid rate of my children’s growth and other than taking as many photos as possible, as well as trying to appreciate my time with them as much as I can, I wish there is a way to encapsulate these memories, so that even when I am very old, I will remember. If you have an idea how, please do share 🙂

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Poetry/Poems · The Daily Post

If I Was Set Free…

jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

Super powers are certainly lovely to have, if such possibilities exist, however, I doubt very much if I can have those kind of super powers that would make me appear and disappear at will, besides, I am not sure I am keen on the connotation that this power might be used for negative endeavours.1452698473919[1]

I think I am far too gregarious to appear and disappear. In my language, my mother would call me “the one person, who is welcomed like a crowd of multiple people,” and my love for life around me, almost makes it impossible for me to sneak around.

Even if I had the luck to possess such skills, my reverberating energy would definitely alert those that I am trying to hide or seek from.

That said, I do think it would be lovely to possess the super-powers of a very convincing tongue; so that when I get to sit down with an agent/publisher, I would look them straight in the eyes, wearing my heart on my sleeves, I would tell them my writing thoughts and they would simply nod and nod.

They will have an auction war over my works and sign a fat check, sending me on my merry way to go and hammer out some more words. That’s my dream of super right now.

If I had the wings of a cooing dove,

Soft and gentle I will perch on your cove,

I will coo into your listening ears,

Understanding your sighs and your tears.

If I had the sweet tweet of a Nightingale,

Enthralled would you be with my tales,

You will let me out of my cage,

So that I may soar through the glades,

Tweeting high and free in the blue skies landscape.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post Prompt Now You See Me, Now You Don’t.

You have a secret superpower: the ability to appear and disappear at will. When and where will you use this new superpower? Tell us a story.