Sea Pony Books has announced the release of A Dance of Birds: Poetry and Paper Collage, a captivating new picture book that invites young readers to discover the beauty, diversity, and wonder of birds through lyrical poetry and handcrafted tissue paper artwork. The book features original text by author and publisher Angela Blair and vibrant tissue paper collage illustrations by naturalist artist Sherri Kay Linnemeyer.

A Dance of Birds is a unique artistic picture book that explores the wide world of birds with childlike fascination. Fine tissue-paper collage illustrations bring colorful birds to life with a delightful message for young children.

Collaborating with Sherri Kay Linnemeyer was a dream come true for both of us! We worked seamlessly together over the course of a year, sharing a passion for birds and art, and created a sweet picture book with bright, cheerful visuals, brimming with the integrity of original artwork and positive messages that make kids smile. And it was fun! Writing my first novel was a deeply fulfilling experience on a personal level, but when the creative process is shared, the joy upon completion is exponential! This collaboration broke new ground for Sea Pony Books and raised the bar for future projects. I am forever grateful for the enthusiasm, the work ethic, and the talent of Sherri Linnemeyer. She is truly one-of-a-kind, and I adore her.

When the announcement that a new community radio station was being formed here in the small town where I live, I jumped at the chance to join the broadcasting class with hopes of becoming a volunteer DJ. The class was fun, and there it was in a flash: my handle. I would be The Dove. I have been on the air for a year and a half now, every Sunday morning at 11:00 on KBZR.org and on 89.9 FM locally. It has become my refuge as I play an eclectic setlist ranging from indie pop & soul to international dance grooves to music from regions of Africa, South America, and the Middle East, and gems from every nook and cranny of this big, beautiful planet I can find. I like discovering little anecdotes about the musicians and facts about the recordings to relay to my audience.

I have learned that the dedication it takes to complete a manuscript is repaid with results that have more power than initially conceived. When I first started writing Sun Kissed & Salted, I knew I would finish it somehow, but completion brought more rewards in the form of a satisfaction I had never known before. All the effort, all the struggle, and all the unknowns that lie before me were part of the process of discovering that I had what it took to succeed at a lifelong dream. I had become an author. That word, a new form of identification, thrilled me. It boosted my sense of accomplishment to a level I had always desired but had once thought insurmountable. I climbed and climbed until I reached the top, or “the end,” and because I wanted to share it with the world, I published it after forming my own company, Sea Pony Books. 

My life has been extreme, to say the least, and now, rowing my own boat on tranquil waters is a relief. I am no longer hitchhiking or riding someone else’s coattails. Coming into my own in my 50s has released the creative juices I knew I had all along. My creative fountain was suppressed by low self-esteem, confusion, and regret. Ultimately, freedom from the restraints of guilt and shame allowed me the confidence to pursue the dream I had always had of becoming an author.