LINDA JOY WALDER has written poetry in her mind since childhood. Now, the time has arrived for her to share her creations with a debut collection of poems, deeply rooted in a lifetime of magical and mournful circumstances.
As the Founder and Director of a trailblazing not-for-profit organization, Linda has led the global community for the past 20 years in accepting, valuing, and supporting the diversity of adults diagnosed with Autism. Linda resides in Charleston, South Carolina, along with her beloved family of human and furry beings.
An Excerpt of Running Naked in the Snow:
“You can never get your old life back.
It is gone.
It is ghosts
Dancing in the darkness of your mind
Or morning light shining upon your heart.”
Describe your book?
Running Naked in the Snow, published by Free Verse Press (2021), is the debut collection of poems by Linda Joy Walder.
The poet describes her work as, “ ‘word paintings’, deeply rooted in a lifetime of magical and mournful circumstances.” Marcus Amaker, the Poet Laureate of Charleston, South Carolina, an Academy of American Poets Fellow, and musician, who was responsible for publishing Walder’s collection, says that readers of the book will “experience a wildly creative book from a writer who has confidence in what makes her unique. Running Naked in the Snow gives you short Haiku poems about seasons, rhythm word experiments, gentle pieces about family, and more,” Amaker adds. “Such radical candor invites the reader to feel and reflect deeply,” says Aiken, South Carolina, award-winning poet and novelist, Evelyn Berry.
What do you hope other people will take away from reading your book?
As a poet, I hope that an image or emotion portrayed will evoke a soulful connection with the reader/participant. (I feel that readers are participants in the experience of each poem because they bring their own journey to the piece.) Poetry is a unique form of expression because it is precise and concise as compared to the prose of a novel; therefore, one can dwell immediately or endlessly in a poem. I hope that those who have not engaged in reading poetry since childhood will be inspired to read and enjoy poetry throughout their adult lives.
Who are your favorite poets?
Two of my favorite poets are Edna St. Vincent Millay and Mary Oliver for their lyrical mastery in portraying the natural world. I admire the work of Langston Hughes because it is filled with inspiring ideas and hope. Some of the contemporary poems I have recently enjoyed include: “Hammond B3 Organ Cistern,” by Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and “The Moment I Saw A Pelican Devour,” by Paige Lewis because their poems are witty and thought-provoking.
What does literary success look like to you?
Literary success for me is the joy of having my words resonate with the reader/participant bringing them new ways to imagine the world and their own life.
How can our readers get a copy of your book?
Running Naked in the Snow is available on Amazon .
What is the best way for our readers to connect with you?
To find out more about Linda Joy Walder, visit her website, LindaJWalderC and follow Linda on Instagram @lindajwalderc .
