ZLS’s had it’s 1st of the year Poetry Event on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Downbeat Jazz Cafe, located downtown Albany, NY. Our many thanks to the poets, observers as well as a few of the following businesses for making this event a great event:

Kaybond Enterprises

Downbeat Jazz Cafe

Hollywood Hustle TV

Citizens Bank

Hudson Valley Community College

AJEMM Brothers Greeting Card Company

College of Saint Rose

Urban Guerilla Theatre

DJ Dillon DJ Services

Cash Central

just to name a few of the companies there who helped us out by donating their time, money and services….

We could go on and on naming all the companies that donated and participated in making this event a great success but instead we’ll say-Thank You.

We look forward to the next event, February 20, 2010-7pm-9pm at Larks Tavern.

We look forward to seeing you all there and thanks again!

ZLS Publishing

As writers we get tips everyday but these are the most important tips you’ll ever need.

1. If you write everyday, you’ll get better everyday.
2. If it’s boring to you, it’s boring to your reader.
3. Get a writing routine and stick to it.
4. Poetry does NOT have to rhyme. Poetry does NOT have to rhyme.
5. Resist stereotypes, in real life and in your writing.
6.Writers read. Writers read a lot. Writers read all the time.
7. Make lists of your favorite words, books, places and things.
8. There always doesn’t have to be a moral to the story.
9. Always bring your notebook. Always bring your pen.
10. Go for walks. Dance. Plant flowers. Clean your house. Write about it.
11. Don’t settle on just one style. Try something new.
12. Learn to tell both sides of the story.
NOW DO YOURSELF, PAPER, AND THE PEN A FAVOR AND GO WRITE SOMETHING.

ZLS Publishing, LLC-Albany’s # 1 Publishing Company Presents:

A Spoken Word/Written Word Special Just for Poets!

Publisher and Recording Studio: ZLS Publishing, LLC & MP Duplicators

Author: You the Poet

Are you a poet? Do you do spoken word? Have you been looking for an opportunity to publish your work or just get more exposure? Have you ever been to a poetry slam or reading and wished you had a book or a CD of your work to sell to those who love your work?

NO NEED TO WISH OR WANT ANY LONGER!

*Poems Published by Local Publishing Co. *Professionally Record your Poetry on CD

*Sell CD and books at poetry readings, slams, etc. *Ability to show you’ve been published

*Give CD’s, books out as holiday gifts or at corporate events

The Poetic Details: $500

Music Benefits

Local-High Quality Professional Recording Studio

2 Hours of Recording Studio Time

Master CD plus 9 copies

Choice of background music

Book Benefits

10 copies of professionally published book-minimum 48 pages-(Groups-12 poems each for group of 4)

35% book royalty rate if book ordered from ZLS website-20% if you want book placed on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles.com Keep all rights to your book! & Bi-monthly royalties paid!

Basic Book Cover Template

Optional Offers

Customized CD and Book Cover-$85

Additional recording studio time-$60 per hour

Each additional CD after 10 CD’s=$4.00, Books after 10: $6.00

Note: Offer for Package Deal ONLY! Unable to pick and choose benefits.

Group Rates

Group of 2:

$250 per poet=24 pages of poetry or more, 5 CD’s each, 5 books each, individual choices of background music, book royalties divided by two.

Group of 3:

$167 per poet=16 pages of poetry or more, 3 CD’s each, 3 books each, individual choices of background music, book royalties divided by three. Master CD, extra book to be decided by group.

Group of 4:

$125 per poet=12 pages of poetry or more, 2CD’s each, 2 books each, individual choices of background music, book royalties divided by four. Master CD, extra book to be decided by group.

Forms of Payment Accepted:

Cash Money Order

Certified Check PayPal-Credit Cards Accepted

Personal checks not accepted

Business Checks-Please note: There is a $50 bounced check fee for all businesses.

Who to contact: Lishone’Bowsky, 518-265-5926

www.zlspublishing.com

www.mpduplicators.com

ZLS Book Review:
Drowning in a Mother’s Womb
Author: Ciara L. Anderson
Pages: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-1-60643-133-7
Loyal Publishing
www.loyalpublishing.org
List Price: $14.95

Reviewer: Lishone’ Bowsky, ZLS Publishing, LLC

“When your father and mother forsake you, then the Lord will take you up… Psalm 27:10″

Will he? Does he?

This is the question that runs through one’s mind as they sit and read the life story of Ciara L. Anderson, a.k.a. Rain. Having decided to commit suicide but failed, Rain ends up talking to a psychologist who threatens to have her committed if she doesn’t go into explaining why she tried to take her own life. While, Rain would love nothing more than to stay silent or write her problems down, she is forced to open up about a childhood that isn’t, but really is, her life story after the police find a book they believe was written by Rain.

The character Rain, goes on to describe how her family moved every few months, her mother’s gambling addiction, her mothers abuse towards her and the favortism showed between her and her sisters. It goes into details about a rape as well as an attempted rape due to the hands of her mother’s stupidity. It details domestic violence that no child should ever have to see. It details her mothers constant battle and somewhat success to ruin her child’s life because she felt hers was ruined by the dead-beat-dad. It details her mother’s choosing her man over her children, time and time again.

There are so many issues in this book, both good and bad. Some which, make you question your religion if you are religious or the existence of God if you are an athesis. The bad include: mothers choosing men over their children; physical, mental, sexual and emotional abuse; suicide; child abuse; neglect; psychosis; single parenting; domestic violence; the flaws in both the police and foster care system; homelessness; drugs; drug addiction; murder; manipulation, and gangs. The good issues include: the strength of Rain who seems very resilient despite her homelife; the love and strength of family support and the love and generosity of complete strangers.

Written like a fiction book, the genre is actually non-fiction/psychology/abuse/self-help. The way it is written is part of the problem with this book. It reads like an Urban-Fiction novel, with graphic detail of a life that television shows such as the HBO Show-The Wire, do no justice too. It also ends like a fiction novel as it has you on the edge of your seat, waiting for a continuation. It states at the beginning of the novel, that the author will continue her story with more books. This is something not really seen in non-fiction books.

Usually, non-fiction books get straight to the point, while this book takes us on a sort-of-roller coaster ride to her life’s story. Maybe, this is how the author wanted it. She wanted to take her time in building an understanding of her life’s story. Her goal was to inspire others who have been through similiar situations or who may one day go through a similiar situation. I’d say that she accomplished this, as anyone who reads it will be inspired. Having grown up in the NYC Foster Care system, I can relate to the story on a lot of levels. I am inspired by her resilience, as I often am, when I meet or read about other foster care success stories such as mine. She choose not to be a stastic and to fight back, which is never an easy thing to do.

The other issue with this book is the beginning of certain chapters start with poetry. Again, not something seen in a non-fiction book. Some of the poems were good, others I didn’t particularly care for.  This book needs to be recategorized as a fiction book as it really isn’t a non-fiction book. Drowning in a Mother’s Womb is definitely a page turner despite it’s flaws, which by the way include the book cover which I’m really not a fan of, but I get the point. I do like the book title as I found it intriguing. The book flows very well as there are just the right amount of detail, conversations go well, the grammar is decent despite the slang and there’s a climatic ending. 

When your father and mother forsake you, then the Lord will take you up…Psalm 27:10″

Will he? Does he?

It definitely looks that way for Rain.

I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars!

New poem added-Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep-Click on the poetry page either on your right or up above. It will take you to the latest poetry posted.

www.zlspublishing.com