Special Addition: MNINB Blogroll

Categories are helpful, but also problematic. My next round of Not Bobbers defy the tight restraints of singular labels. In my mind, they are primarily poets even as they are adept at more than one form of writing, even as their subject matter and their biographies lend themselves to alternative groupings. Many of them have connections and friendships that pre-date the April Challenge. The more I discover, the more fluid the boundaries become. Which again to my mind means that creativity is at play here, and how bad a thing can that be? Mind you?

What will follow over the next week or so is an annotated blogroll. My space is limited, but I strive to give you a taste of what you are missing by not subscribing to these talented writers, poets, and artists.  I hope you love getting to know my fellow Not Bobbers as much as I have. Please share your thoughts here and on their blogs as well. We love feedback. Everyone of us.

Margo Roby Has traveled the world and then some, Wordgathering all the while. Her first quarter century was spent in Hong Kong and the second as a military spouse-in-tow. Her second act as her blog reflects is devoted to her inner poet. She posts three times a week with a special TGIF Freeforall, a newsletter for virtual poetry happenings which frequently mentions our next ex-pat poet of Magpie Days fame.

Jennifer Saunders Jennifer is raising her children in her husband’s native Switzerland. While much of her blog, Magpie Days: Hoarding the Shining Moments, addresses some of the joys and challenges her everyday life entails, it frequently takes the shape of poetry and poetic prompts. For some cultural exchanges and some sublime pictures of Swiss mountain-scapes as well as the more pedestrian concerns of a hockey mom, check out her blog as well as her prolific tweets, @magpiedays.

De Miller Jackson  De is the Poet-in-Chief over at Whimsygizmo. She prompts all of her visitors to take a run along the ocean spray and dig their toes into the poetry challenge du jour. Most recently responded to Lynn Daue’s challenge that has had all the Not Bobbers raffling through their bookcases for some “spine-tingling” verse using strategically placed books to create found poems. These poets have already found each other and the results are exponential poetic bliss. De invites collaboration so prepared not to just visit, but to participate. De is one of our Mommy Bobbers and a fierce Scrabble player.

Sara Vinas Cracker Jack Poet is how Sara defines her work. Metaphorically, light and salty-sweet with an unexpected gem hidden inside. But she’s also a Jack-of-All-Trades, another category renegade. Sara is a scientist and attorney, a mother and a daughter, a wife and a sister,…but visit her blog and you will find a prolific poet with a sense of fun and whimsy even as her other selves infiltrate and inform.

Janice Extrom Sheridan Is a songwriter as well as a poet. When I discovered this tidbit, my experience of her poetry gained a whole new level. That was the sound I heard humming in the back of my brain as I read. Songs are the most accessible sorts of poetry. They are clever enough to conceal their spiritual nurturing in a back beat and bass line to those who need it most and least likely to be exposed in other mediums. Writing On The Sun is Janice’s platform to bring the healing warmth of poetic epiphanies.

Kris Swanguarin In case it had escaped your notice, the Not Bobbers are an estrogen-rich group. But our guys are vibrant additions to the conversation, especially where poetry is concerned. Like Janice, Kris prides himself on the accessibility of his poems. His stomping ground is the same as that of the current Poet Laurette of the United States, working class Detroit. In other words, his work has sweat, steel and muscle, but softened by the Milk of Moonlight. He is a member of the Poetic Asides clan that includes most of the poets in this post.

Sophhey Vance aka Sarai Maravillosa Oviedo is a poet. It says as much on her FaceBook author’s page. But really words fail. Sopphey is so much more than anyone word can convey. Her blog Sophhey Says speaks to the richness and passions of her world. You will find a page for her soapbox protestings, a page for her poetry, one for her music, another for her art. As her profile pic depicts, there are many facets to our Sopphey. One of them happens to be the “Chief Editor Overlord” at On Impression Network. Submissions, anyone?

Meena Rose Muro Heavens, where to begin? I guess with a link to an excellent interview by our own Claudsy conducted two and a half years ago. A robotics engineer, globe-trotter, mother of three, speaker of 5 languages…well-established in the online poetry world. And I’ve been grousing about not having time for all this social media. Perhaps she is secretly a twin? Please don’t miss your chance to see the world Through the Eyes of Meena Rose. I would gladly subscribe to those rose-colored glasses. More stories, please.

Claudette Young Claudsy is the grande dame of this group, so I had to include her with the poets. But Claudsy has her fingers in so many literary pies, I could conceivably place her in half a dozen posts for a good fit. Most of the MNINBers claim to be “aspiring” writers. Claudsy grabs the profession writer mantle boldly. She lives her daily life as a writer, and her two blogs show not tell what a writer’s life is all about. Find her at both Claudsy’s Calliope, which reads like a series of postcards to younger writers and Claudsy’s Blog, which has a more salon feel and is an “exploration of writing’s many corners.” Trailing Inspirations she teams up with photographer, BJ Jones, to explore scenic road-trips in pictures and words. Do not pass up the comment sections. Some of the best conversations can be had there! A virtual literary salon.