Curated collection of spontaneous essays, creative explorations, prompt responses, political takes, minority highlights, cultural reflectons, spirituality, indie and small business shout-outs, and more.
Explore Because I Was Prompted, Axton’s unique poetry prompt journal. Here he blends 17 poems with the creative prompts used to create them. To inspire writers, poets, and creatives. Perfect for deepening your craft and sparking new ideas.
About This Prompt Journal
This collection was curated from Axton’s personal prompts, and others he collected across Instagram, Pinterest, and other creative spaces. Writers, poets, and creatives can use these to build ideas, create new works, or add to Axton’s pieces. Making this e-journal both a tool and a space for collaboration.
Why You’ll Love This Collection
Inspiration for Writers and Poets: Each prompt pairs with a poem to spark your imagination.
Creative Reflection: Engage with your memories, emotions, and personal stories.
Flexibility: Use prompts to create extensions of Axton’s work, entirely original pieces, or part of a future series.
Skill Building: Strengthen your creative voice through guided practice.
How to Access Because I Was Prompted
You can read or purchase this collection on multiple platforms for maximum accessibility.
If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?
My billboard would read:
Publishing, Poetry, Paganism, and People – The Poeaxtry Prism Planet.”
Read more below to see the full story as to why…
Witchcraft and spirituality do not live in perfect aesthetics or mass-produced one size fits all spell bags. It lives where people are actually doing the work. Showing up in kitchens, backyards, workbenches, forests, streams and quiet moments where you can still feel the old world coming through.
Poeaxtry is where the people are. This brand and motto exist at the intersection of paganism, queer identity, advocacy spirituality, handmade tools, and real-world practice to name just a few. Nothing here is meant to be distant, polished, or untouchable. It’s meant to be used, held, worked with, and questioned.
This space is rooted in paganism, shaped by personal experience, and expressed through divination, ritual services, and objects made by hand with purpose.
Heathen or person from a rural person has a new meaning in recent years.
What Paganism Actually Is
Paganism is not one religion, and it has never been a single organized system. Historically and in modern practice, paganism is used to refer to a wide range of spiritual paths. These paths are usually nature-based, earth-honoring, and often inspired by pre-Christian traditions.
Modern paganism is usually experiential rather than dogmatic. People build their practice through relationship with land, seasons, ancestors, symbols, and personal intuition. There is no universal rulebook and no requirement to worship a specific deity.
That flexibility is not a flaw. It is the point.
Paganism shows up in Poeaxtry and the Prism, through intention, honoring nature, creation, ritual, divination, the way each item or service is created, and layered into digital and physical literature collections as well. My work is grounded, practical, and personal. Never performative.
Paganism and Wicca Are Not the Same Thing
This is one of the most misunderstood topics, so it matters to be clear.
Wicca is a specific religion that developed in the mid-20th century, drawing from ceremonial magic, folklore, and older pagan imagery. It has defined rituals, ethical frameworks, and religious structure.
In early Wiccan practice, this rule was often a matter of social etiquette in leu of cosmic law. If a witch did you a favor, you’d be socially tied to return it three times. Pagans argue that turning this into a karmic law or seemingly Christianity related was a later reinterpretation meant to give Wicca a structured, “acceptable” morality.
Christian Morals?
Prominent pagan people gave saidthat Gerald Gardner would invented “ancient” laws to manage coven issues and improve his PR. Non-Wiccan pagans, like myself, and some other believers in the craft feel a universal “law” where actions return exactly threefold… is an oversimplification. Some even see it as a guideline to scare “newbies” into a “non-harmful” practices. This one’s gonna make some people mad, and I’m not sorry about it. The law of three feels like an attempt to make Christians and other people who believe in Abrahamic religions less scared of them.
Paganism the Umbrella term
Just small side note on the fact that I have two identifiers that are umbrella terms, and that’s kinda cool if you think about it like I do.
Paganism is the larger umbrella. Wicca exists within, that being said paganism itself contains more layers than your favorite cake. A good amount of paths that have nothing to do with Wicca at all.
Some pagans work with deities, others don’t. Practicing Pagans magick. Seasonal, ritual or even ancestral reverence. Eclectic, and Celtic Pagans. Don’t forget Norse, Heathenry, and Hellenism. Kemeticism, an ancient Egyptian form of paganism, and Religio Romana. Yes the Roman’s had a paganism based belief system as well!
There’s Druidry, whose focused is nature, poetry, and divine inspiration (Awen), though this is typically less spell work more scholar. This isn’t the complete list.
Poeaxtry is pagan-rooted but not Wiccan. I am more of an Eclectic Pagan if I had to choose. We choose our own path, a curated list of what works for us, from (ethical, not closed) traditions. You can runes, pendulums, smudging herb sticks you dry yourself, let’s use something other than white sage please.
White Sage is native to Southern California and is sacred to the Chumash, Tongva, and Gabrieleno, indigenous tribes of that region.
Indigenous people were legally banned from practicing their own religions, this included burning sage for decades. It is very disrespectful for their very oppressors to now sell it. Then use it as a trend while the Chumash, Tongva, and Gabrieleno, tribes still struggle for land and rights.
Tell me in the comments where your practice live? The trees? A seat at your kitchen table?
Or
You could share one belief or practice you’ve reclaimed on your own terms.
Any and all engagement & community building welcome!
Tarot and Pendulum Readings
Divination is not about predicting an unchangeable future. Through time, tarot and pendulum work have been tools for reflection, clarity, and energetic awareness.
Tarot readings offered through Poeaxtry focus on helping people understand patterns, choices, and influences already present in their lives. The cards do not make decisions for anyone. They create a conversation.
Pendulum readings are simpler and more direct. They are often used for energetic checking, alignment, or focused yes-or-no questions. I have custom boards for more in-depth responses and questions. For people who want clarity without overwhelm.
These services are offered as support tools, not as definitive guides or fixes and NEVER as medical information.
Spell Jars and Spell Bags
Spell jars and spell bags are symbolic containers, holding intention, focus, and material correspondence. They do not replace personal effort or responsibility.
Each piece created at Poeaxtry by Axton is assembled intentionally, using organic herbs and natural materials whenever possible. That is handcrafted in small batches, based on vibe. They are meant to be worked with, carried, placed, or incorporated into personal ritual.
They are reminders and anchors, not promises.
Ritual Services and Spiritual Work
Rituals offered by Axton through Poeaxtry are grounded in purpose with intention. These can include personal rituals, seasonal observances, or energy-focused work designed to help people mark transitions, release stagnation, or set intention.
The goal is to create something meaningful and usable for real life.
Handmade Tools and Body Work
Hand-whittled wands are shaped by the wood itself. Grain, knots, and natural form guide the process. Each wand is made slowly and deliberately, not carved into uniform shapes. Each wand base is foraged, and whittled, and crafted by me alone.
Natural body sprays are crafted with botanical ingredients and intended for grounding, energetic refresh, or ritual use. They are not overloaded with synthetic fragrance or filler.
Organic herbal tinctures are prepared using traditional methods and plant knowledge. These are not trend products. They are rooted in respect for the plants themselves and the people who use them.
Stone Work and Found Creations
Stones are collected, cleaned, sliced, or polished using tumblers or hand tools, then transformed into something new. Some are functional. Some are symbolic. Some are simply meant to make people smile.
The Stony Homies exist for that exact reason. Spiritual work does not need to be humorless to be sincere.
Wreaths and Earth-Based Art
Crystal, bone, seasonal, vibe based wreaths and nature-based creations honor cycles, thresholds, and change. Materials are chosen with awareness of season and environment whenever possible. These pieces are not meant to last forever. Their impermanence is part of their meaning.
Why Poeaxtry Exists in Paganism
Poeaxtry exists because spirituality should be lived, not staged.
At Poeaxtry the work is handmade, imperfect, intentional, and grounded. It honors pagan roots without pretending there is only one correct way to practice. It leaves room for curiosity, humor, and personal meaning.
Poeaxtry is where the people are because that is where real magic lives.
Through tarot, ritual services, handmade tools, herbal work, stone creations, and earth-based art, Poeaxtry supports people who walk their own spiritual path without needing permission or polish.
This is living practice. Made by hand. Used by real people.
Share this with someone who’s still trying to untangle Paganism from the stereotypes.
Or
With someone who is untangling Paganism from Propaganda
Poeaxtry creations! Handmade items, digital collections, Tarot & Pendulum Readings, and more. Physical items only on Etsy! Readings only on Pay-hip/Gumroad. Digital collections on all three as well as kindle/amazon and Google!
Poeaxtry_ began as poetry, grew into ritual craft, lapidary art, and community care. All layered with me, Ax (me), at the core of every creation.
The Story Behind Poeaxtry_
Poeaxtry_ started as an idea, a name, a whisper. In 2022, my sister, my friend Dea, and I were brainstorming branding names. Just spit-balling, on snapchat what we thought would eventually be my poetry brand. I wanted a name that carried my voice, experiences, and survival. We landed on Poeaxtry_. Poetry with Ax (me) intertwined. A simple truth that has only rung more true with time.
At first, it was just supposed to be for my poetry collections. Explore themes like (but not limited to): queerness, recovery, identity, and grief. But Poeaxtry_ is stubborn, and begged for more.
From Poetry to Full Creative Practice
Now, Poeaxtry_ encompasses not only my poetry, but handmade lapidary art and rock-hounded creations. Stones I’ve tumbled, polished, sliced for lapidary, slabs that hold texture and story. Ritual tools, wands, spell jars, pendulums, tarot readings, natural sprays, tinctures. Fossil jars and specimens that whisper the histories of the earth. Wreaths, wind chimes, altar decor, and other hand-crafted decor. Journals, zines, and collaborative publishing for marginalized voices. Every piece, every poem, every creation is layered with me, my hands, my heart, my history.
Even as it grew, the Poeaxtry_ branding name still fit like it was made for this life. Poetry, craft, ritual, and community all intertwined. Each item, poem, ritual is a form of poetry itself. A record of what it means to live, survive, create, and witness.
While you’re here, think about your own connection to poetry and craft. What do you create that carries you in it?
A journal entry that tells your story? A handmade object you poured meaning into? A curated ritual, spell, or piece of art you crafted. A poem or reflection that sits in your chest.
Comment below and share what feels most like you. I always find joy when I am able to see how art lives in other bodies.
Poeaxtry_ is about more than what you see in any online shop. It’s about presence, survival, ritual, and care. Not only for myself, but for community. It’s about only leaving traces when ethical. It is a whisper. A chill. a silent look or a shared moment. Standing as proof that you exist at this moment, and that you matter.
Share this post with someone who needs a little creative or spiritual inspiration today. Someone who wants to see poetry and art that live. Stones that speak. Crystals the cry. Rituals that are reminiscent of the care used to create them. Let them know Poeaxtry_ is a space that holds beauty, complexity, and truth.
Check out Poeaxtry_ shops, portfolio, & internal links
Visit Poeaxtry and the Prism’s Archive Cheat Sheet. Discover all post categories, with a blurb and link to full post archive for each. Then find every post in that category in chronological order.
Beginnings and Endings is my first self-published poetry collection. A staggering 93 poem journey through the sparks, mess, and echoes of relationships. From first connection to final silence, these poems hold space for hope, hurt, and unapologetic vulnerability.
Whether it’s a love that healed, or one that hallowed. These poetic works explore the real, bittersweet truths that live inside us all. Written from a transgender man’s perspective, while capturing beginnings, messy middles, and the inevitable endings with honesty and grit.
Themes and What to Expect
Relationships: first spark, deep connection, heartbreak, reconciliation
Emotional journey: hope, grief, self-discovery, reflection, mental health
What began as Poeaxtry_, my personal artistic persona and small business. This space was for self-published e-books rough Google Doc formatted, rockhounded items, and spiritual things. It turned into the Poetry Prism, a publishing arm and community centered on poetry. Though, over time, it became a home for indie poets as well as authors, artists, small businesses, and more.
Does the name “Poetry Prism” really fit what we do now? We are clearly not just poetry anymore and not just words on the pages. The Prism Publishing has been a platform for all indie creators, artists, writers, musicians, and small businesses for awhile. But to reflect this evolution and to make our intentions and community more clear, we are dropping the word “Poetry.” The Prism now stands as an inclusive, expansive hub: one name, one era, one identity. So Poeaxtry & The Prism is no longer just for short that’s the form fitting identity. Though the publishing based email will remain poeaxtryspoetryprism@gmail.com at least for the time.
A New Era of Collaboration
Our collaborative efforts are evolving too. Gone are the days of simple community PDFs, themed collections, that are free-read by download. Now, we’re moving toward digital anthologies: quarterly curated collections featuring minority creators and allied contributors. With permission from all prior themed individual persons submitting work to continue with the new model. We are transitioning those early submissions into this new format. Just moving forward, no theme restrictions either!
Each person may submit up to:
10 poems 10 digital art pieces or high-resolution photographs, 2 essays, 2 prose works from minority creators.
Allied submissions are welcome at half that cap above. Free small-business ads spots celebrating creators and projects, Curated resources for indie publishers, artists, and small business owners.
Important Dates:
The first submission period for ads, poetry, art, prose, and essays is open until February 12, 2026. This allows time to curate, edit, promote, and release the inaugural quarterly.
A New Era of E-Books
E-books have traditionally followed seasons of life, chronicling moments and collections as they unfolded. Going forward, e-books will be curated around themes now as well as seasons of life:
“The Man Who Was Never Enough and Somehow Too Much: an anthology exploring BPD and mental health.” Is a project for a themed e-book I have in the works.
I.I.A.S.D.: the first free collection, explored 13 poems written on the day the election results were announced in 2024. To continue this free series I.I.A.S.D. Volume Two: 2025, Year of Fear- A Political Poetry Collection.” This one will explore poems of policy, advocacy, and social change. This collection was originally drafted as “It is a Sad Year.” Though, the political collection will still show the expansion over the year following Election Day. It captures my original poetic reflections on politics, society, and lived experience.
These thematic collections ensure that every release is intentional, cohesive, and resonant. These collections provide context for the work. They also highlight perspectives and what future generations will call historical issues that matter.
What This Means for You
The Prism is now:
One unified brand, dropping “Poetry” for clarity and inclusion. A hub for all indie creatives, with poetry still at its heart, but no longer its only focus. A gallery of meaningful digital themed e-books to go with the seasonal anthologies. A space for collaboration, spotlighting, and resources for marginalized voices, allies, and indie creators alike.
This is our new era. A Prism shining light on voices, art, words, and projects that deserve attention—without confusion, without limits.
Welcome to the next chapter.
Forms
Submit to the Quarterly by emailing poeaxtryspoetryprism@gmail.com or form
Submit to Indie Spotlights/Shelf Space by emailing Poeaxtry@gmail.com or form
At Poeaxtry_, I like to say that one of our mottos is “Poeaxtry_, where the people are.” But did I ever explain what that actually boils down to?
Simply put: I don’t want to force anyone to find me. I want people who might be interested in reading, submitting, creating, or even just engaging with the emotional, hiking, or other free content I share, to discover me naturally and connect in their own way.
That’s why I post the digital creations, and photos or videos I capture with my phone across social platforms. These posts share the highlights in text on the visual media, summaries in the captions, and links to read more if interested on my website. This site holds the “meat and potatoes,” also known as the full content. This leaves my work accessible to all fully in one place that doesn’t anyone to create an account to view. However subscribers to the website do receive a reward, but I’m probably getting ahead of myself. We’ll get all of that and more soon!
Quality is Key
There’s a difference between followers and believers, between noise and signal, between people who swipe and people who stay. Subscribers mean nothing when the numbers aren’t noticing or notifying. Numbers are nothing if they aren’t the people you resonate with.
This post is a deep dive into the kinds of creators, readers, contributors, critics and community members who thrive at Poeaxtry_ and The Poetry Prism. I’m including a small reminder of our ethos that holds it all together.
This isn’t about chasing numbers or chasing dopamine. It’s about quality, intention, and connection.
Who Thrives Here?
Readers Who Connect.
People who may read something more than once to see what else is hiding.
They look for depth over new discovery, connection over content trends.
They pause, reflect, and engage with work that might challenge societies views or refuse pretend peacefulness.
Creators Who Make With Purpose
Not hobbyists. Not algorithm chasers.
They craft poems like prayers, build zines like love letters, or publish work that has purpose.
These creators make not for only applause, but because their work demands to hold space.
Marginalized Voices & Intersectional Art
We built this space because such spaces were scarce:
LGBTQ+ voices, Disabled creatives, Neurodivergent makers, people in recovery, creators of color, and other communities America keeps attacking.
This is visibility with intention, support with structure, and room without hierarchy.
Contributors & Collaborators Who Grow Together
This is a working ecosystem, not a pond of competitors.
Here, people:
Give and receive constructive feedback, look at success as mutual elevation, respect identities, collaborate while creating creative comrades, compete in creative showdowns, and much more.
Algorithm chasing creators who aren’t the same as creative people they are much different.
If your goal is to rage bait or chase clicks, this space isn’t for you.
We value substance over fake.
The “I’m above you” energy? Not going to fly here.
Harm, Discrimination, Prejudice
We do not tolerate dehumanizing behavior.
Bigotry or discrimination that is based on race, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, or any other immutable identity ends your collaboration here immediately.
This is a safe creative community no slut shaming, body shaming, or politics. Transgender identity isn’t politics if you think so I don’t think you need me to tell me shit,
poeaxtry’s website (updated first) Shared to mainstream & emerging social platforms Direct community spaces Publishing & sales: Amazon/Kindle, Google Play Books, Etsy, Gumroad, Payhip
At Poeaxtry_ we are not tied to a single platform, always expanding.
Community Spaces & Engagement
I’m building safe, collaborative spaces for writers, artists, and makers:
Discord with Collaborative threads, competitions, open mic nights, custom roles for interactions, and more. Feedback invited, not forced; silence allowed. Rest & presence valued over performance always.
Publishing & Opportunities
Poeaxtry’s Poetry Prism offers:
Free publishing for minority indie creators: poetry, prose, visual art, mixed media, experimental work and Indie spotlights for indie creatives and small businesses Collaborative projects, resource sharing, critique circles
2026 Initiatives
Our new Quarterly digital magazine with open submissions, my own features, resource guides, advice sections addressing current issues, and open budget friendly calls for submissions.
Also be looking for virtual and local open mic nights
This is the ecosystem for those who thrive here creating, collaborating, connecting, and building together.
Values Hold Poeaxtry_ Together
Integrity, respect, care.
Bigotry, discrimination, or harm ends collaboration immediately.
We realistically can’t do full vetting or background checks but we know the truth surfaces naturally. Then we will act accordingly.
This isn’t a growth strategy.
This is a creative home for people who:
Read meaningfully, create with care, connect generously, and Build community over content creating trend climbing.
Your voice matters here. So if it’s genuine, grounded, and human come connect !
Alexander Limarev, multidisciplinary artist, mail art artist, poet, visual poet and curator from Russia/Siberia. Participated in more than 1000 international projects and exhibitions. His artworks are part of private and museum collections of 78 countries.
His artworks as well as poetry have been featured in various online and print publications including BUKOWSKI ERASURE POETRY ANTHOLOGY (Silver Birch Press), SUPERPRESENT: A MAGAZINE OF THE ARTS, FLORA FICTION LITERARY MAGAZINE, HOME PLANET NEWS, NEW FEATHERS ANTHOLOGY, ANTI-HEROIN CHIC, ROUTE 7 REVIEW, UNLOST: journal of found poetry & art, #RANGER MAGAZINE, MAINTENANT etc.
Alexander Limarev is the 2024 Creatives Flash Nonfiction Contest winner in the visual art category at the Fort William Mountain Festival – Scotland; 2026 Best of the Net Anthology Nomination in the visual art category – USA.
How art is viewed
Artwork as viewed by Alexander Limarev is the way to speculate upon and explain to yourself such universal existential problems as a person’s life, double standards and their influence on individuals, public loneliness, social impotence, search of God, resistance to Evil. He thinks of his artwork as inner monologues developing over a particular thought or event and thus resembling nonsense, stream of consciousness in visual art, based on paradox, absurd, broken causative-consecutive and chronological connections, reflecting discrepancy, injustice of the outer reality. However, decorative artworks are a happy exception.
Becoming an artist
Becoming a visual artist came naturally, as creative process was an integral part of my life. It was not just a desire for self-expression, but also an attempt to understand how the world around me was structured. I sought the hidden essence of things. Art became my resistance to conventions and the dull, relentless pressure of society, which emphasized the importance of “practical and useful” professions. My desire to exist outside the system intensified as I learned about the fates of Soviet dissident artists who fought for the right to free expression. I began to understand that art is not just about creating artistic objects, but a powerful tool for exploring the human soul, society, and life itself, and that visual art is my personal form of protest against the constraints imposed by an indifferent and aggressive majority.
I chose this path to create a space where I could freely explore and transform the surrounding reality. My creativity became a way to delve into phenomena that are difficult to grasp through rational thought. I instinctively felt that creativity was a way to understand myself and the world around me.
Thus, I formed as a visual artist, not because of circumstances, but in spite of them. Art became an existential escape from false reality and an opportunity to glimpse into the depths of the human soul. I chose this path to dissolve the boundaries of perception and to show that even under strict censorship and limitations, one can find freedom in creativity
Links
It is very easy to find information about me on the Internet. Just type “Alexander Limarev” into any browser or search engine. Since 2012, my work is represented quite extensively, and there may be some earlier pieces as well. I currently do not have full access to this information.
Email poeaxtry@gmail.com for your own creative spotlight! And check back for a more in depth creative look into Alexander Limarev!
Shifting the Prism’s Collaborations Into a Quarterly Publication
The why behind Collaborations
I launched community collabs with one goal to create publications for marginalized voices to be heard. (I wanted to help their art be seen too, of course, and their business be found.) To be read by others would then be able to find voices similar to their own. Themed calls gave structure, that I thought would help. However, I like art when the creator feels compelled to create it, not when it’s created per a submission theme.
Why I’m Changing the Model
It became clear that themes sometimes act as invisible boundaries. They shaped not only what people created, but who felt comfortable submitting. Themes feel a bit too much like gatekeepers, for my comfort. Hear me out, you had to fit the art, poem, or essay in like a key based on theme.
That contradicts who I am or whom I want to be. I want this space to belong to the creators themselves. I want to invite people to bring what’s real. What’s needed, even if it doesn’t fit.
So I decided: no more themes. Instead, I’m opening Poeaxtry up to open‑theme quarterly magazines. I was already planning a Quarterly & this fits the bill.
Any suggestions on names? Guesses welcome!
This change isn’t a retreat. It’s expansion. By removing themes, the door stays open wider for more voices, more art, more perspectives. By increasing frequency, I can amplify more people across time.
rights stay with creators: you keep your work. Poeaxtry curates and publishes but does not claim ownership or restrict distribution. Contributor bios, links, and photos welcome!
Free ads space to minority‑owned shops, indie authors, small businesses to support community visibility.
Digital magazine format means no forced downloads Eliminates 4 bulky PDFs a year. Always Viewable online Readers & Contributors now can share by link
2026 Quarterly Schedule
(Submission + Publication Dates may change slightly!)
Q1 2026 (First Edition)
Taking submissions: now– Feb 12, 2026
Launch: Mar 8–15, 2026
Q2 2026 (Second Edition)
Taking submissions: March 9-May 5th
Launch: Jun 5–12, 2026
Q3 2026 (Third Edition)
Taking submissions:Jun 5 – Aug 5, 2026
Sep 5–12, 2026
Q4 2026 (Fourth Edition)
Taking submissions: Sep 5 – Oct 31, 2026
Launch: Dec 5–12, 2026
Note: The first edition will include existing submissions from the original themed collabs. It will also include any new open-theme submissions received during the submission window. Future editions will be fully open‑theme. The last quarter is stretched out because of holidays, birthdays, and death days.
What This Means for Contributors & Community
You’re free to send your work when you feel ready. This includes poetry, art, essays, and prose, just like before, just no need to match a theme. The spotlights from the website will be shared in the quarterly as well. The magazine lives online, shareable by link. More frequent releases = more opportunities for visibility, community building, connection.
What Happens to the Original Themed submissions?
Their submitted work will be included in the first quarterly edition as long as they consent.
No more waiting. Just art, voices, visions.
Your Voice Matters, Always
Poeaxtry was born from a belief that the best art comes from the darkest places. That minority voices of every difference have stories and voices that matter. Lastly, to build a community for all of us to share our creations with each other and the world.
This shift isn’t a change of heart, it’s evolution. As the world shifts, as art shifts, as voices shift, we must too…
Shift.
If you’re a minority artist, an ally writer, a survivor turned storyteller. Send in your voices or visions to Poeaxtryspoetryprism@gmail.com or submit this form.
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, indie-creatives, communities, etc. send your ads to the above email or form as well!
To have a Spotlight post on the website fill out this form or email Poeaxtry@gmail.com To review ebooks and other digital items in exchange for honest reviews, use this form
Thank you for being here. Let’s start building community.
Originally from Austin Dorthy now reside outsides of Dallas. She got her start in radio while she was still an undergrad at UT. Soon after she got bit by the entertainment bug and began appearing in TV series shot locally in Austin such as ABC’s “American Crime,” a Fox Pilot for “Urban Cowboy” among others.
Dorothy developed her first TV pilot, titled “Fourth Down” and incorporated her own independent production company titled Waymaker Women to produce TV, films and media targeted towards women of color in genre. Her latest project, is a book which marks her debut into the poetry arena. She notes her favorite project was her first TV Pilot that she developed. It was so special to her because it was the first ever project that I created; holds a special place in my heart.
How “Women in Red Rooms” was birthed
Dorothy Jade is a writer, storyteller and producer so she came from the world of entertainment. She decided that she wanted to publish and the best vehicle for her was poetry. It’s raw, instinctual and it just allows her to go after depths and uncomfortable truths that she has faced in acknowledging how rage has shaped her as a woman. Dorothy specifically created “Women in Red Rooms” to confront her own rage so that she could transform it into alchemy. Rage doesn’t have to be a crutch that puts you in this freeze state. It can become positive and allow you to heal and reclaim your power, if you allow it.
Deeper meanings
For Dorothy Jade, creation is all about autonomy, transformation and representing stories that primarily reach women of color. She knew that the end goal was to always develop worlds within genre that speak to women in a way they haven’t experienced before. Media and entertainment is simply a vehicle for me to expand my imagination.
Dorothy Jade wants “Women in Red Rooms” to become a blueprint for those seeking a safe room if you will in using their rage for their transformation. You can use your anger and turn it into something meaningful, creative or healing. Rage isn’t the monster, here. You’re allowed to feel in ways that may have felt like shame at one point.
Future Plans
Dorothy is going on the road with “Women in Red Rooms” via tour as she plans to produce a documentary behind this world. She can see it growing teeth; becoming a brand beyond just poetry but film, television and animation as well.
Links to Dorothy Jade socials, website: IG, twitter, threads @dorothviade and my site will be launching soon at dorothviade.com.
Summary: Wandering alone late at night in the dark. Searching for meaning as your heart melts in your ribcage. A longing to be alive, but you’re dead and staring through a veil to experience a semblance of life. Canvas of Scars is a collection of dark poetry, short prose, and art with themes of PTSD, depression, psychosis, and other dark subjects.
At the End of Time is one of my favorite poems from the book. It was written in a spur of the moment while dissociating, so the imagery was very strong. I’d went on a walk before writing it, and I described everything I was seeing and feeling as if it were a stage play. Like everything was a set and I was on the outside of it all as an observer.
About me and why I created the book:
I’m a nonbinary trans masculine author and artist, and I’ve also spent a lot of my life struggling with various mental illnesses, including CPTSD and a panic disorder. Canvas of Scars wasn’t something that was planned, it just became what it was over time as I wrote more and more poetry privately on one of my blogs. The art in the book is also drawn by me, and they’re all pieces that were, again, not meant for publication but as vent art to help me cope. I eventually combined them all in an effort to talk honestly about severe mental illness and trauma, as well as show visually how scary things can feel. It became a part of my work as an advocate for mental health awareness, and as a way to share my own story of survival.
Future projects:
Right now, I’m juggling a few different works in progress. One of them is called The Soulless Ones, and it’s a Backrooms-inspired sci-fi that also takes inspiration from I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. It’s about four people who wake up in a strange, indoor community to find that they can’t remember their past. No one else is there, and nothing else seems to exist beyond the four walls around them. Another work in progress is the third book in my series, The Requiem Series. It’ll be the final book in the main storyline, and I’m really excited to get back to the fantasy themes of the first book; angels, demons, and a bit of a Biblical apocalypse will unfold.
