New Book! Words I Dance With by Antonia Richardson

Antonia Richardson was born in Joshua Tree. She lives in Landers, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Valley with her mom, dad, and grandmother. Her constant companion is her sister. Antonia is homeschooled by her three teachers and moves between homes to learn new ways from each of her teachers. This book has taken her four years to write, and is her graduation gift to her teachers and sister.

"The winds have been powerful this year, telling new stories my sister and I are hearing and talking about. We feel the stories may be guiding us toward a new path. For now we are simply absorbing them while the wind is sharing. Thank you for taking this journey with me." - Antonia

presence

 at noon my shadow hides beneath my feet

the sun strikes my shoulder with a song

 as my dance begins I see my shadow

when I leap from boulder to boulder

Click here to read a review by Miriam Sagan

Click here to purchase ($6)

Cholla Needles: Young Writers and Artists Spring 2022!

 

Edited with Mary Cook-Rhyne of the Mojave Desert Land Trust

Featuring the work of these writers and artists who will soon be filling the bookstore shelves with new books and dreams: Albert Alameda, Jazlene Alexander, Sebastian Ayllon, Andrea Avila, Sophie Beltran, Laysha Cazares-Morales, Frania Cinco, Jameson Chappell, Daphne Cook-Rhyne, Rodin Cook-Rhyne, Manny Delgado, Jim Derry, Marie Fleming, Alberto Garcia, Danilo Gomes, Maria Gonzales, Clay Green, Kaylee Harper, Cosette Holcombe, China Jacombe, Sally Jerome, Naomi Johnson, Sarah Lynn Kalen, Charles Kennedy, Kennedy Knight, Kathryn McDonald, Kaleena Lu Martin, Anthony Manalad, Mia Medina, Charles Michaelson, David Michaelson, Ava Nash, Anna Norte, Robert North, Dominic Peders, Eva Ravada, Barbara Ridge, Lucas Ronquillo, Antonia Richards, Ollin Sanchez, Destiny Savelio, Roy Sills, Kyle Somers, Belle Taylor, Dhruti Vargue, Shirley Vernon, Zoey Ryan Amaro Vidrio, Sofia Villasenor, Zoe Wang

Click here to purchase ($5)

New Book! A Boy's Will by Robert Frost

 

Robert Frost published his first poem on November 8, 1894 in the New York Independent. The poem was My Butterfly, and is included in his first book on page 39. From 1897 to 1899 he attended Harvard College. He then spent nine years farming, and a few years teaching. In 1912 He moved to England where he had his first two books published, A Boy’s Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914). He returned to America in 1915 and bought a farm in New Hampshire. He continued to write poetry, and subsidize his income by teaching.

Click here to purchase ($5)

New Book! The Jingle Poems by Carolyn Wells

Carolyn Wells worked as a librarian. She also wrote 170 books. During the first ten years of her career, she concentrated on poetry, humor, and children's books. The Jingle Poems is a classic collection for young readers. She later began writing mystery stories which became popular and made her a household name. A sample of her fun from this collection:

Betty Botta bought some butter;

“But,” said she, “this butter’s bitter!

If I put it in my batter

It will make my batter bitter.

But a bit o’ better butter

Will but make my batter better.”

Then she bought a bit o’ butter

Better than the bitter butter,

Made her bitter batter better.

So ’twas better Betty Botta

Bought a bit o’ better butter.

Click here to purchase ($5)

 

Open Poetry Reading! March 6, 2-4 PM

 

Cholla Needles

Open Poetry Reading

Mar 6, 2022 2-4 PM

at

The Retreat Center Bookstore Stage

Bring a mask and a lawn chair for comfort!

Come early and enjoy the
Joshua Tree Retreat Center Cafe/Restaurant

located at the large red dot on the map.

There is a bookstore restroom!

Map:

New Book! Full Circle by Cynthia Anderson

A California resident and poet for over 40 years, Cynthia Anderson is the author of eleven books. Her poems have been published widely in journals and anthologies, and she has received multiple nominations for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. In 2020, she took up short-form poetry including haiku, senryu, cherita, haibun, and split sequences. Her recent work focuses on the natural world and her family history. Cynthia is co-editor of the anthology A Bird Black As the Sun: California Poets on Crows & Ravens. She makes her home in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park. Several of her books are available on Amazon: Waking Life, Now Voyager, Route, and The Missing Peace.

In Full Circle, Cynthia Anderson has created a richly textured collection of quiet and original observations of the natural world, especially desert life. She also turns her poet’s eye to human nature, exploring our foibles with compassion and gentle humor. Full Circle offers the reader many "aha moments” of recognition.
- Annette Makino, award-winning haiku poet, artist, and author of Water and Stone: Ten Years of Art and Haiku

Deeply connected to internal and external landscapes, Full Circle reflects Cynthia Anderson’s keen insight. Savor each poem, as I did numerous times, and experience the world through the eyes of this gifted poet. - Peter Jastermsky, author of Steel Cut Moon and Just Dust and Stone

click here to order on-line ($6)

Other books available by Cynthia Anderson
(Click on cover for more information):

 

March Issue Released! Cholla Needles 63!

 

 A huge thanks to these great writers
for making this issue special!

Bettina T. Barrett
Ron Riekki
Beth Schraeger
Sam Schraeger
Simon Perchik
Milton P. Ehrlich
Kent Wilson
Edward L. Canavan
Duane Anderson
George Freek
Jonathan B. Ferrini

click here to purchase on-line ($5.00)