Well, whaddaya know?! A book of poetry by our daughter, Laura. I’ve read it, and — speaking entirely as a disinterested critic (yeah, right!) — it’s good!

Here’s praise from a fellow New England poet, Jess Levens:

And Yes, This Too by Laura Pelton-Sweet

$17.99 Original price was: $17.99.
$15.99 Current price is: $15.99.

And Yes, This Too is poetry for poets. Laura Pelton-Sweet charms readers with a unique voice that feels fresh and familiar at the same time. She dangles juicy bunches of love, pain and friendship that are plucked away just as you reach for them and intimate glimpses to which all can relate. She shares a mastery of the English language without showing off—advanced art even a novice will enjoy. This poetry collection is a warm cup of tea on a cold day, sweetened with authenticity and nostalgia. I will be reading it again and again. –Jess Levens, author of A Break in the Spine

Don suggests that if ya wanna buy it at the reduced rate before the official release date (Jan 17, 2025) click on the following link:

Here’s a poem from the collection (reprinted here with the permission of the author):

More good words from the publisher:

“And Yes, This Too is a journey through a transformational period of midlife. In her first collection of poems, Laura Pelton Sweet sits with pain, serves tea to fear, dances with joy, and dips into an overwhelming pool of gratitude. These poems are one woman’s observations of the natural world and the fallibility of being human.

“Laura is a seeker. She currently makes her home in Central Massachusetts, with her husband of 26 years and many non-human beings. She aims to leave each day better than she found it, through quiet reflection, tending plants, making art from discarded objects, and offerings of loving-kindness. Laura is also a licensed mental health counselor, and has worked to support the growth of other seekers since 2006.

“Her poetry is part of a pattern that reflects life as a therapist, someone who has been given the gift of others’ stories. Her work also generally draws from life as an imperfect person, a curious person, a spiritual person, a creative person, a bisexual person in a committed opposite-sex relationship, and a person who hurts. Through poetry, she tries to share all too human experiences of love, fear, loss, grief, and hope. When not writing, Laura may be found doing yoga, watering plants, cooking without recipes, and making jewelry from found bits of rusty metal.”