Printre luminițe și culori, trepte de stele strălucind albastru și gânduri îmbrăcate în sărbătoare…
iat-o iarăși aici, candoarea zilelor de Crăciun cu al lor bine și cald.
Blue and Orange “Merry Christmas!” Shine… with a Golden Touch 🎄✨
Sărbătorile cu mult bine și frumos, vă doresc! Zile frumoasse alături de toți cei dragi!
Nicole 💖
Hello everyone here as well! ✨
December 15 tomorrow, even today already, for some of you… and I am coming from my Starry Steps blog, of course, to let all of you here know about my latest frolic there over the past month and a half.
I hope you click a bit… visit and enjoy! 😊
Here are the posts,
(all links below open in a new window)
My reviews of 6 wonderful collection of poems, and a sweet children’s story,
October Poems by Laura Lyndhurst
Hues of Hope by Balroop Singh
Behind Closed Doors by Robbie Cheadle
In the Shadow of Rainbows by Selma Martin
My Inspired Life by Michele Lee Sefton
Too Much Fun to Be Legal by Nolcha Fox and Barbara Leonhard
Cora’s Quest by Lauren Scott
and 5 splendid reviews of my debut poetry collection, Rhyming Dreams,
Selma Martin‘s review
Esther Chilton‘s and Balroop Singh‘s reviews
Laura Lyndhurst‘s and Debby Gies‘ reviews
as well as Rhyming Dreams being wonderfully featured several times, along with a few poems, at
Gobblers by Manuela Timofte Former Masticadores Editor
LatinosUSA by Juan Ré Crivello
LatinosUSA by Nolcha Fox
Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair by Sally Cronin
Wishing to thank once again all my fellow bloggers and editors who took time to review and feature my debut collection… I am very grateful! 💕
🍃🍃🍃
There have also been the lovely Photo and Poetry Challenge posts, full of dreary November and dear December air, for
all along and interspersed with a 7-day stroll with so many summer flowers, as
Cathy at Words and Herbs invited us for „A Week of Flowers”
for the whole of the first week in December,
here are all these challenge posts:
Too Much Autumn
Norișor’s Meowgical Meows
Soothing Blues
With Love…
My Heart’s Song
Raindrops on Roses
December Deliciousness
Cute Quotograph… & Promise
Gift Gnomes Games
as well as
Here and There for Brian’s Last on the Card at bushboy’s world… marking the transition from November to December 😊
💝💝💝
So delighted now to also share that I was offered 2 wonderful interview opportunities:
An Interview on Gobblers, published by Manuela Timofte (my Thank you! post on Starry Steps)
A Photography Interview on LatinosUSA, published by Robbie Cheadle (my Thank you! post on my blog)
and another amazing piece of news is that some of my photographs, of Animals, Nature, People and Buildings and Architecture have been shared by Robbie Cheadle on the new Photography section that she now manages on LatinosUSA by Masticadores every Friday. Thank you kindly Robbie!!! 💚
My Contribution to the Photography Section on LatinosUSA – Epicentre South Africa managed by Robbie Cheadle (the link is in the latter half of the post)
🎉🎉🎉
As for new releases these past weeks, last but not at all the least… splendid news too!
Sunflower Tanka Anthology 2025 – Dreams edited by Colleen Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle was released on December 3
and
The Blues and the Beautiful my second collection of poems and original photos was self-published on Amazon on November 9
Mockup image created in Canva by Nicole Sara
If you click on the images above, you will be able to see the books on Amazon, and I hope you take a look… maybe even order your copy for the coming holidays.
Both books would make wonderful Christmas gifts! 🎁 💕
„The Blues and the Beautiful” also received a lovely spotlight on Smorgasbord Magazine Blog by Sally Cronin , thank you so much Sally!!! 💛
I have just ordered my copy of Sunflower Tanka Anthology and I can’t wait to read it, leaf through its pages and take Christmas tree photos of it 🎄 in order to share a review post on my new blog, most probably between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. 🌻
🌺🌺🌺
Of course, I look forward to your visits on Starry Steps… I always do, and to you sharing your thoughts there, this post here now only being like a Table of Contents for the past few weeks there.
Your visits on Starry Steps would make me happy also because… well, this blog here will serve less and less as a link and a transition to my newer blog. It has played that role for the past two years now, which has proved a little time and energy consuming, meaning besides and beyond all the pleasure and joy of being here and creating a pink post, as in my beginning years. 😀
Starting in January 2026, I plan to post here mostly, if not only, in Romanian… since I intend to publish a second collection of poems in my mother tongue as well, later next year. 😊
Thank you kindly!
Wishing everyone lovely December days ahead!
© Nicole Sara
Author, The Blues and The Beautiful (2025), Amazon.com
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Contributor, Sunflower Tanka Anthology – Dreams (2025), Amazon,com
Contributor, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
Hello to you all, here as well… on my bilingual blog. Coming from Starry Steps, of course, my newer home here on WordPress, to let you know about my latest… well, steps there too ✨ 😊
And here they are,
(all links below open in a new window)
My reviews of two wonderful poetry books
Bro ken Rengay, by Nolcha Fox, Melissa Lemay and Barbara Leonhard
Life is Like a Mosaic by Sally Cronin at Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
and three splendid reviews of my debut poetry collection, Rhyming Dreams, 💕
Dawn Pisturino‘s Review
Sally Cronin‘s Review
Lauren Scott‘s Review
Also, Photo and Poetry Challenge posts, full of late October hues, 🍂
Golden Shade
Fall’s Hues
Sun’s Psalm
as well ad two of my older poems, published at Gobblers by Masticadores. Thank you, Manuela Timofte!
Auburn Autumn
The Beauty in Broken
💛💙
Also, published earlier this week, there is also the news of the upcoming release of my second collection of poems, The Blues and the Beautiful, on November 9.
New Book Release – „The Blues and the Beautiful” 💕
So looking forward to your visits on Starry Steps… and to sharing your thoughts and impressions there on some of these posts! Your presence makes me happy, and very grateful for it!
Thank you!
Wishing you lovely November days ahead!
Nicole Sara ✨
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Contributor, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
Bucuroasă să anunț că una dintre poeziile mele de toamnă a fost publicată pe platforma MasticadoresRumanía săptămâna ce tocmai a trecut.
Mulțumesc mult Manuelei Timofte pentru această distribuire! 💖
Toamnă cafenie
trenă de frunze plutind pe pământ,
murmur de foșnete fără cuvânt,
alunecă rece printre zile și nopți
în brumă îmbracă strugurii copți
lacrimi aruncă din norii-i de gri
peste dealuri întinse și parcuri pustii,
veșmântul ei greu de ploaie și vânt
împrăștie păsări pe-alt colț de pământ…
…
Vă invit să vizitați platforma pentru a citi întreaga poezie la link-ul de mai jos. Mulțumesc! 😊
🍂🍂🍂
The English variant of this poem was also published earlier this week on Gobblers by Masticadores, thank you kindly again, Manuela!
On my Starry Steps blog, at the link below, you can read more about this poem!
Vă mulțumesc!
Un sfârșit de săptămână cât mai plăcut!
💕
Thank you!
Wishing you a lovely Sunday and new week ahead!
Nicole Sara ✨
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Contributor, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
Așa-i,
suntem destine rătăcite-a cale printre frunze
zbătându-se solar, varii culori ce parcă uită să acuze
un anotimp, neamintindu-și să refuze
întreaga simfonie-a toamnei și nuanțele-i difuze
Dar
pașii-albaștri ne sunt și dor și călăuze
ne poartă-n mers și-n zbor înalt ca sfinte muze,
deși uitat-am peste veri de buburuze,
de-a lor candoare pierdută-n ierni… cumva să ne amuze
Iar
joaca, visul, razele nu ne vor fi nicicând ursuze
de dincolo de umbre, nori și de tăceri confuze
ele revin mereu, punându-ne surâsul cald pe buze
So true,
we are unwinding destinies afloat like on a leaf
on solar wings we soar and fall, long days but brief
colors explode and shine away beyond belief
while deep shadows keep lurking like a thief
But
our blue steps keep being our sacred guides
they gently show how to take things in our stride
and seasons past remain a memory, a tide
soft springs and bitter winters left aside
And
our dreams, the sunrays, the playfulness so dear
from far beyond will always come and keep us near
what matters most… and always has been here
Mulțumesc frumos, și anul acesta, HopeLess și Poteci de dor pentru… aproape ritualica reamintire ri(t)mată de octombrie, cu ecou cald reverberând frumos peste ani! 😊
Cu drag,
Nicole 💖
Quite a busy time on my Starry Steps blog these past weeks. I thought of creating this post here, for all my fellow-blogger friends and followers who follow only this blog, and so they may have missed my latest posts there.
If you are interested in reading some of them, here they are:
To begin with, my reviews of two lovely books,
„The Secret Dragon” by Esther Chilton
„The Mystery of the Pink Poodle” by Dawn Pisturino
as well as two wonderful reviews of Rhyming Dreams, 💖
Patricia Furstenberg’s Review
Maggie Watson’s Review
Then, Photo and Poetry Challenge posts, so full of early autumn color and dream, 🍃
Autumn’s Altar
Orange Sigh
Surprising Shine
and last but not least, some very Happy Blog News… at the end of September!
💛 💙
Published earlier today, there is also the news of my next collection of poems,
„The Blues and the Beautiful” coming soon!
I hope you enjoy some of these posts on my new blog!
Thank you very much for your visits and support!
Nicole Sara ✨
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Contributor, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
Dacă la început de august trimiteam aici cu mult drag mulțumiri către Heather și Harini, cărora le sunt în continuare profund recunoscătoare pentru primele review-uri pe Amazon primite de Rhyming Dreams, colecția mea de poezii în limba engleză publicate pe platforma Amazon KDP,
acum, spre sfârșit de septembrie cu început timid de toamnă, doresc să trimit multă și calde mulțumiri către Simona Prilogan și Patricia Furstenberg, pentru recenziile lor superbe postate pe platforma Goodreads,
exprimându-mi cu drag recunoștința pentru toată susținerea lor!!
🌷
While a bit over a month ago I was sending here my warm thanks and gratitude to Heather and Harini, to whom I will continue to be dearly grateful for the very first Amazon reviews received by Rhyming Dreams, my debut poetry collection self-published on Amazon KDP last year,
now, almost at the end of this September with autumn’s first shy steps, I wish to send my heartfelt thanks to Simona Prilogan and Patricia Furstenberg, for their splendid reviews posted on Goodreads,
I am deeply grateful for their lovely thoughts and words!! 💖
Le puteți cunoaște pe Simona și Patricia pe minunatele lor bloguri, cât și pe Facebook,
https://prilogansimona.art/home/
(https://www.facebook.com/Whilethereislifethereishope )
https://alluringcreations.co.za/wp/about-pat/
(https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaFurstenbergAuthor)
pentru mine fiind o încântare să urmăresc și să parcurg articolele și scrierile lor, interviurile și nenumăratele lor contribuții literare și profesionale… cât și modul extraordinar în care reușesc să dea dovadă de atâta putere de muncă combinată cu multă căldură sufletească și eleganță. 💕
***
Simona’s Review of Rhyming Dreams on Goodreads (and Amazon)
„Rhyming Dreams” by Nicole Sara is a collection that feels like opening a window to the soul. Each poem is lovingly accompanied by one of Nicole’s photographs, perfectly chosen to echo the mood of her words. At the same time, mottoes from other writers weave an extra thread of wisdom and inspiration.
Her verses sing of nature and its sacred bond with the human heart. A tender optimism flows through every line: sunlight breaking through clouds, breezes whispering peace, songs rising softly from the earth. These poems do not just speak; they breathe, inviting the reader into a gentle space where beauty and serenity dwell.
Nicole’s gift is not only in her imagery, but in the way she colours the ordinary with wonder, reminding us that the world still holds grace, harmony, and hope. „Rhyming Dreams” is more than poetry; it is a quiet journey into light, a companion for the spirit, and a celebration of life’s most delicate joys.
Patricia’s Review of Rhyming Dreams on Goodreads
Thank you! 💝
Cu multe mulțumiri din suflet, încă o dată… pentru toată susținerea și bucuria adusă de gândurile voastre frumoase și gestul vostru minunat!
Nicole ✨
I am kindly inviting all my readers to visit my newer blog, Starry Steps at https://starrysteps.wordpress.com/
I would like to let you know that this older blog’s address, at https://doarnicol.wordpress.com/ (my bilingual blog) is the one that still pops up as the main one, when my WP avatar image or my name are clicked. Hence this post, inviting you to visit Starry Steps… where I am currently posting.
Thank you!
💖💖💖
This week’s book review… of „Insights: Spiritual Empowerment for the Human Journey” written by Susana Cabaço and Dimitar Dimitrov
I hope you enjoy!
Please click on the link below to be redirected to the article as such, on StarrySteps. Thank you!
End of September Light… and Book Review of “Insights” by Susana Cabaço & Dimitar Dimitrov
💚💚💚
Bucuroasă să revin, să reiau firul visătoarelor mele postări și cât de curând firul vizitelor mele pe bloguri…
și totodată să vă anunț că două dintre poeziile mele au fost publicate luna aceasta pe platforma MasticadoresRumanía.
Mulțumesc mult Manuelei Timofte pentru aceste două distribuiri! 💖
🌿🌿🌿
Prima poezie, cu titlul „Șerpi de chemare”, a fost distribuită pe 9 septembrie.
Poezia a fost scrisă în vara anului 2015 și se regăsește și în volumul „Îmbrățișare portocalie” publicat la Editura Letras în primăvara acestui an.
sub coastă dură de adam, sclipind plăpând sub fraged ram,
o eva crudă ca un spin
înțeapă creangă în senin
împunge cerul moale, greu,
rugându-l blând pe Dumnezeu
din vârf de ac cu fin contur
să curgă nor simplu și pur
să radieze mii de nuanțe
și să înghețe în balanțe
albul curat, negrul murdar, cerul de vis, pământ real
…
Vă invit să vizitați platforma pentru a citi întreaga poezie la link-ul de mai jos,
🌿🌿🌿
Cea de-a doua poezie, cu titlul „Licăr de gând”, a fost distribuită pe 17 septembrie… sunt foarte recunoascătoare Manuelei pentru acest lucru! 💖
Visătoarele mele versuri, compuse în vara anului 2022 parcă din frânturi licărindu-mi întrerupt, au fost stârnite de strălucirea uimitoare a unui buchet cu flori de câmp de iulie… atât de frumos colorate și pufoase, de-mi făceau gândurile să s/clipească nespus!
pe o margine de rază mi se odihnește
un dor
adumbrire mută din licăr de gând
tresărind pe geana umedă a unei clipe
mereu asfințindu-mi pe pervazul apusului
întotdeauna colorând întunericul,
câteodată aprinzându-mi-l…
…
Vă invit cu drag să citiți scurta poezie la link-ul de mai jos,
Vă mulțumesc!
Spre deosebire de „Șerpi de chemare”, pe care o consider intraductibilă, „Licăr de gând” are varianta ei și în limba engleză, „A Trembling Thought”, care se poate citi pe blogul meu puțin mai tânăr, Starry Steps 😊
💖
Mă bucură mult aceste redistribuiri ocazionale, sunt extraordinare… întrucât mă determină să revizitez postări de pe parcursul anilor, să-mi reamintesc clipe, foiri, momente suspendate în timp… dar mai ales să surâd mult nostalgic și pe furiș trecerii acesteia neiertătoare a tot și toate.
Doresc să mulțumesc încă o dată, Manuelei și platformei MasticadoresRumanía!
Un sfârșit de septembrie cât mai frumos, vă doresc… și încă o dată, bine v-am regăsit!
Nicole Sara ✨
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Co-Author, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
I will be taking a 10-day blogging break these still warm September days, in order to go on a short trip with my family, that we planned for the middle of this month ✈️😍📷
…and then to focus on editing my next collection of poems for a couple of days, which has been put on the back burner for quite a bit, these past summer months. ⛅📙 💖
***
Now also wishing to leave a link here to my latest post on Starry Steps, for my readers who follow and read only this pink blog of mine 😊
…wonderful news this past weekend, as older poems of mine written and published here back in 2017, 2018 have now been published on the online literary magazine Spillwords Press and at Chewers by Masticadores.
Very grateful for their work and support, Dagmara K. and Nolcha Fox – chief editors on these two online literary platforms respectively 🌷
My poem “In Circles”… and more – published at Spillwords Press and at Chewers by Masticadores
***
More than that, another amazing gesture came from Dawn, at dawnpisturino’s blog, whose wonderful poetry book, Ariel’s Song, I happily reviewed a week ago…
Dawn created such a lovely „Thank you!” post around it this past Saturday, also nicely mentioning Rhyming Dreams …which left me speechless ☺
I am so very grateful to her! 💓
You can visit Dawn’s blog post at the link down below,
You can also read my review of Ariel’s Song on Starry Steps a week ago down below,
September Smile… & Book Review of “Ariel’s Song” by Dawn Pisturino
💞
Beautifully meandering September steps of mine… and everybody’s,
and thanking all of you again for your presence on this good old pink blog… being dearly grateful for all your visits, comments and all types of lovely support!!!
Looking forward to resuming posting and visiting your amazing blogs and sites soon, also to resuming reading and writing my reviews of all the nice books… so patiently waiting in my Kindle Library and on my desk until then 😀
Sending you a virtual hug, and wishing you beautiful mid September days 🍃
See you soon… around September 20th, when I return!
Nicole Sara ✨
Author, Rhyming Dreams (2024), Amazon.com
Co-Author, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025), Amazon.com
In Romanian:
Autor, Îmbrățișare portocalie (2025), Ed. Letras
Doar Nicole... 
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