A truly unforgettable night of poetry and community.

We reached a sold-out event, a full house filled with amazing people with laughter, tears, and new found hope.

Just before the show started, I was making last-minute preparations for the most important part—the technology equipment! Thirty minutes before the show was about to start, I had to muster up all I could to brainstorm how I was going to set up the event and what equipment I needed. Luckily, I had planned out the costs of renting equipment beforehand, so when the last-minute rush came, I quickly asked a friend to pick up all the equipment while I focused on setting up. I also want to mention that the speaker I had arranged to borrow from a friend arrived RIGHT as the performance was about to start. Talk about good timing!

As soon as it turned 6:30 PM, the official start time of the event, people began arriving, eating, and socializing. Then at 7 PM, the lights dimmed, and the spotlight was on me for the first performance. I engaged with the crowd by first asking them how they were, setting ground rules for the open mic, introducing my book Interconnectedness and myself as an author and artist. Just before I began my performance, I led a meditation session. People truly enjoyed this, as it helped create a more relaxed and present atmosphere.

As I started my performance, I encouraged the audience to put their phones away to fully immerse themselves in the moment. That’s when I shared my experiences with loss and heartbreak. As I looked out at the crowd, I saw tears in the eyes of audience members. I had told myself I wouldn’t cry, despite having done so in previous rehearsals of my performance. I performed poetry from my book, including Don’t Fall in Love With an Artist. After the last poem, I opened the floor for a Q&A session and received thoughtful questions like, “What is your favorite poem you’ve written?” My answer: Love Has No Confines. It is a poem about finding love not in a person or object, but simply from being alive.

Afterward, we moved on to the open mic, and WOW! It was an incredible showcase of creative souls—some sharing their pieces for the first time, others singing, and many reading their heartfelt poetry. Witnessing such raw talent and emotion reminded me that Interconnectedness is truly about our shared human experiences. Afterward, we had a break, and I began book signing and announcing the raffle winners. I gave away two tote bags with my artwork and an original print, all with a set of watercolors and a sketchbook.

The writing prompt for this workshop was: What does being interconnected mean to you? If you would like to share your response, feel free to message me via Instagram (@ac2_studio).

If you would like a copy of Interconnectedness, you can find it on Amazon or on my Etsy Store. Feel free to share a review once you've finished the book.

Thank you to everyone who was part of this unforgettable event!

Interconnectedness Book Launch

Community in Motion