I am very pleased to be part of the WOW – Women on Writing Blog tour for Jennifer A. Payne’s book of poetry Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind.
My Review:
Jennifer Payne has written 73 poems that “ask the reader to deeply consider the effects of our actions and how they influence everything else in the universe.”
Included in her collection are several short stories, photographs as well as vintage photos. But it is the series of photographs of discarded flossers that provides the title for her exploration of just what our legacy is.
Many of the photos provided inspiration for the poems – from the turtle, frog to flowers, suck, even a snake skin.
She explores the seasons and their impact on us as well as nature.
Two poems in particular had me rereading several times and moved me. In just a few words, Payne captures so much:
In “Losing My Religion” we have the images of a bully most days and then so pious on Sunday. And then of a priest who locks his door to her.
In “The Promise of More”, the promise of a new store and the ability to buy more “Thingies”, really has us look at our own excessive consumption of more and more and more.
I was struck many times by so many brief, but powerful lines that hit like a sledgehammer – to make us think, reflect and explore our place in the world.
Lines like: “Salvation, like love, is random.”
“Am I flirting with echoes?”
“…the candidate who preaches God from his bully pulpit”
These are definitely poems to ponder, with words and images to reflect on. Payne gives us poetry that moves us, challenges our perceptions and inspires us to look deeper into our place in the world and what our legacy can or should be.
Evidence of Flossing is well worth the read – and one you will revisit over and over again.
Book Summary:
Would God floss? Do spiders sing? Can you see the Universe in your reflection? Find the answers to these questions in more in this new book by Connecticut writer Jen Payne. Her poems in EVIDENCE OF FLOSSING: WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND investigate the human condition and its folly, the beauty of our natural world, and the possibility of divine connection. 80 original and vintage photographs include a series of discarded dental flossers that inspired the book’s title.
ALA Notable Book author Dale Carlson calls the book “a brilliantly incisive commentary on our simultaneous human sense of beauty and waste and loss.”
EVIDENCE OF FLOSSING speaks to the common heart that beats in you and in me, in the woods and on the streets, across oceans and around this planet. It asks us all to consider the effects of our actions and how they influence everything else in the Universe.
Paperback: 180 Pages
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Three Chairs Publishing (October 1, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0990565114
ISBN-13: 978-0990565116
Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind is available in print on Amazon.
About the Author:
Jen Payne is inspired by those life moments that move us most — love and loss, joy and disappointment, milestones and turning points. Her writing serves as witness to these in the form of poetry, creative non-fiction, flash fiction and essay. When she is not exploring our connections with one another, she enjoys writing about our relationships with nature, creativity, and mindfulness, and how these offer the clearest path to finding balance in our frenetic, spinning world.
Very often, her writing is accompanied by her own photography and artwork. As both a graphic designer and writer, Jen believes that partnering visuals and words layers the intentions of her work, and makes the communication more palpable.
In 2014, she published LOOK UP! Musings on the Nature of Mindfulness, a collection of essays, poems and original photography. Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind is her second book.
Jen is the owner of Three Chairs Publishing and Words by Jen, a graphic design and creative services company founded in 1993, based in Branford, Connecticut. She is a member of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance, the Connecticut Poetry Society, Guilford Arts Center, the Guilford Poets Guild, and the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Installations of her poetry were featured in Inauguration Nation an exhibition at Kehler Liddell Gallery in New Haven (2017), and Shuffle & Shake at the Arts Council of Greater New Haven (2016). Her writing has been published by The Aurorean, Six Sentences, the Story Circle Network, WOW! Women on Writing, and The Perch, a publication by the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health.
You can read more of her writing on her blog Random Acts of Writing, http://www.randomactsofwriting.net.
Jennifer can also be found online at:
Website: https://3chairspublishing.com/
Blog: https://randomactsofwriting.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threechairspub
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThreeChairsPub
Be sure to visit the others taking part in this blogging event for Jennifer Payne.
———-Blog Tour Dates
November 27th @ The Muffin
Interview and giveaway.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
Tuesday, November 28th @ Words, Crazy Words
Tara Meissner reviews “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by fellow author Jennifer A. Payne. Don’t miss Meissner’s insight into this lovely book of poetry and more.
http://wordscrazywords.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 29th @ Lauren Scharhag
Today’s guest blogger at Lauren Scharhag is Jennifer A. Payne with a post titled: “The Importance of Retreat” learn more about Payne’s thoughts on down time and going off the grid as well as her latest poetry book “The Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”.
http://laurenscharhag.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 4th @ Words, Crazy Words
Jennifer A. Payne pens today’s guest post at Words, Crazy Words – the blog of fellow author Tara Meissner. You won’t want to miss Payne’s insight when it comes to “Blogging as a Creative Tool”!
http://wordscrazywords.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 5th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles will be posting a review of Jennifer Payne’s book, “Evidence of Flossing” over at her blog.
theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, December 6th @ Create Write Now
Mari McCarthy at Create Write Now welcomes fellow author Jennifer A. Payne as today’s guest blogger with an insightful post titled: “Everything is Connected”. Learn about this as well as Payne’s latest poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”.
http://www.createwritenow.com/
Thursday, December 7th @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley Baird reviews the lovely new poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by Jennifer A. Payne.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
Thursday, December 7th @ Writers Pay it Forward
“The Bravery of Storytelling” is the title of today’s guest post at Writers Pay it Forward – you won’t want to miss this intriguing topic and opportunity to hear from Jennifer A. Payne about storytelling as well as her latest poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”
https://writerspayitforward.com/
Friday, December 8th @ BookWorm
Anjanette Potter reviews “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by Jennifer A. Payne and also takes a few moments to interview Payne about her latest poetry book and more!
https://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
Monday, December 11th @ CMash Loves to Read
Today’s author at CMash Loves to Read is the one and only Jennifer A. Payne and her latest book “The Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”. Don’t miss today’s opportunity to hear from Jennifer with her guest post titled: “Finding Inspiration”
http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 12th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Linda Appleman Shapiro reviews Jennifer Payne’s latest poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”. Don’t miss this insightful blog stop.
http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/
Tuesday, December 12th @ The Constant Story
Fellow author David W. Berner reviews the latest work of Jennifer A. Payne – learn more about Payne’s beautiful poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”.
http://davidwberner.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 13th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
“Exploring Mindfulness” is the title of today’s guest post at Madeline Sharples Blog, Choices. Today’s guest author is none other than Jennifer A. Payne. Find out more about her topic, her writing, and her latest poetry book “The Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”!
Exploring Mindfulness
Thursday, December 14th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Casavant-Otto reviews “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” as part of author Jennifer A. Payne’s WOW! Women on Writing book blog tour for her latest poetry book.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 15th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews & Interviews
Jennifer Payne is interviewed by Lisa Haselton; find out more about Jennifer’s latest poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 18th @ Elaine Drennon Little
Fellow author Elaine Drennon Little reviews “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by Jennifer A. Payne.
https://elainedrennonlittle.wordpress.com/
Monday, December 18th @ The Writer Site
Luanne Castle reviews “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by Jennifer Payne. Don’t miss Luanne’s insight into this beautiful poetry book.
Tuesday, December 19th @ Life is Full of Sweet Spots
Mary O’Connor reviews Jennifer Payne’s latest poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about this lovely book!
Wednesday, December 20th @ Depth of A Woman
Stop by Depth of A Woman to read Joss Burnell’s review of Jennifer A. Payne’s Poetry Book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind”.
Thursday, December 21st @ Spirituality Without Borders
Jennifer Payne and her lovely poetry book “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” is the topic today at Spirituality Without Borders. Read Rita’s review of this lovely book and find out more about the lovely author behind it!
www.spiritualitywithoutborders.WordPress.com
Friday, December 22nd @ Writing on the Rim
Stop by Writing on the Rim and hear from Juliana Lightle about her thoughts after reading “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind” by Jennifer A. Payne. Don’t miss this insightful review!
Disclosure: I received a gifted copy of Jen’s book. Thank you Jen!
Beverley A Baird 
Hi Beverly. Thank you so much for your thoughtful review of EVIDENCE OF FLOSSING. I love that you found your own touchstones within the book…my hope is that others find words and poems that resonate deeply for them, as well. With much gratitude…
I’m glad you liked the review. Your poetry moved me many times
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