Ritamarie Recine was nominated as an Indie Author who deserves appreciation and acknowledgement of her work. I am pleased to present this author a showcase blog post.
Author Bio:
Ms. Recine is a Canadian author, poet living in Laval, Quebec, Canada with her husband Antonio Petrilli, daughter Bianca, son in law Carlos Andres Henriquez and their two wonderful pets Sir muffin the purr- fect cat and P.K.. Drogba the paw-esome dog.
Ms. Recine has been writing since adolescence. Her aspiration had always been to maybe one day publish her own book. Ms. Recine would like to thank Crystal Gauthier, Genevieve Scholl of Southern owl publication for bringing her book to fruition. Ms. Recine studied at Concordia University graduating with a certificate in tourism and a minor in Spanish graduating in 1986
Ms. Recine grew up in a family of 9 people which consisted of her parents Iolanda Bracaglia Recine and Sante Recine, her siblings Anna Mario Adriana and Floriana alongside her grandfather Angelo and uncle Sebastiano Bracaglia.
“The Interview” (Some answers have been condensed for space)
Tell me two things about yourself that are separate from writing
I am a fraternal twin. My sister Adriana and I were born late December 1963, the 28th three days after Christmas in 1963. Upon my birth I underwent surgery at only two days of age. I have documentation which revealed I had four cardiac arrests during my young life.
Having a congenital deformation called tracheal esophageal fistula food within the esophagus may pass into the trachea and on to the lungs failing to swallow. … I was very fortunate to have survived this ordeal. It had come to my attention as I read documentation of my childhood through records from the Montreal Children’s hospital I was one of the few which survived in 1963. My doctor Hubert Owens who performed my surgery was sent out from Calgary, Alberta Canada. I am forever grateful… My sister and I are very well connected. After all we are only 6 minutes apart.
As a student My sister Adriana and I held a weekend job at my uncle Vincenzo Bracaglia and aunt Maria ‘s reception hall, Centre Buffet Antique. Their services catered to the old port of Montreal which allowed me to experience many venues such as the old port of Montreal. Having part time work as a young child has taught me to be hard working and to see the realities of life.
Why do you write?
The purpose for my writings is to give a voice to nature and mankind Woven together. Synchronizing emotion and reason. My life experiences and perseverance has led me to a pathway of many interests primarily writing.
Writing has taught me much about myself and how I view the world. It has thought me to surpass many obstacles with perseverance and peace leading us to have more insight on the past and present events from childhood to adulthood.
I would like to keep poetry alive. With much technology, simply flipping pages of a book will soon be a thing of the past, unfortunately. Our world is evolving in a more technological form.
As I write I get many bumps in the road, there are moments I want to climb out of my chair for the message I would like to come across becomes unsuccessful. In retrospect I write for my readers who are my audience, for this I am thankful.
As a young adult, I wrote everywhere I went, followed by emotions. Writing on paper forming a concrete picture. In writing and sharing, I hope to inspire another young mind in a creative way. Poetry is similar to looking in a mirror and seeing reflections for it partakes and captures one’s past and present.
Why do I write: It is the joy of creating and making connections with others writing has provided me the sense of calmness and self-accomplishment. Poetry may also be called the silent song. there are sounds music, lyrical prose, meditation. Words have its images, thoughts providing emotions and opening up the heart to much more than what the eye can see. In script an open mind is essential for self-awareness. One sees a flower, a poet will see evergreens, life, a person may see snow, a poet will think about, the soil, which once had growing crops as we journey.
Today in the present my inspiration is more via nature. The night air provides a mental impression, which can then be placed on blank paper transferring it towards the direction pf expression. The task of choosing one creation over another has been the most arduous. How do we choose and how do we retrieve?
In conclusion I selected those most meaningful to me. It has been said that artists write, paint, play music dance for themselves. On the contrary for me. I write because I enjoy it, I write because I want to share with others. Thank you to my readers for picking up my book, your support is greatly appreciated. May you enjoy my collection as I enjoyed writing it for you. My aspiration is to always encourage future young minds to the art of learning by wondering and being curious, in all walks of life.
Books:
Open Book Where the Road to Serendipity Ends is my first published book. Reflections is my first poetry book which I self-published in 2003.
After the loss of my father in 2002. My emotions appeared to have been at a standstill. Writing had been one wonderful calming coping mechanism for me.
A journey through the mind’s eye came 12 years later in 2015 written with Co- Author Svetlana Konstantinov. This book was not published, yet Svetlana and I have and still maintain our wonderful friendship.
There are moments we meet people in the strangest of places, this was our case. In a hospital room of the Montreal chest institute. We made the beast out of our ordeals always with positivity and of course lots of fun
In Open Book Where the Road to Serendipity Ends, poems are divided into sections: expressing emotions and reason through imagery and impressionism.
Here is the very soul of how I view the world. Through my writing I see much goodness, triumphs, in retrospect I also see obstacles. This is the way it is. With some certainty my belief is I am not alone in this visualization process. Read and see the world through a poet’s eyes "The eyes are the window to the soul" One WOMAN, ONE heart, one mind.
As she could see it all, in her own words, through feelings and thought. If you view the world as such, this collection of poems is for YOU.
Writing open book where the road to serendipity ends is not about being noticed, nor popular. No monument will ever be made of me of that I am certain. This collection has been a long time in the making, from 18 years of age to the present, a mere 35 years.
I have had the opportunity to read works from Robert frost, Emily Dickinson, Lord Byron,, Their writings were metered, easily understood, simplicity as it should be universally.
Excerpt from Open Book Where the Road to Serendipity Ends
A cardinal at my door
I saw a cardinal on a tree, came by for a visit.
She looked up, couldn’t be missed, beauty
The legend says, a cardinal appears when an angel is near
A multihued of colours, all so festive, breathtaking.
Red coated is the female, a heart. Love, love, love, love, message al around
A cardinal appears when a loved one who has crossed over is near.
To visit or to sing a melodic tune.
to send a message of love from up above
I think of you to see you through on rainy and winter days
When you see a cardinal open up your arms, call it, and it will be there.
Search and it will appear, during the summer and the winter.
Covered In white snow
A wonderful glow
With its melodic tune.
not afar, near
If you see a bird perched by your door it is here to send a message.
Do not ignore, smile, ponder, think, a love which has never dissipated, that is for sure
From your loved, a reminder they are O.K.
A cardinal appears when an angel is near
I ask myself, why are they called cardinals? perhaps all is I the cards.
Perhaps yes, no, we will never guess.
A cardinal appears, when an angel is near
The cardinal left one day.
My angel knew I was ok
Adieu my angel adieu.
Until we meet again.
At my doorway awaiting you
Final Thought …
My biggest accomplishment has and will always be the birth of my beautiful and intelligent daughter Bianca, with hair like ebony skin as white as snow she did glow. I have learned much through her eyes. As she grew I grew with her. She is the sunshine of my life and will forever and a day be. As spring will soon disappear and Summer will soon be joining us with the hopes of blooming flowers amidst nature and the many rays of sunshine. If you believe you will achieve. Maintain your perseverance, be kind and most of all stay true to yourself. My book had been 35 years in the making through trials, triumphs I have always maintained my spirit.
Amy's Bookshelf Reviews: Click HERE for the actual review.
"Open Book: Where the Road to Serendipity Ends by Rita Marie Recine
4 Stars
Thanks for sharing ...The book and poet were featured in March as one of the Indie Poet for my Indie Poet Appreciation Month in 2018 on my author blog. I was honored to read the work of Recine. Her words did more than just paint emotions, they shared and developed inspiration. It's always quite an honor for a poet to bring us into their mind, with simple and lustrous words, and Recine did just that. One of my favorites was "Beauty and the Best", as she writes "There is much more in existence as we carry on. The course is endless as we continue sitting, in the sunset.""