Sonder Books Presents: The Open Page

An ongoing poetry and spoken word series in Second Life.

✨ March's Featured Guest
Indigo Starling aka Wendy Van Camp, was Anaheim's Poet Laureate (2022-2024) and a dynamic voice in speculative poetry.

✨ As a bonus, all guests will receive a 50% off coupon toward Indigo's new digital edition release, Quiet Places, Loud Thoughts!

🌿 Sonder Books
Location in Second Life:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cerulean%20Sea/28/53/24

#secondlife #poetryreading #booklaunch #sfpoetry

We are going to hold the scheduled Open Mic tonight! We hope you will join us at 6:30.

#fireflybookstore #keepinitkutztown #lehighvalley #indiebookstore #berkscounty #openmicnight #poetryreading #authorevent #poetryevent #openmic

My Very First YOUTUBE Video!!

Check it out guys- I published a video on YouTube! 🎉🎉🎉

I have no doubt it won’t take so much time as I grow more familiar with the process, but I have a whole new appreciation for creators that put together videos for platforms like YouTube! It was a lot of work! If I had to guess, I would say that I probably put at least 36 hours into this video! AT LEAST!!

Introducing: My Bitmoji

I also want to share with you a little backstory..

A couple years ago, I started playing with the Bitmoji app on Snapchat. I was absolutely amazed at how much my Bitmoji really did look like me! Several months later, I was “shopping” through the new clothes when I found the first AMAZING synchronicity… My bitmoji and I were TWINNING with the same hat!!

THEN…

So last early fall- about a year ago already (wow, really? 😳)- I had started writing a course. And I was lovingly adding my Bitmoji every spot I could find an appropriate sticker.

There are almost 1,000 stickers, which is more than enough to choose from. Plus, I have gotten pretty good at using Krita- the highly versatile and open source FREE software for digital illustration and animation- so the options are literally limitless.

Another Surprise

Earlier this year, around late January- early February I remember it was unseasonably warm out for a couple days. Jim and I decided to go out for a late night bike ride, when I spotted a dumpster sitting alongside a house. Without hesitation, we pulled up behind it and parked our bikes before we jumping in.

You see, Jim and I are dumpster divers. We like it call it “the Dumpstore.” And you would be absolutely AMAZED to hear the things we have rescued from the dump… But that is for another post.

In this particular Dumpstore, I was giddy like a kid on Christmas morning when I pulled out yet another gift from the universe…

Look at that smile on my face!! I was absolutely OVER THE MOON about this!! I took it with me everywhere for weeks after that so I could show all my friends!

The Best Surprise Yet!

Ok… One of the best surprises! Because there have definitely been many of them!

I had been contemplating how to present a certain project I was working on. In fact, that project will be the second video I post… Coming soon!

I remember wishing that I could make my Bitmoji talk earlier in the day. And as I kept working, it hit me to look into this idea further. So I did a quick Google search and it wasn’t long before I was downloading an app, and VOILA!

My singing, talking BITMOJI was born!

I was officially HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE… with my Bitmoji!!! 😍

DreamFace is an amazing app that uses AI to create videos from text, photo animation, lip syncing, and beautiful photo enhancement. It does have some paid features but I think it’s worth the money! And I HIGHLY recommend it!

Check out this photo comparison of before and after DreamFace enhanced an old photo from my childhood!

I thought that was giddy before… ERMEHGERD!!!

And now…

The moment I am sure you have been waiting for… 😝😂

Iridescent Alchemyst & Ashley Marie Meredith are PROUD TO PRESENT…

MY VERY FIRST YOUTUBE VIDEO!

https://youtu.be/z7AbVAdDvEs?si=VJ0nMxepabZoLAEd

Feedback Welcome!

Let me know what you think! The good… The bad… The ugly… I wanna hear it all!

And please, take it easy on me…

It’s my first time! 😉

Don’t forget to hit the like and subscribe buttons on YouTube so you don’t miss it when new content is posted! ✌️💖🌈🦄

#4 #5 #animation #Bitmoji #If #poem #Poetry #poetryReading #quotesAboutLife #RudyardKipling #s #TWINNING #video #wordsOfWisdom #YouTube

Friday Night Poetry returns to Russell Books on January 16. Join poets Mahaila Smith (Seed Beetle) and Lorne Daniel (What Is Broken Binds Us) for an open mic and readings. 7pm sign-up, 7:30 start. See you there!

#FridayNightPoetry #PlanetEarthPoetry #RussellBooks #VictoriaBC #YYJEvents #OpenMicPoetry #PoetryReading #CanadianPoetry #CanLit #IndieBookstore #LiteraryEvents

First feature of 2026 (and general updates) announcement: https://affairsofink.com/2025/12/28/first-2026-feature/

#poetry #poetryreading #beer #culture

I'm having fun playing around with videos and poetry at the moment. October is the best time to get some gorgeous nature footage, so here's my poem 'October' with a short walk in my local park.

#spokenword #poetryreading #spokenpoem #autumnvibe #naturevideo

I wrote this poem, 'Finally', over three years ago as an acknowledgement of my own journey. I think it is finally time to share it. It still resonates and is a constant reminder to never give up following your heart and dreams. Let me know if it resonates with you too! 🙏

#spokenword #poetryreading #poetry