2020 Was a transformative year. I spent time committed to my first title publication. I started the first day I arrived in Colorado in January of 2016.  Ode to Mother Earth was written as soon as I felt the freedom from oppression from historical traumatic past in Tennessee.  I walked up to my room, preparing for a first semester at Metropolitan State University Denver, laid in the floor and this Ode poured on the paper like liquified breath of freedom & empowerment.  

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Throughout my stay at Colorado, I traveled to Australia , New Zealand, London and Denver compiling the photography contributing to the Ode.

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When the whole world fell dormant in togetherness of crisis, I found my sanity in the preparation for the acknowledge and affirmation that I have a whole book to share with the world now.  

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Many times at a Boulder coffee shop called Innisfree, did I recite this poem on stage with a crowd of really talented individuals. 

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These shows were one of a kind, and If you missed our readings, then you missed out on a spectacular collaboration of some of the most creative individuals I have ever met.

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   -Author Photographer Shannon Perry

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