Excited to let you know that my new book of poems, I Didn't Know Kyoto, is now available for preorder from Finishing Line Press

I spend much of my reading time in the past and in other lands, but decided to spend some time in this century. So, hello Twitter! And I even have a new poetry website: sheppardranbom.com

How far can you go to describe thwarted young love? I went to Japan many times to find it. Here is the backstory to my new collection of poems, I Didn’t Know Kyoto: sheppardranbom.com/blog/tales-of-…

In writing endings, I always think about what DH Lawrence once said. It was to the effect that "true tragedy ends in triumph and is a great kick at suffering." My "kick" is show the toll of loss and how it can reverberate. What kicks do you use in your writing and your life?