2008 Independent Publisher Book Award Winner (IPPY Award – 1st place, Gold medalist, Poetry)
“An enormously talented man, a complete artist”
“His work is all-encompassing; you can imagine it as a stage play
or as lyrics to a song. I would love to see the poems performed as a part of a dance piece.”
“Honesty, intimacy, ability to communicate at a gut level! I’ll remember this for the
rest of my life. I hope that this is a voice that continues to be heard”
- Nina Diamond, Judge, 2008 IPPY Awards
“A window into the
brave vulnerability of a modern-day prophet.”
“Leo Shelton’s RHYTHMS is a window into the brave vulnerability of a modern-day prophet.
In this promising debut, Shelton provides a glimpse into, not just a world that he’s so passionately lived, but
a world we know, pass by, move through, to begin again in. In Rhythms, we taste life’s sweat,
inhale sounds of DC in high-summer, and hear the aroma of somebody’s black mama’s kitchen in Nashville.
Shelton calls it like it be, without hiding behind the fictionalized experience that trivializes the legacies
of soldiers like Essex, Melvin Dixon, and Assoto. I am proud to be discovering what it means to inscribe
our experiences so truthfully and poetically, alongside him.”
Tim’m T. West
author,
Red Dirt Revival, BARE, and Flirting
www.reddirt.biz
“Rhythms truly is a gourmet meal for the poetry connoisseur.”
truly is a gourmet meal for the poetry connoisseur.”
“Shelton’s Rhythms is a
remarkable, impressive work, with “dat” distinct urban feel. Its words, phrases and sentence
structure all have movement—they throb, they pulsate, they sway, they dance. Tasty, tantalizing,
and eclectic, this collection of poetry, at times, gives one the sense of déjà vu. (Awww….
this writer can hear Dionne Warwick crooning her pop hit, “Déjà vu,” in the recesses of
his mind.)”
“By
no means is Rhythms simply “reading candy.” Au contraire. It is
substantive and thought provoking. This writer has to say that although the majority of the volume is readily
accessible, some of its selections take just a little bit of time to figure out and “get used to,” which make
you go “Hmmmm.” And then, “Yo. Now I got it.””
“But, it’s all good because
Rhythms engages the mind. This collection is both cerebral and earthy. Shelton is a unique voice.”
- Wyatt O’Brian Evans
Read the full article/review:
Rhythms: The Poetry Connoisseur’s Gourmet Meal
By
Wyatt O'Brian Evans
Mr. Evans is an actor/comedian, voice talent/instructor, writer and author.
His bylines have appeared in publications including the Washington Post, Washington Blade, Prince Georges County, Maryland
Journal, and American Politics and Metropolitan Washington magazine. He conceived, developed and wrote an African-American,
gay, erotic serial for Gay Black Male magazine, and his new full-length novel (gay/ethnic/erotica) is entitled "Nothing Can Tear Us Apart."
Book of Poetry "Rhythms" Engages The Minds of Poetry Readers