All right, and welcome to The Daily with Syl Stein here on Anchor. I'm so pleased today to have an amazing author that you're going to get to know, and she's written her first, I believe it's her first book of poetry, and it's called Requiem of the Dead, and I'm going to have her tell you more about her book and everything that's been going on since she just released it. But I want to share a little bit about our author today. Her name is Chastity Gaines, and I'm going to talk a little bit about her, and then I'm going to have her, you know, tell you more about herself and her book, and I'm really happy to have her here today.
So happy, happy Friday, everyone. I am Syl Stein for The Daily with Syl Stein on Anchor, and I'm happy that you guys are joining us. Now, a little bit about Chastity. She is a poet and fantasy fiction author with several short stories that can be found in anthologies.
She has always had a love for words. As a little girl, she played with words and rhymes, creating poetry about nature and negative emotions she couldn't deal with. She is a graduate from Southern New Hampshire University with her BA in English and Creative Writing, and she comes from all the way from, she lives in Moultrie, Georgia with her husband of 10 years and her older son and two fur babies, Trinity and Magatha. But enough about me.
I'm going to have her come in here, and I want to congratulate you first for the release of your book, Requiem of the Dead, but also being on the number one on the Amazon bestsellers list, Chastity Gaines. Thank you for coming and joining us today. Thank you, Sylvia, for having me. Oh, no problem.
So tell us about yourself. I said a lot about you. I hope that was okay. I'm going to read about you, but tell us about you and this book and, you know, what you want to share with us today.
Okay, well, the book Requiem of the Dead was basically, it's a collection of poems that I've written over the years after losing loved ones, you know, family members and friends. And especially after my dad passed away in March of 2018. Thank you. That was the only way of my, you know, it was the only way I could process the feelings that I, you know, was going through.
Anybody that's lost a loved one, you know, knows it's hard. So I used my poems as a way to get all of that out on paper and just to, you know, to deal with it. Exactly. Exactly.
No, no. And that's what I've noticed with your book because I purchased it and I love it. And it's very therapeutic, especially as you said, if you've dealt with life or like it says in your, in your blurb, a collection of poems about life, death and grief and how when you lose someone, how hard that can be. I can relate in the way that I felt with the loss of my dad, my grandparents, especially my best friend who was like a sister.
So I can't imagine how you must feel with, I know that it was, it has been hard for you to lose your dad. I know how close from what you've shared, how close you guys were. So has this process helped you and what, what more can you share about that and how it ties into your book? I think it, I think it did help to get it all out.
Like I said, it is dedicated to my daddy. Are you there? Hello? Chastity, are you there?
Am I there? Yes, now you are. Can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you.
Sorry, I was stopped walking. That's okay. I acknowledge to you, you love it and you hate it at the same time. That's right.
That is exactly it. It's helpful and then it's, it makes you want to scream. It's okay. But also a few of the poems were poems that I wrote when my grandma, both my grandmother and my great grandmother passed, when my godmother passed, my uncle.
I mean, it's just been, you know, I think it was just therapeutic to get it all together. Yes, yes. And to see it come together. So I guess it did help in a way.
Yes, yes. Not dealing with everything and like I, and I named it Requiem of the Dead so that it's in separation of their memory. Yes, I was going to say, because a requiem is kind of like a, you would describe it as a kind of a requiem is like kind of like it can be an ending and a beginning, right? Or something like that.
It's a memorial. Yeah, that's exactly what it is. But that was the whole point of naming it that, you know, just in memory of these people that were so, you know, made such an impact on my life and to have them not here, you know, but just to have them in spirit. It's good to have that feeling, you know.
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Now, that's just one point. And did you ever imagine, you know, you're taking out your book because I know you're a great poet.
You've been writing for a while and we'll talk more about that in a minute. But I wanted to just take you into how you're feeling today with releasing it yesterday and then waking up to the news that you're on the Amazon bestsellers list. How was that for you? Well, that was really, that was really amazing.
I was in tears really because it's just, you know, for it to be the type of book that it is and to see it go to number one like that, you know, on the new release in poetry, that was just really amazing for me. I know I probably had quite a few people laughing at me because I was sending the screenshot to everybody I knew. No, there's nothing laughable about that. If it were me, I'd be doing the same thing.
And send me the screenshot so I can share it too. So, you know, like I said, I'm just so happy for you. I think if anyone, you know, I know how dedicated you are with your poetry, working with you with the Coffeehouse Writers. I didn't say that in the beginning, but Chastity and I have been working together with the Coffeehouse Writers.
Shout out to all of them. She's a wonderful writer and you're an editor as well, right? Am I wrong about that or you were a while? Well, I was an editor.
I stepped down for a few months just to get everything in line with this book and several stories that I have coming out later in some anthologies. So I was trying to focus on, you know, putting my energy into getting the best book out and several other stories that I want out. Yeah, prioritizing, basically. Yeah, I understand.
I understand. But she's just been, I mean, I've seen your poems that you shared and whether it was in an anthology or in other, I know you've had several publications that you've had your poems been picked up or and published through other venues. So, you know, you are, you're a great writer and this book, I think for me, I think what, what people can relate it to is that it does talk about a subject that's really hard to deal with, you know? And I think that's why, you know, this people can relate to it.
Yeah. Well, and that's something, you know, and as a writer, that's one thing that you always hope that you can pull your reader in and they feel that they have, you know, that they can relate to what you're writing. And we've all experienced, hello, are you there? Chastity, you there?
Sorry. I don't think I have good reception in my house. No, no, just, we'll work on it. We'll work at it.
No worries. But, you know, you always hope that a reader can relate to you, anything that you have, you know, published and none of us, well, all of us have experienced death or grief on some type of level. So I really think that this one will be able, you know, especially being poetry, will certainly grab the attention of, well, I hope, the attention of the readers and give them an outlet to maybe, you know, to deal with the pain that they're going through, you know? Yeah, exactly, exactly.
But did you, and I think that's just something that, you know, for me, when I hear you, you can feel the passion and the emotions that you feel, A, as a writer. But I was going to ask, you know, with all the short stories and anthologies and your stuff have written, where did you, tell us about what began the writing for you? What was it that you, that started it for you as far as the writing was concerned? Like when did you know, this is what I want to do?
I think I've always known, even when I was young, you know, just playing with words, trying to put together everything, just seeing how, you know, you could change words around and it would mean this or mean that. And I think, and I've always been keen to writing little stories. So from the very beginning, I believe, my grandmother was real big into reading to me and my sister. So, and then my great-grandmother was a big reader.
So I guess I just, you know, once you've read everything that's in your hands or that you can get your hands onto, you start to try to build your own stories. You know, it's like, well, let me see what I can do. Yeah, exactly. And basically reading was a big factor theme or a plot, or is it more driven by whomever you're writing about?
Because me and Caitlin were talking about how characters seem to drive her stories rather than the plot, or do you think it's more about the theme or the plot of what you're writing? Hmm. I think with poetry, I can say it is the theme, you know. Now when it comes to stories, I think usually it's a character that comes to mind.
Yes. And then it's like, where would this character live at? What would this character be doing? Now there are some times where the plot itself comes to you before anything else.
Yes. It's just one of those things that you kind of just go with and see where it takes you because you don't, you know, you never know. The character might want to go on a totally different direction than you want to. Yeah, exactly, exactly.
It's kind of, it's like you said, it depends on what you're writing. Like poetry, I can totally see that it's more of a driven by a plot or a theme that you're working on. Like in this case, a lot of your poetry came from a, you know, a feeling of grief, of dealing with those feelings of loss. And of course, the people that you love, which, you know, in this case, you know, it is painful to lose a loved one, and it's never easy.
And then when you write your stories, it is, I can see how characters drive the plot. That's the way I feel when I'm working on any book, the character is what drives my whole story. Yeah. You know, and I remember talking to Caitlin the other day, and we were talking about how sometimes you can develop subplots in the story if you're writing about more than one character, and then you go back and fix all that with your characters, but kind of, it kind of aligns the rest of your story, right?
Yeah. It's all different. Like I said, this is a brilliant part about being a writer and being able to create these stories. But if, you know, and each writer has their own style and method going about, and it's, it's great to, you know, especially, you know, talking with the Coffeehouse writer crew, you get to see all these different ways and, you know, it's just, and then try to implement it into your own way, and you kind of grow, you know, just grow.
And that's really the way you grow is from reading and interacting with your contemporaries, you know, and yeah, exactly. And, and one of the things I can tell about you is that when I read your poetry, because I've seen several publications, right, that you've had poetry published now, right? Yes, ma'am. Yeah, and, and I, I can tell, like in each of your points, they're different.
Like now you've written this book, but you've had others that you've shared, and you, you know, do you write a little bit of everything in your life, or is it like selective? Can you share about that? I do use a lot of life experiences. Now I do have poems where it's, it's strictly nature-driven, you know, just sitting outside taking in, you know, a bird flying by or something like that, or a storm.
But I do use, you know, experiences of my own life with my poetry. Poetry is more a personal, you know, I get, you know, any, anything, you know, extricate any demons that I have, you know, it's, it's cathartic to get all those emotions out. Yes, and I can feel that every time I read your work, you know, I, I feel like I'm in, in that, in that, what you've been experiencing. Not that I know, but I feel the emotion, the, the, the passion or, or the pain that's coming through that poem or that particular work.
Well, and I'm, I'm really proud to hear that. I hate to hear, you know, say I'm proud to hear anybody feels the pain, but you do want that connection. But that, that, that's what you want with, with, like when people tell me, oh, I cried because of this story, you know, I shouldn't be happy, but I'm like, yay, I made them cry. But not in a mean way.
I'm like, yay, I can actually, I wrote a scene that affected someone, you know. Exactly, exactly. You know, and, and my husband is like, you're happy that they cried. Never mind that, you know, he does understand, but I kind of make a joke and he laughs because he knows what I'm saying.
But I'm like, I don't mean it in a negative way. I mean, in a very positive way. Oh yeah, that is all connections. That's really all, you know, anybody wants is connection, you know, just.
Exactly, exactly. So, so, you know, are you more of an indie author? I see that you have a publisher. What can you tell us about that?
Yes, I am signed with Hydra Publisher. Oh, congratulations. Thank you. I'm thinking it was the contract and we got the ball rolling with Requiem of the Dead.
And I have a lot of stuff that's upcoming with Hydra through Hydra and other publishers that work with Hydra with their anthologies. Yes, that's awesome. I'm so happy for you. Thank you.
So I tend, I hope to be very busy this year, this year, writing and publishing. Well, that's, that's what you deserve. Like I said, the whole point of this podcast that I shared before is to, you know, make sure to pay it forward for new authors that, you know, that are new like yourself, that obviously you're doing well with your, you know, your first, is it, would you say this is your first solo book, right? It is.
It is. And you're already at the number one, you know, Amazon bestsellers list. So, and I'm sure there's more to come from you. And, you know, like I said, it's always great to hear, you know, how well a new author and people that are listening right now through, through Anchor or iTunes or every, every platform that we have for this podcast.
The whole point is for other listeners to get to hear you and connect with you and share, you know what they think. And what can you tell us as far as your like social media, Chasity, where, where, where can we find you on social media? Okay. I can, I can be found on Facebook at Chasity Gaines writer.
Okay. And that's C-H-A-S-I-T-Y-G-A-I-N-E-S, correct? That's right. And then on Twitter, that's on Facebook.
Okay. And then my Twitter is at Chasity Ann, and that would be C-H-A-S-I-T-Y-A-N-N-E-G-A-I-1. Okay. So on Twitter, remember it's Chastity, C-H-A-S-I-T-Y-A-N-N-E and then G-A-Y, was it?
G-A-I-I-1, right? Yes. And that's You have an Instagram? And that one is C Gaines author.
C Gaines and then G-A-I-N-E-S author. So those are her, her social media. Is there anywhere else that they can connect with you or are those pretty much where they can find you? No, I am working on a webpage.
So as soon as I have that up and running, I'll, I'll be able to share that. I can't, but search my name and be able to find me that way. So BookBub and Is Requiem of the Dead, is that found just on Amazon or can we, are there other platforms? It's just on Amazon at the moment.
Okay. And it's the Kindle edition right now, correct? It is. Okay.
Will there be a printable edition just for anyone that's curious? I am definitely going to be checking in about that. I have to check with my publisher about the print version. So I, I am going to see about that.
I have a local bookstore here that's willing to let me do a book signing. So I really would like to get a few to have there. So we, we have to see. Okay, no, no, that's fine.
That's fine. I just want to make sure because in case anyone calls in or, wants to share, you know, send some, you know, some messages to you and please feel free to contact Anchor the daily with any messages that you have for, for Chastity. Of course you can, you know, send them to her directly, but you can call the show, let her know how you liked, you know, her interview and everything, call Anchor and I will relay those messages to Chastity because she's a wonderful friend person and now a bestselling author. So that's just awesome.
I really do appreciate you giving me the chance to be, you know, a little bit more public about it. So this has been really exciting for me. So, and you do so much for, you know, all the authors with, you know, your podcast and helping writers out with, you know, your tips that you share. So we really do appreciate what you do.
Thank you so much, Chastity. But like I said, I couldn't do any of it without you guys, you know, it takes a village, you know, all of us. And, and, and like I said, I go by my faith. You know, I always think, you know, how they say treat others as you would like to be treated.
And I always go by that rule in anything I do. And even when there's those that may not, I still do the right You know, everybody's support, it's been amazing. Well, you're just a great person, and like I said, you know, anytime you need any type of support, always, you can always count on me and anyone else that has supported you is for that reason because you're just a very supportive individual. You always have been, so.
I try. But it's been wonderful. And now, you know, thank you for joining me today, Chastity, and I want to say to all of you tuning in, I hope you'll check out her books, and if you want to connect with her, she gave you, she gave the information on our show, and I'm going to post it on the link for the show once I share the show with you guys. And you can find us on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify, and many other platforms that I will share with you guys.
So be sure to check out this interview. It should be out, hopefully, less than, probably less than 30 minutes. I will share the show with you guys. And whatever other questions you have, feel free to send them to Anchor or to connect with Chastity Gaines.
And thank you again for being here on The Daily with Silstein. Thank you so, so much. Thank you. Have a great one.
And this has been The Daily with Silstein on Anchor. Join us again for more wonderful interviews with authors such as Chastity Gaines and others. And our series will continue with how you write a draft, hopefully in the coming, next week. Thank you so, so much.
Have a happy, happy Friday, everyone. Bye-bye.