Valerie Volk Boeken

Navigating the emotional turmoil of a cancer diagnosis, this chronicle captures the journey from disbelief to fear and uncertainty. It offers a personal perspective aimed at comforting others facing similar challenges, fostering a sense of connection and shared experience. Through candid reflections, readers are invited to confront their own feelings, ultimately finding solace in the understanding that they are not alone in their struggles.

The narrative explores the deep connection between a man and his grandmother, a free-spirited woman who struggled with letting go of her son despite his departure from their homeland. This poignant tale delves into themes of family bonds, identity, and the impact of generational ties, highlighting the emotional complexities of love and separation. Through this reflection, the protagonist seeks to understand the enduring influence of his grandmother's spirit on his family's history.

The collection offers a unique poetic journey across South America, inviting readers to explore vibrant landscapes and cultural experiences through daily poems. From the breathtaking Iguassu Falls to the lively Peruvian marketplace, each poem captures the essence of exotic locations and personal reflections. The writer shares vivid imagery and moments that evoke memories, transforming travel experiences into art. This work blends travel narrative with introspective poetry, making it more than just a travelogue.

I am indeed a partof all those I have met,and must learn who I am. A politician, a cooking contest winner, a troubled clergyman, a much-married socialite, a TV evangelist - what could they have in common? Why do they (and half a million others) travel to Oberammergau, the small German village that has staged a Passion Play every tenth year since 1634? In a four-day bus trip, very different people are drawn together for diverse reasons, similar to the varied group whom Chaucer brought to life in his Canterbury Tales . But these travellers do not tell invented stories to entertain each other; they reveal to us with raw and often painful honesty their own lives and motives. Shortlisted for the 2014 OMEGA Writers CALEB Poetry Prize