Love Is Pain

Welcome, dear reader, to a journey through the tumultuous terrain of the human heart. Within the pages of this anthology, "Love is Pain," we embark on a voyage guided by the courageous voices of poets from every corner of the globe. Together, they weave a tapestry of emotion, exploring the complex interplay between love and pain—the ecstasy of connection, the agony of separation, and the bittersweet symphony of longing and loss. Love, that most beguiling of emotions, holds within its embrace the power to uplift and to devastate, to heal and to wound. It is a paradox—a delicate balance between joy and sorrow, passion and despair. And yet, for all its complexities, love remains an enduring force, shaping our lives in ways both profound and ineffable. In this collection, curated with care and insight by the visionary Brandy Leigh Lane, you will encounter a kaleidoscope of experiences, each poem a glimpse into the depths of the human soul. Through their words, these poets invite us to bear witness to the raw, unfiltered essence of love—to confront the shadows that lurk within our hearts and to celebrate the light that illuminates our darkest hours. As you turn these pages, allow yourself to be swept away by the power of verse, to be moved by the beauty of language and the resonance of shared experience. For within these lines, you will find solace in the knowledge that you are not alone—that love, in all its pain and glory, unites us in our humanity. So, dear reader, open your heart and brace yourself for the journey ahead. For in the exploration of love's complexities, we discover not only the depths of our own emotions but also the profound beauty of the human spirit.

Brandy Lane has lived most of her life in Indiana and Colorado. She published her first book, Where Beautiful Loves, in December 2020 under her imprint Where Beautiful Inks. Just after the release of her first book, she discovered anthologies as an option for publishing and has since had poetry pieces included in over three dozen publications. Publications include Poetry 365 by RDW (both abridged and unabridged editions) for November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June, and special editions of Creator and Self Portrait editions. Red Penguin Books has published her pieces in 'Tis the Season's, The Flower Shop on the Corner, and The Ocean Waves. Clarendon House Publications published her poems in their Poetica 2 and Poetica 3 anthologies, and her work was also included in Ink Gladiator's Press anthologies of The Rise and Fall of Chimera's and Gray, We Hide our Colors Within. Indie Blu(e) Publishing just published a mental health piece in Through the Looking Glass: Reflecting on Madness and Chaos Within, and their newest anthology, But You Don't Look Sick. 300 South Media Group has published her in As Darkness Falls, Shadow of the Soul, and features her first flash fiction piece in Sunset Rain. Train River Poetry has published her in Poetry 7. She also appears in Who's Who of Emerging Writers by Sweetycat Press. Most recently, she has been published by Harness Magazine in their November issue, and Silent Spark Press Amazing Poetry. Brandy can be found online: on Instagram and Facebook @wherebeautifullives.

Canadian by birth, Vaughn Roste currently lives in Indiana. He is a published author of books, plays, poems, peer-reviewed articles, book reviews, program notes for CD liners and Carnegie Hall, and a doctoral dissertation. His first book, The Xenophobe's Guide to the Canadians, was published by Oval Books in England. He has two WWII films currently in pre-production, ORADOUR and THE NINE LIVES OF WALKER HARRIS. His 20-min short film FIREFIGHTER was produced by M3 Studios and is available on Youtube, and another script entitled WORST. FILM. EVER. is scheduled to be shot later in 2023 by Milepost42 Studios. His stage play, THE NAME OF THE GAME won the Leo Award for Best Overall Script at the 2021 Da Vinci International Film Festival for Best Overall Script, beating out features and shorts - the first time a play has been awarded this prize. He is represented by Jason Bellitto at Citizen Skull.

Janaya Stephens joined Instagram under the handle @throughthelookingglasspoet, which was quickly and endearingly shortened to "LG"-which has become her pen name. She has always loved poetry and began writing at a very young age. In university, she played for the varsity basketball team; sports have always been her passion. Her majors were English literature and drama. While at university, she was cast in the stage production of Romeo and Juliet and found her true calling. She then went to theatre school in Toronto and has since begun a successful career in film and television. Janaya is a Canadian mother. She has a daughter and a son. When COVID hit, she was inspired to start writing again and discovered the poetry community on Instagram. It was there that she found enjoyment in reading others' poetry. Her live shows are popular, and her love of entertaining shines through.Janaya's most poignant pieces seem to stem from her experiences as a mother and her love for them. Nostalgia and time are recurring themes, as is a good dose of self-reflection. Janaya has just released her first book of poetry, A Little Red Book of Poetry, which is available on Amazon: https: //mybook.to/Littleredbook She is also working on a book of prose and short stories based on the true story of her experiences with her daughter when she was very ill and the ongoing challenges that they still face. Janaya has written a screenplay on the subject matter and a one-woman show for the stage. It just seems natural now to write a book.