A WORLD APART, SIDE BY SIDE IN HEART

March 29, 2021, by Kerri Costello

It has been a REALLY long time since I have written anything here, but I figured what better time than now. Tomorrow, my Aussie Uncle Ivor’s book, Tullawalla, will be released which includes illustrations of mine!! Actually, since he’s in Australia, the book launch is there today. A world apart, side by side in heart. We both are so beyond excited and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of his very first book. I’m lucky to have such a creative, kind soul to call my family. We have a special bond and I just love him to bits!

It’s hard to believe that’s it’s already going on two years since my Aussie Uncle Ivor’s visit to the US. He stayed with my Aunt Reeny and Uncle Dennis for awhile before staying here for a few nights. His time at our place is a time I will always treasure. I remember waking up to Ivor already awake, with a poem almost finished, playing some music at the dining room table… just his style:) with a lemon ginger tea. We decided to go to our local Barnes and Noble. To a book lover, and writer, this is a paradise. My uncle couldn’t get over how big the store was. Of course, we quickly ended up in the poetry section. He decided to buy Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, and a Leonard Cohen book(his favorite musical artist). When we got home that night, Ivor read some of the poems out loud as we sat around the dining room table. The mention of him creating his own book came up. I said, “Go for it!” as I am a strong believer that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, and I have always loved his work. As he has loved mine and he said, “Okay, and you’ll do the illustrations” with a smile. Now, here we are!

You can purchase the book through Barnes and Noble here

https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/tullawalla-ivor-steven/1138809664?ean=9781666249422

and through Amazon as an E-book here

Follow Ivor’s poetry at

https://ivors20.wordpress.com/

Here’s a snippet from the Epilogue..