Publisher's Synopsis
The beauty of a phoenix is that they always rise again from the ashes - stronger and brighter than before - no matter how many times they fall.
In this collection, Walden delves into the topics we're often made to feel we aren't supposed to talk about. Love, identity, loss, grief, depression, joy between and within the darkness - the struggle and rawness of trying to exist as one's authentic self is examined here in beautifully thoughtful prose that is as vulnerable and personable as it is brave. This is a wonderful, moving read and I am so so glad they decided to talk about it. - JD Phillips, author of Notes By A Ghost and The Touching Spirits Series Walden Quinn Caesar has penned a poignant look at what some may find hits close to home, while others can't imagine. I found myself stopping, frequently, absorbing the emotions within the pages of this raw portrayal of fighting for identity, self-love, compassion, fear, loathing, and the fight to preserve life. I felt the emotions of their fear, anger, sadness, and the beauty of love found among the ashes. You can't help but cheer them on as they ride the crest of possibility. Equally there is the disappointment of another fall, another break, another battle to fight through hell, to the acceptance on the other side. It's the disappointment of societal "norms", of the horrible things that are "accepted", of battles fought inside the mind, and outside the body, which kept me cheering them on. They have found the beauty within, and around, and as it compounds, their Phoenix will continue to rise, and soar, above the disquiet of life. - Jude Miller, coauthor of Exploration Walden Quinn Caesar is a fantastic poet and storyteller with a refreshingly bold and unique poetic voice. Like their previous works, The things we still don't talk about contains verse that is very personal, raw, and painfully honest. Caesar's latest offering provides their readers with a variety of experiences; some surrounded by regret, some self-reflective, while others expose profound moments surrounded by beauty. - Jimmy Broccoli, author of The Red Time of the Year
