Member Feature - Boomie Bol

November 3, 2020

We met Boomie through Instagram and immediately fell in love with her and her words. Once you get the chance to read her poems, you'll be in awe of how each one of her pieces speaks true beauty. Her words are so relatable as she writes about love, life and loss. So we were thrilled when we found out she joined our community. She recently self published her poetry book "Paper Heart" and we highly recommend that everyone gets a copy! Here's our interview with her.

When did you start writing poetry?

I started writing around age 5 behind my bible about world peace. God forgiving the devil and for a better world. My first shared poem was at age 13, a gift to my school principal titled “Universal Woman”

Why did you decide to start sharing your words on Instagram?

I had been writing on my blog (www.boomiebol.wordpress.com) for years. In 2018 I was walking out of my local library when my eyes caught a book. I stopped to look at the book…it was then I realized there were poets who wrote like me and shared their works on Instagram. I went home that day and googled this poet and found other poets all of whom were doing well in their own right. I decided to start sharing my poems on IG that day and shared a poem almost everyday from then in 2018.

You recently published a poetry book called paper heart. Can you tell us how you came up with the title?

paper heart was not the original title nor manuscript. There were several manuscripts and titles that did not make it (this process has been years in the making). paper heart was a last-minute choice…because it was one of the oldest poems in the collection that finally made it…and it depicts the simplicity of things for me…

Which self-publishing platform did you use to create your poetry book and why did you decide to use it?

I used Amazon KDP. It seemed like the most ideal and popular. I knew nothing of self-publishing when I was going into this. Which was one of the reasons it took me a long time to get a book published. I felt like I needed to be published the traditional way to be validated and seen as a “true” writer…my editor and friend, Ken Powell who is a successful author and has been through self-publishing a few times recommended it and held my hand through the process.

What was the inspiration behind your book?

Everything. It is birthing a lifelong dream that seemed nearly impossible. It is finding purpose in my own time…walking in it…and hoping to leave seeds that benefit others. It is telling myself that the world needs me and my dreams despite the doubts that scream at me. It is showing my twin daughters that they can do anything because I did it…I am doing it.

What advice would you give to a poet just starting out on Instagram?

Keep writing. And do not be afraid to interact with other poets and writers. There are so many great people out there who are willing to engage and help. You might just need to take the first step to find them. And again keep writing. Your audience. Your own cheerleaders. Your own support system. They are out there waiting to read your words.

Where can others find you and where can we purchase your book?

My debut poetry collection “paper heart” is now available on all Amazon sites (more options coming soon).

Amazon sites to purchase paper heart by Boomie Bol in paperback or e-book

USA- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735040827

UK- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1735040827

Germany - https://www.amazon.de/dp/1735040827

France - https://www.amazon.fr/dp/1735040827

Spain- https://www.amazon.es/dp/1735040827

Italy- https://www.amazon.it/dp/1735040827

Canada- https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1735040827

I am on all major social media platforms:

Instagram: @boomiebol