Unrequited: Poetry and Prose (Paperback or Softback)

"Unrequited love brings the most inspiration. And the most pain." -Brandy's muse from "Where Beautiful Loves"

From the Forward by Stevie Flood: A myriad of captured moments that delve deep into the intricacies of unrequited love—the timeless struggle of unfulfilled longing, unsaid words, and heartache that leaves a lasting imprint on the soul. In this poignant exploration of unrequited emotions, we embark on a path illuminated by the ethereal glow of Brandy Lane—a metaphorical lane that represents the emotional landscapes we traverse when faced with unreciprocated love.

Each page of this collection is a carefully crafted journey into the hearts and minds of individuals yearning for a love that remains elusive, either lost to time or never truly attained. Unrequited love is a powerful, universal experience that transcends boundaries and speaks to the core of human existence. Through these narratives, we aim to capture the colorful hues of this emotional spectrum—the joy, the pain, the acceptance, and the growth that stems from unreturned love. With authenticity as our compass, we present a collection of stories, poems, and reflections that mirror the diverse facets of unrequited love and resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Through the words penned on these pages, you are invited to reflect on your own experiences, empathize with the characters, and find solace in the realization that unrequited love is a part of the human experience, one that shapes us and, in its own way, makes us stronger.

Come, join us on this emotional expedition down Brandy Lane. Open your heart to the bittersweet tales that lie within and discover the beauty and resilience that often emerge from love unfulfilled.

Brandy Lane has lived most of her life in Indiana and Colorado, where she has raised four beautiful children. 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. In 2023, she curated and edited, Winter, A Poetic Anthology which is a collaboration of 25 poets from all over the world. It spent 5 days at #1 in New Releases in Anthologies on Amazon. A hopeless romantic, Brandy draws inspiration mainly from nature, but also from human connection. Her poetry is much like her personality, showing vulnerability as well as strength. The muse that she writes to is someone who taught her she is worthy of love, that she is "enough" and yes, "sometimes more than enough." She finds beauty in every situation, which sometimes is her greatest curse. In her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors in the mountains, taking in the sublime views. She also loves a good board game, acting, singing, and video chatting with her favorite friends all over the world. Brandy can be found online: on Instagram @wherebeautifullives and Facebook @Where Beautiful Lives

Valerie Lorraine is an author of poetry. She has 2 published books of her poetry collections, and 2 previous anthologies that includes a heathy body of work from a total of 24 beautiful Poets. She continues to work on more books which include both her own work & more anthologies. Valerie works as an Editor, Writing Coach and Self-Publishing Consultant. Her goal is to direct & encourage those who desire to create a legacy with their pen & their heart. She helps them bring the vision of their art to life. As an advocate, Valerie gently offers her message. She encourages strength & self love for survivors of domestic violence & emotional trauma. It is a message she wishes she didn't understand, but is well aware it helped create the person she is proud of today. Valerie is extremely active as a host & mentor. To find out more, Valerie Lorraine can be found on Instagram @valerielorraineproductions Books by Valerie can be found on Amazon at amazon.com/author/valerie_lorraine

Residing on the beautiful Maltese Islands, Stevie Flood has captivated most of her magnificent essence in writing, by the attention of no other than the landscapes alone. Seasonal changes on the island bring out her colourful pieces of ink to light.At the ripe old age of four, Stevie began her literacy journey. Very special thanks to her father, Peter Flood, who always encouraged her on a whole other level - to be inspired by the outside world around her, and detail it to its very core of how magnificent ink could be, if it is described down to the very last drop of ink, in her mind only then the story will be complete. Making her life as full as can be, these fine pieces of ink were motivated by unfortunate events, and now slowly shimmering memories remain of the man she writes her pieces to. If you would love to find out more and read more of her amazing poetry, just look her up on: Facebook at: https: //www.facebook.com/stevie.floodauthor/Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/stevie.flood/TikTok: https: //www.tiktok.com/@stevieflood4