Day 5 of the #RRBC Spotlight Author blog tour with Forrest Stepnowski

I am thrilled to host a stop on this tour! Forrest is a wonderful poet who reaches deep inside to share his deepest, most personal thoughts and experiences with his readers.

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Author “Q & A”

Why do I strive to be authentic and honest in my poetic works?

Answer: My goal is to always give a voice to culture of people I often call the silent vulnerable. These are people who usually identify as “different” according to the heteronormative society we live in. These beautiful human beings are not necessarily identified as gay or lesbian. This could be something that is even more subtle then sexual orientation or gender identity. It could be an identity where they feel like a “geek” or a “nerd”; both traits of which I find within myself. It could be an identity of a little boy who wants to be a world renown dancer. It could be an identity of a little girl who wants to be an NFL football coach; for anyone who watched the Super Bowl this year or has ever been to a NYC Ballet, you understand that these dreams are becoming real more and more every day. There are some people who frown upon these ideologies, however. I wish I could say we lived in a utopian world where everyone could be free to be themselves. Can you imagine what a beautiful world that would be if this was possible? Share your thoughts with me on the comments below.

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Poetry Excerpt from “Journey to the Rainbow’s End”

Have you ever wondered?
Have you ever wondered why a child’s dream seems to bring the joy of nursery rhymes?
They fall asleep into neverland to fly with the lost boys, to disappear from their reality…
But the tears awake their tiny hearts, never understanding why life has foolishly picked on them under the bully’s thumb…
Have you ever wondered what life would be life if we held special powers?
Powers that would heal the world and feed the hungry?
But the news sparks reality, storms destroy countries, and fires destroy homes, and dreams of the innocent and vulnerable, as people ignore their grief and loss…
Have you wondered why songs heal the broken hearted?
Songs that grant hope that romance is always alive and send you into twitterpation where you will always love them?
But you remember you are not as special as the spell of the tune promised to be your one and only, and al you wish for is for someone to unbreak your heart…
Have you ever wondered if politicians actually did what they say they would do?
Bring rights to all, and end all policies that discriminate?
But the loud minority must be right all the time, in order to make themselves feel better in their foolish arrogance, superiority, ethnocentrism…
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if we all actually cared about humanity?
All humanity matters, no matter creed, sex, religion, or orientation?
But selfishness flows across the waters of jealousy, hatred, judgment, power, until sanity and lunacy become reality of those who once slayed the dragons of despair…
Have you ever wondered why the world stopped imagining?
Imagining hope, love, peace, charity, for all gods’ children?
But there are others who erase the rainbow from the sky, trampling dreams, to make themselves feel empowered, self-important, or self-valued, forgetting the souls of this before us.
Have you ever wondered?

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AUTHOR BIO – FORREST STEPNOWSKI

Forrest Robert Stepnowski is an advocate, writer, social worker, and performance artist in the Pacific Northwest. He has been writing poetic works and prose for most of his life. He realized how important it would be to share his work with others, who may have tread similar paths of self-hate, self-deprecation, and self-loathing, in the hopes that they find they weren’t alone. Helping others who have been deemed as “different” because of varying sexual orientations or identities to realize that they are not deviants nor are the “against human nature” has always been of grave importance to him. He wants this group of beautiful people to know they are part of a collective, on an island where being different is embraced and accepted.

Website/Blog: https://www.forresttakesajourney.press/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forrestrobertstepnowski

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/frstepnowski

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forreststepnowski

Journey to the Rainbow’s End: A Drag Queen’s Odyssey (Available on Kindle and Paperback)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CZ9GWCM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_To8nDb9107RYB