The Fall/Winter issue of the Philadelphia Art and Urban Literary Magazine is here and I’m the featured poet!

PAUL IS HERE!!
In this distinguished issue of the Philadelphia Art & Urban Literary Review are artists:
M. Tonita Austin, Tamara Diaz, James Dupree, Tim Okamura, Petronia Paley, Eva Preston, Danny Simmons and Richard Watson. Artist, Kathleen Spicer sits down with me to remember her late husband, renown painter, sculptor, Mr. Charles Searles who was also my great mentor and teacher. Read additional, compelling interviews with Artists: James Dupree, Tim Okamura, actress and visual artist, Petronia Paley, Danny Simmons and Richard Watson. Click the link to go inside. Stand by for details on how to collect this beautiful edition in print. Cover Art by Tim Okamura.

I am honored to be the featured poet with two poems gracing this beautiful body of work! Click the link below to look inside and let me know what you think. 💜

PAUL MAGAZINE

Monday Motivation: Expect the Extraordinary!

I used to be afraid to ask for everything I wanted because I was always told in words or actions that I wasn’t worthy. Now I intentionally surround myself with people who believe in me and push me to dream bigger and expect the extraordinary to happen. This season in my life is an exciting and reflective time for me. I see things I thought were impossible happening and miracles are manifesting. I am claiming what’s mine, I believe dreams do come true and I am worthy!

Don’t settle for less than you desire. Remove those negative thoughts from your head and if the people closest to you are placing those thoughts on your mind you may want to seek a new support system. 💜

❤Toni Love

#loveistheanswer #loveyourself

Download “The Restoration”

Toni Love is on Hear Now.com FREE OFFER!

You can now go to one site to choose how you want to experience Toni Love’s EP “The Restoration”. You can purchase the limited edition EP with graphic cover and artistry on the actual CD, or you can download one track or the entire body of soul-stirring poetry online. If you email me at tonitalove2@gmail.com with proof of purchase, I will mail you a Toni Love t-shirt for FREE! Wishing you a fabulous summer and days full of joy and LOVE!

https://tonilove.hearnow.com/

~ Toni

#loveistheanswer

Listen to Toni Love on London Radio; The Wayne Boucaud Black in 3D Best of 2016 Radio Show

I am honored to be included with these uniquely talented and remarkable artists on Wayne Boucaud’s “Best of 2016” Radio show compilation. I love the music my fellow artists are creating and I consider Wayne the London version of Don Cornelius of Soul Train because he is a relentless supporter of the arts and provides a stage for emerging artists to share their heart’s work with his audience! I appreciate the opportunity to share my love.

Listen in and let me know how you like the show. #loveistheanswer

 

Toni Love in Baltimore Oct 7th at Peace & A Cup of Joe!

I’m heading to Baltimore in a few weeks..Yay!

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I love my city but the only way I grow is to push myself outside of my comfort zone, so I’m venturing out to Baltimore, Maryland in a few weeks.  Heard Through The Grapevine, a fun, lively and classy open mic poetry event hosted by the fabulous Simply Sherri of Simply Poetic Entertainment includes a wine tasting. The intimate setting at Peace and a Cup of Joe, 713 W. Pratt Street is the perfect backdrop for a night out with friends or lovers. The doors open at 7pm and the first ten people will receive a FREE download of my new EP titled The Restoration .  I’m truly excited and looking forward to seeing my Baltimore, Washington DC and Virginia family! I will have copies of  my new EP The Restoration for sale as well as my signature  Toni Love T-shirts while they last.

Please be sure to follow me on Twitter  and Instagram and like my Toni Love Fan Page to stay updated on my latest shows and my weekly broadcasts on #Periscope. You can also find me on Reverbnation! Check frequently for new videos, shows and updates on upcoming performances.

If you’ve had a rough week, and need an emotional lift, come out on October 7th and I’ll be sure to give you all the love you need!

Thanks for visiting! Love, Toni

Toni Love in Baltimore Oct 7 and on Reverbnation!

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First I want to sincerely thank my new followers! I hope you enjoy what you see and hear and please return often and feel free to share to your friends!
I will be reading and performing poetry Friday, October 7th in Baltimore, Maryland at Peace and a Cup of Joe. The event includes a wine pairing and is hosted by the fabulous Simply Sherri of Simply Poetic Entertainment at Peace and a Cup of Joe, 713 W. Pratt Street. The doors open at 7pm and the first ten people will receive a FREE download of m debut EP titled “The Restoration”!  I’m excited and looking forward to seeing my Baltimore, Washington DC and Virginia family. I will have copies of “The Restoration” for sale as well as signature t-shirts while they last.
I also wanted you to know that you can find Toni Love on Reverbnation! Check frequently for new videos, poetry and updates on upcoming performances by clicking the link below.
Toni Love Reverbnation Page
Come out on October 7th and I’ll be sure to give you all the love you need!
~ Toni Love #loveistheanswer

Thanks for visiting! Love, Toni

Rewriting my story and owning it!

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I was clearing out my “drafts” folder and realized this post was never published. Two years ago, just eight months before the release of my debut EP “The Restoration”, I was given the opportunity to share the stage with two Maryland-based poets which was my first time as a paid feature. For me that was a milestone. I don’t get asked in my own city, maybe because I’m new on the scene, maybe my age and maybe because I don’t fall easily into any type of spoken word category but I am learning to sit comfortably with being not popular. I am okay with being different because it’s about the process of creating art for me and the energy I get when I know the audience is responding and feeling my written word. Ironically a month from now I will be featuring for the same poetic prowess Simply Sherri in Baltimore for her Heard it Through the Grapevine and I am looking forward to the experience. It’s a treat to be surrounded by the energy of the artists in the DMV and I can’t wait to see them again, they always give me so much love in return!

Anywhoo…just thought I’d post this and I hope that I will see you in October! Visit my  Facebook page for updates and more information or CD Baby to hear samples and download my debut EP titled “The Restoration”.  I truly appreciate the love!

I’m starting to understand how this life journey works. Half way into writing my story, just a few months from reaching what is supposed to be my golden year and I am finally giving myself permission to rewrite my story. Every few years I get to the end of a chapter, look back, reflect, revise, and restate my vision for my life before I move on to the next. This past Saturday night was one of those times when thoughtful contemplation met up with years of unconscious manifestation and moved me towards a new chapter in my life. When Sherri of Simply Poetic Entertainment contacted me to see if I would be interested in co-featuring at her first Philadelphia edition of Heard it Through the Grapevine, I was pleasantly surprised! I met her once as the spotlight artist (opening up for her and the other feature) last August so when she contacted me I had to make sure feature meant what I thought it meant before I got really excited. As she expanded on the details I knew I had to say yes. An evening of wine and love poems; that had Toni Love written all over it!  I started to think about the poems that I would recite. The flyers and event page went all over social media and I promoted the show with the same reserved passion that I always do but I was still nervous about making sure I carried my weight as a performer. 

I arrived early, asked them to save me a glass of Sangria from the wine tasting (I can never eat or drink before a performance, it makes my stomach uneasy!) and sat down to calm myself. What many don’t know is that I almost always completely blank out before a poetry reading. I can’t remember anything I’ve written and I often grab a book or start printing out poems so that I’ll have them in written form just in case. My biggest fear is that I’ll stand up and forget everything.  I panic, I pace and then I remember to sit down and breathe. As I sat I saw faces of love walk into the small gallery one by one. Friends who lived on the block I grew up on, a sorority sister who drove a few hours to get there, fellow poets, my Italian mother (that’s my nickname for her), and my brothers. I watched them add chairs as the room filled and the walls expanded. By the time I took to the mic it was standing room only. I was still nervous but excited and overwhelmingly grateful at the same time. Sherri said “you have a lot of support here..I’ve been asking who they are here to see..”  It was a vision that I didn’t know would be replicated seven months later at my EP release party. There’s nothing like looking out into a room full of faces that reflect genuine love. Nothing. 

I recited four poems and sang a bit too. It was an exciting night! The quote below is a comment sent to me the next day from the host of the event. I hope to see you at a performance venue soon. I will always return the love.  #loveistheanswer

Toni Love: I knew when I met you last year you were a dynamic performer and would wow that crowd. Your energy is incredible and your words were amazing. Let me know when you get that CD done, so I can get one.

Encouraging Young Writers in Philadelphia Today

received_10209380157758316My father loved to read and wrote a multitude of songs and essays yet published only one song in his lifetime. Today in his memory I am excited to be hosting a fundraiser for Philly Youth March and Voice4Justice. The event featuring Grammy Nominee Ursula Rucker and the extraordinarily musical Monica McIntyre begins today at 3pm at Alma Mater, 7165 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia. The suggested donation is $10 and children are free! Please come and encourage our young writers. And prepare to be blown away by the collaborations and energy in the room. 

Check out the Facebook event pageVoices for Justice Event for more details and I hope to see you there!

Peace and blessings and Happy Father’s day!

Toni Love #loveistheanswer

Who Am I? I Am You & We Are Connected!

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You may have seen my face, maybe took a minute to listen to a sample track or even purchased my debut EP titled “The Restoration”, but do you know my story? I love poetry because I love telling a story. I love music because it adds color to lyrical expression. When you listen to my CD, you experience the two dancing together. I tell a story of love, loss and renewal within each track on “The Restoration”. You can purchase it on iTunes, Amazon Music and CD Baby. If you would like an autographed copy, please purchase from my site —-> Toni Love Merchandise where you will find Toni Love T-shirts as well!

I am excited about my interview with Connected Woman Magazine! Although I’ve been fortunate to have my poetry featured in other online publications in addition to being interviewed for several online radio stations, this is my first magazine interview! It was a new experience for me and a lot different from radio interviews because I was given detailed, probing questions in advance and had to take the time to  write thoughtful, honest responses. Some of the questions were more difficult than others because it required me to dig deep into my past and revisit places I’ve long tucked away. This interview process was a welcome experience because it made me think about how my poetry could be used to guide other woman towards healing so they too can be restored.

I hope you take a moment to visit the Connected Woman Magazine online edition tomorrow, June 8th. I am honored to be featured along with several other fabulously connected women, and I hope you are inspired by us all. I am you, you are me and we are all connected!

Thank you in advance for the LOVE!

~Toni  #loveistheanswer

 

 

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