Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye

On By ResaIn Book Reviews, Street Art

It’s easy to read these memoirs, and think of your own first times. I kept thinking of my first times.

Nonetheless, these are D.G.’s first times gleaned from the garden of her life.

Whether it’s a commonality, such as diets, shoes or learning to drive, I see we are each alone, unique in our experiences.

First boyfriend or first kiss  are times when we are not alone during the experience. Yet, are we not experiencing the same things, each in our own way and own world?

I was struck with all the humour in these memoirs.
I thought…”Does D.G. know how funny she is? Even when in reality sometimes things aren’t so funny”?
Then at the end of the book re: “First and Last Love”,  she says “Humor. It’s the one thing that always got me through some of the darker moments in life.”

Resa – D.G., My question was before I read that, and still is – Did you know you were being funny when you wrote this? I mean did you have to think about adding the humour after it was written, or were you consciously being aware that you should write humor as you wrote?
OR –  Did you just write, and the humor presented itself naturally?

D.G. – My motto as a writer is – eclectic conversationalist. I write like I speak (of course with edits). I’m afraid my personality is always present in all my books – despite the content. I’m a storyteller, and this my friend, is my voice. Thank you for noticing and picking that out.

Resa – Well, D.G. don’t be afraid! (I’m being funny there!) Your personality’s voice is a queen. (not being funny here)

Now, one might ask, “What’s with all the butterflies?”

Well, I wanted some images to help express my thoughts and feelings. As I perused my photo files I kept picking out butterflies. I figured it was because a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, and is a new changed life. That seemed akin to having a first experience, and adding to one’s life.
Still, I felt there was more to it. Why? Then I saw it, on the cover of D.G.’s book, a Monarch butterfly.

Resa- I wasn’t going to ask, but now I have to. You will see why when you read the post. There is a Monarch Butterfly on your book cover. Why? Tell me about it!

D.G. – Lol, you have that observant eye my artistic friend. When the cover designer made the mock up, she placed it there by my name. I never thought anything but to keep it there, as butterflies bring messages from our lost loved ones. I love butterflies and felt it was an approval from my beloved husband, so it stayed.

“First and Last Love” is not one of the “Fifteen First Times”. Rather it is an addendum after the firsts.

D.G., a bright and shiny person, was cast into shadow after the death of her cherished husband.

As time passes, I see she has emerged into a light. Perhaps she is not as shiny yet, but she is as bright as ever!

Pics taken by Resa – 2018 – 2023 – Toronto, Canada

Artists include: Nick Sweetman, Christine Mazulla, Leyland Adams,

About the Author

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.

D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Visit her website at www.dgkayewriter.com and join her mailing list to keep up with her latest blogs and news about her books and events.

Follow D.G. on her social sites:

http://www.dgkayewriter.com

www.twitter.com/@pokercubster

www.facebook.com/dgkaye

www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7

Visit D.G.’s author page and books: www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7.

Podcast links: Grief the Real Talk

https://www.youtube.com/DebbyDGKayeGies

https://soundcloud.com/dgkaye

https://open.spotify.com/episode/38OoQQysdvNYjXL3pfCMMq?si=wg-DQ8_PSs-hthRtIzvpFQ

140 thoughts on “Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye”

  1. And in the dark, we might find the truth! I have many first times. And, of course, my first “falling in” love is the one that most lingered in my mind. Great interview.🤙🥰🌹

    1. Thanks Tim! xx
      Butterflies were all the street art rage for a few years. Now, I keep finding B&W art.
      The title… did you notice in the header there are 15 book covers?
      Lol! I thought I was being clever.

  4. Resa, blow me away with a feather. I love coming over here and discovering what new beauty you have created. What a treat to find my book featured here and our little bits of dialogue included. But the butterflies, yes the butterflies, are beautiful, and that you went to all this trouble to feature my book, I am so truly humbled. Thank you so much for reading, and posting about my book. You’ve started my day beautifully. Hugs to you. ❤ xox ❤

    1. Debby!
      I’m so happy I read your book!
      It is a butterfly book, in many ways. I love all the the firsts, and seeing the path of life continue.
      Did you notice I put the cover of your book 15 times in the header?
      I enjoyed making this post, and I value all the light you shed by being you.
      You say thank you! I say you’re welcome, and again, I’m so happy I read this book!
      So, it looks like a good day out there!
      Think I’ll grab a bit of it!
      Hugs to you, too! ❤ xox ❤

      1. You rock my friend. And yes of courseeeeeeee I noticed the 15 covers, while you were busy noticing butterflies. ❤ ❤ I am humbled at your lovely praise and all your work for putting this beautiful post together. ❤ xxxxx

            1. My pleasure! You make me think of a quote by an unknown – “Butterflies can’t see their wings. They can’t see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can. ❤ ❤ xxx

  5. What a beautiful idea for a book and what a beautiful interview too!
    I love the Monarch butterfly serendipity and how it was picked up by the cover designer and you Resa [gorgeous murals!] and how movingly perceived as the lost loved one’s approval.
    Congratulations D.G. and thank you dahling Resa for this wonderful post. xoxoxoxoxo

    2. Thank you dahling!
      Serendipity for sure.
      Crazy, but only 1 of the butterflies was ever used before. There was such a glut of them for a couple of years, that they wound up languishing in my photo files.
      Their purpose finally arose.
      The Monarch with the crown is a Nick Sweetman, and is on my home. That one was used before.
      Lotsa fun doing this post for Debby!
      xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxxxxoxxxoxo

      1. Crazy indeed! As if they were all waiting for the right moment! 😉 👌
        Kudos to both!
        xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
        Dahling, Hera also sends tail wags and…. slobberies! 😉 ❤️🐾😘

        1. Best slobberies in town! Nothin a sponge can’t handle! xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽xo🧽

            1. Well, a crate of sponges!
              🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽🚿 xoxo🧽

    1. Thanks Robbie! D.G. wrote a wonderful collection of memoirs. I enjoyed reading them, and I did think of many of my firsts.

    1. Yes, humour is a great gift. It’s at the fingertips of our minds. Laughter is a sweet pill.
      Debby and I share a love of high heels. I laughed when I read where she wore them. If I had “been her shoes”, I’d have worn high heels there, too.

        2. Thank you, Dave!
          Yes, they are painful now that I am older.
          When I was younger, they were comfy. I ran for buses wearing heels.
          I loved wearing them, and wore only heels for years. Wouldn’t be caught dead in flats.
          Working in film cured me.
          Now, I wouldn’t be caught dead without like a totally cool pair of killer sneaks! 🙂

          1. Thank you, Resa, for your thoughts and for your footwear trajectory. Hmm…I wonder if high-heel sneakers would be one of those grand compromises. 🙂

    1. Thanks and welcome dear John!
      I’m happy I read Debby’s book. It’s a wonderful thing to open eyes into others’ lives.
      🐂🐂🐂🐂

  11. DG sounds like a lovely, interesting person and I agree with her about kindness!! Sorry to read that she lost her husband. A sense of humor certainly makes life much better, in good times and in bad. Love the butterflies and while writing my comment, I looked to the right and saw a link to my husband’s site and a photo of our younger daughter’s work. That blew me away! 🙂

    janet

  12. This is such a lovely way to showcase Debby’s latest book which I recently finished and enjoyed. I feel the same about humor as she does, too. I also love the butterfly and its significance. Congrats to Debby, wishing her all the best, and thanks for sharing, Resa! ❤️🦋❤️

    1. It’s wonderful that you read Debby’s book.
      Yay!
      The butterfly caught my breath. I believe I had noticed it before, but it didn’t register.
      Or, perhaps it did subconsciously.
      Nonetheless, the butterflies worked out great. ❤️🦋❤️

  13. Wonderful to see Debby’s book here among your beautiful butterflies.. Debby has a wonderful way with humour in her books, even the harder ones she wrote still hold humour..
    Wonderful to see as I work my way through the reader 🙂 Have a wonderful week Resa.. ❤

    1. Thanks for weighing in, Sue!
      I love Debby’s connection to humour…. and to light.
      You have a great week, Sue! Glad to see you. xoxo

  14. I love that part about the butterfly on the book cover ~ Both why you were drawn to butterflies Resa and why Debby kept it there after the illustrator added it by her name. 🦋

    1. Serendipity is what it is.
      There’s always something a little magical, or spiritual about Debby’s undertakings.
      It was fun to share her book! x🦋o

    2. Thanks so much Christy. Resa certainly has an eagle-eye for finding details that others may overlook. I am humbled to have this beautiful review and post from Resa. ❤ xx

  16. Resa and Debby – I LOVED this interview. Resa – excellent questions and Debby – brilliant responses. You two make a dynamic duo. Fifteen First Times is a page-turner, full of wisdom, humour, pathos and hope. The quote that I kept close to me was: “My heart is shattered, but the laughter still lives within me….” Those words are a profound reminder that love continues and sustains us on the journey ahead.

    Hugs to you both…

    1. This is a special lovely comment, Rebecca.
      Thank you!
      The quote you cite is powerful and empowering.
      A fun and cool post for a fun and cool book.
      HUGS

    2. Hi Rebecca, thank you so much for the kudos here. It’s always a fun treat reading what Resa comes up with – no doubts, a review for my own book! And thank for picking out that quote that is so near and dear to my heart. I am glad that line resonated with you too. Hugs ❤

  17. The book sounds amazing, thank you for sharing it. Also, I was happy to read the part about Why a butterfly, and the little myth (true story, if you ask me!) about them being messengers of our beloved who passed.

    2. Dear Oloriel,
      I’m with you! Or better said, I’m myth you.
      I know you have a new book. I’d like to read that one day. You write beautifully!

  19. What a beautiful feature of our friend Debby and her wonderful book. This interview was fun but also touching We are all different, but all connected too. I love the butterfly theme, not only for how beautiful they are, but also the message of transformation related to firsts, and the signal of love from beyond. Great post Resa and Debby. Loved it.

    1. Hi Diana. Lovely to see you here. Thanks so much for your lovely words my friend. Resa has done a spectacular job with my reviewing my book here, and I am thrilled to bits. Hugs ❤ xx

    2. Thank you , Diana!
      I adore Debby’s book, and it was a joy doing this post.
      She always has great answers to my questions.
      It’s actually an honour to do these book reviews. I know they’re no normal, so for those enjoy them, it’s a thrill.
      Seems to me Debby and butterflies go hand in hand.
      xo

  20. What a delightful review and interview, Sorceress. I love Debby’s attitude (probably because I am very similar). I shall have to get this book.
    I love all the butterfly images, Resa. Wonderful how your eye picked it up and sent you in that direction as you looked for images.

    1. It’s a serendipity thing, think!
      I read it one first at a time, with my morning coffee. It was a most pleasant experience! xoxo

  22. Pingback: Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye – Graffiti Lux Art & More – DGKayewriter.com

    2. Thank you, Olga!
      It’s always a fun project where Debby is involved.
      For sure Debby has renewed my interest in memoirs, and reminded me of their importance.

  25. petespringer's avatar petespringerauthor

    I was all in as soon as I read the blurb. Most of the topics were things readers will be familiar with, and thus be automatically engaged.

  27. Pingback: New Reviews Still Rolling in for Fifteen First Times – DGKayewriter.com

Comments are closed.