A Sneak Peek...
Latest Rescue!
Bernie the Box Turtle
5/31/2025
I was just on my way to run a few errands today when I saw this sweet box turtle going the wrong way on a busy two-lane highway with high curbs, and heading straight for an even busier intersection! Try as he might, he was not going to get himself up off the roadway on his own. Fortunately, I was able to lend some assistance and the other drivers were very patient during the brief time that it took to rescue this wee one. Since I live not too far from where Bernie was rescued, I took him back to my house and released him into the woods behind my home. Just as a side note, these guys are pretty territorial and tend to live their entire lives in a 250 x 250 yard area of land. So if they are removed from the area they grew up in, they will do all they can to find their way back to that area. Additionally, in being moved to a new habitat, their odds of survival decrease significantlyfrom what it otherwise would be. Stay safe Bernie. It was indeed an honor being able to interact with you in this lifetime!
(See video below)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
Amazon Book Review
5/27/2025
A collection like a heartfelt conversation—honest and direct. The poems have a structure that drives the rhythm, as seen in “How Could I Not…”, while soft rhyme flows through pieces like “Sitting at Heaven’s Bus Stop…” and “Our Connection is Ethereal…”. There’s a nice mix of the serious and the playful. Across the board, the language is accessible and sincere. It’s a moving, down-to-earth collection that reflects on love, grief, and every shade in between.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R30QVU5KSMIGQ7/
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
Amazon Book Review
5/23/2025
This collection unfolds like a diary—quiet, personal, but striking in its emotional reach. The poems have steady rhythm, simple, but intentional.
Lines like "I’ve stopped when I should have went / Went when I should have stayed" from A Journey of Roads... make you stop, nod, maybe wince a little.
Themes are classic but heartfelt—grief (You Took Your Final Bow...), patriotism (Old Glory...), faith (God’s Always Near...), and quiet self-worth (Please Be Patient...). The structure stays consistent—short stanzas, clean rhymes. Sometimes it leans more song than poem, but that’s part of the charm.
The whole boook is not trying to impress, just trying to connect. And it does. Congrats on a really moving set of poems. Keep writing.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2233ZZWYO8DN2/
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
A memoir
Amazon Book Review
Reviewed in Spain on May 22, 2025
T.J. Christoff’s inspiring memoir transcends its sobering title by delivering a powerful message of resilience and hope. This compelling account traces a life that transforms from early challenges—childhood hardship and military family absences—into an ultimately uplifting journey of self-discovery.
Though Christi’s candidly shares struggles with depression and difficult moments of crisis, the narrative never loses sight of the human capacity for growth. Heartfelt poetic reflections like “It’s such a feeling deep inside, a lonely feeling, no place to hide” reveal not just vulnerability but profound self-awareness. Even when confronting the limiting refrain “you can’t change the world,” Christoff’s determination to seek a better path shines through.
The memoir’s greatest triumph lies in its remarkable conclusion after the death of her mother. After weathering relationships challenges and career obstacles, Christoff’s blossoms into a sense of peace later in life—a testament to the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. This uplifting testimony reminds us that even after life’s darkest chapters, new beginnings await those who persevere. Dedicated to her mother, this brief but powerful work celebrates the journey towards unexpected fulfillment, even amid life’s inevitable losses.
https://www.amazon.es/gp/customer-reviews/RUOBU27A3LDWI/
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
Amazon Book Review
5/20/2025
My Patchwork Heart by T. J. Christoff is more than just a poetry collection—it’s a deeply intimate journey through the emotional spectrum of a soul laid bare. With verses stitched together across decades, this book serves as a literary memoir in poetic form, capturing love, heartbreak, hope, survival, and everything in between.
What makes this collection so powerful is its authenticity. Each poem feels like a piece of the author’s heart offered to the reader—raw, honest, and unfiltered. There’s no forced rhyme or artificial polish here; instead, the strength lies in the truth of the emotions expressed. You can feel the late-night thoughts, the moments of silent strength, and the quiet triumphs after pain.
The chronological presentation adds another layer of meaning. It’s not just a book of poetry—it’s a map of a life lived, showing growth, healing, and the resilience of the human spirit. Christoff doesn’t shy away from vulnerability, and that’s what makes this work so relatable. Readers who have known grief, love, or transformation will see pieces of their own journeys mirrored in these pages.
Whether you're an avid poetry lover or someone looking for emotional resonance and reflection, My Patchwork Heart offers comfort, catharsis, and connection. It reminds us that even the most broken parts of ourselves can be mended into something whole—and even beautiful.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R11RCL2AYA7D5W/
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
Amazon Book Review
Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2025
It has been some time since I read poetry. Much too long. This book of poetry was the perfect reintroduction. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed all aspects of the authors craft. I enjoyed the variety of forms of poetry the author used. Very rarely was a classical (in my experience) four line, full sentence stanza form of poetry used. When it was, it was good to get back to that form. I was thrilled to experience short phrase or even single word lines of poetry. This provided the emphasis I needed. I also enjoyed how the single word or short phrase lines of poetry looked on the page. I saw it as "word sculpture". I recommend this book for anyone with a love of poetry,especially if they have been away from poetry for a while.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/customer-reviews/R25K5IHT489W42/
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Blog Post!
Snappy the Snapping Turtle
5/19/2025
It was Tuesday, May 13th around 6:30 p.m. I was driving home from work and only about two minutes from my home when I noticed her lying there. It was a large snapping turtle. She was likely migrating from a nearby pond to find a place to lay her eggs. I drove past her while driving the other way on a busy two-lane stretch of highway. She wasn't moving and I thought she must have been hit and killed already. I was processing my thoughts about what I had seen as I continued to drive. I pulled into my subdivision when the following thoughts entered my mind as I continued to process...
(Continue reading on page 4)
A Sneak Peek...
Now Live on Amazon.Com!
5/12/2025
This is the second volume in the second collection of original poems penned by author, T.J. Christoff. As noted in the description of T.J.'s first volume of Author of My Soul: A Collection of Original Poetry, T.J. sees herself as simply the conduit by which poems flow through. T.J. feels grateful to be able to share these works of poetry with others who may appreciate their meaning and the emotional stirrings they may evoke. When receiving the words she writes, T.J. may find a poem presents itself completely within a matter of moments, or with only a few words appearing initially as a quick thought, only to reveal itself to completion more slowly over time. There is no limit on what T.J. may write about, as again, she writes what she receives. However, most of the poems found in T.J.'s collections are easily understood. They are centered on real-life experiences with relatable, emotion-filled concepts that will surely tug at the tightest of heartstrings.
In addition to the Author of My Soul series, T.J Christoff has previously authored the following books: Suicide: One Person's Journey to Making the Choice; My Patchwork Heart: A Collection of Original Poetry (4-volume series and a complete collection); and, 366 Days to Mindfulness and Awakening (2-volume series)
(Poems for Vol. 2 located on P. 13.1)
A Sneak Peek...
Now Live on Amazon.Com!
10/5/2024
T.J. has just published volume 1 of her new series of original poetry titled Author of My Soul. T.J. has been sharing these poems with you here on her website as they have been created, and she will continue to share them with you here for the foreseeable future. Currently, you can find these poems located on page 13. However, if you would like to own your own copy of Author of My Soul, or any of the other works by T.J., you can find them on Amazon.com. T.J. would appreciate your feedback and she may be contacted through the chat in the lower right-hand corner of your screen, or you may contact her directly at tjchristoff1965@gmail.com.
As always, T.J. thanks you for stopping by and she hopes you find something to read that touches your soul today!
(Poems for Vol. 1 located on P. 13)
A Sneak Peek...
New Book Review!
Amazon Book Review
4/26/2025
What touched me most was how one simple thought, shared through a poem, can turn a life around 360 degrees from negativity to pure hope. Every poem in this my patchwork heart vol 3 feels like a heartfelt whisper from someone who's walked through both light and darkness.
The writing is honest, raw and refreshingly simple, making it easy to connect with each emotion. Whether you're a devoted poetry fan or simply looking for comfort and inspiration, this collection reminds you you're not alone. A tender, unforgettable treasure worth keeping close.
(Continue reading on page 14)
A Sneak Peek...
New Blog Post!
One more second, one more minute, one more corner, then you win it!
4/24/2025
This is it! This and, “It’s a brand-new day! It can either be a good day or a bad day, it’s up to me, and I CHOOSE to make it a good day!” This is how I’ve done it for so many years. Done what, you ask? It’s how I have managed to deny the reaper. It’s how I have managed to keep on keeping on when life didn’t feel like there was anything left worth keeping on for.
Today I am feeling those old familiar feelings again. I haven’t felt them in years. I must admit that I had forgotten what they actually felt like. Let me try to describe them...
(Continue reading on page 4)
A Sneak Peek...
New Blog Post!
React or respond? We all get to choose!
4/17/2025
The takeaways: Life is full of surprises. We all have our own “stuff” at any given time that can feel consuming or overwhelming…if we let it. But we really do get to choose! In almost all situations throughout our lives, we really do get to choose whether we will react or respond, and what that will look like. Granted, it does take work, but it is doable. So, what about you? When life sneaks up on and surprises you...
(Continue reading on page 4)
A Sneak Peek!
Poetry Reading from T.J.
T.J. has decided to start including a link with her poems so that, once clicked on, will open a YouTube page where you will be able to hear the author reading the poem to you. Look for the link at the beginning of the poem the link is associated with. T.J. hopes this will help bring a bit more life and feeling to the poems shared with you here. Check the "Featured ~ New Creation(s)" on page 2 for a sample!