O Maxwell

Odessa Maxwell was born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1973. She is the author of a book of poetry and photography Thoughts of My Mind, Heart, and Soul (2006) and a recording of Maxwell reading and performing 16 of her poems on This Story is My Life (2007). Her work has been featured in The Best Poems & Poets of 2005 anthology, in the International Who’s Who in Poetry 2006 anthology, at the 2006 Academy Women 3rd Annual Symposium "Leading From All Fronts", in Maelan Magazine, and recorded on the Sound of Poetry. As a spoken word artist, Maxwell was nominated in 2007 for a National Underground Spokenword Poetry Award. She has also been a featured poet at the Prince George's County Health Department Black History Month Celebration, Making Herstory: A Feminine Perspective in Art and Words, at the 11th Annual Poetry Ink, at Blacks in Government Black Author Expo. She has served as the guest poet at the Academy Women 4th Annual Symposium Remembrance Ceremony in 2007.
Maxwell graduated the Class of 1994 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. She was honorably discharged and resigned her commission in May 2006 in order to pursue her writing career and to devote herself to her three children ages 11, 7, and 6. Maxwell is a member of the Military Writers Society of America. She is a pet therapy handler for two therapy dogs for the Maryland’s Prince George’s County Pets on Wheels. Maxwell is a handler, owner, and trainer of AKC Chinese Crested Dogs.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2005: "Brilliant Beautiful Ebony Blue" published in anthology The Best Poems & Poets of 2005, Aug
2006:
"Beautiful, Woman, Thou Art" published as Academy Women 3rd Annual Symposium "Leading From All Fronts" theme supported poem, Oct
Awarded International Who's Who in Poetry 2006 status, Nov
"Didn't Get a Chance" awarded Editor's Choice Award and selected as one of 33 other poems to be included on the "Sound of Poetry" CD set, Nov
Thoughts of My Mind, Heart, and Soul published by Lulu.com is currently available to retailers and readers at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com as well as www.lulu.com/OMaxwell
Ms. Stephanie Bright and Maelan Magazine published “Say A Prayer”, Dec
2007
Featured in Maelan Magazine Big Bang issue, Feb
One of the featured spoken word artist at Prince George's County Health Department Black History Month Event, Feb
One of the featured poets for Making Herstory: A Feminine Perspective in Art and Words, Feb
Guest poet at Takoma Park Academy Teen Talent Show, Mar
Featured in Widows Webb Magazine, Mar
“No Choice of His Own” nominated for the 2007 National Underground Spokenword Poetry Awards in the category of Why Didn’t I Think of That Writing Award, May
The Academy Women 4th Annual Symposium Appointed Poet for the Remembrance Service, Oct
REVIEWS:
"5 out of 5 stars...Her poetry reflects so much of her inner and outer worlds. She exposes her vulnerability and leaves the reader a naked profile of her very soul. She is not afraid to share as she states in her poems--"true to be myself ", "true to be with my feelings "! She writes from her feeling "woman side" of her brain but also shows strong male warrior energy as well..."
-W. H. McDonald Jr., President of MWSA
"4 out of 5 stars...Tranquil thoughts and refreshing masterpieces are featured in THOUGHTS OF MY MIND, HEART, AND SOUL. Maxwell pours her whole being into the words inked in this book...Maxwell offers 50 poems that will stretch your imagination and warm your soul. The love that is expressed in each poem will encourage you to share more of yourself while being thankful for all that you have in your life. THOUGHTS OF MY MIND, HEART, AND SOUL would be a wonderful gift for a close friend or loved one."
-The Deltareviewer, 2005 Marguerite Literary Awards Best Reviewer
"4 out of 5 stars...She writes from the soldier's standpoint the way few others have: few women poets have the service Maxwell has had. Yet these are not poems relegated to patriotic pomp: these are responses from the heart about survival, about caring, about love waning and lost, about need, and about holding tightly to the core of her being. Accompanying the poems in this, her first book, are examples of her avocation as a photographer. The results are a works as straightforwardly honest in observation as her words and they add to the flow and rhythm of the poems rather than supplying page-filling decor..."
-Grady Harper, Amazon 9 Reviewer
Peace & Blessings, the Word & the Wisdom...Wednesday night at My Way Cafe in Laurel, MD there was gathering of Poets that was historic in scope and relevance to the Spoken Word Genre. These Lyrical Titans all came humbly to the stage and shared their Magnificent Talents with the Truly Blessed Patrons that were present. The night was further confirmation of our mantra; WE are Greater than "i"…Odessa Maxwell; Rising Star ~ This Queen is relatively new to performing her poetry on stage, but you would never had known that last night. She stepped to the stage and put her Life on The Line. To be a witness to her growth is a privilege not to be taken lightly. Be Blessed!!
-The Poetry Man, Spoken Word Artist
“...we loved her quiet storm. She is definitely blessed and we loved her lyricism. We definitely learned something from her and we were moved.”
-V. Menefee, Member of the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Thoughts of My Mind, Heart, and Soul is a soulful collection of poems and photographs that takes you on a journey through womanhood and empowerment, patriotism, faith, family, relationships, and loss. Maxwell evokes a simple yet poetic flow of words that sing to her readers with an easy rhythm like the beating of one’s heart. A must have as a preview to her follow-on anthologies that she is currently compiling. Included in the collection are previously published and recognized "Brilliant Beautiful Ebony Blue" in anthology The Best Poems & Poets of 2005; and "Beautiful, Woman, Thou Art" published in 2006 to support the Academy Women Third Annual Symposium and theme: Leading on All Fronts. Ms. Maxwell is a member of the Military Writers Society of America and has been invited for inclusion in the 2006 International Who's Who in Poetry.