Tender Philosophia

Tender Philosophia

Tender, erotic, and poetically unflinching. Tender Philosophia comes as a collaborative effort of two women writers from opposite sides of the world. Aphra and Leine weave verses of myth and reality into a tapestry of introspections, sorrows, and desires. The collection sifts through time and space, finding a flawless harmony between nature and spirituality. These two new voices from Taiwan and Finland write with a soft, yet infatuating intensity. With rich imagery and alluring stanzas, they invite you to gaze unabashedly into the core of their genius. - Blurbed by Anna Harmon, author of Paint Me A Sword "It feels like I've opened a chest of letters written in the ink of night. If the details of an oil painting could speak, this is what it would whisper about; two Goddess Girls in a secret garden, who walk barefoot among flowers, write poetry, and dance. These poems are a cathedral echoing with hymns of Greek mythology, two voices intertwining like colorful rays of light shining through a stained glass window - Young and ancient all at once." - Sallie Lundh, author of Apricity "It feels like I've opened a chest of letters written in the ink of night. If the details of an oil painting could speak, this is what it would whisper about; two Goddess Girls in a secret garden, who walk barefoot among flowers, write poetry, and dance. These poems are a cathedral echoing with hymns of Greek mythology, two voices intertwining like colorful rays of light shining through a stained glass window - Young and ancient all at once." - Sallie Lundh (@sirinteeth), author of Apricity "This poetry collection made me (someone who hardly ever reads poetry and is traumatised from analysing poems in school) a POETRY LOVER....I really cannot describe this poetry book any other way than calling it magic in its purest form - It made me reflect on what love is to me, on loss, on our existence and place in the world...These poems make me believe in magic." - Tamaki (@thetraincafe), part-time writer, full-time sea witch "this felt visceral, a deep blue and purple midnight moon gleaming on your lovers face as they read poetry to only you. it was longing and intimate....every word was masterfully picked, strung on threads of gold and laid down on pearl parchment." - Amanda (@reminiscingjusttheotherday) "Is it poetry or a tender, intimate caress of a lover that will never belong to you? Is it poetry or is it skipping barefoot on moss-covered, wet forest ground protected by the moonlit night sky?...Didi & Jonna: you created magic. Thanks for letting us readers live in your beautiful ancient minds for a while." - Greta (@read.withg), a slightly too obsessed book blogger "Modern poetry is something I'm always quite skeptical of (looking at u, rupi kaur), but this collection feels like it fell out of a different century - in the best way possible. Every single poem is like magic, something exquisite and strangely familiar melting on your tongue." - Nora (@amorbidlongingforbooks) When Didi Aphra is not daydreaming or frolicking in the woods, she is concocting wondrous word potions in her lair. Didi has previously been published in COSY MAG and the Dionysian Public Library. Her work primarily explores mythology, belonging, and sexuality. Didi is currently working on a short story inspired by the ancient cults of Aphrodite. Her debut poetry anthology, Tender Philosophia, is set to release in December 2024. Read more of her work on didiaphra.substack.com and find her on Instagram @didi.aphra. Under the night sky, that is where to find Jonna Leine. Her hours are filled to the brim with marveling about the existence and immersing herself in literary wonders. Jonna is a PhD candidate in comparative literature at the University of Turku. In her research and her writing, she explores the questions of identity, belonging, and the essence of a good life. She prefers to be surrounded by beautiful dreamscapes and has a degree in interior design from the Helsinki Design School. She also works as a songwriter in Finland and has received an honorary mention in a writing contest organized by the Oulu Writers Association and The Summer University of Northern Ostrobothnia. Tender Philosophia is her debut poetry book. Read more of her work on jonnaleine.substack.com and find her on Instagram @jonnaleine.