be the Uplifter is a refreshingly positive poetry book, striking back against a world simmering in a cauldron of anxiety overload. Each poem is a sugar pill of optimism and hope, nullifying despair and reminding you that "there is more of you in the cutting of the knife than the relenting of the bread".

Sharmay Mitchell's beautifully self-illustrated, debut collection banishes self-doubt to the naughty step and pummels you, in the kindest way, with all the encouragement you deserve, inviting you to hold your head a little higher with each page turn.

These are poems to hold close when the black dog is barking outside your door, poems to massage your emotional tendrils, poems to remind you what you are capable of, inviting you to unravel your knots of despondency and be the Uplifter.

Themes of triumph and overcoming, resilience, peace, conviction, self love, friendship and finding or regaining one's vivacity are explored as part of this uplifting collection. Each numbered poem represents the day on which Mitchell wrote it during her consecutive daily writing challenge.

Excerpt:

"936in the darkby random grabthe best of lifeyou try to nabthough it may notbe what you plannedthe future lieswithin your handsbut if you can'treach what you needamong the starsyou must proceeduntil you findwhat you desirejust persevereand never tire"