The Sandpiper’s Spell
“A startling intuitive new poet–one to watch” – Kirkus Reviews
“Pearson's masterfully observant debut poetry collection scours littoral and urban landscapes... Both vastly panoramic and deeply introspective, Pearson’s writing explores both the wonders of nature and the shifting landscape of the human mind.
— Kirkus Reviews | ★ BEST BOOKS OF 2019
The Sandpiper’s Spell
By Tom Pearson
Ransom Poet Publishers
Category: Poetry
Paperback $17.00
March 31, 2018
ISBN 9781088057827
E-Book $9.99
April 6, 2018
ISBN 9780999595183
HOW TO BUY
Available to order through your local bookstore (use Ingram ISBN: 9781088057827)
Or order online at:
The Sandpiper’s Spell ricochets through time and space, collecting psychic and geographic memories, images, and artifacts to assemble as the ingredients of metamorphosis.
Reader reviews and more at Goodreads:
Photo & Video
From the Book Launch event at the Red Room in New York City. April 11, 2018
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![Two women sitting on a leopard patterned couch, one reading a book and the other holding a book titled 'The Sanpiper's Spell,' with art on the wall behind them.]()
Roxanne Kidd, Rebekah Morin
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Tom Pearson reading from a script in front of a microphone, with a piano and red curtain in the background.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Books and promotional materials for the poetry collection "The Sandpiper's Spell" by Tom Pearson on a wooden table, with shells and stones, and a plush bench in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Tom Pearson, a man with a beard and goatee, wearing a dark shirt and a beanie, standing in front of red velvet curtains, speaking or singing into a vintage microphone.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man, Tom Pearson, with glasses and a brown beanie signing books at a table in a dimly lit restaurant or café.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men sitting at a table in a cozy, dimly lit restaurant. The man on the left wears glasses and a beanie, holding a smartphone. The man on the right wears a gray sweater. There are stacks of books titled 'The Sandipper's Spell' on the table.]()
Tom Pearson, Edward Rice
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men standing close together in front of red velvet curtains, one with a beard and a beanie, and the other with short hair and a striped sweater, smiling at the camera.]()
Tom Pearson, Edward Rice
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A smiling older woman with glasses and a purple jacket sitting next to a bearded man with a beanie, both sitting on a cream-colored tufted booth in a cozy restaurant setting.]()
Maggie Morris, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman and a man sitting closely together, smiling at the camera inside a warmly lit room.]()
Renata Zhigulina, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with a beanie, glasses, and bracelets signing a book at a table filled with copies of his book and a laptop, at a book signing event in a dimly lit room.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman and a man posing together indoors. The woman has short black hair and is wearing a black top with earrings and a necklace. The man has a beard, is wearing a gray beanie, and a black shirt. They are smiling at the camera.]()
Mayuna Shimizu, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men sitting in a cozy restaurant or bar, smiling at the camera. The man on the left wears a hoodie with 'LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE' written on it. The man on the right has a beard, wears a dark shirt, and a beanie. Wooden shelves with books and decorative objects are behind them.]()
Nicky Paraiso, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Three men smiling and hugging in a bar or restaurant setting, with a man in the background holding a glass.]()
Alberto Denis and guest with Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men sitting at a table signing books at a book signing event, with a woman and other people in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People socializing at a bar with a wooden counter, hanging glasses, and warm lighting in an indoor setting.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Group of four people socializing indoors, engaged in conversation, with warm lighting and decorative background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men hugging each other at a social gathering, with one holding a magazine and a glass of beer in his hand, while other people are seen smiling and chatting in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People at a social event exchanging documents and smiling, with a colorful art display in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People socializing in an art gallery, with colorful paintings on the walls in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man and woman sitting next to each other, the woman is holding a book titled 'The Sandpiper's Spell' by Tom Pearson, and they appear to be at an event or gathering.]()
Liam Barber, Elizabeth Carena
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A group of people gathered at a social event in a restaurant or pub with wooden walls and shelves in the background, engaged in conversation.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People socializing and laughing at a bar or restaurant in a dimly lit setting.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman and a man smiling and posing together indoors, with colorful paintings and other people in the background.]()
Donna Ahmadi, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with a gray hat sitting next to a woman with short dark hair, standing in front of a red curtain, with the woman pointing forward and holding a drink.]()
Tom Pearson, Tara Ocon
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man wearing glasses, a dark shirt, a watch, and a green beanie, sitting at a table signing a book with a gold pen. There are stacks of copies of a book titled 'The Sandpiper's Spell' Several people are in the background of a cozy, setting.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with glasses and a beanie sitting at a table in a restaurant, handing a book or notebook to a woman standing in front of him in a dimly lit restaurant setting.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Group of people at an indoor event, some reading and others talking, with a man in the foreground with a beard and dark shirt sitting at a table.]()
Kendal Henry, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men sit on a beige leather couch smiling and talking; one holds a drink with a straw and lime, the other has a stack of pizza boxes in front of him.]()
Tom Pearson, Edward Rice
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A group of people socializing at a bar, smiling and talking, with glasses hanging upside down above them.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Three men smiling and posing in front of a red curtain and piano.]()
Zach Morris, Nicky Paraiso, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two people smiling, a woman with curly gray hair and glasses, wearing earrings, and a man with a beard and beard, wearing a beanie, leaning towards each other in a cozy restaurant with warm yellow walls and shelves with books and decorations in the background.]()
Muriel Miguel, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Group of people engaged in conversation at a social gathering, with some smiling and others touching their faces, in an indoor setting.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman with red hair wearing a leopard print coat and a hat is handing a business card to a man with a beard, wearing a beanie, seated at a restaurant or bar. Several people are seated in the background, and there is a basketball-shaped purse on the table.]()
Tom Pearson, Amy Van Doran
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two women sitting at a table in a dimly lit restaurant or café, one woman is reading a book or menu while the other is looking on, with several other people sitting in the background.]()
Deborah Ratelle, Muriel Miguel
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with a beard and mustache wearing a green beanie, black shirt, and jewelry, smiling while holding a pen and a phone, sitting on a cream-colored tufted chair in a warmly lit room. A woman with short red hair wearing a leopard print coat is standing next to him, possibly signing an item.]()
Amy Van Doran, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with a beard and a blue baseball cap sitting at a table with a red curtain in the background, while three women are engaged in conversation nearby]()
Jack Cummins
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman with dark hair tied back, wearing a black jacket and white shirt, is partly hidden behind a red doorframe, looking to her left in a warmly lit interior.]()
Renata Zhigulina
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Three people engaged in conversation at a social gathering, two men and one woman, with drinks in their hands.]()
Jennine Willett, Alberto Denis
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A table display with copies of the book 'The Sandpiper's Spell' by Tom Pearson, rocks, and shells, set against a tufted beige upholstery background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A group of five people sitting around a table in a bar or restaurant, engaged in conversation, with two women holding wine glasses and one man holding a beer bottle.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A group of six people engaged in conversation at a table in a restaurant or café, with colorful abstract paintings on the wall in the background. Four people are seated at the table with three glasses of red wine and a lit candle, while two others stand nearby, all appearing to enjoy a social gathering.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People socializing and talking inside a dimly lit bar or restaurant with bottles of alcohol on shelves in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Poster for Green Fairy at the Red Room, featuring a woman with short curly red hair holding a drink, with red and green background, on a wooden table with a candle holder.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Four people smiling and chatting at a social gathering, holding drinks, in a dimly lit indoor setting.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A woman with long dark hair wearing a crocheted sweater decorated with colorful pom-poms leans on a table, looking up at a man with a beard and head covering, who is holding a glass of wine and smiling at her.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man, Tom Pearson, with a beard and mustache, wearing a beanie, navy blue shirt, and gray pants, standing on a stage with red curtains, holding a vintage microphone, smiling.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man, Tom Pearson, wearing a brown beanie, dark blue shirt, and gray pants holding a smartphone, standing in front of a vintage microphone on a stage with red curtains.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People holding and examining copies of the book titled "The Sandpiper's Spell" by Tom Pearson, with a glass of white wine on a dark wooden table.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![People socializing and laughing at a lively indoor event with warm lighting, tables, and stacks of papers or pamphlets.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two smiling men, Sean Hagerty and Tom Pearson, posing together indoors, one with glasses and a hat, the other with a beard and a beanie, in front of a shelf with decorative items.]()
Sean Hagerty, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Two men engaged in conversation at a social gathering, one holding a notebook and the other a pen, with a group of people and a red curtain in the background.]()
Sean Hagerty, Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Group of people socializing indoors at a party or gathering, with some holding drinks and engaging in conversation.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![A man with a beard, wearing a blue shirt and gray pants, standing on stage in front of red curtains, reading from a paper with a vintage microphone. There is a black piano behind him and an audience member visible in the foreground.]()
Tom Pearson
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver -
![Dimly lit stage with a black piano, a vintage microphone, and a red curtain, with empty chairs and a silhouette of a person in the background.]()
The Sandpiper’s Spell
KBG Bar Red Room Book Launch, NYC, 2018;
photo by Joshua Dutton-Reaver
“Above all, Pearson demonstrates a mastery of imagery."
— BookLife by Publisher’s Weekly
Reviews & Awards
News & Reviews
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KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST INDIE BOOKS OF 2019.
The Sandpiper’s Spell is chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2019.WRITER’S DIGEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARDS
“Tom Pearson's "The Sandpiper's Spell" employs vibrant, carefully-crafted language to paint engaging, imagistic scenes exploring some of life's essential questions. The collection has a deft control of image and metaphor, with beautiful imagery and turns of phrase throughout. The titular "Sandpiper's Spell" depicts a "shell of upturned ocean" beside a "salted city," the evocative language drawing the reader in to a poem, and a larger collection, rich with mystery, lyricism, and beauty.” — Judge, 29th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Award -
Kirkus Reviews | ★ Starred Review | January 4, 2019
Kirkus Reviews BEST INDIE BOOKS OF 2019
"Pearson's masterfully observant debut poetry collection scours littoral and urban landscapes... Both vastly panoramic and deeply introspective, Pearson’s writing explores both the wonders of nature and the shifting landscape of the human mind. A startlingly intuitive new poet—one to watch.”BookLife by Publisher’s Weekly | Review | 2019
The Sandpiper’s Spell Review
"Above all, Pearson demonstrates a mastery of imagery."Readers' Favorite | 5★ Review | September 6, 2024
The Sandpiper's Spell Review by Asher Syed
"... a wonderfully textured poetry collection, and its strength lies in the precision and beauty of the language. Pearson’s writing draws readers in with almost tactile imagery and moments of quiet intensity. Pearson’s voice is distinct and measured, and his skill in pulling out powerful emotion without even a hint of forced sentimentality sets the work apart from other contemporary, mainstream books. The Sandpiper’s Spell is a finely honed and rewarding read for those who appreciate both form and feeling in poetry."Foreword Clarion Reviews | Review |
The Sandpiper’s Spell Review by Jeana Jorgensen
“Tom Pearson’s The Sandpiper’s Spell contains poems that meditate on nature, life, death, and memory, using language in startling and dazzling ways… Intertextuality and keen attention to word choices mark these poems as texts to linger over and return to. They implicate humanity in the encroachment of cities upon coastlines, too, with subtle ecological messages that sit alongside ruminations on tourism and culture, on memory and identity.”Online Book Club | Review | July 31, 2018
Official Review: The Sandpiper's Spell by Tom Pearson by J.R. Mercier
"Stunningly reflective... The Sandpiper's Spell is a relatively short poetry read but Tom Pearson fills each page with an abundance of evocative language." — Online Book Club (Review) -
No Proscenium | Podcast Interview | February 9, 2019
Podcast Interview with Tom Pearson and Kathryn YuMovers & Shapers | Podcast Interview | March 13, 2018
Podcast Interview with Tom Pearson and Erin Carlisle Norton -
Blasting News | Interview | April 16, 2018
‘The Sandpiper’s Spell’: Interview with poet and theater visionary Tom Pearson, with Meaghan MeehanExcerpt:
MM: How long did it take to write all of these poems and how did you decide on fundamentals such as spacing, punctuation, and all those little elements that can so influence how a poem is read and absorbed?
TP: I took about six months to assemble the book, but some of the poems are much older, and I’ve been honing them for many years. I usually free write the images and then spend months going back and distilling the images down to the most minimal but potent language. There’s even a section two-thirds into the book where it gets incredibly condensed as the story starts to arrive in haiku-esque, minimal flashes of juxtaposed imagery. I work through a kind of distillation and alchemical process. I also consider the writing visually –– often forgoing punctuation or other grammar in order to paint them on the page in a way that encourages intended pacing and rhythm –– but also with open space for the reader to connect stanzas in their own unique ways and perspectives.
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"The Sandpiper's Spell' feels like an homage to the fragility of life. Death so close, but beauty closer. It requires slow, deep, repeated reading. The imagery is complex and layered. Often unexpected, like a dance, a quick shift in direction." — Andrea Lepcio, playwright and author of Looking for the Pony
★★★★★ A fine, sensitive voice
“When you read a lot of single-author poetry collections, many of them self-published, you wonder whether anyone out there actually knows what poetry is. And then you read a book like this one. This is the quintessence of what a poet does: simple-seeming statements clothed in complex ambiguities, startling images, felicities of expression, the play of forced conjunction and surprised disjunction. I can't recommend this book enough. This is a real poet at work (and even more, at play.)”"A beautiful and curious read. At once a spell and a calling, a screaming and an invocation… we have no choice but to follow it like a trance." — Hannah Barry
“Tom Pearson’s ‘The Sandpiper’s Spell’ is a stunningly realized debut collection of imagery-laden [poetry].” – James W
“Pearson is a master of language and he uses it perfectly in this collection of poems.” – Kat Kennedy
“This is my second Tom Pearson poetry collection that I've read this year and I'm not even surprised at how quickly he has become one of my favourite poets.” – Priyanka Kedia
“This is actually the second book I have read by Tom Pearson and I can not get enough! His work is so vivid and enchanting, you can really visualize what he's writing about. I'm also deeply in love with the author's writing style and spacings, it allows time to grasp and feel what I'm reading. I can't rave enough about this book! All I can say is that I'm ready to see more from Tom Pearson!” – Adrien Weinhoffer
★★★★★ “The Sandpiper's Spell is a glorious reminder of what poetry can be…. Whether interpreting a languid moment or creating a narrative from a conflicting pastiche, the verse is as telling as it is revelatory…. From the first poem in the compilation—establishing the anchor—cinematic breadth, plangent introspection, and the irrevocable ordinary compel the reader to fill in apertures through self-reflection…. As the poems progress, they become more hermetic. Dualities of intent are supplemented, in no small part by extraordinary imagery.” – Constance Stadler
★★★★★ “The Sandpiper's Spell by Tom Pearson is a poetry collection that delves into the intricate connections between memory, nature, and transformation. with visually-timed lines that enhance the sense of rhythm and gorgeous images that make one stand still and re-read them to engage with their different levels of meaning…. Pearson’s gift for imagery is both evocative and precise, painting vivid word pictures that linger in the mind… a poet with a unique and compelling voice in contemporary poetry” – K.C. Finn
★★★★★ “Tom Pearson’s The Sandpiper’s Spell is a wonderfully textured poetry collection, and its strength lies in the precision and beauty of the language. Pearson’s writing draws readers in with almost tactile imagery and moments of quiet intensity… a finely honed and rewarding read for those who appreciate both form and feeling in poetry.” – Asher Syed
★★★★★ “… Rich language, conveying complex themes and experiences…. The book explores the contrast between pleasure and tragedy, our understanding of identity and belonging, and the struggle to survive societal challenges. It contains poems about life, loss, and rebirth, as well as verses exploring themes of connection and renewal. The collection conveys the quest for meaning and self-discovery and outlines how memories and experiences shape who we are.” – Doreen Chombu
★★★★★ “… a transformative journey across distant lands and time… a deeply reflective and contemplative poetry collection… Tom Pearson has a distinctive poetic flair that seems to slow down time itself… one of the most emotionally powerful and haunting collections I've read this year.” – Pikasho Deka
More Reader Reviews at:
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Book Launch at the Red Room at KGB
The Red Room at KGB, New York, NY – Wednesday, April 11, 2018, 7:00 PMSense 99 Hong Kong
Tom Pearson Reading and Book Signing in Hong Kong
Sense 99, Central, Hong Kong – Monday, April 30, 2018, 7:00 PMSpoonbill & Sugartown
Please join Spoonbill Studio [99 Montrose] for a reading and signing of Tom Pearson's newest book of poetry The Sandpiper's Spell: Spoonbill & Sugartown, Brooklyn, NY – Monday, July 30, 2018, 7:00 PMWestword Arts: Five Best Literary Things To Do...
BookBar welcomes poet and performer Tom Pearson, best known for his theatrical work and now debuting his first book of poetry, The Sandpiper’s Spell. The work is a pastiche of meditative vignettes and fragmented memory, and was called “an homage to the fragility of life [that] requires slow, deep, repeated reading” by playwright Andrea Lepcio (Looking for the Pony). So count this Saturday evening at BookBar as the first of several.
The Five Best Literary Things-to-do in Denver June 4-18, 2018