At her core, Diane is an artist. She always has been. She depicts reality, and not just the pretty. She feels deeply and paints with words in profound ways. Diane's exceptional use of written expression is fundamental to who she is as a person; to her, the process of creation and emotional release is equally important to the poetic outcomes penned on pages. Her work is art in its most authentic form, for Diane is a poetry weaver whose words are authentically born straight from her sensitive soul. In THE SONG I CAME TO SING, they now become a tapestry.
Herein, Diane writes about the immense power of a word and suggests we use language wisely, to impart kindness. As a mother, Diane certainly does
just that.
And I should know, as I'm Diane's daughter.
Adorned with stickers and drafted on cheerful stationery, handwritten letters were lovingly mailed to my sleepaway camp so I did not miss an ounce of her summer adventures while embarking on one of my own. She crafted thoughtful poems for my brother brimming with empathy for the boyhood challenge of the moment. There were perfectly composed (and promptly issued) thank-you notes for even the smallest gestures of kindness bestowed upon our family. I found caring notes in my lunchbox on school days, and when I was older, tucked away in my suitcase on trips.
My mom is the person who speaks up - with intelligence and grace - when everyone else remains silent. She's the stylish, friendly face that strangers approach in the department store to ask for fashion advice. She's the legal brain that people in distress call for wise counsel. She's the pianist whose musical notes permeate the house as intensely as the scent of her delectable home-cooking. She's the mother who is so fun and beloved that even her children's friends ask her to hang out. Despite an irreplaceable space in her heart from the devastating loss of my father, she's the widow who carries on, for she is an independent woman of substance.
Simply stated, she's a multi-hyphenate. There's no singular word to describe Diane, and there's no simple box in which she can be contained. My mom has character, integrity, and a generous spirit. Always affording an unconventional outlook that makes you think twice, she's just enormously interesting - even her striking turquoise eyes contain a splash of hazel mixed in for good measure! To have her in your life is to be one of the lucky ones. And to never (ever) be bored.
In THE SONG I CAME TO SING, audiences will get a significant dose of my brilliant mom, her life experiences, her passions, her observations, her beliefs, and the inner workings of her truly mesmerizing mind. Themes include Life & Love, Grief, Nature & Earth, The Facets of a Nation, Inhumane Humanity, and Wisdom & Hope. All is authentically her, and all is passionately delivered directly from the heart, like everything she gives to this world.
You'll find she claims the song she came to sing remains unsung, but after reading her debut poetry collection, I believe we'll all question if that's in fact true...
Gollub, Diane Lipton: - Diane Lipton Gollub is an attorney, artist, musician, poet, and philanthropist residing in New York. A graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, she earned Cum Laude Degrees in Sociology/Criminology and Fine Arts in 1977. She then went on to study at The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, creating portfolios in Graphic Design, Advertising, and Package Design. She began her career as the Art Director for Sasson Jeans, Inc. in New York City in 1978, at 21. After marriage in 1979, Diane commenced the study of law at St. John's University School of Law in New York. Upon passing the bar exam, she commenced her legal career at The Office of The District Attorney in Nassau County, New York. Her philanthropic activities include work at Island Harvest, a food rescue charity that supplies food throughout Long Island, New York, becoming the Vice President of Community Relations at Child Abuse Prevention Services in New York, where she voluntarily taught Child Abuse Law in high schools on Long Island, and to Mandated Reporters. Also serving on the Board of Directors of The Rosa Lee Young Childhood Center in Rockville Centre, New York. Chosen to be amongst those selected to review a study of all public schools in Rockville Centre, determining what funds were needed for their improvement. The proud mother of Hayley Meredith Gollub and Ross Brandon Gollub, Diane was widowed in 2004, losing her beloved husband of 25 years. She became involved in Instagram in 2019 through her daughter's suggestion as a means to lift her perpetual sense of loss and the grief felt within widowhood. Her poetry evolved after being embraced by the loving community of artists within Instagram. She remains forever grateful to all who have inspired her to feel that her voice should be heard.
Lane, Brandy: - Brandy Lane has lived most of her life in Indiana and Colorado. She published her first book, Where Beautiful Loves, in December 2020 under her imprint Where Beautiful Inks. Just after the release of her first book, she discovered anthologies as an option for publishing and has since had poetry pieces included in over three dozen publications. Publications include Poetry 365 by RDW (both abridged and unabridged editions) for November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June, and special editions of Creator and Self Portrait editions. Red Penguin Books has published her pieces in 'Tis the Season's, The Flower Shop on the Corner, and The Ocean Waves. Clarendon House Publications published her poems in their Poetica 2 and Poetica 3 anthologies, and her work was also included in Ink Gladiator's Press anthologies of The Rise and Fall of Chimera's and Gray, We Hide our Colors Within. Indie Blu(e) Publishing just published a mental health piece in Through the Looking Glass: Reflecting on Madness and Chaos Within, and their newest anthology, But You Don't Look Sick. 300 South Media Group has published her in As Darkness Falls, Shadow of the Soul, and features her first flash fiction piece in Sunset Rain. Train River Poetry has published her in Poetry 7. She also appears in Who's Who of Emerging Writers by Sweetycat Press. Most recently, she has been published by Harness Magazine in their November issue, and Silent Spark Press Amazing Poetry. Brandy can be found online: on Instagram and Facebook @wherebeautifullives.
