Tag: Nigel Byng

Nigel Byng’s debut poetry collection The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son launches this weekend

On By Mike U.In Previews / Reviews32 Comments
Image credit: Nigel Byng

This weekend marks the launch of The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son, the debut poetry collection from Nigel Byng, an immensely talented writer and creator of the Helping You To Succeed blog. I’ve known Nigel for a while now, and a couple of things stand out to me: his relentless creative drive and his genuine authenticity as a good human being. Nigel is a poet and fiction writer, a collaborator with many others here on WordPress, and an advocate for all who desire to create worlds with words. You can find him lifting up fellow writers on his blog, reaching out to encourage and inspire, and championing his fellow creatives when they publish their works. He is tireless in his quest to capture and convey the human condition in his unique style, and yet he always has time for his writing friends. I know he’s dreamed of having his work published in book format, and now his hard work has come to fruition.

From the book’s blurb:

“Within these pages, you will encounter a boy on a quest. The peripatetic, searching for a home; the stoic chased relentlessly by God, and the rebel confronted by destiny. Somewhere between childhood and a midlife crisis, a reluctant poet found his voice, set aside childish pursuits, and sat with divinity on a cold windswept beach in North Wales. You may join him on this quest, and much like life, it promises to be an adventure. Or, you may sit beside him in quiet contemplation, and chart the familiarity of souls all headed to the same destination. The choice is yours.”


The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son is being released through Michelle Navajas Publishing House. Michelle is a prolific international best-selling poet and editor for the online literary journals Hotel by Masticadores, Masticadores Philippines and LatinosUSA. She is well known for going above and beyond to promote, encourage and advocate for her writers, and her compassionate nature is truly inspiring to all those fortunate enough to work with her.

The estimable and gracious Joni Caggiano handled the editing duties, working long hours with Nigel to mold his manuscript into a brilliant, cohesive collection. Joni herself is an accomplished best-selling poet with many accolades under her belt, and her kindness and sensitivity set her apart from the crowd and lend her poetry a timeless, ethereal quality.

I offer my most sincere congratulations to my buddy Nigel as he lives his dream. I can’t imagine what’s going through his head and heart right now as the release date approaches, but I want him to know I’m proud of him. He’s worked so hard for this. I wish him the best of fortune with this book, and may this be the beginning of a new literary journey for him.

The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son launches May 9 in Asia and May 10 globally, and will be available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.

You can visit Nigel’s blog here:

Helping You To Succeed

My Poem “Wisdom” Featured in Nigel Byng’s Exploring Poetry Series

On By Mike U.In Poetry37 Comments

Hey, friends. The estimable and supremely talented Nigel Byng has graciously featured my poem “Wisdom” in his Exploring Poetry initiative on his blog Helping You To Succeed. This series explores the poetry of various authors as Nigel reads each piece and takes a deep-dive of analysis and interpretation to explore beyond the words. I am absolutely honored and humbled to have one of my poems included in this series. Nigel is an accomplished storyteller and poet, and his kindness and generosity are well-known in this WordPress writing community. He makes it his mission to lift up fellow writers, to shine the light on others, and to offer compassionate support and encouragement. He most definitely represents the very best of this community, and it’s my profound pleasure to call him my friend.

You can check out Nigel’s reading and analysis of my poem here:

Exploring Poetry – A weekly reading series – Ep 9: Wisdom by Michael L. Utley

Also, be sure to take your own deep-dive into Nigel’s short fiction and poetry on his blog. He is blessed with uncanny ability and keen insight into the human condition. Simply put, he’s brilliant.

Helping You To Succeed

Thank you, my brother Nigel, for this wonderful gift. You presence in this community is a godsend and I’m beyond grateful for your kindness and support.

Blogs I Like (and You Might, Too)–3/26/2024

On By Mike U.In Featured Blogs34 Comments
Image (c) Mike Utley

This ongoing initiative showcases blogs with fewer than 500 subscribers which I think are deserving of more attention. Hopefully these blogs will spark your interest and you’ll check them out. It’s my way of spreading awareness of talented writers whose work I admire.

This week’s featured blog is Nigel Byng’s Helping You To Succeed. Many of you are likely familiar with Nigel’s exemplary craftsmanship when it comes to prose and poetry. His brilliant short fiction—both stand-alone tales and serials–displays a sensitive finger on the pulse of humanity’s triumphs and sorrows, while his deeply moving and excruciatingly honest poetry shows a heart and soul attuned to the most raw human emotions.

Nigel’s work has been published at various Masticadores literary sites as well as Spillwords Press, where one of his poems, “To Surrender Now,” was nominated for Publication of the Month for Jan/Feb 2024. Nigel has most recently helped spearhead the #whattheydontsee project in cooperation with Michelle Ayon Navajas (editor, Masticadores Philippines) and artist Vanessa Melecio, which provides an opportunity for people to express their hidden fear, pain and regret in a safe manner through the written word.

On a personal note, I don’t just consider Nigel a fellow writer. He’s so much more than that. His compassion, kindness, honesty and intelligence portray a golden heart and soul, and I’m glad to call him my friend.

From Nigel’s blog:

“Writing brings the world to  life. My soul, my experiences, my secrets, they all fuel the things I put on paper. I am a freelance writer living in West Palm Beach. I observe and write about nearly everything and everyone I encounter. I have learnt that if I look at the world carefully, and long enough, I see a reflection of myself in everything. After all, we are what we put into the world.”

Perhaps this recent post will illustrate Nigel’s deft literary touch and his ability to connect with his readers:

“Jonesy”

If you’re familiar with Nigel’s work, you already understand the joy of his craft. If you’re not, consider stopping by his blog and experiencing his unique talents. It’s absolutely worth it.

Let’s spread the love and support our fellow bloggers.