Manning the Gate Publishing LLC

09/15/2025

“When a great light is put in a dark place, it shines even brighter.”

~Ariel Burger, Witness

09/04/2025

A Must Read!

New book release by Dr. Deb Gold

08/17/2025

08/15/2025

I will be signing book stomorrow at Cocoa Beach. I'm excited to meet new faces and to also meet fellow authors and friends.

Money from sales go to support orphans, widows, and those in need. A small percentage goes to the creating of books.

08/14/2025

https://www.youtube.com/live/YDwcHTGEDWM?si=iGt2o-1MBwOZM5cd

with ProverbsGuy & YourDreamGuy

08/06/2025

https://www.manningthegatepublishing.com/

Manning the Gate Publishing is a Christian/Messianic Publishing Co.

08/03/2025

The proof needs a bit of work, but holding my first hardback, first poetry book in my hands was a joyful feeling. To be continued.

08/03/2025

The reason we write books is often because we believe we have something valuable to share—something meaningful to leave behind. Sometimes, we begin writing a book and then set it aside for a while. Other times, we start with one topic but end up with many diverse ideas, lacking cohesion or closure. It’s not uncommon to get stuck in the middle of a story, uncertain about how to conclude it.

Life can get in the way, and we may find ourselves distancing from our dream of finishing that story, memoir, collection of poetry, or research project we initially invested so much time in.

At Manning the Gate, we love to take your unfinished manuscript—much like a patchwork quilt—and help you add the finishing touches. We’ll connect the various patterns and breathe new life into the colors and textures, ultimately wrapping up your story in a way that makes you proud.

07/11/2025

Tekoa’s Poetry Acknowledgment Page.


After moving for the seventh time in ten years of marriage, I found myself packing yet again. Tucked inside dusty boxes were poetry notebooks and tiny scraps of crinkled paper—scribbled thoughts from years past. As I unfolded each piece, I rediscovered not just my words, but pieces of myself. That’s when I decided to publish this collection for those who still cherish the art of poetry.



My love for poetry began in the fifth grade. I was assigned to write a poem about spring, and I’d never been so excited about a homework assignment in my life. My Aunt Sophia, a poet and weekly columnist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, often visited our home in Kentucky and read aloud to me. I especially loved the children’s books that rhymed—the kind that made language bounce and sparkle. The gift of writing ran through my mother’s side of the family like a current—songwriters and storytellers who could hold an audience captive for hours.



I remember sitting under a tree, watching spring awaken, and writing my poem with awe and joy. But the next day, I was summoned to the principal’s office. My teacher, principal, and mother were all there. The teacher asked if I had plagiarized the poem—had I copied Emily Dickinson? She said firmly, “We know Tekoa didn’t write this, and we will find the real author.” I didn’t even understand the word plagiarism, but I understood the shame. And so, I stopped writing.



Decades later, at age thirty, I returned to school with an eleventh-grade education and met a professor named Jo Zausch. She encouraged me to enter a poetry contest honoring women, and I won first place. That memory rekindled a spark long buried. Since then, many others have nudged me gently toward the page, including my dear friend JoAnne Stanley, who lovingly called me a wordsmith even when I couldn’t see it.



While organizing this collection, I imagined my three sons—perhaps older now, with grey at their temples—sitting in the quiet morning light, sipping coffee and opening this book. I can see them smiling, maybe shaking their heads, maybe knowing me a little better because of these poems.



Words have always been faithful companions. Whether soft or firm, scholarly or simple, they hold the power to stir emotion, ignite memory, and bring healing. Like a vibrant kite soaring through the sky, our words can dance on the wind, dipping and rising with beauty and grace. At times, they tangle in branches or get caught on obstacles, but when the conditions are right—and the child within us still believes—they fly.



This book was once titled Flying Words Like a Kite, and though the name has changed to Kaleidoscope Words, the spirit remains the same: a swirling, colorful display of memory, metaphor, and meaning. These poems are primarily written in blank verse, interwoven with storytelling and the occasional rhyme. I’ve arranged them in sections to reflect their textures and emotional landscapes.



It is my hope that these poems speak to your soul—and that something inside you takes flight.

Blessings,

Tekoa (Bonnie) Manning

07/07/2025

Summer reads…What’s in your book bag?
Here’s a friends award winning book. I'm fifty pages in and enjoying it:

07/01/2025

Coming soon! Poetry is soothing, healing, and well needed today. I hope you will enjoy this new book release. More later 💚

06/10/2025

I big thank you to Brevard Author Society. What a joy children are, and a surprise visit from Miss Melbourne. What a lovely spirit she carries. Thanks for stopping by Chelsee Delgado and for accompanying our dear friend, Thomas King Flagg.