A Poetry Collection

The Story of My Book

Green Is the Worst Flavor is a poetry collection about how one door doesn’t have to close for another to open. It is possible to do it all, even if you fall a few times while doing it.

My name is Samantha Finley Maino and I am the author of Green Is the Worst Flavor. I wrote this book because in a world where mothers and caregivers are ostracized, I wanted to create a literary space that feels like home. 

My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover that your potential lies in the dreams you have at night. In this book, I hope to instill in you the same sort of passion and excitement that I have for life, learning (liberty?), and the pursuit of every emotion there is. Ultimately, I want you to see this book as a tool to help you get out of a funk, get to the next level of the game, or get through a tough time.

In this book, you’ll learn about girlhood, motherhood, and nostalgia and all the little nuances within them:

Girlhood is singing karaoke with your friends while your boyfriend cheats on you in his apartment. 

Motherhood is cleaning up banana and oatmeal in between marketing, photography, and social media consultant calls.

Nostalgia is thinking about all the parts of girlhood and motherhood over and over again until it nearly kills you, you get up to make more memories, and the cycle continues again.

You will love this book if you also love:

• to cry every now and again, even if just for cathartic purposes. 
• to read poetry (yes, poetry). 
• to feel understood and welcome in a shared space. 
• to learn something new in a narrative way.

Green Is the Worst Flavor is a poetry collection that speaks to literary lovers and matriarchal mothers who are looking at nostalgia and fomo as the moment occurs. 

The book is written in Four (4) Parts: 

• The Fuckin’ Regularness of Life

An homage to the character Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos, as well as my Dad who so often reaches for the stars, “The Fuckin’ Regularness of Life” is a section of my book that details the “regularness” of being a mother, being human, just “being.” 

• Feels So Scary Getting Old

Lorde wrote “Ribs,” one of my favorite songs, when she was only 15 years old. In this song, she details the parts of being young we so often overlook and fly past, with repeating chorus lines like “Feels So Scary Getting Old.” This section of my book is my physical evidence of getting older and being scared shitless. Teaching high school seniors while writing this only adds insult to injury! 

The Drip Finally Stops

• Most people’s comfort shows are Friends, How I Met Your Mother, or even Law and Order. My comfort show is Bojack Horseman and I watch it once a year, during a certain time of the year, to experience all the emotions that are showcased in the show and reflect on them as they’re happening in my life. 
• In the show, there is a character named Herb Kazzaz who dies pretty quickly. Before he does so he tells Bojack, the main character “the drip finally stops” and it all comes to an end. We all wind up in the same place at the end of the day and as morbid as it may be, this section details the feelings that come along with realizing that sometimes time just passes and it’s not always as significant as you want it to be.

Beautiful, If Nothing More

• The concluding section of my poetry collection is a dedication to my favorite album of all time “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s song, To Zion. This song details how Lauryn became pregnant while rising to fame and people suggested that her pregnancy would bring her down, but in the end, nothing was as beautiful as her son, Zion. Of every accolade I’ve ever received and any title I’ve ever held, being Beau’s mother takes the cake by a mile. This final section details the joy and charm of motherhood, even if it doesn’t have the beauty filter on. 

Where Does Your Support Go?

My publisher (Manuscripts Press) gave me a publishing team to help me produce and launch my book. I am working with…

• A revisions editor, copy editor, and proofreader this Spring to further hone my book (when you buy a ticket for my launch, you’ll get early excerpts and access to earlier versions of my manuscript!)
• A marketing specialist to coach and support me in marketing efforts, and help me reach new audiences
• A cover artist and layout editor will be designing my book. (The mockups you see currently are a placeholder!)

I am also offering some exclusive rewards for people who buy a ticket to my book launch:

• All tickets include either a physical copy (softcover, paperback) or digital copy (ebook) when I publish and a handwritten thank-you note.
• Your name will appear in the Acknowledgments section of my book (“with Special Thanks to”).
• You will be invited to join my Author Community and get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process.
• You will receive early access to the Introduction and some excerpts from my book, with the opportunity to review it and give me early feedback.
• You will have the opportunity to be involved in finalizing my cover and title.
• And more!

Other Ways You Can Support Me

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

• Please share my pre-sale campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with your friends, family and network. Please use #greenistheworstflavor and tag me as well as my publisher, Manuscripts Press, so we can help amplify your efforts.
• Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.

Thank you so much for of all of your love and support!

Thanks again,

Samantha Maino

Author Bio

Samantha Finley Maino is an author and poetic storyteller who has a mission to give a voice to people who are lost in the upkeep of the everyday.

Following the 2020 release of her debut book, Shades, Green is the Worst Flavor, is a collection of poetry that examines personal evolution through the lens of motherhood, maturation, and lucidity. In contrast to her first work, this title aims to entertain readers while also educating them, as motherhood is beautiful but also a struggle.

Samantha’s perspective of being a New York City public school educator, a first-time mother, and a doctoral candidate  brings a fresh take to the vision of a mother portrayed in the media.

Writing aside, she is a dedicated human mom and cat mom who finds purpose in spending time with the people closest to her, while looking for her next salty snack.

Get in touch with Samantha

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