COVINGTON - Cassandra Dillon, a home-grown author and poet who spent her childhood in a house on St. Charles and Sixth streets in Abita Springs, will be signing her first published book, "Reality Poems: Burden Me Not For Your Eyes Will See This All Again," at Books A Million in Covington on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Dillon, 31, who now lives in Hinesville, Ga., draws from the rich imagery of nature to speak straight to the heart, vividly conveying the emotions, highs and lows, twist and turns of the human experience. Her poetry is inspired from the people she has known in her life.

"I'm a people person," she said. "I've always been the one to listen to what people go through and to help them smooth out the rough edges. This book isn't about me, it focuses on the life's experiences of average everyday people." Although Dillon makes it home yearly for the holidays, this homecoming is especially meaningful for her because Books A Million event will be her first book signing for "Reality Poems" in Louisiana.

"I'm excited, ready to go home and see my family and old school friends and people I grew up with," she said.

Dillon was encouraged to pursue writing by her parents, Hilton and Dorothy Dillon, who were lead vocalists with the Silver Stars, a Baptist gospel group that traveled from church to church.

"As musical performers they did some writing. That stuck with me," she said.

Both her mother and father come from very large families; her mother is the oldest of 16 children, and her father had 12 other siblings. Dillon said she is excited about spending Thanksgiving holidays with her many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She has two older sisters, Gabrielle and Angela, and she left the Northshore 13 years ago to live near her sister Angela's family in Colleen, Texas. When they moved to Hineville, Ga., she followed.

Born at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Dillon attended Abita Elementary, Abita Jr. High and Covington High schools. She remembers one English teacher especially who noticed her talent.

"Mrs. Diane Andry was aware of my songs and poetry and would read them and encourage me to continue writing," she said.

Published by 1stbooks Library, "Reality Poems" contains Louisiana-influenced selections like Dillon's "Louisiana Woman," "Sweet country Girl," and "Mardi Gras, Yes, Indeed."

"Reality Poems," Dillon said, provides a source of inspiration for readers as they muster the inner strength to deal with every situation. And she hopes that ultimately readers will find accepting themselves is a key factor in filling the void a person feels in his heart.

For instance, in the poem titled, "Woman," Dillon admires the qualities that make a woman unique. She writes, "Admired for my beauty/With such sweet fragrance, my petals hold/My stem elegant, but strong/And my thorns sharp enough/To draw the blood of attention."

In "Burden Me Not," Dillon finds the positive aspect in nature. "Even though the sun was/Shining earlier on in the day/But now the dark clouds/Took over and the rain has washed/It's smile away/Burden me not."

Her aim is to help people find inner peace and harmony, she said.

Her poem "Woman" was featured in the book "A Celebration of Poets." Her poem, "Forbidden Fruit" was featured in "America at the Millennium (The Best Poems and Poets of the 20th century)."

She is currently working on a second book titled "From Where I'm Standing."