Kathleen Quinn-Farber has a flair for using the printed word to express emotion.

The 52-year-old Tamaqua woman has been writing since childhood but only recently decided to produce a poetry book containing 30 examples that reflect the depths of passion that inspire and motivate her."I write at any emotional time," says the Tamaqua author.Most of her poems are free verse. Many writers of free verse tend to be flowery, with verbose manner, but not Quinn-Farber. She writes with concision. Each word has meaning and there are no wasted words."I don't have a lot of rhyming poems," says the mother of three.But even then, her message is distilled, using brevity with staccato rhythm.Quinn-Farber, who grew up in Lehighton, lives on Dutch Hill with the youngest of her three children, and works as pediatric nurse for the Bayada network.Her creative verse reflects a multitude of life experiences, both happy and sad.For instance, in "Mourning Divorce," Quinn-Farber reveals the most personal feelings of a trusting heart betrayed.Her subject matter runs the gamut - one poem is a tribute to something as simple as soup. But if there's a common thread running through each piece it's that her words are targeted and touch the soul.Both delicate and powerful, Quinn-Farber's style celebrates a woman's independence, her role of motherhood, the love for her late father, and the anguish of confusion when life throws a curve.In "Changing Beliefs," she expresses the searching and evolution of a woman exploring the world, ending with "Love of earth ... life of love, circles forming ... light above. All together ... we are one, on this rock beneath the sun."Quinn-Farber says her words ring true for just about everyone and that's one reason she feels compelled to put her thoughts on paper."It helps me to feel better and it'll help others, too."She says one of the biggest surprises in publishing her first book was the simplicity."I didn't know it was going to be so easy."The project received assistance from others with Tamaqua ties.For instance, formatting was done by Tamaqua native R. Thomas Berner of Coal Cracker Press. In addition, the book's cover features a painting of a delicate rose, rendered by accomplished artist Paulette Berner, wife of R. Thomas. The Berners live in Bellefonte."I was so grateful for their help," says Quinn-Farber. "He stepped forward and offered."Quinn-Farber also writes fiction, and started her first novel while in fifth grade."I like fiction based in reality," she admits. "And I like writing horror. My son wants me to write a fantasy novel."She's also working on a memoir, a long-term project.While "Living and Loving" is her first book, the 30-page softcover isn't actually the first time she's been published.In 1987, she won first place in a Halloween story contest sponsored by the Times News. Her entry about spooky activities surrounding an old house was published by the newspaper.The poetry book was published by Amazon's CreateSpace division and is available online through Amazon for $9.95. The book will be available at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center beginning April 7 when she hosts an exhibit of paintings by her late father, Robert Quinn. Quinn-Farber's dad worked as a machinist at Ingersoll Rand and painted in oil and acrylics in his spare time.Her mother, Joan Quinn, lives in Lehighton.Quinn-Farber spends her spare time as a volunteer children's art teacher, a writer of web-based news and doing some photography.She is inspired by memories of a loving dad and credits him with cultivating her deep appreciation of all things art."It's you I await cuddle time ... wish you were still here to nestle away my pain," she writes in her poem "Daddy," a childhood remembrance of being tucked in bed each night by the man she adored.