I’m truly excited to share that my new book, Bridges of Words: Haikus Uniting Cultures from 57 Countries of the World, has officially launched today.
This project has been close to my heart. It’s a collection of hundreds of haiku poems inspired by 57 countries. Through seventeen syllables each, I’ve tried to capture quiet reflections, cultural moments, and shared human emotions that transcend borders.
I’ve always believed words can build bridges. In fact, there’s neuroscience behind this idea: reading poetry stimulates the same parts of the brain involved in self-reflection and empathy. My hope is that Bridges of Words offers readers both beauty and connection—small moments of calm in a busy world.
I’d be grateful if you checked out the book on Amazon:
👉 Bridges of Words on Amazon
Thank you for supporting this project. I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, or even reviews if you feel compelled to share them.
Accolades, Ranks, and Feedback Received
Outstanding Creator Award Super-Category Champion (Medal Winner)
Outstanding Creator Award for Best Non-Fiction Book of Fall & Winter 2025 1st Place
Outstanding Creator Award for Travel 1st Place
Outstanding Creator Award for Multicultural / Multilingual / Bilingual Fiction 1st Place
Outstanding Creator Award for Poetry 1st Place
Outstanding Creator Award for Photography 1st Place
Outstanding Creator Award for Best Writing (Non-Fiction) Honorable Mention
7th Annual Author Shout Book Awards Honorable Mention
International Impact Book Awards Winner (Haiku and Short Form Poetry Category)
Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars Seal
Firebird Book Award 2025 Winner
Literary Titan Gold (5 Stars) Book Award September 2025
#1 New Release in Poetry About Specific Places on Amazon.com
#1 New Release in Popular Culture Antiques & Collectibles on Amazon.com
#1 in Popular Culture Antiques & Collectibles on Amazon.com
#4 in Antique & Collectible Books on Amazon.com
#4 in Poetry About Specific Places on Amazon.com
#1 in Popular Culture Antiques and Collectibles
#2 in Haiku Collections on Amazon.com.au
#4 in Antiques and Collectible Books
#4 in Poetry About Specific Places
“It’s a chorus of cultures, all humming the same song of connection and shared humanity, distilled into haiku.” — Literary Titan
“Bridges of Words is a remarkable collection that celebrates the beauty of humanity through the simplicity and elegance of haiku.” — Readers’ Favorite
“Each page becomes a point of contact, not commentary.” — Best Books Club
“It chooses stillness. It honors brevity. And in doing so, it creates space—not just between syllables, but between people.” — Kindle Crowd
“Some books seek to define the world. This one lets the world speak for itself.” — Kindle Addicts
“This book whispers. And in doing so, it teaches something important: reverence.” — Kindles Store
“Haiku becomes the great equalizer here. Whether a superpower or a small island, each is rendered in equal syllabic space. That choice alone carries quiet moral weight.” — My Books Mag
“Her words act as bridges that unite humanity… amid the divisions of discrimination, it calls us back to what we all share.” — Kajori Sheryl Paul
“When our world seems more divided than ever, voices like Pretila’s remind us, in her words, that ‘culture is not a wall, but a doorway.’” — Andrea Fernández
About the Book
What connects India’s monsoon murmurs, Australia’s bright resilience, Mexico’s lyrical heartbeat, the Philippines’ warm cadence, and the United States’ vast echoes?
A moment distilled into verse.
In Bridges of Words: Haikus Uniting Cultures from 57 Countries of the World, you will find poems shaped by the haiku tradition, drawing on its brevity and imagery while moving beyond strict classical form. These haiku inspired reflections offer cultural impressions in their simplest and most sincere shape. They do not explain. They invite. They do not shout. They hum.
From quiet villages to luminous skylines, this collection reminds us that the world is wide but wonder is universal.
About the Author
Esperanza Pretila, MBA, BSNS, CHR, CFS, is an editor, writer, and founder of award-winning socio-entrepreneurial platforms. Her love for the written word began early—scribbling in her aunts’ college books at age three—and has guided her journey ever since. From winning a poetry award in fifth grade, to serving as the English Literary Editor of her high school publication The OLCAn, to working in the town library while studying at the University of the Philippines, she has pursued language with enduring passion.
At the Philippine Military Academy, Esperanza made history as the first female Editor-in-Chief of The Corps, the first female recipient of the Journalism Award, and the inaugural awardee of the Languages Plaque. She later served as editor for the Navy Journal, Fleet Journal, and Polaris Magazine, and was the founding editor of the Navy Digest.
Beyond writing, Esperanza has worked in human resources, education, real estate, and various other business and public service roles. She now lives in Australia with her husband Jun and their three sons—Huey, Sev, and Noah—grateful for the journey, grounded in faith, and pursuing simple yet heartfelt ways to make a difference. Ora et labora.
Esperanza Pretila 
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