Some books ask readers to move quickly through a story. Vanished Roads creates a different rhythm, offering brief moments of poetry that encourage stillness, attention, and personal reflection.
Created by Thomas L. Vaultonburg in collaboration with artist Tré, this collection brings together 104 haiku and eight original illustrations. Published by Wolf Twin Books, it explores grief, isolation, creative renewal, and the wisdom that can emerge when a person begins looking closely at the world again.
Poetry Shaped by a Smaller World
The emotional foundation of Vanished Roads developed during a time of major disruption. Personal upheaval and the isolation of the pandemic changed the boundaries of everyday life. Familiar relationships, routines, and identities shifted, leaving Thomas to reconsider how he understood his place in the world.
During this period, haiku became a meaningful practice. Its short form provided enough room to record a moment while allowing silence to remain around it. Each poem could hold an observation without turning it into a lengthy explanation.
The earliest sections of the collection carry the weight of loss. Loved ones are remembered, former identities recede, and established paths seem to disappear. These experiences are approached with restraint. The poetry gives sorrow space to exist naturally, often placing it beside a river, beneath changing weather, or within the movement of an animal.
As readers progress through the book, they may notice a subtle emotional expansion. The world begins to feel larger again. Attention shifts toward creativity, companionship, gratitude, and the possibility of moving forward. Renewal arrives gradually through repeated acts of awareness.
This movement gives Vanished Roads a sense of continuity despite the independence of each haiku. The individual poems stand alone, yet together they form a thoughtful record of change.
Nature, Zen, and the Art of Paying Attention
Around 2020, Thomas began immersing himself more deeply in Soto Zen and haiku. Both disciplines encouraged him to remain present and observe daily life with patience. Instead of searching for distant or dramatic subjects, he found inspiration in the places surrounding him.
The American Midwest became a central presence in his work. Gravel roads, forests, prairie grasses, birds, rivers, storms, and seasonal changes appear throughout the collection. These elements provide more than scenery. They become guides that reveal how transformation is already taking place everywhere.
Thomas describes this way of seeing as “Prairie Zen” or “Midwest Zen.” The phrase reflects a form of mindfulness grounded in local landscapes and ordinary encounters. A quiet road, a sudden change in weather, or the movement of wildlife can become an opportunity for reflection.
Tré’s illustrations strengthen the contemplative quality of the collection. The eight original artworks are carefully placed throughout the book, giving readers visual spaces in which to pause. They support the emotional tone of the poems while leaving their meanings open.
The collaboration between poetry and illustration reflects the wider mission of Wolf Twin Books, which Thomas and Tré founded together. Their goal is to create well-designed publications that treat literature and visual art as complementary experiences. In Vanished Roads, words and images establish a calm, cohesive atmosphere that rewards unhurried reading.
About the Author
Thomas is an American poet, haiku writer, and the founder of Zombie Logic Press. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, and he has spent decades developing a voice shaped by curiosity, observation, and independent publishing.
His recent writing is closely connected to mindfulness and the natural environment. He draws creative energy from everyday Midwestern life, finding poetic possibilities in places and details that can easily pass unnoticed.
Thomas also values the personal relationships that support independent literature. He hopes to introduce readers to haiku through libraries, independent bookstores, literary journals, community groups, and local organizations. A recommendation from a friend or an unexpected encounter with a book can begin a lasting relationship with poetry.
Vanished Roads is published by Wolf Twin Books under ISBN 979-8-9879911-3-8. The collection is suitable for readers ages 13 and older.
Where the Journey Leads
Vanished Roads presents resilience as a process of continued attention. Its poems suggest that healing can begin through small encounters with weather, wildlife, landscape, and art.
Thomas and Tré have created a collection that readers can revisit whenever life feels uncertain or hurried. Each page offers a chance to slow down, observe more carefully, and recognize the quiet mystery present within ordinary moments.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
My name is Thomas L. Vaultonburg. I’m a poet, haiku writer, and founder of Zombie Logic Press. My latest book, Vanished Roads, is a collaboration with artist Tré, whose eight original illustrations accompany the collection. Together we founded Wolf Twin Books to create beautifully designed books that unite poetry and visual art.
Please tell us about your journey.
I’ve been writing for decades, but Vanished Roads grew from a quieter chapter of my life. Around 2020 I immersed myself in haiku and Soto Zen, learning to find meaning in birds, weather, rivers, forests, gravel roads, and the overlooked landscapes of the Midwest. I sometimes describe this perspective as Prairie Zen or Midwest Zen—discovering that extraordinary moments often exist close to home. The book traces a journey from grief toward acceptance and renewal, while Tré’s illustrations deepen that experience.
What strategies helped you become successful?
I’ve focused on authenticity, patience, and community instead of chasing trends. Publishing independently has meant building relationships one reader at a time through literary journals, libraries, independent bookstores, and local organizations. One partnership I’m especially proud of is with Rockford Art Deli, where sales of Vanished Roads help support Wild Roots Nature Center. Every step has been about creating meaningful work and allowing each opportunity to build on the last.
Any message for our readers?
Thank you for supporting independent authors, artists, and small publishers. I hope Vanished Roads encourages readers to slow down, step outside, and rediscover the beauty waiting in ordinary places. If the book inspires someone to notice a bird, follow a trail, or simply pause for a moment of quiet attention, then it has done exactly what I hoped. Beyond writing, my goal is to help reconnect people with nature, local community, and independent books. Through Wolf Twin Books, collaborations with libraries, independent bookstores, and organizations like Rockford Art Deli and Wild Roots Nature Center, I hope to show that literature can strengthen both communities and our relationship with the natural world.
Thank you so much, Thomas L. Vaultonburg, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
