Author describes the experience of seeing their book in print for the first time
I was told today by my publisher “Onwards and Upwards” that my second volume of poetry has now been published, and is available in paperback, and in e-book format. It can be ordered on line via my publishers web site Onwards & Upwards, at any bookstore, at Waterstones.com and globally via Amazon.
It is a strange feeling indeed. The cat is out of the box (or bag) and my private writings are open to the warm gaze or sharp glares of the wider world. The startling reality of the internet being that my book is simultaneously available across the planet, even as a box of books thumps onto to my living room floor!
Holding my book in my hands, it seems to be the work of someone else. I struggle and fail to recall the times, dates and places (of which there were many) when words were written, lines adjusted, punctuation sorted!
Perhaps this is so for all created work. The process of creation being one in which the author/painter/composer needs must be lost within themselves to listen to the still small voice, heedless of the march of time. I would be pleased to hear from others of their experience.
But along with the lurch of astonished delight at the book’s publication, comes a raft of activities to make the work known. Global access means a world saturated in communication akin to a giant “bear pit” where dealers in commodities shout their prices and products and deals are done in the blink of an eye. Do I have a head or heart for this stage in the publishing process? Appointments to make, blogs to write, adverts to place, events to schedule and attend, media to manage, interviews to hold. The antithesis of writing. Yet this too is part of the journey. I shall endeavour to be as diligent at these tasks as I have when sitting in silence fingers poised over the keys!
Martin shared these thoughts on his blog, which you can find here.
About the Book
In this unique guide to the Gospels, Martin brings together the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John through daily Bible readings and original poetry.
Each of the readings is accompanied by a poem highlighting the message and significance of the scripture. Together these weave the overarching story of love and grace linking every verse of the Gospels into a single poetic story from the beginning of time itself through the birth, life and death of Christ, culminating in the mystery of the resurrection and the majesty of his ascension.
