Given the fact that we are inching closer to the release of the book (Tuesday, September 1st. Grab a copy after you vote in your state's primary elections!) I wanted to reach out to Nick, and the other Atmosphere Press staff who worked directly with me and just wanted to express my profound gratitude for their hard work and contributions and shared one of my blogs where I did just that. I didn't expect Nick to ask the woman in charge of the marketing department to post the blog on their social media accounts. She is a very lovely woman and these went up today: Very cool...very surreal to be totally honest. Again, I am already having a hard enough time wrapping my head around the fact that this thing is going to exist but I was fortunate to get some sage like advice from both an Atmosphere staff member and my poetry mama and former graduate professor Melanie Faith. Over the course of getting this story published? This individual was very giving to me in terms of helping me construct certain aspects of the narrative and just reminding me...whether this thing is a big hit or its a modest success...just seeing it to fruition is a huge deal. I will never forget her words and her compassion for a writer who is completely clueless in this process given that he never imagined it would come to light. I am eternally grateful to her. And then there's my poetry mama. The woman who reads a lot of my stuff first, and then I go by what she thinks. If she sells submit it? I submit the crap out of it. If she doesn't think its ready? I work my ass off trying to make it ready or accept that...yeah, this probably isn't all that good. I trust her intuition THAT much because despite no longer being a student she still treats me with the warmth and the diligence of a veteran instructor and dear friend. Professor Faith is the best...and if you want to do yourself a favor? Go check her out if the hyperlink doesn't work melaniefaith.com she is a phenomenal writer and exceptional educator. Her class changed my life and her continued investment in my creative future and friendship has made me a better writer and person. She's the best, go check her out!
What else can I say? I'm excited, I'm horrified, but I'm mostly happy...look, I realize that I wrote this book. I realize that the main plot points were inspired by my actual life. Honestly though? I believe in this story. I think its a story that will resonate. As much as I hope it scares you? As much as I hope that certain aspects burrow themselves into your subconscious that it requires you to go back and re-read it...the most important thing about this book to me? I really love the characters. There are some great characters and some really great questions brought up here. I really believe if you check it out you will enjoy it. Alright...so what next? I mean...does anyone want to have a Zoom reading? I mean, I haven't offered it out there because if there's no demand, god knows I don't need to look like an idiot but if enough people even if they're just people I know at this point who just want to reconnect, talk about the book, talk about life, catch each other up? I would absolutely love to get something going. Let me know. Take care everyone. Don't lose hope. We got this.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
September 2021
Categories |