Forgive me for what is
a very self-indulgent post this time round but there’s huge excitement in the
household – and it’s nothing to do with Team GB’s brilliant successes in the
Olympics. My excitement stemmed from the sight of a cardboard box delivered
while I was away visiting student son in Aberdeen
– a box which I knew contained my author’s copies of Thousands Pass Here Every Day, my first full poetry collection.
I didn’t open it
immediately. Deferred gratification, allowing the pleasure and anticipation to
build, is always best. I left it in the hall for a while before hauling it
upstairs to my study. I looked at it, I patted it, and I removed and read the
delivery note before, finally, slitting open the box. By the time I did so and
held a copy of my poetry book in my hands I don’t believe any of our gold
medallists could possibly have felt the same level of joy and satisfaction.
It looks like a real
poetry book, in a way I hadn’t been able to imagine while doing the proof
reading, not even when Ronny Goodyer of Indigo Dreams Publishing had sent a PDF
of the cover. He and his partner Dawn Bauling have been lovely to work with,
and extremely kind and patient with this rookie poet – even when I started to
think about changing the poems, adding commas, removing full stops, wondering
if a stanza should be split.
I am delighted three
wonderful poets – Andrew Forster, Sheila Templeton and Tom Pow – have written
some lovely things for the back of the book and pre-publication publicity. The
official publication date is 14th September – and it’s already on
Amazon and can be pre-ordered.
I am now gearing up
for book launches/readings, the first of which will be around mid-September.
Once everything is in place, I will put dates and venues on my website at www.marysmith.co.uk
In the meantime I
carry my copy of Thousands Pass Here Every Day around the house with me. It
sits on my desk while I type, close to me so I can put out a hand and stroke
its glossy cover. Every so often I dip into it with a sense of astonishment,
mixed with pride and delight – I wonder if the Olympic athletes feel the same
about their medals?
Many many congrats Mary! So looking forward to holding a real life copy myself. Enjoy the moment, it's much deserved.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gill. I am indeed enjoying the moment.
DeleteYou've captured that first publication beautifully, Mary. Many congratulations......I hope it sells well for you. The cover is very eye-catching, very 'pick-me-up-and-read-me'. So, enjoy your moment.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the cover, Linda. It very much relates to the title poem of the collection. I hope others agree with your 'pick-me-up-and-read-me'line.
DeleteOooh, no wonder you were drinking champagne today! Looks lovely, Mary, looking forward to reading it. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenny. And, yes, the champagne went down very nicely today!
DeleteCongratulations Mary. Your excitement and pleasure is travelling down the ether for us to share. Does this baby mean more to you than No More Mulberries? Is that because it is poetry? Here's wishing you loads of sales.
ReplyDeleteInteresting questions, Gwen. I don't think it means more to me than No More Mulberries. I remember being very excited when I received my copies of it but then I was so upset because there was a horrible grammatical error on the back page blurb, which I had asked the publishers to change but they hadn't. That kind of took the edge of my joy at holding my first novel in my hands. But, yes, there is something different about having my poetry collection published. I shall have to ponder this further!
DeleteWell done, Mary. And so exciting. If I'd realised yesterday, I'd have raised my glass of bubbly (again!) to you. Looking forward to reading your poems.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joan. It is exciting. I'm sure we shall find another opportunity in which to raise a glass of bubbly again!
DeleteWhat a great cover, Mary, and I can imagine your excitement. Look forward to getting a copy of your poetry.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you liek the cover, Rosemary. The official publication date is 14th September and I'll be having a launch in Dumfries soon after that. Maybe you could advise me on how to do an online launch as there are many people in far flung places who will not be able to come to that.
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