Honesty #2
As my publisher has now gone live with Forest Management pre-sales, I start this post today with the back cover of the book, and three blurbs that make me beyond happy. My favourite female poets have all come to the table and read what I wrote and absolutely got the point. When I talk about being validated as a poet, it’s stuff like this that cements that confidence in the ability.
This is also the pamphlet that my publisher described as nature poetry, which forced a reassessment of what I know is possible inside my own internal landscape. I am, believe it or not, not the most confident of people sometimes when belief comes into the equation. Mostly, let’s be honest, I write as a means of relieving the anxiety in my brain. Only recently has it become a process of creation.
That is, I suspect, going to come as a surprise to a few people here.
When I watch those poets with an easy familiarity and confidence in their work, there is often a pang of jealousy. I see no point in being dishonest either: some days, yes, I can create stuff literally as an impulse, but that does not mean that it’s going to resonate with anyone else. When it does it is always the unexpected joy. What is apparent, increasingly, is that is not a ticket to commercial success.
This is one of many reasons why getting Forest Management to publication has become so important. It’s emotive AND accessible, it would appear. This is also why the pre-sale event is so important, but it’s not just my publisher looking at the numbers. I will finally know how many people have an interest in the work beyond the obvious ‘we follow you and like your output’ support.
Like it or not, buying a book becomes the test of how ‘good’ I am.
It would mean the World to me if you pre-ordered a copy. As it’s my 60th birthday on the day it is released, you are then absolved of either remembering this date or getting me a gift. I’m also actively seeking feedback on it, in whatever form you think might be useful or interesting, and yes that includes ‘I didn’t like it’. The whole point of writing is the response to it, good or not.
I will be doing a LOT of promotion starting September 1st. You were warned :D
