Well, gentle readers and friends, I have been working on gathering together the nature poems that we have worked on for the past couple of years since before Christmas, and I am close to ready to publish this collection of poems that we compiled. I need some help and advice though. I hope that you are ready to help me.
Before we get too far into this, first let me advise you to please contact me via this email: mbt1966@yahoo.com. <<< I think that you can click on this link and go right to it. The communication function in this free version of WIX seems to be inconsistent, and I miss a lot of messages until weeks after they published. Please feel free to use my email.
Now, what are you emailing? Good question! Here is the collection of poems from the past couple of years. It is right below in the box ready to download. Please read this selection of poems carefully, look at the arrangement, look at the pictures, and think about what we have done to get to this point.
Now, that you have given the collection the once-over, please answer these questions for me:
What would be a good name for the book?
I like the random title that I have chosen fine, but I am definitely open to suggestions?
Do you like the sketches?
I can have a sketch/picture with every poem, but, since I will self-publish this book, I will have to stay with the black and white sketches rather than photos. If the sketches do not add to the aesthetic, please let me know. I will remove them.
Are the poems in an order that makes sense?
Please suggest any arrangements or rearrangements that would enhance the collection.
What kind of things would you like me to write about in a foreword?
In Atheists and Empty Spaces, I wrote a foreword that was a comprehensive critique of the current state of poetry and why I keep writing poetry despite the fact that my style is extremely out of style in contemporary literature and academics. I don't feel like you, my gentle readers and friends, give a hoot about contemporary literary and academic trends. What would you really like to know about this collection of poems? Tell me, and I will try to tell you what you want to know.
Nearly half of the poems in this collection are, in some form or another, requests by my readers. Should I mention who requested each of the poems? In other words, do you want me to write a blurb about the inspiration for each poem?
What ideas might you have for the cover of the book? It will be created by me, so it will probably not be too fancy. If you are a graphic arts person, maybe you could volunteer a hand.
Please email me any other observations that you may have--and, if you have any expertise in publication or self-publication, I can and will use any advice that you might be willing to offer.
Please feel free to share the collection with others who might enjoy it. Publishers hate when authors share their works for free. With all the money that I have made from publication of my books (Ha!), I would take a thousand views over a thousand dollars. Yeah, I am not in this for the money, and it's a damned good thing too!
Kellie took the picture at the top of the page as we completed a recent walk at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. We could easily compile a photo album of sunsets just looking over that one hill, which reminds me of how we encounter the sublime every day.
Later! Waiting for those emails!
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