How an Uber Driver Will Use My Book of Poems in His Ride-share

Why my uber driver friend gives out copies of my book of poems to his riders. 

Let me tell you about it.

Sometimes I work on my writing at one of the cafe areas at the local shopping mall. Glancing up I saw somebody smiling as they approached me. After a moment I realized that this was a dear friend. I asked him to join me and we caught up on what we both have been doing.

My friend is a man of faith and he shared that God is working in his life, some things have gone well and others have not; but he still sees God's loving touch in it all. He explained that driving for uber has helped him to make ends meet. He was excited that driving for a ride-share has given him opportunities to talk to people. Grinning, he said, "It's like I'm a bartender, everybody tells me their problems. They just open up." He offers them the kindness of a listening ear and every day he tells others about his faith in God.

I felt that God was speaking to me to give him some extra copies of my book of poems of encouragement, and his face lit up. He told me that it was a great idea to give copies to people who rode in his uber and that he would keep a few in the back of his car for his riders..  He reminded me that there are times when such a book will speak to someone's heart in ways that a sermon or minister couldn't. He said he knew people would be blessed and encouraged by the poems in the book. He said that just having copies for his riders to see will open up doors of opportunity to speak about God.

Of course, I appreciated the encouragement and felt very humbled by his praise. I hope he has many opportunities to share his faith and the book. I pray that God will be honored and people will be encouraged.

To order my book at wholesale directly from the printer CLICK HERE.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon. Amazon seems to be the way that people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much and what I do make I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it. 

© A.E. Dozat 2018

The Author Discusses His Poem, PEACE, A Poem of Source

This poem makes a simple statement. It puts our struggles in perspective by bringing them into contrast with the peace of God.

To order my book directly from the printer and receive wholesale pricing, CLICK HERE.

TITLE
Like all the poems in this collection, this has a two-part title. First is the word "Peace." This gives a feeling of hope. The second part of the title, "A Poem of Source," is the key to understanding the poem. This part gives us a compass arrow that points to what is our source of peace.

STRUCTURE
This poem is less structured than most in my collection: it is only 20 lines forming five sentences.

Illustration for the poem, Peace, from the book
Beyond These Dark Land
are Edges of Joy
By A.E.Dozat © 2018

The first four lines ask if you will find peace when you are surrounded by so many troubles. The sixth is composed of the one word, "but," to indicate a new direction. Lines six through eleven begin to challenge our ideas of peace.
"True peace is not
Just the absence of cares,
Worries or troubles."

Lines twelve through fifteen are the voice of peace answering the challenge of what peace is and isn't.

Lines sixteen through the end concludes with who is the source of peace.

MEANING
This poem acknowledges you have problems, and they are real. You can find peace if you look for it in the correct place. Peace is not in the absence of troubles but the presence of Him, who is bigger than our troubles.

ILLUSTRATION
This poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a tree stump with a shoot coming up from one of its roots as a statement that hope may come out of loss.

VERSE.
The scripture accompanying this poem is a classic, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." John 14:27, NIV.

This poem will encourage anyone who wonders why they do not possess inner peace. It will show them that the source of peace is not themselves but God, and if they seek Him, they will find peace.

If you want to read this poem, it is on page 22 of my book.

© A.E. Dozat 9/13/18

The Poet Explains His Poem, The Forever Part of The Pain, From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy

I wrote this poem for my book of hope and faith because I wanted to give hope that God uses your difficulties to bless you in many ways. A time may come when what remains of your pain becomes a gift for others.

To order your copy directly from the printer and receive the best wholesale pricing CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The title is in two parts, the first part is, "The Forever Part Of The Pain." It is an attempt to respect that pain leaves a piece of itself with us forever. We may recover, move on, and heal but there is something that never goes away. This is not something that should discourage us but a reality we can live with.
The second part of the title is, "A Poem of the Gift." This part of the poem is curious and makes the reader wonder what gift there can be in pain. It also suggests that it is a hopeful poem that will point to something valuable.

STRUCTURE
This poem has 26 lines. Each line is fewer than five syllables long. The first half describes the aftermath of pain and how it cools and seems to fade, "After the furnace fires of tribulation have cooled,"
The second section is only three lines and tells us that others will seek us out for this gift.
The last part, lines 18-26, are beautiful and among my favorite in the collection. They tell that the gift left by pain is something you can give to others.

MEANING

Illustration for the Poem
THE FOREVER PART OF THE PAIN
From The Book,
BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS
ARE EDGES OF JOY
© A.E. Dozat 2018

You will get over the experience, but something of pain remains. It is different for each person, and you must draw your own specific about the nature of the gift left by your own loss, it may be compassion, experience, comfort or understanding. But you wouldn't have this gift if you did not go through pain. The surprise is that this gift is not as much for you as it is for others when you share it with them.

ILLUSTRATION
There is a picture of an oak tree with a chair swing hanging from its branch. The chair swing looks like it is for two people sitting side by side. You can imagine two people may sit there to talk about their experiences.

SCRIPTURE
This poem is accompanied by a verse of scripture from the New Testament.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT

This poem offers comfort that because of your pain there will remain something that you will have that will bless you and others.

If you want to read this poem it is on page 21 of my book which you can purchase below.

© A.E. Dozat 9/13/18

The Poet Explains His Poem Freedom, a Poem of Leaving Darkness.

Freedom is a poem from my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope. When you read it you start to understand that forgiveness is possible.

To get it through Amazon CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The full title of this poem is Freedom, a Poem of Leaving Darkness; it suggests freedom will be found when you leave the place of darkness. Darkness may be anything but this poem applies to the specific enslavement of guilt, and the darkness we carry inside.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 27 lines long and most lines are five syllables. At first, it looks like free-verse. It is one of the rare poems in this collection that uses the first person singular of  "I."The I starts a new section of the poem four times.

• Lines 1 through 6 is the "I see you oppressed..." section, where the poem opens up with the observation of the readers struggle with guilt and darkness. 
• Lines 7-13 are the "I would give freely..." where the poem moves to compassion, but with the suggestion that there is a solution to be received. 
• Lines 14-17 is the "I, too, needed..." and "I have found..." section of confession and admission. The "I have found..." is repeated in line 18, I prefer to avoid repeats because they generally weaken a message. I made the exception to satisfy the question of what was found. 



Illustration for Freedom
A poem of Leaving Darkness
© A.E. Dozat 2018 

• The last 9 lines are a declaration of having found freedom from darkness and guilt. The last line of the poem is simple but after you think about you see more than what is on the surface. 

In these posts, I try not to give away too much since I want to sell the book but here is the ending.
This pardon 
He gives
Is so wonderful 
That I would have it 
Overflow to you.

MEANING
I wrote this poem because I know a lot of people struggle with guilt. Guilt is a darkness in our souls that we can't get rid of no matter what we do. I offer the solution that through Christ the Father offers forgiveness because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf.

ILLUSTRATION.
This poem is illustrated with a drawing of a dark deep valley with a rocky path.  Beyond the valley, the path enters distant pleasant lands.

The scripture at footnote for the poem is ”For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14, NIV

This poem offers hope that if you are struggling with guilt that there is forgiveness for you if you receive it from Christ who gives it freely.

© A.E.Dozat 6/7/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Joy's Birthing,

The poem, Joys Birthing, gives hope that God is available and listening to our prayers for help. I wrote it with the hope that others will be inspired to turn to the Lord God in their desperate hour. It is in my book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort And Hope.

TITLE
The title focuses on the beginning of joy, and it makes you consider how joy starts in your life. It may seem redundant to use both the word, "birthing" and the phrase, "starting point," but a birth must have a starting point. I hoped the title would create interest so you would read the poem to see how you can start finding joy.

STRUCTURE
All the poems in this book look like free verse, but I use some structure to give them a flow. In this poem, the majority of the lines are five syllables long except for some that are shortened for emphasis. The first nine lines make a declaration that
"Joy
Is born in the muck
Of the lowly heart."
Lines 10 through 19 turns the poem to God who
"...Hears the cry

Illustration for the Poem Joy's birthing
From The Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy
© A.E. Dozat 2018

Of the broken and
The helpless ones."
The final section lines 20 through 28, brings God and the humble man together saying that,
"God rewards their plea
And does for them
What they can't do..."
The four-syllable couplet is shorter than the lines before it, this gives it emphasis. The last lines are a celebration of God's generosity of provision.

MEANING
The poem not only says that you can begin to have joy; but that God is the source of your joy if you will be humble to admit your need and come to him.

ILLUSTRATION
The illustration is a road winding through grassy hills and beside the road is a sheep to illustrate the humility needed to come to God.

SCRIPTURE
The footnote to the poem is the scripture, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." James 4:10

JOY'S BIRTHING,

A Poem of the Starting Point

Joy 

Is born in the muck

Of the lowly heart.

The ones who admit 

Inner poverty,

And that 

They are powerless

To stop the ruin

Of their own lives.

They

Are the ready ones.

For

God hears the cry

Of the broken and

The helpless ones.

He listens for 

Those who look not

For power

But ask for mercy.

God rewards their plea

And does for them

What they can't do,

Such a wonder!

God gives free pardon,

With abundant life,

Full of victory 

To the humble ones

Who admit their need. 

This poem gives hope to anybody that joy and God's grace is available to all- no matter how downtrodden they are.  You can read it in its entirety when you order your copy, use the button below.

CLICK HERE to order your own copy of THROUGH THESE DARK LANDS directly from the printer at the best price.
© AE.Dozat 5/29/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Patience, A Poem of Him Who Watches

PATIENCE, A Poem of Him Who Watches, is found on page 13 of my Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this poem as encouragement for those who feel that they are going through a long time of hardship.

TITLE
The title is two-sided. At first, it could be that we are going through the dark time and must be patient, but, the subtitle, A Poem of Him Who Watches, might be about how God watches over us through our long night, or that we are watching for deliverance through the night. This open-ended title starts the reader thinking right from the beginning.

STRUCTURE
The poem is 26 lines long with grouped rhythms to speed up or slow down the reader. The first nine lines are the opening statement. Lines 1-6 are all short and move quickly, followed by two lines of both five syllables then line 9 is six syllables. The opening combines not only place and time but also experience.
"Those who have lived
only

Illustration for the Poem, Patience,
A Poem of Him Who Watches.
From the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands are Edges of Joy
© A.E. Dozat 2018

under the cold stars..."

Faith is explored in lines 10 to 19, They vary in length between four or five syllables
"Faith knows the sun
will certainly rise..."

Lines 20 through 22 talks about the comfort of faith that is based on truth.

The poem concludes in lines 23 through 26 by declaring that our patient faith proves our love for God.

MEANING
The metaphor of the stars makes us face eternity with a sense of our smallness and ignorance of what is beyond our place and time. But faith hopes for the dawn and watches in that hope because we know our patient waiting is evidence of our faith in God who is also watching over us.

ILLUSTRATION
The poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a road leading to the sunrise.

THE LESSON THIS POEM TEACHES
Our lives are a living statement. How we react to suffering speaks to others. This poem helps people see that their reaction to trials must come from a mature thought-out faith. It shows the purpose of enduring hardship.

There are many reasons and explanations for our suffering and no one answer suffices for all, but this poem says that our enduring faith in God during hardships proves our love for God.

The poem is accompanied by this scripture:
“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ -- the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV.

This poem like all the poems in this collection gives comfort and hope.

© Adron 5/2/18

The Author Explains His Poem, The Passing Shadow, a Poem of Returning

The poem, THE PASSING SHADOW, A Poem of Returning, is found on page 12 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

The death of my brother who died of an overdose was the motivation for this poem about grief and bereavement.

To get it through Amazon CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The encouragement begins with the title. It explains that our time of difficulty and trial will come to a conclusion and that there is a time when you will be able to hope again. The shadow is grief, and time allows it to pass. The "Returning" makes you think of your own returning to living life after the season of grief.

STRUCTURE
It looks like a freestyle poem, but it has some rhythm since most of the lines are 6 syllables long except for a few variants that give emphasis. It is 26 lines.

It starts out by describing the deep grief we sometimes feel. The first 13 lines describe sorrow and loss,

Illustration for the Poem, The Passing Shadow,
A Poem of Returning,
From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
Words of Comfort and Hope
By A.E. Dozat © 2018 

"You can walk away...
But you cannot leave 
The emptiness You carry inside."

Lines 14 to 19 expresses our response is sometimes with anger and withdrawal,
"You just have to sit ...
And be angry at God 
And hate everything..."

Lines 20-26 offers the hope that a time will come when you can live again,
"The days of Exhaustion will come. 
Then it will be time..."

Everything leads to the last line that tells about the hope that after this shadow passes we will begin to live again.

ILLUSTRATION
This poem is illustrated with a road leading past a solitary great oak tree in a barren land.

The Passing Shadow is part of a book that offers encouragement and hope, this poem says that it is ok to react with sorrow, anger and even withdrawal for a season, but there comes a time to begin to live again.

SCRIPTURE
The scripture in the footnote is from Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

© A.E. Dozat 4/23/18

The Author Explains His Poem, To Touch The Pain, A Poem Of The Healer

My Poem, To Touch the Pain, A Poem of the Healer, is found on page 11 of my book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this poem for those who seek freedom from the burdens of their inner pain and to point them to The Lord who is the master physician of hurting hearts.

TITLE

I gave it the title, To Touch the Pain, with some reservation because A person may not want to be reminded of their pain. The subtitle takes us from pain to the Healer.

STRUCTURE

This poem is 21 lines long and most are three and four syllables, except for lines 12 through 16, where a new rhythm makes the main point of the poem stand out

The poem does not have much in the way of illustration but opens with a metaphor for pain.

"You have known pain
For so long
It has now fused
To your soul
Like hardened iron."

I did not want to belittle the pain anyone feels, but to acknowledge it.

The 21st line makes a concluding point and that line is given effect by being six syllables long.

    TO TOUCH THE PAIN,

    A Poem of the Healer

    You have known pain

    For so long

    It has now fused 

    To your soul 

    Like hardened iron.

    Its weight breaks you,

Illustration for the poem, To Touch The Pain,
A Poem of The Healer
© 2018 By A.E. Dozat

    And you need

    To be made whole.

    This pain is deep,

    Unending and dire.

    You are willing

    To try any cure,

    Make any sacrifice,

    And pay any price; 

    Why not

    Consider God?

    If you reach for Him

    You will find 

    He is willing,

    And you will learn

    That to touch Him

    Will begin

    Your healing.

MEANING
This poem is simple. It describes the struggle with pain, then asks that since you are willing to do anything for relief "Why not consider God?"  It encourages you to reach out to God because you will find that He is willing to begin your healing.

ILLUSTRATION

The illustration is a pen drawing of a road that leads across on a rocky desert landscape. In the middle ground is a cross.

This poem, like many in the book, will inspire people to be open to God's healing and working in their lives. I hope that when a person is ready to deal with their pain that they consider the comfort and healing from a source that was rejected before, and look to God.

The footnote is a Bible verse, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-29, NIV

You can read this poem on page 11 of the book. 

To read a review CLICK HERE.

© A.E. Dozat 4/8/18

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The Author Explains The Meaning of His Poem, Its Power Never Ends

The Poem, It's Power Never Ends, A Poem about the Source, is on page 10 of my Book of Poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

This is a poem of rational hope, a hope that is founded on an intelligent belief in God's active mercy in our lives.  It is my vision that this poem will inspire others to a deeper hope in God during their difficult times..

TITLE
I wanted the title to grab the reader's attention immediately. It makes you wonder what the "It" is, and what the "Power" is.

The subtitle, A Poem about the Source, is to deepen the reader's curiosity. You assume that this fundamental something that is powerful eternally.

Illustration for the poem
Its Power Never Ends, A Poem of The Source
From the Book
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
© 2018 By A.E. Dozat

STRUCTURE
This poem is 29 lines long and forms eight sentences. The overall tone is direct like a 98-word sermon. I did not use metaphor and imagery. The lines are short, some have only one or two words. Most lines are four five or six syllables with very few rhythms. There are two halves; the first half makes a statement and the second half expands the statement.

WHAT IT SAYS
This poem makes its point early in line five that the poem is about hope.
The next three phrases began to expound on hope...
"Hope is as strong or
As weak as
Who your hope is in."
It points out that we should not blindly hope in hope, but we must hope in God who is not only able to meet all of our needs for deliverance He is divinely worthy of our faith.
Lines 12 through 14 points out that we must clearly define who or what our hope is in. The poem ends like a Psalm where God is declared worthy of our hope.

ILLUSTRATION
Most of the book's illustrations have a road going through the dark lands. In this illustration, the road winds around a hill with an empty tomb representing lines 20-21.

SCRIPTURE
The footnote is the verse from 1 Corinthians, "Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love". 1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT

This poem is a valuable statement that we can have hope. Reading it will strengthen those who need reassurance that God is worthy of their hope.

You can read this poem on page 10 of the book. 

© Adron 4/8/18

The Author Explains the Meaning of the Poem, His Place.

His Place, A Poem of Renewal, is found on page 9 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this poem to inspire people that in the trauma of difficulties we can find peace in God but we must seek Him.

To get it through Amazon CLICK HERE.

TITLE
This is one of the more simple and obvious titles. The phrase, His Place, directs us to look to The Lord. Of course, Place is not a physical location but a spiritual one.

The subtitle, A Poem of Renewal, is very important because that when we spend time with The Lord we are renewed and able to live in the world victoriously.

Illustration for the Poem His Place
from the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands,
are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.
© 2018 By A.E. Dozat

STRUCTURE
The poem is 21 lines long and forms eight sentences; almost every line is five syllables long. The tone of admonition goes throughout the poem. It begins with an imperative in line one, you must find that place..., in line eight, you must be faithful...,  in line nine, go there...,  and in line 14 neglect not...

The fourth line describes the place, it is a silent place... and God waits...

The poem turns from describing this spiritual place to the blessing we find there, the blessing of Him... that is from being in God's presence.

The last five lines are hopeful with and emphatic. In line 19 the words you will... is not a command but a result of being in the presence of the Lord. The poem ends with a positive declaration; you will carry His light...

WHAT IT MEANS
We must be devoted to finding God, even in difficult times. If by faith we meet with Him we will carry His peace through our day.

ILLUSTRATION
The picture I drew for this is a path leading up the side of a hill where a bench sits on an outcrop of rock that overlooks the landscape below. It is an attempt to illustrate a quiet place where we might meet with the Lord.

SCRIPTURE
The footnote for the page is the scripture reference of Exodus 34:35, “The people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining.” It is about the time when Moses met with God on the mountain and his face was full of the brightness of having been in communion with God.

You can read this poem on page 9 of the book. If you would like to read a sample poem choose the link below for the website.

Beyond These Dark Lands 
Are Edges of Joy,
Words of Comfort and Hope
Poems by A.E. Dozat © 2018

If you are in need of encouragement or know someone who does you should order a copy today, you will glad you did.

To purchase through Amazon CLICK HERE. 

Use the Buy Now button for Paypal

$9.62 Plus $4.17 Basic Shipping

For large orders or digital downloads follow this link to TheBookPatch, my print on demand partner.

To find out more and read a sample poem visit my website, A.E. Dozat.com.

To read a review CLICK HERE.

© Adron 3/19/18

The Author's Reflection on The Poem Titled, My Letter to You, a Poem of Invitation.

Here is the first poem in my book, BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS ARE EDGES OF JOY. This poem is intended as an introduction.  In fact, an earlier version of this poem was titled, Introduction. I hoped to use it to set the tone and expectation for the reader.  But when one of my reviewers suggested it would confuse the audience by having an introduction in the form of a poem, I renamed it "My Letter to You, A Poem of Invitation."

Scroll down to the bottom of this post and read the poem

I was still committed to the poem and the idea of putting it ahead of the body of the book, so I compromised his advice by leaving it in the location of an introduction.

This poem begins by describing how I want to write beautiful poetry, "About daisies in the fields, where little lambs sleep and the children laugh..." I admit it is not very deep, but I like beautiful poems with vibrant picture words, and I would like to write that kind of poem for people to read.

Line drawing illustration for the poem,
My Letter To You, A Poem Of Invitation
From Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Joy.
(c) Adron 2018

But this poem explains that there are many people who "live lonely lives in cold, windswept lands..."   I was expressing that this collection of poems is for those people who struggle and have pain.

Starting with this poem, I tried to be sensitive to people's lives of hardship and wrote that I won't "Belittle your struggles..." Many inspirational poetry books are filled with shallow overused platitudes and quaint sayings. I was committed to offering something thoughtful, meaningful, and depth. I wanted this book to really encourage people.

This first poem bluntly explains my purpose to offer hope. As a person of faith, I believe that God is the source of hope through His Christ. Near the end, this poem gives a loving picture of Christ.

The last line is my favorite. I won't give it away here (sorry for the teaser), but it pulls everything together.

I placed the illustration in a small circle in the lower right corner. My drawing shows an open gate to symbolize the invitation. The open gate leads to a sunny field occupied by two sheep.

This first poem is an invitation; it invites the reader "to come" to a bright place where the God of hope waits.

I would write pretty poems
About daisies in fields
Where little lambs sleep
And the children laugh
In the summer sun.
But most of us
Live lonely lives
In cold windswept lands
Of gray stormy skies.
I won't belittle
Your struggles and pain
But acknowledge them
And offer hope
That
There is a place where
Daisies bloom in sunny fields;
A place made safe
By the One Good Shepherd
Who
Smiles as children laugh
And waits to take us in his arms. My friend,
If you are willing
I would go there with you.

You can order the book Beyond these Dark Lands directly from the publisher for the best price. CLICK HERE.

 

(c) Adron 3/4/18

What is it like to finally get the book you wrote in your hand for the first time?

After working over a year on writing, organizing, revising and illustrating my book I opened up the mailbox, and there it was at last; a priority envelope with a copy of my work, BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS ARE EDGES OF JOY, WORDS OF COMFORT AND HOPE, my Collection of poems. 

On the inside, I am dancing for joy. 

I went upstairs to my desk and opened the packaging. The book looked beautiful and just the way I hoped it would be. I sat down and looked at the illustrations I made for it and was very happy with the drawings. I was able to open the book and sit in a chair and read it for the first time as an audience and not as a wordsmith full of doubts and second guesses. It was a time of sweetness and pure indulgence, it was the only worthy way to reward my work. 

The printing company, The Book Patch, did a nice job, I was afraid it would be an inferior job or second-rate, but not at all. They took my work and produced a book that would stand with pride on the bookshelf at any store. I am eager to show it to all my friends. 

I am immediately aware of the many people who helped me along the way; without their help, I would

Holding My Book
 At Last!

not have been able to accomplish this task. I am very grateful for their help and encouragement. 

But this is not the end of the road because as hard as it was to write the book I am beginning to understand that promoting and marketing it is much harder. 

Obviously, I have the blog and the Facebook page, and a website under development. But I am beginning to see that getting my book of poems to market may be the harder part of the enterprise.

I've been thinking of this project as a piece of creativity and an expression of my devotion to God and service to others. Now I have to think of this book as a product or a piece of inventory and myself not as an author but as its marketing agent. In fact, if someone were to ask me I would not say I am a poet or writer, I would say that I am a publisher in a niche market.

So the moment of elation is over. Now I am going to go and write a business plan.

(c) Adron 2/28/18