In celebration of World Poetry Day (21st March), and in light of the isolation many people find themselves in at this moment, the electronic version of my book – Let it Flow – will be available for just 99c* on Amazon Kindle for one week, starting Tuesday 24th March 2020.
(* I wanted to put it up for free, but because I’ve had to work through a third party service, this isn’t possible. The service tells me that Amazon doesn’t allow it to set the price as free, and it will default to $0.99…I’ve set it to be free, so we’ll see if that actually happens.)
It’s a ‘best-of’ anthology – collecting what I consider my most meaningful poetry and reflections from the last fourteen years that I’ve been writing.
My hope in publishing this is that the different pieces within the book may inspire others, encourage those going through difficulty, and generally just be of some kind of benefit – however you choose to interpret the material. I hope that this impact will be particularly pronounced at this point in time, given the circumstances we find ourselves in.
What’s in it for you?
If you’re looking for a scientific, research-backed book that’s going to help you improve some aspect of your life – like your focus, communication skills, or mindfulness – you’d best look elsewhere.
If you want to dive deep into a topic, and learn as much as you can in a concise, well-written package…you won’t find that here.
And if you’re up for stories of dashing escapades, intriguing mystery, or thrilling romance, this isn’t for you either.
You see, while thousands of other books exist to teach and entertain readers, this one follows the path of the impractical. It’s filled with poetry and prose – words which may be of little discernible value in today’s fast-paced, information-dense, politically and economically-obsessed world.
From the writer’s perspective, it’s a selfish endeavour: a deeply personal collection of material written through my twenties and thirties. A creative chronicle of my struggles, growth, observations, and journey – from an insecure young man, to the quest for marriage, fatherhood that followed, and adapting to the toils of adult responsibility, after a childhood that didn’t prepare me for such burdens.
So, why would you read this book?
Well, as humans, we relate to each other through sharing experiences. Sometimes, if we can convey our experiences and ideas well enough – through a story, a poem, or a thoughtful reflection – the one who receives gains far more than just knowledge, or a temporary thrill.
As a reader, you are inspired. Encouraged. The words resonate with you on a deeper level. You feel.
It’s said that what comes from the heart goes to the heart.
The collection of material within this book – as the title suggests – has flowed from my heart. I did not choose to write most of the pieces. I did not choose the words, the metaphors, the ideas. It all just came to me. It flowed through me – onto the page, as if it had a life of its own, and I was merely the instrument needed to bring it into the world of humans.
I don’t claim to be a poet – much less a skillful one. Yet the expressions that came through me manifested as poems which I hope will have a beautiful impact on you, dear reader.
And I don’t call myself a ‘thinker’ either. (In fact, the very term amuses me – as if the ‘thinkers’ are the only ones using their brains, and the rest of us are mere imbeciles.) Yet the thoughts made their way out into prose which, I hope, will cause you, dear reader, to ponder more deeply on situations in your own life – to your own benefit.
In the end, this book won’t be for everyone. But it might just be for you.
I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s available here – though the special price only kicks in from Tuesday.
Sample available immediately
The current e-book stores that sell the book (including Amazon, Google Play, and Apple Books) include a sample of the book, but if you’d like a more comprehensive preview, you can get that here.
Print edition also available
For those who would like the print version, it’s available in South Africa via direct order.
slip-sliding away..... 