Greatcoats to Growler

Finally, my book of poems arrived, just in time for the market we had on Saturday. This was great timing, as I was beginning to think it wouldn’t get here by the 30th. We had already had the Mind, Body, Spirit event in Whangarei a fortnight earlier, where I was also hoping the book would be ready, but unfortunately it didn’t make that one. But never mind, it is here now and I am delighted with it.

It was by chance that I discovered the company who did the design work and organised the printing. They had a stall behind us at the Artisan’s Affair, another market held in early September. I loved the colours of some prints they had designed and asked if they could create my cover using those same colours. It was then that I discovered that they also did design work for books. So, thank you to Karol and Alan of Alphabyte for all your assistance with this book. And to Jackson (writerjackson.com) for the editing.

I hadn’t written any poems for more than 20 years but it was after the Writers and Poets Doubtless Bay group was formed and we began sharing our work that I started writing more. There is nothing like positive feedback to spur one to continue writing.

The poems in this book are inspired from people, animals and events from my life. I have actually written a second book which is due to be edited shortly. I felt like I had come to the end of my poem ideas – no more stroppy animals or people left to write about, but surprisingly, I am finding more memories coming to me, ones that I had completely forgotten about, so your never know, there might even be a third book.