Wow! A hearty thank you!

http://joshuatreecoaching.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/heidi-van-dolah/

A completely unexpected shout out! Wonderful. Thank you, Catherine! You are one of a kind, for certain.

It is interesting to have a book in print. And like many authors who self publish I find myself wondering if I should buy boxes of books at a discounted rate offered when purchasing books in bulk and hope I can sell them either to bookstores, individuals, or in connection with some sort of charity. Right now individuals can purchase a copy online and that is it. And as much as I want people around me to purchase and enjoy this collection of poetry, I also am not trying to be a walking advertisement for myself. I have often joked that I would walk around with the book around my neck like Flava Flav and his clocks, but of course, as comical as I like to be, I do not think I'll actually pursue that form of advertising. It is the struggle of any type of artist to try to figure out if the art produced is for personal fulfillment and enlightenment, or if creating a fan-base and developing art as income producing vocation is the goal. At this point I am at the personal fulfillment point. If some day I could be considered a "writer" or an "artist" in the eyes of a wider public would be wonderful, I think. Haven't we all dreamed of some sort of stardom? Being written about, critiqued, in a public realm? It will be interesting to find out if this ends at a "look, I published a book" or if I will continue on and try to fight my way through the noise, insisting that what I wrote is worth the time and energy, to make this avocation a vocation.

What do you think of the poetry that you have read here or otherwise? If you purchase the book I would love a review. Let me know what you think!

Now Available!

I am excited to announce that I received the last proof- the proof of the published product. It looks great, so if you would like to purchase a copy, please do so at the following link:

Old Souls, New Coat of Paint by Heidi Van Dolah

Feedback request.

The problem with poetry is that it is so subjective. How someone reads it and what someone takes from it is so different person to person. As the time gets closer to me having a copy of the book in hand, as it gets closer to some of you having a copy of this book in hand, my confidence waivers, my heart pounds with nervous energy- please let me know what you think. Give me feedback. Tell me it is terrible! Tell me it is great! Tell me what you like and/or what you do not. Because if I ever do this again it will be based very much on this first publishing experience and the feedback I receive. Post it here. Send me an email. Post on Facebook. But, please, do not stay quiet. Tell me! It is the only way I can learn. It is the only way I can know if this pursuit was fruitful; whether good or bad, positive or negative, I really just need to know.

On its way!

I have approved the final galley. The book will be in print very shortly. I will have the first copy in my hands within 15 days. Incomprehensible. I am overwhelmed.

I will post the link to purchase the book as soon as it is available.

Thanks so much for your support.

Peace n' love, always, my friends,

Heidi