I should be shouting in the marketplace, with drums and megaphone, having just released my second novel, ‘Shapers.’ But shouting has never been my thing, call it false modesty … a few subtle hints must do. Presently, I’m reading ‘Shapers’ in my sunny garden, as if I’d just encountered the book, surprised how much I enjoy the read. Some authors may think me naïve – since books don’t normally sell without massive promotion, for which I’ve no agent or sponsor, nor the funds. Patience I have, otherwise I wouldn’t have finished two novels, considering I could only afford spending time on novel writing during the third part of my life.
So I belong to the writers lonely hearts club … where, unless you’re a celebrity, or achieve a short burst on a bestseller list, most writers will linger.
Not the Beatles though – whose brand of beats, lyrics and showmanship hit the mark.
I was par chance present when the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s lonely hearts club band album cover was arranged and photographed in London, by courtesy of a friend. I wasn’t allowed to take photos, especially since celebrities popped in and out of the shoot, but I helped by cutting out the image of Shirley Temple in the right hand corner of the cover, and I enjoyed a joint from the block of marihuana, freely available on a silver plate. Returning to my lodgings, I danced, swinging around lampposts. These were carefree times.
Creating poetry, songs, stories, any art inspired by the sphere of the imagination is a calling. There is plenty how-to-do tools for creators, which is useful, but only when the visions and ideas that propel expression emerge from inside, embodied by one’s senses and the experience of relationships, and, ideally, rearranged by symbolic understanding. It’s a fine balancing act, like carrying a cup filled to the brim with hot liquid and not spilling any.
This is my view on the subject, because writing for writings sake, like churning out generic plots, which I AI can do well, has no meaning for me.
Once I’ve processed my grief over releasing ‘Shapers’ into the web’s wilderness, I may attempt a few things to promote the novel – a local paper, bookshops & Twitter etc.
A lovely person, David Breitling, from New York, said about ‘Course of Mirrors’ at the time …‘This is candy for lovers of magic realism.’ … which could also apply to ‘Shapers.’ I’m into a third novel, about Mesa and her dystopian future, where time slows down through lack of conflict, though I may feel discouraged, if interest in my novels doesn’t pick up. Please buy, enjoy and review …
A link to the publisher: https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/sci-fi/shapers/
Paperback and e-book are however available on many platforms and can also be ordered through bookshops.
Among ‘Course of Mirrors’ reviews, I was cheered by this one, in the way one looks for understanding of what one tries to do … https://cathum.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/course-of-mirrors-an-odyssey-by-ashen-venema/
Thank you Cath ♥
Course of Mirrors 