Whether it is the first, second, or – as in this case – the third book you have written, there is very little that comes close (for a writer) to the joy that is felt upon receipt of one’s first Author Copy of a new book. The anticipation that accompanies the simple act of ripping open the packaging is something that cannot really be described to a non-writer. To any writer who holds a wish to be one day published, however, it is a joy fondly anticipated each and every time you sit at your keyboard. A book represents the physical manifestation of a dream – it is the words you wrote, but edited, printed, bound, and ready to be shared with others. It is a commodity that represents your talent, made real. You pick it up and caress the cover, feeling the physical form of the book, and then you flick through the pages, the newly printed smell a tonic to all doubts and insecurities you might have felt previously. This is something you made, you tell yourself. From conception to completion, every word came from your mind. Even a compilation (such as this third book of mine, Words to Inspire Writers: A perpetual Calendar of classic Writing-related Quotations – on Writers, Writing, Words, Books, Literature, and Publishing – specifically selected to illustrate the Writing Process and to motivate Authors every day), requires the collection, selection, and, ultimately, presentation of materials that you chose. Your mind made decisions – about your book – that your fingers translated (via the computer) into a coherent whole: a brand new book. I truly hope that all unpublished writers (that is, traditionally unpublished, as in printed book form) reading this one day experience the pleasure of holding in their hands a book that they have written – for it is a truly incomparable feeling. Of course, there are many other ways to be published today (this blog entry being one such), so I am not denigrating those who might not have yet published a physical book; I am just hoping that, one day, you too might know the pleasure I experienced yesterday when the parcel from my publisher arrived on my doorstep (which, I must point out, was tinged with sadness also – being, as it was, exactly eleven years, to the day, since my Dad, Frank Henry Babic, had died, on December 31, 1996 – but Mum reckons Dad probably organized it that way!).
Anyway, I am very proud to be able to share this with you all. Hopefully, over the months (and years) ahead, I will be able to share much more; about my journey as a writer, friend, and human being. If you have the time, please do download your FREE copy of the Words to Inspire Writers Ebook Sampler pdf file here. Then let me know what you think. Nothing would delight me more!
Otherwise, keep writing – and have a Healthy, Prosperous, and Happy New Year!
