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Reintroducing My Publications: Poetry Anthologies, Essays, and Short Stories

What a relief it is to be in this position


If you're reading this, then my publications are all ready for you to read —  and let me tell you, I am excited. It gives you something to read, and I hope both new readers and old can appreciate my publications. Now that they are published, it gives you an opportunity to read them if you have not already and, of course, if you would like to read them again.


I'm also excited because republishing my books is something that has been in the pipeline for several months — if not up to a year — but I have been putting off the whole process just because it's a lot to organise. It feels like a lot to deal with because I'm proud of my work, and I want to make sure it's perfect. I want to make sure it's perfect for myself, and for you as readers.


There does, however, become a point where I need to get past my own anxiety and fear and just do it. Without just doing it, there will be no books for you to read, and therefore my anxiety would further increase to an oppressive magnitude. Though anxiety can we help in smaller doses, it does not actually help me achieve what I want to do, but now that my works are published, I have achieved it. I've got past my anxiety and fear, and they are now all available for you to read.


Throughout this process I've learnt that done is better than perfect. There is no such thing as perfect, despite the fact that I do my best to get there. I put so much effort into everything (sometimes to my detriment), and that shows in my work. If I did not get this done, there would be nothing to show for my hard work. Well, not entirely nothing as there is my blog with a huge archive of work, as well the fact that I didn't take my books off my website even though they were unpublished — to show that they were gone for now, but not forever.


Prevailed Hope


Prevailed Hope is a deep, raw and honest reflection of mental health and some of life's toughest emotions.


The book is split into three main sections: Midnight, Dawn and Midday. This is done so that, as you read through the anthology, you'll truly appreciate how our emotions can change and develop with the passing of time.


You'll start off reading Prevailed Hope feeling defeated, and leave feeling refreshingly hopeful. As well as having an increased insight into the emotions and perspectives explored throughout.


Plenty of food for thought to go around!


So, whether you are currently hurting, or you can feel creativity flowing through your veins; I strongly encourage that you get yourself a cup of tea, and settle down for an emotional rollercoaster.


A new cover has been uploaded, but the content remains the same.


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Endeavour


Endeavour is a poetry anthology full of philosophy and insight — looking at the themes of Resilience and Writing.


How they are separate, and how they come together for the author.


Resilience from the author had an exponential impact on his writing and, in turn, the writing further strengthened his resilience.


The poetry encourages readers to acknowledge their own passions, desires, and strengths — and how these can come together to become the driving force towards better times.


Hopefully that feeling of determination can be passed on to you!


A new cover was uploaded, but the content remains the same.


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A Moment of Detachment 


What if it's not necessarily all about the plot, but largely about the emotions conveyed; the characterisation?


In this three-part poetic short story, you will be encouraged to think philosophically, as I touch on subjects of mental health and dissociation.


Looking at the relationship between a mother and her son can be intense.


Three perspectives on the same event.


I have just summarised this piece for you, but the rest is left to your imagination.


When you read it, what do you take from it?


See for yourself.


A new cover has been uploaded, but the content is the same.


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Coming to Terms with Loneliness 


In this essay, I analyse what loneliness really means, and contextualise it into every day life. Throughout the essay. I draw from my lived experience, as well as the fact that I am a writer living with a disability. True to form, I like to end on a more positive note, and look into how loneliness can be constructive, and how we can further use it as an opportunity.


A new cover has been uploaded, but the content is the same.


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What it is Really like Being a Wheelchair User


Do you know what you think you know about disability?


This is a personal essay that goes some way to explain what it is like being a wheelchair user living with chronic disabilities. Within it, the author discusses mental health, the feeling of being underestimated, finding his way in life; as well as offering fresh perspective and insight.


The essay is an eye-opener for many; written with the intention of many more to come.


Those living with disabilities will, hopefully, feel seen and heard. The author feels a responsibility to advocate for those who cannot themselves. Strength and hope can go a long way.


A new cover has been uploaded, but the content is the same.


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Here is my Amazon Author page, so that everything is easily accessible for you to make a purchase.


Poetry Previews from Prevailed Hope:


These excerpts were posted several years back when Prevailed Hope was originally published. You can use these as reference points to help you decide whether my poetry is something you would like to take a chance on.


How my poetry anthologies in particular have shaped my journey as an author


There is this recurring discourse within the writing community that an author's first book becomes the book that they regret writing, or dislike the most.


I can understand that from the perspective that — having written more books — you've developed as a writer, and therefore you may feel as though the first book is not as good, or representative of who you are as a writer.


However, I would also disagree in the sense that your first book is the book that marks you as an author. From there, the process is continued and built upon.

Authors will realise that each book — no matter these genre or however many books you've written in the past — comes with its own challenges.


So, the first book you have written ought to have a special place in your heart, or so I think.


Endeavour wasn't actually intended to be a sequel, it just happened that it kind of turned into one. I quite like that because it's as though it has developed and evolved itself.


Admittedly, as you can see how Prevailed Hope is about mental health and going from dark times to better times. Then Endeavour is about writing, the writing process, the commitment and resilience, and the hope that writing provides; the kind of mindset that you need in order to be a writer. After all, writers will understand that a manuscript does not just land on our laps one day.


I like that Prevailed Hope and Endeavour feel like a natural progression. I would like to think that — to a certain extent — all my anthologies become an extension of each other. In the sense that they show how I've developed as a person, not just in the way that my mental health has changed over the years.


I can appreciate the poetry is more emotionally charged than a novel, for example. Speaking for myself, a novel is more focused around perspective and a story that needs telling — whereas, poetry is more about depicting emotions in a very specific way. That's not to say that they are mutually exclusive: stories can be told through poetry, and prose can be poetic as well. So, in that sense, I hope that the arcs that both Prevailed Hope and Endeavour have, individually and together, illustrate that.


At the moment, I am writing a lot of poetry of many different themes, and I can't yet see an anthology with a very specific theme forming at the moment. The joy of being a writer is that I can express myself, and see what comes of it. 


It could possibly be — with my focus in writing poetry at the moment — that I inadvertently end up writing the beginnings of two or three anthologies, instead of the one.


I suppose this comes from a shift in perspective. From thinking ‘I need to write this poetry anthology of forty to one hundred poems’, to ‘here we have forty poems, some many work, most will not’. Then, from there, build a fluidity and cohesion that I like to construct within my writing. For example, in Prevailed Hope, there are three sections: Midnight, Dawn and Midday. These show the transition between dark times of mental health, realising that things are bad and that changes need to be made, the feelings after these changes have been made, and feeling as though you're healing. Whilst subtly noting that I don't think we ever really go back to how things were before, because at the very least, we see ourselves in different light. No matter the experience that we have been through.


My other works: short stories and essays


Writing is centred around poetry and poetry anthologies, I also have some essays on disability and what it's like to be a wheelchair user, as well as short stories that are focusing on the emotional experience of being human. Though these are obviously different to poetry anthologies, there is a common theme of exploring mental health and the human experience. I can appreciate that these may seem very different to each other, but they are also short reads that you can read with a cup of tea, for example.


Why am I relaunching?


I have decided to relaunch my books because these pieces have been written over the course of several years — and we change as writers — as people — over many years and I thought this relaunch would reflect that.


It is also quite useful in the sense that I have quite a few more readers who I didn't have at the time of publishing my first poetry anthology, Prevailed Hope.


It allows for the idea of a clean slate, and to acknowledge how far I've come. At the same time, I do want my books to be a reflection of how much I've learnt and where I started, so I do not want to change the content itself — it's more just changing the designs of the covers, so they reflect who I am.


After all, I have learnt that change does not need to be scary — it can be an opportunity. This is an opportunity that I'm taking, and I'm hoping that you join me in embracing this change.


If you haven't read one of  before, perhaps you would like to take the chance (if you do, please let me know what you think!)?


Thank you to Imali and Inkfire Limited for their hard work


I want to take the time to thank Imali and Inkfire Limited from the bottom of my heart. These books mean the world to me, because they are physical manifestation of my time, energy, and dedication. Not just to writing, but also that I put into everything in life. 


Thank you for your help redesigning the covers, they are brilliant. The process has made me realise that I shouldn't — and needn't — take on everything myself, though I certainly try to. Your support and guidance has lifted a weight off my shoulders that I realised I didn't need to be holding. I am a one man band, so any support is appreciated, and a problem shared is a problem halved, as they say. 


For your design needs, please check out and support Inkfire Limited. 


Here are some places you can get more information, for your ease: 



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