Last week a fellow poet said to me, “you’re having a book!” I did, but I would be a miss if I didn’t thank her and so many others for making it happen. Like a skilled medical team is needed to deliver a baby, talent and supportive people were with me in making this happen.

Even though I have helped edit a few poetry books with Jennifer Dotson, founder of Highland Park Poetry, for some reason Word docs were not my friend. Illinois State Poetry Society Board Member Kathy Cotton, an amazing poet, took pity on my and helped format my first book, The Path that Beckons.

Her vast experience helped with making sure photographs were the correct pixels per inch, and the nuts and bolts of the book were in order.

Susan T Moss, President of Illinois State Poetry wrote one of the blurbs for the back cover and I will be forever grateful for her thoughtful words. Mark Vancil, of Michael Jordan biographies and the ESPN documentary “The Last Dance” has been a supportive writer friend for several years. I am touched and thankful for his eloquent words.

I knew I was going to need a lot of handholding in the process and because so many people did by being helpful and supportive, I have learned so much about this process and hope to stand SO MUCH stronger and taller next time – because I’m already planning on my second book of poems, and ready to brush off a novel that’s been fermenting for a long time and needs revision.

The journey of putting together a book of poetry, is another path I look forward to continuing!

–mb

The Path that Beckons is available on Amazon!