
“But…but…but…THAT”S not YOUR name as the Author!” I hear you declare indignantly…
That’s TRUE – I’M not the AUTHOR, my Mother is, but unfortunately she is not alive to publish it herself, (she died in 2000), so I’ve published it in her name.
Today would have been Mum’s 90th birthday if she’d still been alive, so my sister and I felt that this book would be a nice way to celebrate Mum’s life and memory.
What’s it about?
As stated in the book description:
We all have dreams, loves and hopes; but what if you are a girl growing up in 20th century Northern Ireland before, during and after the ‘Troubles’?
From the poetic thoughts of our Mother, we get a sense of what it was like, ranging from humour, sadness, wistful thinking and sometimes just downright nonsensical, these are the words of one such girl.
Each poem tells a story.
My sister Lorna had kept and compiled all Mum’s poems she could find and always dreamed of having them published so others could enjoy them as well.
Enter Big Brother from stage left – NO, not the Orwellian one, or the Governmental one – I mean ME…
Since I’ve been blogging, dealing and rubbing virtual shoulders with over 500 talented giants of self-published literature for the past 3 years, my sister requested me (read threatened to tickle me until I gave in or fell out of my tree, whichever came first) to have Mum’s poems checked by a Professional Editor, make a cover for the resulting book and publish it.
WELL – EVERY Editor I knew qualified with Honours!
However, without hesitation, I immediately contacted Author Jo Robinson who recently started up her Indie Authors Support Services business as an Editor / Illustrator / Book Cover Maker / Book Formatter.
I have absolutely no regrets in selecting Jo – she has been professional (and patient) at all times, making all necessary editorial comments, offering advice, explaining things in a way even I could understand (no mean feat!) at every stage of the book editing, preparation, formatting, etc, then guiding me through the (well out of my comfort zone) joys of uploading to Amazon, making the Author’s Pages and doing the same for CreateSpace.
Now I’ve experienced the trauma of publishing a book, I’ve gained profound empathy and sympathy for every self-published author who has ever gone through this process – especially those who are non-USA citizens.
SO without further ado, I present Mum’s book to you as follows:
Reblogged this on But I Smile Anyway… and commented:
Please show your support for our very own Story Reading Ape who has helped so many of us Indie Authors realise our dreams. He has published a book too! I shan’t say much more but check out the original post please!
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Many thanks for sharing Ritu 😘😘😘
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You are so welcome! 😊😊😊
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Reblogged this on poetry, photos and musings oh my!.
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Many thanks for sharing Lea 😘😘😘
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My pleasure Chris. I was touched and cannot imagine what a childhood you must have had. bisous et câlins, Léa 😉
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BTW, it is also available on Amazon.fr
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It’s available worldwide Lea, but only in the English language 🐵
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Well I thought it would be but just checked while adding it to my list… 😉
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😄
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This is wonderful Chris! !! What a fantastic tribute to your mother! 😊
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Thanks Ritu, I hope she would’ve been pleased 🐵
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I’m sure she would have been Chris! 😊
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent – Daily Echo and commented:
A very special announcement from the Ape who has done so much to help Indie authors…
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Many thanks for sharing Sue 😘😘😘
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A lovely gift for your Mum… and your family.
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👍😘😍
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What a wonderful tribute Chris. This is exciting! Léa
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Mum made sure my sister and I loved reading and learning new things Lea – it set both of us in good stead to tackle life.
That’s why we wanted the world to know she existed and wrote poetry to express her thoughts and dreams 🐵
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Okay Chris, now I need a tissue! She must have been remarkable…
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She was, in more ways than I could explain Lea 🐵😘
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I’m happy for you all Chris. 🙂
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👍😘😘
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Merci beaucoup mon ami! 😉 :)) 😉
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Congratulations! 🙂
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Thanks Tori 👍😃
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Many thanks Annette 😘
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Three CHEERS for you! Oh, Chris, I am so excited about this book. I’ll just bet that your Mum is smiling eternally. ❤
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Just got my copy! ❤
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YEEHAAH – THANK YOU ANNETTE 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
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In her words she’d be “Affronted” (embarrassed), but I hope proud to see it Annette 🐵
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Aw, I loved it.. Went and grabbed myself a cuppa right down and read it through. Brought such smiles for I could hear the words as I was reading. So wonderful to meet your Mum! ❤
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My favourite is ‘The Antrim Coast Road’ about going on a bicycle ride and to a dance with her friends 😃
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I loved the one about the young couple one being green and the other orange… my dad was green and my mom was orange… and I LOVED the bratty little boy at Christmas time. Oh, and the description of all the girls in the Brownies… ❤
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👍😄😄😄😍😘
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You’re mother would be so proud, she’d be crying her eyes out with joy. How would I know? Because if my children did that with my books after I no longer am Earthbound, that’s how I’d feel.. No jewels or money or treasure of any sort would be a greater gift.♣♣♣♣
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Thanks for that Joelle, it means a lot to my sister and me to have been able to complete her dream. 🐵
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