Wednesday 13 June 2012

a Lamp at Midday

I'm delighted to announce that the paperback edition of my debut collection of poetry a Lamp at Midday is now available for sale at Amazon.com.

As many of you know, the last 18 months have been somewhat stressful as my adored Dad's health continued to deteriorate. I had no time to work on my planned new novel, so I fed my Muse by writing poetry.

This collection is the result and, along with poems on a variety of topics, includes some poems to my Dad that you've seen before on this blog.  But these are not only poems about my Dad. The official blurb is: 

"Containing a wide selection of poems, a Lamp at Midday gives voice to the contrasts and contradictions of modern life. As they challenge complex emotions and explore timeless themes, these poems also have relevance for the reader’s own life. This personal collection of poems is a vivid celebration of one woman's spiritual questioning and earthly existence, speaking with a haunting intensity of life, loss and love. "

Here are some of my personal favourites from the Haiku section in  a Lamp at Midday:


flames
skipping skywards so
fast, burnt orange warmth can turn
to red inferno. 

forget-me-nots 
above the sea of
brightly coloured petals i
wave farewell to you.
halloween
a field of golden
round pumpkins, ripe and ready,
basks in the sunshine.

lightning
suddenly the sky
is furious, and lets loose
a finger of fire.

giraffes 
long necks undulate. 
gentle eyes and jigsaw coats
crown a setting sun.

No book is completed without the help of others. 

As always, my dear writing friends (Debs, Leonie, Janet, LvW) were there to cheer me on when I faltered and fell into deep fits of angst about this work.

Angela Voges of Typographica Manuscript brought her excellent editing skills and insightful comments to the text, while the multi-talented author Michelle Davidson Argyle created the beautiful cover.

And, last but not least,  without the faith and support of my family - in particular my wonderful husband Beric and my incredible Mom, Dawn Heinemann - I'd never write anything at all.

The paperback copy will be available at South African on-line stores from around middle August 2012, which is the same time that the eBook will be available for sale. 

I'll be running giveaways on GoodReads and LibraryThing, so if you want a chance at winning a free copy, keep an eye out for my tweets and Facebook announcements.

10 comments:

Jan said...

What a beautiful cover Judy - a book is born! How wonderful to be able to share the memories of your Dad with others in this way. I will look out for it.

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

JAN: I love the cover Michelle designed too! And it'll be no surprise to discover that the book is dedicated to my late Dad.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

I am so excited about this book! :) WIll go share on FB and Twitter.

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Michelle: Thanks for your continued help on this book! :)

Patricia said...

This sounds wonderful, I just suggested it to my poetry reading group

Thank you for sharing so much with us all

Bish Denham said...

Congratulations! I love the haiku about the giraffe. The cover is beautiful!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Judy .. that is fantastic - I'm so pleased you've been writing, while being around for your parents - it's been a tough 18 months .. but you've been able to spend time with your father before his time came.

I'll look forward to buying the book and/or getting it on a Kindle - when I get one of those!!

So happy for you .. and you've had such help from everyone .. Beric and your Mum especially .. while those professionals encouraging you on ... I love the cover design and the concept of the poems ..

Cheers Hilary

Birdie said...

Yay! I am going to go buy it right now!

Birdie said...

I can't get it from Amazon in Canada! *sniffle*

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

PATRICIA: Sharing this volume with your poetry griup will be a great help! Thanks!

BISH: The giraffe haiku is one of my favourites too! And that I simply *love* the cover goes without saying… :)

HILARY: Glad LAMP excites you; I’m surprisingly fond of this little book, because it was so unexpected and came together so much easier than Dancing in the Shadows of Love!

BIRDIE: Don’t cry! Rather sit and watch your post box…! :)