Publishing Reach for the Moon
When I first began my collection of poems and stories, I did not intend to turn it into a book. It was only after I had shown my poems to Charlie (with whom I was acquainted with through Mrs. Williams) that I began to entertain the idea of creating a book. We were discouraged by publishers who told us that poetry rarely sold well, but my mother was persistent and she found a way. Susan Baum, the author of the article that completely altered my perspective on learning disabilities, was giving a lecture alongside other people. So my mother and I created a manuscript featuring my poems and Charlie's art whose purpose wrapped around around what we had learned about LD's throughout my school years. My mother presented the manuscript to the panel of lecturers, and their positive reaction surprised me. Now my mother wanted the book to be published. She set herself on a publishing crash course, and by the end of eighth grade, we decided to publish the book ourselves, and our house soon became a warehouse, with books stacked high like building blocks. For a long time, all we did was work, revise, rewrite.
The book was to be called What Once Was White (though the title was later on changed to Reach for the Moon), and in the fall of my ninth grade, we went to see the printing presses work. It was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget: the noxious fumes of the ink, the roar of the presses. When we got to the final stage of publishing, my parents repeatedly asked me if I would be ready for the publicity that was to come. I assured them I was ready, but truthfully, I didn't know what would happen after the book was published. I wanted to be ready, though, because this would be my chance to show people that I did have something to say.
The day we got the first copy of the book, I was to give a presentation alongside Mrs. Williams. I was to talk about my book and disability. When I read my poem aloud to my audience, their response was overwhelming. I was soaked in compliments for what apparently was an amazing piece of work. This was the spark that led to the fire that was many interviews and book signings. Between the two, my summer was busy and over far too soon.
The biggest part of all of this, I think, was the response from fans. In the mail they sent me, they expressed how they, or people with LD's that they know, are inspired by my resiliency and courage and how some of them even have a purpose in life again. Just like them, my writing gives me a reason to live, and so, I will live and I will write, for years to come.
When I first began my collection of poems and stories, I did not intend to turn it into a book. It was only after I had shown my poems to Charlie (with whom I was acquainted with through Mrs. Williams) that I began to entertain the idea of creating a book. We were discouraged by publishers who told us that poetry rarely sold well, but my mother was persistent and she found a way. Susan Baum, the author of the article that completely altered my perspective on learning disabilities, was giving a lecture alongside other people. So my mother and I created a manuscript featuring my poems and Charlie's art whose purpose wrapped around around what we had learned about LD's throughout my school years. My mother presented the manuscript to the panel of lecturers, and their positive reaction surprised me. Now my mother wanted the book to be published. She set herself on a publishing crash course, and by the end of eighth grade, we decided to publish the book ourselves, and our house soon became a warehouse, with books stacked high like building blocks. For a long time, all we did was work, revise, rewrite.
The book was to be called What Once Was White (though the title was later on changed to Reach for the Moon), and in the fall of my ninth grade, we went to see the printing presses work. It was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget: the noxious fumes of the ink, the roar of the presses. When we got to the final stage of publishing, my parents repeatedly asked me if I would be ready for the publicity that was to come. I assured them I was ready, but truthfully, I didn't know what would happen after the book was published. I wanted to be ready, though, because this would be my chance to show people that I did have something to say.
The day we got the first copy of the book, I was to give a presentation alongside Mrs. Williams. I was to talk about my book and disability. When I read my poem aloud to my audience, their response was overwhelming. I was soaked in compliments for what apparently was an amazing piece of work. This was the spark that led to the fire that was many interviews and book signings. Between the two, my summer was busy and over far too soon.
The biggest part of all of this, I think, was the response from fans. In the mail they sent me, they expressed how they, or people with LD's that they know, are inspired by my resiliency and courage and how some of them even have a purpose in life again. Just like them, my writing gives me a reason to live, and so, I will live and I will write, for years to come.