Enjoying the book delay?

Enjoying the book delay?

So I love creating — I mean I LOVE!!! — creating. I will create things until I can't. It’s like a perfect way to stick two fingers up to aging and all the manure life throws at me (and this, of course, may apply to you too).

Lately, as I try to get my latest book, The Soul Acts, over the publication line, I keep finding life is making it feel like one step forward and three steps back.

Then the obvious occurred to me as my writing time keeps getting later and later. Being a full-time carer is bloody hard work — and I don't just mean physically, but mentally too.

Caring can be all-consuming. Trying to finish a book is also all-consuming. When you marry those two tasks together, the enjoyment factor can easily get drowned.

So this is what I wrote to myself (as shown in the above video too).

Hopefully (from the photos and captions in the above reel), you can start to see why my book is taking its time. But it's GOOD time.

Think of it like a rare seed that needs extra time beneath the soil, allowing its roots to sink deep and the growth to mature into the perfect, vibrant color. This book is starting to bloom.

I am genuinely enjoying the delay. And when you pick my offering, I believe you will too.

And I practice what I preach: The Act of Creating and Fun helped me give birth to this poem. It says more poetically what I just shared. I hope you like it?

AUGURY OF THE AUTHOR
🌱 Seeded by CJB today

The augury passengers said now —
but life's train driver blew his whistle:
“Delay on platform norm!”

See, I thought books arrived like trains,
as calendars command the seasons,
like a writer couldn't possibly be a carer
with dawn alarms and dog bowls to fill,
pills lined up like stations,
waiting for leaves to blow off the lines —
depending on the morning chorus.

They don’t tell you this on book tours,
no glamour in vacuuming dead skin,
or filling water bottles until blood boils,
no audience chants for the endless acts
silenced behind closed doors.

But listen to my aches —
As poetry heals the pain,
even when the likes refrain.
I've got chapters growing...
between kettle clicks and nursing visits.
Some days, I write a verse and breathe,
some days there's no time —
nothing left up my sleeve,
But in the pages and rages I see,
Loving everything today gives me glee.

The truth has arrived:
and my book is following suit.
Delays aren’t a failure;
they’re me putting polish on the boot.
To shine like love has taken deep root.

Dear 15-year-old me —
Caring doesn't mean losing yourself.
It's a weight that grows wide wings.
Teaches you how The Soul Acts...
and when to say PAUSE...
To smile like every sunrise —
because LOVE is the edit that feels so good!

My readers (seeders) will get the book,
they'll know it's not late —
but getting the steam up,
to be right on time.

And the augury passengers…
well they've darn gone changed their mind…
they just realized nobody is being left behind.

And of course, I am not at all blind to the fact that you are going through your own daily challenges. 🫂✨

I hope something in this poem or in other posts, is seeding some soul happiness. I really do recommend you watch last year's Christmas and New Year video HERE!

WOW! We've grown so much since last year. Well bloody done YOU!

Look forward to hearing from you on social media (buttons below).

Lots of soulful love,
CJB ✨

PS: You can watch the full Chasing Down The Sun music video HERE (the music from the top reel!)