Essay by Patrick Connors on the publication of his first major poetry collection, The Other Life, by Mosaic Press.
On December 29th, 2018, Terry Barker, my editor, drove me to the home of Howard Aster, Mosaic Press publisher, to have lunch and deliver my first full poetry manuscript, then titled What Runs Through.
It was the culmination of many years of hard work, refining my craft, making a name for myself, experiencing a lot of frustration and failure, and even some success.
However, it was also the beginning of the next stage of my development.
I had already published two chapbooks, dozens of poems, become established as both a poet and event host in Toronto and beyond, given readings in Texas and Cuba, and helped organize the Great Canadian PoeTrain Tour.
All of this was worthwhile, and would contribute to an impressive CV, if I ever get around to compiling one.
Putting together a good book length manuscript, really being able to call myself an author, is another matter entirely.
The first quarter of the year is an overwhelming time for me. I do about $250,000 worth of business at my telemarketing job during this period. Between this, and the dreary effects of winter, I am generally exhausted in the evening. Activities like readings, volunteer work, and maintaining a busy social life fade into the background.
However, I also had a part-time job in the first quarter of 2019.
Revising my manuscript.
Twice.
By the beginning of spring, I thought I had it all figured out. Barker contacted me, and we arranged to go to dinner at the local establishment. I assumed we were going to discuss marketing and promotion.
After the requisite small talk, we got down to the topic at hand. While the book was much improved, it was still not ready to go. He said that Aster was interested in the manuscript, but pointed out that he had not formally accepted it, and that he might not be inclined to in its present form. There was much to be done.
First of all, the working title, What Runs Through, is the name of a piece which is very personal to me. However, having that as the title of a manuscript is chapbook thinking, not full collection thinking. Barker showed me that evening how important it is to present a book as a coherent whole in order to engage the reader. That's the night the title of my collection became The Other Life. This is a line from the poem "Madness", which is about my day job.
Six months and several revisions later, the book was ready to go. I had created a clearer image of what my poetry was about, what I am about, and done so in a manner which created a dialogue with the reader.
Howard Aster is a very busy man, and does a lot of travelling. So, while my book was pretty much complete in fall 2019, I had to wait patiently while he became available to have another meeting.
On February 15th, 2020, Terry Barker drove me to the office of Mosaic Press, where I handed Howard Aster a hard copy of my manuscript. Having read a digital version earlier that week, Aster said he liked it, and accepted it for publication.
Then, of course, Covid-19 came along, resulting in further delays.
I took it as an opportunity to do more revision, fine tune certain poems, and really take pride in my work.
Realizing I was doing this, Aster asked me to re-send the manuscript in June.
However, the document was now rife with formatting errors. The version I submitted in December 2018 was done in Windows XP on a computer I don't own anymore. The newer version was constructed in Google Docs on a Chromebook. The two programs were not communicating with each other.
Fortunately, my far more technologically competent brother Paul saved the day.
None of us ever does this alone. I could not have gotten to this point without the help of Barker, Aster, my mother, my brother, Mick Burrs, Luciano Iacobelli, Richard Grove, James Deahl, and so many others.
I also could not have done this without overcoming those who have told me that I'm terrible or shouldn't bother, a few of whom clearly thought they were doing so with something resembling good intentions.
The Other Life is now available for purchase at a significant discount from the publisher: http://www.mosaic-press.com/product/the-other-life-poems-by-patrick-connors/
It is also available for pre-order on the websites of Indigo, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, as well as some European booksellers. The formal release of the book will be in July, by which time I will actually be 52.
However, this is also only a beginning. I am currently doing what I can to promote the book, despite the lack of live readings due to Covid. I have scheduled interviews, and am also actively pursuing reviews, fully aware that some are likely to be negative.
If you want to be a published poet, I recommend you read and write a lot of poetry, study books on process, and develop your own unique voice. But you also need to go to events, develop an effective reading posture, and build a network. And you better be willing to do something to help and promote somebody if you want somebody else to help you.
If you want to be an author, you must be able to handle criticism, including tough love from your closest supporters, and be ready to do more work on your manuscript and yourself, even if you think both are complete.
And then, even if there isn't a pandemic, you'll have to be patient. Nothing is going to happen on your schedule, your perception of when things are supposed to happen.
But, when it does come to fruition, it will have been worth the wait.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.j.connors.3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/81912CON
Sunday, 16 May 2021
Overnight Success at the Age of Fifty-One - Patrick Connors
Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Springtime in Canada - Patrick Connors
from Patrick Connors new book from Mosaic Press
The Other Life
April snow billows and blows
but goes nowhere, with drifts
just long enough to cause accidents
which change lives forever.
Blustery wet wind rattles rooftops
topples and tears down trees
older than the neighbourhood around them
and makes small dogs pensive.
Springtime in Canada means we watch
children play hockey in outdoor rinks,
millionaires play baseball in domed stadiums
and say, "I can't wait until it's really Spring!"
It is planting seeds in unreceptive soil
hoping to make life out of nothing -
cold, cracked hands the mark of your labours,
and you know that the trying is worthwhile.
praise for Patrick's new book, his first major collection:
from Mosaic Press website
George Elliott Clarke, “Pat Connors is an unpretentious and unassuming a poet as his hero, that bard of the everyman and everywoman, Al Purdy.”
Bruce Meyer, “Here is a voice whose precision, sense of focus, grace, and economy of language, are brought together in poems that are memorable and gifted. The beauty of these pieces is that if you blink, you will miss them. Keep your eyes open, and watch as Connors runs through his memories and his vision of what life can be.””
Dr. Georgia Wider, “…a collection of accessible meditations on hockey and hotdogs and friends and faith. His work is local, tactile, and specific in imagery…Connors speaks in the language of a working-class hero, a true people’s poet.”
Robert Priest, “Patrick Connors deceptively plain spoken poems give us a man in need of unadorned truth…he lays bare the heart and hopes of a seeker whose urge to reach the true light of faith refuses to be distracted by baubles and trinkets. It is refreshing to read these poems of spirit.”
Max Layton, “Strong, forthright expression of abiding faith.”
Lillian Allan, “Here’s a writer who spends much creative-time facilitating opportunities for other writers, so it’s indeed a happy occasion to see his first collection take shape.”
John B. Lee, “…the writer is attentive to the betterment of the self, and through the example thereby becoming an inspiration to others through what the written word aspires to achieve. Poetry becomes a beacon to follow driving inward and illuminating interior darkness, the lifting that cup of light to lips for the speaking and to the ear for the hearing.”
Stanley Fefferman, “…Connors courageously puts on paper what’s in his heart about himself and what he cares about: poetry., hockey, religion, family, politics and love. His plainspeaking is supported by a craftsman’s attention to detail.”
Patrick Connors has been a mainstay of the poetry scene in Toronto for many years. His contribution and his commitment to the poetic life of the GTA and beyond is well known. The Other Life, his first collection of poems, establishes him as an original and distinctive poetic voice. His considerable reputation is already well established and this volume will be read, enjoyed and cherished by his many admirers.
Friday, 22 January 2021
First Major Poetry Collection from Patrick Connors
Sale!
| ISBN | PB: 9781771615402 PDF: 9781771615419 EPUB: 9781771615426 KINDLE: 9781771615433 |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | July 2021 |
| Author(s) | Patrick Connors |
EARLY ACCESS
30% Off Till Official Release Date!
George Elliott Clarke, “Pat Connors is an unpretentious and unassuming a poet as his hero, that bard of the everyman and everywoman, Al Purdy.”
Bruce Meyer, “Here is a voice whose precision, sense of focus, grace, and economy of language, are brought together in poems that are memorable and gifted. The beauty of these pieces is that if you blink, you will miss them. Keep your eyes open, and watch as Connors runs through his memories and his vision of what life can be.””
Dr. Georgia Wider, “…a collection of accessible meditations on hockey and hotdogs and friends and faith. His work is local, tactile, and specific in imagery…Connors speaks in the language of a working-class hero, a true people’s poet.”
Robert Priest, “Patrick Connors deceptively plain spoken poems give us a man in need of unadorned truth…he lays bare the heart and hopes of a seeker whose urge to reach the true light of faith refuses to be distracted by baubles and trinkets. It is refreshing to read these poems of spirit.”
Max Layton, “Strong, forthright expression of abiding faith.”
Lillian Allan, “Here’s a writer who spends much creative-time facilitating opportunities for other writers, so it’s indeed a happy occasion to see his first collection take shape.”
John B. Lee, “…the writer is attentive to the betterment of the self, and through the example thereby becoming an inspiration to others through what the written word aspires to achieve. Poetry becomes a
beacon to follow driving inward and illuminating interior darkness, the lifting that cup of light to lips for the speaking and to the ear for the hearing.”
Stanley Fefferman, “…Connors courageously puts on paper what’s in his heart about himself and what he cares about: poetry., hockey, religion, family, politics and love. His plainspeaking is supported by a craftsman’s attention to detail.”
Patrick Connors has been a mainstay of the poetry scene in Toronto for many years. His contribution and his commitment to the poetic life of the GTA and beyond is well know Finally, The Other Life, his first collection of poems, establishes him as an original and distinctive poetic voice. His considerable reputation is already well established and this volume will be read, enjoyed and cherished by his many admirers.
$21.95 $14.99
This is the first major collection by Toronto poet Patrick Connors. Patrick is a people's poet in the tradition of Raymond Souster, Ted Plantos, Milton Acorn and of course his hero, Al Purdy. Patrick is a true political activist, and he's a topnotch emcee. Patrick saved the day by emceeing the final PurdyFest in 2014 when he stood in for me when I had to attend a close friend's funeral, my mother was dying, and the other major organizer disappeared at the eleventh hour. And ladies, he's a great dancer : )-
- Chris
I was wandering through Marmora's Lions Club Park yesterday, when:
fresh snow
on the back
of the badly carved raven