horizons,  landscape,  poetic journal,  writing/reading

Tooting My Horn

I mentioned a while back that I was working on a project. Well over a year and a half ago I began creating a Blurb book within Lightroom. My focus was on horizons because I have come to see the attraction and draw they have with me. My initial intent was to make a book for my children with a select few of my images and with my own words. After almost a year of labor and feeling like I was done, I read what I’d written and heard a familiar voice inside telling it was sh*t and I was a fool for trying such a project. So I set it aside and stopped working on it. Do you ever hear that voice and listen to the lie?

When the pandemic hit and lockdown arrived I found myself looking at what I’d written and my perspective was in a very different place. After three months I began to rewrite and my writing began to transform into what I’ve come to know as a poetic journal style of writing. A new energy began and words I’d not written before appeared. I made several revisions, deleted some writings and images while adding new writings and images. My wonderful neighbor, Kristin who teaches creative writing and poetry at CSU, did three proofreadings for me. 

I am not promoting this for you to buy because print on demand is expensive. I’m doing it to toot my horn. This is something I’d never imagined I would or could do and an uncomfortable risk. Please click on the image for a preview of the book, for free. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

I mentioned a while back that I was working on a project. Well over a year and a half ago I began creating a Blurb book within Lightroom. My focus was on horizons because I have come to see the attraction and draw they have with me. My initial intent was to make a book for my children with a select few of my images and with my own words. After almost a year of labor and feeling like I was done, I read what I’d written and heard a familiar voice inside telling it was sh*t and I was a fool for trying such a project. So I set it aside and stopped working on it. Do you ever hear that voice and listen to the lie?

When the pandemic hit and lockdown arrived I found myself looking at what I’d written and my perspective was in a very different place. After three months I began to rewrite and my writing began to transform into what I’ve come to know as a poetic journal style of writing. A new energy began and words I’d not written before appeared. I made several revisions, deleted some writings and images while adding new writings and images. My wonderful neighbor, Kristin who teaches creative writing and poetry at CSU, did three proofreadings for me. 

I am not promoting this for you to buy because print on demand is expensive. I’m doing it to toot my horn. This is something I’d never imagined I would or could do and an uncomfortable risk. Please click on the image for a preview of the book, for free. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku. Have a love for fountain pens.

6 Comments

  • Earl

    Monte, I’m impressed! It’s a beautiful and very well done book. I want to spend some more time reading through it. You have every right to toot your own horn. Well done!
    Have a great weekend!

  • Cedric

    Well done Monte. Your take on horizons as a metaphor for living and gaining understanding feels very fresh and relatable. The photos are, of course, wonderful and masterful, and the words complete them in a way that makes this book a truly personal and heartfelt gift. Toot away Monte, toot that horn mate.

  • Tom Dills

    I’m quite proud of you for your accomplishment, as I know it is no easy task to complete a project of any kind, much less a book. I’ll admit to not reading all of the words, but of course the photographs are beautiful, and your words make for a real keepsake. I may need to buy a copy for myself! 😉

  • Mark

    Wow, congratulations! Quite the accomplishment indeed!! I bookmarked it so I can have a more thorough look. I think it’s great you finished it after letting it simmer for a bit. Some say that is a good process to give yourself some distance.