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From Draft to Proof

My Self-Publishing Journey Unboxed

A. N. Tipton
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself

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Today I unboxed the proofs of my debut book, Emerging Through the Shadows, in both paperback and hardcover. As I lifted them from the box, years of sweat, worry, tears, excitement, failures, successes, and imposter syndrome stared back at me in physical form. My heart swelled. Even now as I write, I keep glancing at the books on my coffee table, hardly believing they’re real. I want to grab hold of this feeling, wrap it around me like a warm hug, and shout my excitement from the rooftops.

This book’s journey began in 2020 at a writer’s workshop. Through months of writing prompts and weekly gatherings, while the world stood still in fear, I found myself navigating an unexpected path of self-discovery. I started my blog series, The Journey of a Writer, and poured my heart into countless poems. My fiction took a backseat as I unearthed the mental and emotional blocks that had kept my words hidden for so long.

This book has become a written testimony of my journey toward self-growth and liberation. Here’s the truth: I never imagined writing a poetry book. It felt too revealing, too vulnerable, too personal. But as I read others’ published poetry and articles, I realized that if their authenticity could touch me so deeply, how could I not share my own?

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