Stepping out: Too arduous a journey, Too risky an affair, But Temper all fear, Tempt all fate, Or You may never get
out of here.
My being has come undone, And my undoing the teeth That gnaw: time and truth Both feast on restraint; my mind,
Now free from its tether, roams, Regrettably lost to all follow-up
How far we’ve wandered Lost In a foreign land, tip-toeing The brink of madness.
You know you’ve hit the spot When home feels just a stop — I’ve called too many places home, So much that home
has lost its meaning, Now a word with blurry edges, A collective feeling perhaps, A haven within.
Today we talk about Lonely Along The Shore, a book by Andre Swanepoel, published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Andre Swanepoel, to get to know him better, what was the moment that led him to the writing of his book Lonely Along The Shore, as well as what was the first book he read and what it taught him.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write this book of poetry?
My favourite things in the world are lighthouses, mainly for the way a lighthouse, though lonely and lost and broken, resembles hope and guidance to all who look upon it. Similar to the way writing and poetry has been my company through many life challenges. It seemed obvious to me that these two ideas were meant for each other, and that idea sparked my inspiration to put together this collection – Lonely Along The Shore.
- What do you want to communicate to readers with this work?
Lonely Along The Shore is a collection of poems embracing the themes of lostness, loneliness and brokenness. I chose these three themes because they are very relatable human experiences that all of us work through at some point in our lives and I believe that, in difficult times, we need some form of companionship and something to turn to, to relate to – to let us know that we are not alone. Poetry has been that for me in times of lostness, loneliness and brokenness and I wish to share this balm.
- What was the first book you read and what did it teach you?
The first book I can remember reading was a pharmaceutical advertisement booklet featuring a frog named Auggie, which I loved reading every time I went to the doctor. The story follows the life and activities of a young frog as he helps his wetland friends with their tasks and ailments. This book made such an impact on me that I ended up becoming a doctor myself and I do believe it taught me a great deal about kindness, togetherness, vulnerability, and the privilege of helping one another.
- How would you define your writing style?
My words are inspired by life and the act of living. I aim to be relatable and real and tell it like it is – all of life, the good the bad and the ugly. I most often find myself leaning into free verse, although I do enjoy experimenting with different styles and structures and formats.
- Are you working on a new book of the same genre?
Yes, of course. I am always writing, and I am currently in the process of putting together a poetry collection in Afrikaans (my home language) as well as a follow-up collection of English works.
Europe Books thanks the author Andre Swanepoel once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Lonely Along The Shore. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish that you appreciate this book and that it captures you thanks to the themes here told, so that you can recognize yourself in them and resonate with your own single experiences!
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!