Creating a self-published book requires a lot more work than most people think. The work is far from done when the final draft of the manuscript is complete. Self-publishing means wearing all the hats in the book creation process and/or finding a good team to help carry out your wishes.
It was a very busy weekend for this author. As it turns out the crappy (yes, more snow) Minnesota weather was good for something, it kept me firmly planted in my chair and working. I’m well ahead of schedule now.
I’m happy to report the front (prelims) and back-matter for Poems from the Edge of the Apocalypse are nearly complete! Next steps will be the book layout, plotting out the book's marketing campaign, and finalization of the cover.
As you can see from the back matter, I’ll be heavily promoting Hive in this book. I’ll be including a QR Code to try to onboard as many readers as possible. I also plan on mentioning Hive during the book’s marketing campaign on podcasts and interviews and such.
There will be roughly one-hundred original poems in this collection.
Here’s a behind the scenes glimpse:
PRELIMS
“I don’t have to agree with you to like you or respect you.” ~ Anthony Bourdain
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the self-published authors out there—the keepers of the flame first lit by ancient storytellers gathered around the fires that warmed our ancestors. This journey isn’t easy, but if it doesn’t break you, it will shape you into someone stronger than you ever imagined you could be. It’s an honest, extremely fulfilling, and deeply rewarding path.
Learn from your mistakes, keep your ego in check, and adapt as you go. And above all, never lose hope. I know it doesn’t always feel this way, but if you stay the course, trust in the process, and keep those fires of your muse burning, it will all have a way of working out perfectly in the end. Also, many thanks to Jay for his idea for this book’s title.
Contents
[Insert Table of Contents]
A Note From The Author
Since 1991 I’ve written in just about every genre and form imaginable but my first love will always be poetry. Poetry has had a way of making life’s best moments shine even more brightly and, during times of trouble, poetry has been a great friend who has always kept me company in the dark.
Writing the poems in this collection, between 2021 and 2025, became a refuge of civility, a quiet sanctuary amidst the chaos of a world that often feels like it’s becoming increasingly unhinged.
After three decades in the relentless world of self-publishing, I thought Ephemera (2021) might be my final book. But here we are—it turns out, fate had other plans. In over thirty years of writing, I’ve experienced it all. I’ve read to packed rooms and to audiences I could count on one hand. I’ve learned the hard way, knocked on countless closed doors, been told “no” too many times to count, and been fortunate enough to see some doors finally open. Through it all, I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love for a living—and I’ll never take that for granted.
To those reading this book, thank you. I hope these poems offer a glimmer of hope, a moment of warmth, and a gentle reminder that even in times of great transition, beauty endures.
Prologue
Today, our world is more interconnected than ever—we cannot stand alone. As we’re all thrust into this age of AI, it’s our collective responsibility to relentlessly separate truth from falsehood. Even more importantly, we have to learn to reevaluate and let go of beliefs that prove to be misinformation. We must find a way to step back from the abyss we’re teetering on and reclaim the middle-ground.
In an era of division and extremism, the most vital skill we can cultivate is the ability to build bridges instead of walls, to continually try to foster dialogue instead of discord. At the end of the day, we are all part of the same beautifully dysfunctional family—whether we like it or not. I’ll always believe that, despite our countless shortcomings, ours is a family very much worth preserving.
Poems from the Edge of the Apocolypse
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Back Matter
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED BOOKS
Please visit Eric’s website and Amazon page to learn more about his previous published books.
[Insert QR Code - QR_EVWWebsite] [Insert QR Code - QR_AmazonAuthorPG]
Also available is his sci-fi Novel, Alarm Clock Dawn, which was the first full-length, serialized, novel published on a blockchain in 2016.
[Insert QR Code - QR_AlarmClockDawn]
ERIC’S BLOG
For a weekly dose of Eric’s writing please visit his blog on the Hive platform.
[Insert QR Code - QR_HiveBlog]
Hive is a decentralized, blockchain-based social media and blogging platform that empowers content creators by providing true ownership of their work and rewards through cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional social media networks, Hive is censorship-resistant and community-driven, ensuring that users maintain control over their content and earnings.
With its innovative reward system, users can earn Hive tokens through engagement, such as posting, commenting, and curating content. The platform fosters a diverse and thriving ecosystem of writers, artists, developers, and entrepreneurs who contribute to a growing digital economy.
For those seeking creative freedom, financial independence, and a supportive community, Hive offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream social media—where your voice truly matters and your content is valued.
Do you have something to say or share with the world? If the answer is yes, please consider joining the growing global community on Hive. Instead of your data being sold as it is on other mainstream social media platforms, with Hive you have the potential to earn cryptocurrency every time you create content and/or comment or vote on other users’ content. On Hive you aren’t the product, your content is.
Scan the QR Code below to join Hive and start blogging today.
[Insert QR Code - QR_HiveOnboardRefLink]
Back Cover Text
Poems from the Edge of the Apocalypse
A Collection of Poetry by Eric Vance Walton
In an age of chaos and uncertainty, poetry remains a beacon of clarity and connection. Poems from the Edge of the Apocalypse is a deeply personal and thought-provoking collection of poems written between 2021 and 2025—a time of upheaval, transformation, and resilience. Through moments of light and darkness, Eric Vance Walton’s poetry offers a sanctuary of reflection, a refuge of civility, and a reminder that even in turbulent times, beauty endures.
For more than three decades, Walton has dedicated himself to the craft of writing. From performing for packed rooms to reading for audiences he could count on one hand, he has experienced every high and low of the self-publishing journey. His unwavering passion for storytelling has made him a voice of authenticity in a world increasingly consumed by noise.
This book is dedicated to the self-published authors—the keepers of the ancient flame first ignited by storytellers around the fire. To those walking this path, Walton offers hard-won wisdom: learn from your mistakes, keep your ego in check, adapt, and above all, never lose hope.
The journey isn’t an easy one, but if you trust in the process, it will lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.
About the Author
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Eric Vance Walton has been a writer since 1991, exploring nearly every genre and form, but always returning to his first love—poetry. His self-publishing career has spanned more than thirty years, with his work earning a dedicated readership across the world. Walton’s poetry captures the raw beauty of life, offering both solace and inspiration. His previous book, Ephemera (2021), was intended as his final collection—until fate had other plans.
Now, with Poems from the Edge of the Apocalypse, he invites you to step into a space of reflection, connection, and hope.
“At the end of the day, we are all part of the same beautifully dysfunctional family—whether we like it or not.”
Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
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