Mr. Aubrey N. N. Aidoo, an emerging poet, has officially released his debut book titled:“I Wrote – A Lesson in Poetry”, published by Olympia Publishers (UK).
The book, which was released on Thursday, July 29,2024 is available worldwide and can be purchased via www.annawrote.com.
This compelling collection of poems, spanning diverse themes and styles, offers readers an intimate glimpse into the multifaceted life of the author and his journey as a poet.
In a recent interview, Mr. Aidoo shared insights into his motivations, creative process and the profound experiences that have shaped his poetic voice.
Aubrey’s decision to compile a single volume encompassing various themes and styles, stems from his desire to present a holistic narrative. “I feel these were all part of one story,” he explains.
The loss of his mother was a pivotal moment, prompting him to accelerate the release of this work, which encapsulates his essence as a writer and poet.”I thought if someone wanted to identify me as a writer, as a poet, I just needed one book to summarise everything,” he says.
Two standout poems in the collection, “Pieces” and “Maame and Paapa”, embody different facets of Aidoo’s identity.
“Me, as a lover, as a son, as a friend,” he enumerates, adding that some poems also reveal his philosophical side.He aims to avoid disjointed narratives, where separate works on varied themes could dilute the cohesive story he wanted to tell.
“I wanted something for everybody out there in one book,” he asserts. His life has been a tapestry of diverse experiences, some eerily prescient. “There are some things I hadn’t experienced but I had written something similar to them,” he recalls.
A tribute to his mother, penned while she was alive, gained deeper resonance after her passing, illustrating the temporal bridge his poetry often spans.His romantic experiences, familial background, and the city of Tema, where he grew up, all contribute to the rich texture of his work.
His creative process is dual-faceted: sometimes driven by the sheer pleasure of rhyme, and other times by a deeper, more contemplative exploration of words. “A word sounds like it means something more than it does and my mind just wanders,” he reflects.
His inspirations come from myriad sources—movies, music, video games and even football. “Sometimes while the thing is going on, I get this feeling that this could happen this way and it inspires me to create something based on what is happening,” he explains.
Despite his passion and dedication, Aubrey has faced challenges, particularly regarding reception and relatability.
“There are times I feel whatever I’ve written is not relatable and may not be fully accepted, especially in the African environment,” he confesses. The fear of his work being undervalued or misunderstood often held him back from sharing his poetry.
Now that his book is out, he hopes readers will find resonance in his poems, drawing comfort from the shared human experiences of love, pain and joy.
“Some people think they are alone in whatever they are going through, even in happiness,” he observes, aiming for his book to reassure readers that they are not alone.
Aubrey’s engagement with his audience through a blog and social media has been instrumental in shaping his work. “I used that to test the market to see what people are actually interested in,” he says.
The feedback influenced his editing process, helping him strike a balance between originality and accessibility. Now that the book is released, Mr. Aidoo is optimistic. “I think this is the right time for it,” he affirms, reflecting on his decade-long hiatus from writing.
The current literary landscape, with its supportive tools and platforms, offers fertile ground for his work to flourish. “I feel very free, very liberated by the experience,” he shares, eagerly anticipating the book’s reception.
While “I Wrote – A Lesson in Poetry” is his first major publication, Mr. Aidoo hints at future projects, including a second book already in the works. “I’m not going to stop writing,” he declares, though he suggests it may not be another poetry collection.
As he embarks on this new chapter Mr. Aidoo remains grounded, yet hopeful that his words will find a lasting place in the hearts of readers.
