Book Launchitis and some trivia about Ink Dries

Since I had been through the whole process of a Book Launch / Release
earlier (with Moving On), I was a lot less expectant and (looking at
something relatively low-key). Since I am still kinda cussed about
not forcing my poetry on anyone, I also did not go around personally
inviting those close (or at least those I think are close) as if the event in question was my marriage.

And all in all, it was a good event; a book of poetry came out / was launched /
got released and since U was there as my interpreter (typing up questions
-- asked by the audience -- for me to read on GTalk and respond to) there was
a fairly good interaction too. I guess this is a template I can use down the
line too.

I don't know if it shows me in a better or a worse light, but any
interaction with readers / prospective readers is good for the book. And,
considering that I did almost nothing for Moving On, its a sea change
for Ink Dries, something that this book does deserve.

Umm...what exactly is Launchitis, you may ask?

I cannot exactly explain it, lets say I have just coined another word and it
refers to a peculiar sense of ennui / estrangement / withdrawal (?) or a
peculiar trepidation resulting out of "what next" now? But then, its there,
or was there...for the first 2-3 days following the launch / release.

Maybe I won't feel this next time around, or maybe it will be even acuter
as I write poetry that "says" more, who knows...

Now for some trivia and a bit of this and that about Ink Dries.

The book has some 75 odd (need I count and be exact?) poems with two of
them long poems. It also presents some poems that I had written some 10
years or so back and lost; but were safe with U...

The book also has some poems that deal with the logophile part of me;
my innate love for words immaterial of their meaning and context and
how I keep making them do what I want them to do. And the worship of
pith -- as poet and copywriter.

The editing was done at the seventh floor flat of my editor, G, over
two sessions, and the second time we had sat down to it, I could see a
black kite at eye level through the balcony :-) That was one surreal
experience and I really envy G for getting to see black kites in
the eye on a fairly common basis.

Quite a few of the poems in Ink Dries deal with nature; in fact while
describing myself for the only writer workshop that I had applied to
in 2011 (the application was late by an hour), I said "I am primarily
a poet of nature" and it shows in these poems too; poems that weren't
easy to write or pin down and perfect, but poems that I am happy
and thrilled, came to me.

As I write this, I am all set to visit Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary
tomorrow, for a day long session of birding. And I know there will
be much more than photos on offer tomorrow, I know more poems will
come too. I just hope I can write them all down!

Oh, here's the last bit -- I am utterly cured of Launchitis now
and its been one full week of hectic travel and the thrills of
being out on the road. What fun, in fact!