James A. Heffernan is a repeat client of Modern Memoirs. His first book, entitled The Reality of Hunter-Gatherers, was published in 2016, and came out as an eBook in 2018. His most recent project, Many Worlds: A Collection of Poems, was published with Modern Memoirs in 2019 with eBook conversion, POD (print-on-demand) service, and global distribution through online retailers. This book took just two months from the day he first contacted us to the day books arrived on his doorstep. In honor of April as National Poetry Month, we asked Heffernan to reflect on the second book: what the publication process was like for him, and what it has meant to share his poetry with others.
1. You studied physics and anthropology at the University of Utah, and your first book with Modern Memoirs was a narrative examination of state and class through the lens of hunter-gatherer societies. Many Worlds is a poetic philosophical exploration of such concepts as time, freedom, truth, and nature. How did you come to choose poetry as your means of expression for the second project?
James Heffernan: Well, I had never released a book of poems before then, and I had been writing poetry for years. It was simply a matter of finding my favorite pieces on the computer, taking a few weeks to edit, and then delivering the file to you guys. As you point out, the process was swift and painless. I worked primarily with Ali, and her help was professional, excellent, and indispensable. My first foray into poetry could not have been more positive.
2. Describe your writing process as a poet.
James Heffernan: I’m not sure how others do it, but this is how I do it. Typically, I start with a subject. I either think one up, or pick up some clue somewhere, or whatever—I get the idea for a subject. And then I decide upon a rhyme scheme, unless I intend to write a free-verse poem. And once these choices are made, I write the poem. Doing it in reverse order generally doesn’t work for me; I have to have a subject in mind at the outset.
3. Who is your intended reader of the poems? What feedback have you received?
James Heffernan: I’ve received all sorts of positive feedback over the years, and very little negative. I’m what you might call a peculiar person, so my poems often reflect this. They can be rather abstract or abstruse, but I would rather have people interpret the poems as they like and not put myself in the way of that by explaining too much. Therefore, they can sometimes be challenging. I will say that all of my poetry is G-rated, so just about anyone who wants to can approach it.
4. Why did you choose to self-publish instead of publishing your book commercially?
James Heffernan: Well, I’m reminded of the comment in Dr. Zhivago that writing poetry as a profession is like being a botanist as a profession. Some make it work, but it’s rather awkward. My poetry, as I have said, can be abstruse and challenging, and full of supernatural stuff, and whatnot. So I figured there was no point in trying to find a publisher looking to make some money. My books have done pretty well, so there are no regrets.
5. What was it about your first experience with Modern Memoirs that you chose to work with us again?
James Heffernan: The professionalism and competence. The product delivered is flawless. I could not have had a more effective and enjoyable experience than working with Ali and the entire team at Modern Memoirs. Y’all definitely know what you are doing, and I wish you continued success in the future!
Interested in reading more? You can purchase Many Worlds: A Collection Of Poems in the Modern Memoirs online shop, Memory Lane Books & Gifts.