BOOK LAUNCH: Velocity: Zero Is Here!

Friends!! This is such an exciting post.

My first poetry collection, Velocity: Zero, is officially published!

It’s kind of surreal to see it on its own official Amazon page. Before I share that Amazon link, I thought I’d share a couple of stories.

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Story #1: The Woes of Self-Publishing

When I ordered the first proof copy of this, our mailman lost our mail key so I kept re-ordering copies which were all lost in the mail system for a week until they arrived in a giant bundle.

Then I had to reformat it because I didn’t like the original size, and my arms were flaring up so my dear friend Elle wonderfully did that for me. (I have the best friends.)

When I tried to re-order a proof copy of the new version, Amazon wouldn’t let me for a week (their solution: just keep trying every 24 hours).

THEN when I finally officially published it, they took their sweet time telling me that they didn’t like the cover so I had to redo it (observant readers will note slight differences), resubmit it, and wait for their almighty approval upon my little offering.

But at long last Jeff Bezos waved his wand over this book and it is HERE and I honestly can’t believe I get to hold my words in my own hands.

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Story #2: Behind the Name

Velocity, as we all know from The Incredibles (or, like, high school science), is speed and direction. If an object’s velocity is equal to zero, it’s not moving. There is no speed, not even a snail’s pace. There is no direction, just an infinite stuckness.

Eight and a half years ago I entered a zero velocity season when chronic pain took over my life. This book is the record of those years through poetry. Most of the poems were written before or after the worst of it, because in the hardest years, I was in too much pain to write.

I wish the Aberdeen then could see this. Little did she know what would come from those years. Not that this makes up for it, like a one-to-one transaction. Just that this is a goodness she couldn’t have imagined was possible when she laid on the floor and felt God’s silence like a weighted blanket.

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The Good Stuff

Okay! Here is the link to buy it off of Amazon—but before you do, I also have 40 author copies to resell. If you want to go that route, let me know in a comment or personal message. This is a great option because a) a lot more of the money goes to me ;) and b) you’ll get some perks!! These are:

• I will sign it for you if you want haha

• You get a free print of one of my poems along with it (there are two options to pick from!)

It’s $20 via Venmo/Paypal/etc. and free shipping. If you’re in the city, we can find a time to drop it off, and if you’re international, let me know and we can figure something out. First come, first served, so let me know if you want to buy one of these copies, and I’ll send more info!

(If you’ve already done this on another platform, you’re on the list!)

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Thank you.

It’s you, the people who have engaged with my writing and encouraged me through the highs and lows—the hidden years of no writing and the celebratory years like this one—that have helped bring me to this place. You’ve been the hands and feet of Jesus to me, and you are a great part of the redemption of this story. Regardless of whether you buy this book or not, I am so grateful you are here.

And if you’re in your own zero velocity season—I know. I know. I’m so sorry. It’s the worst. If you ever want to reach out to share more, my messages are always open.

Much love,

Aberdeen