Contact:    Wesley Allen Mack –Author
                                                                                         wesleymack@msn.com
                                                                                         Phone: (267) 385-6241

Publish America Presents " Iridescent Waters by Wesley Allen Mack

Frederick, MD May 3, 2007 - Publish America is proud to present "Iridescent Waters: Song Singing My song, a masterfully written book of poetry by Wesley Allen Mack of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wesley Allen Mack is one of five siblings, born to Wesley and Sarah Mack. He attended grade school and part of junior high school in Philadelphia. Wesley finished junior high school and continued his education at Camden High School Camden, NJ. Wesley joined the United States Marine Corps and completed hius service in 1975. He worked in banking from 1977 through 1995. Wesley co-wrote (along with his daughter Aja Sherri Mack) My Daddy My daughter: Words in Motion, also published by PublishAmerica.

“Iridescent Waters is my solo project and sophomore effort,” Mack said. “I write poetry because it is therapeutic for me. Poetry affords me the opportunity to express my thoughts without constrictions. I write about the things I believe and also what I conceive. Poetry allows me to write with reality, induced with fantasy, and unrepentant fallacy.”

Previously released  June 27, 2005 - PublishAmerica presented My Daddy My Daughter: Words in Motion, book of poetry by Wesley Allen Mack and Aja Sherri Mack.  

This book is a collaboration by father and daughter, affirming a family bond and appreciation and love of poetry.

My Daddy My Daughter offers a candid glimpse at their intimate and personal expressions with a degree of social outcry, as well as real and imagined observations about life. When Aja writes , she uses her pen to metaimorph her feelings into poetry. Aja’s eloquent poem, “Words for the Unspoken Generation,” tells the struggles the youth of today are facing and how they constantly fight to be what their parents want. Aja tells all who will listen that today’s younger generation is lost for a myriad of reasons and need help. “My Voice My Poetry My Sword” is the reason Wesley writes:

“Poetry is the vehicle to allow the soul to reach its peak, not just articulation of the language, vernacular of words we speak.”

Chestnut Hill Local
8434 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19118

phone: 215-248-8800
fax: 215-248-8814

Issue of December 1, 2005

Banker dad and daughter are banking on joint poetry book

by BETH A. BROOKS

Sometimes when you have something to say, only poetry

will do. Just ask West Oak Lane native, Aja Mack. She and her father, Wesley, recently became published authors. The book, My Daddy, My Daughter, Words in Motion, is a book of poetry.

Not your typical teenager, Aja is a 17-year-old senior with a 4.0 grade point average who attends Cardinal Dougherty High School. She is in the pre-medical preparation program and is also taking communications/media as an elective. She writes for the school newspaper, the Prelate, is a member of the yearbook staff and also a member of the Pro-life Club. After school, Aja works as a tutor. Then she somehow fits in time for community service and, of course, time to write poetry. Her English teacher and school newspaper sponsor, Ms. Rebstock, is proud of her for writing this book.

Father Wesley, who grew up in West Oak Lane and later moved to Camden, felt that this was a great experience giving them “both a chance to work with each other as equals.” The senior Mack, with years of banking experience, functioned as the research and business support on the project.

He took a year off from work to research the publishing industry, learning among other things how to write a synopsis and approach a publisher. He also noted how hard it was to find a publisher willing to take on a book of poetry. “Especially without an agent,” said Mack. He said he got “great support” from Publish America. Mack said it took 18 months from conception until the book was submitted to the publisher.

The book, published by PublishAmerica in August, is 171 pages and has over 100 poems. The book is currently available on PublishAmerica.com, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Walmart.com. for $19.95. Plans to expand into local independent bookstores are in the works. Both father and daughter are also planning to promote the book locally in Philadelphia and Camden.

Mack sees this project with his daughter as proof that a “middle-aged father can relate and find common ground with his teenage daughter.” They both discovered, after working together, how much they have in common. It allowed them to strengthen their family ties through writing a book of poetry. Of the poems Mack himself wrote, one he is fond of is called “Wasteland the Innercity.” Mack says that sometimes he found himself using fantasy to express a vision.

One of Aja’s poems, “Words for the Unspoken Generation,” tells of the struggles the youth of today are facing and how they are constantly struggling to live up to their parents’ dreams. Aja tells all who will listen that today’s younger generation is lost for a myriad of reasons and needs help. She sees her message as one that is positive and uplifts young people. She sees this as “times like no other. We are a generation going through difficult circumstances that we shouldn’t have to deal with at our age.” Mack says Aja challenges herself to say things in a different way.

The inspiration for the book came from Aja’s mother, Lenora Vaughn. Vaughn knew they both wrote poetry and she suggested both the book and title. Vaughn is “excited for her daughter.” She noted that Aja is a “good and caring person” who loves speaking to groups of young people.

Both father and daughter worked together to determine the format and layout for the book. In a joint effort, they determined how the poems would be placed in the book. Aja won the debate over the cover art.

Mack said, “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would become an author.” He said that it all started with a letter he was writing and the poem just came out. Aja echoed by saying this book brought the two of them closer. She sees the book as a major accomplishment, “making her dream come true.”

The pair plans to write a play based on the book and Aja continues writing poetry that she hopes to turn into a second book one day. She also “doodles around writing short stories” noting that it’s “nothing serious.”

Mack is proud of the person that his daughter has become and said that she kept him motivated throughout the project. Mack calls Aja his “inspiration.” Both felt that this exercise helped them discover that they said things in much the same way.

So far Aja has spoken at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ and in an open mike forum at Art Noir, hosted by Nish Pugh. Aja has been writing seriously since she was about 10 or 11 and sees herself in the communications field once she has completed college. Her entire family is extremely proud of her accomplishments.

**Aja has performed twice at Lock Haven University which she attends. She co-hosted A Celebration of Diversity at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania February 9, 2007 along with Activist and Author Kevin Powell of 1^st season MTV’s Real World and author of Someday We’ll All Be Free.

Author of: Jewels Treasured By Her Family
www.freeweb.com/juliajohnsonsideas
www.authorsden.com/juliaajohnson

Poem On my travels

awedfellow
A Poetic Wiz!

Dear Wes;

My what a busy little poem. You have done a wonderful job of treating the reader to a flurry of image and motion. Your writing style, though unfamiliar to me, is pleasant and distinctive. I hope the little wrens you write of are the same that scurry around my house for they are a favorite. Your poem certainly points to a wonderful talent and gift that you have been given.

September 2006 Poet of the Month winner- Wesley Mack

Poetices.com

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