"These pages have become a happy place, like warm arms of a faithful lover."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vernice is the youngest of two daughters, who grew up in a small family in Manila, Philippines. She got into writing at a very early age. She started journaling in grade school, a habit which she carried on into her adult life. Writing helped her process a lot of things growing up, and in some ways, it has kept her company throughout her life. She also finds joy in reading the works of A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Tim Keller.
Verniece has been involved in the media and publishing industry as a career, but somehow knew that she would publish her own book at some point.
She has been on a journey of discovery; unlearning habits, relearning lessons, and establishing healthy boundaries. Picking up the pieces of what was left of her faith, she once again gave in to the gentle pursuit of God’s love and now considers herself a reconstructed Christian.
The early months of 2024 brought the conviction to share her innermost musings with the world; putting everything of herself in a book in the hopes of reaching people who can recognize themselves in struggles of mental health and in reconstructing their faith.
“I’ve had many ideas before as to what my first book would be about but ultimately, my love for poetry won. But more so, my Christian faith, which ultimately inspired Her Poetic Life.”
Besides poetry, Verniece loves to explore new places, see the world in different perspectives, and collect moments she can capture on film. At present, she lives in the Netherlands with her imperfectly beautiful family.
THE JOURNEY
Finding the Time to Write ~ “I believe that time is a resource and you simply have to manage it wisely to reflect what matters to you. During the time I decided I wanted to put out my first book finally, finishing the book was the most important thing before you could actually do anything else. Having this perspective made it easier for me to prioritize what I do on the daily and simply write to finish the book. “
The Writing Process ~ “Write drunk, edit sober,” said some writer. But I don’t do that anymore. Ideas and inspiration come to me at random and so I’ve learned to welcome them when they come, otherwise they pass me by. For me, this means typing away on my Keep notes or writing on post-its or notebooks. Then I’d come back to it another time to reflect on and finish the piece. Sometimes, this involves a glass or two of sweet, white wine.
Favorite part of being a Writer ~ “That there is so much freedom and fun in being able to express myself and that if I want to, express a sentiment or what I’m going through in a thousand different ways.”
Difficult part of writing this book ~ It’s sometimes challenging to face the vulnerability that comes with writing. The whole process often involved baring parts of myself. Some of which I had to assess if I was ready to share at a certain degree or reflect if it was something just for myself to keep.
On publishing the book and its challenges ~ It took approximately a month. After finishing the book content, I had to fly into the Philippines (as I am currently based in the Netherlands with my family) and work on the creative production and printing. As to the challenges I faced, I had to remember to encourage myself and see the entire thing through until it’s done and I have something I can be proud of.
Her Advice for upcoming and aspiring authors:
“When you write, trust the process and embrace all parts of it–the difficult and not-so-pleasant ones but also the wins and milestones you achieve along the way. Maybe it’s a one-liner that you really, really like or a phrase that you feel proud of that encapsulates the storm of emotions you were feeling. It doesn’t have to be this big thing all the time. Learning this will keep you going.
And for those who want to write a book someday, ground yourself in your “why”. What do you want to say and when do you want to say it, what do you want to accomplish… These are things that will befriend you when the doubts come because I assure you, they will come. But your “why” should have a stronger pull on you than all the second-guessing.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
Her Poetic Life (a Christian Poetry book) shows a glimpse of the hills, valleys, plateaus in between…and the feeble attempts to encapsulate those that I initially didn’t even have the words for. But to communicate and express are two things that are so important to me. This book aspires to take you on a journey so close and personal where I had to break down all reason and rhyme to truly get to the bottom of what I believe in and why I believe it in the first place.
Her Poetic Life is one that’s lived–both in the open and in obscure places. May these pages come alive and find you where and when you need them most.
Available in the Philippines via order link here and on Amazon worldwide.
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