“Why did you write this book?”
That’s a question publishers ask. I understand why, but foolishly I let it needle me. Why do I breathe? Why do I eat meals? I’m a writer, it’s what I do.
‘This book’ means my new one, Getting to Know Colombia: a story of loss and discovery.
I felt drawn to write this book to fill a gap in the literature about Colombia. There are travel guides, academic books about Colombia’s geography and history, books investigating narco-crime, and novels set in Colombia about crime and political violence, but a gap where one might expect to find modern reflective travel literature.
So in this book I share my appreciation of Colombia’s landscape, culture and history, and, for the first time, inform English-speaking readers about the life and work of Colombian painter Oscar Rodriguez Naranjo.
Interwoven with the travel memoir is my journey through a bereavement made complex by the conflicting emotions it engendered. This also fills a gap in the literature because many bereavement memoirs describe absolute grief following a wonderful relationship.
This is my eighth book and by far the most personal. I believe it will appeal to people who enjoy reflective travel writing, and to those who have had complex bereavements. It will resonate with people interested in the reflections and choices of later life, and those drawn to lose and find themselves through travel to exotic locations, as well as anyone with an interest in modern Colombia.
I’m lucky enough to have received a couple of author endorsements:
“A beautiful tapestry of emotion – Wilkins illuminates the healing power of travel and adventure. A love letter to Colombia and to his late wife Mary”
Julie Tully, author of Dispatches from the Cowgirl
“In this account of his trip through Colombia, Raphael Wilkins shows us that adventure and friendship can heal us and help us set a new path forward”
Esmeralda Cabral, author of How to Clean a Fish and Other Adventures in Portugal
Returning to the broader question ‘why write?’ that is usually going to depend on a combination of motivation and opportunity. Motivations span legacy, creativity, achievement, entertainment and influence. Wanting to set down things in one’s head and heart in a permanent form that others can access. Enjoying developing and demonstrating the craft skills of writing. Developing a book from concept to publication is like reaching the peak of a mountain. Some writing is done to bring pleasure to readers, or to promote a particular way of thinking.
To get anywhere, those motivations have to connect with opportunities: where does the material come from? Life experience: personal, professional, first-hand, second-hand: that is the main fuel for generating writing. Connecting motivation with material requires choices to be made about genre. But having myself written in quite a few different genres, I feel the same fundamental applies: have something worthwhile to say, then find a way to say it which will engage the intended audience. Literature is a significant element of human civilisation. That’s why we write books.