“Listen to your heart because if it’s telling you something for a reason, you should never back down from a challenge,” senior Rowan de los Reyes said when sharing his experience and journey publishing his first book, “Poetry from the Plague Days.” In “Poetry from the Plague Days,” de los Reyes has compiled more than 100 poems, covering a plethora of emotional topics he has encountered and experienced throughout his life.
“During Covid, I was looking for ways to express myself in a safe manner, as soon as I picked up a pen and began writing, with the help from the writing camp I attended at the time, I realized this is what was going to become a true passion of mine,” de los Reyes said.
Not long after the end of Covid did de los Reyes obtain the idea to publish his own book, which led to
stressful moments that de los Reyes had to deal with throughout the entire publishing process.
“Overall, this was a challenging process,” de los Reyes said. “I have never worked with an official editor or a publishing site before so it was overwhelming, but with the help from the publishers, the process went smoother and easier, it may have taken a couple months, but it was worth it in the end.”
De los Reyes explained that the ultimate aim and purpose of the book was to showcase both his writing skills as well as his emotions. It was important to him to create a safe space in which people could understand and experience the feelings and emotions that have been depicted throughout the book,
and he also wanted to create a safe space for readers to also feel those feelings and emotions.
“I would like for those who have the chance to read my book to feel a sense of calmness, as there are a number of dark themes throughout the book,” de los Reyes said.
De los Reyes has had an unforgettable experience publishing his first book and hopes that his readers have a memorable experience delving into his poems.
“At the same time, I want readers to recognize those themes as well as remember how awesome life is and how amazing it truly is,” de los Reyes said.
