Fulfilling a dream
Reading woman honors parents by publishing book of her poetry
By Gwendolynne Larson (Contact)
Friday, November 30, 2007
Sue Jones’ second book is a dream come true.
Jones’ first book, which details her journey of self-discovery by dealing with a chronic illness, was published in 2001 and has sold more than 4,000 copies. Still, she assumed that one book was all she’d do.
Then came the dream.
Jones said she doesn’t normally remember her dreams, but this time, she was awakened in the middle and a vivid memory remained — her parents telling her they wanted her to write a book titled “Crack Up at the Wake of Dawn.”
Jones still wasn’t ready for a second book, but she did mull over the strange title and wrote a poem with that name about her father, Clede Rundquist. When she read the poem to her father, he was touched, Jones said, and the dream was fulfilled — or so she thought.
But in October 2006, her new poem was read at her father’s funeral. Six weeks after that, Jones’ mother, Phyllis Rundquist, died. And Jones felt compelled to complete the full task her parents asked of her — write a book titled “Crack Up at the Wake of Dawn.”
The book is filled with poetry that Jones has written throughout her life.
“I’ve always written poetry,” she said. “It’s a way of being introspective.”
For her book, Jones has grouped her poems by themes.
“I just kind of picked some these and found (poems) that fit best into those themes,” she said.
Those themes include “an array of topics,” Jones said, “from grief to children to love.”
Also included are some songs that Jones has written.
“Sometimes I just start from scratch,” Jones said about her songs. “Sometimes it’s just a line or two of words and melody that I’ll build on.”
Although she’s never tried to sell her songs, Jones has started using them.
“After I wrote ‘Parting the Fog,’” she said of her first book, “I started doing programs. In those programs, I’d sing some of my songs.”
When she started compiling her new book, Jones decided to break from the traditional poetry-book model. Rather than just tossing her poetry on pages for readers to interpret, Jones added background.
“I explain the thought or circumstances behind each poem,” she said. “I hate poetry you don’t understand.”
The narrative segments add another dimension to the book, making it a true journey through Jones’ life, a journey she hopes will provide for readers illumination into their own lives.
Like her first book, “Crack Up at the Wake of Dawn” is self-published by LaMont Publishing, Jones’ company which shares her father’s middle name. A group of friends served as editors, and Rebecca Anderson, a high school friend of Jones’ daughter provided the cover illustration before Chester Press printed the book.
In Emporia, the book is on sale at Hastings and Town Crier. It’s also available at Reading State Bank and Allegre Drugs in Lebo. And it can be ordered directly from Jones at www.lamontpublishing.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-875-2320.
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