The Unrepentant Cowboy
Ruminations from the Garden
2006 VirtualBookworm.com
Ruminations From the Garden is a book of prophecy, but not of the traditional sort. This prophecy comes from a former drug smuggler and ex-convict as revealed to him in his garden in Seguin, Texas.
I opted to hire Virtualbookworm.com, a print-on-demand publisher to produce the book when it became apparent that finding a mainstream publisher would take time. VBW helps self-publishers produce and market books. They are prompt and do what they say they will. An author maintains all but print-on-demand rights to the work and may continue to shop the book for a mainstream publisher. I did this because my book contains time-sensitive warnings. Due to the nature of the work, I encountered problems getting the book published without having to go through a severe and protracted bout of editorial exchanges. I was in no mood to be edited. What good is a warning when delivered after the fact?
So the book was produced without an editor; what you see on the pages are my words. This is good and bad at the same time. I like to compare it to a live and uncensored recording of a musician as opposed to a CD produced in a studio. There are a few mistakes I am aware of and probably more others will see that I don't. One is on the cover; where I used the word prophesy to describe the work instead of prophecy. Prophesy is a verb. I left it that way, because I a flawed so any prophecy I deliver is flawed as well. It's good because you get a clearer picture of what I really sound like before someone else has their way with my words. Or is that bad? Take your pick.
It was not my original intent to call the book a prophecy but as I re-read the book during an attempt at editing, I realized it had crossed a threshold. To predict events in the future is to prophesy. The test of a prophet is this: if what he or she predicts comes true, they have prophesied. If not, then they are a false prophet. I will not accept judgment from any of you; time will be my judge.
The book is more than a prediction of things to come. You'll find depictions of the world I inhabit and glimpse into the lives of colorful characters. Perhaps you'll learn a thing or two about your own world; certainly you'll find things that will at least challenge, if not change how you see things. It may raise more questions than answers, because I have more questions than answers.
I reveal personal shortcomings that will cause those that love me to grimace, perhaps even quit the book. But I needed do so in order to expose the hypocrisy of our people, particularly political and religious leaders. The reason I understand these people is that I come from similar background and share traits with them. By admitting my own faults, I earn the right to expose theirs. In the end, I hope to find redemption through grace and mercy. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if our leaders joined me in the search for these sacraments, but I'm not holding my breath.
So for better or worse, a version of the book is out there. If you are a mainstream publisher or a book agent and want a look, read this version and consider it a submission for publication.
I opted to hire Virtualbookworm.com, a print-on-demand publisher to produce the book when it became apparent that finding a mainstream publisher would take time. VBW helps self-publishers produce and market books. They are prompt and do what they say they will. An author maintains all but print-on-demand rights to the work and may continue to shop the book for a mainstream publisher. I did this because my book contains time-sensitive warnings. Due to the nature of the work, I encountered problems getting the book published without having to go through a severe and protracted bout of editorial exchanges. I was in no mood to be edited. What good is a warning when delivered after the fact?
So the book was produced without an editor; what you see on the pages are my words. This is good and bad at the same time. I like to compare it to a live and uncensored recording of a musician as opposed to a CD produced in a studio. There are a few mistakes I am aware of and probably more others will see that I don't. One is on the cover; where I used the word prophesy to describe the work instead of prophecy. Prophesy is a verb. I left it that way, because I a flawed so any prophecy I deliver is flawed as well. It's good because you get a clearer picture of what I really sound like before someone else has their way with my words. Or is that bad? Take your pick.
It was not my original intent to call the book a prophecy but as I re-read the book during an attempt at editing, I realized it had crossed a threshold. To predict events in the future is to prophesy. The test of a prophet is this: if what he or she predicts comes true, they have prophesied. If not, then they are a false prophet. I will not accept judgment from any of you; time will be my judge.
The book is more than a prediction of things to come. You'll find depictions of the world I inhabit and glimpse into the lives of colorful characters. Perhaps you'll learn a thing or two about your own world; certainly you'll find things that will at least challenge, if not change how you see things. It may raise more questions than answers, because I have more questions than answers.
I reveal personal shortcomings that will cause those that love me to grimace, perhaps even quit the book. But I needed do so in order to expose the hypocrisy of our people, particularly political and religious leaders. The reason I understand these people is that I come from similar background and share traits with them. By admitting my own faults, I earn the right to expose theirs. In the end, I hope to find redemption through grace and mercy. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if our leaders joined me in the search for these sacraments, but I'm not holding my breath.
So for better or worse, a version of the book is out there. If you are a mainstream publisher or a book agent and want a look, read this version and consider it a submission for publication.