Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a poet, author, transformational psychotherapist, pilgrimage guide to Viet Nam and Greece, and peace activist. I have been writing for over 55 years, since I was a teenager, I am recognized as a “thought leader” in healing military Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury, and in restoring ancient holistic healing methods for modern use. I have specialized in the holistic treatment of violent traumatic wounds for over 40 years. I have written seven books on these subjects, 4 books of nonfiction, including the award-winning War and the Soul and on the Greek tradition The Practice of Dream Healing. I have also written 3 books of poetry, including my latest.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Coming Home In Viet Nam is a newly published 20-year poetry collection documenting the healing and reconciliation journeys I have led to Viet Nam annually since 2000. These journeys bring extraordinary dimensions of healing to American veterans and others who travel there with me, and we contribute to Vietnamese recovery and healing from the war through philanthropic works, friendship, learning their culture, exchanging forgiveness. My poetry tells stories of encounters and healings from participants in every faction of the war – Americans and Vietnamese. These stories are unknown but deeply needed in this country. Poetry is the language of the heart and soul. I told these stories through poetry instead of nonfiction because that is how I have written my way through decades of journeys and because I wanted to appeal to the heart, the soul, the whole person, and not just the intellect.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I journal fiercely in both poetry and prose as I travel and lead the pilgrimage. For most of my life, I stayed up very late and preferred to write during the dark hours when the world is sleeping and will not disturb my creative process. Since I have a busy psychotherapy practice, I also rely on deadlines and tight scheduling of my writing tasks. Now as an elder I take the first week of every month off as a writing retreat.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The classical Greek writers and thinkers, the Bible, the poetry of George Seferis, the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, Melville, Poe, Peter Matthiessen, Mary Renault, Elie Wiesel, the Japanese haiku masters, especially Issa, the novels of my early mentor William Herrick, in psychology Jung, James Hillman, R.D. Laing, Joseph Campbell.
What are you working on now?
A major book chapter, “The American Way of War” for an anthology on The American Psyche and Its Shadow. My next nonfiction book on the Greek tradition, Passage to Poros: Finding Spiritual Sanctuary on a Small Greek Island.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.edwardtick.com/
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself and your vision. Keep writing until you find your unique voice. Try not to worry too much about being published. Have faith in your vision and purpose and that you will find outlets for your work at the right time. Grow callouses against rejections and misunderstandings of your work. Do not take rejections personally. Seek your tribe among readers and other writers. Understand and embrace the long hard journey of being a writer and that your deepest satisfaction must come from within and from your creative process. Know that somehow every good poem, every well-crafted sentence, contributes to the unfolding of consciousness, supports the human heart, and helps grow the universe.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From my mentor, the novelist William Herrick, “Don’t worry about publishing. Just write your first million words and you will.”
What are you reading now?
At present, I am concentrating on rereading classics that can shed light and give support for the global crises we are in – C.G. Jung, Arthur Miller, Jean-Paul Sartre. Among contemporary American writers, I am rereading all the poetry books of Richard Behm and the new and previous books by Mark Nepo.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book is on the healing traditions of ancient Greece and how to use them today. Dream Incubation and Soul Medicine, the working title, will be published in fall-winter 2022.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Odyssey by Homer
Moby Dick by Melville
Zorba the Greek by Kazantzakis
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