Banker dad and daughter are banking on joint poetry book

My Daddy, My Daughter, Words in Motion, is a book of poetry.
Not your typical teenager, Aja is a 17-year-old senior with a 4.0 grade point average who attends Cardinal Dougherty High School. She is in the pre-medical preparation program and is also taking communications/media as an elective. She writes for the school newspaper, the Prelate, is a member of the yearbook staff and also a member of the Pro-life Club. After school, Aja works as a tutor. Then she somehow fits in time for community service and, of course, time to write poetry. Her English teacher and school newspaper sponsor, Ms. Rebstock, is proud of her for writing this book.

Father Wesley, who grew up in West Oak Lane and later moved to Camden, felt that this was a great experience giving them “both a chance to work with each other as equals.” The senior Mack, with years of banking experience, functioned as the research and business support on the project.

He took a year off from work to research the publishing industry, learning among other things how to write a synopsis and approach a publisher. He also noted how hard it was to find a publisher willing to take on a book of poetry. “Especially without an agent,” said Mack. He said he got “great support” from Publish America. Mack said it took 18 months from conception until the book was submitted to the publisher.

The book, published by PublishAmerica in August, is 171 pages and has over 100 poems. The book is currently available on PublishAmerica.com, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Walmart.com. for $19.95. Plans to expand into local independent bookstores are in the works. Both father and daughter are also planning to promote the book locally in Philadelphia and Camden.

Mack sees this project with his daughter as proof that a “middle-aged father can relate and find common ground with his teenage daughter.” They both discovered, after working together, how much they have in common. It allowed them to strengthen their family ties through writing a book of poetry. Of the poems Mack himself wrote, one he is fond of is called “Wasteland the Innercity.” Mack says that sometimes he found himself using fantasy to express a vision.

One of Aja’s poems, “Words of the Unspoken Generation,” tells of the struggles the youth of today are facing and how they are constantly struggling to live up to their parents’ dreams. Aja tells all who will listen that today’s younger generation is lost for a myriad of reasons and needs help. She sees her message as one that is positive and uplifts young people. She sees this as “times like no other. We are a generation going through difficult circumstances that we shouldn’t have to deal with at our age.” Mack says Aja challenges herself to say things in a different way.

The inspiration for the book came from Aja’s mother, Lenora Vaughn. Vaughn knew they both wrote poetry and she suggested both the book and title. Vaughn is “excited for her daughter.” She noted that Aja is a “good and caring person” who loves speaking to groups of young people.

Both father and daughter worked together to determine the format and layout for the book. In a joint effort, they determined how the poems would be placed in the book. Aja won the debate over the cover art.

Mack said, “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would become an author.” He said that it all started with a letter he was writing and the poem just came out. Aja echoed by saying this book brought the two of them closer. She sees the book as a major accomplishment, “making her dream come true .”

The pair plans to write a play based on the book and Aja continues writing poetry that she hopes to turn into a second book one day. She also “doodles around writing short stories” noting that it’s “nothing serious.”

Mack is proud of the person that his daughter has become and said that she kept him motivated throughout the project. Mack calls Aja his “inspiration.” Both felt that this exercise helped them discover that they said things in much the same way.

So far Aja has spoken at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ and in an open mike forum at Art Noir, hosted by Nish Pugh. She has spoken on two occassions at Lock Haven University. Her entire family is extremely proud of her accomplishments.
by BETH A. BROOKS