By Brian Mahoney, author of Discovering Sea Glass
Reflecting on my poetry book Discovering Sea Glass feels like unscrambling a rubix cube that I worked on for a while…while unpeeling a textured layer of it to examine what’s inside of it all.
The initial excitement emerged in January and February when I was able to spread my wings and let loose while announcing to the world of its publication and release.
Being a full-time working father with two zany toddler children consumes the day to day lifestyle for myself and my busy wife. My job is quite busy itself (being an activity director at a senior personal care home) but the cherry on top this year so far has definitely been working hard in promoting my book.
It’s a process. It takes a great deal of effort, responsibility, and meaningful connection. What lends me a foot on the gas pedal is that I’m constantly digitized into the world. Whether I’m scrolling for potential giveaways or a new podcast to listen to, I’m game for whatever comes my way and how it may thread together with my book promotion.
My favorite experience thus far has been a chance encounter with fellow writer Kayla Ackelson. In the early spring, she posted on her Unhurried Podcast Instagram of a giveaway and of course I latched on to it. She was giving away a sweater and other merchandise. What I didn’t expect was that part of her giveaway was to feature the winner on her podcast and since I’m a fellow creative like herself, it was a match made in heaven. She interviewed me on April 12, 2026 and her episode featured me (Me?!?) as the special guest as the episode’s primary focus. She threw me questions that I was not prepared for–but that’s not a spiteful observation. It was enlightening to be put on the spotlight by someone who didn’t read my book fully yet and was just starting to get to know me. So I needed to spontaneously ride the flow of the interview and try to tell the backstory of Discovering Sea Glass. This was a powerful and raw way of shining a light on what some of the poetry meant to me and how some of the poetry can speak to readers. Kayla and I both were featured at a Firefly Bookstore on April 20 as part of their National Poetry Month series of celebrating local poets. It was a small, intimate, yet personable night of reading my poetry as well as poetry from her and another gentleman named Esteban Hernandez.
I have found myself creative “problem-solving” and constantly generating visual flyers or seeking out avenues & venues to take my poetry like libraries, bookstores, coffee shops, and a winery (in the works–potentially). In the current state of society, I’m not using A.I. and prefer the old fashioned way (circa 2018 haha) of making my own flyers.
I’ve been plugging and pestering (only in subtle ways) to celebrities or important people that may have relevance to the content of my book. I was lucky enough for Better Than Ezra lead singer Kevin Griffin to share my book through his Instagram on February 13, 2026. I had sent him a link to buy it, too, but I don’t think he bought my book in all honesty (womp). It’s still a good feeling to know that for that tiny pocket of time, I was recognized by someone famous…someone that I admire, too!
And that’s definitely been a theme to my year so far–I’ve been digitizing and following bread crumbs like a scavenger hunt to anything that may relate to my book. Or anything that could help steer my book to more potential exposure, as pathetic as that sounds. Like one day, I found a thread online by IMDB where they listed top upcoming movies based on books and asked followers if they missed a book.. I replied by mentioning The Midnight Library and tagged the author Matt Haig, hoping that maybe he’ll see my profile and go down the Brian Mahoney rabbit hole (haha).
I coordinate recruiting volunteers at my work. One of the volunteers is a sweet and perceptive 90-year-old lady that helps out as a concierge. One day I passed her by upon entering work and she asked me, “Brian…Did you happen to come across sea glass?” Her question froze me and I almost laughed out of the coincidental factor of what she was asking. She then informed me that she Googled me out of curiosity and had ordered my book online. Ever since then, she has consistently brought in my book at the main desk and I always notice it in the corner of my eye. She carries such a humble and peaceful serenity to herself that it’s comforting to know that she brings it often when she volunteers. I don’t know if she announces my book to any incoming guests, but I don’t mind if she does. It’s kind of cute to have a book cheerleader.
One particular reflection that I have is that I definitely suck at giving the “elevator pitch” to my book when speaking vocally about it. I know I stumbled with it a bit in my podcast interview and stumbled on it when I spoke at The End: Bookstore of Allentown on June 11, 2026. Unlike a novel that has a straight line and cohesive & concrete subject matter, my poetry book is loaded with fluid subject matter and interpretation. Poetry is a niche market and I know it’s probably the toughest genre to sell to people. Even I need to be swayed by a poet to read their writing if I’m being honest. I’m more of a person that is guarded and wants to sponge everything before jumping at something or buying something, so I know the hesitation I have in buying someone else’s work may extend to others as well when they see me stumbling and bumbling about my writings.
I recently had an event at the Boyertown Community Library. Although small, it was quite nice to connect with a lady who attended. She asked me what the book title of Discovering Sea Glass meant. I answered her question and she enjoyed my answer. She gave me her appeal to sea glass and seeing the title was something that intrigued her. She told me that she had a son (sounded like he was in the college years) and when he attended college in the Erie, PA area–he would collect sea glass off the shores of Lake Erie.
Overall, it’s been a somewhat steady but meaningful first 6 months of Discovering Sea Glass.
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