author reminisces

my first book 
was published by a radiologist 
operating out of his garage 
against my will. 

my second book 
involved a sex-for-pay scheme 
that never quite came off, 
and interfered with the plot. 
I ditched both

disgusted

my third book, 
never came out 
to great acclaim. 

my fourth book, though 
proved to be a turning point. 
I discovered what a book 
was, and that my prior books 
had all been tomes. 

this realization still 
haunts me, but 
not in any really 
gripping way you could 
get a book out of, or 

anything