I AM in Gambia - Day One

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Gambia.



3:30pm
Our plane arrived in Banjul at 3pm in the afternoon.

The moment stepping off the plane signalled a statement of intent: We will work in 35 degrees of sunshine.

There is no time difference beteween Gambia and the UK. This is the first time I have stepped off the plane not expecting any jet lag. Maybe the UK are running on Gambian time and not the other way round.

4:40pm
No sooner had I emerged from customs, I heard someone call out Mr Jackman. I turned to find a good friend whom I know back home. What are the odds? I knew she was in Gambia but I also know the population is 1.6 million!

8:00pm
The Gambians have welcomed me as their own. When asked my name, I replied Alexander.
Aha 'Alexander the Great!' they shouted.


www.alexanderjackman.com

I AM by Alexander Jackman - OUT NOW

Dear Readers,

For an insight into the book and my great inspirations I have published the first of many promotional videos.

I hope you enjoy.

I AM by Alexander Jackman is available to purchase at all good online bookstores including Amazon and Waterstones.

Until next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWs3NqA1fuw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.alexanderjackman.com/

I AM - Coming to a bookshop near you!

Dear Readers,

The wheel is already in motion. The team are really working hard to make this book available to purchase in a local bookshop near you. If you would like to see I AM in your local bookshop contact us at http://www.alexanderjackman.com/.

Until next time.

www.twitter.com/alexjackajk

www.myspace.com/alexanderjackman

http://www.alexanderjackman.com/

Top Ten 'I AM' Photographs - Number 10

Dear Readers,

I have been asked to state my Top Ten 'I AM' location photographs. The irony is that the person making the request was the photographer for this photo entry at Number 10. This photograph was taken in Tunisia. It has special significance because it was the photograph that began this incredible journey. I had the idea for my book to travel the world the moment I saw this picture. This was the first and now over 220 photographs have been taken in over 25 different countries around the world and still counting!

I am forever grateful to my great friend for that moment of inspiration, without it the others would not exist so there was no question that it made the Top Ten. Who knows what these photographs will be able to do for people, we have to believe that each one of us has our own story to tell.

To view the other pictures visit - www.myspace.com/alexanderjackman

Look out for entry Number 9

Until Next time.

I AM - is finally here!

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first installment of the book 'I AM'. You will find that it is currently registered online with some of the major bookstores. You can search for the title on http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or http://www.play.com/, it is available to purchase. The delivery schedule at present will take a number of weeks to match other books available online. I hope this won't cause too much inconvenience.

I have to stress there is a still long way to go. I have The London Book Fair at the Excel Building in April closely followed by the New York Expo in May. Then I hope to go to Beijing in August before closing 2010 with Germany in October. These events are where buyers from major retailers, agents, publishers, distribution companies and media congregate to unveil the next line of top selling books and authors. I will be attending with a few surprises of my own. Stay tuned.

So you can see quite clearly that a place on a major retailers' premium New Release or Bestseller Shelf is still a year away. There is also tremendous competition for shelf space. Millions of books are produced vying for the same spot. Each trying to stand out from the rest. I know what it is I need to do and I will get there. I will be working hard throughout this winter building sales volume with all local bookshops in London before April in time for The London Book Fair.

Now that the momentum is gathering pace keep an eye out for BLOG updates. If you have any questions you would like to ask, I always try to make myself available to reply to all my messages. There have been some great questions already. Join me Alexander Jackman on Facebook.

Thank you again for your support. I hope that if you decide to purchase 'I AM' there is something there for you as there was for me.

Until Next time.

Dear readers,

I have spent sometime away from my blog page reading new books and writing the second and third installment of I AM. I have also begun my first novel which is looking very promising at this very early stage.

I AM will be released for the first time in Hardback with copies crossing the Atlantic as we speak. There is still someway to go before the official release however I promise to keep you updated on the progress.

In the meantime I feel it is important to continue to introduce new people to the journey of I AM around the World. Your help to spread the message will be very much appreciated. The photos are so important to the process, it has inspired me creatively and I shall let you in on the plans I have for those photos at a later date. Please keep them coming in I am constantly updating Myspace and the Facebook Group Page with all the new pictures.

I AM is about to embark on its first ROAD TRIP of the United States. Where it will travel in the great Ford Mustang and Corvette via Route 66. I look forward to the reports of its progress although I have to admit I am not the fortunate individual making the trip. A great friend of mine has taken up the challenge, it is something I have dreamed of doing and I guess a part of me will live that dream.

You can find his BLOG covering the tour at http://www.iamanamericanroadtrip.blogspot.com/

Until next time

http://www.alexanderjackman.com/

www.myspace.com/alexanderjackman

www.twitter.com/alexjackajk

Happy New Day

Dear Readers,

For some you may read this as the new blog for the new year. For me however, this is a new blog for a new day.

Whilst I understand the sentiment in wishing you all a Happy New Year. I have wondered if in making this wish, am I already providing my reasons for not making contact with you until the new year 2010?

Do I make new years resolutions? The simple answer is No. I have come to a point where everyday is important to me. Whether I spend those moments asleep for the whole day or not it remains important. We sleep half of our lives anyway so a day of slumber is not anything to be ashamed about, neither is a day focused on making those close to you laugh while not doing anything in particular. I do not feel guilty for those types of days. I really enjoy my Mondays, it sets my tone for the rest of the week. I do not have reservations for a day before I have even started it. I do not intend on losing productivity I intend to gain. This practice has put myself in a frame of mind that will enable me to deal with the unexpected.

I have witnessed some bizarre events leading up to the big celebrations. Comments in conversations such as I cannot wait until the weekend (it was Monday), or I cannot wait until 5pm when I finish work (it was 9am), I cannot wait until I go out later and the most popular I cannot wait until the new year? I have to ask will waiting for these things really make a difference? and what is it that you are truly waiting for?

It comes to mind that if you choose to wait too long you may never get to experience what you want. Happiness does not come to those who wait for happiness but to those who choose to have happiness now. Even a lottery win cannot guarantee happiness unless you had happiness in the first place. I stopped trying to win at long odds when my winning comes from short odds making someone smile. Telling those close to me that I love them for who they are!

My book is about the pursuit of a dream, a dream to discover who I am. We are all going through this discovery and we all have a unique insight into what brings us here today. Some experiences we are able to handle while others are more difficult then they seem. What do we do about them? Do we say we cannot wait for the moment to disappear or be buried in a false place, where we deny it exists and pretend to forget? Or do we stand up and be counted for it?
It takes a real character to face their own truths. I know I have had to face my own, that is why I am able to now release a piece of work that shares the types of experiences we have either had ourselves or at least experienced through our peers. I AM is accepting the bad and the good, the ugly and the sublime whilst still able to make mistakes. I AM is accepting who I AM. I most certainly do!

It may be that I will have to postpone the launch of my book once again. I do apologise there are reasons beyond my control. I will tell you however, there is a blessing in everything and it may have opened another new door. Had I not been aware at the time I may never have walked through it.

These great pictures were taken in Africa by Vanessa Matthews and her good friend Veneshia Talbot. We all have the power to inspire.

Until next time.

http://www.myspace.com/alexanderjackman
http://www.alexanderjackman.com/