I sent a few copies of the first draft around to family, friends and colleagues to get some feedback. this was one of the replies that I received (that really made my day :) :

"Allen, What can I say? I am truly amazed. You think you know someone, and then they go and put something together as extraordinary as this book! Is that really you?? You are one gifted individual. You presented me with the opportunity to have a "sneak peak" at the first draft. I printed it out straight away but time got away from me and on the lounge it sat. I'd see it and say tomorrow, but tomorrow just kept getting further and further away. Finally on Tuesday the guilt started to really get to me so I put the washing down and picked up your book. I honestly can't put it back down. It is magnificent! It absolutely shines, as do you. Your talent is impeccable. If you could see my house right now, the washing is still on the lounge room floor, the sink is overflowing with dishes, there are take away packets everywhere and the book is open on the lounge to the page I am up to. You had me hooked from the first page (ok the 3rd page, after the front cover and the thank you's). I kept saying ok just one more, then one more and one more. It is more addictive than hot chips to this pregnant woman!!! I cannot put into words (that's your job!!!) the many thoughts and emotions I have experienced whilst reading it - and I'm not even finished it yet. I've already decided that I am going to join the list of requests for you to compose a poem for my unborn child. Something this delicate and special I would only truly trust in your hands. Regards, Jacci."

The Story Behind The Book

I have been writing poetry (in earnest) since about 1995. After three years of writing I had amassed a reasonable collection of work which formed the basis of my first book "A Rhyme In Time" (now a collector's item :-). However, I was keen to reach a wider audience and thought that the relatively new medium of the Internet would make an ideal vehicle. So in 1998 I purchased a book "How To Build A Web Site in 24 Hours" - and 3 months later(!), a very shaky version of (what was to become) A Gift Of Poetry was born. In my naivety I thought all I would have to do is "build it and they will come" - and of course they didn't. It was about this time that I struck on the idea of writing poetry for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. I didn't have a clue where that idea would lead to and had no visions of becoming the most popular personalized poetry site in the world (according to Google): 

In those early years I wrote entirely for charity, swapping my words for  a simple pledge - unfortunately there were a few people that spoilt this "honour system" and I was obliged to "commercialize" the site in 2000.

(I still and will donate a good percentage of the net proceeds to charity).

The rest, as they say, is history. The requests I receive today are many and varied and give a remarkable insight into human life around the world. 

I'm proud of this book; it represents the culmination of seven years solid
endeavour and it really shows a true life picture of the world today -
"warts 'n all".  I sincerely hope that you enjoy it.