Just like that. One keystroke. “Publish”. A new book is born.

Wisdom From a Father — the book — is officially a reality. With a gulp and a prayer — actually a lot of prayer — I moved forward minutes ago. I’m still working on the e-book version, although that should be available for pre-release on Amazon.com. The book and e-book will release Nov. 18.

I am accepting pre-orders for the book. Just contact me at wisdomfromafather@gmail and I will make sure to send you a signed copy. Cost of the paperback is $13.99 plus tax. Kindle versions are $3.49. The PayPal account is secure.

I’m also offering a special Christmas promotion — a copy of both Wisdom From a Father and Heaven Shining Through (a $9.99 value) for $20.00 plus tax. Just e-mail me!

Wisdom From a Father is a reflective look at life, segmented into chapters. The words are updates of posts made on this blog, wisdomfromafather.wordpress.com. The 52 essay chapters include reflections on life, love and family. All are written from the heart, sometimes seriously and sometimes with a touch of humor.

The cover features a photo the author took of Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde. The long planks hopefully invite readers to the lighthouse and, in turn, to open the book and choose their own path and pace. The type — Edwardian Script — was chosen to be personal and intimate. The combination blends the illumination, resilience and comfort of the lighthouse with words that hopefully guide, build inner strength and give hope.

I’ve never professed to be a teacher or leader. I’m just that ordinary Joe walking on the path of life … and sharing it with you. There are joys. There are tribulations. There are reflections. There is every day life. In each essay I try to convey a recognition of a greater Power who colors my perspective. My comments are always filtered through the lens of my Judeo-Christian values and largely based on 40 years of marriage raising five children.

A mid-November Facebook Live hard launch has been scheduled at West Fayette (NY) Presbyterian Church Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. with a repeat Dec. 6 at Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft, for friends and followers from the Pine Tree State, also at 1 p.m. The books are expected to be at the launches as well.

This is my second venture into the world of book publishing. I released a novella, Heaven Shining Through, last March. The novella has been receiving mostly solid 4-5 stars and positive reviews. It remains available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and is listed at GoodReads.

Of course, new ventures result in new challenges with some new looks. I’ve tried to consolidate the “brand” under the wisdomfromafather banner. By that, I mean, my Facebook author page is now at facebook.com/wisdomfromafather. I added the new e-mail account, wisdomfromafather@gmail. I intended to use the same name at Twitter, but it was two characters too long, so that link has been renamed @joesiccardi.

The central body of work will remain right here, but over the next few weeks I’ll be tweaking some design elements with the help of my family and friends. Categories will be consolidated with {hopefully} some new graphics. One new element will be more interaction including a category named Words for the Week.

As many of you know, I send out a weekly Words for the Week to family and friends. It started as a way to spend time praying for my family, friends and faith partners and share with them some nugget of encouragement for the week. Sometimes it’s a sentence. Sometimes a paragraph. Sometimes a story. I’ve discovered each one had a special meaning to some one at some time. The message just resonated with them at just the time they needed it most. I never know who until after the fact. The key element in that description is “as a way to spend time praying for my family, friends and faith partners.” I want to expand that to my blogging family, friends and faith partners.

I’ll keep you posted and explain the rationale as I make the changes.

These are exciting times for me as I refine my words and presentation. I hope they will be exciting times for you as well. I welcome your thoughts and input!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When people show you who they are, believe them and move that knowledge from your head to your heart.