When I first started writing poetry at 16, I never intended to write a book. Writing poetry for me was over a girl. Then it turned into more of a biography of my own life, such as a snapshot of that moment in time. When I was feeling in love, I wrote poems about love, and also those more depressing moments that come with heartbreak and loneliness. Poetry became a method of therapy at first, but as I experienced different moments in life through the military, traveling, marriage, children, and divorce, I have grown through the years and so has my poetry. Writing was something I knew I could do, and for some reason I was able to express myself through words. It was a way I was able to escape from reality, by expressing myself in poetry. Many poems have been lost over the years, but for the most part, this poetry collection is still a very close representation of my personal life and all its Tears, Wishes, and Dreams. About the Author Paul Anthony Minger was born in the little steel mill town of Weirton, West Virginia. He has served three deployments with the Army Reserves in Iran and Afghanistan. "I feel by the completion of this book that this is a chapter of my life that has been well documented and now closed. I can move on with a new chapter as I continue to write new material. Since it took 22 years to publish this one, maybe in another 22 years I will be ready to publish another one and call it Blood, Sweat, and Years." Publisher's website: http: //sbprabooks.com/PaulAnthonyMinger