Realising a dream, Dubai author Jorhie Alban publishes poetry

THE NAME JORHIE Alban may be not be familiar to a mass audience at the moment, but as the Dubai resident's first book of poetry, The Scent That Lingers, has recently become available, this is all set to change. A Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility Director for a pharmaceutical company by day, the 40-year-old Philippines native arrived in the UAE in 2013 and in her spare time has been pursuing this artistic passion project. With the final compilation of poems now out on Amazon, we caught up with Alban to see why she believes literature is her calling and who may enjoy picking up her debut work.  
What made you decide to put together a book of poetry? How long have you been a poet and how easy was the process of getting The Scent That Lingers published?
Although it has always been a dream of mine to publish a poetry book, it was not until I lost a dear friend a few years ago I realised life is too short, that I must not wait for the right time to come to do the things I've always wanted to do.
I fell in love with poetry at a very young age, listening to my grandmother who used the most charming, witty and funny combinations of words to convey her annoyance and adoration for my unsuspecting grandfather. I started imitating her as soon as I learned how to put two words together.
It was not an easy process to get the book published. It took me nearly six months to have the final proof that I was happy to share with the world. The self-publishing process itself entailed a lot of work -from selecting the pieces from a several-year-old archive, to creating new ones, to designing the book, and finally, to navigating the complex Amazon environment. But it was an amazing learning journey and I would love to do it all over again!
From where do you get your inspiration for the poems you write and what are the themes they discuss?
The Scent That Lingers is an anthology of love poems that aim to take readers into a journey of emotions. It talks about falling in love, getting hurt, and moving on. The central theme is that, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how we have loved "as long as we have loved, forgiven and lived." [From the poem When It's Time to Go]. In addition to my personal experiences, I take inspiration from observing people and situations. In fact, a poem in the book is for and about a friend who was struggling with a divorce. Her life story inspired me to reflect on the meaning of new beginnings. I hope that anyone who has fallen in love would be interested to read it.
How did you manage to fit writing the book around your full-time job? What advice do you have for people looking to do the same thing?
I made sure I made time for writing whenever I was free, after work, on the weekends or whenever I was travelling. But I also did not force myself into writing when inspiration didn't come. Instead, I would utilise the time to do something else that was still related to the book. For example, I used an entire six-hour flight arguing with myself how to best arrange the collection so that there is an interesting story flow between chapters and poems. I believe there is no formula to strike the perfect work-passion balance (I just coined that!), each person has a rhythm. Just find a pace that works for you and be patient about it.
Which poets do you go to when you need cheering up, or some time alone?
I am a huge fan of Pablo Neruda and Rumi. They are my go-to poets whenever I feel like connecting with myself or being alone somewhere else. I Like for You to Be Still never fails to make me believe in love despite everything. I also adore Sara Teasdale (her life story is a poem by itself) for her poetic lyricism and the simplicity of the approach with which she managed to achieve it in every poem she wrote. These poets have long been gone but their words continue to tug at our heartstrings.  
Do you believe reading and literature is as popular as it has ever been or do you think it is being neglected as a pastime?
Yes, I would like to believe reading is as popular as ever. Platforms such as Amazon have made books more accessible to people than ever before. The way we read has changed for sure but as long as human emotions are celebrated in literature, people will never run out of reasons to read. We like to read about ourselves.
What are your hopes and expectations for this book?
I have very humble hopes and expectations. I will do my best to let as many people as possible know about it, but really, to know that I managed to touch a person or two and that this book will be there long after I am gone is already enough. I have remaining materials good enough for a second book, but I would like for the next one to tackle a different theme, so I am starting a new writing journey.
Is this book dedicated to anyone in particular? If so, how did this person help you?
The book is dedicated to my husband, Mehdi, who is a journalist. He has been my best supporter and critic. I killed many of my darlings (poems) because of him!
Search for 'The Scent That Lingers Jorhie Alban' on Amazon to order Alban's book
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