From the Mountaintop author Campbell Bolwell reflects on what shapes his work to be relevant in today’s situation.
What type of books do you love reading? Some people love reading crime fiction. You know, detective stories and courtroom drama. Others are into contemporary romance, sci-fi, or psychological thriller. Many readers find them relaxing – yes, even the crime and thriller stories. Well, ‘relaxing’ may not be the exact word, but often, we really get involved in the story trying to work out who the murderer is, for example, then finding out on the last page who did it.
Suffice it to say that books do help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times. Reading is one of the best ways to find relief from the pressures of modern life. Not only that, it empowers readers through knowledge and language. Think of it this way: If you’re picking up a book today – while the world is in the middle of a pandemic – don’t you want something relevant as a take-away, aside from the pure pleasure of reading it? Of course!
Two-time author Campbell Bolwell supports the fact that reading should be pleasurable and pertinent at the same time. He says his recent work From the Mountaintop stays relevant “as it explores our reality and the crisis we experience in our lives, in the continual change and evolution of our existence, and our acceptance of it.”
He adds that there’s something about his book that attempts to always look at the bigger picture – as the title implies – “in order to discover what is really happening, not only to us, but to our world. The current pandemic creates an opportunity to learn and grow stronger as individuals.”
The book certainly wasn’t the key to unlocking the secrets of human emotion, but Campbell, himself, learnt some interesting lessons throughout the process of writing it: “Not new thoughts, but how to reflect on my past experiences, organise them and clarify them. I learnt to structure them and expound them for my own thinking,” he said. He even believes it was he who benefited the most from writing the book. This coming from someone who – aside from being an accomplished author – is also a legendary name in Australian sports car engineering and design.
The truth is that not everyone treats success the same. Some people like Campbell, who have achieved success, remain humble, never forgetting who they are and where they come from. Others, however, can’t stop feeding their ego. Well, we can always learn from their mistakes.
As the cliché goes, shoot for the stars, but always stay grounded. Campbell is quoted in his website www.campbellbolwell.info saying, “Many thought of me as their mentor, but I suspect they unknowingly were mentoring me. They taught me much. I explored the intimacy of living with another, as many of us have, leading to marriage, children, grandchildren, and wherever that takes us into the future…My life has been full and it still has its moments of absolute joy.”
As for the readers, he hopes to relay the book’s core message: that we are living in a purposeful existence of incredible complexity and design. To him, humans are spiritual entities living temporally in a physical environment of cause and effect. This environment is where we eventually develop wisdom, he says, adding, “We are part of a great plan where all consciousness (including our own) evolves to an enlightened state.”
Creative process: A process of surrender, not control
Despite being carefully written and decently edited, From the Mountaintop’s 2012 original release got very little coverage. Thinking it deserved a second chance, Campbell decided it should be reprinted and promoted differently. By October 2019, the book had been re- released and heavily promoted throughout social media with the help of Stampa. It has since been made available via online bookstores Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
“Fortunately, there are people who live in this world and understand the power of social media and how to use it. Editing and cover design are all important, but as with any product, marketing and promo are fundamental to its success.” Campbell notes. He has his own Facebook page, which showcases his works as an author.
Smells like a third book is coming soon. Certainly, his works From The Mountaintop and the 1989 design book Designer, Creator, Manager – An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Successful Product Development can do better with more company. For him, however, writing is a long process and takes years. He explains, “I can, sometimes, wait for ages for inspiration, or to know how I will describe something. It can be very quick, or sometimes laborious, until events around me move me.”
There’s certainly truth to what he adheres to – that inspiration takes time, as great things do. Writers, artists, and other creators have long argued that inspiration is important to the creative process. Psychologists Todd M. Trash and Andrew J. Elliot have asserted that inspiration involves both being inspired by something and acting on it (“Inspiration as a psychological construct”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2003). Moreover, it is associated with positive affect and has been shown to enhance well-being and mediate the transmission of creative ideas. So yes, inspiration can make one’s soul feel pretty accomplished, but as Campbell puts it, “It cannot be hurried; it has no time frame.”
“From the Mountaintop took the best part of eight years and I had to rewrite some parts many times before I was satisfied it was clear and understandable. My next book will be the same,” he assures his followers.
When that time comes, it will be worth the wait.