TWO years after launching his debut poetry collection, Stuart Peacock has moved from e-book to paperback.

The Awakening, which encompassed seven years of poetry, was first released in December 2015 through independent Clacton publishers Apex.

Mr Peacock, 30, who grew up in Clacton, jumped at the chance to have physical copies of the book made.

Friends and family now have personalised copies with his signature inside the front cover – and this is just the beginning.

He said: “I’m working on a second collection at the moment. It’s touches a lot on depression and anxiety, but as it goes on begins to focus on recovery so although it starts quite bleak, it does become more positive.

“Last year I went through a challenging time which wasn’t triggered by any particular event, I just felt quite down and alone, so I used writing as a healing aid.

“I found it quite therapeutic to write how I was feeling, but I’m definitely nervous about putting these out.”

Mr Peacock is in the latter stages of putting together the second anthology.

He is also celebrating one of his poems featuring in the Poetry Rivals’ 2016 anthology in March.

He added: “I want this anthology to reach people who have gone through similar situations.

“One of the poems specifically is a letter to people who are feeling this way as a reassurance it does get better.

“I’ve always been interested in raising awareness of mental health because not enough people really understand it compared to physical health so this is my way of helping that cause.”

  • The Awakening is available on Amazon in paperback (£5.99) and kindle (£2.99).