A Book is Born

My sister and I are almost seven years apart in age.  When I went to college she was only ten.  It wasn’t until she was going to college herself that I realized that I had completely missed her growing up.  I was not there for so many life events that a girl would need her big sister for… her first kiss, her first prom, her first heartbreak, her first bad hair day…  Now here she was again embarking on another tier of her journey to womanhood.  This time, I was not going to miss it!   The original version of "Your Big Sister's Guide to Surviving College" (March 2007) was created out of love for my little sister.  This amateur, spiral-bound book contained advice on every aspect of college life based on the experiences and mistakes made by me and my friends.  This was my way of being there for her and being the best big sister I could be from a distance. The recent headlines of young girls wandering from clubs and parties and not making it to their next birthdays lead me to believe that there are so many others who need a "big sister" .  I resurrected and revised my sisters book to bring it to all young ladies who need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to, and someone to help them navigate the journey through life.

 

My name is Christie Crowder.  I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with my wonderful and supportive husband, sweet two-year old daughter, and believe it or not… one on the way (due to arrive shortly after the arrival of my baby book)!  I am currently 650 miles away from my sister but we are only nanoseconds from each others hearts.  Writing this book… or rather re-writing it has brought me closer to my sister and closer to my authentic self.  It has also set free a person in me that has always been there but I for reasons like paying bills, self-doubt, and lack of time always ignored… a writer.  I am going to enjoy getting to know her.

www.bigsisterguides.com

 

Nancy Cleary recently notifed me that I've have been an official member of the Mom Writer's Publishing Coop for one year. YAYAY! However, my book is yet to be published! Seems like a long birthing process doesn't it?

I am Dr. Caron Goode, and my book is The Art & Science of Coaching Parents. I started writing the book at the same time I launched a distance-learning school, Academy for Coaching Parents International, LLC, www.acpi.biz.  At the time of the conception for the book and business, I hadn't anticipated the amount of effort to build the business infrastructure on the web. The process through time for both projects has been like having twins and nurturing each along their path of growth.

The great news is that the the book's finishing touches are happening now, and I can submit the manuscript in December. I have had to focus not on the rush in time to completion, but on the enjoyment of writing and making the manuscript stronger. Next time, I would not choose twins. I'd like just one baby at a time!

Has anyone else had the experience of launching twins?  What was your experience like?

Hello! My name is Paula Schmitt and I live in the beautiful state of Vermont. I have five children and I am an author and Momprenuer. My company Mom Writer's Productions, LLC was founded in 2005. My award-winning online magazine Mom Writer's Literary Magazine is for mom writers and authors who have somehting to say and can be found here www.momwriterslitmag.com. My radio talk show for mom writers is www.momwriterstalkradio.com and my columns and blog are here www.paulaschmitt.com. My new mom blog podcast What Did You Do All Day? will soon be launching in October and can be found here www.whatdidyoudoallday.com. My first book award-winning Living in a Locker Room: A Mom's Tale of Survival in a Houseful of Boys was released in May 2005 with Nancy Cleary's Mom-Writers Publishing Cooperative (Wyatt MacKenzie). Living in a Locker Room is an entertaining collection of 29 parenting stories that I wrote and put together for moms who are raising boys. When I’m not laboring under piles of laundry, restocking the pantry or screaming from the sidelines, I like to write about all the above and share my stories with other mothers of boys to let them know that they are not alone on this journey. Cheers, Paula

On July 25, 2000, my daughter Grace was born. The birth of a child is not unusual. In my case it was a real miracle. I was one month shy of my 46th birthday. My daughter was born as result of years of infertility treatment. It was my last chance at becoming a parent. I had made myself and whatever higher power I believed in a promise. If I was successful at having a child I silently promised I would do something to help others who experienced similar pain and trauma while on their infertility journey. I have also been a licensed clinical social worker for 30 years. Initially, I volunteered doing individual counseling, workshops, and led groups for people struggling with infertility. I wanted to reach more people and do more. My book, Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster: A Guide to Educate and Inspire, came from my desire to reach other people engaged in this struggle.

I remember feeling like a stalker as I watched and waited for the delivery truck carrying my book to arrive. I am sure the Fed-Ex man was “surprised” and perhaps “a little frightened” as I flew out of my front door to help him unload the truck. A first for me and I imagine for him as well.

My book came out in March of 2006. I wasn’t sure I would ever say those words. In writing my book I interviewed people who have chosen many paths in relation to their infertility journeys. Their stories are candid, compelling, include a range of emotions including humor. They are heartfelt. I tried to write the book from my heart as well and include everything I could to educate and empower my readers. My goal was to help them see they did have control in a seemingly uncontrollable situation. I also wanted them to know they are not alone.

The responses I have gotten from people around the country and in my author events have touched me deeply. It has been an incredibly gratifying experience. People have written to thank me for addressing issues that they were afraid to talk to others about. They have shared their personal stories. Family members and friends have expressed their appreciation at their gaining a greater understanding of how this journey affects the people struggling to have a child and the people around them. I have watched people at my author events nod their heads as I share stories from my book and my personal and professional experiences.

I recently learned my book was a finalist at the USA Book of the Year Awards for 2006. I look forward to hearing from other people and connecting with them in ways I had previously only dreamed about.

- Iris Waichler

I laughed when I saw the new pup shredding a mock-up cover of A Book is Born... as the words "what was I thinking?" ran through my head I realized that's exactly it. Our new collaborative book is what I was thinking – over the last two years of publishing the works of these incredible mom writers. I've helped these women give birth to their books, I've been their "book midwife" offering pre-publication pre-natal preparation for the "big day". Actually, I feel like a surrogate – carrying their idea through gestation – designing, printing and then sending their baby by UPS! But it doesn't stop there, then I'm the "book nanny" – helping the authors to nurture their newborn into a rambunctious media toddler, and then revive their back-listed one year old when we launch siblings.

I'm Nancy Cleary in Deadwood, Oregon. A Book is Born was my brainchild before I started the Mom-Writers Publishing Cooperative two years ago. I knew that if I could empower a group of authors with a new model for publishing – in which women would help one another, and support each other, and share everything from problems, to publicity to profits – plus receive all of my talent (a veteran graphic designer of 17 years, and inde publisher, promoter and branding expert for 6 years at that point) – we could document a perspective of the publishing journey that is rarely ever seen. We share the pain, the pride, and the whole process – so others can learn from what we've experienced.

Stay tuned for our A Book is Born Tour in Fall 2007, and the launch of a whole new kind of Book Club.

As far as the new puppy...maybe it's a sign the book will be devoured by readers!

Have you ever had one of those days? I have - more often than I like to admit, but it was one of those days that was the catalyst for Mommyhood Diaries: Living the Chaos One Day at a Time. I really wanted to know how others moms spent their days. Not only that, I wanted to find to voice both the common threads and diversity mothers share. Mommyhood Diaries became that voice. In 2006, I receiving the Writer's Marketing Associations Fresh Voices award and was a finalist in the IPPYs (Independent Publishing award) which validated that voice and need to create a sense of maternal community and connection between moms like Rachel, a homeless mom, and Joy, a rock star mom. Publishing Mommyhood Diaries has given me - along with countless other moms - the opportunity to continue to relish the role as mother, woman...and even writer.

 I'm Julie Watson Smith. I live in Boulder, Colorado - home of the funky, festive and free - with my very supportive husband and three fan-tabulous kids where we continually enrich our lives by inspiring our imaginations.

It is the year 2000, a time of adjustment for me.

A stay-at-home-mom? Me? Okay, I can do this. But I am quite lonely in my kitchen, during the baby's nap-time, and I don't know what to do with myself unless I am planning an event or filtering through hundreds of phone calls from clients.

I'll defrost something for dinner. I'll send an e-mail to my friends who still work (all of them) so I don't have to bug their assistants. Anything to avoid the laundry.

Okay, it's four o'clock. Baby Alex is in his pack and play, it's not too early to start dinner. I'll make salmon and mash, with a Caesar salad.

Dinner is in the oven. I've already sent out five e-mails and my friends must be busy because they haven't responded - but I did get their automatic "out of the office" replies. What would Alice Hoffman do?

Hello computer! What do I have to share with my word processor? Magic, food, and motherhood. I betchya I can tie these things in together if I sat down to write what I wish I could have told my girlfriends who are busy and still have camaraderie. I love that pudgy little baby boy next to me but I don't think he understands me when I theorize about about sand dollars, dried herbs or tomato soup. And I've already called my husband four too many times at work. Just write - like you did in grade school, in college, in your journal when you were sad or confused. Just write.

I'm Samantha Gianulis and I am a writer from San Diego, California. I started writing essays years ago when I went from professional woman who loved to cook, read and write to a stay-at-home-what-do-I-do-now Mom. I live with my very encouraging husband and our three little monkeys, Alex, Zoe and Melia. In 2005, I considered querying a local family magazine with an article idea, things I had observed being a mother. My husband asked me, well, what do you have to lose? And I got published, who knew? Other people felt like I did, and wanted to laugh and chat about it. So I took all of the essays I wrote while the kids were little, mostly about food and family, put them together, and contacted Nancy Cleary. And here we are.

My book, "Little Grapes on the Vine...Mommy's Musings on Food & Family" will be released April 2007. So far, the publishing process has been exciting, scary, intimidating, and fantastic. And it's only just begun!

My book, Fragments of Hope is pulled from over a decade of journals documenting my battle with severe depression. I could tell you why I wrote my book, what inspired me to write it, and who I wrote it for, but what I would really like to do is share a small story with you...

On October 4^th 2006, I received a call from the nurse at my daughter’s school and as soon as I said hello she quickly introduced herself reassuring me that my daughter was just fine. She went on to say that she was calling to speak to me about something else. With hesitation in my voice, I asked her if everything was ok. Her reply was “Mrs. Hurley, everything is fine. I am calling you because when I went into the school library today, I saw a picture of the cover of your book on the librarian’s desk. As I held the picture in my hands, I felt compelled to call you. I want you to know that I believe you have done something that is admirable and wonderful. I have no doubt that you are going to help many women in the world who are struggling with severe depression. It takes courage to write about something like depression and it takes courage to put it out there for everyone to read.” With a lump in my throat, I thanked the school nurse for saying such kind and humble words to me. At that moment I realized that she did not have to make that call. I realized that all the doubts and all the stumbling blocks that I had faced along the way were stepping stones to that very moment. I realized that I did not have to be afraid anymore about whether or not my book would be well received. I realized that I was beginning to touch people and do what I had always dreamt of and I realized how one simple phone call and one person’s supportive words had given me strength.

My name is Deborah Hurley, I live in New York with my incredibly supportive family. The experience of having my book published and becoming an author is one that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. Through it, I have learned that patience is a must, belief in yourself is essential, courage is required and fear is something that should be acknowledged but fiercely plowed through.

I did it. I really did it. Without batting an eye, I approached my local hair salon owner and thrust a bookmark under his nose.

"See this stellar picture of me?" I looked at him evenly. He nodded.

"Your lead hair stylist did my hair. Wanna host a book signing?"

What could the man say? Euro signs popped in his eyes when I told him I'd lure more housewives to his storefront. We're slated to chat when I return from New York mid-October.

Book promotion never gets easier. My palms still leak when I approach people. Even as a PR consultant who whips out hundreds of queries a week, I can tell you it is MUCH harder when you are representing yourself. Chat steadily with the assistant to Oprah's executive producer? Easy. Approach the local bookstore with the idea of doing a signing? Scared shitless.

Yeah, I'd better look into that. SAHM I AM: TALES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IN EUROPE is coming out in German in less than four weeks: Erkenntnisse einer Vollzeitmutti is the German title. Now I can be frightened in two languages.

Stellar.

The Mom-Writers Publishing Co-Op signed our 24th member today! This is the final group of co-authors writing A Book is Born, sharing the intimate details of becoming a published author – their successes and failures, their proudest moment, and the most embarrassing – plus their best tips, tricks and resources for writers. Fourteen of the members have already published, the rest are in various stages of the process – finishing and editing manuscripts, sending out galleys, seeking publicity, and getting ready for "the big day"... birthing their book.

Over the next few weeks the MWPC members will introduce themselves and their books, and give you a hint at what's to come in our collaborative book!

Nancy