A Book is Born

"We will be running a big article on you and your new book and you can expect to see it in this Thursday's paper." I close my eyes, drift off into a quiet slumber and awake to find myself anxiously rushing down to the local newspaper stand. I eagerly buy three copies of the paper, rush home and recklessly throw myself onto my living room couch. I immediately notice my face on the cover of the paper and the title of my book boldly displayed underneath. With delight I make my way to the fifth page and proudly stare at the headline which states "SAINT JAMES WOMAN AUTHORS BOOK" I begin reading and unfortunately it doesn't take me very long to realize that my eleven year old daughter could have prepared a better article than the one that I was forced to continue to read. To my dismay I quickly discover some grammatical errors, incorrect information, repetitive words and mispellings. My heart begins to pound and my eyes begin to flood. I continue to read on only to become infuriated over the fact that my very first debut, my very first introduction to my community and the very first article that has ever been written on me, SUCKS! I try to stay calm but I cannot stop myself from circling words that are spelled wrong, words that sound like they came from an eight year old and words such as "she said" that were used about fifty times. I begin to think that possibly I am being too critical, maybe it's me or perhaps this reporter just writes poorly. I also begin to think that it is within the realm of possiblity that this reporter threw this article together, that she is a "want to be author", that she is in some way envious, that she singled me out or that she does not take pride in her work. I am not exactly sure how a simple article on a local author turned into such a hodgepodge. I cannot grasp the concept that a writer would not cherish her ability to bring forth the magic and amazement of language and appreciate the control she has in grouping together powerful and moving words. I did choose to let go of my disappointment and frustration and to take something positive out of my negative newspaper experience. I realize how passionate I feel about wordage, about my choice of words and about the work that I create. I realize that I am fascinated by diction, that having the power or ability to use language is a gift and that words to me are like candies to a child. They are flavorful, intense, eloquent, mellow, expressive, unique, vivid, vibrant and warm. I realize that I do not like not being in control of how someone else represents me or my work. I am aware that during the process of writing a book, having it published and getting publicity, things are not going to go my way and I understand that I need to be extremely flexible. I chalk this one up to experience but the beautiful thing is that with each experience I gain knowledge. I know that I appreciate the freedom to choose my words and use them however I would like to and I also know that some things are just beyond my control.

Luv Debbie

I am never quite prepared when I hear " your really lucky your husband didn't leave you after the first six months or why did you have a second child when you knew that your depression would become much worse after another delivery?"  When I'm caught off guard it's difficult to muster up the words that would allow me to share that my daughter's existence is so worth every month and every year of agony that I had to endure.  How can I calmly and accurately ask someone why they would think that my husband should have or would have left me because I was sick with an invisible illness?  What do I say when someone tells me that my husband deserves a badge of honor?    Sometimes I am forced to rethink and to relive and as a result sometimes I get sad. The distant memories of days upon days and years upon years of absolute agony are mine and mine alone. I think about how although my book has given me the opportunity to share, to heal and to possibly help others, it can never accurately describe what my journey was like.   I can take myself back in an instant and feel the guilt, the shame, the hopelessness and the fear.  As time passes my body heals and with each and every year, my strength comes.  

Luv Debbie

Fragments of Hope 

It's snowing today. I love, love, love newly fallen snow. It reminds me that life is full of fresh, new possibilities and opportunities. It truly is one of my favorite little pleasures in life. It also reminds me of a blank piece of paper - full of possibilities but very cold if you lack the "write" accessories. Adapting to the changing seasons of the literary world is imperative to cultivating an environment that inspires your imagination and enriches your life. Here a few of my "write" accessories that work from winter, summer, spring and fall:

1. Writers read. Writers read everything from the Sunday Post to the Scarlet Letter. Being well-read lends itself to being well-written. It also keeps you on top of today's fast forward climate.

2. Writers write what they know. Sure, we all like to dabble in the unknown, but most writers pen topics that pique their passion. Their enthusiasm carries through to the reader.

3. Writers support. While the literary industry is extremely competitive and a little (okay, a lot) cut-throat, good writers provide support to each other through both challenges and triumphs.

4. Writers write every day. From a letter to Aunt Alice, a short paragraph in a journal to a chapter in a new novel, writers keep the stream of creativity flowing by writing everyday.

And, with that thought, I've done my bit of writing for the day. I'm off to build a snowman.

Stay warm~

Julie

First of all, I am thankful to Nancy Cleary for her support and friendship, and for believing in me and my book, Living in a Locker Room. I am thankful that my book has given me the opportunity to meet many other mothers of boys who share the same feelings that I do. I am thankful for the other mom writers in the MWPC group who have given their knowledge, support and friendship. I am thankful for my family and friends who have helped me along the way while writing my first book. I am thankful to all the sports moms everywhere who have purchased my book and emailed me to let me know - thank you! I have so much to be thankful for this holiday sesaon!

~Paula Schmitt

I am thankful my book has the ability to make people hungry.

I am thankful my book evokes emotions in others, that is kind of the effect I was hoping for. *wink*

I am thankful my book has such diverse recipes from amazing people.

I am thankful my book has provided me an opportunity to become friends with women in the co-op I have never met, but feel kindred to all the same.

I am thankful my book has (almost) become a reality, so I can tell my children and the rest of the world with honesty, enthusiasm and unwavering belief that dreams do come true.

I am thankful my book has found a home with a whip smart, creative, compassionate publisher.

I am thankful my book has helped to reinvent my identity and answer my question of "what am I here to do?"

I am thankful my book has made my huband, children, parents and friends proud.

I am thankful my book has immortalized some characters and relationships.

It may sound silly, but I am thankful my book has cool typesetting, fonts and graphics. Aesthetically pleasing has never been a bad thing *smile*

I hope all souls the world over have reason to be as thankful as me.

I am Samantha Gianulis, author of Little Grapes on the Vine...Mommy's Musings on Food & Family, due out April 2007.

I am thankful this vision I have had in my head for so many years is coming to fruition.

I am thankful for my incredible Co-Op authors – Christine, Paula, Julie, Pam, Kathy, Maureen, Iris, Victoria, Alana, Caron, Marna, Caroline, Teri, Kelley, Arlene, Nina, Debbie, Christie, Sam, Jennifer, Norma, Jenn, Leeda and Malonda – for their wonderful energy, honesty, and time put into this project.

From my journal over 4 years ago...

I hear the quiet screams of mom writers wanting to be heard, women who have sacrificed a piece of themselves for the well-being of their families, Writers who cling to their journals as if their life depended on it – because for some, it does. The only sanity we find amongst our chaos is our writing, and the only self-fulfilling thought in our bodies is to publish these works, to share our experiences so that others mothers may not feel so all-alone.

The reasons for publishing lie deep within writers, and for mothers this desire is part of the legacy she leaves for her children. More than a book, more than income – publishing a book is a journey with extreme highs and lows, euphoria and devastation, pride and embarrassment.

A Book is Born captures the feeling between the pages of the mom writer's journal, between her printed book and her public appearances. A Book is Born is filled with potential and hope for all moms who write.

~ Nancy

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "You must be the change you wish to see." As I reflect on this year's blessings, I realize that I've also been afforded with opportunities to spread karmic acts of kindness and cultivate gratitude on a much larger scale.

I am thankful for my family with all their quirks, eccentricities and love. They have provided me with the loving confidence to share the joys of accepting diversity to openly welcome those who are different from me into my life. I am thankful for the meal I will receive today but understand that it is my duty, whether donating a holiday meal or volunteering to serve dinner, to provide to those who are less fortunate. I am thankful for my voice - both verbal and written - as well as unwavering motivation that offered me a chance to write Mommyhood Diaries, a companion that has touched many women by creating a maternal sense of community filled with empathy, compassion and humor. Thankful is really as thankful does. When I cutivate gratitude and count my blessings, I am also driven to create a culture of positive change our world so readily needs. This year, take a few moments to reflect not only on your blessings, but on ways you can cultivate gratitude and spread karmic acts of kindness. Happy Thanksgiving!

...having a car to drive to customs to get my books out of hock; for warehouse guys who help load heavy furniture into my car even when they're not supposed to; for good friends who have enormous teflon shoulders when I come crying down the lane.

Life as an author is tremendous -- tremendously exhilerating ("Your book changed my life!") and tremendously exhausting ("Returns").

It's been a week of running errands and spending time in a state of distraction. My dear friend recently said she knows she's doing too much when she loses the ability to multitask (such as listening to her son tell about his day in kindergarten while boiling a pot of water).

Life is in the half notes, not the sustained vibratto. So I tell myself as I race from one place to the next, juggling more projects than I think I can bear and waiting for the "No" to release from my throat.

Perhaps I should take the advice I gave a harried teacher at my son's school. She cast me a panicked look when I finally found the word "no" in my vocabulary again.

"You won't tutor my daughter in English?" she squeaked.

"Ms. Jones," I relayed in my own patient teacher voice. "When you say 'no' to someone, you are saying 'yes' to yourself. Remember that the next time you feel overloaded!"

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on our many blessings. Sometimes we don't have, or don't take the time to express how grateful we are.

I am thankful that my book, Be Ye Encouraged!,(release date: spring 2007) has allowed my dream of helping others who struggle with weight challenges to become a reality.

I am thankful that my book has opened a new, exciting chapter in my life.

Be ye encouraged, the best is yet to come!

Warm Thanksgiving Wishes to You All,

Leeda Bacon