On last Thursday I had my first meeting with my Atmosphere Press editor. I was nervous. What
was she going to say? What was I going to have to change? Were things OK? It was fine. She
gave me some good suggestions. Since it is true this is all new to me I still have a lot to learn.
Since our meeting I have been working, diving deep again into the manuscript. Each time I dive
there is more to find, more to edit, more to add and more to subtract. They say a book is never
done. I think I understand that now.
It is like crafting a piece of art. And this one is from my heart. It is like a mosaic really. Finding
the parts of my life that I want to share and arranging them in a way that makes sense to you, my
reader. Today I got lost in the story a few times. The emotions and remembering those moments
on our transplant journey felt very fresh. Every time the story still makes me cry for the joy,
suffering, relief, tiredness and miracle of it all.
“When you have a serious illness threatening your life, you are challenged. You are also
challenged when you are the mother of a child turned adult who has fought disease all her life
with you always at her side. When the edge of the precipice is dangerously under your feet, a
time comes after so many years of sickness and care giving that you are so very tired of it all.”
Robin Modlin
“The experience of needing a transplant forces you to dig deep inside yourself into a place you
may never think you will go.” Anna Holyoak
I have to finish this editorial pass through looking for more places that need polish. When I pass
it back at the end of the week my editor, Tammy will read it again and we will have yet another
pass. That is how it goes with writing a book. I am committed to sharing our story with you. I
will get through this. I am getting a bit ‘book’ tired and a bit impatient….it won’t be long now.
I am also starting a new community mosaic project and spending time in my studio. It is called
Butterfly Wings. I am sure you have heard of the Butterfly Effect? With the flap of their wings
butterflies can affect the weather of the world. This is also true of our actions. With the gift of a
kindness another kindness will follow. At this time of such heartbreak in the world let us think of
the Butterfly Effect and do a kindness for someone.