One of the first lessons a newbie writer learns is to 'write what you know.' This is good advice and one that experienced authors have been following forever. Take Jane Austen for instance. She wrote about the social and financial restrictions placed upon women in uptight 19th century England, a persecution she understood only too well. What about Stephen King? He lives in Maine and many of his novels take place in New England. And then there's John Grisham who practiced law in Mississippi before becoming a writer. He now pumps out bestsellers almost exclusively about southern lawyers. I write about Chicago because that's where I was born, grew up, and am growing old in the company of my family and friends.
In researching Merely Dee, I was able to walk the streets of Cicero and along the banks of the Chicago River imagining what life was like nearly one hundred years ago. And though we are a century apart, I can still identify with my protagonist, Dee Pageau, in many ways. I have a momma, who in her younger days, worked very hard balancing a home, four kids, a part-time job, and the needs of her own aging parents. I, too, started working at sixteen, but only evenings and weekends. School was always the priority in the Manseau household. I grew up in Elmwood Park, a neighborhood very much like Cicero. But instead of wooden two-flats, the entire block consisted of brick bungalows built so close together we could peer into our neighbors' houses. As a kid, I knew every family on our long, Chicago-like block, and everyone knew us. I had a BFF who lived close by, and I had a crush on her older brother. Like Dee, I daydreamed of romance in a seemingly impossible situation. But unlike Dee, nothing ever happened between me and this older guy. However, in Merely Dee, Delia Pageau does get her chance for love, not once, but twice, and someday, even in our imaginations, she will have to make a decision.
So dear readers, I'm asking you to choose for her. If you were Dee, who would you pick? Mae Koznecki's gorgeous older brother, Karel, the dimpled heart throb of Cicero back in the day? Or the rough and ready sailor, Lars Nielsen, with those muscled arms and that warm and inviting smile? Take the poll and cast your vote. I myself, can't seem to make a decision. Maybe someday I'll have to, but for now, I'll go on loving them both.
ON THE BOOK FRONT
Merely Dee is moving along at a wonderful pace, thanks to all of you! But I want to tell you about another project involving the Eastland boat disaster of 1915. Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago has announced the premiere of Eastland: An Original Musical. The production, written by ensemble member, Andrew White, will open on June 6, 2012, and the tickets are the hottest item in town. The story revolves around the victims and the heroes that emerged that fateful day. The music is inspired by early American folk tunes. So, if you live in the Chicagoland area, be sure to order your tickets. If you're planning a trip to our fair city this summer, make sure you're in town during the run of this musical. I'm getting my ticket, I hope you do too!!
lookingglasstheatre.org facebook.com/lookingglasstheatre
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Author's Debut Novel Revisits Disaster - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online: Lifestyles
Author's Debut Novel Revisits Disaster - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online: Lifestyles: Author Marian Manseau Cheatham was just a child when she first heard about her grandmother’s brush with fate and the last minute decision that…
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
From Out of the Chaos...
Alzheimer's disease is a tricky thing. Some days may be good--as in Mom can walk on her own with the aid of her walker and communicate her needs to me. At other times, we aren't that lucky. Mom is confused and anxious and can't seem to maneuver at all. On those occasions, we use her wheelchair. But on those 'good' days, Mom can become quite spirited. She displayed those feisty colors last month when I came for a visit only to discover that her apartment had been turned upside down.
I always take a quick inventory of the clothes in her closet and dresser. I also spotcheck her bathroom to see if she needs any supplies. On that particular day, I did my usual poke around of her bathroom when I noticed something strange. Everything on her sink was missing. I looked through the medicine cabinet and underneath the sink for Mom's toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, but they were no where to be found. Where could these things be? She only has a studio apartment. Things couldn't have gone too far. So I started searching, beginning with the front hall closet which proved to be empty. Mom has three coats and every one of them had disappeared. I headed for the galley kitchen where I found her toothpaste in the second drawer down of her lower cabinet. The roll of saran wrap from the bottom cabinet drawer turned up in her dresser amongst her socks. The staff then informed me that her coats had all been left in another resident's apartment. Apparently, Mom and her cohort had made plans to escape and thought it best to bring all their coats--both winter and summer. The toothbrush and floss never did turn up that day. When I returned the next day with replacements, I stumbled upon her toothbrush and floss stashed away in her purse. Obviously, they had been part of the foiled getaway plan.
It's fortunate for most of us that our lives aren't that disorganized. But I find that when I'm trying to write, even a little bit of chaos can throw me off track. Claude Monet, my favorite impressionist painter, once said, "Tranquility is the first necessity if one is to work well." I keep a copy of that quote tacked to my bulletin board as a permanent reminder of what perfection should be. I'd like to tell you that my life is like a Monet painting, calm water in a lily-pad pond. But that would be a lie. On any given day, you can find our border collie chasing and 'herding' our two cats. From the time I wake up til the time I go to bed, the house phone rings with messages and my cell chirps with texts. My husband leaves for work at dawn and returns at 3:00 in the afternoon. My nephew heads off for his college classes around noon each day and my aunt--who now lives with us to be closer to her sister (my mom)--treads quietly in and out of her room. My brother works in the neighborhood and often stops by for a visit. Stepdaughters come to forage through the refrigerator in search of food for their apartment. In a perfect world, I'd have tranquility, but in reality, I have a life.
This so-called life of mine often overflows onto my desk. But that's where I have to put my foot down. While I can live with all the comings and goings and meowing and chasing, I can't work or write at a disorganized desk. I need a certain amount of structure in order to create. And so each writing day, I stack all the papers, dust the fur from my laptop screen, and take a deep breath. I clear my thoughts and then pray for the words to flow. And if I'm lucky and the spirit of Monet is watching over me, those precious words appear and I get to happily share them with you.
Join with me in asking President Obama to issue a strong National Alzheimer's Plan. Click on the link to send your message and please, invite your friends to do the same.
ON THE BOOK FRONT
I'm pleased to announce the winner of my Goodreads Giveaway of Merely Dee. Nearly 500 Goodreads members signed up for a chance to win a paperback copy of the book. The winner's name was randonly selected by Goodreads and emailed to me this morning. Carla of Tennessee should check her mail for the copy I posted to her this afternoon. Thank you one and all for choosing Merely Dee and I hope that someday a copy finds its way into your hands.
If you love to read and you're not already a member of Goodreads, click the link to check out their website. You won't be disappointed. www.goodreads.com
I always take a quick inventory of the clothes in her closet and dresser. I also spotcheck her bathroom to see if she needs any supplies. On that particular day, I did my usual poke around of her bathroom when I noticed something strange. Everything on her sink was missing. I looked through the medicine cabinet and underneath the sink for Mom's toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, but they were no where to be found. Where could these things be? She only has a studio apartment. Things couldn't have gone too far. So I started searching, beginning with the front hall closet which proved to be empty. Mom has three coats and every one of them had disappeared. I headed for the galley kitchen where I found her toothpaste in the second drawer down of her lower cabinet. The roll of saran wrap from the bottom cabinet drawer turned up in her dresser amongst her socks. The staff then informed me that her coats had all been left in another resident's apartment. Apparently, Mom and her cohort had made plans to escape and thought it best to bring all their coats--both winter and summer. The toothbrush and floss never did turn up that day. When I returned the next day with replacements, I stumbled upon her toothbrush and floss stashed away in her purse. Obviously, they had been part of the foiled getaway plan.
It's fortunate for most of us that our lives aren't that disorganized. But I find that when I'm trying to write, even a little bit of chaos can throw me off track. Claude Monet, my favorite impressionist painter, once said, "Tranquility is the first necessity if one is to work well." I keep a copy of that quote tacked to my bulletin board as a permanent reminder of what perfection should be. I'd like to tell you that my life is like a Monet painting, calm water in a lily-pad pond. But that would be a lie. On any given day, you can find our border collie chasing and 'herding' our two cats. From the time I wake up til the time I go to bed, the house phone rings with messages and my cell chirps with texts. My husband leaves for work at dawn and returns at 3:00 in the afternoon. My nephew heads off for his college classes around noon each day and my aunt--who now lives with us to be closer to her sister (my mom)--treads quietly in and out of her room. My brother works in the neighborhood and often stops by for a visit. Stepdaughters come to forage through the refrigerator in search of food for their apartment. In a perfect world, I'd have tranquility, but in reality, I have a life.
This so-called life of mine often overflows onto my desk. But that's where I have to put my foot down. While I can live with all the comings and goings and meowing and chasing, I can't work or write at a disorganized desk. I need a certain amount of structure in order to create. And so each writing day, I stack all the papers, dust the fur from my laptop screen, and take a deep breath. I clear my thoughts and then pray for the words to flow. And if I'm lucky and the spirit of Monet is watching over me, those precious words appear and I get to happily share them with you.
Join with me in asking President Obama to issue a strong National Alzheimer's Plan. Click on the link to send your message and please, invite your friends to do the same.
ON THE BOOK FRONT
I'm pleased to announce the winner of my Goodreads Giveaway of Merely Dee. Nearly 500 Goodreads members signed up for a chance to win a paperback copy of the book. The winner's name was randonly selected by Goodreads and emailed to me this morning. Carla of Tennessee should check her mail for the copy I posted to her this afternoon. Thank you one and all for choosing Merely Dee and I hope that someday a copy finds its way into your hands.
If you love to read and you're not already a member of Goodreads, click the link to check out their website. You won't be disappointed. www.goodreads.com
Friday, February 10, 2012
Interview with Author Cherie Colyer
Merely Me: Welcome, Cherie, and thank you for joining me today.
I want to congratulate you on the success of your debut novel, Embrace, a teen paranormal thriller/romance. Has this experience been everything you'd hoped for when you started this journey?
Cherie Colyer: Thank you. The journey has definitely been a wonderful one and I couldn't be happier with my publisher. There's nothing like seeing your book go from an idea to a published novel.
MM: Imagine Embrace as a movie trailer. Without giving away too much of the plot, what scenes would you like to see on the screen?
CC: Definitely Isaac and Madison's first kiss. Okay, maybe all their kisses. I'm a sucker for a romance. The graveyard scene with Madison and her friends. It shows a lot about the girls' personalities. And then the scene where Kaylee loses it in the classroom. It's a turning point for Madison, forcing her to look for answers to everything that's been happening around her.
MM: We've heard or read a great deal about your book, but what about you? Tell us about your life? Where were you born? Do you have any siblings? How does your family feel about your success?
CC: Oh, my, how much time do we have? I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, where I still live with my husband and our boys. I'm the younger of two girls and have amazing parents who have always encouraged me to go after my dreams. My entire family has been very supportive of my writing and I think they were just as ecstatic about Embrace being published as I was.
MM: Tell us about your writing process? Where do you write? When? Describe your office.
CC: I really don't have a set process. Since I work full time, most of my writing time is done in the evening and on weekends. My favorite place to write is in the living room. We have a comfy chair and ottoman in there and it's quiet, so there are few distractions.
MM: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
CC: That would have been after I wrote my first novel and wanted to learn how to make that story better. I knew then that I loved creating worlds and that I wanted to be able to share my stories with readers.
MM: Imagine if you would, a life without writing. What would you be doing instead? How would you find your bliss?
CC: I'd still be reading as many books as time allowed. Come to think of it, I'd be able to catch up on my growing to-be-read list. (Pauses just thinking about all the time I'd have.) Nah, I'd miss weaving together my own stories.
MM: What's your favorite vacation spot?
CC: Out of all the places I've been, Maui. It's absolutely beautiful and I love the ocean. If I had an endless amount of money, I'd go to Europe, rent a car (or maybe just buy one) and drive everywhere possible.
MM: What three things would you tell 'newbie' writers?
CC: Finish the book! You'd be surprised at how many times I've heard someone say, "I started a book X years ago." Join a critique group. And attend local conferences or take courses to help you improve your craft.
MM: What is your favorite food? What is Madison's favorite food? What would Isaac like to eat?
CC: Mine - pasta
Madison - chocolate and peanut butter ice cream
Isaac - bacon cheeseburgers
MM: What can we expect to see from you in the future?
CC: There are definitely more teen paranornal thrillers
in my future. It's my favorite genre. And I have a middle
grade ghost story that keeps reminding me every week
that I need to find it a home.
I hope you've enjoyed this visit with my friend, Cherie. Be sure to check out her amazing novel, Embrace. You can find Cherie Colyer at:
Blog: cheriecolyer.blogspot.com
Twitter: @cheriecolyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherie.colyer
Website: www.embracenovels.com
* * * * *
ON THE BOOK FRONT
 |
| Cherie Colyer |
Cherie Colyer: Thank you. The journey has definitely been a wonderful one and I couldn't be happier with my publisher. There's nothing like seeing your book go from an idea to a published novel.
MM: Imagine Embrace as a movie trailer. Without giving away too much of the plot, what scenes would you like to see on the screen?
CC: Definitely Isaac and Madison's first kiss. Okay, maybe all their kisses. I'm a sucker for a romance. The graveyard scene with Madison and her friends. It shows a lot about the girls' personalities. And then the scene where Kaylee loses it in the classroom. It's a turning point for Madison, forcing her to look for answers to everything that's been happening around her.
MM: We've heard or read a great deal about your book, but what about you? Tell us about your life? Where were you born? Do you have any siblings? How does your family feel about your success?
CC: Oh, my, how much time do we have? I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, where I still live with my husband and our boys. I'm the younger of two girls and have amazing parents who have always encouraged me to go after my dreams. My entire family has been very supportive of my writing and I think they were just as ecstatic about Embrace being published as I was.
MM: Tell us about your writing process? Where do you write? When? Describe your office.
CC: I really don't have a set process. Since I work full time, most of my writing time is done in the evening and on weekends. My favorite place to write is in the living room. We have a comfy chair and ottoman in there and it's quiet, so there are few distractions.
MM: What do you like to do in your 'down' time?
CC: I really enjoy spending time with family and friends, going for long walks at the arboretum, and while it's not always fun, in the summer, I spend a lot of time doing yard work.
MM: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
CC: That would have been after I wrote my first novel and wanted to learn how to make that story better. I knew then that I loved creating worlds and that I wanted to be able to share my stories with readers.
MM: Imagine if you would, a life without writing. What would you be doing instead? How would you find your bliss?
CC: I'd still be reading as many books as time allowed. Come to think of it, I'd be able to catch up on my growing to-be-read list. (Pauses just thinking about all the time I'd have.) Nah, I'd miss weaving together my own stories.
MM: What's your favorite vacation spot?
CC: Out of all the places I've been, Maui. It's absolutely beautiful and I love the ocean. If I had an endless amount of money, I'd go to Europe, rent a car (or maybe just buy one) and drive everywhere possible.
MM: What three things would you tell 'newbie' writers?
CC: Finish the book! You'd be surprised at how many times I've heard someone say, "I started a book X years ago." Join a critique group. And attend local conferences or take courses to help you improve your craft.
MM: What is your favorite food? What is Madison's favorite food? What would Isaac like to eat?
CC: Mine - pasta
Madison - chocolate and peanut butter ice cream
Isaac - bacon cheeseburgers
MM: What can we expect to see from you in the future?
CC: There are definitely more teen paranornal thrillers
in my future. It's my favorite genre. And I have a middle
grade ghost story that keeps reminding me every week
that I need to find it a home.
I hope you've enjoyed this visit with my friend, Cherie. Be sure to check out her amazing novel, Embrace. You can find Cherie Colyer at:
Blog: cheriecolyer.blogspot.com
Twitter: @cheriecolyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherie.colyer
Website: www.embracenovels.com
* * * * *
ON THE BOOK FRONT
Merely Dee is having a launch party! And everyone is invited.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
1-4 p.m.
Author Presentation at 2 p.m.
Center for History
315 W. Front Street, 2nd Floor
Wheaton, IL 60187
Admission Fee Waived Parking Nearby Elevator Onsite
Center for History
Award winning museum & education center
Disaster, Courage, & Silence Exhibit in the Eastland Gallery
Largest Collection of Eastland memorabilia in the nation
Signed copies of Merely Dee will be available: Hard Cover $25 or Paperback $15
Portion of sales benefit the Center for History
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Remember The 844
In 2009, when my mother was moving into her assisted living apartment at Friendship Village in Schaumburg, IL, I saw a notice about another FV resident, Salvatore Pisano. It seems that Sal was an Eastland 'survivor' and was telling his story in the auditorium on the July anniversary of that disaster. At the time, I was doing my research for my as-yet-untitled novel about the Eastland, and couldn't believe my luck. Ninety-four years later, I was meeting a survivor!
I missed his lecture, but caught up with him the next day. Sal was nothing like I'd expected. He was spry and energetic, and quite capable of living independently in his one-bedroom apartment. After a brief explanation of my project, he enthusiastically agreed to be interviewed and wasted no time in bringing out all his own Eastland research and memorbilia. I sat spellbound as he relayed the story of his life.
Born in April of 1915, Sal was three months old when his young parents, Mary and Martin (a twenty-three-year-old stock keeper at Western Electric) bought their tickets for the Fifth Annual WE Employee Picnic. The Pisano family got an early start that day, hoping to board the SS Eastland--the first of five steamships that had been leased to ferry picnickers from Chicago to Washington Park in Michigan City, IN. Martin boarded first, but Mary, carrying her infant son in her arms, became nervous when she started across the Eastland's wobbly gangplank. She told her husband that she wanted to stay behind and begged Martin to go without her. Mary returned to the dock to watch and wave farewell. But instead, Mary witnessed the capsizing of the Eastland and the death of her beloved husband.
Like so many others who had endured the horror of that tragic disaster, Mary suffered from shock and gried, and refused to ever again talk about what she had seen. As Sal grew, he became more and more curious about his father's death, but his mother would not--or could not--offer Sal any relief. So Salvatore spent his life on a quest, accumulating any and all information on the doomed steamship in the hopes of knowing his father. When Sal was about twenty-five (only a few years older than his father had been when he'd perished), he organzied a memorial for Martin and the other Eastland victims. But the peace Salvatore Pisano so anxiously sought, eluded him, his whole life.
One day last winter, I was walking with my mother through the main lobby of FV when something caught my eye. It was a picture of Sal--on the Death Notice bulletin board. Salvatore V. Pisano had past away on Februry 3, 2011, just a few months short of his 96th birthday. Tears flooded my eyes as I read his obituary and then suddenly, I brightened.
"What? What?" my mother kept asking as she tugged at my arm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I answered truthfully. All was right with the world. Salvatore had finally met his father.
To honor my friend, Sal, I named a character in Merely Dee after him. I could not write about the Eastland boat disaster without getting to know the victims. In doing my research, I'd read stories about them, visited their gravesites, met their relatives. The 844 were real people to me. And so I say to you, dear readers, remember the 844. They'd lived, they'd died, and now, they should be acknowledged.
ON THE BOOK FRONT
Merely Dee has been available for a few weeks now. Images of the cover are visible on all the major booksites--Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, iUniverse.com. I've been asked by many people about the haunting image on the front of my book. Did I get a say in the design? Is that a stock photo or did someone take the picture just for my cover? Where did I find that image? Do I know that girl?
The picture is an actual photo taken by a staff photographer for the now-defunct Chicago Daily Newspaper. The image shows a young women who had been rescued from the Eastland, standing on the deck of some unnamed ship, staring into the murky Chicago River. A man's arm appears on the railing coming up from below deck. The picture was originally in black and white, but the talented Byron design team from iUniverse tinted the photo to that stunning blue. I had gasped when I'd first seen it.
The book jacket describes how my protagonist, Dee Pageau, is rescued by a mysterious stranger--and Poof!--like magic, that stranger has appeared on the cover. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't notice that arm in the black and white photo, but on the cover of Merely Dee, that mysterious arm is quite prominent. It was another goose-pimpley moment, like so many others I'd experienced during the writing of this book. Next time, I'll tell you the amazing story behind the drawing of the ship (shown below) and how it made its way into the pages of my book. I'll also be posting an interview with my friend and fellow debut author, Cherie Colyer, about the wonderful success of her paranormal romance YA, Embrace. So be sure to check back with Merely Me. Thanks!! I enjoyed our visit.
I missed his lecture, but caught up with him the next day. Sal was nothing like I'd expected. He was spry and energetic, and quite capable of living independently in his one-bedroom apartment. After a brief explanation of my project, he enthusiastically agreed to be interviewed and wasted no time in bringing out all his own Eastland research and memorbilia. I sat spellbound as he relayed the story of his life.
Born in April of 1915, Sal was three months old when his young parents, Mary and Martin (a twenty-three-year-old stock keeper at Western Electric) bought their tickets for the Fifth Annual WE Employee Picnic. The Pisano family got an early start that day, hoping to board the SS Eastland--the first of five steamships that had been leased to ferry picnickers from Chicago to Washington Park in Michigan City, IN. Martin boarded first, but Mary, carrying her infant son in her arms, became nervous when she started across the Eastland's wobbly gangplank. She told her husband that she wanted to stay behind and begged Martin to go without her. Mary returned to the dock to watch and wave farewell. But instead, Mary witnessed the capsizing of the Eastland and the death of her beloved husband.
Like so many others who had endured the horror of that tragic disaster, Mary suffered from shock and gried, and refused to ever again talk about what she had seen. As Sal grew, he became more and more curious about his father's death, but his mother would not--or could not--offer Sal any relief. So Salvatore spent his life on a quest, accumulating any and all information on the doomed steamship in the hopes of knowing his father. When Sal was about twenty-five (only a few years older than his father had been when he'd perished), he organzied a memorial for Martin and the other Eastland victims. But the peace Salvatore Pisano so anxiously sought, eluded him, his whole life.
One day last winter, I was walking with my mother through the main lobby of FV when something caught my eye. It was a picture of Sal--on the Death Notice bulletin board. Salvatore V. Pisano had past away on Februry 3, 2011, just a few months short of his 96th birthday. Tears flooded my eyes as I read his obituary and then suddenly, I brightened.
"What? What?" my mother kept asking as she tugged at my arm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I answered truthfully. All was right with the world. Salvatore had finally met his father.
To honor my friend, Sal, I named a character in Merely Dee after him. I could not write about the Eastland boat disaster without getting to know the victims. In doing my research, I'd read stories about them, visited their gravesites, met their relatives. The 844 were real people to me. And so I say to you, dear readers, remember the 844. They'd lived, they'd died, and now, they should be acknowledged.
ON THE BOOK FRONT
Merely Dee has been available for a few weeks now. Images of the cover are visible on all the major booksites--Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, iUniverse.com. I've been asked by many people about the haunting image on the front of my book. Did I get a say in the design? Is that a stock photo or did someone take the picture just for my cover? Where did I find that image? Do I know that girl?
The picture is an actual photo taken by a staff photographer for the now-defunct Chicago Daily Newspaper. The image shows a young women who had been rescued from the Eastland, standing on the deck of some unnamed ship, staring into the murky Chicago River. A man's arm appears on the railing coming up from below deck. The picture was originally in black and white, but the talented Byron design team from iUniverse tinted the photo to that stunning blue. I had gasped when I'd first seen it.
The book jacket describes how my protagonist, Dee Pageau, is rescued by a mysterious stranger--and Poof!--like magic, that stranger has appeared on the cover. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't notice that arm in the black and white photo, but on the cover of Merely Dee, that mysterious arm is quite prominent. It was another goose-pimpley moment, like so many others I'd experienced during the writing of this book. Next time, I'll tell you the amazing story behind the drawing of the ship (shown below) and how it made its way into the pages of my book. I'll also be posting an interview with my friend and fellow debut author, Cherie Colyer, about the wonderful success of her paranormal romance YA, Embrace. So be sure to check back with Merely Me. Thanks!! I enjoyed our visit.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Going Live
On Wednesday, January 11, I was in the lobby of my mother's building waiting for the elevator to open when my cell chirped. It was my perky marketing rep at iUniverse and she said congrats, Merely Dee had gone live! I was stunned for a moment but then regained my equilibrium and glanced around for someone with whom I could share this amazing news. But there was no one, only Molly, the massive golden retriever house dog. I told Molly my story, but she just rubbed her furry head on my thigh trying to get another scratch behind the ears. She was unimpressed, so I said good-bye and went upstairs.
Of course, I told my mother, and for that one moment, she was thrilled. But then she forgot and I didn't have the heart to repeat myself all day, so I let it drop. I'd make do with that one fleeting smile of recognition. Mom had always been so supportive of my writing and I knew that if she'd been in her right mind, she would have probably spent the entire day on the phone telling all her friends. I bundled her up and headed out to the dentist for our semi-annual cleanings, but not before texting my entire family first.
The replies came fast and furious and my cell kept beeping so much the dentist kidded that maybe we should do this another day. I reassured him that I could get back to everybody later, and to please finish with my mother before she changed her mind and fled. The entire dental staff congratulated me, and I left with a minty-fresh smile on my face.
My standard agreement with Mom is that if she cooperates with the dentist, we can go to her favorite place for her favorite lunch. And so we headed off for Burger King, home of the Whopper, my cell buzzing the whole drive. By this point in the day, I was fairly anxious for news of my massive on-line sales. How did the book look on Amazon.com? Had President Obama bought one yet? After all, Merely Dee is a Chicago story. What about Oprah? Did my newly 'live' novel have a good set-up on the publisher's website? I knew that my sister, Sue, who is a whiz at Facebook and such, would have a report for me. Only one problem--I couldn't get to my phone!
But I saw hope up ahead and turned into the parking lot. I leaped out, unfolded Mom's walker in one swift movement, and pulled her as efficiently as possible from the car. We shuffled painfully slow up a rather steep slope, through two sets of heavy glass doors, and into the restaurant. I looked up at the menu board and gasped. This wasn't the home of the Whopper! In all the excitement, I'd pulled into the wrong parking lot.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mom. This isn't Burger King. It's McDonald's."
She looked at me and said, "Well, do they sell hamburgers here?" The girl behind the counter giggled.
I nodded. "Why yes, yes they do."
"Well then, get me one." And Mom toddled off to find a seat.
What's the old saying? A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. A Quarter-Pounder was as good as a Whopper to someone with Alzheimer's. And so Mom and I celebrated my going 'live' with a pair of burgers and some ice tea. I told her my news again, and for that one sweet moment, she was thrilled.
Of course, I told my mother, and for that one moment, she was thrilled. But then she forgot and I didn't have the heart to repeat myself all day, so I let it drop. I'd make do with that one fleeting smile of recognition. Mom had always been so supportive of my writing and I knew that if she'd been in her right mind, she would have probably spent the entire day on the phone telling all her friends. I bundled her up and headed out to the dentist for our semi-annual cleanings, but not before texting my entire family first.
The replies came fast and furious and my cell kept beeping so much the dentist kidded that maybe we should do this another day. I reassured him that I could get back to everybody later, and to please finish with my mother before she changed her mind and fled. The entire dental staff congratulated me, and I left with a minty-fresh smile on my face.
My standard agreement with Mom is that if she cooperates with the dentist, we can go to her favorite place for her favorite lunch. And so we headed off for Burger King, home of the Whopper, my cell buzzing the whole drive. By this point in the day, I was fairly anxious for news of my massive on-line sales. How did the book look on Amazon.com? Had President Obama bought one yet? After all, Merely Dee is a Chicago story. What about Oprah? Did my newly 'live' novel have a good set-up on the publisher's website? I knew that my sister, Sue, who is a whiz at Facebook and such, would have a report for me. Only one problem--I couldn't get to my phone!
But I saw hope up ahead and turned into the parking lot. I leaped out, unfolded Mom's walker in one swift movement, and pulled her as efficiently as possible from the car. We shuffled painfully slow up a rather steep slope, through two sets of heavy glass doors, and into the restaurant. I looked up at the menu board and gasped. This wasn't the home of the Whopper! In all the excitement, I'd pulled into the wrong parking lot.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mom. This isn't Burger King. It's McDonald's."
She looked at me and said, "Well, do they sell hamburgers here?" The girl behind the counter giggled.
I nodded. "Why yes, yes they do."
"Well then, get me one." And Mom toddled off to find a seat.
What's the old saying? A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. A Quarter-Pounder was as good as a Whopper to someone with Alzheimer's. And so Mom and I celebrated my going 'live' with a pair of burgers and some ice tea. I told her my news again, and for that one sweet moment, she was thrilled.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The week before Christmas, I had to rush my mother to the ER. She was having trouble breathing and in obvious respiratory distress. The hospital staff worked quickly and efficiently to get her comfortable, and then the ER doc tested her cognitive abilities.
Dr. - "Angie, do you know when were you born?"
Mom - With an annoyed look, "Of course. May 24th, 1933."
The doctor looked at me. I nodded. We were off to a good start.
D - "Who's the president?"
M - She thought a moment and then, "Kennedy."
The doctor shot me a glance.
D - "What year is it?"
M - Another pause and then, "1967."
The doctor didn't even bother to turn his head. He asked a few more questions and then made some notes. I knew exactly what he was writing. Diagnosis: Alzheimer's Dementia. Prognosis for the coming years: Bleak.
After a four-day stay in the hospital, Mom recovered nicely, and I was able to take her back home. On my visit this past weekend, I wished her a Happy New Year. She just stared at me blankly and scuttled away with her walker. The turning of the calendar meant nothing to my mother, but it means alot to me. In 2012, I'm determined to re-focus my efforts on counting Weight Watchers points. I will unwrap that new X-Box Kinect fitness program with the personal trainer and get moving. I won't stop till I master all the complexities of the Kindle Touch that my nephew, Chris, gave me for Christmas. I'll Facebook more and better. I'll dust off my neglected manuscript-in-progress and set goals for future publication.
I still have the mental capacity to appreciate that a new year is fresh beginning. I have time with Mom and my family, and time for friends like you. What does 2012 mean to you? I'd love to hear.
ON THE BOOK FRONT:
Merely Dee is off to the printers tomorrow! I anticipate a debut date around the middle of this month. What a great way to start off this year! I'll keep you posted on the actual arrival date.
Many people have asked me about the title. A book about the Eastland boat disaster with a title like a children's picture book? What's up with that? I'll attempt to explain.
When I started writing the novel in the fall of 2009, I didn't have a title. Like Hemingway, I had a list of possibles, but nothing solid ...until I typed:
I edged past all the mourners pressing to get through the front door and sagged against the painted exterior of the house. Momma stood beside me, gently stroking my hair. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. Her quiet presence was all I required. I closed my eyes and thought about Mae and Momma, two very different women. Yet, I loved them both. Momma was solid and strong, while Mae had been daring and passionate. I wasn't like either of them. So then, what was I?
Only what I could be, came the reply. Merely me. That would have to do for now.
The title hit me like a thunderclap. Merely me morphed into Merely Dee (after my protagonist Delia "Dee" Pageau) and my novel was born. A mere girl lives through a terrifying disaster and comes out the other end only to find that surviving is just the beginning. She discovers her true character in the challenges ahead and learns that she is not merely anyone. She is more. She is a survivor.
Dr. - "Angie, do you know when were you born?"
Mom - With an annoyed look, "Of course. May 24th, 1933."
The doctor looked at me. I nodded. We were off to a good start.
D - "Who's the president?"
M - She thought a moment and then, "Kennedy."
The doctor shot me a glance.
D - "What year is it?"
M - Another pause and then, "1967."
The doctor didn't even bother to turn his head. He asked a few more questions and then made some notes. I knew exactly what he was writing. Diagnosis: Alzheimer's Dementia. Prognosis for the coming years: Bleak.
After a four-day stay in the hospital, Mom recovered nicely, and I was able to take her back home. On my visit this past weekend, I wished her a Happy New Year. She just stared at me blankly and scuttled away with her walker. The turning of the calendar meant nothing to my mother, but it means alot to me. In 2012, I'm determined to re-focus my efforts on counting Weight Watchers points. I will unwrap that new X-Box Kinect fitness program with the personal trainer and get moving. I won't stop till I master all the complexities of the Kindle Touch that my nephew, Chris, gave me for Christmas. I'll Facebook more and better. I'll dust off my neglected manuscript-in-progress and set goals for future publication.
I still have the mental capacity to appreciate that a new year is fresh beginning. I have time with Mom and my family, and time for friends like you. What does 2012 mean to you? I'd love to hear.
ON THE BOOK FRONT:
Merely Dee is off to the printers tomorrow! I anticipate a debut date around the middle of this month. What a great way to start off this year! I'll keep you posted on the actual arrival date.
Many people have asked me about the title. A book about the Eastland boat disaster with a title like a children's picture book? What's up with that? I'll attempt to explain.
When I started writing the novel in the fall of 2009, I didn't have a title. Like Hemingway, I had a list of possibles, but nothing solid ...until I typed:
I edged past all the mourners pressing to get through the front door and sagged against the painted exterior of the house. Momma stood beside me, gently stroking my hair. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. Her quiet presence was all I required. I closed my eyes and thought about Mae and Momma, two very different women. Yet, I loved them both. Momma was solid and strong, while Mae had been daring and passionate. I wasn't like either of them. So then, what was I?
Only what I could be, came the reply. Merely me. That would have to do for now.
The title hit me like a thunderclap. Merely me morphed into Merely Dee (after my protagonist Delia "Dee" Pageau) and my novel was born. A mere girl lives through a terrifying disaster and comes out the other end only to find that surviving is just the beginning. She discovers her true character in the challenges ahead and learns that she is not merely anyone. She is more. She is a survivor.
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