So many of you already know me through Facebook and Twitter. You know me well, in fact. I’m the “health lady” or “fibro mama” as some call me. I’m the writer who encourages you to drink more water, take care of yourself, and exercise, right?
What you may not know is that I haven’t always written about health issues. I’ve been a writer of children’s stories. I belong to the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and for years have attended conferences, seminars, and weekend critique events. I’ve read a bazillion children’s writing books and articles. I belong to a lovely writer’s group with others who write for children. That’s “me.” It’s who I am … or, maybe who I was? Jury’s still out.
I climbed out of chronic illness as I wrote children’s stories and honed my craft. Several years ago, I received invitations to speak at various groups regarding health issues. I considered it a public service, not a vocation. I simply wanted to help others feel as good as I did. Afterwards, I experienced an increase in phone calls and emails from those referred to me with health issues. It sort of snowballed from there. More speaking engagements followed.
After one larger event, I knew more calls and emails were headed my way. It occurred to me that I should write it all down. Write what I know, what I’d learned, and get it out once and for all. That would save some time, right? Then I could get on with my “real” calling – writing for children.
Three years later….
Writing my little “health book” started (like so many big projects) as a quick turnaround thing. At one point, a member of my writer’s group said, “Just print it out, put a staple in the corner and be done with it.”
But my writer’s persona had a different plan. As I wrote (and wrote and wrote), it swelled to a ginormous fluffy volume of information. It took a full three months just to whittle it down to the necessary parts. Then came editing, fine-tuning, writing the glossary, resources, etc., and sending it out for endorsements.
The result is my book, FibroWHYalgia: Why Rebuilding the Ten Root Causes of Chronic Illness Restores Chronic Wellness. I plan for an early 2010 book launch. Please sign in to my guest registry so that you’ll be one of the first to know about its release.
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