Good Morning, friends!
I wanted to share a little bit more about the book.
Writing the book was actually the easy part. I have had these ideas pent up for so long that they practically raced to get on the page.
The hard parts though, those take bravery. The editing, the revising, the sending of first drafts to early readers. I wanted to go back to bed and hide under the blankets for a week after pushing "send". More editing, more revising. Doubt began to creep in. I spoke with other authors, agents, even a publisher. Got really good advice, and followed it.
You might be wondering, if you are a long-time reader, where Danger Girl was during all of this.
Cheering, actually! Coming up with ideas like "HEY! I know, let's buy a vintage Bookmobile and go on tour!"
Anyway. Back to the bravery.
The hardest part for me was writing the About the Author blurb.
I'm going to share it with you here, and then run back to my blanket fort and knit myself another blanket.
About the Author:
Usually these are written in the third person. I’d like to change that convention. I am a spinner of stories, a writer with more than thirty years of experience as an advocate for people who are differently abled.
The conventional storyline begins with a diagnostic-centered statement such as; “John is autistic. He has social anxiety and a fear of loud noises. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, he has managed to find useful, meaningful work as a website content editor.” This creates an image of someone engaged in a constant battle to overcome disability. I try, whenever possible, to use person-centered language. For example, “John likes banjo music, doing crossword puzzles and playing video games. He has a photographic memory and a passion for baseball statistics. He works in the IT department of the local University. John has an autism spectrum disorder.” This wording creates an image of a person with abilities. We all have different strengths and weaknesses.
As the parent of two amazing and talented adults who happen to have disorders on the autism spectrum, I would like to encourage you to think about the ways we have been conditioned to speak about others and ourselves. Several years ago, I decided to write a series of books featuring characters who are differently abled, using person-centered language. "Remembering the Way" is the first of these books to be published. I have several other books in the pipeline.
I enjoy spinning yarn as well as narratives, and am a lifelong knitter. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I defied convention early on, racing quarter midgets at age four. My early career goals included being an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.
So, what do you think?
Namaste.
xox
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