Unfinished Thoughts from My Prosthetic Life
Firstly, thank you to everyone who participated in the poll last week. 99% of you voted for the title and subtitle above for the next book. I’m pleasantly surprised you all agree with my favorite choice! So… there you have it. Now all I have to do is write it!
It seems like a dream that my dream has come true. Except I never knew it was a dream. I was always in survival mode including learning to live with one hand, using different prosthetics, and just like most people, trying to co-support myself and family financially. I didn’t believe doing what I loved would ever afford the opportunity to making a real living. Kind of like the parent who tells their child to forget about buying a guitar, joining a band and skipping college. I’m sure that is how the back up plan becomes the “life that happens when you’re busy making other plans”, as John Lennon said. It’s also true that I never married for money!
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Everything that has happened since publishing “My Prosthetic Life” has been such a gift. I went into this venture with very low expectations. I didn’t write my memoir to make money. I certainly didn’t write it to spend money either. I haven’t thrown much money at it for that reason. The most money spent was on the cover and interior design. The cover is the first thing a buyer sees and, if they are anything like me, the second is the back. I want to know that the blurb on the back is as interesting as what grabbed my attention in the first place (the cover). So in order to give it the best chance, I went to a professional. And yes, I do judge a book by its cover!
Two things happened that I never saw coming: 1) although there were times I cried my eyes out, it allowed me to heal in ways I never thought possible. Journaling over the years never came close to the resolve and peace I feel within now. 2) the sense of pride and accomplishment for actually finishing something so important to me is something I never allowed myself to feel. Going above and beyond anything seemed out of reach. Hell, I was always just happy to be able to accomplish something at all – never thought I was better than anyone else. I still don’t, but my book is actually selling! That’s a good feeling. And as I had hoped, one person has told me they were inspired and helped by it. That was my biggest hope from the beginning. So it has helped at least two people. My reviewer and me. A win win.
Being interviewed by the local newspaper was so much fun. I never saw that coming either. Even though I requested the meeting, I felt humbled by it and Susan Hiland made the process a breeze. I'm happy with the article, but I think it was impossible to know who I really am in under an hour. If she had read the book, she would know how my being misunderstood has been addressed. If there’s one thing my family and friends do know is I’ve never whined about being different. I think what I wanted to make clear to the reader is that my successes were possible from not giving up despite the difficult obstacles I faced. I do think she did a great job for not knowing me at all, though. The article was well written in my opinion.
Next up: Today (Monday) I will be interviewed by Ashley Bratcher of Simple Jane Films. She is a producer for an upcoming film, Pharma – The Movie. It is based on the true story of Dr. Frances Kelsey and her fight to keep Thalidomide out of the United States. She received a presidential award from President Kennedy in 1962 for her work exposing the harmful effects of this drug. There are many facts people don’t know about Dr. Kelsey and the secret clinical trial done in the U.S. causing over 20,000 children with birth defects in just our country alone. I’ll be back next Monday to let you know how this went!
If you asked me what advice I would give everyone, it would be to follow your dreams. Nothing good comes easily, but should it? I know, for me, it feels so much more deserving when I’ve worked for the outcome or result.
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