by jphilo | Jan 27, 2010 | Book Updates
A burden lifted from my shoulders last week when I mailed my latest book proposal to the editor. Not that this proposal was extra-difficult to write. Once I got past the stages of oh-my-goodness-I-can’t-possibly-fill-this-blank-screen-with-enough-words-to-be-anything-substantial, and how-do-I-organize-this-beast, and why-did-I-think-this-topic-was-a-good-one, it quickly took shape.
Chapter topics to address and resources to include became evident, thanks to three women – Cheryl, Cindy, and Lorie – who shared their struggles as moms of kids with special needs. They words were the hope other parents need to hear. And their experiences created a road map for the common journey parents embark upon when they discover their child has special needs.
Working with them was delightful, as was weaving their stories and suggestions into the proposal. So the sensation of immense relief once the proposal was sent surprised me. Since the relief wasn’t the result of completing a dreaded task, it must have come from fulfilling a responsibility I didn’t feel equipped to handle.
For now, the baton of responsibility has been passed on the publication committee. Since they’re praying about the proposal, along with me and my agent, if they decide I’m up to the task, I’ll take the baton and run with it.
Until they decide, I’m moving on to other things: researching and writing www.DifferentDream.com blog posts, writing articles to promote A Different Dream for My Child, preparing for upcoming speaking engagements, and maybe, just maybe, finding time to work on my new mystery series idea. Hopefully, two things will happen before everything is checked off the list: the publication committee will make a decision and winter will be over.
Either one will make me smile!
by jphilo | Jan 25, 2008 | Book Updates
If you’re wondering about the picture, it’s a blood pressure cuff. It will be twenty-six years old this May, the same age as our son who spent the first two and a half weeks of his life in in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Nebraska hospital in Omaha.
For years, while he endured more surgeries and procedures, the cuff was hidden in of his box of baby things. But now it hangs near his six month picture, in my office. I put it there so I wouldn’t forget the babies and parents going through heart-wrenching experiences every day.
For a long time, I’ve been asking God what I could do to help those hurting families. In a week or so, I may get an answer. My book proposal, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically and Chronically Ill Children, has been at Discovery House Publishers since August. The publisher called me in late November to tell me that they loved the proposal, but because it focused on such a niche audience they weren’t sure it was feasible. Still the marketing committee wanted time to brainstorm strategies and see if they could develop a viable plan.
The editor emailed me yesterday and said they’ve run the numbers and will meet next week to make a final decision. I have no clue as to the outcome. All I know is that hurting parents need this book. So if you think of it this week, would you pray for the committee and for me?
Pray that they would make the right decision based on the information they’ve gathered. And pray that I would accept their decision with grace and move forward with confidence. Because whatever they decide, I can’t shake the conviction that God has a way for me to minister to those parents and their children. The blood pressure cuff won’t let me.
by jphilo | Nov 29, 2007 | Book Updates
Waiting is so hard, especially for an impatient person like me. I was sure that yesterday would be the end of waiting for me. The publication committee at the house considering my book proposal, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically and Chronically Ill Children, met yesterday. And my proposal was on the agenda. Finally, after months of waiting, I would have an answer.
Only that’s not how it happened. I got a call from the editor. The committee liked the writing. They think the topic is important and that there’s a hurting audience that needs to be reached. But they aren’t sure how to crack the market so the book gets to parents and families who need it. So the marketing people want a month to come up with a plan. If the plan’s viable, the book might be published.
I was a little disappointed until I looked outside and saw the red oak tree. A month ago, it was the last tree in the yard still hanging onto it’s leaves. Every day for weeks I checked to see if the leaves had fallen. They hadn’t. But then we went on vacation, and I got out of the habit. When I looked today, its leaves were all on the ground.
All my watching didn’t move things along, but when the time was right, the change came quickly. So I’m still waiting for the right time. And I’m pretty sure God’s chuckling as He teaches me another lesson in patience.
