Hi everyone.
As many readers know I’m doing a rewrite of my first book, Campbell’s Rambles: How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life which is to be book one of a memoir trilogy called, ‘Pathway To Freedom Broken and Healed’ so I thought I’d talk to you a bit about why I’m doing this.
Many people read my first book, and while they liked it quite a lot many readers expressed their feelings concerning the book and several had lots of questions.
Their questions told me that while the book did a good job describing my experiences in many ways it also left a lot of things unexplained and therefor left some things unclear.
It is my hope that the rewrite of this book as well as the writing of the other two which will follow this one that not only will I be able to answer questions posed to me but that I’ll also be able to talk about the things which came after which is also something readers expressed a wish to know more about.
Over the years I’ve been privileged to have conversations with Seeing eye staff concerning things which happened to me during my relationship with my now EX Donnie that caused my mental illness to spin horribly out of control thus leaving me in a very dark place in my life for several years, during which time I did some damage not only to myself and my reputation but to others as well. Those conversations while at times hard to have, helped me straighten out my thinking processes and also helped me clear things a bit between myself and those directly involved.
In writing this book and the others to follow, it is my desire to clarify things and hopefully dispel some misunderstandings which took place during that dark time in my life.
Another thing which took place during that time was that due to someone who I felt was a friend, who was dealing with mental illness of their own of which I don’t believe they were aware, having given me misinformation and my not realizing at the time that the things they told me were incorrect and that the person really didn’t have my best interest at heart, I used this misinformation to fuel my own unhealthy need. I wish to write about this too but in respect for this person’s privacy I must be careful how I write of this.
In short the books I am writing are very difficult because I must take a lot of people’s feelings into consideration.
Any time someone writes nonfiction they find themselves in a precarious position and though such stories need to be told so that others may learn, they must be told with much care.
The things I write of are also emotionally charged for me and I must keep a tight hold on my emotions while writing so that my own hurts don’t muddy the waters of that which I write.
It is my hope that my writing will not only clear up misunderstandings of long ago, but that the writing will also help to educate readers about persons who live with disabilities and the ways in which they live their lives.
My biography states that I write with the goal of bridging the great chasm between the disabled and nondisabled and this is a hard thing to do.
I appreciate all the advice being given me where my writing is concerned, and I hope this helps you understand the goal of my writing these books.
If you’d like to learn more about me and how to read my work, please see below.
Thanks for reading and have a great day.
ABOUT PATTY L. FLETCHER
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. And as a Social Media Promotional Assistant.
She is the owner and creator of Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing (Author, Blogger, Business Assist), and is the published author of two books, Campbell’s Rambles: How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life and Bubba Tails From the Puppy Nursery At The Seeing Eye: Volume One.
She can also be found in two anthologies which are, December Awethology Light
And A Treasure Chest of Children’s Tales.
She is now working on her third book which is to be a memoir trilogy called, ‘Pathway To Freedom: Broken and Healed’.
For more details visit:
https://www.amazon.com/Patty-L.-Fletcher/e/B00Q9I7RWG
Photo shows Campbell and me together outside resting after a difficult physical therapy session while I recovered from serious illness in 2017.
The photo is being considered for use for the cover of my upcoming book.
robertawrites235681907
March 15, 2020I started writing a book about my journey with my son’s illnesses and the operations and hospitalizations which followed. As a result of 18 operations and many other medical interventions, my older son suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and OCD. I have stopped writing this book as I was finding it to difficult to revisit this time of my life. I understand perfectly your experience, Patty.
Patty
March 15, 2020Hi Roberta.
Writing such a book as what you describe would be most difficult.
What I am writing takes me back into that time so very vividly that I’m having to go more slowly than I might do if it were a fiction. As it is said, “The time of ago is now.” When referring to the memory.
I’ve also read that the brain cannot differentiate between memory and real as far as the reaction.
Still, I believe the good will far outweigh my discomfort upon its completion.
Thanks for your comment. It is nice to be understood.
robertawrites235681907
March 15, 2020Hugs, Patty.
Patty
March 15, 2020Thanks for the hug. Always appreciated.
This afternoon I spent a couple hours revising a chapter. After this one’s put into the draft only two more to go!
Then it will be time for the dreaded tightening session.
After that it’ll be time to select two beta readers and once that part is done it’s off to the editor.
I’m hopeful to have the book out by early summer.
I’d hoped to have it out by April but that’s not happening. This has taken longer than I expected. I don’t want to rush because once this rewrite is done I’ll not revisit this book. It will be time for book two.
robertawrites235681907
March 16, 2020There comes a time when you need to finish and put a book behind you. ONce published, I never revisit. All the best with your editing, Patty.