It was another extremely hot week here in Northeast Florida with heat indexes up to 114 “feels like” degrees. And of course the humidity makes it almost pointless to shower if you plan to spend any time outdoors, even early in the morning.
You do get used to it, and to move more slowly as this heat can be draining day after day. Even our dogs don’t want to spend much time outdoors. It’s a good time to stay in and write and I’m almost midway through another read through of a slow-going book project. I’m hoping to have that completed by the end of August. There have been many edits and change-ups and with each Beta-reading, I work on clarification and hopefully creating a stronger memoir manuscript. Writing a widow’s memoir when the brain is still trying to reroute was a challenge and as I near my five year Widowed Milestone I now have the clarity that escaped me earlier and of course, it’s important to remember as a memoirist, our perception of events are uniquely ours.
I’ve been traditionally published and had the good fortune of being repped by some very reputable literary agents for past projects. From each, I learned a great deal, but publishing is a tough business, and it’s grown more challenging since my first two books were traditionally published over ten years ago.
I started drafting my memoir not long after the passing of my mother in early 2024 and it has helped me to process the losses I’ve experienced in addition to losing Rich in 2021. And of course, I’m already outlining a follow-up to the one I’m completing now. This week, I’m taking a mini-course on a genre known as Braided Memoir. I’ll be sharing that process as well as I commit to writing once again!
The working title for my memoir is FETCHING HOPE, LOVE AND A DOG. The story chronicles the events leading up to, and my post-widowed experiences including attending and presenting at Camp Widow San Diego 2022 and the dogs that have positively impacted my post widowed life.
The book includes a number of poignant dog stories making it appealing to anyone who understands how dogs, and other pets, improve the lives of the widowed more than most people understand.
Sometimes it is difficult to sit and recall events that were, and remain, difficult. In putting myself “out there” my goal is to share what helped, and still helps, me to navigate this loss in addition to the loss of several close family members. In putting words “on paper” I remind myself that what I had was real and to represent my unique experiences and the people and pets who mattered.
Last week, while dropping off some bedding materials to the local animal shelter, a young lab mix pup was being adopted. I remember when Biscuit came to the shelter. His sibling Gravy had already been adopted and it was clear that he was happy to find his new humans and they were happy to have him. It was a bright spot in my week and those people who dedicate them to rescue, and those who adopt, have a special place in my heart.
Writing. Dogs. Writing about the Human Dog experience. Helping the grieving in ways that can’t be measured. Word by word. Sentence by sentence. Page by page. With each chapter I hope to create something that matters, a work that is enduring for those who are creating their revised paths forward and those joining them on that walk.
Have a great and positive weekend.
