From Pages to Pages: Author Interview

Have you had any strange experiences while marketing a book?

One of the strangest experiences I’ve had was in the CNN television studio in Chicago. Just before I was about to go on camera (the count-down had begun), the director noticed that a background drapery had caught fire and was smoking. He grabbed a ladder, climbed up it, moved the drapery away from a spotlight, climbed down the ladder, pointed to me and said, “You’re on.” While I was being interviewed smoke continued to swirl about the studio. Another person, walking past the studio, saw the smoke, rushed into the studio with a towel, and started fanning the smoke. While this was going on I tried to be calm and answer the questions. In my mind, however, I was thinking, “If I see flames I’m out of here!”

What contributes to making a writer successful?

Persistence. Without persistence you don’t create a good book outline, write the manuscript, proofread it, make corrections, and revise it. I’ve revised chapters 20 times before I was satisfied.

You’ve given workshops at regional and national conferences. What makes your workshops helpful?

When I plan a conference workshop, I tell my grief recovery story, weave it into research findings, and share proactive steps that attendees may take to improve their lives. If I’ve helped only one person the planning, the trip, and the effort were worth it.

Tell us about your new book.

Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life After Loss is my latest book. It’s a concise grief recovery resource for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one or friend. From the first page to the last, Happy Again! assures the reader that happiness is possible and lists proactive steps he or she may take to achieve it. This is my 32^nd book and I’m proud of it.

Tell us a bit about your family.

In 2007 my family changed after four family members — my elder daughter, father-in-law, brother, and former son-in-law – died within nine months. My daughter died from the injuries she received in a car crash. None months later her former husband died from the injuries he received in another car crash. His death made my twin grandchildren orphans and my husband and me GRGs, grandparents raising grandchildren. The twins were 15 ½ years old when they moved in with us. Today, they are 21 years old and seniors in college. Nurturing, caring and loving my grandkids has been the greatest blessing of my life.