My first excursion into self-publishing is nearing the
finishing line and I’m getting rather jacked about the prospect. Several months
ago I shared with you my plans for a book about the last two years of caring
for my Dad after Mom passed away. Since then I have put the finishing touches
on the thing and am now in the process of designing the cover and getting it
printed. It has been at turns frustrating and invigorating. The writing was
easy, reliving it all wasn’t, but everything else about the process has taken
me out of my comfort zone. The editing, proofreading, and formatting have seemed
interminable, but I possess the patience of a gnat about the details of life.
The plan is to
have a couple hundred paperbacks printed for those who prefer the dead tree
version, while simultaneously offering an e-Book version for sale on Amazon. If
I sell enough of either to recoup my investment I will be deliriously happy. If
not, I will still be happy because I will have done the thing. I will have
produced something worthy of my parents as a tribute to not only them, but the amazing
family who cared for them so long and so well.
The name of the book is Finishing Well.
On a completely unrelated note, Lucy has discovered
something new to add to the list of things that freak her out. A lawn
sprinkler. Yesterday, the folks from Virginia Green showed up and laid down
some fertilizer with instructions to water the lawn for thirty minutes before
the end of the day. I broke out the sprinkler, set it first in the back yard
and turned it on as I was instructed. After dark I let Lucy into the back yard
for her evening constitutional, forgetting that the sprinkler was in the yard.
She bounded down the steps in her usual spastic, wildly expectant way only to
practically jump out of her little puppy skin upon discovery of the sprinkler
beast attached to the horrible hose-monster! Oh. My. Word. The poor dog was
convinced that this devise was of the devil and meant her great harm. Needless
to say, there would be no peeing or pooping going on until this beast was dispatched.
It was quite hilarious.
