One Way to Write a Book

 Sometimes there is a little voice urging you on.  You can ignore it, but it keeps coming back.  Our book came out of such a voice getting louder and more persistent.  Terry had buried her near-death experience for years, until she found that the telling of her story was the key to releasing the joy and peace within her.  She had knowledge that needed to be shared.  In our book, she tells the story of forgiving herself, healing her body of complex migraines, and coming to a point where she was ready to share with the world.

“You would think that we learned God was internal on the day of our LIGHT experiences; we did not.  Our growth included that climb from insight, changing a long-held belief that we would not hear God specifically talking to us.  Becoming aware of God’s clear message moved us to knowing that God is within…we can say we are co-creating with God the realities of our lives.  Truth lives in us.  Fear hurts, but love heals.”

(page 212 The Light GAP God’s Amazing Presence) 

I remember vividly being at St. Olaf College visiting my daughter Anne at the end of her sophomore year and helping her pack for her trip to Norway with the band.  We put her meager belongings into boxes to come home with me where we would meet up again, looking forward to the whole summer to catch up with each other.  As I left to return to finish up my job teaching school, I watched her walk back down the sidewalk to her dorm, her beautiful strawberry blond hair blowing in the breeze.  That was to be the last time I would ever see and be with her.  An event took her life in London on her way home.

A week after her death, I was on the phone in my kitchen making plans for the music for her Memorial Service, “…a light filled my kitchen.  It consumed me! …I had been crying almost twenty-four hours a day, and now the light consuming the room brought a sense of complete joy! I felt wrapped in love…”  There was a voiceless voice communicating.  “One of the messages was that I was going to write a book.  Me, an author? Write a book?  About what?  Not me! It scared me to death.” (page 25)

Fast forward seventeen years.  Terry was on the phone saying that she needed to come talk to me.  What?  Make the journey along the bottom of Lake Michigan in the middle of January?  Can’t we just talk on the phone?  The answer was no, and she was coming over to Chicago tomorrow.  And of course, that was the day a huge snow storm hit and a horrible pile up accident occurred on I 90.  Seven hours later she arrived – it is usually a three-hour trip.  Yes, Terry and I were going to write a book – together!  We would be co-authors.  The title became The Light Gap: God’s Amazing Presence.

What a process.  It took almost 3 years.  The book went to print on Anne’s birthday date.  We had no control over that, a coincidence that lets us know we are in the spiritual flow of the Divine Love that surrounds us always.  I am in the Chicago area in Northbrook, Terry in Michigan by Holland.  Technology was crucial.  Our hearts were full of the ideas we wanted to share but they needed to be put into physical form.  We attended an I CAN DO IT and WRITING FROM YOUR SOUL Hay House conference in Fort Lauderdale which provided inspiration.
We created chapter titles MANY times.  When our structure was not working, we changed it to fit our vision.  We began speaking, inviting audiences to hear our messages.  Preparing for these events we called Expanding the View of God solidified our ideas.  Words for the book text began to flow out.  Meditate, meditate, meditate.  Journal, journal, journal.  Read, read, read.  Edit, edit, edit.  Start over…

As time went on we met in many places.  At our cabin in Eagle River, WI, at each other’s houses, In the woods at the GilChrist Retreat Center, halfway between our houses…  As we talked on the telephone, hours went by, quick messages were flying often. “Is this a good time to edit? Can we talk now? No I must get to the transfer station with my garbage.  It closes in 15 minutes! Yes, this time works.”  We blocked off time to have fun, to gather with our families, and for vacations.  Often, dinner got onto the table later than planned.

We provided tremendous support for each other.  When we finally finished, it was hard to let go.  Author guides warn you about this phenomena.  I think the most exciting time for me was when we saw the cover of the book.  It was beautiful.  The book was real!

Marj

 

 

 

5 Comments on “One Way to Write a Book

  1. That was a beautiful description of the book writing process. Wow!

  2. That was a beautiful description of the book writing process. Wow!
    Now this is a new day for more ideas.

  3. What an adventure you’re on! And now the speaking engagements. The first part was so introverted and the second, an experience that is so extroverted. Is it as you imagined it would be? Congratulations! I loved the book and I love your blog.

    • Yes, we are on an adventure for sure! When we began to write the book, we really did not have enough “imagination” to visualize how our lives might change during the process, after publication, or during promotion for our book! We are still growing personally through it all! We are happy to hear you are loving our blog!! Your feedback is always appreciated.

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