“I’m hooked, in spite of myself.” Those words from an editor and a woman, who initially didn’t find the idea of “Mother Memoir” to her liking, warmed my soul.
After reading the TellTale Souls (TTS) manuscript and the “How-to” Gift of Story (Gift) guide book, she went on to make many comments, I’ll share a few:
I confess, I needed to be ‘shown’ that this book has value and tremendous appeal. “The Work” made me a believer. There are so many books in the marketplace, and the idea of reading (slogging) through 50 or so stories about other people’s “mothers” didn’t, personally, appeal to me.
This being said, I found that most of the stories made me cry. I’m jealous of the love they feel for, and felt from, their mothers – stories I don’t have. But, when I read through the Gift of Story guide book, I realized that there were aspects of my mother I could write about and be grateful for, because, Lynn, you provide not only latitude, but also charitable thinking in your framework for writing the bio-vignettes. And your “prompts” heartened and encouraged me.
I’ve always “seen” my mother as she was, and understood why, even as a child, and I have long since forgiven her for what she could not overcome. But “something else” happened when I was reading Gift, and I now know that I am “healed.” Thank you.
TTS “primed” the pump, and by the time I got to Gift, I was softened enough and motivated enough that I wanted to seek out an incident or happening that would showcase what was wonderful and unique about my Mother. So, Telltale Souls succeeded in inspiring me to connect with my mother, and Give the Gift of Story succeeded as well, inspiring and teaching me to write a bio-vignette when I never thought I could.
I met, Vicki Weiland, who wrote the words I’ve quoted above through the Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. Take a peek at the site; you may want to become a member, meet wonderful people there just like Vicki, and get involved in the literary community.
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