As I was preparing to leave to head up to Rome to meet my fellow writers during our monthly writer's critique group, I decided to check my email one last time in case of anything important was in the inbox.  Sitting right on top was a message from the River's End Bookstore in Oswego, NY...a message that would make me float on clouds for the rest of the night, and most likely for the rest of my life.  Here's what it said:

Hi Amy!

Today we had a customer call us in regards to a book they heard you were publishing. I think she's looking for the memoir that you read a part of at the Master Workshop Reading at the river's end awhile back.  She didn't have the exact title. 

I found an article on Oswego County Today about the anthology of stories about caring for special needs children  & the article included your e-mail,  so I figured it'd be the easiest way to get an answer! Is there a release date  on either of the books you've been working on so I can pass more information  onto the customer?

Also, would you mind if I shared a link to the article on Oswego County Today via our Facebook page?  I think it's a wonderful & incredible idea & look forward to reading it & would like to spread the word!

Thank you so much your help!

Julie
bookseller
the river's end bookstore
19 west bridge street
oswego,ny
  13126

315-342-0077
[email protected]

Imagine my excitement reading this email. There is somebody out there who is actively looking for my book in bookstores so that they can buy it.  OH MY !!!  I don't know who this person is, but I can say they are my biggest fan right now.  That was the biggest complement that I could have received, and if I ever had any quetions as to wether or not to publish such a personal story, those fears are now gone.  People need to hear it.  People out there are suffering, and want to connect with somebody else who has gone through similar fates.  I must pubish it!

As I said before I am hoping to have the anthology available for distrubution by December, 2011. (What a great Christmas present that would make for somebody!)  I had advertised the project as From Caring To Sharing.  When the book goes to print the title will be Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways:  Our Lives With a Special Needs Child.

As for my memoir, editing a 50,000 word book takes a lot of time and patience.  But do not fear, I am working deligently on it and will keep everyone posted as to the progression of the project and you will be the first to know when it will be ready for publication.

In the meantime, take a moment to visit the wonderful RiversEnd Bookstore, either online or in person.  They offer a wide selection of books in a comfortable, inviting atmosphere.  Plus the staff are among the nicest people you will ever meet.  Oh, and did I mention that they offered to host a book launching party when my book is released?  I love that place !!!

While working on the layout of the upcoming anthology about life with a special needs child, I came across this book that was just published last month.  This book runs parallel to Chicken Soup for the Special Needs Soul and a Cup of Comfort for Parents of Special Needs Kids.  It is also exactly what I am working on with families right here in Upstate NY.  

In case you haven't heard I have extended the deadline for story/poem submission until November 6, 2011.  More details have been added to the From Caring Sharing link on the website.  

The book below looks like a wonderful and inspriting read and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.  I wanted to share the amazon.com Editorial Reviews for you. (courtesy of Amazon.Com)
 
Product Description:
Wit and Wisdom From The Parents of Special  Needs Kids brings together dozens of the best writers in the
blogosphere,  sharing their stories of both the challenges and rewards of raising children  with autism and other cognitive disabilities. More than forty essays are included in this unique compilation, covering topics such as sensory issues, the  difficulties of social interaction, the impact on marriage and typical siblings,  and the world of special education and therapies. These parents cover the gamut  of experiences -- from initially receiving the
diagnosis for their child and  reconsidering their expectations for the future to learning how to let go of  children as
young adults – as well as an emotional spectrum from sadness and  loss, to the frustrations of assimilating
not-so-typical children into the  typical world, to the joy of living amongs their often hilarious quirks and 
obsessions. Wit and Wisdom From The Parents of Special Needs Kids is a must read  for anyone whose life has been affected by intellectual disabilities. Every  parent of a special needs child will identify with the life
experiences included  in this book -- they are as varied, unique, and inspiring as the children  themselves.

The past week I have been spending time working on the cover for the upcoming anthology based on living life with a disability in Upstate NY.  I have designed the layout of the book, which is very exciting.  For now I am going to keep the details of it under waps until everything has been finalized.

Many wonderful stories have come in so far.  Some are humurous, others will simply touch your heart.  Parents, grandparents, and those working with special needs individuals have taken the time to write about their experiences.  This is an opportunity for many to connect with others who may be going through something similar.

There is still time for you or someone that you know to dust off your notebook and just sit and write how you feel.  Where you upset when you first learned that someone you loved would struggle in life?  Did you laugh when your autistic child did something completely off the wall crazy?  Is there someone in your life who is the most inspiring person you have met despite all that they are faced against?  These are the stories that we want to hear.

If you would like to submit a piece of writing and still remain anonymous, that is perfect acceptable.  It is also alright to say in your story that you are changing the names to keep a loved ones privacy.  Multiple submissions are also welcomed!

I have decided to allow just a little more time for story submissions due to the late announcement of the project by the press.  Anyone wishing to submit a story can do so by emailing them to me at [email protected].

Many years ago, my daughter's doctor told me that she would have no quality of life and that I should consider my options.  Instead, I choose to consider a different doctor.  Today my daughter is a vibrant young lady, and while she faces many challenges, she does so with a smile in her face and love in her heart.

It is stories like this that inspire others to keep the faith when times look grim.  Do you have one to share?  Send them to me and they will be compiled together for a proposed anthology, similar to Chicken Soup for the Soul and A Cup of Comfort.  Click on the From Caring To Sharing tab above for more detail. Below is one story that I have written:


                             The Value of Life

      As I sat in the doctor’s office listening to him tell me that my baby
would have no quality of life and that I should consider an abortion, a million
things were running through my head.   Why me?  What did I do wrong?  Will my
life ever be the same? But never once did it occur to me to follow through
on the well meaning advice of a doctor who didn’t have a clue.  I was going to
have this baby, and I would provide her with the best life possible.

      What that meant I wasn’t really sure of at the time.  Never having had
any contact with a person who had a disability, I was oblivious as to what to
expect or how to even go about getting the care my newborn would require.  So I
simply took it one day at a time, and I allowed her to be my guide.

      The day she entered into this world I looked down into the eyes of my
flawless looking daughter.  I vowed to her that I was
going to try my best, if she would only be patient with me.  And so we ventured
on a journey full of ups and downs.  For every step back we took, my daughter 
found a way to make my heart grow just a little bit larger.  Her loving
disposition and innocent looking face made every trip to the doctors worthwhile.
  She was the sweetest little girl I had ever put my eyes on, but at the age of 5

we still had no concrete name for what we were dealing with. No label, no
statistics, no research that would tell us what to expect for in the future. A
little bit of this and a touch of that never meshed together for a real
diagnosis. So I have decided to call this no name anomaly `Innocent Syndrome`.
For that’s what it truly reflects- a child who was innocent in every aspect of
her life. 
     It was hard as a mother to watch your child struggle so much in life. 
When she entered Kindergarten she will still not talking, and seemed  to only
gravitate towards adults, without even giving her peers a second thought.
Worried about her becoming the scapegoat for cruel childhood teasing, I tried to
overcompensate by making sure she had the finest of clothing and the latest
trends in order to appear as typical as possible.  I didn’t want her viewed as
`different.`  But Elizabeth didn’t care.  She was happy in her own little world.
  Stacking books and sorting cards out seemed like much more fun to her than
going to somebody’s house to play with dolls.  But still I worried.

      As her body grew rapidly, her brain seemed to develop at a much slower
rate.  By the time she reached her teenage years she looked no different than
her classmates on the outside, yet inside there was still this innocent little
girl peeking through.  The countless hours she spent with her books and cards
were much more intense for her, and while now very verbal, she still only wanted
to `chit chat` with the grown ups.  Would I ever be able to get to fit in?

      But as I sat back and observed, she was fitting in… in her own way.  She
had made herself friends within the community without my even realizing it. 
Everywhere we went, Elizabeth would find an adult that she would deem her buddy
and spend countless hours filling them in on her life.  And they would listen. 
Over and over they joked with her over who was sillier, smiled in surprise as
she once again announced how old she was, and graciously accepted hugs whenever
they were offered. The waitresses, cashiers, and receptionists were all her
posse, and she loved it.  She had found her own way to find a place in this
world and it didn’t involve fancy clothes or expensive gadgets.  The only thing
she ever wanted was acceptance, and she found it by being herself.

      My daughter may not have straight A’s, friends over on the weekends, or
even a name for this thing that has changed our lives forever.  But what she
does possess is something greater.  With a carefree attitude an unconditional
love for everything and everyone, she has the quality of life that few others
have. I often think back to that doctor and wonder why he felt that her life was
of no value, when all along she held the key to happiness within her heart.

      And so the girl that I thought I would have to teach everything to has
taught me the one lesson in life that I will treasure forever.  Being yourself
is the best thing of all.

~Amy Quonce

    Recently I visited my local bookstore and picked up a copy of Chicken Soup for the Special Needs Soul.  A book  full of stories from caregivers on how their lives were touched by disabilities.  I was so inspired by the stories that I started to ponder how we could incorporate something similar in our area.  New York state has the largest number of special needs individuals in the U.S. because of the extensive services that are offered to them.  I believe that this is exactly why Upstate NY would be the perfect place to start our own anthology.  And so, the From Caring To Sharing project was born!
    With the help of some local organizations, the word is quickly spreading and the response from the community has been overwhelming.  I am pleased that so many feel that a project like this is valuable.  If you have a story that you would like to have considered, please contact me at WindingRoadBook.Weebly.Com. (The tab above will bring you to the page with the flyer and you can find it on Facebook/From Caring To Sharing.) Multiple submissions are welcomed and the writing can be from a caregiver, relative, teacher, or from the individual themselves.  It would be wonderful to have entries from the entire Upsatate Ny area so please spread the word.
    For the next few weeks you may notice some changes in my website. My homepage has been dedicated to the anthology and some of my others pages like the excerpt from my manuscript have been temporarily disabled.  Not to worry, as these will be back up and running soon.
    I would like to send out a big thank you to all of the organizations who have shown interest in assisting with getting the word out:  Oswego YMCA, Oswego County Autism Task Force, Arise, Inc., ARC of Oswego, Parents of Special Children, Oswego County Opportunities, Farnahm, and many others.  Your support is greatly apprecia