I am Monica's mom, Sherri. If you have followed or read this blog anytime in the past 13 years you will know a little bit about Monica and her struggle with the dreaded eating disorder she was forced to live with for 15 years. I took her blog over about a year after she passed away. She had only entered four posts. (her posts are the best of any posts on this blog, by far) I journaled and posted all sorts of things over that year. Whatever came to my mind. It proved to be a very healing experience.
She has been gone all this time and is greatly missed by all of her friends and family. I was determined to write her story right from the beginning, but through my eyes as her mother. If you have ever lost someone extremely close you might understand how important it is to keep their memory alive. That is one of the reasons I so want to finish this book. I want the world to know how wonderful a person she was before and during her battle with anorexia. I also really want people to understand the complexities of this awful illness and how it effects the families and the person suffering as it destroys them. I am brutally honest in my writings...
As I get closer to finally finishing my manuscript after all of these years, I am thinking about a title. It did sit for many years at a time, then I would work on it, then let it sit, then get motivated again and write some more. Last year I finally found a wonderful editor to help me get motivated. Her name is Adeline. For the past several months I have been working with her and she had been amazing by helping me edit my manuscript.
I would love some feedback of any kind to help me decide upon a title for the book. I have a few already, but if you have any thoughts or ideas, I would love to hear them. First one is "Dear Monica" and refers to a letter I wrote Monica a few days after she died. In the same letter I also write, "Dear Anorexia" do not take the dear to mean endearment in any way. etc. I was thinking of either one for a title. This said letter was read at her memorial service. The second idea I had was "Hell On Wheels", which refers to a very colorful and artistically drawn sign created by none other than Monica herself. She was in rehab one time and they insisted that she remain in the wheelchair to conserve energy and prevent her from expending any calories. She attached it to the back of her wheelchair. I would also have the front cover of the book a picture of a wheelchair with her sign on the back. Another idea I had was "A Life Half Lived". I have a painting Monica started when she used to do paintings in pastels. It was her jumping Malmo, her horse she used to ride. She only finished half of the painting, it captures the essence of the unfinished painting and its symbolic connection to Monica's life. This title suggests that just as the painting remains incomplete so was Monica's life, tragically cut short. The front cover would have her painting displayed. I also for fun asked Chat GPT to suggest a title and it came up with "A Life Half Painted". Man that AI shit is so amazing isn't it??
Anyways, I was wondering if anyone out there would be able to help me decide about a title for my finished book. Please feel free to leave a comment...I love feedback good, bad or ugly. I would be eternally grateful. Sherri
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