I am beyond excited right now!! My memoir is as close as it's ever been to being ready for publishing. It is being read by 7 wonderful beta readers and is also being edited by my new editor, Hillary. Hillary and Chelsey are going to help me self publish very soon. I hear that it takes

sometimes years to write a memoir or a book. Mine is no different...I started 13 years ago and even though it sat for years at a time when I didn't touch it for one reason or another, here we are! It doesn't even matter I'm just ecstatic that I will have it in my hands soon.    Just wanted to let everyone know! I think I am going to go with A Life Half Lived: A Mother's Memoir of Her Daughter's Anorexia Struggle. To the right is a picture of Monica 1/2 finished pastel painting she did before she died. She didn't finish it. I want it on the cover. I think it goes well with the title.

 I have a list of emails to send out when it is ready. Let me know if you want me to add your information. leave in comments.

            Well, here we are 15 years later after the death of a beautiful soul. Monica Nicole Joyce Fowler who was my first born child in 1979. She gave us such joy and happiness for so many years before tragedy struck all of our lives. 

           I can't believe 15 years has passed, but there is something very important to a mother who has lost her child....and that is for the daughter to never be forgotten. Life goes on, of course, but I have always tried to do things to keep her memory alive. Which brings me to the subject of the manuscript I and my wonderful editor, Adeline, have been working on for so many years. I thought it would be done by now, but for many reasons is not quite ready. I have every reason to believe it will be available in the next several months! A published book about our story! I can't wait!

         I spent several years going around to many universities, high schools, I have spoken to nursing students and a other various groups taking my Power Point presentation of Monica's story to share and spread awareness of the dreaded anorexia nervosa disorder which destroyed her. Spending my time with the people that I spoke to was one of the most emotional, healing, cathartic experiences I have ever had in my life. I met some pretty amazing people in the process.

         Today, we will go to the Chicago Botanic Gardens and visit Monica's memorial bench for the final time. We will remember Monica and reminisce how good life was so long ago when she was still with us. I can't tell you how difficult it is every day wishing that she was still here. Sometimes I just want to say, "Monica, where are you?  I miss you! " 💔