Dear Lit Loves,
Greetings Book Lovers! Hello from good ole' North Carolina! While I'm waiting to hear back from agents and editors on my latest manuscript and book proposal, I am working my way through my reading queue. This week I read Misdiagnosed: One Woman's Tour Of And Escape From Healthcareland by Jody Berger. In a nutshell, this book is about a woman in her early forties who considers herself athletic and healthy. She begins experiencing tingling in her extremities inclusive of her feet and hands. The tingling sensations become worse and at times she feels as if her feet are bound and that she has a flip flop between her toes. Before going on a meditative trip to India, she has this all checked out by a primary care doctor who then sends her to a neurologist. The neurologist orders an MRI and sees lesions on her spine. He calls to tell her she has MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and advises her of the meds and steroids necessary to treat it. She doesn't like the diagnosis and the fact that the neurologist will not call her back and answer her questions. So she goes on this wild and overly extensive crusade to seek out alternative medical practitioners who can discover what the real issue is because she definitely doesn't believe or think her problem is MS. I couldn't believe the extensive travel, expense, and number of opinions she sought and I'm a person with serious medical challenges including Uveitis, Uveitic Glaucoma, Meniere's disease, basal cell carcinoma, and Cogan's syndrome. Through all the alternative doctors she visits, she realizes that she has a serious problem with her gastrointestinal system, is often crippled by anxiety, needs to get more exercise, and seriously re-evaluate her diet. Eventually, the woman finds that her problem is a gluten intolerance once she commences with an elimination diet for almost a month. So essentially what we learn is that a person can have asymptomatic lesions on their spine that does not give rise to MS and therefore should not receive an MS diagnosis. Now there were several issues I had with this book especially since I'm a person that subscribes to serious investigation by university medical experts when it comes to getting a diagnosis and proper treatment.
Issue 1) Why on God's green earth did this woman not go see a psychiatrist at some point along this journey of a correct diagnosis? It's obvious she had a somewhat problematic childhood made worse by a mom who constantly wanted to "fix" her daughter's illnesses so they wouldn't embarrass the family. Her parents divorced. Her mother is presented as self-centered, irrational, and would never be nominated for "parent of the year". Mother and daughter have a strained relationship at best and the reader never learns if they resolve their issues by the end of the book.
Issue 2: This woman went above, beyond, and over the meadow and through the woods to get a diagnosis other than MS. Why did she never go to another neurologist or neuro MS specialist at a major medical center for the second, third and fourth opinions? I think she thought they would all confirm the same diagnosis, but who knows? She never gave any other Western medical specialist an opportunity in my opinion. She was hell bent on seeing alternative doctors. And let me just add that I have no idea how this gal who supposedly is a reporter afforded all this travel and medical expense. Let me also add that not all women have a boyfriend who would pay for all the medical testing and evaluations she received. She did have a boyfriend who paid for a lot of the extra medical travel, care and evaluations; however, he never attended with her. This was a major red flag in her relationship with this man. If he's really the one for you, he's going to not only take care of the bill, but also be right there with you interpreting test results and asking questions. Most women do not have the luxury of having a rich boyfriend with a private plane, several homes and who can afford to pay for extensive medical tests and opinions.
Issue 3: The guy who she discusses as her boyfriend in the book has his own issues. He doesn't seem to want to find a place for her in his life. He appears to just want to play Superman and swoop in when a woman has a medical crisis and save the day. I thought he was also moody, irritable, and highly introverted. And the reader never learns what happens to their relationship by the end of the book except that he keeps cancelling trips and visits with her so he can attend to business meetings and travel. To me, his behavior said money is more important than relationships.
Issue 4: Why didn't she know her family medical history especially when she is in her early forties? Her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's; her grandfather had tingling in the hands, feet and legs and his was due to a pinched nerve, but she doesn't seem to learn any of this until she gets the diagnosis of MS and goes on this year-long quest to disprove that she actually has MS. That was a totally foreign concept for me as an individual who started getting serious diagnoses at age sixteen and even more rare ones as I'm now in my mid forties. I probably know my family medical history better than any single person in my family because I have to as all my doctors require it.
Issue 5: Let me say that I found over ten spelling and grammar errors over the course of reading this book. Some words were obviously omitted and there were words that were added that caused sentences to not read correctly. Now, the only reason this gets on my nerves I'm sure is that I'm trained as an English teacher so editorial mistakes GLARE at me.
I'm on the fence about whether to recommend this book. I think if you are especially supportive of alternative medical therapies, you will find this book validating. If you are like me and like the opinions of major respected doctors in various specialties at fine medical institutions, you're probably going to keep thinking that she should have gone to more than just two neurologists. I mean, she went to eight different alternative doctors and I think she had a greater fear of traditional Western doctors due to her past experiences with illnesses in her childhood that she consented to because it was expected of her by her mother or because no one really challenged the guys in white coats with cursive engraved names. Í'm here to tell you that's a major part of my life right now. I question all the traditional medical experts and make sure they know that I'm as on top of my illness as they are and they had better deliver the best medical care. It's called being PROACTIVE.
Happy Reading!
Grace
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
Writer Wish List
Dear Lit Loves,
It's that time of year again. Everyone makes resolutions. This is what they're going to strive for this year or this is what he/she wants to accomplish this year. And in publishing, you have what we call literary agent and editor wish lists. If you look it up you will see Tumbler, WordPress, Twitter, etc commentary on what agents and editors are hoping to find in their inbox this year. I'm quite familiar with these wish lists because as a writer I peruse them to determine who on God's wonderful and green earth might eventually understand my desire to be published in the memoir genre. It's not enough to just find a literary agent who acquires memoir. No, you've got to find the one that acquires memoir in subjects that the agent and editor really like such as food, inspirational, life adventures, etc. I've done enough research that I have a little black book of literary agents and editors. I note what they currently acquiring in terms of manuscripts. I also note what they've already acquired or published. If an editor has three memoirs and I've read all of them, chances are we might make a good publishing match as author and acquiring editor. When it comes to literary agents, honestly, I have no idea what makes them like one memoir and not another. It's true. The agents will often tell you that it's intrinsic. They just "know" when something speaks to them. I get that. I really do. But I must say there are times when I've ordered a memoir that I thought for sure I would hate and then I'm surprised to discover I couldn't put the book down or I'm amazed that the author was so vividly transparent in telling their story. So, I decided to make a Writer Wish List for 2015 because well, I haven't seen any of those and I'm not shy about being the first to try something. So here goes..
Writer Wish List For 2015
1) A literary agent who replies to my query telling me I have a unique concept, a well-written query letter, and damn, what an interesting life I lead so send him/her the whole kit n'caboodle. Send the synopsis, send the book proposal, send the whole manuscript.
2) A literary agent who reads my book proposal and manuscript and sends me an email saying "Offer Of Representation!" along with a personal note that he/she was deeply moved by my work and where have I been all his/her life?
3) A literary agent who replies that she "gets the premise and the hook of my writing". One who can tell why I wrote the book and what I'm attempting to say about life, humanity, and the larger society by writing what I do, the way I do.
4) A literary agent and editor who call me to say, "Hey! This is great! What else do you have in the works?"
5) A great editor who asks me if in the future he/she can have first dibs on perusing my book proposals and manuscripts. That's the holy grail for us newbies in publishing folks. An editor that would like to work with you on a long term basis. Halle...freaking....lujah!!
And that's it. There you have it. I also want to write an adventure memoir this year which is a complete break from the normal major life drama/trauma that I write about quite often. Something along the lines of I Was A Public School English Teacher: So What You Gonna Do About It?!! I've got loads of stories folks. Now, where is that literary agent that loves me and that editor who can't get enough of my work? Hello? Are you there agent, editor, publisher?? Yoo-Hoo, Anybody Home???
Still Looking,
Grace
It's that time of year again. Everyone makes resolutions. This is what they're going to strive for this year or this is what he/she wants to accomplish this year. And in publishing, you have what we call literary agent and editor wish lists. If you look it up you will see Tumbler, WordPress, Twitter, etc commentary on what agents and editors are hoping to find in their inbox this year. I'm quite familiar with these wish lists because as a writer I peruse them to determine who on God's wonderful and green earth might eventually understand my desire to be published in the memoir genre. It's not enough to just find a literary agent who acquires memoir. No, you've got to find the one that acquires memoir in subjects that the agent and editor really like such as food, inspirational, life adventures, etc. I've done enough research that I have a little black book of literary agents and editors. I note what they currently acquiring in terms of manuscripts. I also note what they've already acquired or published. If an editor has three memoirs and I've read all of them, chances are we might make a good publishing match as author and acquiring editor. When it comes to literary agents, honestly, I have no idea what makes them like one memoir and not another. It's true. The agents will often tell you that it's intrinsic. They just "know" when something speaks to them. I get that. I really do. But I must say there are times when I've ordered a memoir that I thought for sure I would hate and then I'm surprised to discover I couldn't put the book down or I'm amazed that the author was so vividly transparent in telling their story. So, I decided to make a Writer Wish List for 2015 because well, I haven't seen any of those and I'm not shy about being the first to try something. So here goes..
Writer Wish List For 2015
1) A literary agent who replies to my query telling me I have a unique concept, a well-written query letter, and damn, what an interesting life I lead so send him/her the whole kit n'caboodle. Send the synopsis, send the book proposal, send the whole manuscript.
2) A literary agent who reads my book proposal and manuscript and sends me an email saying "Offer Of Representation!" along with a personal note that he/she was deeply moved by my work and where have I been all his/her life?
3) A literary agent who replies that she "gets the premise and the hook of my writing". One who can tell why I wrote the book and what I'm attempting to say about life, humanity, and the larger society by writing what I do, the way I do.
4) A literary agent and editor who call me to say, "Hey! This is great! What else do you have in the works?"
5) A great editor who asks me if in the future he/she can have first dibs on perusing my book proposals and manuscripts. That's the holy grail for us newbies in publishing folks. An editor that would like to work with you on a long term basis. Halle...freaking....lujah!!
And that's it. There you have it. I also want to write an adventure memoir this year which is a complete break from the normal major life drama/trauma that I write about quite often. Something along the lines of I Was A Public School English Teacher: So What You Gonna Do About It?!! I've got loads of stories folks. Now, where is that literary agent that loves me and that editor who can't get enough of my work? Hello? Are you there agent, editor, publisher?? Yoo-Hoo, Anybody Home???
Still Looking,
Grace
Monday, January 5, 2015
Zero Tolerance For Domestic Violence/Harassment
Dear Lit Loves,
Greetings! And Happy 2015! Just wanted to comment about a recent experience I had witnessing and reporting domestic violence. We'll get to that episode in a moment. Most close friends know I have vast experience when it comes to domestic violence and sexual harassment. My first marriage was to a man who liked to practice his karate kicks toward my face and found it amusing to lock me in an attic. I walked out on him and never looked back the day he decided that he was going to dictate to me when I could and could not speak to him. Good riddance. Next, I worked in the tech industry where I worked as a receptionist/office assistant and was surrounded my a mostly male work force. The male staff members thought it would be appropriate to hold a strip show in the company lab for the resident chief executive officer's birthday. And I actually had an engineer come to my desk, lay hands on my skirt and proceed to measure the length of said skirt. He also wanted his business card title to read "Engineering God". Yes, I reported these forms of sexual harassment and idiocy. Did I lose friends as a result? You bet! Do I care? Hell no! If you can't stand up and do the right thing fellow sisters, then go find another boat to sail!
Also, I was harassed by an assistant principal when I taught middle school. His abuse came in the form of comments about me as a woman, how I dressed, my hair, my mannerisms, etc. Didn't tolerate that either and reported him to the school superintendent. I thought it was pertinent then to also report that said assistant principal's ex-wife arrived at the school one day and slashed all four tires on his truck. He was a royal jerk. I had fellow staff members who backed up my reports as well. Needless to say, I was not amused when I came across an instance of domestic violence this weekend upon returning home from lunch on Saturday.
First, I moved to the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina over the 2014 holidays. It was a scream. Packed up a house, found a new place to live, and moved to a new residence in the span of three weeks. Upon arriving home to my new residence on Saturday, I saw a man and woman out my bedroom window. It appeared they were taking a walk except there was screaming, pushing, and shoving involved. Then, the man and woman wound up behind the tennis courts and transformer units in my direct view. I watched as the man, who was about six foot two, place the woman in a headlock and proceed to drag her around the area. Next, the woman started screaming for him to stop and calling for help. At this point in time, my husband had witnessed the whole scene while walking back from our mailbox. He reported the woman was trying to fight back and screaming for help. I called the police and gave a full description of both individuals and what we witnessed. Now folks, I don't know about the NFL and football players, but no one is going to put a woman in a headlock and proceed to manhandle her on my watch. And no, I'm not going to stand by and let a friend of mine be verbally abused by a man either. I'll advise her till I'm blue in the face to kick him to the curb and change the locks accordingly. Because you know what people? SOMEBODY HAS TO TAKE A STAND AND SAY TO THE WORLD: YOU DAMN WELL ARE NOT GOING TO ABUSE A WOMAN, MAN, OR CHILD ON MY WATCH. And if the abuser can't understand that? Well then, his arse needs to be jailed and sentenced. End of discussion.
Grace
Greetings! And Happy 2015! Just wanted to comment about a recent experience I had witnessing and reporting domestic violence. We'll get to that episode in a moment. Most close friends know I have vast experience when it comes to domestic violence and sexual harassment. My first marriage was to a man who liked to practice his karate kicks toward my face and found it amusing to lock me in an attic. I walked out on him and never looked back the day he decided that he was going to dictate to me when I could and could not speak to him. Good riddance. Next, I worked in the tech industry where I worked as a receptionist/office assistant and was surrounded my a mostly male work force. The male staff members thought it would be appropriate to hold a strip show in the company lab for the resident chief executive officer's birthday. And I actually had an engineer come to my desk, lay hands on my skirt and proceed to measure the length of said skirt. He also wanted his business card title to read "Engineering God". Yes, I reported these forms of sexual harassment and idiocy. Did I lose friends as a result? You bet! Do I care? Hell no! If you can't stand up and do the right thing fellow sisters, then go find another boat to sail!
Also, I was harassed by an assistant principal when I taught middle school. His abuse came in the form of comments about me as a woman, how I dressed, my hair, my mannerisms, etc. Didn't tolerate that either and reported him to the school superintendent. I thought it was pertinent then to also report that said assistant principal's ex-wife arrived at the school one day and slashed all four tires on his truck. He was a royal jerk. I had fellow staff members who backed up my reports as well. Needless to say, I was not amused when I came across an instance of domestic violence this weekend upon returning home from lunch on Saturday.
First, I moved to the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina over the 2014 holidays. It was a scream. Packed up a house, found a new place to live, and moved to a new residence in the span of three weeks. Upon arriving home to my new residence on Saturday, I saw a man and woman out my bedroom window. It appeared they were taking a walk except there was screaming, pushing, and shoving involved. Then, the man and woman wound up behind the tennis courts and transformer units in my direct view. I watched as the man, who was about six foot two, place the woman in a headlock and proceed to drag her around the area. Next, the woman started screaming for him to stop and calling for help. At this point in time, my husband had witnessed the whole scene while walking back from our mailbox. He reported the woman was trying to fight back and screaming for help. I called the police and gave a full description of both individuals and what we witnessed. Now folks, I don't know about the NFL and football players, but no one is going to put a woman in a headlock and proceed to manhandle her on my watch. And no, I'm not going to stand by and let a friend of mine be verbally abused by a man either. I'll advise her till I'm blue in the face to kick him to the curb and change the locks accordingly. Because you know what people? SOMEBODY HAS TO TAKE A STAND AND SAY TO THE WORLD: YOU DAMN WELL ARE NOT GOING TO ABUSE A WOMAN, MAN, OR CHILD ON MY WATCH. And if the abuser can't understand that? Well then, his arse needs to be jailed and sentenced. End of discussion.
Grace
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