A Tribute to Samantha

My last to do on my book list was accomplished today. Though I am sure there is a million more to do, but this is the from the short list. Today I signed a copy of the revised book for my sister Samantha. Though my blogs in the past may have painted a tainted view of her editing work - in her words, but let me assure everybody - without her help I would have been lost in the final stages.

Have you ever bitten off a big project and needed some assistance from anybody? This seems like an ongoing theme for me. I remember when I was laying floor tile and I had a few jobs that was so overwhelming I called in my other sister Mara and brother David to help. Just their being there was all the support I needed. But with the book I needed someone drastically! This was when Samantha answered the call.

In writing a book, it is writing draft after draft after draft, and still you have to edit it about fifty times more. In writing the same story again and again it is easy to get lost in it and lose objectivity. I try to push myself away from the project for a month, but after about a week there is this intense pull to complete the project. Obviously I am project driven and hate unfinished business. With Samantha reading the book, giving me pointers, suggestions, and correcting my poor grammer, the book took on a life it didn't have before. It was actually a book!!

Did she miss things? Yes. Did I screw up? Yes!!! Way more than her few misses. But writing, or really any project is art - a creation. There are still flaws in the book and I am hearing about them from readers now - and I am okay with it. I don't profess to be perfect - I too am a piece of art. Though some would say I am a piece of something else. Still, I believe this artwork came out beautiful because of the support I got from my sister in a cruicial period in the books development.

I am happy that this book became a family project, even if there were a few mentions about my father's angry outbursts in my youth. That was the bad daddy from yester year. If you met my father today you couldn't help but fall in love with him. Why not? He works at Disneyland, loves people, always has something kind to say, and he still looks handsome - like his son - thank you very much. My dad has become my best friend and to that level so has my mom who I blasted pretty much through the entire text. Both of them have great hearts, love people, and are always upbeat. I definitely come from good stock.

So thank you Samantha for your stepping forward and reading the over four hundred pages and doing masterful work. It is well appreciated and I hope the folks that read the book understand your input in this project and appreciate you too.

Much love.