My Book Is Born: Meet The D-Word

A few times over the past couple years, I’ve let it slip around these circles that I wrote a book. It started on an unsuspecting day in July 2010. Suddenly, there were words in my head that begged to be set free, and so I started typing. For the next few months I sat at the keyboard and allowed the text to pour from my fingertips. When I was finished, I’d written the story of a divorce from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl named Gina (I posted an excerpt from her diary earlier this week).

At first, I thought I was writing for young adults in Gina’s situation. It was several pages— possibly several days— before I realized that, more than anything, I wanted adults to read Gina’s story.

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Gina’s Diary: My Parents Keep Fighting

I’ll tell you more about Gina soon. For now, I’d like to focus on her problem. I only recall a handful of times when I was awakened in the night by my parents’ arguments, but that was enough. I remember the irritation, the stress (sometimes it lasted for days afterward), the curiosity… I remember being wide awake after the fight was over and feeling like I’d never get back to sleep. There were times when I wanted to get up and make a trip to the bathroom or to the kitchen for a drink, yet I was afraid to move from my bed because I didn’t want my mom and dad to know I hadn’t slept through their turmoil.

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Saturday’s Song: Footloose

Today’s song was a request from one of my readers. I have to say, it’s completely appropriate as a weekend pick-me-up. But, it’s also a little bittersweet for me to post it because this movie (the original, of course!) was one I wanted to watch with Ex-BF and the boys. I always thought Drake would love it, and I wonder if he’s seen it yet. On a happier note, my college roommate once told me that she used to kick off her shoes and sing this song to her sister after returning from church with her family. That story makes me smile.

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