Hello my friends, I wanted to tell you that everything is moving along beautifully with the book, When Every Day Matters: A Mother’s Memoir on Love, Loss and Life. Please visit www.wheneverydaymatters.com to read a little and see what’s going on - all good stuff. I’m so happy with the cover. I think that Nathan Linn did a gorgeous job capturing the strength of this angel. I wanted to convey courage and beauty because I want my readers to find their own courage, strength and beauty to live the life that is in front of them! To make choices for themselves that reflect their hopes and desires and to have faith, faith that their spiritual pilgrimage will lead them to their most peaceful place.

The book left yesterday to be printed. I am grateful for the beautiful layout by Sue of Just Your Type Desktop Publishing. I am also beyond grateful to my agent Diva, Maureen O’Crean, who pulled this all together.

Stayed tuned and let me know your thoughts about reading and writing books and what’s going on in your life!

Aug. 28, 2009

The message of hope continues with When Every Day Matters. The Catholic Star Herald ran a story yesterday that you can read on http://www.WhenEveryDayMatters.com

On a daily basis I hear from people all over the world answer my question, “Are You Feeling Hopeless?” They say they were but are now finding comfort as they read my feelings, my thoughts. That’s comforting to me.

None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Look at the Kennedy family; look at their combined courage and joy even in the face of overwhelming grief - recently Maria Shriver’s incredible mother and now her uncle, The Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy. That handsome Irish family knows how to make Every Day Matter. They are unstopable and they model faith for us all.

My message is not one of grieving. My message is to help the grieving world to find hope again. Sarah Ban Breathnach told me that when people need to find me and my message of hope they will. Sarah is correct.

January 14, 2009

A new year.  A new beginning.  It’s been a busy time with many blessings for When Every Day Matters.  Talks, interviews, articles, signings, helping people. People write to me from all over the world.  Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, psychologists, priests, nuns.   I am  grateful for the heart-felt reviews.  My only pain was with an unhappy brother-in-law who wrote two negative reviews (one under an assumed name) and an envious sister-in-law.  I have had to forgive them and pray for them as we all must do to use our time and life productively.

As you may know by now a publisher in India, St. Paul’s and Better Yourself Books, picked up the foreign rights for distribution in five third world countries where grief wears the same sorrowful face.  It is a smaller book due to font size but the same contents within making it less expensive to produce for distribution in poor regions.  It is lovely, nevertheless.  The artist who designed the cover placed a child sitting by a serene river.  I am delighted with it and I believe that Katie is, too.

I hope for a Spanish translation now.  That is my prayer.  Dios te salve, Maria, llena eres de gracia.