Two Year Bookaversary

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Animals, Anniversary, Author, Blessings, Blind, Book, Book Deal, Bookaversary, Dog, Guide Dog, Happiness, Hay House, Hiden Dissability, Iamwriting, Labradoodle, Munch, partnership, Publishing, Sight Loss

It’s been a blink of an eye kind of two years since our book was published. Luckily, it was published in Sept 2019 well before life changed for everyone during the Pandemic. It was much easier to publish and promote a book back in the ‘Old Pre-Covid World’ where travel, interviews, signings and everything else that comes with publishing was far easier and more natural. Munch was a far happier dog when he could sashay freely in the world meeting, greeting and making people fall in love with him.

Since then, life has been a little busy with other adventures but I still love to write when I get a spare moment. An increase in working hours, completing a course plus becoming a supervisor in work has meant that these spare moments are few and far between. Adding into the mix a gorgeous new grandson has meant an ever increasing family which has been so amazing, yet my writing is feeling a little neglected.

My writing fits into the category of hobby  rather than a profession but who knows maybe one day that will change. With spontaneity more appealing than discipline, I may need to quite down my search for new adventures long enough to create an opportunity to write as an author instead of a Literature Dabbler. As a young child, it did cross my mind that I would love to be an author due to the  love and escapism books bring to their readers. I did however want to be a Firefighter, a Pilot and a Detective although maybe none of those were the easiest of choices for a blind person but it’s always important to reach for the stars and keep your dreams alive!

Munch has however telepathically dictated a self help book that I….sorry we…. have finished writing and are  nearing the end of a light hearted novel which has been so fun to write. We have a rough draft of a more academically geared book that is threatening to be released into the Laptop very soon after being approached by someone to write one, so there is no rest for the wicked. Whether we choose to publish these or just keep writing for fun, who knows. As long as we keep having fun writing,  that is all that matters.

Fear not, Munch’s addiction to showing his face in photos is still being fed as he has been asked if Guide Dogs can use his face for some learning resources in schools which I think is fab idea. Raising awareness about how these magical beings help the lives of people with sight loss is crucial so we are always up for that. I am glad Minster (Munch’s professional Guide Dog name) and his antics will have a chance to always be remembered in our book and beyond. I whole heartedly wish that for the next two years and beyond, we can keep spreading Minster Munch’s antics far and wide. Thanks Munch for being the best co-author ever.

Things Happen For A Reason

Tags

Animal, Blind, Book Deal, Dog, Happiness, Hay House, Inspire, Love, Meaning of lIfe, Motivation, Positivity, Things Happen For A Reason, Writing

Giving thanks to failures and challenges in my life has never been as powerful as it is today Kissing the closed doors that have shut in my face and celebrating all my body parts that don’t function as well as a ‘healthy’ body, I can’t wait for magical days ahead of me that are waiting to be lived. If I was given the opportunity to have born with perfect sight, I would have turned it down. These things have all happened for a reason.

If my sight had not gone from bad to laughable, I would not have met my furry soul mate Munch and we would not have been about to embark on a very exciting time together. If he wasn’t born with not only the ideal temperament of an amazing Guide Dog but also the personality of a star, I would not have started this blog. A personality such as his needs to be shared to show that dogs are not just possessions that owners keep but equal beings that enhance life of the less hairy friends they end up living with.

The love of reading books was challenged many years ago when I stopped being able to read them. Isn’t the only option left then in such a situation, to write them instead to keep this love affair alive? It is this love of the written word that I have never seen clearly, that motivated me to attend a writer’s workshop 6 months ago. As Munch got lots of new beautiful admirers, I got lots of new ideas. A competition to win a book deal with one of the world’s leading publishers was offered to one lucky winner. As I scribbled down words that I could not see to look like I fitted in, I felt like an imposter in a room full of professionals.

Never one to pass up a challenge, I thought I may as well submit something and worked on a proposal for 3 months only to change my mind on the subject. As Munch lay his head on my lap during a meditation one night I knew that the book should be about him and his beauty. Relying on narration on the laptop to write the blurry words, we didn’t have long to chuck something together and make it look something like a few chapters.

Without all of things happening for a reason, we would not be about to start a whole new way of life. As the voice of an angel phoned me the day before the official date of the winner being announced to tell us we had won the competition, I thanked the universe for giving me a life full of luck. Three days on, I am still checking the video of the announcement on the official Hay House page to check that this is not just a long day dream. Why would they have picked this book proposal out of so many talented writers with books that people need to read.

Over the last 17 years, I have become a Hay House groupie. I have many of their books that I cannot read but bought to pass on to others who need them. Oracle cards line the shelves in my bedroom and I have their logo on Vision boards of things that make me happy. I have been to many of their workshops and seminars because they have people who you cannot help but love. These true earth angels spread messages that gives people hope and motivation to change the way people think and live. They are here for a reason.

I believe the reason that I was born with a connective tissue disorder was to be able to feel whole even in an imperfect body. The reason that I was partially sighted form birth was that it allowed me to see the world in a different way than many. The reason that Munch came into my life was to teach me it was now okay to tell the world that I could not see after pretending I could for the last 38 years of my life. The reason that all these things happened was to be able to have a story to write that helps people see the beauty in difference.

Things happen for a reason that we may not realize. When we think we are suffering, we are making room for better things. When we suffer physical pain, we are reminded of how precious health is. When we lose the ability to do something, we gain the ability to live life in a whole different way. When we think we are not good enough at something in life we are admiring the perfection in another person that exists within us that we need to wake up.

As Munch and I enter a dreamlike reality, we really hope that you find yours too and are just as ecstatic as we are with your new lives. I feel so blessed that such an amazing publisher is interested in my writing that has been inspired by Munch and countless other two-legged beings. Keep focussed on your dreams. Miracles really do happen.