Write On

Write On

Last week my third novel, Scrap Everything, hit bookstores across the country. It’s a story about friendship, faith, and fear. It’s a story about a military family, a family with a medical crisis, and a group of women who gather at a scrapbooking shop. It’s a story about loving your neighbor, taking risks, and growing a friendship. It’s also a story about a cougar, a horse, and a dog named Bear….

I finished Scrap Everything last March, just a couple of weeks before my mother passed away from cancer. Although she read the first draft she wasn’t able to read the revised novel. She read every word of my first two novels, over and over, through revision after revision. She was a very smart reader and a wonderful proofer. She always gave me the confidence to “write on.” I know that she wanted to read the revisions to Scrap Everything, but she was too tired and, finally, much too weak.

When the UPS man dropped my copies of Scrap Everything on my porch a few weeks ago, my husband Peter and I stared at the boxes for half a second before I burst into tears. As I cried, Peter hugged me and asked, “It’s because of your mom, isn’t it?” Yes, my tears were, again, because of Mom, because I couldn’t call her and say, “Scrap Everything is here!” Because I couldn’t say, “I’ll put your copy in the mail tomorrow.”

Still, I know that she’s rejoicing with me. It’s still a sweet time, this month that Scrap Everything is launched into the world. Even now, as I “write on” I feel her encouragement, and I know I can keep writing even without her affirmation.

She’s the beautiful lady in the black-and-white family photo above. I’m the laughing baby sitting on her lap. Her name was Leora, which means “light.” I’ll write more about that photo and the other photos as the weeks go by. I’ll write about friends and faith and overcoming fear (why is it so hard!?) and about French 101 (yes, I’m a student again) and about teaching fiction at Multnomah Bible College. (I love being an adjunct professor.) I’ll also write about scrapbooking and my unfinished scrapbooks (how long can this go on!) and how much I love seeing what my two daughters create on their scrapbook pages.

And I’ll write about writing—how I find time to write amidst a chaotic house of four kids (it’s crazy), and how I weave themes from my own life into my novels. I’ll “write on” and hopefully, if you are a writer or long to be, I’ll encourage you to write also.

Comments

[edj]

Oh I'm so glad you started a blog! Good for you. What a sweet tribute to your mother. I love the pics up top also. Can't wait to read your thoughts on the topics you mentioned.

[Elizabeth Peters]

Thanks for setting up your new site and for the pictures, it's been so long since I've seen you all in person. Though I love writing and stories, I realize more and more that I'm the one God created to enjoy what others have created. After reading that in Edith Schaefer's book "Hidden Art", I became more content. Scrap Everything is delightful and how I relate already to Elise. You write to reality and that is such a pleasure. Thanks again for sharing your heart.

[Kathy Malnory]

Hi Leslie,
Congratulations on your third book. I guess I have to do somce cath-up on my reading. I miss you and wish you the best with your new book. I hope that all the years at The Bridal Connection helped hone your writing skills. You were the best!!!
Kathy