Wow. I did it. First draft. By no means done but for the most part I had a working draft! Once I got started, I just went with it. Now the part where I need to market it to publishers. But first figure out which ones I might like to work with.
The book is co-written by my late son, Charles Aubrey Rogers, and features a lot of his lyrics as chapters. It’s inside the mind of someone who suffers mental illness, addiction and has frequent thoughts of suicide. I had no idea until I read his notebooks how plagued he was with these thoughts. If only I had known.
I am wondering some things. I have integrated his lyrics as chapters, would you want to see more of his songs at the end? I’ll warn you. You can’t read but so many at once. They are dark but so revealing. It was when I saw the volume of them (and I have only one fourth of what he wrote) that I realized what I had been up against. The book is probably around 150-200 pages I would imagine.
His words answered a lot of the why behind suicide and addiction and I think it will answer a lot of questions others might have about their loved ones who suffer or suffered from depression and addiction.
I can’t believe I actually finished a first draft. At the moment, I’m pretty darn proud of myself. I will keep you up to date with progress including rejection letters!
You GO grillfren!!!!! Love ya!
Thank you!
Congratulations! I’m so proud and in awe of you tackling this emotional project. I know that countless people who struggle with mental illness and/or addiction and those that love them will benefit from reading your book. Follow your heart on how many of Charles’ songs to include. I will pray that you find the right publisher as quickly as possible.
Congrats on your first draft. I’ve been thinking about the your worry that the book may be too dark. Maybe some of who Charles was underneath/before the problems surfaced. Even the way Charlie was so insightful, like the time he asked you if you were following your own dream. Charles was so much more than his demons. 💖
You are right Jan. I will be combing through it in the coming weeks to make sure I’ve kept it real and included those parts of his personality as well.
Congratulations, Anne Moss! What an accomplishment! And Charles would be so proud of all your achievements. My son, Tyler, left us 12/7/15; I was thinking this morning that I’m almost ready to publicly share his story of mental illness and addiction. There is some child out there that needs to hear his story. Keep up the good work, my friend.
Oh Tjwanna, I would love your story. We’d be honored. And thank you. Now the hard work begins on the book. Editing!
Congratulations. ..your HP and Charles will guide you about his songs..
I believe that to be true. I want to put more in there but it has to be a balance. They are dark and I don’t want it to be too dark.
Wowsa baby! Go girl! You inspire me to start my blog…..
Thank you Gray. And you can always write here until you do! You are good at it
Yes! We want to see anything and everything Charles wrote. Both of your words will help others – I’m sure of it.
Thank you Leigh.