OK. I need your help. Before you answer that question, I want you to know that you guys are the reason this book got written.
For the last three years, you have been asking me, “So when are you going to write a book?” Or, “Anne Moss, you need to write a book.” So I did. And when I needed encouragement to keep going, you guys were my cheerleaders. You are part of this book.
So while I’m not broadcasting the title, I can at least share the title with my tribe.
I’m calling it:
Diary of a Broken Mind
A window into the soul of a son who suffered from depression, addiction, and died by suicide
ONE-SENTENCE DESCRIPTION
This book takes you through my journey to find life after my son’s shocking suicide and answers the “why” behind this cause of death, revealed through my family’s story, evidence-based research, and previously unpublished lyrics by my son, the deceased co-author.
CATEGORY (I think)
Self-help/narrative-driven memoir
Now, here’s the part where I need your help. I need your answer to the question below.
Why would you want to read my book?
Apparently, memoir can be a tough sell. Even though it’s a subcategory called, self-help memoir.
Would you buy it? Would you read it? If so, I would like some quotes from you all on why you’d buy it and read it. I will include these quotes in my book proposal. Because like I said, you guys are part of it. So you might as well be part of helping me get that agent.
Agents and publishers are going to want to see if it has marketability. In other words, will it sell? As a marketer for decades, I can understand that. So you tell me. Why would you want to buy and read my book?
So give me some quotes I can screenshot! Thank you.
FYI: Facebook Responses
As the mother of a recovering addict, I will read your book and share it with other mothers who have children fighting substance abuse disorder. lt is important to understand what our children deal with, so that we can be of support without enabling. It is also crucial to hear stories from mothers who have found ways to cope with the grief and loss that accompany mental illness and substance abuse disorder. It helps me to heal.
Anne Moss is a guiding light to parents who have lost a child to suicide and to those who are struggling with mental health and addiction. Her hard-earned wisdom, perseverance, and willingness to get “emotionally naked” have created a community of support for people in their most desperate hours. What I love most about Anne Moss is her unwavering insistence that our children did not die a “less noble death,” that there is no shame, that they suffered from a disease, and that more resources, research, and education can help. Her fierce love for Charles and her dedication to saving lives is inspiring. Charles was a clever, insightful poet and I look forward to reading his words.
Anne, I would buy your book in hopes of better understanding the inner demons that crippled my son and ultimately were his demise. Your book would also help me to validate my own struggles as a parent of a child with multiple mental health diagnoses and addiction. What most people don’t understand about the struggles of parents of the addicted are the overwhelming feelings of helplessness and of failure that come from slowly watching your beloved child self-destruct right before your eyes; wanting so desperately to fix them and having no power to do so. I know that you understand those things. More importantly, your gift is in how you are able to perfectly describe my pain through your mutual experience. So, yes, I want to buy your book and suspect there are many other mothers and fathers who will want to as well.
Anne Moss I would buy your book because being a recovering addict I need to understand how families feel. In active addiction we only care about the next fix. We know the people who love us are hurting but our best friend has become the drug. It makes feel good and it doesn’t judge or yell. We are depressed and filled with shame and guilt so avoidance and isolation is what we turn to. This disease tears families apart. I would so love to help families really understand how the addict brain works. Maybe if you normal people can see what we are going through and how our brains work you would truly come to understand it’s not anyone’s fault and it truly is a disease. We all have the same symptoms to make a diagnosis. Best of luck on your book
Perfectly said Missy. Thank you
Missy, I think you have a book to write as well.
I will buy your book because you do great work shedding light on addiction, mental health, and suicide. I will buy your book because I too lost a son to suicide. I will buy your book because the mental health system in Virginia needs fixing and nothing will change if nothing changes. I will buy your book because I believe in you.
Oh Donia thank you so much
I will read ANYTHING you write, my friend. You inspire us with your words and show us what strength, grace, courage, and hope looks like. The honesty with which you share Charles’ story is refreshing.
Thank you so much Michele. Funny, how I don’t see myself that way but I’m going to buy into that as best I can.
This book will be a must-read for me. I don’t know anyone without a loved one suffering from addiction or mental health challenges. What is unique about this book is that it will reveal the struggle from two perspectives: Anne Moss, the mother of a beloved son who died by suicide and insights from Charles, a young man who left behind written testimony in the form of rap lyrics. I can’t wait to read this book. Whether you live in a big city or a small town, you’ve seen the effects of addiction. Buy this book and be educated. We can make a difference!
Thank you. I said exactly that in the proposal. But so much more powerful coming from a potential buyer! This is great
I would read this book to get a better understanding of what those suffering from addiction and depression are going through. I have many people in my life who battle mental health issues on a daily basis and not knowing how to relate to them is such a helpless feeling. Anne Moss’s book might not be an easy read, but I have no doubt that it will be powerful, moving and insightful.
Thank you Laura
I have several reasons for wanting to buy and read this book. 1. I’m acutely aware that we are in the grip of a mental health/drug addiction/suicide epidemic and I’m not at all convinced that even the professionals know how to effectively help those stuck in its grasp. 2. I have 2 teenagers – 1 of whom has anxiety, ADD, and sleep issues which I know relates to Charles’ situation so I may gain some insight. 3. (To be fair this should be reason number 1.) With a high risk teenager in an epidemic like this, I’m looking for an edge – the ability to recognize signs, to be a step ahead, to be able to help as quickly as is possible. I’m looking to understand this in a way that I don’t currently because it might just save a life.
Thank you so much Denise. For the bullet points too
I absolutely will buy, read, and give this book to others. Your honesty in sharing the real,raw emotions and reality is most compelling to me. It’s not just showing the depth of your love. But the depth of Charles’ despair, and your own as you came to learn how he truly struggled. You didn’t gloss over any of it. That bravery and honesty is why you have such a large reach and an extremely loyal tribe. 💙
Thank you fellow warrior.
I will buy your book because I am The Mother of a 19 year old son who has a sud and attempted suicide. I will Buy your book because As a mom who has experienced the trauma that goes through this unimaginable pain of a child with a sud we are a tribe that leans on others who have experienced similar experiences. I read Books like this to get thru my pain. Books like The Joey Song, beautiful boy, Stay Close and Tending Dandelions are all books I have read. You and these other authors write how I feel sometimes and express it better than I can myself. We need each other and need to support each other. These are a few reasons why I will buy your book!
Thank you Kelly. Perfectly said.