Today we enter the serious world of memoirs and "how-to" books. I've read a fair selection of them this year and some memoirs touched me deeply, while some "how to" books gave me great ideas and inspiration. Certainly, from my perspective, as a writer, I can understand how hard writing "How to" books can be. At what level of understanding do you pitch it? It can be very easy to overestimate your reader's understanding of the subject. Kudos to those who write in this category. Similarly, memoirs, especially the painful ones, although cathartic for the author, must also be very trying - reliving that pain as you put it on paper. An excellent category and some great nominees, so let's get into it.
non fiction / memoirs
The first nominee in this category is a heartfelt memoir from Eichin Chang-Lim titled; A Mother's Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent
This book surprised me just a little bit. I guess I was expecting a very sad and angst-ridden story of the difficulties of raising a special needs child. What I got instead was a simple, straightforward account of the highs and lows of dealing with the needs of a child who has some form of disadvantage over the other kids.
Eichin Chang-Lim's first child Teddy, was born profoundly deaf and with some vision issues also. Chang-Lim candidly relates the initial shock and disappointment that her long-awaited for bundle of joy is not quite so perfect after all. What she shows us in this book is that once the intial shock is over there is work to be done, for both the child and the parent's sake. She doesn't pull any punches or sugarcoat the experience, she relates what she had to do for Teddy in a simple, straightforawrd narrative along with the effect her son's disability had on everyone in the family.
The chapter from Teddy's younger sister may have been short, but it was illuminating in showing the differences in perspective between the child and the sibling.
There is no doubt having a special needs child puts all sorts of strains on work and family relationships, but Chang-Lim is able to show that sometimes it is practacalities and the pragmatic approach that may have to ho;d sway over the initial emotional and heartfelt response.
The authors love for her child could never be brought into question, but even she admitted when Teddy became an adult, it was difficult for her to let go and to give him his independence.
An honest, frank and warming memoir of one woman's journey with her special needs child. I enjoyed taking it with her, very much.
This book surprised me just a little bit. I guess I was expecting a very sad and angst-ridden story of the difficulties of raising a special needs child. What I got instead was a simple, straightforward account of the highs and lows of dealing with the needs of a child who has some form of disadvantage over the other kids.
Eichin Chang-Lim's first child Teddy, was born profoundly deaf and with some vision issues also. Chang-Lim candidly relates the initial shock and disappointment that her long-awaited for bundle of joy is not quite so perfect after all. What she shows us in this book is that once the intial shock is over there is work to be done, for both the child and the parent's sake. She doesn't pull any punches or sugarcoat the experience, she relates what she had to do for Teddy in a simple, straightforawrd narrative along with the effect her son's disability had on everyone in the family.
The chapter from Teddy's younger sister may have been short, but it was illuminating in showing the differences in perspective between the child and the sibling.
There is no doubt having a special needs child puts all sorts of strains on work and family relationships, but Chang-Lim is able to show that sometimes it is practacalities and the pragmatic approach that may have to ho;d sway over the initial emotional and heartfelt response.
The authors love for her child could never be brought into question, but even she admitted when Teddy became an adult, it was difficult for her to let go and to give him his independence.
An honest, frank and warming memoir of one woman's journey with her special needs child. I enjoyed taking it with her, very much.
Our second nominee in this category is a "How To" book on being an independent author (obviously something dear to my own heart). By Eeva Lancaster, the book is titled; Being Indie: A No-Holds Barred Self-Publishing Guide for Fiction Authors.
Being Indie by Eeva Lancaster is exactly what I've come to expect from this punchy and feisty author. She states early on in the book she hates bullshit and there is no bullshit in Being Indie. It is a powerful, straight-forward and easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to launch yourself into the world of Indie Publishing.
I expect for established Indie Authors this book will be an invaluable reference tool that we can check on from time to time when stumped with an issue, but for those new and inexperienced to the Indie world, it will be an absolute Godsend. Lancaster doesn't sugar-coat anything. She tells you that you have to work damn hard to make a success of this business and even then, there are no guarantees.
This is not a how-to-do things type of book, although there are some useful explanations on some areas I certainly was fuzzy on. What it is, is a book that outlines every aspect that you, as an author, need to get right BEFORE you hit the "publish" button. There is loads of useful advice on where to go to find help in a variety of areas.
I absolutely loved this book and will be finding it useful for many years to come, I have no doubt about that. The shoot-from-the-hip Lancaster impressed me with the first book of hers I read and now she has confirmed that she is a font of impressive and useful knowledge in the minefield that is Indie Publishing.
All self-published authors or wannabes really need to read this book. I highly recommend it.
Being Indie by Eeva Lancaster is exactly what I've come to expect from this punchy and feisty author. She states early on in the book she hates bullshit and there is no bullshit in Being Indie. It is a powerful, straight-forward and easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to launch yourself into the world of Indie Publishing.
I expect for established Indie Authors this book will be an invaluable reference tool that we can check on from time to time when stumped with an issue, but for those new and inexperienced to the Indie world, it will be an absolute Godsend. Lancaster doesn't sugar-coat anything. She tells you that you have to work damn hard to make a success of this business and even then, there are no guarantees.
This is not a how-to-do things type of book, although there are some useful explanations on some areas I certainly was fuzzy on. What it is, is a book that outlines every aspect that you, as an author, need to get right BEFORE you hit the "publish" button. There is loads of useful advice on where to go to find help in a variety of areas.
I absolutely loved this book and will be finding it useful for many years to come, I have no doubt about that. The shoot-from-the-hip Lancaster impressed me with the first book of hers I read and now she has confirmed that she is a font of impressive and useful knowledge in the minefield that is Indie Publishing.
All self-published authors or wannabes really need to read this book. I highly recommend it.
The final nomination in the Non Fiction/Memoir category of this year's Grunter Awards is a stark, at times harrowing, but also touching view of two Americans serving in South Korea just after the cessation of hostilities in the region. By D Davidson and R Marcano it is titled; Butterfly Wish: A Doomed Interracial Love Affair Set in Post War South Korea.
A bittersweet wander down memory lane is what awaits readers of Butterfly Wish by D Davidson and R Marcano. Fifty years ago, two tough young men from New York were stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Although the conflict was long over, the experience of living in a country where life was valued so little and almost anything was available, for the right price, would teach them much about life and even love amongst the B Girls of the hovel of a village that lined the Air Force Base. Both men experienced the comaraderie of belonging to a Unit but also the guilt and loss of living somewhere where they were neither wanted nor liked, except for their money. As seventy-year olds, Manny and Shane return seeking forgiveness, redemption or perhaps even some sort of reconciliation with those they had left behind.
I found this story to be very touching in places, but equally harsh and somewhat scathing of the attitude of US troops who were stationed in South Korea and one could imagine, by extension, to those who served later in Vietnam or were stationed in Japan, the Philippines or other Asian countries. The attitude of the US forces to the locals was incredibly stereotypical and most seemed unable to see beyond the thoughts of getting drunk and getting laid. Both Manny and Shane were good men at heart, but even they fell prey, at times, to treating the local women with disdain. One thing became clear, however, their brief experience in Korea would shape these two men's future. I enjoyed the writing and the frank retelling of events as they actually were without any attempts to gloss over or try to justify the horrors faced by the civilian population. It was hard hitting and yet deeply touching at times. In Butterfly Wish, Davidson and Mercano have brought alive something which very few of us would ever experience. An excellent job by the authors and a fascinating story.
A bittersweet wander down memory lane is what awaits readers of Butterfly Wish by D Davidson and R Marcano. Fifty years ago, two tough young men from New York were stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Although the conflict was long over, the experience of living in a country where life was valued so little and almost anything was available, for the right price, would teach them much about life and even love amongst the B Girls of the hovel of a village that lined the Air Force Base. Both men experienced the comaraderie of belonging to a Unit but also the guilt and loss of living somewhere where they were neither wanted nor liked, except for their money. As seventy-year olds, Manny and Shane return seeking forgiveness, redemption or perhaps even some sort of reconciliation with those they had left behind.
I found this story to be very touching in places, but equally harsh and somewhat scathing of the attitude of US troops who were stationed in South Korea and one could imagine, by extension, to those who served later in Vietnam or were stationed in Japan, the Philippines or other Asian countries. The attitude of the US forces to the locals was incredibly stereotypical and most seemed unable to see beyond the thoughts of getting drunk and getting laid. Both Manny and Shane were good men at heart, but even they fell prey, at times, to treating the local women with disdain. One thing became clear, however, their brief experience in Korea would shape these two men's future. I enjoyed the writing and the frank retelling of events as they actually were without any attempts to gloss over or try to justify the horrors faced by the civilian population. It was hard hitting and yet deeply touching at times. In Butterfly Wish, Davidson and Mercano have brought alive something which very few of us would ever experience. An excellent job by the authors and a fascinating story.
... and the winner is!
The Grunter Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing in the Non Fiction / Memoir Category goes to: Being Indie by Eeva Lancaster. Congratulations Eeva.
Next time we shall be looking at another of the very big and very exciting categories - Romance. Don't miss that one.
Till then, have a wonderful, peace-filled day!
CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!
EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES LIFE PRESENTS TO YOU AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
HAVE A GREAT LIFE AND SPREAD THE LOVE!
CHANGING THE WORLD – ONE READER AT A TIME
EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES LIFE PRESENTS TO YOU AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
HAVE A GREAT LIFE AND SPREAD THE LOVE!
CHANGING THE WORLD – ONE READER AT A TIME
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