I’ve had a bit of a day here, dealing with a situation that’s proved impossible. (Just insurance, people, no one’s jumping off cliffs.)
(Yet.)
Anyway, I’ve put on one of my favorite Christmas music CDs (Neil Diamond’s Acoustic Christmas) and I’ve got my Peppermint Tootsie Roll Pop because chocolate and peppermint and Neil fixes everything. And now that I’m in a better place, I can tell you about my friend, Sonia, and her book.
If you’ve come over from The Muffin, then you already know Sonia. If you’re just popping in, then you’ll want to read “A Christmas (Publishing) Miracle.”
Sonia calls me every day to ask if her books have been delivered (they’re coming Friday). Or to let me know that a friend has ordered the book (though I already know because I manage her bookshelf). And sometimes, she tells me what Father Sunny said (again). But really, Sonia just calls because she’s so darn excited. And because, though she wrote this book, I think she’s still in awe of what she’s accomplished. Sonia needs me to say, “Yep, the books are coming.” Or “Wow. You’ve sold two books!” Or even, “Father Sunny said that?!” But really, what I’m saying is, “Good for you, Sonia. You did it.”
I’m so very happy for her, and truly, it was a privilege to help her. When Sonia’s beloved husband died a few years ago, she was beyond devastated. She wasn’t interested in living in a world without Cipriano. But Sonia’s a woman of deep faith and she turned to that deep well of faith, the saints, and to the virtues that had been the constants in her life. And Sonia came back to life, back to her joyful self. This is the story she wrote about in Finding Joy in Giving Back to God.
If you’re dealing with grief, here’s a little book of hope for you. And you can help the church in the Philippines grow because Sonia’s donating all the proceeds to the Fransalian Missionaries, Inc. in the Philippines (where she grew up). But you don’t have to buy Sonia’s book for a happy ending to this story. Sonia’s joy is back and that’s a wonder to behold. She cheers me up every day.
Even on a day when insurance thinks it will get the better of me. (But it hasn’t.)
(Yet.)
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
Cathy–I said it on your post at The Muffin, and I will say it here, too: You are a wonderful friend and a wonderful writer. Taking the time to do line-editing and formatting, when you’re (I’m sure) crazy busy with your own writing and books?
THAT is admirable.
Have a great holiday, and remember: with your friend Sonia, you were part of a Christmas miracle.
Thank you, Sioux. It WAS hard work, but I think that helping Sonia these last couple of weeks is much like teaching…I got way more than I could’ve imagined, including joy.
Cathy, this is almost the same story as mine. This little old woman in Alaska sent me letters for a year and asked me to write her book. I took it to Kinkos and had it bound, but no, she wanted a real, print edition to give to friends. She was so tenacious. I am glad i did it, but didn’t charge her, Found her a publisher, did all the leg work and well you know. What an admirable thing you did for Sonia.
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