A Sacred Place

Well I did it.  I wrote a book.  I know what you're saying..."so big deal, who hasn't?"  I've been writing for nearly thirty years but mostly for myself.  Oh I've published a few articles in monthly magazines but they were informational pieces that were facts.  My book is a memoir.  That's the difference, it's personal.  The information gathered in my book took over 50 years to collect.  My author friend Jane Kirkpatrick said that writing about personal things is like standing in front of a window with the lights on and your naked for everyone outside to see.  I hadn't thought about it like that but after she told me that it scared the weebie jeebies out of me.  But, too late, here I am...published.   

 A Sacred Place is a story of how my parents as young newly-weds followed the mule deer migration in the early 1950's to Central Oregon's high desert in search of new hunting grounds.  Upon their arrival they discovered abundance then established a camp and returned each year with my fathers parents and large extended family.  With eight sibblings, each with spouces and multiple children, meat was in high demand.

The story of A Sacred Place is my story.  It tells how we lived each year for weeks at deer camp.  I was raised along with my sister in that place.  I found love, lost love, raised my daughter and suffered great loss in that place.  It is my sacred place, my mountain top.  It's so much more than just a place to harvest meat.

So, it's done.  I published it and people have read it.  So far, I'm gaining confidence as I get feedback from readers.  They like it.  They like my stories.  We all have stories that we can share with others.  My main goal in writing this book wasn't to become famous or make a fortune on it's sales (however that would be nice), it was to preserve my family history.  It defines who I am.  I started writing it 10 years ago after my fathers death.  It was therapeutic.  I thoroughly enjoyed re-living every moment in my memories as if they had just happened.  Upon it's completion, I designed the cover, inserted some of my photography, designed the layout and sent it off for publication.  It's my baby.  Whether good or bad, it's all mine and I'm a proud parent.  I invite you into my stories and hope they might spark you to write some of your own.  I'll bet you have some worth sharing.