A couple of days ago, I received this email from my project manager at Redemption Press. She said, “I just approved your book and eBook for distribution!”

After more than two years, at last the book is in print. Writing a book is not for the faint of heart. There is writing and re-writing. Pouring your soul into a topic you’d like to forget about, but know it’s important enough to include. Why did I write this particular book? My husband Jim–co-author–and I are facilitators for GriefShare, a grief support group. A lot of the participants are people who’ve been widowed, although there are others with different losses: sibling, parent, friend, child. Those who are widowed, however, often ask, “when is it time to look for another relationship and get married again?”

After our own experience of being widowed and divorced, we knew the road is sometimes treacherous. Sometimes those who are grieving simply want out of their pain and think finding another mate will take the pain away. We can tell you it does not. Not fully being ready to pursue another relationship can be disastrous as we both discovered. You see, each of us were engaged to the wrong person and very nearly found ourselves in a relationship that would have been rocky at the very least.

That’s why we came up with the idea of writing a book together including our own stories to help couples prepare for remarriage. Here’s  a sample from the book. This is from Chapter Three, “How do We Meet?”

From Shirley

I was a bit late as I drove into the crowded parking lot. Meeting someone for the first time is always an adventure. I braced myself for the disappointment I’d experienced so many times. But then I found myself thinking optimistically, imagining that things would be different this time. The sun peeked through the clouds as I stepped past outdoor tables scattered with people. I glanced inside. Nearby stood a trim man dressed in jeans and polo shirt and with a full head of salt-and-pepper hair. His back was to me as he surveyed the crowded lunchtime group.

“Are you Jim?”

He turned to me, friendly blue eyes framed by wire-rimmed square glasses. He flipped his laptop open, looked at my profile photo on the screen and said, “You must be Shirley.”

Our coffee cups long drained, we got up to leave. Jim walked me into the parking lot. “I like your car. It says something about you. And you like red!”

“I do.” We said goodbye and Jim gave me a sideways hug. He pulled away, slowly, as though he didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want him to, either….

From Jim

I arrived early and found a table to observe the main entrance to the coffee shop. As I waited, the minutes seemed like hours. Then it was 12:35. There she was. Wow! She looked just like her photo on the website. Blonde hair, and with her arresting blue eyes I was immediately attracted. Slender, in dressy slacks and a sleeve- less blouse, she confidently walked into the shop.

I felt an instant connection. It was easy to converse with her. She was enthusiastic, attractive and athletic, with a wonderful laugh.

Thus began our story. Though we didn’t have children together, I’d consider this book our baby.

Stay tuned for the release. You can order from this link right now: https://bit.ly/2Ow0Kg0.  It will be soon available on Amazon.

The cover has a photo taken when we became engaged. Below, taken a few months ago.

We’re still smiling!