To write a book
Maybe you’ve already heard the news, but I’ve written a book. It’s a project over a year in the making and the big book launch is finally inching closer (February of 2022.) For more information about the book itself, check out the new tab at the top of this page titled, The Astronaut’s Wife. A much as I enjoy talking about the book, this blog entry isn’t about that- it’s about WHY I wrote the book. Any book really.
You see, probably the most common question I’ve received from people when I tell them about the project is this, “Have you always wanted to write a book?” The answer is 100% no. But at the same time, you could ask me “Have you always wanted to run a marathon? Or jump out of an airplane? Or throw a live grenade? Or live in Texas? Or have four kids? Or let your cat sleep next your face right after you saw her eat a massive lizard?” and the answer would be the same. 100% no. And yet I’ve done all those things too. “Why do it then?” you’d ask. I think for me, the answer to almost every opportunity in life is, and hopefully always will be, “Why not?” Especially when it comes to writing this book. Because in my soul, in my core, deep down under my love for statistics and well-organized graphs and my sometimes intimidating enneagram 8 exterior, I’m a bleeding-heart storyteller. Always have been. If I’ve got a good tale to tell, as my husband will complain to you, don’t try to cut me short. I love trying new things and pushing myself to my limits and dragging friends and family along on epic adventures, often as much for the stories I get to tell afterwards as much as the event itself. I love telling stories, and my favorites are the ones where you get to learn from my mistakes, my embarrassments, my fears and my tears. One of my best friends calls me her “favorite raconteur” and I wear that badge with pride. It’s been something I’ve been doing casually for decades as I cornered people at BBQs or in between meetings, and semi-professionally in front of women’s groups in Texas and around the country for almost ten years. I’ve been writing short stories, blog entries and leadership training materials for almost as long. I guess storytelling/speaking/writing could technically be considered part of my current job as a leadership coach, but in truth, I just love telling stories and I’d do it for free. So have I always wanted to write a book? No. Am I surprised I wrote a book? No - because I think its the natural progression for someone who has always loved to spin a good yarn and connect with friends and strangers in this incredibly impactful way.
Over the years I’ve actually been surprised by how few books have been written by astronaut spouses about their experiences. A huge shout out to Joann Carr who wrote Keeper of the Flame, a fictionalized version of her Apollo experiences, and Evelyn Husband who wrote High Calling: The Courageous Life and FaIth of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband. I love hearing stories from other astro spouses, both current and former because our experiences are both incredibly diverse and intimately similar at the same time. I’m confident that just as I am not the first, I won’t be the last to share an astro family story. In fact, I’ll do my darnedest to help whoever wants to come next. Because every story is different and fascinating and hilarious and crazy and I want you to hear ALL. THE. STORIES.
Read the book, don’t read the book. Love it, or hate it. Totally up to you. But I hope you do read it, and that you do love it. And I hope that when you finish that last page, you send me a text or an email and tell me that you’re glad I wrote it all down and that it impacted you in some small but meaningful way. That’s what the heart of the storyteller beats for. That’s why I wrote the book.
Thanks for joining me on this big and scary adventure.
