Book title announcement

The internet does so much to connect people and it accomplishes that feat by making the world a smaller place. I once believed that my voice couldn't transcend my little town, that writers didn't come from places like the one I lived. Due in no small part to social media we are no longer isolated from places, events and people. Everything that your mind can imagine is now at your internet enabled fingertips.

Last year I was graciously asked to write a little piece as a sidebar for a diabetes parenting book and the publisher liked what I wrote enough to not hang up on me when I, in the middle of an unrelated phone conversation, began to pitch my book idea like I had nothing to lose. Pretty gutsy for a man whose only other printed works were from an elementary school writing contest (see pic below). I began to tell the publisher about all of the experiences that I've had throughout my life living in what is generally considered to be a woman's world. I told a few stories and ended by professing my sincere desire for people to see their relationships and families through one another's eyes, a gift that our role reversal has given me. A few weeks later I was writing a book about being a stay-at-home dad.

I expect my next book to have a slightly nicer type set.

I've always hoped that I'd have an opportunity like this and I want you all to know that it's due in large part to your support of Arden's Day that I am getting this chance. I can't thank you enough for the continued love and support that you've shown me through our 'internet connection'. I am working hard to bring you the same honest, emotional look into life as a stay-at-home parent that I've tried to bring to type I caregiving. I don't think that you'll ever look at the primary caregiver in your family the same way again.

My book, 'Life is Short, Laundry is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad' will be available for Father's Day of 2013. The book tells a bunch of great stories from my 12 years of being a dad but most of all it's a love letter to the people that stay at home and raise our children. Being able to watch Cole and Arden grow is one of the true pleasure of my life and I hope that everyone will leave the pages of my book feeling the same way I do about loving and raising a family. 

I want to thank Leighann from the D-Mom Blog for starting me on this road when she asked me to write a piece for her new book, Spry Publishing for not hanging up on me, WEGO Health for spotlighting bloggers that are writing books and my family who has been so understanding as I write these past few months - I promise I'll get back to cooking decent meals very soon!

I'm going to do my best to keep you up to date on my progress as the writing process moves forward. At the moment, I'm just writing and trying to hit my manuscript deadline of September 1st. 

related links:

My author page

WEGO Health's Health Activist Authors series for online writers interested in making the jump to print.

Leighann's Book, 'Kids First, Diabetes Second'

Father's Day 2012 brings great news!

I have some great news and I couldn't think of a better day then Father's Day to share it.

A lot of wonderful things have happened in my life and I have my family to thank for most of them. I think of myself as having two families actually... the first is made up of my wife Kelly and our two children, the second is much larger and it includes all of you in the diabetes online community. 

Kelly, Cole and Arden have brought countless joys into my life and the time that I've spent with my children over the last twelve years as a stay-at-home dad has been, and continues to be, an irreplaceable gift. My family has taught me lessons that I never imagined existed. Our experiences, struggles and victories have left me with a million great stories and a unique perspective. What is traditionally considered to be a mother's role in our families is so much more then I expected when I quit my job in the spring of 2000 to stay at home with Cole. The immense effort, endless worry and constant feeling that I'm not doing my best is but a fraction of what it means to be the parent whose responsibilities range from grocery shopping to amateur child psychologist and everything in between.

As if from a dream the two things in my life that I feel most passionate about have converged and their combination has brought me a wonderful gift. Being a stay-at-home dad has lent me a sincere appreciation for a traditional mother's life while my five years as a diabetes blogger have taught me how to tell my story without (hopefully) boring the pants off of my readers. Writing for all of you is not unlike being a stay-at-home dad as I find both to not only be a privilege, but an honor that my life is greater for. When I started this blog I considered myself a storyteller that had a young child with diabetes and my only hope was that sharing my experiences might make yours just a little easier. The blog grew, my writing along with it and today Arden's Day is one of my greatest sources of pride.

It is with that pride held very close to my heart that I type these next words... My first book from Spry Publishing will be on shelves in June of 2013. The yet to be titled book about my life as a stay-at-home dad and a diabetes caregiver to my daughter Arden is my first written offering outside of the blogging world (unless you count 'Star Wanted to be a Star' and 'Grammy and the Green Ford', my two 'Young Author Award' winning efforts from grammar school). 

A brief announcement about my book as well as a number of others from some prominent DOC members can be found on Spry's website. I'd love to tell you what they said about my writing here but I'm actually a little embarrassed. I can share this however... I am working very hard to give you all a book that lives up to the high praise that you'll read if you follow that link.

Wishing you a very Happy Father's Day!

Best,

Scott