I’ve spent most of my adult life as an Army wife- having married my husband shortly after I graduated from college when he was then a lieutenant. For the next thirty-three-years, as he rose up to the highest rank in the Army, four-star general, I supported him in his career. Being an Army wife became my career and over the years I learned to embrace Army life with all of its flaws and idiosyncrasies; letting the people, the places, and the experiences enrich me and our family.

I suppose I was always a “wanna be” writer, keeping a couple of journals along the way, writing long and detailed letters to our families in Vermont from faraway places like Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, and overseas; Hawaii and Korea. My letters home became a way for me to bring our family along on our travels and adventures. As far back as I can remember, I saw things around me in terms of a story just waiting to be told or written. I very methodically filed away memories, moments, and conversations in my mind, the way some people put away important papers or photos. I think I was actually writing my memoir long before I put pencil to paper.

     Creativity was stirring in me I just wasn’t sure what form it would take. For years I dabbled in all kinds of arts and crafts, photography, and eventually scrapbooking. I felt a need to put our Army life in some sort of order and to be able to share it with others. I believe all of those hobbies were just stepping stones, leading me to my writing.

     When our two sons entered the Army, I found myself in the dual role of Army wife and Army mom. At the time my husband was the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and I had a full and busy life with all of the duties and responsibilities associated with my role as a general’s wife. Together, my husband and I traveled throughout the Army, visiting and talking with Soldiers and advocating for their families. But it wasn’t until both of our sons deployed to Iraq in 2003, flying Apache helicopters in the same unit, that I felt the need for something more in my life to help me cope with the stress of having our only sons in a combat zone. At the same time, I began to see the same need in so many others who were experiencing what we were. I wrote a short book for the Army; a sort of guide book for soldiers’ parents and family members to help them navigate, understand, and cope with Army life. While that was gratifying and certainly helpful to many people, it was also therapeutic for me. Writing that book ignited something in me, giving me the confidence and motivation to write an even bigger story, one that would encompass my life as an Army wife.

     And so it became my dream and my goal to share my story of the wonderful and incredible journey that I have had with my husband and our sons. Hoping that other Army spouses and family members can identify with and maybe be inspired by my story, I also want to open a window into a very unique way of life to anyone, military or civilian. I want to take the reader on my roller coaster ride of a life, giving a close-up view of world events and our personal life in a very intimate way. I want to share our joyous moments, our pain and losses, and give meaning to the day to day sacrifices of soldiers and their families. At the very core, my memoir is also about love, marriage, and raising a family; a theme that is universal.

     After spending about six years writing, I then found myself lost in the big world of publishing and not knowing where to turn. I was so excited that I had finished my manuscript but was naïve in thinking that I could find a publisher on my own. I knew it was going to be difficult, having been told by so many people just how impossible the book publishing world is, but I thought I would be the exception. After months of rejections, I was deflated, discouraged, my ego badly bruised, and wondering if I would ever find my way. Sitting at my computer, staring into space, I remembered the advice of an agent, who had kindly looked at my manuscript and turned it down, but she had told me about a hybrid press called She Writes Press. By then I was realistic enough to know that a traditional publisher was probably not going to take a chance on me. I also knew that I did not want to self publish, something I knew nothing about. I googled SWP and immediately felt a glimmer of hope; it seemed like just the right fit for me. I needed someone to lead me and guide me through the process and that is what Brooke Warner, Crystal Patriarche, and their teams at She Writes Press and SparkPoint Studio do so effortlessly.

     I am proud of myself for not giving up or giving in to my fears of getting published. I followed my heart and my instincts and I did not stop believing in myself or my story. I forced myself to learn new things and move way outside of my comfort zone; not easy for a non-tweeting, Instagram adverse baby boomer, and a complete social media klutz! And now here I am with a website, two Facebook pages, and writing a blog about my soon to be published memoir! I am living my dream!