Dear First name / friend,
As I near the completion of my mother’s memoir, I find myself grappling with the final steps before handing it off to the editors. It seems unattainable to find the perfect moment or setting to immerse myself fully: delving into her records, revisiting interview recordings, and ultimately confronting the weight of my grief. This writing process has brought me closer to her in unexpected ways, which is a gift, but it leaves my heart longing for her more than ever. I've grown to understand her, not just as my mom but as a vibrant person who lived a life filled with love and adventure that I am only now beginning to comprehend. She also made mistakes and suffered in silence at times, compromising who she was for the benefit of others.
She fought an invisible battle, and in a way, isn't that something we can all relate to?
In February, I embarked on a solo writing retreat, which included hours of writing dotted with long walks through forests and along the ocean shoreline. This intense period of creativity was a huge success but left me emotionally drained. Since then, I haven’t opened my laptop to write, almost as if in protest against the process. I suppose this is what they call writer’s block. It’s a strange concept.
During the last call with my publishing agency, I was asked if I am giving myself the grace to be in this phase, and the answer is yes: I am giving myself permission to push back timelines, to cry for her, and to recognize that the light at the end of the tunnel is near.
And while I haven't been actively working "in" my book, I've been working "on" sharing my story in other ways. This past month, the BBC documentary we filmed last year, "
Better Off Dead?" was finally released. Additionally, Rebel News released a documentary, “
MAiD: The Dark Side of Canadian Compassion,” in which we are featured. It is currently available for purchase online and will be available through online streaming apps in the coming months.
Looking ahead, I am excited to enter the editing phase and move closer to sharing my mother’s story with the world. I hope to announce publication dates and related events soon.
As always…
