It feels great to finally release my first book! The hours spent writing and editing was an investment of time that will reverberate forward. I can’t wait to hear how God uses the book to help others.
The final product was shipped to me last Wednesday. But as I opened my first case of books on the kitchen counter my eyes were moist. It was a bittersweet experience for me. Just a few hours earlier I was sitting in a beautiful chapel at my editor’s funeral.
Neil Eskelin loved writing. I just met him in January and he was instrumental in telling my story through the pages of this book. I wanted to place a final copy in his hands. He was so much more than my editor. He was a fountain of wisdom in the whole process of writing, publishing and marketing books. Plus, he lived less than five miles away and I anticipated a continuing friendship with him for many more years.
His enthusiasm for writing, actually for life, was contagious. One of the first books he wrote, “ Yes, Yes Living in a No, No World”, captures his encouraging and positive outlook well. Yet he was a realist and knew the ups and downs of everyday life.
Although earthly life ended for this servant of God, his ministry is experiencing a new beginning. Not only is he enjoying the eternal presence with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his work continues on in all the words he has written and edited here in this world. I’m so thankful for his influence and help with “Surprised by Tragedy.” I am even more grateful for the ripple effect of his life that will continue as long as I have breath and my book is read by another!
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