Back in 2004, just before I got married, I read an email on an autism-related mailing list that was a call for submissions to a new book that was coming out called "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising a Child with Special Needs". I figured "What the heck..." and I wrote the story called "The Most Important Words", which I sent in via email.
The story is about my grandmother who always used to say to me"There's nothing wrong with you!". Among all of the other things that worked out well for me in life, I believe it was Nana's faith in me and her grumpy way of saying "There's nothing wrong with you" that really helped me out.
She had faith in me and wouldn't let me grow up believing there was something wrong with me. I wanted to share that with parents, caregivers...and, of course, grandparents. Perhaps a little faith might be a big help!
I didn't hear back, so I carried on with the business of getting married, buying our first house and advancing my career.
In 2006, I got a letter in the mail stating that my story was in the running to be accepted and I needed to read it over, make any changes and sign a permission slip for the story to be used, should it be chosen. I signed my life away, made any changes, provided a 50 work biography that would be published should the story be accepted and faxed it all off. If my story was accepted, I'd receive some money. I didn't get my hopes up and just left it to the universe to do as it will.
It would be another few months before I got another letter saying that my story was in the final running and it came with a proof of what it would look like in the book. I was to check for errors and send it back with my stamp of approval, which I did and sent it all back again.
Last month, I received a final letter. My story had been accepted for the book. Out of over 5000 stories that were read by over 150 test readers and rated, mine was good enough to go into the book. It had received high ratings from the readers, I would be receiving a cheque in the mail and I am now a member of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Team.
"Wow..." I thought in my usual autistic way of curbing emotions. "It was that good?" The Universe obviously decided that it was!
I got my cheque and the book was released on September 3. I guess I am an official professional writer now...I've been paid for a story that has been published in a book. That feels good because I love to write!
If you would like to buy the book, it can be found in most bookstores and on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Understanding-Disabilities/dp/0757306209/ref=sr_1_1/105-2737577-2706803?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189008403&sr=1-1)
The acceptance letter had said that they could contact local media and do a press release, provided I sent in a summary of the story. Other options include books signings, etc. I even get a discount so I can order a bunch of books and sell them, which I think I might do when I do public speeches, etc. Why not make a little money?
It occurred to me that I could be famous for publishing my story in one of the most well-known inspirational series of books!
However, I did not send a summary of the story to be sent to the media. They may still tell them that I published a story, but the details of the story will not be provided.
Why?
Well, for starters, I didn't send the story to be famous. I sent it in to give a message to the world. The same one my grandmother gave me: "There's nothing wrong with you". Don't get me wrong: I am very grateful that it got published in a book that will likely be read by millions of people and I am also grateful to have a story published at all! Even Stephen King got rejection letters, so I'm happy I got an acceptance one. As a writer, that warms my heart more than being famous does right now!
My second reason is the same as the reason I changed my name. Do I want to be a media circus right now as my career is starting to go somewhere? Will I be impeded by my association with being autistic? Could I risk losing my job or being passed over for promotions and career building opportunities?
There is still a lot of bad stigma out there about autism and the capabilities of autistic people that could damage my current career path. I still have to pay my mortgage and pay for university, so I need to stick with what I am doing and do what I can to advance. The experience I'm gaining will be of use in my future as well.
How can I advocate at the risk of losing my only form of income? How hypocritical is that?? It's a catch-22 situation that I don't like to be in, but my income is the higher one out of the two of us and I need to stay employed.
Once I get into my chosen career and start actually doing the work I want to do...work that will actually be enhanced and benefitted because I am autistic (counselling, public speaking and any other work that will actually be of use to fellow autistics), I still have to remain relatively quiet at my current workplace.
In the meantime, I can be contacted with the information provided at the end of my story and I do look forward to hearing from you!
I submitted this story for the love of my grandmother, for the love for those like me who are trying to get ahead and need all the positive messages we can get and for the love of writing.
It is my hope that those of you who read the book reap the benefits from all of the positive stories and pictures that all of the authors and artists have submitted. May those many messages get out to the world and may the future be brighter and more accepting for the generations to come!
