Chrysalis - A New Life

The word chrysalis brings to mind a safe, warm, cozy place...When I think of it, I envision a lovely butterfly and the promise of something beautiful. There are so many beautiful things in our world: sunsets, the night sky, waterfalls, rivers, spring flowers, fall leaves, and New Life.

My husband and I are blessed with two grown children and several grandchildren, and this summer we will welcome yet another life into our family. Our daughter and her husband are expecting their first child, and this little one has special meaning to me. Many years ago, we began the adoption process to add a baby girl to our family of three. Our son had just turned eight, and it seemed the perfect time to plunge ahead. We were fortunate to know two couples who had been through the adoption process and so they gave us confidence and valuable information.

After our home study, complete with references and photo albums, was submitted to Holt International Children's Services, the wait began. God must have known we were more than ready because only four months later we received the news our daughter had been born and was waiting for us in Inchon, South Korea. Today, future parents have ultrasound images to cherish. We had two black and white photos of our beautiful baby girl. As a proud "expectant" mother, I showed them to family and friends and counted the weeks to her homecoming.

We were told our daughter would arrive the end of January, but as plans do, they changed. The phone call came right after New Year's Day 1983 and we headed to the airport a few days later. It all seems so long ago, but as July 26, 2016 approaches, the same emotions sweep over me. As a grandmother, my role is entirely different, but I hope to have an impact on her precious life and build memories to last a lifetime. As with the first embrace with our daughter so many years ago, I can't wait to see my daughter's baby, to stroke her velvet-soft face, to look into her eyes, and pull her close to my heart. Welcome home, little angel.

Signed, Sealed, and To Be Delivered

The wait is over! After a year and a half of diligently writing, editing, and sharing my manuscript with my critique group, BETWEEN HEARTBEATS has been accepted by Booktrope publishers. 

My first book, a memoir, Through the Tunnel of Love, A Mother's and Daughter's Journey with Anorexia, was released April 2011. I must say, the feeling is as good, if not better the second time around.

I "found" Booktrope through Write on the River's writers' conference hosted in Wenatchee, WA just one year ago. I can't say the year has flown by, but I'm positive the next few weeks will as I have so many things to accomplish to get my project out the door.

You may keep up with the latest on my Twitter account: @donelleknudsen or my Author Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DonelleMKnudsen

Have a wonderful week and don't set boundaries for yourselves.

"Between Heartbeats"

Two years ago I pitched my idea for a Young Adult novel, Between Heartbeats, while attending Write On The River writers' conference in Wenatchee, WA. The agent's response was encouraging and helpful, and so the journey began. Fast-forward to one year ago at the same conference when I seriously pitched my novel to a representative from a publishing house. Again, not only was the individual encouraging, but she asked me to submit the entire manuscript upon completion.

Here I am today, April 8, 2015 with a completed novel under my belt. The process has not been easy, but with diligence and with the help of my critique group, family, and my beta-reader, I sent it off to the publisher a couple of hours ago. Now the wait. Will they like it? Will they want to publish it? Time will tell.

How do I feel? It feels similar to when I sent my kids off to school on their very first day. I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride and hoped they were as ready for the next step in their journey as I was. 

Whatever happens next, I can say, I DID IT. The goal was set and the book is finished. What next? I'm already working on the sequel.

Between Holidays - Suspended Animation

It's hard to put into words, but I'll try. The week between Christmas and New Years always holds me in a state of suspended animation. I can't help but feel something's coming, something big - right around the corner; like Tony sang about in the musical, West Side Story. 2011 has been a year of surprises, change, challenges, happiness, and hope, with the promise of more to come.

People ask, "What are your plans for New Year's Eve?" We plan on going out to dinner, not partying, just the two of us enjoying each other's company and then coming home, in the event family stops by. Family, that's what it's all about, for us anyway.

As each new year approaches, I marvel at how quickly time seems to fly by; and as far as New Year's resolutions, I guess they're the same as my day to day goals. I have a big stack of books to read, several writing projects to finish, family to spend time with, and the outdoors to explore.

I'll finish by wishing everyone, many I don't even know, a very Happy New Year and blessings for 2012.