Let's Share Our Stories and Grow Together
Hello dear friends and fellow journeyers,
I hope this message finds you in good spirits, despite the heartbreaking things that are happening in our world. I know how challenging it can be to remain upbeat, and that’s why I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude for your support and presence here. It means the world to me, more than you might realize. I continue to seek reviews on Amazon and Good reads. In case you haven’t already done so I ask that you take a moment to rate it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Need an idea of what to post? Feel free to use, adapt, or toss the below):
I can’t stress enough how much Catherine Shields's award-winning debut memoir, 'The Shape of Normal’, meant to me. It was a story that offered a poignant and candid exploration of the intricacies and complicated roles of motherhood. Catherine Shields writes with searing and unflinching honesty and has woven an enormously compelling true story. It's been quite a while since I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting...but I could not put this one down! I will be recommending Catherine's book to everyone I meet.
And here are the links!
Amazon:
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/188665382-the-shape-of-normal
The other day, when I was being interviewed about my book, the interviewer asked how I decided on the title of my book. Here’s my answer: It came from the scene when the neuropsychologist explained the results of my daughter Jessica’s intelligence test and showed us a bell curve, a graph in the general shape of a bell. ‘Normal’, at the top of the bell, represents the mean, and creates a downward-sloping curve on each side of the peak. Intense denial helped me envision a climb up that hill, to carry my child to the pinnacle. If you read the book, then you know what happened with my plan!
Today, I'm reaching out not just as an author, but as a fellow traveler on life's unpredictable journey, hoping to forge deeper connections and understandings within our little community.
When I penned The Shape of Normal, it was more than just writing a book; it was a journey of the heart, unraveling the complexities of loving a child and the beauty of life's imperfections. It was a path of self-discovery, acceptance, and finding joy in the unexpected. This journey has taught me the incredible value of each unique story and experience.
Your stories, like mine, are threads in the rich tapestry of life. Whether they resonate with the themes of my book or diverge into uncharted territories, they are equally important. They are what make our community diverse, vibrant, and deeply human.
Now, I'd love to turn the spotlight on you. Who are you? What brought you here to this community? Perhaps you found a piece of your story reflected in "The Shape of Normal", or maybe there's a different journey you're on that resonates with the themes of acceptance, challenge, and growth.
I invite you to share a bit about yourself. What inspired you to subscribe to my newsletter? Is there a personal story, a moment of realization, or a journey of your own that you feel connected to? This is a safe, open space for sharing, free from judgment, where all stories are welcome and heard.
I'm genuinely excited to read your stories and learn more about each of you. Through our shared narratives, we can enrich this space, making it not just a platform for words, but a community of connected hearts and minds.
Remember, we're all in this together, each learning to embrace our unique shapes of normal. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Warmest regards,
Cathy
Just listened to your interview on "Let's Talk Memoir," which was lovely. I love the story about the title of the book. I am writing a memoir about my three dyslexic children who were all over that silly bell curve, at the extremes of both ends. Don't know what the shape of dyslexic is, but it's definitely not "normal." Looking forward to reading your newsletter. I started a newsletter here too because there was way more to say than would fit in a book!
I subscribed after hearing you speak on a podcast. I don't remember which one. We have in common that we don't come from a writing background. You are very open about that, as am I. But we both had stories that we needed to write. And we did. Congratulations to us!