During the months of January and February, I was busy at work editing a book titled Write for the Fight: A Collection of Seasonal Essays. This kaleidoscope of essays is written by people from varied backgrounds with unique writing styles and perspectives on life. The book takes a look at the seasons of life: looking back at age 5; having a little talk with your 20-year-old self; considering what's left on your bucket list; and looking ahead to your 80th birthday.
For me, the work of editing the book was a wonderful tour of the life experiences and imaginations of some creative, insightful and entertaining minds. Each writer in this anthology approaches the spring, summer, fall and winter of their life with their own distinct voice. Some of the essays are heartwarming, while others are poignant. Some are downright hilarious. From the touching words and phrasing of Galit Breen to the poignant reflections of Tess Hardwick, Write for the Fight is a collection of stories that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Here are some tidbits to tease you...
For me, the work of editing the book was a wonderful tour of the life experiences and imaginations of some creative, insightful and entertaining minds. Each writer in this anthology approaches the spring, summer, fall and winter of their life with their own distinct voice. Some of the essays are heartwarming, while others are poignant. Some are downright hilarious. From the touching words and phrasing of Galit Breen to the poignant reflections of Tess Hardwick, Write for the Fight is a collection of stories that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Here are some tidbits to tease you...
 | I am an autumn leaf, somewhere between before and after. This is my now, with work to do and love to reap and sow before I land gently on the ground to merge with the earth as I meet the source, my Maker. ~ Tess Hardwick, reflecting on her life's to-do list |  Tess Hardwick |
 | I sit snuggled between so many pieces of my heart, bare to the world but bungee-corded to me. My pieces are lost in their movie. Another world, another time, a slice of someone else’s magic. They fight their heavy eyelids, breathing in sweet, deep sighs that only children give in to. Yes, there could have been writing and Facebook and Twitter. But instead, there were snuggles and magic and breathing. ~ Galit Breen, on life and what's yet to come |  Galit Breen |
 | I dearly miss that 5-year-old child who begged, bargained and blackmailed for a reward no grander than the simple delight of a few more moments of consciousness to soak in life’s sights and sounds. All I wanted was a temporary reprieve to read one more story, drink one more glass of milk or satisfy myself that Laura, Mary and baby Carrie would survive whatever peril they encountered that week on the prairie. ~ Laura Kilmartin, on not wanting to go to bed at age 5 |  Laura Kilmartin |
But don't take my word for it. Reviewers at Barnes & Noble have given Write For the Fight overwhelmingly positive reviews, like this one:
A delightful read that keeps you coming back for more. So fun and interesting moving through the seasons with these writers and their stories. Rarely can a book be this reflective, thought provoking, funny and sentimental. ~ Reviewer Becky Lower
As you travel through the seasons of life with these diverse writers, you will laugh, cry, smile and perhaps feel a bit pensive. Viewing life through their eyes, you will experience a roller coaster of emotions and find yourself pondering the seasons of your own life — I believe in a positive way.
As I took that journey, I found myself looking inward and outward, reflecting on the past and considering the future. Overall, the introspection left me feeling satisfied with where I've been, where I am and where I'm going. Sure, there have been mistakes along the way, but that's part of the learning experience that IS life. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been a wonderful, crazy ride filled with people and places that have touched my life in meaningful ways. While I can clearly see the past, the future is not yet written. It's like a book I've yet to pen, with chapters not yet finished. While I'll have to wait and see what happens as those pages unfold, this book left me with a sense of peace about the past, the present and the future.
Write For the Fight is currently available in Nook and Kindle versions (both priced at $4.99) and will be released on iTunes later this month. A paperback version is set for release on April 30 at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The co-authors (Tess Hardwick and Tracey Hansen) and contributors are donating their proceeds to support research to find a cure for breast cancer, a disease they all feel drawn to fight. And so they write. And ask others to write.
And, now, we ask you to read.
Comments are welcome and always appreciated. Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
