Lucinda Morency, one of the co-authors of “Passages: Words of Wisdom and Hope Vol. 1″ is a good friend of mine. Lucinda phoned me in March of this year to inform me that the ladies who were putting this book together were searching for one more author and asked if I might be interested. I contacted Mimi Publishing immediately to express my interest. Ever since I had a short story published in the grade one teacher’s manual for the Catholic School Board – “Just Play Granny, Just Play”, and as a member of a writing group at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa, was invited to submit another children’s story entitled “The Angel Wore Red Moccasins,” I have longed to take a step into the adult world of books.
“Healing Wind,” the Spirit name given to me many years ago by Grandmother Lillian Pitawanakwat, speaks of my breath – my voice. Our breath – our voice, as I have come to understand it, also includes our written words.
Now that I am into the eighth chapter of my life, I’m recognizing more and more how important it is for the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of every race to put their stories out there in order to share our wisdom and to give our people hope. Writing our stories is but one tool we can use to do this.
I wish to thank friends like Kevin Ryall, who encouraged me to write my first-ever story, Elena Abel, who so gently guided me into writing my second, and to Lucinda Morency, who recognized that I’m not getting any younger and that perhaps I should jump on the bandwagon now. A very special thank you to my husband and our family, who encourage me 24-7. And, to Mimi Publishing Company for including my story.