I am on Oprah!!!!!! (.com)

Today I was tipped off to something pretty incredible, one of my photos made it on Oprah.com!!!!!!

A while back I submitted a photo to the "Spirit" section for a "Breathing Space" gallery. 20 images were selected and the artists name and comment is placed below the image. Did I get one of my images into that 20....NO, but they used my photo for the banner to link to the gallery. No photo credit....bummer, but I am happy to have it there, and am harboring no resentment, but I will certainly mention it to her as I am sitting on the butter yellow leather chair discussing my new book. (Which she will likely have graciously endorsed.) They have mirrored the image, but I am pretty certain it is mine.

Anyway, if you want to view the rest of the photos from that morning, you can see them here: http://www.ineedchocolate.com/photo-galleries/morning-fog/

If you like the image, I have a number of products for sale on my CafePress site including; a calendar, ornaments, cards, clocks, a joural, apron, pillows, tiles, and of course prints. Check it out at: http://www.cafepress.com/BrendaLevos

Here is the original image, what do you think?

OK, so the book, I am getting a lot of "I didn't know you were writing a book" feedback, so here are the details:

• Book about half written
• Shopping for Agent/Publishers
• The book recaps my memoirs of the birth of my 15.6 ounce daughter (now 12) Hope. Overall, I want to the book to convey the message of keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity. I am hoping for a broader appeal than just the traditional premie audience, but don't want to exclude them either.
• I am hoping this book will be followed up by as second about my fathers motorcycle accident, head injury and recovery. All while his sister (my aunt) is diagnosed with cancer, and I also get a "pre-cancerous" cells report. Again focusing on keeping a positive attitude throughout it all.
• The third book in the series will discuss the journey of my mothers diagnosis with ovarian cancer and our losing her to that battle. Again, facing adversity, our inner strength and the beauty of a life lived.

Here is a sneak peek excerpt (unedited) from book 1:

What happened next reverted to that slow motion portion of a movie, a dream. Things are moving quickly, yet you see everything in slow motion. You have a heightened sense of awareness, the doctors eyes, the nurses. What are they holding in their hands? The room in my recollection couldn’t possibly have been the one I was in, it seemed to be glowing, lit from within. I felt as though I was outside my body watching from a distance, and yet in my body too, in shock perhaps, highly medicated, likely. Why do they appear so hurried?

So I ask the question. “How soon do you think we are going to have to do this?” Expecting an answer of a month or so. He responds, “You are crashing, this needs to be done in 30 minutes or we could lose you!” His delivery left no question, without truly hearing the words, it was evident, the gravity of this situation. The words aren’t fully out of his mouth, and absolutely no semblance of reality has begun to set in even as one of the nurses approaches the bed, flips up my gown and starts preparing me for surgery. Is this really happening? What does he mean I am crashing? The gravity of that instant, the flood of emotion, and reasoning, the heightened awareness, is indescribable. All I can utter to Tom is to try to find our parents. And as those words leave my lips, nurses push my bed out of the room and into the operating room.

If you would like to receive updates on the progress of the book and be notified when published, please e-mail me at b@brendalevos.com

Comments

[Jodee Bock]

WOW!!! I'm so impressed and ecstatic! This is wonderful! I know we are all going to make an impact so great that Oprah can't help but notice!!! You are on such a great path - keep going, Girl! How's the book, by the way????

[Chris F]

Brenda,

You have a fabulous talent. That is soooo awesome.

I miss hearing your insight at out Tuesday meetings. Looking forward to getting back into the game.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!