What inspired you to write your memoir?
My publisher kept asking me to write it. At first, I didn’t want to. I knew that if I was going to do it properly, it would be a very painful experience. Still, I wanted my son to know about me. I know so little about my mother’s childhood, she’s gone now, and I didn’t want that to happen to my son.
About your Book:
Winner of FaithWriter’s Gold Seal of Approval – Outstanding Read, Books&Authors Excellence in Literature, AllBooksReview’s Editor’s Choice Award 2010 and Book&Authors Best Non-Fiction 2010.
It would be easy to accept this book as ‘another adoption story’, that is until you read it. From the first words the reader is caught up in the account, enthralled by, not just the tale, but the telling of it. Mrs. Shiveley Welch’s talent reveals the journey to love, her decision to adopt instead of giving birth, her new and wonderful child, and most of all her earnest desire and steadfast belief that everything would come to pass.
“Son of My Soul – The Adoption of Christopher” is not just about the joys of motherhood, but is also a self-help book about breaking the cycle of child abuse. The author considers her childhood as ‘boot camp’ and uses the lessons learned from her own abuse to help her beloved son through many surgeries and therapies to correct cleft lip and palate.
A percentage of all royalties go to Operation Smile.
How did you decide how to publish your book and where is it published through:
“Son of My Soul” is my third publication, therefore, I submitted it to my publisher, Saga Books. I am traditionally published, that is, not self-published.
My eBooks are through Red Road Books as Saga no longer publishes through KDP.
How do you see writing a Memoir as different from writing other genres of books?
There is a famous quote of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England from 1653 to 1658, to his portrait painter, Sir Peter Lely, “Paint me as I am, warts and all.”
The quote can be applied to writing a memoir. You can’t manipulate your memories so that you always appear in a good light, and this applies across the board to your parents, grandparents, etc. Write the truth or don’t write a memoir.
Author Bio:
Author Debra Shiveley Welch began writing at the tender age of nine, and by age 11, her poems and short essays were gaining attention from her teachers and the local newspaper, The Columbus Dispatch.
At age 25, Ms. Welch authored a newspaper column in The Baltimore Eagle Gazette titled “Poetry Problems”, and later became the creator, author and writer for the family newsletter “The Parent Connection” published by the League Against Drug Abuse, writer for Ohio Safety and Hygiene’s employee newsletter “Employee Reflections” and freelance for various church publications.
Jesus Gandhi Oma Mae Adams was the second project published by Ms. Welch. Her award winning children’s book A Very Special Child was published in 2004 and explained adoption in a spiritual way. Her third publication, a memoir titled Son of My Soul – The Adoption of Christopher garnered the FaithWriters Gold Seal of Approval, Books & Authors Excellence in Literature, Best Non-Fiction Book 2007 and All Books Reviews Editor’s choice 2010. Cedar Woman made its debut in December of 2010 and won Best Native American Fiction 2011.
For more information, go to DebraShiveleyWelch.net for a list of her works and her son’s, Christopher. Please note that a percentage of all royalties goes to Operation Smile in gratitude for the incredible gift Mrs. Welch received upon the adoption of her son, born with cleft lip and palate.
A note from a reader about Son of My Soul – The Adoption of Christopher:
“These are two very beautiful souls that the world truly needs to know. What a tremendous love story. Debra’s relentless and deeply passionate love for her “beautiful boy” defied the negative medical reports of the doctors and the teachers. Her son was gifted and with the right guidance and patience and love, she knew he could do and learn anything. Yes, this mother knew it, and her son dared to believe it, and now the two of them are bestselling authors on Amazon.com. Reverend Ora Stern.”
Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Book On Amazon
Link to Book on Barnes and Noble
Your Social Media Links
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/972495-debra
https://www.facebook.com/DShiveleyWelch?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/DebraSWelch
