I have good news to share: my second book comes out this spring.
I can hardly believe it.
When a radio interviewer asked me in 2014 about a second book, I told her I’d started a sequel to A Good Home but had run away from it. In the new book I had bravely/foolishly decided to confront what it’s like to live with PTSD – post traumatic stress disorder — and it terrified me.
I embarked on a gardening book instead. After all, I love gardening. But I hate PTSD!
~~
No-one pushed me to return to the book I’d dropped, but something happened that made me see that I had to face my monsters again — in writing.
My thanks to everyone who has encouraged and helped me along the way. In addition to family and close friends, I’ve had one doctor encouraging me to “Write!”; one therapist-researcher-writer who directly contributed to the book; two mentors, two editors, one publisher; one painter and one photographer; great beta readers and one discussion guide producer.
I hope the book will inspire discussions – among families and friends; in book clubs and workplaces; among therapists, doctors and others. I imagine some will discuss what happens in a family when one member is seriously incapacitated; some may talk about the nature of survival and faith; therapists and doctors may discuss the treatment of PTSD and Chronic Pain and why both are so hard to accept, especially by the people afflicted with them.
And I hope all readers will reflect on love and courage. Both are recurring topics in this book. (And most of the courage isn’t mine, by the way.)
The Canada Council for the Arts recognized my writing with a small grant to pay for some of the expenses involved in writing a book like this. Thank you, Canada Council, for that vote of confidence.
Above all, this book is an up-close and personal look at a much-changed life. Some of it is painful, some parts hilarious, and some are both.
The book – An Honest House – comes out in June.
Cynthia Reyes 
Cynthia, as one of the beta readers, I know this book will be enjoyed by its many readers, and useful to all in its exploration of PTSD. Congrats on the Canada Council grant.
Thank you for this comment, Diane – and for your beta reading, of course!
Congrats Cynthia- having thoroughly enjoyed the first I am looking forward to this
I wonder if we’re related! I’m Sarah Vernon.
Thank you, Robert. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
I am so very proud of you, mum and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. I love you and I love, love, love “An Honest House” xoxo
Thank you, dear Daughter, and for all your support at each step of the way, including being a reader.
Congratulations on your second book and courage Cynthia. I bet a lot of people will be helped by your book and courage to share your journey with PSTD. Being honest & vulnerable can be hard, but seems to be a connector and healer.
hugs and blessings….
Thank you, Brad. I hope it will help others. Writing it has helped me — though I was kicking and screaming all the way!
I can relate to the kicking and screaming part. 🙂
Haha… I tell you!
🙂
Congratulations! Your courage will inspire many 🙂
Thank you, SK. I hope it does.
Congratulations, Cynthia! I loved your first book and look forward to reading your 2nd. I think of you often as I, and many others who love her, navigate through the difficulty of one of my best friend’s traumatic brain injury. It’s sad and painful but at the same time has brought our core group that much closer. People have encouraged me to write but I’ve lost all desire, hoping it returns at some point. Hope you’re feeling well. 🙂
You’ve made a big new start in your life, so of course the desire for other big endeavours has gone away. It may well return and I’ll be here to cheer you on, Geralyn. Thanks for your comment and I’m pleased to hear that you and your core group have joined hands to support your mutual friend. Brain injury can be so tough for the person who’s afflicted as well as those who love them.
Congrats Ms CR, again, u dah best girl, keep em coming.
One Love
tony
Thank you, Tony. And for your support. After all this sitting down to write, I think I could just move to the mineral bath at Milk River.
Such great news! Congratulations on being an accomplished author, Cynthia, and an honest one to boot!
Thank you, my blogger-friend! I appreciate your encouraging comment.
Wonderful news! I look forward to reading this one as well. Let us all know when it is officially out.
I certainly will, Karen. Thanks for your kind comments and your overall support. I appreciate you.
Wow! Congratulations! I wish you great success! 🙂 ❤
Thank you, Natalie!
Congratulations Cynthia, I’m looking forward to diving into book two at the end of May!
Thanks, Ann. And I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it.
Congratulations, Cynthia! I am looking forward to “An Honest House” when it comes available. All the love and faith in the world to you, my friend!
What a lovely comment, Lavinia. Thank you. My best to you and Rick and the household.
Congratulations Cynthia! I admire your honesty and openness and look forward to reading your new book.
Thank you, Karen. For this and all your responses to my blog.
Congratulations, dear Cynthia. It’s your honest mix of “hilarious” with “painful” that make me love your writing. I can’t wait to read your new book.
Bountiful blessings on your book launch ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy. Bountiful blessings are a great wish indeed. I think my life has been hilarious all along, but I was just too furious to see beyond the pain. Now I am, and that’s a good thing.
Grace and peace, and laughter.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Doing a happy dance around the house. This is wonderful news. Can we pre-order?
Haha… you made me laugh. Thank you for that enthusiastic response! Yes, you will be able to pre-order, and I sure hope the book lives up to your high standards!
I am sure it will be wonderful.
I am looking forward to reading your new book Cynthia, as I really enjoyed your first one, good luck for the launch and I am sure you will have many readers, both new and old. x
Thank you for saying so, Julie. I appreciate your support, as always.
Oh Cynthia .. I’m so excited for you. How fabulous. Congratulations lovely lady. I am looking forward to reading your book 😃
Oh, Julie: I’m so glad you are excited for me. Thank you for looking forward to the book. Bless you.
Congratulations, Cynthia
Thank you, Derrick. And for the beautiful blog of your and Jackie’s garden.
Great news, Cynthia. It is a book I have to buy and read, particularly for the benefit of my own PTSD which is being exacerbated in my current circumstances.
Sarah, I’m sorry you have to deal with PTSD too. I don’t wish it on anyone. What an awful thing!
I thank you for the way you support my writing and the creativity of others. It matters.
It’s more than a pleasure, Cynthia. x
Such good news for you! Exciting times!
Exciting times, indeed, Kerry. Thank you.
Of course, as a recovering coward, I do feel the temptation to take a hike out of town when the book comes out. (OK, alright, I can run but I can’t hike…)
Congratulations, Cynthia! Thank you for sharing this wonderful news. I look forward to reading your book.
Jill: thanks so much for your enthusiastic support. I am pretending to not be nervous, but it doesn’t work….
Great news! I will be looking for it.
I know you will, and I thank you for being supportive of my writing. Thank you!
Congratulations on your book. I look forward to reading it. And what a lovely cover!
Thank you, Laurie. I’m so glad you like the cover. As will artist Stephanie MacKendrick, whose house series is fabulous. My family is honoured that she chose to paint a picture of the farmhouse.
Congratulations, Cynthia, on the publication of the new book!
Hey Jason: Thanks! I look forward to hearing what you and Judy think if you read it.
Congratulations, Cynthia… don’t forget to rave about it on my blog! 😉
Kev: you’ve published several books, you prolific author you. So you know how I’m feeling now. Happy it’s done, but a bit nervous. Okay, alright: more than a bit. Thanks for the opportunity, Kev. Your kindness to other authors is a gift.
Let me know when you are ready…No pressure 😊
Will do!
Toutes mes félicitations pour cette nouvelle parution et publication. Je te souhaite plein de succès et que cet investissement soit récompensé et accueilli à juste titre !
Merci beaucoup, Christiane. Merci pour les bons voeux aussi!
Cynthia
Do allow me to join your host of admirers and congratulate you for using your challenges as motivating factors as you share your talents with all of us
May you continue to grow where you are planted
Pamela Appelt
Dear Pamela: It’s the first time you’ve replied to my blog and that moved me. Thank you for your constant support of my writing. Grace and peace.
Lovely to read your news, Cynthia. So glad for you… it’s a wonderful testimony. My congratulations and best wishes! 🙂
Thank you, Iris. Your own writing is so beautiful and moving. I can’t write poetry as well as you do, but I know good writing when I see it. My best to you.
Absolutely can’t wait to read it! I am going to dust off “A Good Home” when I finish reading the current book I’m on and give it a re-read, for good measure. So very happy for you, and proud. You rock on!
Thanks, Rose. I knew you’d be happy and proud for me. Thanks again.
Congratulations! Writing a book is no easy thing.
You are so right Allen. I am dying of pain from all this sitting at the computer, but I am also very happy that I’ve come this far. I told my husband this morning that people only write books because – as with childbirth — they forget how painful it was the time before!
Still love that cover painting, can’t wait to read it.
Thanks, Amy. You have the eyes of an artist, and I therefore also thank you for that comment, on behalf of Stephanie MacKendrick. Bless you!
Congratulations dear Cynthia. Not just for the publication of your second book but also for facing your demons and writing about the thing that makes you most unhappy. I am sure that your experiences will help others especially as you always write with compassion, understanding and wit.
Thanks very much, Clare. So kind of you to say.
My pleasure as always.
Congratulations, Cynthia! It’s the sort of book that will inspire many!
Thank you, Linda. I hope it does.
I love the title and am so excited for you! Cannot wait and am so glad you powered through it.
Thank you, K. Great to hear from you, my friend.
This is so exciting! I enjoy your humor, and really appreciate what I have read so far about some of your suffering, and challenges. You have a gentle and earnest way about you that is so endearing.
Thank you, Theresa. That’s a big compliment.
My foster daughter suffers from PTSD! I’m looking forward to your book.
Adrienne: How good to hear from you. and I’m sorry to hear your foster daughter has PTSD. I hope my book will help in some small way, though I didn’t understand it and was the world’s angriest patient.
Lucky for us our little girl isn’t super angry–she’s more scattered and frightened–but it’s still sometimes a struggle for her to get through the day. We have seen some major improvements now that she’s in a stable environment though–time is a good healer.
I’m glad she is healing, and that you are able to provide her with that stable environment.
So proud of you!!! Can’t wait to read it!!!
Ah, Lori, thank you! I’ll be glad for you to read it.
Congratulations Cynthia!
Thank you, Patrick!
Well deserved!!
Many congratulations Cynthia!
Thank you kindly!
Congratulations, Cynthia. I’m sure your new book will be as well received as your first. I’m sure it took a lot of courage to face the monsters again.
Thank you very much, Karen. Wishing you a great weekend.
As often, I am late to reading this blog post. As always I wish you well, in sharing this creation of yours with the world and everything else. Struggles shared may lessen someone else’s, and that’s a very good thing. When the sharing is leavened with humour that’s even better. I’m looking forward to reading this book. Congratulations! (and thanks to all those who encouraged you to write it)
Thank you, dear Margaret. Very much.
I’m so proud to know you from blogging and to witness your journey. You’re bringing your truth into the light. Long may it shine!
What a warm and kind note. Thank you very much, Brenda.
XOXO
Wow! How exciting! I cannot wait to to get into an Honest House!
Congratulations!
I am so pleased you got a little help with expenses.
This is wonderful news!
Thank you for sharing; and lots of love!
Norma
Thanks, Norma! What a lovely comment!
so so excited!!!!!
Thank you, Tina!
Congratulations! It takes time, strength and courage to share and inspire others, you have made an incredible investment in what you will gift others, hope. Huge hugs.
Thank you for this kind response, Belinda. I do appreciate it. And thanks for your lovely blog. Your poems are both insightful and moving.
You’re most welcome and thank you for your kindness. 🙂
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.