The ultimate compliment an author can receive is when someone you have never met feels the need to “pay it forward” with your work. In Hixson, Tennessee, a thoughtful and caring woman by the name of Kathy Lewis sent me the following private message on Facebook after reading A Far Cry…From Home:

“I just read your book. My friend Kim gave it to me. You are an inspiration! And I had to let you know that a very dear friend lost her son a couple of months ago and is not doing so well. When I got the book last night, I read it entirely and could not put it down. And now I have this uncanny sense of urgency to get this book to my friend.”

One of my goals in writing A Far Cry…From Home was to be able to help someone else through their journey of losing a child. Knowing you are not alone in your grief shares many faces: the face of despair, the face of loss, and the face of a strength you never thought you would have to call upon. By sharing my story with her grieving friend, I hope Kathy realizes what an important step she took in her friend’s healing process. Thank you for paying it forward.