Kirkus Discoveries Review

I received my first professional review, written by a freelance writer, from Kirkus Discoveries.  Overall, it is an excellent review.  The key sentences are:

Inspirational true story of love, marriage and untimely death, created as a memorial to the author’s beloved wife and as a testement of faith for his young daughter, to whom this tragic history is dedicated. ….  Moutray has assembled a loving tribute to his wife, whose faith, goodwill and cheerfulness were present in abundance throughout her life and during her illness.  Illustrated with photographs of the couple’s daily lives and exotic travels, My Life with Laura also includes a section of letters to Charlotte, written by friends, caregivers, Laura’s preacher, family members, breast-cancer survivors and others as a way for the author and his daughter – and perhaps also for readers with similar experiences – to understand and deal with their grief.   A faith-affirming story of surviving a devastating loss.

My Use of Social Media Has Garnered Attention

For some time, I have utilized the question and answer application of Linked In to pose a question, and then I will summarize these responses on this blog.  I stumbled onto this when I was asked to be a featured questioner for a webinar that I was participating in which was organized by SAP and myventurepad.com in October 2008.  After receiving such a tremendous response, I decided to do this on a regular basis, and it has proved insightful as a means of gauging feedback on small business issues.  Yesterday, Steve King, a partner at Emergent Research, blogged about my use of social media and how such sites have made survey-gathering easier and cheaper.  I should note that Steve King’s blogs are also cross-posted on myventurepad.com (as are some of mine), and I will be participating at a workshop on innovation that Emergent Research is organizing on March 17.  As such, he is well aware of our research at the Office of Advocacy and regularly follows this blog.  Thanks for the plug, Steve.

Will the Recession Lead to More Entrepreneurship?

The United States lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the greatest decline in annual nonfarm payrolls since 1945; meanwhile, the unemployment rate has crept up to 7.2 percent.  Later this week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release what most economists expect to be horrible gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter of 2008.  In other words, the economic recession is severe, and the numbers appear to be bearing this out.

Looking forward, though, we would expect for there to be more entrepreneurship taking place as a result of this economic downturn.  Much of that will be out of necessity; the talent pool of those who are being laid off is such that they are capable of selling those talents as their own boss, if they so choose.  Moreover, many of these individuals might have contemplated becoming self-employed for some time, but they were not willing to strike out on their own and forego the benefits of their existing jobs.  Unemployment changes that, providing an opportunity to pursue those dreams.  Looking back at past recessions, it is definitely true that smaller businesses were able to recover sooner than their larger counterparts.

As of yet, we have not seen this in the current numbers.  In my most recent Linked In question, I asked about this.  Those who responded tended to view this as a good time for those eager to start their own business to do so; they certainly have the same expectations for increased entrepreneurship that I do.  With that said, there are some necessary caveats.  One individual cited the challenges of obtaining credit for such ventures, and another noted the desire for less government interference.  (One individual even observed that criminal activity is often a form of “necessity entrepreneurship.”  This could be a blog post or study all by itself.)

From my perspective, with the largest single concern from small business owners being poor sales, small business owners (both new and existing) will need a strengthened economy to flourish.  Even those who will use this time to their advantage, in other words, should hope for an economic recovery to prosper.  That is the biggest challenge of all right now.

Remarks at the Deacon Ordination

Tonight, I was ordained a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria.  Senior Pastor Don Davidson asked me to make a few remarks.  Overall, it went well.  Here is the text of my speech, in case you are interested.

In early May 2007, my late wife Laura’s breast cancer had metastasized to her vertebrae.  She had been in the hospital for a time and was continuing to get around with her walker.  Life was hectic, and we were both disappointed that her earlier treatments had not worked and that her cancer had returned.

 

One Friday around this time, I came to pick up Charlotte from the First Baptist preschool, and I ran into Barbara Elliff, one of the directors of Parents of Preschoolers along with her husband Chris.  I must have looked pretty stressed out, as she instantly asked me if there was anything that our Sunday school class could do to help.  I said yes; we definitely needed help.  Chris and Barbara promptly put together a schedule of volunteers, and for the next six months until Laura’s passing in November (and beyond), our church family became integral parts of our life.

 

It is hard to imagine what Laura or I would have done without the church and our faith during those trying times of dealing with breast cancer.  Volunteers brought us meals, drove Laura to doctors’ appointments, came by to give us a spiritual lift, and helped watch Charlotte.  Let’s be honest, many of you in the church helped raise Charlotte for those months, especially as Laura’s health deteriorated and until I was able to enroll her in a full-time daycare. 

 

Of course, many of you knew all of this.  You lived through those painful months with us, and now you are re-living those experiences as you read my book. 

 

Several people have asked me why I want to serve as a deacon at First Baptist.   The answer is clear.  It would be hard for someone to have gone through what I have gone through – losing a spouse and becoming a single father – without it changing them.  Death does that to people, and fortunately for me, I had my church friends to depend on for support.  Throughout this process, my faith in God was strengthened, and my love for this church was enhanced.

 

Laura used to push me to get more involved in the church.  She was involved in a number of women’s ministries, and she thought that I should, too.  She asked me a few times, whenever nomination time came around, if I wanted to serve as a deacon, for instance.  At the time, I was not ready to do so.

 

That is different now.  I feel compelled to give back to this church for supporting us so faithfully when we needed you most.  I want to ensure that other families have the same support network, and most important, I want for them to know that Jesus is there for them, too.  I want for them to know that I will be there for them to pray with them if the need arises.  I can speak from experience that a faith in God is a prerequisite to getting through such a challenging time, and I can vouch that this is a giving church willing to provide support when called.

 

We should never forget that we are all one body in Christ.  As it states in 1 Corinthians 12:12:  “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

 

I look forward to the contributions that I might make to this church and the church family.  Thanks.

Book Giveaway Winners

During the course of the past couple weeks, this blog has received over 750 hits during the Blog Book Tour.  Many of you have told me that you enjoyed getting to know more about me, the book, and the various bloggers along the tour.  I know that each of them has given me similar feedback.   Thanks to everyone who participated, and I especially want to thank Stacy, Shannon, Jacki, Gena, Christina, Erik, Angi, Tina, Jennifer, and Traci for taking the time to help me promote my book.

And now, it is time to announce the winners of the book giveaway.  Yesterday, Clergygirl discussed her thoughts on my memoir.   (It was cross-posted on the Mothers with Cancer page.)  Anyone who sent her a comment  was entered into the drawing.  I am pleased to announce that two people will receive a copy of My Life with Laura: A Love Story: Sarah S.S. from Maryland, and Kate Reichert of Arlington, VA (both are from the DC metro area – wow!).  Sarah is a fellow blogger for Mothers with Cancer, writing about her life experiences on her Spruce Hill blog.  (I like her recipes!)  Kate is my colleague in the Office of Advocacy, and someone who has enjoyed following the tour.  Congratulations to both winners, and thanks to Jennifer Starr-Reivett (Clergygirl) for coordinating the drawing.

Day Ten: The Serendipity Factory

The final stop on the Blog Book Tour is The Serendipity Factory, written by Tammy and Traci McLaughlin.  This website seems the perfect place to complete the tour.  These self-described “serendipity factory custodians” write about positive discoveries – items and stories that truly inspire people.  Their website states the following: “We created this site to be a resource for encouragement and inspiration, especially for girls, teens and women who seek a warm place and positive thoughts. In this space we also like to honor and recognize people for being true to themselves and their dreams, as well as those trying to make a difference in the world.”  I was introduced to Traci by Stacy Martello of Fight Pink, and Traci was eager to participate in this book tour to promote my book.  It is indeed an honor to be recognized on her site.  I have no doubt that Laura inspired a number of people in her life and in her death, and she would appreciate this website about good news.

Today, The Serendipity Factory website discusses the book, calling it “a great resource for a family member or friend to understand what a person battling cancer is going through, and to learn the little things you can do to provide support.”  In addition, it features an interview with me.  

Also today, the Fight Pink website wraps up the entire Blog Book Tour with a quick synopisis of each day’s key points.  Thanks to both of them for their participation in this tour.  They, along with the eight other blogs, have made it a true success.  Thank you for folowing along with the Blog Book Tour!  I will announce the winner of the book giveaway drawing later today in a separate post.

Day Nine: Clergygirl

Our next stop on the Blog Book Tour is with Clergygirl.  Two things attracted me this site, which is written by Jennifer Starr-Reivitt.  First, like Laura, she was diagnosed with breast cancer only after being told that she had mastitis while nursing her newborn.  It is surprising to me how often I hear that this happens.  After treatment, though, Jennifer now considers herself a survivor, but she has taken the cause of educating women and doctors about the dangers of misdiagnosing mastitis.  Second, Jennifer has attended seminary, has served as a pastor, and is currently serving as an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church.  Her blog often combines faith with the battle against breast cancer, something that Laura would have appreciated.

Today, the Clergygirl blog, which is also cross-posted on the large Mothers with Cancer site, discusses my book from a Christian perspective.  In particular, she relates Laura’s struggle with that of Hannah from 1 Samuel.  Laura relied tremendously on her faith in God and was comforted by the fact that she would one day go to Heaven, for instance.  I hope that you read her post, as it offers a different take on the conversation that we have had over the past couple weeks.  (On a separate note, I have also relied on my faith throughout, and I will be ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Alexandria on January 25.)

In addition, there is a larger incentive to visit her blog today.  Everyone who comments on her post today (on either site) will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of My Life with Laura: A Love Story.  I will announce the winner tomorrow, which is the last day of the Blog Book Tour.

Day Eight: Cancer Book Review

Like many of the women on the Blog Book Tour, Tina Koral discovered she had breast cancer shortly after getting married.  She was ready to start a family, and then life took a different turn.  For a while, her doctors insisted that she just had a cyst, but after some persistence on her part, she learned the truth: she had stage III breast cancer which had spread to the lymph nodes.  You can read her story in her memoir, If I Just Breathe, or in a profile of her on the Fight Pink website.  She writes, for instance, “Many young women go undiagnosed while their cancers continue to grow inside them because their doctors think they are simply too young to get breast cancer….”  This story is reminiscient of my late wife’s; her cancer was originally thought to be mastitis, and her mammogram actually stated that she not did have cancer.

Tina sought a lot of information when she was diagnosed.  Some sources were better than others, so she started a blog dedicated to reviewing them, simply titled Cancer Book Review.  On today’s blog, she reviews my book, My Life with Laura: A Love Story.  She writes:

My Life with Laura: A Love Story is a wonderfully written tribute to Laura Moutray by her husband, Chad Moutray. Chad Moutray takes the reader on an incredibly detailed journey of their life together, from the moment he meets Laura until the moment they tragically part when she passes from breast cancer. The stories are so detailed, in fact, that by the end of the book, you might feel like the Moutrays are old friends.

I hope that you read the full review and that you check out Tina’s own memoir.

Day Seven: Cancer is Not a Death Sentence

At first impression, the title of today’s stop on the Blog Book Tour might seem an odd choice.  Yet, I think that it is important to note that not everyone’s cancer story has to end badly.  Angi Navarro from Luling, Louisiana, writes the blog, Cancer is NOT a DEATH Sentence!  She is a 34-year-old wife who has battled breast cancer twice.  Her blog covers many aspects of her life, including her support for breast cancer causes.  I first met Angi through Stacy Martello of Fight Pink, which profiled her in their survivor series in October.  In addition to this blog, Angi also contributes to Trusera and assists in the Q&A forum on My Breast Cancer Network.

Today, Angi provides some of her favorite passages in her review of my book.  It is clear that Laura’s life touched her, and when she was finished reading it, Angi writes that:

I felt as though I had lost a friend, because the way Chad wrote this book was completely inviting – taking you into their life, sharing private thoughts and journals – you really do feel as if you know them personally. And from this experience, I walk away sad that Breast Cancer claimed another life before a cure was found, that this woman left behind a daughter that will have virtually no memories of her mother, and a husband who loved her very much – so much that he wrote a book of her to share with the world.

Hopefully, you can click over to blog, where you will always be reminded that “cancer is not a death sentence” and that life takes some interesting turns.

Day Six: Route 53

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!  I hope that everyone is either enjoying their day off or, at a mininum, appreciating the significance of this week, with our nation’s historic inauguration of the first African-American president taking place tomorrow.

The Blog Book Tour for My Life with Laura: A Love Story resumes today for its second week.  Erik Hom, who writes Route 53, has the distinction of being my only male blogger on the tour.  He and I have become friends in recent weeks, e-mailing each other often; he definitely relates to being a “co-survivor” and relates to many of the incidents in my book, having had similar experiences with his wife’s breast cancer.  Fortunately, his wife’s  treatments have kept her cancer under control.  The Route 53 blog, so-named because of Erik’s fondness for Herbie the Love Bug (which has number 53 on it), discusses his family’s battle with breast cancer, his thoughts on life and parenting, and his travel experiences in his own personal Herbie.

Route 53 features an interview with me today from the spouse’s perspective on breast cancer.  He focuses on my role as a caregiver, my reactions to her diagnosis and her journal entries, and how the whole experience changed me.  It is an extensive, personal, and hopefully thought-provoking interview, and I hope that you check it out.  Thanks, Erik, for the post.  I have appreciated getting to know you over the past few weeks, and look forward to continuing the dialogue.