A Tear-Stained Letter: Surviving Multiple Sclerosis and my wife's suicide

Vern, you are an amazing inspiration! I've wandered into your website and it looks like blessings are making their way to you with healings and overcoming surmountable tragedy. Prayers for your continued success in your non-fiction arena.

I watchlisted both of your titles posted here.

Angels Abound . . .
~ Mia
"Thy Kingdom Come"

Hello Vern , I have just read the first chapter of your tremendous book and am left with many differing sentiments ,but I think the strongest impression is the feeling that you have shown tremendous resilience of heart and mind to be able to write this book ,given the burden not only of your wife's tragic death , but your own multiple sclerosis.It is written in a extremely dramatic way , which does not need embellishment to create an impact. I don't know if you have the time , but I wonder if you would be able to look at the first chapter of my book , 'A Buccaneer' , which is set amongst Pirates in the 17th century , with very best wishes , Strachan Gordon (from the UK) Watchlisted.

I have now gotten to the publishing phase and A Tear-Stained Letter will come out in Mid-June 2011! Vern Beachy

Hi Vern,

I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved wife. You have written a beautiful, heart-wrenching, descriptive story that drew me into it until I could feel your pain, your hurt and confusion. It was difficult to read (although well written and paced) and more than once I had to stop to wipe tears from my eyes as I easily saw your heart. Throughout the story I felt your undying love for your wife and I really respect you for the courage it must have taken to write and then post your story on here. I have backed this 100% as it deserves.

Joyanna Winn

Amazing, well done and I wish you all the best with this. E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

Very riveting opening and you create a wonderful atmosphere of fear and tension.

(Please check you didn't say you opened the door twice, I opened the front door and four lines later you say I opened the door)

Very stirring

backed

Vern, this opening chapter is bursting with emotion. A sad, enjoyable read that compels the reader to turn to the next chapter.

Sincerely backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Vern:

Hooked, right from the beginning. The first chapter alone really captures the surreal nature of what's to come in subsequent chapters.

Clearly, this is a sad story, a tragic story. But it's also an uplifting story. To write down these events in an artistic means you've survived, means you're healing. I look forward to reading the rest of your manuscript when you're ready to share it.

Cheers,
Mike Somers
Starved

I am up to chapter 5. I really like the way that you poured out so much emotion and feeling into your story. I felt like I was right there with you, going through each new experience. Strange that your wife and my husband were both 44. The story had me so engaged that I wanted to look online for a photo of her. You're right, she was a beautiful woman. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt story. I know that getting it out on paper was very theraputic, at least it was for me. Any publisher would be wise to snatch this one up! Backed

Lori - Out of the Fire and Into the Light

I haven't had a chance to read your book yet, but am eager to. I too lost a husband to suicide and know fully well the unique pain that goes along with that. I also lost my mother to Lou Gehrig's disease, which mimicks MS. So I can identify with that pain also. Thank you for your courage to write out all of your pain. That in itself is very healing. Best of luck with your book!

Lori - Out of the Fire and Into the Light

Too sad to read.
A real life account that must have been very difficult to write.
It comes over well, and you capture the spirit - or shadow - of each moment.


BACKED

I very nearly didn't read this, because I know it can't possibly have a happy ending. Suicide is tragic, MS is utterly horrible, so having to suffer both must be... well, words can't possible describe.
Or can they? I braved it, and had a read. From a writing point of view, this is compelling, shocking, heart-breaking, a hundred emotions pounding me at once, and knowing that this is real really did choke me up. Best of luck with this, because it, as a book, is fabulous, but also best of luck with your life, because you sure as hell seem to need it.

Andrew

Vern,
What a brave and strong man you are to write this heartbreaking count of your terrible loss. I so do hope that by writing it you have found som peace inside. I certainly hope that this will be published and am putting it right up on my shelf.
Nillan
(Blue-eyed in Luhya-land)

Almost eartbreaking to read just as a premiss. The difficulty you must have had writing this but also the cathartic experience that it must have given you. I aaplaud your quiet dignity in delivering these powerful words. Good luck with it, backed.

This is one of the books you'd wish were fiction, but it is not fiction. Your survival and this cathartic book show the rest of us how one should live his life, with head held high and taking the blows one at a time, bending but not breaking.

I applaud you, and the book takes its deserved space on my shelf.

Wow, blimey. This book needs to be published.

A Tear-Stained Letter

Hi Vern,

What to say, I am sorry, so sorry. But also, what an amazing testament to your love, devotion and your dogged struggle through grief this is. You bring it to life, it is painful yes, it is distressing yes, but it is also beautiful because you capture the loss, the emptiness and the sheer terror of being alive and losing what we love most. You have stared into this horror and you have done your best to make sense of it, a warm-hearted gesture of love and memory, outward looking, helpful for others and so powerful. It is difficult to read but it is so well written, stream of consciousness stuff, it must have been very hard to write. I am in awe of your courage and your staying power and your ability to dress the pain in words. Well done, onto my shelf. Take care

Best wishes and good luck - Andrew W.
(Sanctuary's Loss)

Vern,
Notes on aTSL:
Bob Dunkelburger is the real name of a man I visited with regularly every Xmas in my youth. His wife had MS and was in a chair. Bob fed/bathed/and like a pro did her makeup for her. He loved her dearly and when my cousin was diagnosed I couldn't help but look at her husband and think You won't be a Bob Dunkelburger. I was angry but she's doing well and its not an issue yet...sorry for the aside, but this is where your book has sent me. A tough well-written opener. I felt his fear/solitude.
...completely humiliated, wifeless and nearly lifeless. = v good.
So much to feel...moved by here.
Best of luck with this.
-=Bradley

This is a very moving and well written story. What you give us us heart-wrenching but you draw us in to what happened and it's difficult not to become involved with what you're relating. Backed and wishing you well - Phil Rowan (Weimar Vibes)

This is an incrediable story. The strength to write it!! You are amazing.
Backed,
Barbara
The Sea Pillow

This is such a warm and heartbreaking story, and we all could learn something from it. It is a beautiful story of human survival, and you painted it beautifully. This is on my shelf for the additional exposure it rightfully deserves.

L. Anne Carrington, "The Cruiserweight"

This is heartbreaking.
I just read a book about MS and what a person has to go through, and their family, is simply heart shattering.
I applaud you for writing this, speaking from your heart, and putting your experiences out there for us to read.
Backed. T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

Vern,

Thanks for your comments on my book.

I'm sorry for your loss. Your story is so important, and I commend you for sharing it with the world. I wish more people would speak from the heart and share the stories that connect and bond us all on the human level.

I will continue to read your story.

Backed,
Janine

A Tear-Stained Letter

What can I say? You have given me a gift. Showing the part of yourself that is most tender, most exposed. I don't think that I am as brave as you. Nor do I think that I would be as resilient. You are a man to be reckoned with. Shelved C.P

Vern, this is heart-wrenching and deeply moving. It's also shocking - I was quite honestly shaking after reading of the treatment meted out to you by those police officers.

I admire your courage so much - to carry on at all, and to share your story with the world. And you tell it so very well: straightforward, direct, and with a stark clarity.

Shelved.

Hi Vern-

First of all, your cover. It's beautiful and peaceful and pleasing to the eyes. Definitely serene... I love it.

Your pitch - well written, concise and straight to the point. That's a good thing - there's really no point in sugar-coating the material in the book. It is what it is, and your pitch is enough to compell those who want to experience a good, emotional, heart-felt story to read on.

The guts of your book - and I mean that in the most literal sense of that, because it is truly gut-wrenching, and emotional. It is well written, and I know it has come from the heart, and the very bottom of your soul. The reactions of you and your entire family as they cope through the grief is heart wrenching. This is very well written, and extremely compelling. Thank you for sharing this with the Authonomy world. I'm happy to back it.

Kim
Invisible Justice

Visceral, compelling, and told in a unique voice. The emotions laid so starkly bare grab the reader's attention and don't let go.

Hello Vern.

This is an exquisite and moving narrative.

You had my attention just from reading your pitch and you held it throughout reading your story. I think this is a very profound piece of writing.

I am definitely backing your story and hope others will do the same!!

Vern,

I hope you will check in regularly to see how your heartfelt work of non-fiction fares. I don't know who is credited for the old saying, "Sometimes art imitates life," but as a man who has been in a relationship with someone who suffered from MS, I am pleased to back you.

I applaud you for writing this compelling and heartfelt story. I think Nicolas Sparks would be inspired by it.

Rodney

Paxie;

Thank you for your comment and, yes, I did take a look at Harpertrue. Very, very interesting, thank you. I do have a finished manuscript (76,400 words) and I do have a literary agent now working on my behalf. I think a submission to Harpertrue would step on his toes, but I am not totally sure.

I started out by writing a letter to Melinda and when I kept writing I thought it would be a good idea for a book. Writing what turned out to be "A Tear-Stained Letter" was very therapeutic for me and I know the issues I talk about in the book can be very beneficial for the general public and for those in similar situations. Thank you, thank you.

Vern

This is a very moving story....Every word squeezed from the heart.....It's what 'words' are for isn't it.....To pass on something like this and share with others an experience that you never want them to live through themselves....

You have to decide where you want to go with this.......If you just want the satisfaction of writing it and to feel totally rewarded and fullfilled when its complete then your heading there pretty fast in my view...

If you want global publication then to be honest that's a totally different ball game, (and dont we all know it).....BUT ...you can take a look at www.harpertrue.com...................You give them a 2000 word account of your true life story,, and they do the rest,,,,,,Effectively you are given a ghost writer and before you know it, your on every shelf in every airport.....I noticed it the other day.....It's not for me, bugger all has happened to me that anyone else would want to know......

Have a look.... Best of luck with this, it's an incredible story......Backed

Vern

This is a very moving story....Every word squeezed from the heart.....It's what 'words' are for isn't it.....To pass on something like this and share with others an experience that you never want them to live through themselves....

You have to decide where you want to go with this.......If you just want the satisfaction of writing it and to feel totally rewarded and fullfilled when its complete then your heading there pretty fast in my view...

If you want global publication then to be honest that's a totally different ball game, (and dont we all know it).....BUT ...you can take a look at www.harpertrue.com...................You give them a 2000 word account of your true life story,, and they do the rest,,,,,,Effectively you are given a ghost writer and before you know it, your on every shelf in every airport.....I noticed it the other day.....It's not for me, bugger all has happened to me that anyone else would want to know......

Have a look.... Best of luck with this, it's an incredible story......Backed

Thank you Ali...I DO SO appreciate the feedback I have been getting from experienced writers like yourself.

This is heart-wrenching, poignant and also sadly very real. Your writing is fluent and beautiful, and you write with searing honesty. I am full of admiration for your courage. Ali

Thanks for your comment Paul. MS is hard, absolutely, but it is easy compared to losing my wife.

Hi Vern, harrowing stuff, I can still feel my heart beating. I have two friends who have MS one of whom suffered an appalling tragedy within his family shortly after being diagnosed. It can be hard to imagine the suffering some people have to go through. There but for the grace of God.
Well told with genuine emotion and passion. Paul.

Hi Vern, harrowing stuff, I can still feel my heart beating. I have two friends who have MS one of whom suffered an appalling tragedy within his family shortly after being diagnosed. It can be hard to imagine the suffering some people have to go through. There but for the grace of God.
Well told with genuine emotion and passion. Paul.

Vern, this is a touching memoir. This is true life horror and you capture it well. One can only wish you the best in the future.
Steve Ward
Test Pilot's Daughter: Revenge

Your title and pitch put you right on my shelf. I am looking forward to reading this.

This is a harrowing piece of writing and is real. Take it from me it is well described, atmospheric and crafted skillfully.
You drag the reader in and mess with threir soul and their emotions.
Excellent writing,
Shelved.
Best Wishes

It is difficult to comment on such a personal piece of writing without being glib or patronising. Your pain and bitterness floods onto the page (especially in the long outpouring of thoughts which runs without interruption or punctuation) and your journalistic experience is evident in the writing stye. You certainly capture and hold the reader's attention and I wanted to read more than you have uploaded. I worked for more than a year on a suicide helpline but that has made me no wiser about the cause or effect that suicide has. Every case is unique as your story demonstrates so perfectly.