“Amy, will you please lose weight so you don’t die before me?”
Amy Moloney
Every Minute is a New Day: Help Publish the Book
Help fund the publishing of Every Minute is a New Day: The Language of Dementia on Kickstarter today. Only a week left to help. We’re halfway to our goal. With your help we can make it by the 22nd of August.
All funds go directly towards the publishing and marketing of the book. Once the book is published 20% of all royalties will go to support Alzheimer’s research and education. Every dollar counts. Tell your friends and coworkers to give $1 or $5, no more than a latte.
Together we can ensure that the people have a positive message about dementia so we can change the conversation, challenge the stigma.
Click here to back Every Minute is a New Day: The Language of Dementia.
Thank you all do much for your ongoing support.
-Amy
Say My Name
Nurse: “Hi, my name is Amy.”
Patient: “I bet they call you Carmen.”
Nurses: Unsung Heroes
Nurses are supposed to be the unsung heroes providing care, quietly doing whatever is necessary. Nurses have always kept the secrets of our society, keeping level heads in crisis.
One of the biggest secrets is that Alzheimer’s is not tragic all the time. There is laughter, there is love. And I’m tired of being an unsung hero. I want to be a loud, boisterous, unconventional hero that sings terribly and off-key. I want you to hear my voice about Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
If you have Alzheimer’s, you have permission to be happy. If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s you have permission and a right to feel joy. Quit letting society tell us we are unsung. Raise your voice with Nurse Bitterpill in shattering the stigma of Dementia. There will be tragic moments. But the joy can easily outweigh them if you stay open to allowing them in.
I have a plan. I will be making a lot of noise. Make noise with me.
Nurse Bitterpill is in the process of publishing a book, Every Minute is a New Day. It is a long process (longer and more involved than I had anticipated). And an avenue to be vocal on behalf of my beautiful and joyous Alzheimer’s patients. It will not happen instantly. I do not have the luxury of cloistering myself away for six months without distraction to focus fully on writing. I am elbow deep in the real world of dementia every single day. In the trenches making life better for those suffering and have the audacity to be happy about it.
I don’t want to stop at just writing a book. I want to keep raising my voice with film, education, mentorships, and other forms of media to get the word out that we can still smile, laugh, and live after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. With a new business on the horizon, I plan on making everyone hear what I have to say even if means standing on street corners shouting to passersby that people with Alzheimer’s have a right to be happy. I am not fearless, I am determined. But if we all join together, we will be heard.
The launch of the new Kickstarter campaign for Every Minute is a New Day is approaching. Help me raise awareness and remove the tragic stigma of a Dementia diagnosis. Stay tuned for details.
11 Days Left! FAQ: Every Minute is a New Day
Ever since I made the decision to publish Every Minute is a New Day, the book I’ve been working on for years, life has picked up speed. I am in a constant state of exhilaration, optimism, and sheer terror. I have dreamed of being an author since I was 6 years old. And finally, I’ve found my voice, my passion. Thank you all for being a part of it. The Kickstarter campaign started out with amazing gusto. Then, Christmas shifted the focus. Now that we are into the new year, I am hoping to pick up steam again. I think I need to address some frequently asked questions in order to do this.
- What isKickstarter?
- Kickstarter is a crowd-funding website that helps independent artists, writers, entrepreneurs find financial backing from around the world.
- How do I back your project?
- Go to the kickstarter website, kickstarter.com/projects/fuzzylizzard/every-minute-is-a-new-day.
- Click on the amount you want to contribute to my project (anywhere from $1 – $1000, your choice). There are rewards for every amount contributed. I appreciate anything.
- The funds are processed through amazon.com. So you’ll need to enter your amazon info when prompted. YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED UNTIL 1-15-15 at 11pm.
- If the project is not fully funded, you will not be charged anything. Nada. Zip.
- Feel the good feels that come with supporting an independent author writing about her passion. And possibly changing the world with her message.
- What will you do if yourKickstarter campaign is not fully funded?
- If the book is not fully funded, I get no money from the campaign. You will not be charged.
- The book will happen no matter what.
- I have invested my personal savings into securing a basic publishing package. So no matter the outcome of Kickstarter, the book will be published.
- The Kickstarter is to secure a global marketing plan with audiobook.
- When will the book be ready?
- I still have some finishing touches and editing to do.
- I anticipate submitting the manuscript for the first editing phase to happen in February or early March.
- The book itself will probably not be ready to hit shelves until at least July 2015.
- Backers will get a sneak peek at exerts from the book via email.
So much joy has filled my heart since I begun this adventure. I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me either financially or emotionally.
Love and blessings,
Amy
Update: Every Minute is a New Day
13 More Days to Meet our Goal.
I’ve had a few questions lately about wanting me to detail the plan for the publishing funds. In an attempt to remain transparent in this whole process, here is an outline of my publishing and marketing plan:
- Audiobook recording and release to Amazon and then later Audible
- Worldwide press release to over 500 media outlets
- Large color print ads
- New York Times Sunday
- Reader’s Digest
- Radio and television interviews
- Google search terms
- Five international book shows:
- Frankfort, Germany
- London, UK
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Beijing, China
- United States
- Book Return ability to retail outlets buying hard copies of book
- 100% Royalties to author
- in order to ensure larger portion of proceeds go to Alzheimer’s research
- Amazon “look inside” feature.
- eBook formatting
- Professional editing
- Professional cover art
- Copyright and registering ISBN
There are more features that I am pursuing in the publishing process. But this is what I am aiming to accomplish with kickstarter funds.
Every Minute is a New Day: 17 Days Left
“Hope is a force as fragile as it is enduring. Hope and fear are forever entwined, not always on opposite sides of the spectrum. Hope can fuel fear and fear can fuel hope.” -Every Minute is A New Day.
17 days left to help fund the book.
Tell your friends, tell you mom. Let’s make this happen. Be a part of this message of hope.
Click here to help fund the book. As little as the cost of a latte can help.
Happy new year.
Thank you.
Be a part of Every Minute is a New Day
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My book Every Minute is a New Day has a crowdfunding page on Kickstarter. Please help spread the word and/or help fund this project. You all have my deepest appreciation. Visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fuzzylizzard/every-minute-is-a-new-day and read about the project
Thank You,
Amy Moloney
The Holiday Spirit
Patient: “Look at how ugly that tree is.”
Nurse: “Yeah, I’m not fond of over-sized ornaments.”
Patient: “I’m going to tell everyone I know that Amy doesn’t like big balls.”
The Cat’s Meow: A Short Story
A Short Story inspired by a few of the women I cared for.
The Cat’s Meow
By Amy Moloney
Lilly loved to dance. She would spend her days swaying to the rhythm in her mind. When she was not dancing, she would care for her neighbors. That is after she finds the cat meowing for his dinner. The old folks around her were always in need of assistance. Lilly felt it was up to her to help.
When she heard the baby crying she would spend hours holding the child in her arms. Lilly took great care to make the sure the child felt loved completely. But again the cat would meow to be let into the house. Where is that cat, she wonders.
Somehow the doors are all locked. The cat continues to meow. Oh well, Lilly thinks, after dinner the cat can come in. After the meal arrives she helps the nice young girls with the dishes until all of the tables are clean as a whistle. Then when everyone was settling down for the night Lilly helps tuck them in. She hears that cat meowing again. Maybe he needs some milk, she concludes to herself.
There he is all curled up in the corner, Lilly notices. She continues thinking about what a sweet cat he is.
“Lilly,” she hears someone calling for her. “Lilly, it is time for bed.”
Oh, so soon? Lilly thinks to herself about how she just got started on the day. She hasn’t even found the cat yet. He keeps meowing to come inside. “I’m not tired, dear. Can I make you a nice cup of tea? We can sit and play with the cat for a while.” Lilly motions for the young girl to sit beside her.
The young girl smiles at Lilly and agrees to sit with her. Lilly hears the cat scratching at the door again. “Do you hear the cat scratching to get in?” Lilly asks the girl.
“No Lilly, I don’t. Do you want me to go check for you?” She asks politely.
“Thank you, dear. I think the cat may be getting cold, being outside for so long. Oh my, I hear the baby crying again. Do you mind if I go check on her? She is probably hungry.”
The young girl walks with Lilly to her bedroom. Lilly finds herself feeling tired. But she cannot quite remember why she should be so sleepy. There is so much work to do. Feeling tired just is not an option in Lilly’s mind.
She asks the young girl with her, “Dear, what time is it? Should I feed the cat? It must be early. The sun isn’t out yet. Is my husband home from his fishing trip?” Lilly feels a little foolish for not knowing. She has been working so hard lately with the babies and has the farm to care for. Lilly rationalizes that the stress is making her a bit forgetful. There is so much on her mind; sleep will have to wait until later.
Lilly lies down on the bed that the nice girl turned down for her. Lilly decides to indulge the girl and sit there quietly for a little while. The girl promised to watch after the babies while she napped. Such a sweet young lady, Lilly thought.
Lilly closes her eyes for a moment like the young lady asked her to do. There goes that cat again. Why is that silly old cat meowing so loudly, Lilly continued to ponder. Lilly wants to get up again to check on the cat. But her eyes are so heavy. Oh, the cat will be fine outside for one night. If only the cat would quit crying, she could let herself fall asleep. It must be morning by now. The cat has been outside all night. Lilly tries to get up to check but a sweet young woman encourages her to relax in bed for a while longer.
Lilly falls asleep as the nurse turns out the lights.
The nurse smiles and walks out of the room knowing that Lilly will have the same day tomorrow as she had today, hopefully with a bit more dancing.
So is life inside the world of Alzheimer’s.
*This is a fictional story of a woman with Alzheimer’s.
Nurse Bitterpill [dot] com 