BURNING CANDLES TO BECOME A LIGHTHOUSE

 Leona Ebling

A dream of long ago achieved!  My first published book now alive. How many years I was in being able to make myself believe I could do it.  I loved to write even as a small child. To make me happy just give me a book to read or a pencil and paper to express myself. 

For over thirty-five years, I wrote and saved most of my "stuff" using only bits and pieces of it to entertain or help in ways I was asked.  Saving my stories, poetry, and novels, as time after time, I would get the idea of submitting one and then back out. I felt I was not good enough, educated enough, etc.

Then I even went back to school, took my GED and earned a scholarship, was accepted for college and again "backed-out."  Well, I partly backed out.  I signed up for 'continuing education' classes at that college and completed credit classes for a professional skills certificate.  Levels 1 & 2.

I remained at the same type of work as a personal companion.  Why?  Mainly because I felt I was needed.  I was doing something useful, and in my spare time, (Personal Companions have a lot of spare time’), I wrote.  Several books for children, and used them to entertain my own children, then grandchildren.  I used my "stuff" in the church, in newsletters, and wrote for others to use with no charge.  Why?  Number one reason, I enjoyed doing this.  Number two, I lacked confidence in myself.  I felt I was not good enough to get anything published

Then came the time I cared for a Broadway star, a top-name comedian, dancer and movie star.  She had left that line of work after twenty-plus years because of her mother’s health who was her agent. She started at the bottom in a top line of department stores in Los Angeles and worked her way to top executive.  Now she was unable by law to live alone, forcing her to have "sitters" around the clock.

She became a very bitter, resentful, and mean tempered person due to this problem.  Many would work one night and refuse to go back.  Some never even finish the shift with her.  Some said they would not work for her for a hundred dollars an hour.  Although she was educated and a sometimes very gracious lady, she knew how to "cut you down" in a flash with her words.

I was the first to stay with her while she was yet in the hospital waiting to go home for round the clock care.  I became very impressed with the person she had been and saw a friend in her that could help me feel encouraged to keep on trying, while I was helping her.

Many times her mental frustration vented on me and I wound up in tears and even yelled at her.  I apologized, still in tears, and asked her to forgive me and pulled off my coat and stayed.  I am so thankful I did. How privileged I was to have her for a friend, as well as it being a good position, as I had to work somewhere.

I began writing and entertaining her.  I would read little bits and pieces of it to her and she would laugh and joke, and tell me how she enjoyed it.  I wrote her poetry for her birthday and for Christmas and many other times to try to make her day brighter.  She would have me frame them and kept all of them.  Then I began writing a book titled "Dancing With Life."  My precious little friend and client had me read to her many times from the rough draft of it and encouraged me to "Get that published, Leona."

It took me a year exactly to finish the book and three years to get it set-up and published. I would have "backed out" several times during the set-up for the galley and printing process had it not been my daughter Nancy and her husband Rick had financed the cost of publishing it for me.  I did not wish to waste their money.

I titled it "Dancing With Life, memories deleted or saved" and left blank pages between several chapters for people to share their "jump-started" memories.  The company was a wonderful experience to work with and I could not have been treated better or had better service then the young men who set-up the print and pictures.  They sent me a free complimentary copy of the book.  I was so surprised at how great the book looked even with black and white pictures (which were all I could afford) smile. 

Now on reading it I am certain I named it wrong.  Too late though!   I should have titled it, "My Imperfections While Dancing with Life!"  If you buy this book, I am sure you would soon know what I mean after reading only a chapter or two. Yet, I am so thankful I did accomplish getting one book published, and I know now that I am on my way to more of my "Stuff" as I called it becoming alive for others. 

Soon to come  will be "Search For Life Through the Past" a fiction novel of a passionate love story of mixed marriages and the problems a young man suffers through as he tries to find his way in life to happiness.  He has to overcome hate, bitterness, tragedy, a drinking problem, as well as prison. Each character became real to me as I cried, laughed and loved with them thirty years ago on the birth of this one.

Then there is also a fiction romance, sort of comedy featuring "The Boss" (the title also of the book) who is a cat.   The "Adventures of Heidi and Peek" a couple of church mice whose travels and problems takes them to many places and then back home to Grandpa Solomon Mouse and Mother Martha and Daddy Thomas mouse. They live in a little Pentecostal church and Peeks weakness for Pizza or just plain food gets them into all kinds of troubles. Heidi is his loyal sister who is always involved without trying to be in his mischief. 

Of course, there is the "Series" of the "Day Girls at Maw-maw and Paw-Paw Days farm."  These are children’s book, with illustrations galore in both of these.  I could name others such as "Michaels Miracle” and “Michael's Family," but I will stop right here and say, “No!  I am not perfect and will never be, yet I did achieve something.  My dream of writing a book and getting it published is accomplished. 

 So pursue your goals.  Make your dreams come true!  How can we ever hope to be a lighthouse if we can not first be a candle? Oh, by the way, I also will publish "The Light House," which is a dream of a couple of my characters in this plot.  It is a dream that becomes a reality as one will make this lighthouse her home and the other will vacation there.  Both will meet with miracles and well, just look for it in the next year (hopefully and prayerfully) online at Barnes & Nobel.  

You can also find available online now at AuthorHouse.com, Barnes & Nobel books, Amazon books, Target books, Border books, to name a few “Dancing with Life.”

 Thanks and hugs,

    Leonia Ebling

wwjdleona@aol.com