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| (From thesuitelifeoflucyandethel.com, a blog I do with good friend/fellow SMA mom, Cindy Schaefer):
Big news from Milverstead Publishing (publisher for The Jeffrey Journey)! Not A Fire Exit (www.notafireexit.com), founder Chris Finlan’s novel based loosely on an SMA family, is headed to the big screen (tinyurl.com/33d6d3r)! Not a shabby accomplishment for someone who hadn’t even written the book at this time last year….
And certainly not a shabby accomplishment for someone’s first book.
Milverstead’s unique beginning stemmed from a purpose. After learning that Zane, one of the twin babies of a former classmate, Hillary Dunlop Schmid, had SMA and wasn’t expected to live long, Chris went to work to see how he could help in some way. He opted to write a book, despite the fact that he hadn’t progressed much past doodling in the past. The book reached print status in an insanely short amount of time, with a generous portion of the proceeds earmarked first for Families of SMA and then the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.
And then I came on board, begging asking nicely if Chris would be interested in taking me and The Jeffrey Journey under his impressive wings after experiencing utter frustration with my publisher at the time. Because it’s Chris’ nature to be helpful, he said yes, and life as he knew it ended. He has been such a joy to work with in all ways through the entire process of getting The Jeffrey Journey reissued, I’m eager to work with him however I can (and, no, I’m not being compensated to say that. But it’s a nice thought!).
As Milverstead’s author roster grows, so does Chris’ determination to help special causes from SMA on. His giving spirit is contagious, and I fully expect authors with a charitable nature to come flocking.
The events of the past twelve months have exciting, humbling, and overwhelming at times for Chris. Read his reflections, replete with gratitude and awe at tinyurl.com/24gmv3m.
Congratulations, Chris! You have shown what hard work, faith, tenacity, and good will can accomplish. I’m proud to be a witness to the major development for Not A Fire Exit and incredible metamorphosis of Milverstead.
Oh, and don’t forget – I’d like Meryl to take my place when The Jeffrey Journey hits the big screen.
Ahem.
Lucy*
PS – Joel Friedlander, book designer for The Jeffrey Journey, has an excellent post about Chris and his unusually quick accomplishment at tinyurl.com/299s9rg.
(*aka Helen)
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