I’m writing a book about my life and what it’s been like to grow up all over the world. When people ask, I often say, I am from the sea, and for me this holds more truth than, I have a Canadian passport; I was born in Germany or I currently live in America. When I say any of these three things, I feel caught in a description that does very little to capture the essence of my story.
But when I say, I am from the sea, people are confused and ask, what?
And this is the response I want, because I myself am confused by how to describe and capture my nomadic life and I prefer for people to get that part of my struggle than to put me in a nicely fitting box (which doesn’t fit): American, Canadian, German.
Last night I met with Diana and shared with her the next step to writing my book and getting it published. Instead of writing and then sending a complete manuscript to try to find a publisher, the best way to find a publisher it to write one or two chapter well and then put a book proposal or query letter together. Then I either have to find an agent or there are a handful of sites that take book proposals and match them with publishers.
The above revelation came to me through a conversation with my Dad’s boss, Hans, over pizza at the last Major Donor event my Dad put together.
Last night, I talked over the focus of my book as well as the chapter format/content. It amazes me how passionate I get when talking about the experience of being a Third Culture Kid and the different layers of that experience.
My book is the capturing of my experience and the result of growing up with no way to communicate it. For years I have been writing, thinking and trying to articulate what it was like moving from culture to culture, with an ever changing landscape for the story of my life. I have read voraciously, looking for words that resonated with or encompassed a part of my experience.
Growing up, it would have been immensely helpful to have a book like this. To realize that I was not alone in the issues and struggles of being a Third Culture Kid or Global Nomad. It is my hope that this book will encourage and comfort others who have either passed through or are still wrestling with their experience as a Global Nomad.
I would appreciate your prayers that I would continue to have inspiration as I write and that I would connect with a good publisher and/or agent when I do start sending my book proposal out.