I remember fussing at my mom for not being able to sit still. As an artist and a mother, Millie Pete always had a project going. So when I tried to get her to sit down and watch a television show or movie with me, it was as if I was keeping her away from obligations that were far more important. Ends up, I’m just like her.
My latest project is my memoir. I began the process two years ago, much later than my Bert Show listeners would have liked. It was when I was on Q100 that many people suggested I write about the suspenseful transplant journey I was then sharing on air. Having to get up at 3:30 a.m. and take afternoon naps to endure the daunting schedule of a morning radio host, I was far too tired to take on such a feat then.
Fast forward to 2023, when I was still working from home post-COVID and my son was not as dependent on my every move. I don’t know if it’s the same for others in their 50s, or maybe it was the hangover of the pandemic, but I began having an acute sense of mortality. Surprising, I’m sure, to hear that from someone with a chronic illness, but it wasn’t until these recent years that how long I have left on this Earth came to mind. So what better to do with my time and paranoia than write my story.
Being who I am, writing a story wasn’t enough. I created a publishing company so that I could learn the ropes of what it takes to write, edit, format, print, and distribute the book. I even created a YouTube channel (Whanging Dude Publishing) so people could follow the process and learn how to be a self-published author or understand everything that goes into the books they read.
The result? A finished book that will be released on May 26, which happens to be Millie Pete’s birthday. I’m sure wherever she is she’ll appreciate her daughter’s homemade gift.
“Facing Inward” is not just the story of everything surrounding my transplant. It also describes my coming out experience, how I got to The Bert Show, and interactions with celebrities I met in my career.
It will be available wherever books are sold. If you prefer to find your reading materials at a library or an independent shop, I have instructions on my Linktree on how to request the book. And, yes, there will also be an audiobook version.
It was hard at times to learn how to get certain things accomplished, but so worth the effort. Even if no one buys the book, I’m glad Mr. Carter has a resource that will allow him to get to know his mother better, if he ever has that interest. In the meantime, I will be happy to sit and watch the latest YouTube videos with him. That is, until I figure out my next project.