THE READER

If you’ve followed my blog for long at all, you probably know that I work very closely with a reader.  Someone asked me recently if a reader is the same thing as a book doctor.  The answer is NO. A book doc is someone who takes your ms and turns it into something better, hopefully something sellable.  A reader is more like a trusted advisor.  Someone who gives you honest feedback but leaves the writing to you.

I’m fortunate.  I have two readers.  First, there’s Becky .  She’s a young mother in Nashville — born and raised in the South, a voracious and intelligent reader, dedicated English teacher — Becky understands the subtle nuances of Southern writing.

And then there’s Bonnie MacDonald.  I trust Bonnie with every word I’ve ever written.  And that’s a lot of words because Bonnie and I have worked together for more than 15 years.  But Bonnie is more than a reader, a writer, an editor and a good friend.  She is a CASA volunteer.  That’s right, a COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE.  She has mentored and cared for children in the foster-care system in Orange County, California, for almost two decades. She has truly made a difference in so many young lives and has provided children hope and love in a world that seems to have forgotten them.  She’d never tell you this, but she was once named Orange County’s CASA Volunteer of the Year.

Now Bonnie is blogging about CASA and the foster-care system for Dr. Phil. com.  And I would really appreciate it if you would check out her blog, leave a comment, and as she suggests, smile at a child today.

Posted February 16, 2010 at 8:47 am · 2 comments · Leave a Comment