Perhps saying that life has given writer Susan Spencer-Wendel lemons sounds too trite considering she has a terminal illness (ALS) but she sure has managed to make lemonade, to the tune of a book deal worth a reported $2 million, plus a deal with Universal for the film rights.
The book she is writing has the working title Breathe Deeply. She wrote columns in the online Speakeasy section of the Wall Street Journal web site about her travels over the past year. Agent Peter McGuigan spotted those and got in touch and made the publishing and film deals. Spencer-Wendel is working with co-author Bret Witter.
Their goal: finish by October. Unfortunately Spencer-Wendel is losing her ability to speak and type, but she posted on her Facebook page that she will write until the day she dies.
It's not a trade off any of us would envy, but I hope it gives her some comfort to know that her story will be read and seen around the world and perhaps will inspire others to go for their dreams--regardless of how much or how little time they have left.
(What did Charles Dickens advise about writing? Or Anton Chekhov? Or Jane Austen? You can find their writing advice in my latest book, Your Creative Writing Masterclass, available from Amazon or your other favorite book seller.)
