Writing A Book & Becoming An Author Journey

The journey of writing a book is quite an adventure, especially during unusual circumstances. I was always sure that one day I will write a book. I did not know when, how, and what the book's content might be. I have always written journals, mainly when I was not feeling well. I found writing to be a way to clear my mind from negative thoughts and release the negative energy of feelings. In that sense, writing became a therapeutic approach to relieve stress and anxiety. It was also an experience to think loud and analyse situations that require research for answers.
It became a habit to write a few paragraphs here and there. I was able to build and improve my writing skills through high school, college, and once I became an educator. Working in education, extensive research, reading, critical thinking, and writing is needed to develop a science curriculum. I decided to add to my skills through professional development workshops, which allow me to become a trainer/coach in leadership skills and a consultant in multiple intelligences. In 2017, I attended a workshop with Dr. Thomas Armstrong, who is an internationally recognized education speaker and best-selling author. During that workshop, I decided to write about consciousness. I recognized during the workshop the importance of neurology in forming consciousness, acquiring knowledge, and building habits. It was a topic that fascinated me for a long time. I decided to write a book that introduces the role of neurology in developing consciousness. Then, I wanted to give it a personal touch by telling my near-death story. I related that to my own experience of an altered state of consciousness through trauma. Towards the end, I decided to help others walking the path of transcending their souls to grow to change their reality perception. Based on that, I made a spiritual closure to guide souls who want to be enlightened by raising their level of consciousness, without trauma.
I communicated with the publisher, who was in another country. I was teaching and heading the health science department in Qatar at that time. The publisher was in London, UK. The team guided me through their procedure to submit the manuscript, get approved, and start the publishing journey. I began my research, by reading books, websites, and any relevant resources. I wrote, refined my writing, and gathered citations to use as references. I submitted the initial manuscript for my book “Change Your Life in the Light of Consciousness” in 2017. At the beginning of 2018, I turned in my final manuscript, which I focused to finalize during the long winter school vacation. It was the best vacation ever. Travelling during vacation was a great way to rest, relax, refresh, and explore the world. That vacation was an opportunity to explore the world in myself, and my potential as an author and a writer. I used to take my laptop in the morning and find a quiet peaceful place in nature. Reflecting over a sea view, surrounded by greenery was the ideal atmosphere for creative ideas to flow spontaneously. I discovered my ability to write for hours verbalizing my thoughts, and expressing intellectually the relationship between cause and effect, using analytical skills. An influx of intuitive thought came into awareness through reflection, which I started to organize, as I was processing thoughts into words. Having readers in mind, I simplified to allow them to easily comprehend what I exactly meant. I felt like I was crafting an artistic masterpiece that requires a storytelling style and imagination yet relies on science for valid evidence of truth.
Applying that effort, my book was approved for publishing, but I had to bear the total cost. I started making monthly payments. By June 2018, I had fully paid the cost. After that, we started the revising, editing, and proofreading process. The process started well, choosing the cover and drafting the synopsis. Later, the publisher slowed down and was not communicating effectively. I was not aware of what was going on, but the editors I was working with were always changing. That stretched the publishing project way beyond what I expected. It was towards the end of 2019 when I heard back from the publisher and resumed revising, editing, and proofreading back and forth remotely. We got disconnected again, until mid-2020. The project became active again, but COVID-19 broke through. It impacted businesses globally and the publisher was no exception. It was not until the end of 2020 that the publisher declared 26 February 2021 as a publishing date for my book. Have I forgotten to mention that during the whole journey, I was suffering from a chronic inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn’s? I sure did, as I forgot all the suffering while trying to publish what came out to be a life journey. A journey that was accompanied by many challenges at a personal and global level. For me, it was a spiritual manifestation to lift my soul above the diseased body. Despite my awareness of the merciless symptoms and pain, I felt none physically.
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s formally in 2011, but it might have existed long before that. Due to a lack of awareness, IBD patients like me suffered in silence, until a major trigger of severe
symptoms activated the disease. Still, proper diagnosis and treatment could be a struggle when disease causes are unknown. All that struggle did not stop me from being active and productive. I was still working a full-time job and professionally developing myself, in addition to writing my book as a personal project. In 2019, after losing my job and health insurance, I could not afford the biologic medication that keeps me in remission. I had a severe untreated flare-up since that time. Even then, I was seeking employment travelling between Lebanon, Bahrain, and UAE, while working on my book from home.
After COVID-19, I felt the whole universe was going at my pace and experiencing what I have lived for years with an autoimmune disease. Standard precautions of hygiene, which I set for myself were applicable globally, keeping the distance, and working remotely. I did not feel lonely anymore, as everyone had the same concerns. It was a time to allow everybody to slow down and reflect, as I did for years. It became an opportunity for rising to a higher level of consciousness to perceive reality from a whole different perspective. Despite all the challenges, I managed to publish my book at the time it was most needed. It has seen the light later than I have planned, but exactly when it was meant to be.
Publishing a book and becoming an author was an enjoyable transformative journey in life journey. Life’s journey has not ended yet, and many books could be written. I am still coping with untreated Crohn’s flare-up, for which I have been rushed to ER several times with long-term hospitalisation, and a few more near-death experiences. NDEs facing Crohn’s alone, in a foreign country, away from home and family. It takes faith, patience, determination, resilience, and a sense of purpose to accomplish what seems impossible for human potential. Through the path, we discover our full potential and beyond. It will always be my first book to nurture for years before it came into existence. I hope that I have inspired you to write your book and watch yourself grow with it.

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