When the People in Your Book Show Up

When the People in Your Book Show Up

You Hear It Here First

I want to tell you about yesterday and this morning, because it's the kind of thing that stops you in the middle of your day and makes you just — sit with it for a minute.

Joe was one of my physical therapists during recovery. He's in the book. He stopped by yesterday just to check in, see how I was doing post-therapy. I showed him Probably Nothing. Gifted him some bookmarks. He took photos of it — and then right there in front of me, he texted Bruce.

Bruce is the other PT. Also, in the book. This morning I got a text saying he'd ordered both of my books through Barnes & Noble. Both. Probably Nothing and The HideAway.

Sweet and overwhelming at the same time, if I'm being honest.

I'll be real with you — I'm a little nervous. These are men who were there during one of the hardest stretches of my life. They listened when I told them what I was experiencing. They made me feel seen and heard at a time when a lot of the medical world was doing the opposite. Joe even remembered that we both collect cast iron cookware. That's the kind of thing you notice about a person when you're actually paying attention.

They're good guys. They're in the book as good guys. But there's still that quiet fear every writer carries — what if they see themselves differently than I saw them?

I told Bruce to drop by when the books arrive. I'll sign them both. And I guess we'll find out.

I'm still sitting with that a little.

Have you ever been nervous about someone reading something you wrote about them? Irish@irish-rivers.com