by Tara Miller
Saturday March 20, 2010, The Okanagan Saturday – KELOWNA
Published author is a title that Gerald Deshayes never imagined would be one he would have, but a five year journey into writing his first novel has earned him the right to use it. A far cry from his pre-retirement career working for Telus, Deshayes book Gene is receiving positive views from its readers, both locally and abroad.
“I’ve had some great reviews from people who have said, “I just cannot put this book down and I can’t wait to read your next book. I’ve made a giant leap here. It’s a medical fiction based on scientific fact and some will find it disturbing but it’s only a story.” said Deshayes of his book based on the 17 year old character, Gene, that has an accident and discovers he is a quadriplegic.
Falling outside the typical accident, disease, recovery, and coping paradigm of what we’re used to for this kind of drama, Deshayes book offers a radical twist in presenting the character with a chance for a cure in a procedure so far out of our normal realm of thought that it’s difficult to comprehend, but one keeping readers hooked.
“Prior to writing Gene, I was not a writer - the biggest thing I had written was my grocery list. I never thought I could do it but something changes in your life and you follow it and at least attempt it.”
This journey into writing came together from a series of events in Deshayes life that had impact on him. “I had read a book in high school called Johnny Got His Gun about a young man that came back from the war. He had lost his limbs and ability to speak but was mentally alert…he was trapped in his body.”
Seeing patients at Cottonwoods Care Centre equally trapped in their bodies on during his work visits and watching a special on Christopher Reeve after he became a quadriplegic compounded that impact to Deshayes.
The concept of one being trapped and betrayed by their own body but maintaining mental capacity stacked up in Deshayes mind but it was after the passing of his younger sister to Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) and watching her suffer through it’s various stages that was the final piece that prompted him to write this book. “After she died there was something within me to speak out even if only to satisfy my own soul.”
Deshayes started writing this story down, thinking he would maybe just start with a couple of chapters. He says it was a process that happened in stages and the road to self publishing not an easy or an inexpensive one.
“I wanted to make sure it was the best I could do and that whoever picked it up couldn’t put it down. Reaching that, I had achieved all the goals I wanted to do which was to write for myself and dedicate it to my sister. In the end I had something I hoped was
fun reading and entertaining as well as a legacy to my family.”
Deshayes went through the process of trying to find an agent, sending excerpts of his book out to try and find representation, eventually having Gene self published through Trafford Publishing, through one of their self publishing packages. Deshayes has since decided to take it to the next level, purchasing a publicity package that is currently pushing the book via Authors Solutions in Washington, DC on a 12 week publicity campaign.
Overall, the financial investment has surmounted $10,000 along with his time and efforts, but it has never been about the money for Deshayes.
“The first stage was writing the book, the second was getting it professionally edited, third is to get it published and the fourth is getting feedback on your work, and good or bad, you’re exposing yourself to the world, you feel slightly vulnerable because other eyes are reading your thoughts through all of this.”
Self published books have a rap for not always being a quality read and Deshayes wanted to make his book the best it could possibly be.
Gene is available at Chapters and Mosaic book stores and online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Moving onto his second book, Deshayes feels he’ll finish it in half the time now that’s he’s paved the way with his first book.
“It’s just flowing out of me. I started a month ago but it’s going to take me half the time. My writer’s voice is ingrained in me and I see that now. I set a goal and I push myself – other people can do it, it takes a lot of hard work but you can do it.”
gerrydeshayes@hotmail.com
