Gaining Support!
I am very grateful to those of you who are being so patient for news of my book and appreciate everyone of you.
I never thought in the beginning that it would take this long, but I also knew nothing about the publishing business. Although there is little I can do to expedite things, I want you all to know that I have been diligent with my efforts, never giving up or dropping the ball. Every rewrite or new write, that my agent has requested, I have gathered my strength, wits, and friends in order to complete her request, no matter how painful. I have my writing critiqued regularly by my local university professors and other writers in my area. I expand my knowledge of the hard truth of abuse by volunteering at my local shelter and being pro active in my community about the cause. I try to take care of myself, so that I am truly able to send a message of hope.
By living my life not only as a survivor, but as someone who no matter what curve balls life throws at me, doesn’t ever become a victim again, takes some practice and a lot of help. As some of you may have read by my recent posts, I have had some personal struggles lately. But I am not down. Thanks to many acts of kindness and love sent my way amazing things are happening and doors are opening. In particular, I want to give a shout out to a wonderful woman, an advocate, Sally Anthony, who is an amazing singer with a heart of gold. Her willingness to stand up and speak out for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault is truly inspiring. Thanks Sally, and I hope to be helping you raise awareness soon.
The wonderful thing is that word of mouth is growing strong and miraculously the book is gaining support.
Dawn
December 20th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Hello Dawn,
I just thought I would tell you that I can’t wait until you post that the book is being published, from the sound of things you have worked hard enough on it. Good-Luck and I hope you hear from your agent soon!
Merry Christmas,
Printess
December 20th, 2005 at 10:01 pm
Dawn,
Thank you for letting us know what is going on with your highly anticipated book. For me, it doesn’t matter when it comes out, I will be here with bells on (well mabe not bells…). I am sure things have been quite crazy for you recently. I am praying for you and your family. You are a wonderful person. For me you are MY “Lizard Queen” you can do anything!! Babe!
Love, Nikkita
December 21st, 2005 at 4:41 pm
Dawn,
Have you considered publishing your book with one of those “publishing on demand” places? Rodger Jacobs published his book at LuLu.com and the product is nice. Thought I would pass this on to you…
Best wishes with the book no matter which way you go….
December 22nd, 2005 at 4:08 am
Hi Dawn, Can’t wait to read your book. It sounds like you have incredible strength to have survived through all that. I will keep watching for dates and I wish you all the best. You are in my prayers.
Happy Holidays, Jenny Lindstrom
December 24th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION!!
AND MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! I WISH YOU AND YOUR DEAR FAMILY THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!
SINCERELY,
NICOLE
December 27th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
Thanks for the update Dawn! I hope that you will consider offering the book here on your website once published. It would also be great if you could follow Val’s lead and sign them for a limited time. (hint-hint)
Maybe even offer signed copies for a fee and donate the fee to a women’s shelter or other charitable cause…Just a thought.
Hope you and everyone here had a happy and safe holiday season!
December 28th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Hey! sounds like Nicole D’Amico is a big doors fans lol. do am I. I love them. i just noticed the whole “lizard queen” thing. anyways Good Luck with your book! can’t wait to read it! In like the idea about selling signed copies for extra and donating it to a shelter. that would be really cool i would definetly help support that cause. Hope you had a good christmas. have a good new year!
lots of love,
stephanie
December 29th, 2005 at 6:00 pm
Yes Mischa, I too hope that signed copies of the book will be made available. Your idea of “for a good cause” is great. I look forward to adding a hardback 1st Edition copy of “The Road to Wonderland” to my book collection. Who knows? Maybe the book could become a movie too? :O
December 30th, 2005 at 8:54 am
Thanks for the update Dawn! I can’t wait to read your book!!!
December 30th, 2005 at 1:44 pm
Dawn –
After re-reading your bio I now know why so many of us were under the impression that you had written I book previous to the one we are all anxiously awaiting. The last line of the bio sates that this will be your second book.
Mischa
a.k.a. pinupcutie1970
December 31st, 2005 at 8:38 pm
Happy birthday Dawn! I hope all is going well with you and your family! Have a wonderful Happy New Year and I hope Sharon is doing well too!
January 1st, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Hi…I just wanted to post a little tid-bit…my husband works for a local non profit agency here in Oregon and we always try to give back. My example I would like to share includes my own daughter, who is now 8.
From the time she could walk and talk we have gone through her room to pick out the toys she is ‘done’ with. (this usually takes place right before Christmas and birthdays) We bag everything up and when our local Shelter lady (Sarah) was still there, she would drive up in her car and take the toys and clothes. My daughter learned that she is helping those kids who come with nothing to the shelter and because of her, they have a stuffy, or shirt.
I am on my PTA and now we get our school involved as much as possible…the Giving Tree, the Shoe Drive. I hope that more people like me…who are not abused and VERY LUCKY take time to involve themselves and make a difference. Thank you Dawn for having a forum..an outlet for these women.
DANE
January 5th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Hi Dane!
I happen to LOVE Oregon!!!!! Which agency does your husband work for, if you don’t mind me asking?
I also, go through my daughter’s room around her birthday and Christmas and it is a wonderful way to lend support. It is true that there many ways that people who have no misfortunes in their lives can help and even though I have experienced abuse in my life, my daughter hasn’t and I encourage her, as you do your daughter, to be conscious of those we CAN help.
Many blessings to you and your daughter,
Dawn
January 5th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I do not mind telling you!
My husband is the Union County Manager at Community Connection.
He does low income, (help with rent, heat, electricity, ect.) seniors, (meals on wheels, nutrition, BINGO!, ect.)transportation, (he just finished working out the kinks in a fixed route system so that EVERYONE can take a bus in our small town, and is working to bring Greyhound back into city limits)food bank, and so much more.
Thank you for the blessings! We may not have found the right church for us yet (with a church on practicly every block, you would think this was not a problem!) but we have found joy and peace in giving back to our community.
I have lived in the Bay Area, Sacramento, Vallejo, Redding, …pretty much all over central and northern California, but Oregon has my heart! I’ve been in my bitty little town on and off for 20+ years!
Oh, babbling. Sorry…
Have a wonderful day, and thanks for the note!
DANE
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Any new news on when we will be able to buy the book!
February 9th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Hey Dawn~My name is Heather and I am from Florence Oregon. My husband and I ended up buying this movie called “wonderland” one nite and I can’t tell you how much it drew me in…incredible is all I can say I have always been a fan of Val’s to…awesome movie! I can’t wait to read the book! God Bless You and Yours and Thanks For Sharing Your Story
}x{eather
March 30th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Any word on when “The road to wonderland” will be available
thanks.
April 1st, 2006 at 11:37 am
Any word on when “The road to wonderland†will be available
May 30th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Hi
We have had a customer enquiry re. Road to Wonderland. Would you please contact us when your book is published, will your book be available in Australia?
With Regards
Cheryl (Between the Lines Bookshop)
June 29th, 2006 at 9:18 am
Hi, I have been wanting to read your book since I watched Wonderland with my boyfriend a few months ago, and he’s been wanting to own it for I don’t know how long, I’ve gone to every bookstore that I know of. Anyways, I really want to buy it for him and I am having no luck finding it, and I was wondering if it was already out and I just need to keep looking or if it will be out soon so I can get it for sure.
Thanks.
August 1st, 2006 at 8:47 pm
im wondering where i can find the book…i can’t even find it on the internet or at the libraries or bookstores?????i’m really looking forward to reading it!!!!the movie was awesome!
August 11th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Hi Dawn!
I’m a big fan of the movie “Wonderland” and have become quite intrigued with the whole story of what happened there. I remember hearing as a kid that John was involved in some murders that took place, but I didn’t know the story behind it. I’m interested in the idea that you’re writing a book on your time with him and everything you went through. Is there any release date set for the book yet? Also, are you getting any cooperation from the victims familes on your book?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Rob
August 20th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Hi Dawn,
I just wanted to say what a true hero I think you are. Not only for everything that you went thru and survived, but for everything you are now doing with your life to help others. You are a true inspiration to women everywhere, no matter what their background. There is strength in knowledge.
I wish you and your family all the best in life and eagerly await the release of your book.
September 5th, 2006 at 12:03 am
dear dawn
i am a minister and yout worker
i just saw your life potrayed in the film “wonderland”—
i deal with so many young couples who are going through the same struggles you experienced —i will certainly be recommending your book to them
stay strong—and take the advice of charlie brown “who reassures the reassurer”
i trust our paths will cross in the future
sincerly
ben jordan
September 5th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Hi Dawn – I imagine you’ll be getting double the mail since Wonderland has been showing on IFC. I hate violence, yet was mesmerized and drawn toward the film, and wondered about the “real” people involved – especially you and John Holmes’ first wife. Looking forward to the publication of your book.
Thanks.
September 24th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
hi dawn,
i just saw “wonderland” i am so intrigued by your story and have searched the internet for a copy of your book. i have had no success in finding it. has it been published yet? when is the release date?
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:38 am
Hi Dawn,
I am in Australia and watched the movie Wonderland maybe over a year and a half ago and was wondering your book “the road through wonderland” would become available in Australia. I am very keen to purchase a copy as soon as i can. Hope to hear some news soon.
Kind Regards,
Erin
October 14th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
Hey Dawn, I haven’t posted on your website in a while because my sister’s husband committed suicide. He was a paraplegic due to an accident and I think was just tired of living life the way he was. Anyway, I have been living with her trying to help her out as she is not very stable right now. Anyway, I wanted to know if there was any word on your book? Everytime I go in Barnes and Noble, I look to see if they have it, but no such luck. Anyway, best of luck to you and your family and you are definitely a true hero of mine. I know what it’s like to have a boyfriend or husband try to take away your self-respect, self-worth, and even sanity and you hung in there and are alive today to help others who are going through the same thing. I got out of my bad relationship and I feel I could conquer the world now because if I can survive that, I can survive anything. You remember that. Take care, Angeline Silvers
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Hi Dawn,
I recently saw the movie “Wonderland” and was intrigued. You are such a strong person. I have been diligently searching for your book but haven’t been able to find. Has it been published? If so how may I get a copy? Sincerely, Tiffany
July 18th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I have the same problem as Tiffany. I’m a huge true crime fan and recently saw the movie “Wonderful.” Now that I have finally found the title to your book, I’m wondering were I can purchase “The Road Though Wonderland.” I have tried most of the major book stores. So I was just wondering if you could help me out. Take Care!
Paige
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
HI DAWN!
I haven’t heard anything about your book lately… is it out? or when can i expect to see it on the shelves??
Thanks
January 12th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hi Dawn
I loved the movie Wonderland and have heard that you were going to write a book about what you went through with John and the murders. I have been searching for it everywhere and can’t find it. I was wondering if you were still going to publish it and when and where can I get it? I would also like to say that you are an inspiration to everyone who has done drugs. You proved that you can get yourself out of situations like that and move on and be happy and start a new life. Thank You.
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
I too am looking for the book, please let us all know if and when it will be out and what publishing house. Thanks.