Behind the Pages: Shannon Luders Manuel Reveals the Untold Inspirations Behind The One Who Loves You
MDH: A note to the reader at the front of the book gives a lot of information about how this memoir came together. You say, “This memoir is drawn from my memories, letters, conversations with friends and family, and details from the thirty-odd journals I kept between 1988 and 2003.”
It was clear to me that these resources, particularly your journals, were integral to pulling the reader into your world. I was particularly struck by how authentic your child’s perspective came across. Can you talk a bit about both the advantages and challenges of transforming letters and journals into a compelling narrative?