1. How did the idea for this anthology come about?
"No one walks away unscathed from a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; your life changes on a multitude of levels. After my own diagnosis, I started thinking about what kinds of tools I would need for self transformation. I wanted to find the formula for living successfully with MS.
"I started communicating with other people in the MS community and found that the responses to this disease were as varied and as individual as the person. Still, the people who are living successfully with MS seemed to have come to an understanding about their lives, and it was more of a journey than an instant transformation. They had to grieve, try on different costumes and go through the stages of acceptance just like everybody else. I think there is power in sharing our stories, and that is really what this book attempts to do."
2. How does "When the Road Turns" differ from other books on multiple sclerosis?
"I had hoped to produce a book that was less medicinal and sterile than some of the traditional MS books on the market today. When The Road Turns is more like a portable support group than an instruction manual.
"The market for MS books has changed over the past few years. There are a few more books on the shelves now that deal with the MS soul, and not just MS symptoms, legal issues, or tips for day to day living. But there's room for improvement. We need more forums that address our inner lives, because that's where change and acceptance begin.
"Books written by celebrities with MS are popular. Both Montel Williams and David Landers published a book this past year, and they've been successful in addressing the subject of MS in a very public and open way. That's where this disease belongs -- if we hope to create more awareness.
"But what about Dave Perez in Chicago, and Barbara Sullivan in Colorado? We need to hear from the loving father who is raising his children alone. We should talk to the woman who is climbing the corporate ladder with a chronic illness, the painter from Israel who can no longer use her arms. The voices
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