As of today, my book stops being mine alone. Now it is out in the world for anyone to see. I find this just slightly amazing.
The only thing that could match my delight in learning of my book’s release was being able to celebrate the good news with my friend, Marguerite Monnet. Of the thirty years we’ve known each other, we spent thirteen as a team in Africa. Anyone who reads Expecting the World will get to know Marguerite very well indeed.
I’d never have guessed that we’d be together in Portugal as my book was being published. She’d planned to visit — making her our first guest in our new house in Porto da Espada –in May 2020. But no one in the world was going anywhere in May 2020. So, it took another eighteen months to get beyond No-Travel, Lock-down, Quarantine and three jabs of vaccine in the arm to finally get her here.
Happily, those eighteen months we spent steering clear of covid gave me enough time to finish writing, editing, proofing, correcting, printing and publishing the book. By the time Marguerite arrived last week, I was finally able to relax. Five years in the making . . . the memoir was done.
Marguerite and I spent our week together moving casually between the present in Portugal and our shared past in Africa. We wove our conversation about the people and events that comprised our working life in the 1990s into those of the current day — visiting castles along cobblestone paths, admiring azulejos in walled cities.
As we sat drinking mint tea on our terrace looking across to São Mamede, I spoke to my old friend about what it was like to write memoir, and how few women write “work” memoirs. She laughed. “Yes, but they haven’t done the kind of work you’ve done! And you refuse to be boring. No numbers! No jargon! Nothing like a World Bank report at all!” Well, that’s certainly the truth. “It’s about work, yes, but it’s also about the friendship that made the work possible.” So true.
Then, she leaned toward me and said quietly: “Do you know how happy I am that you’ve written this book? Keeping those memories of ours alive ? It’s a book that needed to be written.” To this I replied that I may have written it, but Expecting the World was her book, too.
As of today, though, Expecting the World is no longer ours alone. It’s out in the world for anyone to see. So, I’ll just sit on the terrace, sip my tea, feeling slightly amazed.
Beautiful.
Thank you, Richard!
Congratulations Jerri! A wonderful accomplishment. I can’t wait to read it.
Thank you, Jean! I’m so glad it’s finally accomplished!! Thinking of you and Ray as the holiday season seems fast upon us. Miss you!
Looking forward to reading, “Expecting the World.” You and Marguerite are an amazing duo!
Well done Jerri! sure it must be wonderful to hang out and reminisce with an old, good friend!
Thank you, Deanna! It was indeed! I hope you are well — we must talk again soon!
Thank you, Kate! I hope you’ll like it. And Marguerite asked me to give you a hug for her!
How wonderful you two had this time together. I am LOVING your book. I am sleep deprived from not being able to put it down before bedtime.
Oh Beverly, thank you so much for your kind words. Can’t wait to talk to you about it . . . well and all sorts of other things as well!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
So exciting! Congratulations, Jerri!!💝
Thank you, Ann!
Jerri, it is on our list to visit Fred to acquire your book from him! I am so very pleased for you… and glad you had a chance to celebrate with Marguerite.
Thank you, Pat! And especially thank you for getting the book from Fred! Such a generous and thoughtful fellow . . . he deserves all our business!! It was indeed wonderful to have Marguerite here. And we are looking forward to seeing you and Frank here soon!!
Congratulations, Jerri, upon the publication of your latest book. No doubt more are to come!
Thank you, Mark! As for more to come . . . well let me catch my breath from this one first! Hope you are well!!
OK Jerri it is done. What an accomplishment! I will order it this week from Montreal.
Where can I send you my book, at which address and with a ‘dedicace’ of course.
I think of you and feel so happy that you are happy with this achievement.
Can you believe it, we both published a book this year. Covid no Covid, nothing stops us, as usual!
Bye for now, until we meet soon. Ghislaine
It is truly amazing Ghislaine! Yes! Remember how we talked about it last in eleven years ago when we were in Dakar together? And now . . . La Femmes Sans Frontieres and Expecting the World are a reality. I will be in Portugal until Christmas, but back at the farm in january and February – and was planning to order your book when I got back. (Also, I’d like to send you a copy of mine, signed of course, once I get back to the U.S. — because right now I don’t have even a single copy for myself here in Porto da Espada!!) Talk soon!
Congratulations for your book!
What an achievement!
I tried to buy it in Amazon but apparently it can not be delivered to Portugal, is it true?
Is there another way to buy it ? I’m very curious to read it!
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! (And for trying to get a copy!!) I believe that you can order it from http://www.amazon.es (although I haven’t tried it get to be sure.) Please let me know if you have trouble and I will discuss with my publisher. So good to hear from you and I look forward to your thoughts about the book (once we manage to get you a copy!!!) Beijhinos, Jerri
Oui, être avec Jerri et Terry, au Portugal, 30 ans après le début de notre collaboration et au moment de la sortie de “Expecting the world”, je n’y aurais pas cru dans mes rêves les plus fous!
5 jours, c’est court, mais quand on est en si bonne compagnie, dans un décor naturel des plus beaux…c’est une bénédiction!
Et vous étiez nombreux à partager ces moments avec nous! Jacomina, Laurence Mark, Tim et Merril, Alfred, Josephine, Boubacar et Seyni, et pardon si je ne cite pas tous les amis avec qui nous avons travaillé pendant si longtemps et avec tant de plaisir…nous avons évoqué tant de moments précieux que vos oreilles ont dû siffler!
5 jours intenses pour lesquels je ne vous remercierai jamais assez!
Quant au livre, moi aussi j’ai eu du mal à le poser! Le lire a été un très beau voyage pour lequel je ne regrette aucun moment!
Ma chère, Merci pour tes gentils commentaires. Et surtout, merci de m’avoir permis de t’accueillir ici au Portugal, comme tu m’as si souvent hébergé au Sénégal Le plaisir de ta visite est tout à nous. Tu as bien raison de citer tous les amis avec qui nous avons collaboré. Dans les remerciements de mon livre, il était très difficile de mentionner tous ceux qui comptaient tant pour nous dans le cadre de notre travail. J’ai quand même essayé !! Et maintenant nous attendons. . . esperons que d’autres personnes aimeront le livre autant que nous !!
Gros bisous Jerri