Author Spotlight - Lynette Endicott talks about researching her story

Researching the story - working in the field of disability services, rights and justice

I have had the honor of working in the field of disability services, rights and justice for more than thirty-five years. It is natural that experience finds its way into my stories. For 25 years this work was in rural western Kansas, very similar to the Missouri town where Paige lived. I've also had the chance to visit a lot of other programs both as a consultant and as a quality reviewer. I've seen great programs and a few ugly ones. Not all of the programs I was involved with were residential, and I don't think residential group homes are the right answer for many people. Sharing housing isn't always ideal for adults. At the same time, with costs the way they are here in California, where I live now, I've decided that shared housing is sometimes a good option for single adults, and not so far from the norm.

The most important concept behind any interaction with people with disabilities is respect. Even people who don't speak or who have difficulty controlling their actions deserve our respect. They are individuals with unique characteristics and we need to see each as a person with individual dreams and needs.

Much of my work has been with people with disabilities in the Independent Living Movement. This is an active, exciting and dynamic group of people not just in the States but around the world who work together to achieve Justice for All people. Every disability is represented in this dedicated group of advocates.

While my own disability is invisible, I am aware of the ways our society restricts people with disabilities, and one of these is in the stereotypes of characters. If you write a character with disabilities, remember that the person's dreams, desires, goals and abilities are more like the non-disabled neighbor than different. Writers should beware portraying a person with a disability as a short-cut device for implying evil, and should be just as cautious of writing about people who are superheroes because of "overcoming" their disability. Write real people, living real lives, for whom a disability is a trait or characteristic, but does not define them or provide a short-cut to implying good or evil in a character.

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Review Snippets:

I read More Than a Job and enjoyed it so much! I loved the characters, loved her occupation and the way you included the group homes and residents in the story. I'm a retired ER nurse, so I always love stories with health care issues. I've never read anything that had group homes in it, either. You must be so thrilled. I'm definitely reading book 2 when it comes out.

Sheri Humphreys
2012 Golden Heart Finalist
http://sherihumphreys.com

This review is from: Starting Over Book One: More Than a Job (Kindle Edition)
I have not stopped reading since I bought the book this morning. The characters are fun and it is an easy read! Great new author, as this is her first book to be published! Starting Over Book One: More Than a Job , Amazon reader/purchaser.
Available now - Book 1 Starting Over Series: More than a Job
Coming August, 2012 - Animal Instinct
First of the Time after Time Saga with Tami Dee
Coming October, 2012 - Book 2 Starting Over Series: Return of Joy
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On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Over-Book-One-ebook/dp/B007F4D0CO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332628883&sr=8-1
On Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/starting-over-book-one-lynette-endicott/1109161024?ean=2940013890701&itm=1&usri=lynette+endicott
At DBP: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-269/Starting-Over-Book-One/Detail.bok