by Emma Janson
“Each of them had tragic events in their lives. But they loved no matter what. Isn’t that the point? Mr. Cheyez, Mr. Jenkins, and our son, loved beyond boundaries. This is what Buck tried to tell us all along; happiness lies within and beyond the sadness we overcome. To allow the good and the bad and all of the craziness in between is – a normal life. For the residents of Northern Lights, finding the balance between tragedy and triumph was how they discovered sanity.”
Today, the Reeds run the bed and breakfast with the help of three previous clients and one addition, a baby named Jason “Bucky” Beckler. Jefferson County welcomes a new beginning from this tragic history. From everyone at WKTN Channel 8 News – goodnight.
Acknowledgements Note
One night, while giddy from a lack of sleep and pregnant with twins, I found myself speaking of a range of comical characters that developed out of jokes. Excitement grew as the ideas inspired me to draft “Vineyard Nuts,” my first lighthearted comedy. However, that book never quite manifested in full. What it turned into instead was a multifaceted tale of discovery surrounding institutionalized patients.
And I’ve learned not to question the writing process, but would like readers to note that, although the disorders in this book are based off of true symptoms and disorders, they have been tailored for the purposes of this fictional story.
Now, I owe thanks to so many folks. Thank you for being subject matter experts in a myriad of odd genres, for giving me quirky advice or simply being fantastic muses. Collectively, you made this crazy book happen. In no specific order, thank yous go to: Eddie Dennis, Geonoah and Cassie, Felipe Casillas Jr., Jonathan Perez, Cheryl Martin, Juan Angel, Kailyn and Harmony, Jessica Alvarez, Jo F., Adolfo Serna, Jaylene Hohman, Tyler Hashimoto, Joshua Douglas, Kory Rohrdanz, Angelo Broyles, Emely Espinal, Joshua Tagliaboschi, Chelsea Garay, Charles Blanding, Anthony Waller Jr., Candace Barney, Autumn Abramczyk, Bruce Tolley, Dustin Page, Jon Stiffler, Leigha Chhay, Leigh Farina, Andrew Bobbe, Mandi Marek, Michael O’Connor, Denise Caddy, and Sonja Everard.
Specific thanks also go to: Nancy Jimenez, Francisco Bernardino, Elmi Sanchez and Amanda Gallegos for translating “Malaguena Salarosa” into English. There are so many beautiful versions of this song, but our collaborative efforts helped me take the appropriate creative liberties with the lyrics for adaptation into the story. Also, I owe thanks to Melchior Mueller-Spude for letting me get away with painfully crude German accents for a bit of comedic relief.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Janson was born in Ohio but left to join the Army when she turned 17. She served for six years at Fort Hua-chuca, Arizona and Hanau, Germany.
After leaving the Army, she moved briefly to Ohio and then on to Las Vegas to enroll in the National Guard while also attending UNLV. To pay for college, Emma became a dancer and a mud-wrestler while she waited for
the National Guard to finally recognized her request to release her, in order for her to rejoin active duty. But, before Emma could rejoin the service, she had to go back “into the closet” after having announced her status as gay the prior year.
Emma served honorably as a member of the Airborne and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. She was medically retired in 2015 and now lives back in Ohio with her twin daughters where, time permitting, she pursues her love for writing. Discovering Sanity marks Emma’s third
book.
CREDITS
This book is a work of art produced by Incorgnito Publishing Press.
Jennifer Collins
Editor
Matthew Bucemi
Proofing Editor
Star Foos
Artist/Designer
Daria Lacy
Graphic Production
Janice Bini
Chief Reader
Michael Conant
Publisher
December 2017
Incorgnito Publishing Press
Direct inquiries to [email protected]
