After 33 years, my dwarfism trilogy is complete. Three books in a little more than three decades about God’s three gifts of grace in my life—faith, hope, and love. As it happens, the word “three” has emerged as a thread in this cradle to retirement memoir series.
ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities (#3), officially publishes on October 1st. Organized into three parts, Part I is on volunteer leadership challenges; Part II is about dwarf tossing; and Part III deals with equal access.
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Part I discusses the three times Robert or I served as LPA President during the years membership grew from about 3,000 in 1980 to 6,000 in 2006. Part II addresses LPA’s action to halt the dwarf tossing atrocity in three states—Illinois, Florida, and New York. Part III involves equal access to the built environment, education, emergency operations, housing, social security disability benefits, transportation, and voting. It took three years to break the six-inch reach barrier in the built environment standing against three of the most powerful industries in the nation—banking, oil, and retail.
The book will be released in three formats: e-book, paperback, and audio.
PASS ME YOUR SHOES: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith (#2) published in October 2020. An e-book release is planned for our 40th wedding anniversary in November 2021. Robert and I had three marriage ceremonies in 1981. The wedding and anniversary rings on three fingers of my left hand symbolize our commitment.
Though if one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
~ Ecclesiastes 4:12, New International Version
Robert and I met when I came from New Zealand to America for three months on a Winston Churchill Fellowship. I obtained an American law degree after attending law school for three semesters. Despite passing the three day Ohio bar exam, I experienced discrimination in three job interviews.
After a three-hour hip replacement surgery in 1997, Robert tanked up on three pints of blood. When he forgot to bring his electric razor to the hospital, a hand razor was off limits for three weeks because he was on a blood thinner. We couldn’t decide if the resulting beard gave him the distinguished professor or garden gnome look.
Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses (#1) published in 1988 and will be released as an e-book in December 2021. It took three photo shoots on bitterly cold days to get the right cover photo image.
I’m the eldest of three children and Robert has three younger brothers. Our adult height is the size of a three year old. When I was a bridesmaid for the third time, someone said, “If you’re a bridesmaid three times, you’ll never be married yourself.” Don’t believe everything you hear.
So what do all these threes mean? I’ll give you three guesses. Nothing more than interesting trivia.
More information and updates on my dwarfism trilogy is found at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/books/.
10 replies on “DWARFISM TRILOGY COMPLETE: Recurring Pattern of Three Emerges”
Congratulations, Angela!!! You’ve been a busy girl since I’ve been gone. Look forward to reading the third. God bless you. Missing you and everyone!
Thanks Sherri. Yes, very busy and it will be like this all October during the launch month. And I’ll be looking forward to your feedback on the book. We all miss you too.
Enjoyed reading all three of your books! Interesting how “three” has played such an important part in your life. Happy early anniversary!
Thank you Debby. Maybe we should add a third anniversary celebration. We usually do cards on the church ceremonies in New Zealand and America, but don’t celebrate the “immigration” wedding. Perhaps we should start a new tradition.
Oh wow! Congratulations. What an accomplishment.
Thanks for the encouragement Sandy. When I started writing my memoir, I had no idea it would spin out into three or that it would take this long! I will keep writing, but plan to stick with blog posts and articles.
Congratulations Angela, glad you were able to finish your 3rd book!
Thank you Richard. It’s been a long hard road, but worth the effort if people find value in the book.
Three great books Angela – just goes to show hard work pays off no matter what life throws at you – very inspiring and well worth reading.
Thank you Deborah. And you’re right about hard work paying off. Any inspiration in the trilogy, is intended to encourage people not to give up but to persevere no matter how hard the challenge.