Robert Eggleton says hello

[robert eggleton]

I'm a Therapist in a children's mental health program on a mission. At age 55, my first novel, "Rarity from the Hollow" is now for sale (it's an ebook and the first in a series entitled, "Lacy Dawn Adventures"). The protagonist is an empowered child abuse victim who saves the universe (science fiction). A percentage of any proceeds will prevent child abuse in West Virginia where I work. More significantly, it was written to enrage readers about the social issue.

While supportive of many other causes, I believe that prevention of child maltreatment is the most meaningful use of the rest of my life. Sure, I've been involved with civil rights, antiwar, feminism, gay and lesbian issues, environmental, and justice, but when a kid tells you what daddy did everytime mommy went shopping -- well, this is where I have settled for the last twenty years or so. Sometimes, I still come home and cry after I thought I'd heard it all.

I don't make enough money to properly promote Lacy Dawn Adventures. Therapists make crap money if the agency is publicly funded (Medicaid) and most of my kids are from poor families. I spend my evenings and weekends telling people any way I can about the novel. A satirical essay about its self-promotion was published last week in Wingspan Quarterly (free -- don't ban me).

What are you guys into? A little diversion would help my mental health.

Robert Eggleton
robert_t@charter.net

Sincerely,

Robert Eggleton, MSW

[Jennifer5]

Welcome!!! Great to have you here Robert!!!

I think in many ways a lot of the people here dream to do as much as you have to help the world! You'll fit in perfectly! We're all very different, but all heading the same way as a group I think... hope to see you around here more! Lots of great people!

[nowvoyager]

I add my welcome to you, Robert. Your book series sounds wonderful. I look forward to hearing more from you (and Lucy) in the forum.

[robert eggleton]

Thanks for the Welcome! When a neighbor with bipolar disorder lost his faith, Lacy Dawn talked to him about Jesus, but lied by reporting that the manager of the largest shopping mall in the universe had a picture of Jesus on his office wall. She handed him a picture of Leon Sullivan. It's a hoot. Hope you check it out.

Robert

[Lydia]

Welcome, Robert.

[robert eggleton]

Thank you for the chuckle.

Robert Eggleton

[Vanessa White]

Hey: I have about fifteen years in child welfare here in PA., and now work the University circuit- I really needed a break, and admire your steadfastness in the field. I still do some family therapy on the side and end up crying at night over it myself. Glad you are here to share and be part of the clan- we talk about many things and offer unconditional support- come around often!

[robert eggleton]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. From 1985 to 1998, I worked for the WV Supreme Court as an investigator, primarily focusing in writing reports about children's services. Then, I was the Counseling Manager for a Job Corps center, and liaison for its mental health component. Then I was the Executive Director for a nonprofit that served folks with developmental disabilities (mental retardation). For some reason, I was appointed by our Governor as the Director of Admin. for Culture and History (I grew up in housing projects and never considered that I had any "culture.") In any case, I came back to the front line where my heart never left. Last Thursday, I tried to hand a 17 year old girl a tissue when her tears flowed. "I'm okay," she said. I wasn't and used it for my own.

Robert Eggleton
"Rarity from the Hollow"

[tdogg]

Wow, you've been a busy man Robert! Welcome to SF forums. Thanks for all you do. Glad u r here, looking forward to more sharing!!

T-Dogg

[robert eggleton]

Thanks for the opportunity to vent -- I'll take it. A boy in my program (13 year old) pushed his younger brother in a creek when he was 4 years old. The brother's head hit a rock and he died. Ever since, the mother (has bipolar disorder) and grandmother (has bipolar disorder) have been laying such a guilt trip on the kid. It's a daily routine.

The father split shortly after the incident and the family has been on public assistance since (SSI and food stamps). During the first family therapy session, I was unable to help them all put the past in the past. I felt ineffective. Maybe I'm too old for this job.

Thanks for being nice.

Robert Eggleton
"Rarity from the Hollow"

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by robert eggleton

The father split shortly after the incident and the family has been on public assistance since (SSI and food stamps). During the first family therapy session, I was unable to help them all put the past in the past. I felt ineffective. Maybe I'm too old for this job.
w"

Dude! You have no reason to pressure or blame yourself!! 9 years of survivor guilt, plus several generations of bipolar disorder? That's the kind of thing that takes years and maybe decades of therapy with serious commitment from the participant. There is no way that could be resolved in one hour! There are so many layers there. . .the dad leaving, what the child understood at 4 and what he understands now at 13 and how he interprets everything that happened since. . .this is one humongous trauma.

I see you're an MSW - how prepared do you feel to deal with traumas of this magnitude? Is there a colleague you can bring on board with this? That boy in particular needs strong help, now.

I'm not a therapist - but I like the work of Aphrodite Matsakis for understanding trauma, ways of coping, degrees of healing, and so forth.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by robert eggleton

The father split shortly after the incident and the family has been on public assistance since (SSI and food stamps). During the first family therapy session, I was unable to help them all put the past in the past. I felt ineffective. Maybe I'm too old for this job.

Too old? No way man. All that experience counts for something. And I agree with Zerbie: while you may feel ineffective, the fruit of your labors may take some time to grow. People rarely change course so easily. It's hard to get a long train of habits- mental and emotional- stopped.

BTW- my husband John started his MSW at Hunter College this week. He's 53- and has had another life in the arts.

I like to think us folks of a 'certain age' have a lot to contribute. Congrats on getting published!

[BruceChris]

Or you may not be able to help anyone, and you may just shoot yourself in the foot, big time. Hey, I wanted to save the world myself once, and I have since lowered MY expectations. Good luck, Bruce Chris

[zimnah]

Hey Robert!
Hi and welcome to SF. I'm a non-traditional psych student at Marywood University here in Northeast PA. I spent 11 years in the pulpit as a cantor, and before that, I ran a daycare/pre-school out of my home while my kids were young. I have to tell you, you're being awfully hard on yourself!
Because of the classes I had to take to qualify for my day care license, early childhood development is a bit of my bailiwick, and I think at this early point, you have to ask yourself, 'Just how much can I do for Mom and Grandma?" Maybe Mom might be young enough to help, but perhaps Grandma's symptoms are calming down a bit with age...but your original patient, the 13 year old, is the one you will have the most effect on. While he certainly suffered an extreme trauma (I wouldn't mind an hour or two alone with mom and grandma to give them a piece of my mind regarding their guilt trips!!), he's now at an age where his development and ability to comprehend complex concepts is complete. You got him right when the real therapy can begin.
Experts suggest we are fully emotionally developed at about 12-13 years old (I have to wonder about that, given the bar/bat-mitzvah classes I've taught:-) ). I think you lucked out getting him right at this stage in his development. I have to admit, though, I have the kleenex box nearby as I write this...my heart just aches for that child!
Hang in there...as I said, you got him at the age when you can do the most good, and have the biggest effect on his life. You have the opportunity to help him form his adult vision of the world. It's an awesome responsibility, but I think your maturity will stand you in good stead. I shudder to think what he might have been at 16 without you.
I was just about to say "good luck," but luck has nothing to do with it. You clearly have the skill and the compassion. G-d bless.

[robert eggleton]

http://www.okalrel.org/lynda_reads/2...-eggleton.html

[robert eggleton]

I'm still cooking. Tell me what you think about his press release intended for local newspapers before I send it out. Thanks.

M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: Robert Eggleton
Phone: 304.346.7907 (home) or 341-0511 (work)
E-mail: robert_t@charter.net

Local Author Awarded the Noble (Not Nobel) Prize

Praised or maligned, the Nobel Prize for Literature is always news. It selects the best from the world and therefore misses much of value. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, “Back to Literature” columnist for MyShelf.com, closes the gap (only slightly) with her an annual “Noble Prize for Literature.”

Over the last years the Nobel committee has recognized authors for their literary expertise but there has also been a trend toward awarding the prize for, as Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Tim Rutten says, “an author’s particular relevance to the moral moment in which the world finds itself.”

Howard-Johnson’s prize therefore concentrates on books that address these same issues. Her lists have included well-known authors who explore discrimination in their writing like Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison, but she tries to concentrate on authors who have not been posted to bestseller lists or won major awards. Some past winners are LA's Leora G. Krygier and Randall Sylvis. Fifteen books were named as the best releases in 2006. One of the winners announced in the January issue of Myshelf was:

Robert Eggleton for his e-book, Rarity from the Hollow (Fatcat Press). Nominated by Evelyn Somers, an Editor of The Missouri Review.

Mr. Eggleton is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs. Today, he is a therapist at the Prestera Mental Health Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel. Author proceeds are donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia (Dennis Sutton, Executive Director, can be reached by telephone at 304.346.6644).

To read an excerpt or to learn more about Rarity from the Hollow visit:

www.fatcatpress.com , or

book reviews can be found at:

www.baryon-online.com/baryon103/rarho.html
http://www.missourireview.com/tmr-blog/?p=310

To learn more about Howard-Johnson’s "Back to Literature" column or to see the complete listing of winning publications visit:

http://myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm.

[Daniel]

Ok. I'll get to the point! You have things backward.

Why are you waiting until paragraph five to toot your horn? You should be in the first one- right out of the gate- and in the first line if possible. Wading through the first four to get to you only puts the spot light somewhere else. And the people who read this stuff want to know what is going on right way.

Writing 'not noble' in the first line sends the wrong message in my opinion. It's a negative after all.

I used to write stuff like this for a management agency, and always reminded myself that well used adjectives are like salt on a dish- not enough and it's too bland- too much and it's awful. You could use more.

[robert eggleton]

“Give yourself a treat with something different next time you're ready to read. Try Rarity from the Hollow. It is one of the most unusual novels I've read in a great while. Look in on a dysfunctional family, poverty, child abuse, and the thought processes of a young girl turning the corner from childhood to adolescence, then put them all together in a surreal setting that looks at our society from a distinctly different viewpoint. You'll enjoy the ride with Lacy Dawn and friends and family, but don't expect the ride to be without bumps and enough food for thought to last you a long time.”

-- Darrell Bain -- 2005 Fictionwise eBook Author of the Year

[julie01]

I've read your book series its very good, its really a great work and appreciable. I felt happy in reading your book. I'll look forward to hear more from you. All the best.
__________________________________________________ _

julie

West Virginia Drug Addiction

[tymejumper]

Welcome. Its always wonderful to have more supportive persons here. Its nice to have such a cross section of the medical and mental health community involved.