Author: johnmarkwatson

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Milestones

January 10th was my 117th infusion at Mayo clinic. This completed my drug trial that spanned 6 1/2 years. Not bad for someone that started this experimental treatment June 1st of 2015 and given less than a year to live.

To commemorate this achievement, my care team gave me a lapel pin that says “Celebrate Life” with 3 hearts. A few tears were shed. I’ve grown to love the team up there very much.

I will now transition this treatment to a local infusion center here in Springfield. While I will miss my friends at Mayo Clinic, I can’t begin to tell you how much less wear and tear on my body this will be. This is a win. Mayo will still supervise my care but I will only be going back 2-3 times a year versus 17.

I will return to Mayo the week of the 17th for the final drug trial tests. Milestones are good.

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We Have a Cover!

I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. It seems I’m having to make decisions so fast about things I know so little about. I’ve been fortunate to speak with a few other authors for advice, but it seems we all have different circumstances and different objectives that make no two books alike.

The interior layout is still in process along with the back cover and a few other pesky details. As for now, we move a few steps closer. Hardback, paperback, eBook, and audio are all being done simultaneous. Fingers crossed!

If you haven’t done so already, sign up for updates!

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Just A Little Bit Closer

I had Sheryl Crow lyrics in my head all week. Everyday is a winding road, I get a little bit closer. . . This weeks accomplishments:

  1. Kicked off book cover design
  2. Line item editor and proof readers started their work
  3. Copyright filed
  4. ISBN (International Book Standard) identifiers purchased
  5. Secured studio and engineer for audiobook (This was something new and unplanned. So excited!)

My publisher is giving me an estimate of two months. Maybe Christmas will come early this year!

If you haven’t done so already, sign up below to receive updates on Joyous Leadership.

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August 2021 Amyloidosis Update

Monday, August 16th was my latest treatment. I have now completed a little over six years of treatment on a twenty-one-day cycle. If my math is correct, that is #106, but who’s counting, right?

It would be nice to find a cure but for now I’m happy with stability, or at least slowed deterioration. I am still able to walk and use a keyboard, even though much slower than just a year ago. If all goes as planned, I will remain on the drug study till January 2023. At that time, I will be reassessed and transferred to one of the longer term approved treatments.

This is definitely a marathon and I appreciate everyone’s continued prayers and support!

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Content Edits Are Done!

I received the final content edits back from my editor this week! This has been such a fun and learning experience. Next week I will meet with the line item editor, layout editor, and cover designer. Still a lot of time consuming work but definitely getting closer to reality.

Here’s where I need your help. The publisher wants me to gather as many email addresses as possible of anyone who might be interested in reading Joyous Leadership. If you’ve already signed up, great! If you haven’t please do so below. I would be also honored if you would forward the link to any of your friends, family, or co-workers that might be interested. You will not get spam mail, only an occasional update as the launch date nears.

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CRC Commencement

I was fortunate to be able to deliver the commencement address to the 2021 graduating class of Crowley’s Ridge College on May 8th. Listen in as I challenge the graduates and audience to live lives of Joy. My speech was taken from my new book Joyous Leadership, that we are working to have released later this year.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/0Jocb5ussRA?t=2251

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Making Progress

I received my first edits back from my editor a couple of weeks ago. It was exciting but a very humbling process. I haven’t seen that much red ink since my last research paper in grad school.

It was hard finding an editor. To get a good one, you have to interview and they ask for samples of your book. She had some great credentials and had edited for some of my favorite authors like John Maxwell and Philip Gulley.

So for now, I’ve got my head down, working, creating, and re-creating. As Rob Bell describes it, “it is somewhere between intoxicating and maddening.”

If you want to keep up with the process and receive some advanced content, make sure you subscribe to my site or send me an email at johnmarkwatson@gmail.com.