Blind SC Native Publishes Memoir About College Experiences

Columbia, SC, February 17, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Professional counselor and author Carmella Broome, who has been legally blind since birth, begins the new year by launching her first book. Carmella’s Quest: Taking on College Sight Unseen chronicles the author's first year at North Greenville University (formerly North Greenville College) in upstate South Carolina. The book is published by, and available through, Red Letter Press of Columbia SC. Throughout the twenty-six chapters (276 pages) of this straight-forward memoir, Carmella describes her efforts to adjust to college life and academics, friendships and romantic relationships, struggles with accepting her visual limitations, and other experiences that took place during the 1994-1995 academic year.

Carmella, who lives in the Columbia SC area, says this book has been a work in progress since the summer of 1995. While she's had a few articles and essays published during the past few years, the author says she felt unable to give this bigger writing project the time and attention it deserved. "I'd put it down for months at a time but always came back to it," she says. "I knew I wanted it published one day and that I'd know when the time was right. I knew I'd rather take longer and truly feel that the book was the best it could be than to be in a hurry to publish.”

For the next ten years, Carmella was busy completing academic and professional goals. "Once my career was on solid footing, I was ready to get back to the book," she says. In early 2007, Carmella’s driver mentioned seeing an article about a local publishing company called Red Letter press run by USC writing instructor and author Bob Lamb in a local newspaper. "I contacted Bob and he offered me a contract," Carmella says. "We began working together, along with several other talented design and editing people Bob recruited, for the final leg of the journey to publication."

Carmella looks forward to introducing Carmella’s Quest to as many potential readers as possible. She has already set up a Carmella’s Quest email account just for book related correspondence and created a blog on livejournal. She has planned a launch party, and will be scheduling book signings, readings, and other venues for promoting her first book. “This is new territory for me,” she admits, “But I’m excited about sharing something I’m proud of with readers who will hopefully appreciate and enjoy it.”

Carmella says she loves public speaking. In the past, she has done programs that included describing important events in her life mixed with performing songs that went along with themes of the presentation. "Maybe I’ll start singing publicly again, too,” she says. “Who knows? I'm eager to see what kinds of opportunities will come about for me once the book is out."

Wherever she goes to promote Carmella’s Quest, her guide dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Maggie, will be by Carmella's side. "She's very cute," Carmella says, "I'm sure she'll convince at least a few people to buy a book."

Red Letter Press titles are available at select bookstores, on Amazon.com, and directly from Red Letter Press, 6148 Rutledge Hill, Columbia, SC 29209.
Those interested can also visit Carmella's blog by going to the livejournal.com website and searching for "Carmella's Quest" or by emailing carmellasquest at hotmail.com.

###