Eminent Love (27 page)
Authors: Leddy Harper
H
i
… My name is Leddy Harper, and I’m addicted to reality TV. There. I said it. It’s out. Now we can move on…
Diem Brown was on the original season of MTV’s
The Challenge: Fresh Meat
. Prior to this, she battled ovarian cancer…and won. She came on this show a newbie, but quickly won the hearts of many with her pink wigs and quirky personality. One thing that quickly became clear was how strong she was. And I don’t mean muscular. I mean Diem had so much fight! I was in awe of her, and she became my favorite person ever. I’ve seen every season she came back for. I watched her fall in love, break up, cry, laugh, fight. I watched later seasons when she had to battle cancer again. And then her final season when she had to leave and be transferred back to the States.
I cried when I heard the news of her passing. After fighting cancer twice, she wasn’t able to win a third time. I’d never met her, never spoken to her, she had no idea who I was…but I cried. I felt the loss, because she was definitely one of the good ones.
I’ve wanted to write “her” story for years. And then after she died, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’ve always said if I ever kill of a main character, it would be my last book. So I refused to tell Diem’s story, no matter how much it lived in me. And then one night, it wouldn’t go away. I wrote the first chapter, hoping I could get it out and move on. I didn’t go to sleep that night, and ended up writing for a day and a half.
The one thing I made sure of from the very beginning was that no matter what, there would be some sort of a happily ever after. I’ve coined this “healing ever after” because I want to show that even through loss, even through pain and heartache, happiness and love is still possible. I hope I captured that.
D
iem started MedGift
, a health related registry. She realized how we all register for babies, weddings, new homes…but one didn’t exist for those who truly needed it. Please take a second and check it out.
T
here are so
many people to mention in here, and I pray I don’t forget anyone…but let’s face it, I usually do. So I’m gonna start from the beginning of this journey and work to the end.
Steph—I talked to you at midnight one night and told you how I couldn’t think about another book because these people wouldn’t leave me alone. You told me to put the other one down and get this out. Thank you for that! Thank you for pushing me to use more poetic words and for cleaning up the places I was too wordy. Thank you for helping me with my edits, when I had so much color on one page I couldn’t even see straight. And most of all, thank you for being there for me every step of the way. You truly are my person.
Kimmi—I don’t think this book would’ve been half the book it is without you. You helped me get Creed out the way he was in my head without making him sound like me hehe. Thank you, so much, for all you’ve done. You will never know how invaluable you are to me!
Marlo—Yup! Still can’t put a book out without you! You are my lobs both in this book world and out of it. You mean the world to me and I’m so thankful to have your friendship!
Lauren—My #POS4eva! We’re gonna take over Starbucks and they won’t even know what hit them!
Shari—I know this was super hard for you…but I honestly could’ve never done this without your help! Thank you for your stories, the pain you shared with me, and for dealing with me every time I had a cancer question. I love your face so hard!
Lucia and Tony—I know I may have been a total pain in your asses, but thank you both so much for all the help making Creed sound legit!
Sarah—I know I made you wait until the very end to read this, and I’m still not sorry! You may hate the ending, but I know I have a text somewhere where you admitted it couldn’t have ended differently. I will find it, print it out, and frame it for you!
The “ugly-cry selfie” girls—You know who you are…Danielle, Joy, Kristie, Sarah, Kimmi, and Steph. Those are some of the best selfies I’ve ever seen! I love them! Thank you for those!
Josie—You make my words pretty. Couldn’t do this without you! Thank you so much for making my book colorful hehe!
Joy—Remind me to acknowledge you. HAHA! Thank you so much for my reminders. I’d be lost without you!
And now for my steadies…my constants. The people in my life I couldn’t live without. The ones who support me silently, love me unconditionally, and are always there. I’d never be able to do this—live my dream—without you… Kevin. You are my best friend. None of this would be possible without you by my side. I love you more. (It’s in a published piece of work…it’s true. You can’t argue this.) My babies. You three are what real fairy tales are made of. I love you three more than I could ever say. My parents, in-laws, and Mimi…your support brings me to tears. It gives me the confidence to push on and keep going. Thank you so much. Amanda, I couldn’t ask for a better BIFFLE. Crystal, I love how you set your cleaning schedule to make time to read my shit.
Tara! I have no words! Thank you so much for taking a chance on me. Thank you for pushing for me, and for dreaming big! Best publicist ever!!
Bloggers—Your support means the world to me.
Readers—I wouldn’t be doing this without you!
Thank you everyone who picked this book up, whether you read a word, a page, or the entire thing. Whether you laughed, cried, rolled your eyes, or even hated it. Thank you so much for at least giving me the chance!
L
eddy Harper had
to use her imagination often as a child. She grew up the only girl in a house full of boys. At the age of fourteen, she decided to use that imagination and wrote her first book, and never stopped. She often calls writing her therapy, using it as a way to deal with issues through the eyes of her characters.
S
he is now
a mother of three girls, leaving her husband as the only man in a house full of females. The decision to publish her first book was made as a way of showing her children to go after whatever it is they want to. Love what you do and do it well. And to teach them what it means to overcome their fears.
