I'm making my debut as an author! I'm publishing a book!!

I wanted to publish a book

It was my dream and my goal.

I suddenly became ill,
could no longer do the job I loved,
and became unemployed.
For someone like me who loved to work,
this was a huge shock.


The cost of medical treatment,
adjusting to a different lifestyle,
and the cost of maintaining a body that isn't healthy
is incredibly expensive!
My savings are disappearing!
I still want to work!
I want to do my best
to raise my daughter!
While enduring constant, intense pain and fatigue throughout my body,
I was always thinking about this with a foggy head.

Although I am mostly bedridden every day,
I love writing stories and essays
so much,
and I was grateful that I could
write on note,
post on Twitter,
and write novels to submit to literary awards.

There are many jobs in the world
that involve writing,
but I was constantly agonizing over
what I could actually do.

Writers are amazing, aren't they!
But my brain fog is always so bad that it's difficult for me.
Sighing every day, saying 'Haa...'

I even received offers
for self-publishing.
However,
it was difficult for an unemployed person like me,
so I had to decline the publishers
who reached out to me,
saying, 'I'm sorry, but it's impossible for me.'

But I still had
things I wanted to write and convey,
and my heart was always burning with passion.

Then,
I received a message that would change my destiny.

I was able to meet a publisher
who reached out to me and said,
'Let's write and publish a book!'

To an unknown person like me!
An offer came to write a book as a job.

I was so surprised and happy,
and I realized that things like this,
which feel like a reward,
actually happen, and I cried like a child.

And
since last year, I have been
discussing things many times with my editor
and started the work of creating a book.
My cute and kind editor, who cares about my health,
always brings a smile to my face, even now,
as we exchange drafts.

I used to think that writing was a task
you do silently on your own,
but I learned that creating a book is about
forming a team with people you can trust and respect!
And that it's about taking your time to create something carefully and with love!

Regarding the publication,
since I am a novice,
every time I communicate with the editor,
I get so excited, thinking 'Wow!' and 'Oh my!',
and even now, I am in a whirlwind of activity exchanging manuscripts.
I am sincerely grateful to the warm and kind publisher's president
who gave me such a wonderful opportunity,
to everyone involved,
and to my editor.
As someone who is almost bedridden due to illness,
I realized that writing is truly the perfect job for me!

There are so many things
I want to write about
in my note articles too,
but due to writing the book, needing to use my brain for various things,
and my health condition, I haven't been able to write articles very easily.

The reason I was able to keep trying
without giving up on writing,
publishing a book,
and becoming an author
is thanks to the people I have met
and my beloved family.

Whether on note or Twitter,
you have all been so kind to me,
and feeling your warm words
gave me the energy
to keep going.
Thanks to everyone I have met so far,
even when I was struggling and in pain from my illness,
I believe it was because I believed in myself
that I was able to keep writing.
Thank you so, so much.

Because of my illness,
my writing pace is slower
than when I am healthy,
but even so, my head is
overflowing with things I want to write.

Since I was born and raised in the Showa era,
I can only work steadily with effort and guts,
and I am not a skillful person.

I will never forget the people
who told me that even someone like me is fine and that they love me.

My husband and daughter
warmly watch over me
as I work with a cooling patch on my forehead and breathing heavily,
and they support me.
I want to repay my husband, even a little,
for the burden I always place on him regarding household matters.
I wanted to tell my daughter that no matter what difficult events occur,
you can still enjoy life.

Humming SMAP's "Ganbarimashou" (Let's Do Our Best),
I lift my spirits by saying 'I'll do my best!',
and I am currently working excitedly toward publication.

It is scheduled to be published around this winter.
I cannot write about the details yet,
but once the details are finalized,
I will write about them again.
My editor gave me permission, saying that while the details are a secret,
it is okay to tell everyone that I am publishing a book!

I would love for you to pick it up and read it!
Thank you for your support!!

I strongly felt that if you keep taking action toward your dreams without giving up,
dreams really do come true!
That is what I truly believe.

I want to be an author who can leave something in the hearts of those who read my writing,
even if it just makes them smile or feel a little more energized.
There is still so much I want to convey and so much I want to write!
I want to write things that only I can write, carefully and with great care.

I still want to write essay books
and make my debut as a novelist, so
I will continue to work hard every day,
just as I have been doing!

I am grateful that you read this through the screen,
that you have been kind to me,
and that out of so many people,
you chose to meet me.

As an author, Kosuzu Yokoyama,
I will do my best from here on out!!
I look forward to your continued support!
(Wow! I wrote this to hype myself up, but it's a bit embarrassing!)

Thank you for reading until the end.

With heartfelt gratitude.