Louis D. Lavalle
I WROTE THE BOOK BECAUSE I LOVED MILLIE. And to this very day that love has become more pronounced, more profound. Her absence is deeply felt and almost impossible to cope with.
I believe I am not the only one. Rose and I have spoken to several, if not many, pet owners who’ve lost their best friend and the feeling is mutual. So much so the idea of getting another (though often considered) is out of the question. It’s almost like cheating. The small consolation? We know Millie’s with us in spirit all the time.
After Roseanne discovered Millie she quickly became her care-giver. Though she never had children, it was like she gave birth to her. Their closeness was awesome and much more than special.
I started writing the book about four years ago, writing bits and pieces when the moment and mood struck. The in- centive to write was amplified many times because Millie was always near me or with me.
Roseanne Patanjo
Jacqueline Andrea Lavalle
Jacqueline has been writing poetry most of her life, but until now never considered publishing. Her poetry has been written over the course of many years, primarily for the enjoyment of friends and family.
Ms. Lavalle received a Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She has also earned a Masters of Library Science from Queens College (of the same university) and worked as a Librarian at The New York Public Library and Queens Pubic Library.
While living in Cleveland she was an industrial electrician in the maintenance department at the Jones & Laughlin Steel Mill in Cleveland, Ohio, establishing herself as the first female to work there since World War II.
Jacqueline has also spent time in Puerto Rico teaching English and is currently studying Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican percussion. She resides in Flushing, New York.
This is Ms. Lavalle’s first book.
Writing the Book
Our home is on a quiet street across from a nature preserve and a pond (hence the name Quiet Creek Publishing) in a lovely community replete with tennis, pickleball, golf and a beautiful clubhouse.
When we first arrived here in April 2016, we made good use of the facilities, especially the Tiki Bar— drinks and snacks alongside the pool—and a good restaurant. We got to make nice friends and were happily ensconced in our new surroundings.
That was before I began intensively writing Millie The Book. Actually, I started the manuscript years be- fore, probably around 2014-2015 while living in New York City. Every spare moment, I’d scribble notes, a chapter or two, in between helping Roseanne in the office. I had a good excuse: I was supposed to be retiring.
Little by little, I dropped out of socializing with friends so I could stay home and write. Roseanne kept after me to go here and there but, to her disappointment, I politely demurred. As the manuscript began to look as though a real book might be in the making, my enthusiasm increased. I was happy when I was writing and excited at the thought that I would be telling the story of our most precious possession, Millie.
Still, the stolen moments were not enough to enable me to write with much-needed continuity. I had to see the whole picture, and that would require more than just a couple hours of concentration scattered here and there. A huge part of my excitement and eagerness was supplied by none other than the subject of the book herself, Millie. What more appropriate way to write this story than with the protagonist right next to me?
Writing the book with me Ro was there whenever I needed clarification, direction and emotional support (her recall was critical for accuracy’s sake).
At some point I realized writing the book was cathartic. I felt the need to document her life. That was my motivation. And today her book is a reality. Millie’s life has been recorded in history.
I’ve been writing in some form or another all my life but have never written a book. I don’t consider it a disadvantage because the incentive, the feelings and Millie’s unconditional love were all I needed to put together the concept and flesh out the man- uscript. I’d been filled with so much love for her, the words just came forth without much prodding.
It’s been more than a year since her passing but the longing for her and her memory give me some comfort as I grieve for her presence every day.
– Louis David Lavalle