De, Deke and Kris @ Shambala

DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal Book Cover by German Artist Olivia Vieweg

Count to ten, Kris…

Breathe, Kris…

It’s going to work out just fine, Kris…

I am fit to be tied. The launch date for DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal is 30 days away and we find ourselves having to re-type the manuscript (all 125,000 words!) in its entirety because the person whose possession it was in last year screwed with its formatting and margins so wildly (hundreds of different ways) that no publishing program in existence can now make it behave well enough to print professionally. So I’ve hired a college student, Breanna Brink (the daughter of a dear friend, Marika Brink) to type the first half of it while Lisa and I pound out the other half in order to have it launch reliably on January 8th as previously announced.  (The audio version will be delayed ’til later in the year because we have to focus fully on getting the print and e-book versions ready between now and the first of the year. I’m still looking for an audio engineer to do some editing of the audio files for me so if you know anyone, send him or her my way!)

This kind of crisis is commonly called Murphy’s Law. If something can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment.

The good news is that nothing that is happening here will kill anybody. This isn’t  a life-or-death matter.

There is even a benefit…one I certainly didn’t foresee…

By having to slow down enough to re-type the 30,000 words I’m responsible for, I’ve found myself reliving the events I experienced with the Kelleys over the course of many years. I’m back with #DeForestKelley (vicariously, this time) at #StarTrek conventions, being surprised with a car, helping him in the hospital, and so so much more.

The result is visceral. I’m laughing, sighing and crying.  I can see, now, perhaps clearly for the very first time, why my anecdotes have resonated with so many of De’s fans. I’m experiencing it in very much the same way a reader will who never met the Kelleys up close and personal before: the events are jumping off the page and nestling into my heart–or, in my case, reawakening my heart to what turned out to be a miraculous association in so many ways.

So I think having to painstakingly re-type the manuscript is preparing my heart, mind and soul for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek in ways that will inform and enhance any interviews I do or any future reading or book signing I attend. While re-typing these precious memories, I’m reclaiming the part of my life that I was forced, by circumstances beyond my control, to relinquish when De died in order to survive and move on.  I’m free now to remember and feel in ways I never could before.  (When De died, I had to remain strong for Carolyn–so I have never fully or properly grieved the loss that so many millions of Trek fans experienced on June 11, 1999. I’m doing that now. It hurts…but it’s also healing me.)

The good news is that so much of the book is a laugh riot that I’m re-living those times, too. So I’m re-living the complete history of my long association and friendship with the Kelleys…and soon enough, you will be, too.

So get ready!  You’ll need (or you’ll develop!) great laugh muscles–and plenty of tissues toward the end. But one thing is for sure:  You will love #DeForestKelley measurably more than you already do.  That has always been my plan: to make my friendship with De yours, too!  I want to share the care that he exhibited throughout his life, not just for me but for everyone within his spheres of influence.

If you knew DeForest Kelley, you knew what it felt like to be fully acknowledged, accepted, and beloved. He was a treasure because he treasured others. He knew no enemies. He had only friends.

UPDATE: All is well. Fellow Trek/De fan Brent McAlister gave us a work-around tip. He told us that pasting the manuscript into notepad would eliminate all formatting so it could be re-introduced into Scrivener (or Word) so it could be formatted properly. It worked!  For his suggestion (and for saving me $125 dollars and my bacon) I will be sending him a color copy of the book and a copy of the audio book when it comes out. De’s fans are DE Best!  Thank you, Brent!!!

And thank you, Breanna Brink, for your help. I’m sending you a small check (with a bonus!) for the quick, error-free work you did in just 90 short minutes last night. The result was excellent. (If anyone reading this blog post ever needs a fast, accurate typist, let me know. I’ll introduce you to Breanna and, if she’s available, I know she’ll do you proud.)  Breanna, you will get a color copy of the book when it comes out, too. I know you’ll appreciate it because, when I emailed to cancel the project, you seemed more upset that you wouldn’t be able to read the whole thing than that we canceled it! And the fact that you said you were glad we found a faster/better solution also endears you to me.  That’s showing real compassion and selfless teamwork! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I worked with your mom 25 years ago (OMG! has it been that long already?) and she was a fabulous co-worker then, too.  Love you both!  (And be sure to check out Breanna’s artwork, on her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/breanna.brink). She’s also on Instagram.She should be on Pinterest!)