Award-Winning BookSurge Author Shares Son's Legacy
Publishing a book had not always been on Freda Wagman's list of life goals, but when her son lost a twelve year battle with HIV/AIDS, she took up her pen to create his legacy. Using the extensive network she built during her time as a volunteer at various support organizations in the Houston area, she is sharing the story of one mother's love with the world. Now a silver medalist in the ForeWord magazine Book of the Year Awards, Snippets from the Trenches: a mother's AIDS memoir, is teaching understanding and compassion to others about people stricken with the disease.
Gary Wagman's diagnosis in 1983 came at a time when solid facts about the effects and treatment of HIV were few, but his mother faced her fear of the unknown by volunteering, first at AIDS Foundation Houston and, later, other assistance groups in her area. Within each volunteer position, she forged connections to other HIV positive people, their families and friends, and began to build a network of support.
After her son lost his battle with AIDS, Freda found others were comforted in the telling of his story. Feeling a sense of urgency, Freda bypassed mainstream publishing outlets in order to bring Gary’s story into print. "I didn't know if submitting it to major publishing houses would ever bring responses, and I wasn't willing to wait. I needed to finish it and get it out there because of the messages in it, and for my own peace of mind," she says.
Her promotional efforts began long before the book was even completed. "I blabbed to anyone who would listen. If they showed interest, I put their name on a list, which I maintained for years. Just before my book became print-ready and available, I sent a direct mail piece with an order form to my contact list." The response was overwhelming, and the critical reviews lauded the candid look at the mother and son as they struggled against an overwhelming force.
The book continues to gain sales momentum as Freda persists with promotional efforts on both a local and national level. Favorable reviews from national organizations, including amfAR and PFLAG, catapulted Wagman's story in front of a nationwide audience and gave Gary a voice that still speaks to the close-knit members of the gay community. In May, Snippets was recognized by ForeWord magazine in the Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction category, and has been invited to participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair in October; but these honors mark only the beginning of Freda Wagman's success. "I have never been very outgoing, but for this cause, I'm a tiger."
