Andrew Solomon Far From The Tree

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      Son Deaf Dwarfs Down Syndrome Autism Schizophrenia Disability Prodigies Rape Crime Transgender Father
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      Love Hope Policy Transcendence Struggle Illness Identity Activism Prejudice Belief Breakthroughs Science
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      Son Deaf Dwarfs Down Syndrome Autism Schizophrenia Disability Prodigies Rape Crime Transgender Father
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      Love Hope Policy Transcendence Struggle Illness Identity Activism Prejudice Belief Breakthroughs Science
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Dianne Bilyak Dr. Irma King CT , USA
I was honored to meet Andrew, at a fundraiser that he and his partner John, hosted for my friend Spencer's film project related to Our Little Roses in Honduras. I felt so grateful to him and for his book and was blessed to be able to thank him face to face.

For about a year I was working on a memoir about my only sibling and our relationship. She has DS and we were born less than a year apart. She is my elder and my mom was in her mid-twenties when she had us. I began writing about my sister because one day she announced that she'd changed her name to Dr. Irma King and that I was to call her that from now on.

I kind of dropped the memoir idea after a director friend suggested that I rework the stories into a monologue. I tinkered with that for about two years, and in the fall of 2012 the first part of the monologue (Cradle to Gravy) was performed in NYC at the United Solo Theater Festival. My sister wasn't featured as much in Cradle to Gravy but anytime her "character" was portrayed she got the biggest laughs and everyone wanted more Irma.

I am currently working on the second part titled: The Unauthorized Biography of Dr. Irma King. It's mostly humorous and mainly focuses on several trips to Disney that we've taken over the years. My whole family is funny and I'm amazed at my sister's timing, wit, and emotional intelligence. She is, by far, one of the greatest gifts of my life. For more about her and the project please go to: www.inthewayback.com. Thanks!
Related themes and chapters: Down Syndrome Disability Love Hope Transcendence Identity Breakthroughs
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