posted on February 5, 2014 by Jessica Scott

The Story Behind ALL FOR YOU

allforyouWhen I wrote ALL FOR YOU, I was contemplating giving up writing. I was angry about a lot of things, some real life, some related to writing but all in all, I was not in a good place. I put everything I had into that book and thankfully, my editor fell in love with it.

But I was lucky in another way because I had an outlet for the dark that was bubbling up inside me. I’ve written about coming home from Iraq because it fundamentally changed something inside me – I suspect that  none of us can deploy and come home the same. We’re different, we’re adjusting to new normals.

Some of our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, have a harder time coming home. Some don’t know how to ask for help. And so many times, we stand by the sidelines and we don’t know how to offer help.

It’s the impossible question. What do I do?

I can’t tell you what to to do. But if you suspect that someone is going to harm themselves, stay with them. Call someone for help. Do not leave them alone.

And if it’s you? If you’re in a dark place that feels like it will never get better, it will. I promise you, it will. Just hang on for today. For tomorrow.

jessicascottAsk for help. Please ask for help. Because there are people who love you, who need you, who are counting on you to be strong enough to say I can’t do this alone.

I wrote ALL FOR YOU because sometimes the strongest of us don’t know how to ask for help.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call  1-800-273-8255 or you can go to http://veteranscrisisline.net.

http://www.jessicascott.net

Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

The Soldier

I’m a career soldier, with 16 years in the Army and I love everything about Army life. I joined right out of high school and was promptly shipped off to Germany where I met my husband. I went from Sergeant First Class (E7) to Second Lieutenant (01E) in 2007.

Now, I’m a company commander in charge of 130 soldiers, a mom with two young kids who never sit still, and an Army wife, whose husband is back in Iraq.

Join me at my blog, Twitter, and Facebook because the Army adventure never stops!

The Author

Until a few years ago, I had no idea hard writing really was. I’d always written and started several projects over the years, burning out after a few dozen pages. After the War was the first novel I ever finished and it will always hold a special place in my heart because of that, even if it now remains under my bed. Blogging from Iraq landed me a spot on PBS Point of View, tackling tough issues involving women and war. Its an experience I’ll never forget.

After the War was followed by multiple novels, all pulled from my experiences as an soldier who has lived through both being deployed and being the spouse left at home with the kids. Most of those books will never see daylight.

http://www.jessicascott.net

5 thoughts on “The Story Behind ALL FOR YOU”

  1. Thank you for sharing this, Jessica, and thank you for telling Reza’s story! I can only hope that if the situation arrises, I can offer help to someone else.

    Enjoy,
    TBQ

  2. Barbara V says:

    Thanks for writing this book and for sharing this with us.

  3. I can’t even imagine the trauma of returning from a war zone, where you have been for a year, and have to deal with “normal” life. Especially when children are involved. Thank you for your wonderful stories, and your amazing characters. I hope somehow, to find a way to help.

  4. Reza’s story was amazing and I’m so glad you shared it with readers. It was a tough one to read, but it is one of my favorites …. for a lot of reasons.

  5. The most difficult thing is to admit there’s a problem. And then to find help. Thank you!

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