Just in time for the football playoffs, here's a fan letter about TT and part of my answer.
Ms.Radke,
I just finished reading Tennessee Touch. I was thrilled to find out Alison was a sign language interpreter. I am a ASL interpreter as well as a CODA. Yours is the first mainstream book I have read with an interpreter as a main character.
My question to you is, where did you get the knowledge to present interpreting/Deaf culture so accurately? You were spot on about interpreters.
Thank you for being such a fantastic writer. I am reading my way through all of your books, and I will say I have yet to find one that did not enthrall me and draw me in. You have done an excellent job.
Dear D...,
I'm so glad you are enjoying my books. I love both football and baseball, so I expect one day to write a baseball story, but no plot or character has come to me yet.
My daughter is an interpreter, so she read the manuscript and made sure I was accurate. Also, she met a fellow on the freeway this way, although he was really deaf. She told me that sometimes a group will meet and sign to each other, some will leave and others will keep signing, only to find out that they can all hear. I just had to put that into a story. Now my granddaughter is learning to sign, and they sign to each other across the room.
I just finished the first of the Brothers of Spirit story, Heights of Danger, using some of the characters from Songs for Perri. You may want to check it out later.
Ms.Radke,
I just finished reading Tennessee Touch. I was thrilled to find out Alison was a sign language interpreter. I am a ASL interpreter as well as a CODA. Yours is the first mainstream book I have read with an interpreter as a main character.
My question to you is, where did you get the knowledge to present interpreting/Deaf culture so accurately? You were spot on about interpreters.
Thank you for being such a fantastic writer. I am reading my way through all of your books, and I will say I have yet to find one that did not enthrall me and draw me in. You have done an excellent job.
Dear D...,
I'm so glad you are enjoying my books. I love both football and baseball, so I expect one day to write a baseball story, but no plot or character has come to me yet.
My daughter is an interpreter, so she read the manuscript and made sure I was accurate. Also, she met a fellow on the freeway this way, although he was really deaf. She told me that sometimes a group will meet and sign to each other, some will leave and others will keep signing, only to find out that they can all hear. I just had to put that into a story. Now my granddaughter is learning to sign, and they sign to each other across the room.
I just finished the first of the Brothers of Spirit story, Heights of Danger, using some of the characters from Songs for Perri. You may want to check it out later.