Mother's Memoir of Loss Debuts at Walled Lake Northern

Ten years ago Sandy Richards’ life was altered irrevocably as a result of the devastating loss of her 16-year-old son, Tyler, in a car accident on Bogie Lake Road, in Commerce Township.
 
Richards, a Walled Lake Consolidated School District Community Education employee and former district parent, will introduce her book, A Far Cry …. From Home – A Mother’s Journey of Love, Loss and Healing – Through the Eyes of an Angel, Sept. 21, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., at Walled Lake Northern High School.
 
“My story, told from Tyler’s point of view, is a non-fiction memoir of how I lived and continued to breathe through the vigils, amazing out-pouring of support, loneliness and constant struggles after losing my son," Richards said. "I trace my steps through the grieving process and find light at the end. I will never let Tyler’s memory fade.”
 
She said she decided to have Tyler narrate their story, because "he is the only person with the true, first-hand knowledge of every shockwave, teardrop, revelation and re-birth that rocked our world."
 
Richards hopes to reach out to grieving families. “My goal is to help others, even if I can help one family constructively grapple with this kind of life-changing ordeal, it will have a successful endeavor," she said.
 
The book features a foreword written by Tim Lynch, Jr., and several notes and poems written by students, friends and others who reached out to Richards.
 
She began the writing process by participating in the National Novel Writing Month project that challenges participants to write a 50,000 word novel by writing at least 1,667 words a day for 30 consecutive days. Richards took the challenge and the first draft of her book was penned in November of 2011.

A portion of the sales of each book will go to the Tyler Richards Legacy Scholarship Fund.
 
“A scholarship was established in 2003 in Tyler’s memory, through the Legacy Scholarship organization. I am proud to select, meet and award the scholarships to Northern High School students each year,” Richards said.
 
The book will be for sale at the event, which is open to the public. The book will also be available from FriesenPress.com, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and in eBook format through Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple and Google.
 
For more information, call Richards at 248-505-0656 or visit sandy-richards.com or tylerrichards.com.