Dave Taylor’s Book is Published!
The late Dave Taylor’s book “What I Learned From Dying” is now published and available in soft cover on Amazon.com.
The late Dave Taylor’s book has been published by his wife, Jamie D. Taylor, and was released on Wednesday, July 17th. The beautiful book is titled “What I Learned from Dying” and features the complete collection of his columns published in The Clarion during his battle with cancer.
“I believe what Dave achieved with his columns every week was amazing,” Jamie said. “I saw how hard it was for him, physically and emotionally, to write those columns. He was very dedicated to his morals and ethics as a journalist and not inserting his own opinion or belief.
For him to go from being so professional and very black and white to putting his heart in these columns and being completely vulnerable, and opening up his heart about his fears, his dreams, and his state, I was just so proud of him.
He always wanted to publish a book, and I just feel like this was my way of making sure that his dream came true. I couldn’t make all of his dreams come true, but I could make this one come true.”
Jamie self-published the book via Kindle Direct Press with Amazon, and decided against releasing a Kindle version (digital copy) because she said she really wants Dave’s book to exist in the world in a physical copy.
“If people have to buy a copy,” she explained, “it is existing. And, if they read it and they never read it again, maybe it will end up at a Goodwill and someone else will pick it up. Or, maybe they’ll have it sitting on their coffee table and someone will say, ‘What is this?’ Then, they have to pick it up and it’s a way of Dave physically still being around.”
The cover of the book is the portrait that was made with Dave’s ashes, and the digital version just isn’t the same for that important reason as well. It may be released in hard cover also.
Dave had texted Aaron Kizer, the artist who created his portrait, just 10 hours before he passed away, asking him about painting it for him. That text is included in the book. Aaron also kindly accepted a commission to complete Jamie’s portrait, which was also completed with Dave’s ashes.
“Even though he was very sick,” Jamie said, “Dave died unexpectedly. He wasn’t on hospice. He wasn’t at the hospital. We went to church that day and to the home improvement store. We were doing regular things. The final chapter is just about our last weekend together, and some of the very deep conversations that he and I had.
I’m very proud of it. I’m so proud that it’s another way for me to share Dave with people. I just hope that people who have cancer or love someone with cancer can pick it up and relate to it, and just understand that you can live a good life while you’re going through these things.”
One of her goals is to help people understand what someone with a terminal illness is going through, what it’s like to love someone with a terminal illness, and how you can support them.
“You figure out what’s important and what’s not important really quickly,” she said. “He really did carry all of that very well. We just always prayed for God’s will to be done. Dave always said, ‘God, I pray that you take the cancer away, but if that’s not Your will then just help me to handle it the way you want me to.’”
The process of writing the book was tough for her, and reading through all of his columns again was difficult. Dave had journaled their relationship in them. He told about how they got engaged and about when they married.
“It was great to share it with the community,” she said, “and I’m ready to share the book with everyone too. It printed beautifully; It’s a beautiful book.”
Jamie also included a Foreword with words from my father, the late Donn K. Wimmer, former Editor and Publisher of The Clarion. Dave worked at The Clarion for many years, is from Hancock County, and became one of Dad’s good friends over the years.
“I chose the release date (7-17) because it’s my son’s birthday,” Jamie said. “He’s turning 18, and it’s a special date for me. Also, it’s about 6 weeks before Dave passed (in 2022). I had thought I could have it done at the one-year anniversary [of Dave’s passing] but that really wasn’t allowing myself any time to heal or grieve, or just get my feet back underneath me. I definitely didn’t want the second year to pass without it being published.
If there are any book clubs or churches who would like me to come and talk about the book, our prayers and our experience with cancer, I’m willing to do that. I want to share how faith can get you through these really hard times.
I’m so proud of Dave, and I’m so grateful that I’m able to fulfill this lifelong dream that he had. I feel like it’s a wonderful way for me to honor Dave, his legacy and his work.”
“What I Learned from Dying” is currently available for purchase in soft cover on Amazon.com. You can contact Jamie with any questions, or to schedule a speaking engagement at: [email protected]
By Jennifer Wimmer
