Megan’s Secrets
The memoir I’ve written called Megan’s Secrets: What My Mentally Disabled Daughter Taught Me About Life is now officially out.
Our first book signing was at Highland (May 1), the second was at the Pepperdine lectures, and the third will be this Saturday at Midnight Oil in Searcy (9:00 – 10:30).
The book is available through Amazon (link: Megan’s Secrets
While I’m queasy about self-promoting, I did promise my publisher I’d do my part to help get word out. So . . . any way you can spread the word (blog, Facebook, Twitter, forehead tattoos) I’d appreciate it. It would help if you’d ask your bookstore to carry it, if you’d write a review when you’ve read it, if you’d recommend it to a friend who may be battling life’s losses and disappointments. Thanks so much for your help!
From John O’Donohue’s poem “On the Death of the Beloved” (quoted in its entirety in the book with permission):
Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In ever heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
Can’t wait to get it. Is that you and your daughter on the cover?
Wonderful!! Will ask for it at our Books-a-Million.
It’s not Megan and me. We couldn’t find just the right photo to help convey the “secrets” theme.
It is, however, my older son, Matt, and my granddaughter Reese. It’s as close as you’ll come to getting people who look like Megan and me (during Megan’s physically healthy years–until she was six).
I’m SO glad you’ll be in Searcy. I’m assuming that’s 9:00 PM? Or is it Saturday morning? Either way, I will be there and would even be glad to help however I can.
Can you ask Leafwood if they can make a Kindle version?
Lisa – It’s 9:00 – 10:30 AM on Saturday. Diane and I have to scoot back to Abilene for Senior Sunday.
Will – I just sent a note this morning to my publisher asking about that. Thanks for asking!
Up until now I’ve written off this May 21 world-will-end stuff as nonsense.
But let me get this straight: you’re coming to Searcy this Saturday, May 21, to sign your book? At Midnight Oil? On the edge of the Harding campus?
If you tell me that the Harding administration invited you, I’m heading straight to confessional, assuming the apocalyptic warnings are true.
I’ve retweeted and FB’d. Tattoo later today.
Daniel – Thanks so much! That’s how word gets out in the 2.0 world!
Worried – Breathe deeply. The invitation was from our dear friends Leon and Margaret Blue. I love the environment at Midnight Oil. It’s a perfect spot. And I say that as a non-coffee-drinker!
Saturday morning it is. I’ll see you then.
I’ve been waiting for this–I’ve just ordered my first stack to give away. WHat a blessing this book is, Mike. FULL of secrets from the heart of God. Thank you.
Thanks, Lisa. See you at Midnight Oil.
And Kathy, thanks so much! Your home in LR was a favorite get-away for Megan.
Got a signed copy at Pepperdine. Read it (until middle of the night). Getting copies for all family members. Thank you.
Will – Megan’s Secrets will be out in ebook format (for Apple’s iBooks and Kindle) in a couple weeks. Thanks for asking. It has been released to bookstores (Books-a-Million, Family Christian, Lifeway, Mardel) a bit early.
Mike
Can’t wait to get my copy and then buy more for our kids and friends. I especially need it right now because our oldest daughter has just been diagnosed with a severe heart failure. I have spent the last 3 weeks crying and praying. The worst outcome could be transplant and the best is that healing with meds might be possible. I know your book will help me direct my thoughts and prayers. I remember the struggle the years after Megan died. I remember the morning you spoke and when you touched Megans stroller you broke down. So I know you understand my breaking heart and how God helps each day. Blessings on you and Diane and on the wonderful impact this book will have on many many more of us.
Laura
Mike,
Thanks for writing this phenomenal book – very refreshing, inspiring, eye-opening! Thanks for the inspiration you and your family have been to so many people over so many years, myself included! Looking forward to many years of continued friendship! God bless!
Chris Chesnutt
Mike — I hate that we’ll be out of town this Sat. because we definitely would have come up to Searcy. You are not safe, though. I will track you down at some point and you will sign my book.
Thanks so much, Laura and Chris.
Deana – It’ll be my privilege. I just read again these words you wrote about our working together when Megan died: “I also witnessed the heartbreak of that year. I remember staring through tears at a blank computer screen pretending to work while Mike sat on the other side of the wall from me — lost in grief over Megan’s death. I remember every 21st of November, Mike. I want you and Diane to know that.”
Awesome, thanks.
Shared the link of “Megan’s Secrets” on Facebook. Just the sweetest book, Mike. I’ve got to order copies for my Bunko group—-they’ll love it as much as I have.
@ Deana ~ You know you could just pull out a blue pen and sign his name for yourself. I think at one point your signature for him looked more like the real Mike Cope than Mike’s did. In fact maybe I’ll just send you my book to sign for him.
Travis and I are ordering a copy tonight and will definitely be spreading the word to friends and family~ so thankful for the privilege it will be to read your insight about your family’s journey.
I ordered my copy today. I already know that it is going to be a paradigm changing book to read!
SG is right! Mike, you need some help? I could sign all the books in AR and you wouldn’t even have to come up here!
This Irish girl enjoys O’Donohue’s work.
Blessings to you and yours as you share this important experience with the world. May God make the journey a gift. God’s blessings on the memory of Megan. Thanks for always being willing to share her with those who are blessed to hear you speak.
I stopped at Midnight Oil at lunch to see if you’d have books or if I need to bring one with me. They didn’t know. So… will you have books with you for us to purchase?
Mike, i’m excited too about your book coming out.
Also, i just saw a picture in the Dallas Morning News this morning about a tornado that hit Joplin, MO last night. Do you know if your family and friends are OK? Have you heard from them or any of your friends there? Praying about that. Scary stuff, especially after the horrible tornado that ripped through AL a few weeks back.
God bless you Mike and all of the Cope family.
I got a copy of this awesome book at Pepperdine and have loved hearing about your greatest teacher. Great writing of a great child from God. We are also useing your What Really Matters? small group study and have had great feedback to it. Thanks for sharing your life with so many.
Kelly – I love his poems. My friend Tod Brown put me onto them fairly recently.
That Girl – Was great to see you Saturday AM. Thanks for coming by!
Zack – My family seems to be all right, but this is tough. I’m glued to the TV. I know all those areas.
Philip – Thanks so much for those words—both with the book and the videos. http://www.reallymatters.org
Mike, dear friend, I have been praying for your loved ones since the tornado hit Joplin. Have also hung onto your response to my first questioning about their welfare …… may our loving God continue to cover them with His grace, protecting them during these horrid storms.
About your book, naturally I was ill the Sunday of your signing at Highland. Tried to catch sight of you this Sunday, but no luck.
Keep the faith – I’ll run you to ground one of these days to catch up on belated ‘YAY’ – ‘Good Luck’-and ‘Proud of you and your beautiful family! ‘ Your family tree certainly is bearing not just good, but excellent fruit. You and Diane do good work!! 
Love you in Him!!
Meant to mention how happy I am for you that lovely friend, Judy Thomas is back in Abilene. Wonderful news about a wonderful woman!!
Ah, yes, Kathy. Love that Brandon and Sheryl are coming. Working with them (and the rest of Zoe) has been one of the great joys of my life. But JUDY coming — well that’s much more than just serendipitous!
It’s so hard to watch those shots from Joplin. Thanks for your words.
Mike,
I am anticipating the book’s release on the Kindle soon!–please let me know when it does. I put a plug on my blog to help get the word out. Thank you for sharing your and Megan’s story.
Mike -
We used that material with our university group, too. Great stuff. Thanks for providing the study guides for downloading. Now, when will you add more topics for this next year?
I just ordered my copy. Can’t wait to read it! Thanks for inspiring so many of us younger preachers.
JG
Well, I am halfway through the book. Thanks be to God that He put you in such a remarkable place to suffer such an extraordinary loss!
Mike,
In case you don’t know–Mardel is carrying Megan’s Secrets. Ask the one there in Abilene to let you do a book signing.
Ask for the Matt, the new manager–Tell him “Dallas” recommended that you ask and that he recommends you and your book.
Just about to purchase this on my iPad, can’t wait to read it!