“I believe that it is not the road blocks or the tragedies that define us but the way in which we handle and overcome them.” – Maureen Crethan Santora
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Triumph over tragedy is a huge concept to grasp. The human mind does not always understand why disasters happen and how any good can come out of them. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is one such tragedy that has confounded many Americans, and seven years after this event, many have yet to come into terms with its impact on their lives.
If coping with the effects of 9/11 is difficult as it is for adults, how can the notion of triumph over tragedy be properly explained to children? It was this complex situation that led Maureen Crethan Santora to create the books, The Day the Towers Fell and My Son Christopher. She explains: “I wanted to share the tragedy of September 11, 2001 with young students. I wanted them to see what hatred does. I wanted them to know that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that if you love someone you love them forever. I wanted the students to learn about hatred and learn how detrimental it is to everyone.”
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Apart from making the younger generation understand the after-effects of 9/11, Maureen’s work on The Day the Towers Fell was also motivated by something closer to home. She herself lost her son, firefighter Christopher Santora, to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. This very same loss gave her the inspiration to pen My Son Christopher.
It took Maureen a while, however, to get started on The Day the Towers Fell and My Son Christopher. This was due to the hesitation of her daughter to do illustrations for the books. She relates: “It was hard for her to work on a project that explained why her brother had been killed.”
Maureen was nonetheless determined to turn this personal tragedy into a triumph. Once she completed her books and decided to have them published, she researched on publishing companies looking for the best option she can find – one that gave her full creative control and ownership of her books. After realizing that self-publishing was the way to go for her, she wrote to several companies, including Xlibris, who immediately got in touch with her. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Maureen only has positive experiences to share about her publishing with Xlibris. She relates: “Throughout the process each person I spoke with at Xlibris made me feel that I was not bothering them. They patiently listened to my concerns and acted upon them. I am very happy that I chose Xlibris to publish my books. Getting immediate feedback was very important to me. Speaking with knowledgeable individuals who were understanding and patient was also important. The staff at Xlibris has helped me immensely. I certainly would recommend them to other authors.”
Although public reception of The Day the Towers Fell has yet to be determined, early indications and the book’s content itself point to a triumph for Maureen. Several schools in Queens have already ordered copies of her book for each class. She also hopes that her work will help teachers and parents guide children in the discussion – and comprehension – of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the effects of hatred on society.
Maureen has achieved success in many areas of her life even after having gone through the tragedy of 9/11. From overcoming her personal loss and using her life experiences to benefit others, to accomplishing the publication of her books, Maureen has shown through her life and through The Day the Towers Fell that indeed, it is not the tragedies but the way we respond to them that define us.
The Day the Towers Fell may be purchased directly through Xlibris Corporation or Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
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