Three years ago, when I began working on Miracles Every Day, I spent many hours in Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Legacy Village, in Beachwood, Ohio. I tracked down quite a lot of information and wrote a number of pages in J-B's cozy restaurant, The Bistro. The store atmosphere is conducive to research and reflection; the food served in the Bistro was wonderful and the waiters uncomplainingly kept my refillable water bottles topped-off; and the staff was as friendly as family. I remember wandering the store, lost in admiration, unable to depart without having bought at least one or two new books each time I was there.

Sometimes I would consider what it would feel like to see my own book on a shelf in a store--even, perhaps, this store!--but I really couldn't wrap my head around that thought very well. It seemed more an out-of-body experience than something that would someday come true. In the meantime, I availed myself of the rich and lively schedule of author discussions as often as I was able.  My favorite was the evening I met Karen Joy Fowler, who was there to discuss her marvelous book, The Jane Austen Book Club. I asked Karen if she had considered who would play whom if a movie were made of her book and she appeared to be stunned by my suggestion. "Well, I've never even given that a thought," she said. "Hmmm." And then everyone gathered began offering up their suggestions for who they would choose to play the roles of the various characters in her book. My words proved prescient; a terrific movie was filmed (and Ms. Fowler was involved) and was released in 2007.

Precisely because of this history, it was with great pleasure that I returned to Joseph-Beth on 30 June 2010 for a discussion and book signing. I came with a mini-posse:  my loyal friend, Kathy Wainwright, and her daughter, Lauren. Event coordinator Colandra had everything set up beautifully:  folding chairs arranged around the fireplace, a podium and microphone, and a signing table. I circled and stared at the arrangement in wonder. Could this be? Could this be for my book?

A rather modest group was assembled at 7:00 P.M. for the start of my discussion, but I didn't care. I was so thrilled for a chance to talk about my book, the journey from writer to author, and Dr. Issam Nemeh. I doubt I'll ever stop feeling pure pleasure at the chance to discuss this book with people who love to read; or people who are searching for a miracle; or people who love someone who needs a miracle; or people of faith; or people who are on a spiritual quest; or just about anyone. I truly believe that books are the keys to so many of the greatest things in life. Books are Free Birds. It is upon the wings of the written word that we are freed to fly in the cloudless climes of imagination, where hopes and dreams know no boundaries. It was easy, then, for me to just chat about Miracles Every Day. I noticed that as I talked, more and more people joined our little group. In time, people who had been on their way to the  exit door were standing, fanned out in a semi-circle further back in the store, listening.

A pretty woman with beautiful, platinum-colored hair was seated in the last row of chairs. She held a copy of Miracles Every Day in her hands. Every so often she made eye contact with the front cover and each time she did, she smiled. It was clear to me that this book was important to her. I was intrigued. I wanted to know her story. I maneuvered my talk into an opening in which I could catch her gaze and ask, "What brings you here tonight?"

She glanced shyly down at her book. When she looked up, there were tears in her eyes.

"I was there on the Day of the Ten Thousand," she replied. The tears spilled over.

I felt a familiar melting inside my heart. I had heard so many, many stories from people whose lives had been forever changed by the gentle touch and prayer that had been whispered by Dr. Nemeh. I asked her if she would like to come up to the microphone and share her story with all of us. She nodded. I asked her name.

"Kathleen."

I introduced Kathleen and took a seat at the signing table beside the podium.

She was so overwhelmed at the flood of memories, Colandra had to fetch a box of tissues. But she recovered, and found her voice. She told us that she had somehow been able to get her hands on two tickets to the March 13, 2005 healing service at Saints Peter and Paul in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She said she was in the church for nine hours and yet did not want to leave. She wanted to stay, she said, because it was so plainly obvious that God was there. God, and the Holy Spirit, she said, permeated the grounds. I just nodded. I had heard this many times--even the Pastor, Father Ted Marszal, had said the same thing. According to all accounts, the church and the campus was thick with God, as if God and His action-oriented Holy Spirit were a physical reality, like smoke, or humidity.

Kathleen said she had come in need of nothing in particular. She had no physical ailment that needed healing, "at least," she tacked on, "none that I know of." She alluded to a cogent point:  we are not always cognizant of the blessings, healings, and miracles that are bestowed upon us.

The miracle that happened for her was a spiritual awakening. From that day forward she knew the joys of a real relationship with God. Furthermore, her spiritual growth has been incremental and more rewarding each day since. Dr. Nemeh's prayer and being in that church for nine hours, she said, changed her life.

I asked her if she had read the book. She said she had. Then I asked, "What do you think of it?" I'll never forget her answer.

"This book is a prayer," she said, clutching her copy to her breast and looking out at the people seated and standing before her. "It's a beautiful, beautiful prayer."

I'll go with that.