The author encourages you to find yourself within her search. Deanie writes, "I don't know if you will enjoy any of these records, but if my theory about people is true, I think you will. I firmly believe that we are all more alike than we may want to admit. We carry many of the same scars, we regret many of the same mistakes, and we wonder why we were so slow to learn the important lessons. We have searched for love, often in the wrong places; we have families we would lay down our lives for; and we survive because of God's grace." In Search of Self A Journey Worth Recording begins with one woman's observations about the importance of people and place in the journey called life. Sometimes Deanie Heath uses prose and at other times poetry to capture the memories of six decades of traveling from childhood to adulthood. Whether Deanie is writing about her parents or segregation or the Taliban, she manages to do so with an honesty that moves her personal experiences to a universal level. Most of us have faced the loss of a loved one, struggled with relationships, worried for others, and been moved to a catalog of strong emotions. This book confronts all these experiences. In addition, no one walks away from this book without a clear understanding of the beauty of eastern North Carolina, specifically Hyde County, and the wonders of other countries as well. As skillfully as an impressionist painter, Deanie brings us lavender sunsets, magical nights, and rushing tides. "My story crosses multiple continents, making the world, not my neighborhood, my home."
About the Author: Just because Deanie Harris Heath wandered in the desert for almost 40 years doesn't mean her work is dry. She knows how to capture the essence of the moment whether it is one of heat or ice. Deanie taught English and History for 32 years at Mattamuskeet School in Hyde County, a pristine natural area in eastern North Carolina. While there, she was named National Teacher of Excellence by the National Council of Teachers of English. She was selected to participate in the first Writer in the Teacher program at Duke University and participated in the North Carolina Writing Project for two years. Deanie studied as a Mandel Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for two summers. In addition to being named Hyde County Teacher of the Year twice, Deanie served as Executive Director of the North Carolina English Teachers Association and North Carolina State Sponsor of the National Beta Club. After marrying Lenny, Deanie retired and moved to Blacksburg, Virginia where she teaches English as a Foreign Language as a volunteer at Blacksburg Baptist English School. While she has written several chapbooks, this is her first major gathering of her work which spans five decades.