The Wallace will be hosting a release event with the combination of a book titled, “Declining Into More,” and an album release titled, “into More,” that will be happening March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Brasch-Mitchell Building.
Tickets are limited and the community is encouraged to purchase tickets through the Wallace’s website. Tickets may be available at the door, but that is not a given.
Sharing her journey through the book that is now available on different platforms, Emily Wheeler will be able to talk and share her story with individuals who attend the event.
In addition to publishing her book, Mrs. Wheeler and her husband Brent Wheeler are musicians who produced an album connected to the book with their band named Cider Wave.
The band will be in attendance as well as live music from musical acts from South Plains College’s Creative Arts Department.
“The book and the album correlate as the songs were written and inspired by the events that are written about in the book,” explained Mrs. Wheeler. “The book itself is a memoir that deals with the subject of caregiving and what the experience is like in caring for a family member after the diagnosis of dementia.”
The book is broken into three parts where the first part is about Mrs. Wheeler’s childhood and her first experience with dementia which involves her grandmother Anna.
She explained that she wrote about her grandmother in the book quite a bit and the decision there to be helpful in any way a no brainer.
“We all adored her and she was incredible,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “We were very close to her and had a very close bond with her. The book explains in part why that bond was so strong.”
Once her grandmother began her decline into dementia, the reason to make the sacrifice and care for her was a simple decision.
However, Mrs. Wheeler second encounter with a family member who suffered from dementia was not the same.
“The second part of the book deals with our experience with Brent’s dad and that was a really different kind of experience because he had been a very absent father and he had not maybe made a lot of sacrifices as a parent to care for his children,” explained Mrs. Wheeler. “That was more of a of a challenge in some ways emotionally to reconcile this idea that we’re going to sacrifice or care for someone who maybe didn’t offer that also at one point in life.”
Talking about the honest feelings and emotions the book provides, Mrs. Wheeler felt like there is a lot of open feelings the reader will be subject to.
“I think the book is pretty honest in talking about how we didn’t think that we were noble doing that and there were actually sometimes we were real upset about it,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “It felt like it was unfair sometimes and maybe there were some reasons why we did it that are totally selfish actually.”
Moving forward through that process, Mrs. Wheeler explained that the beginning brought out a lot of hard feelings, yet it grew into something that the couple were really grateful for as they spent the remaining months of his father’s life with him.
“The final or third part of the book really talks about what the effects are of sacrificing for someone else,” explained Mrs. Wheeler. “That includes the good and the bad.”
After the passing of Mr. Wheeler’s father, health problems arose becauseof the stress of the entire situation.
“It had taken its toll and so there was a heart surgery there was a lot of stuff that happened consequently,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “I think the book is just real honest about how there are good and bad things that happen when you’re under that kind of stress.”
It was at that point that Mrs. Wheeler began writing her accounts about her journey and the hardships that came with it.
“I started writing it when Brent was in the hospital - having been admitted for some heart trouble - and I think that it started just so I could have a space for what I was feeling,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “I’m an avid journal writer so I do write a lot already but putting it in the form of a book seemed to just organize it better in my head so that emotionally I felt like I was handling things better.”
Eventually Mr. Wheeler’s heart condition was diagnosed and surgery was required. At that point, Mrs. Wheeler felt that she should continue her book.
“I had written so much that it seemed kind of worth finishing,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “I finished up the story and fortunately there was a publisher that wanted to publish it.”
The couple have been working together musically for a substantial amount of time and they found that it would be fitting to put together an album of songs that complement the book.
“We’ve released three albums already under the Wheeler Duo, but we found it fitting with the book, the content of the book and the songs she was writing to rebrand to Cider Wave and release an album,” said Mr. Wheeler. “It was fun for us. We knew how to release the album part but it was it was an a learning experience to navigate the publishing industry.”
Mr. Wheeler complimented the book and explained that he loved the work, but for him the music side of the project was his way of working through things.
“The book is great, but that was her working through the emotions,” explained Mr. Wheeler. “The music for me on this project is great because that’s how I’m able to cope and deal with the music that she’s written.
Mrs. Wheeler added that while the book provides raw emotion and sometime a dark feeling, the album at times feels more uplifting and positive.
“The book itself has a lot of sections that are pretty dark, sad, raw and honest,” said Mrs. Wheeler. “I think the music is optimistic in a lot of ways.
Comprising the newly formed band is drummer, Phil Smith, the bass player is Mark Frandsen, the vocalist is Rachel Rea and the couple comprise the roles of guitarists.
Following the concert there will be a meet and greet with the Wheelers. Attendees are encouraged to stick around and spend some time to talk with the Wheelers and get a copy of the book signed.