Creating a Life: The Memoir of a Writer and Mom in the Making

by Corbin Lewars, Phyllis H. Klaus (Introduction)

Corbin Lewars' memoir, Creating a Life, shares the bumpy road that led Corbin to motherhood and her career as a writer. Deformed sperm, a miscarriage, and quitting her job to become an editor only to have that publication become bankrupt were a few hurdles that she crossed along the way. But Corbin not only survives, she thrives, and is able to share her story in a heartfelt and humorous way.

"By bravely--and humorously--sharing her deepest secrets and confronting her biggest fears, Corbin Lewars makes one of the strongest arguments out there that pregnancy and childbirth aren't simply about biology doing its thing. Becoming a parent is also about figuring out where you've been and where you want to be."
Marisa Cohen, senior editor at Glamour and author of Deliver This!

"An empowering and true story. If you've created life, if you dream of creating life, if you love someone who is creating life-this is the book for you." -Ariel Gore, author of Women and the New Psychology of Happiness

"Lewars writes about disappointment and trauma without a trace of self-pity; her story is honest and raw, her outlook hopeful heartwarming." -Midge Raymond, author of Forgetting English.

Genres: Memoir

174 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Corbin Lewars began writing books when she was five years old. If you count the ones that are glued and stapled, she is the author of twenty-nine books. If you don’t, she is the author of two: the Washington State Book Award and PNBA nominee Creating a Life: The Memoir of a Writer and Mom in the Making, Losing Him, Gaining You: Divorce as Opportunity (2013) and the novel Swings (April, 2015). Her essays have been featured in over twenty-five publications including Mothering, Hip Mama and several writing anthologies and she currently blogs for the Seattle PI. She has over ten years experience working with emerging writers as a developmental editor and writing coach. And she moonlights as a mother of two fabulous children.

Reviews

[Elevate Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books are pure pleasure, an escape, and others give us more to ponder. Some books allow us to reach down deep to the hidden place of our most private thoughts. Creating a Life is the latter kind.

Creating a Life is not just a memoir about giving birth to both a child and a life; it is a stunning tribute to the audacity it takes to reclaim one’s self. Corbin Lewars has given a voice to each and every woman who has experienced sexual abuse. One out of four girls has suffered childhood sexual abuse, a statistic provided in the introduction to warn the reader of the immensity of the author’s story.

In the beginning of the book, Lewars is honest about her obsession with having a baby. But her husband Jason is still deciding whether he wants a baby or not. In an attempt to satisfy her whirling emotions, she decides to get a Master’s degree while also remodeling her house. Her efforts do not quench her needs, and the reader is given glimpse after glimpse into her personal hell.

Jason finally agrees to procreate, and Lewars goes full steam into conception. The couple becomes pregnant in no time, only to lose the baby in the first trimester. Lewars enters an intense mourning period. Every memorable book has an instance when the reader experiences a point of light, and it was here that I began to engage with the author’s "real" story.

Lewars remembers a rape that occurred when she was twelve, a rape she had repressed since it happened. She comes to realize much of her dissatisfaction with her life is a byproduct of this denial. The memory of the rape sends her into therapy, where she promises to resolve her own issues before becoming a mother. With this clear plan, Lewars sets about fulfilling her quest to become whole. But the best made plans can change. She becomes pregnant again.

Creating A Life is one of the most exquisite and brave memoirs I have read in years. The message of hope and dedication is universal and steps outside the confines of the story itself, reaching women of all ages. As a writer, woman, and mother, I’m humbled by this beautiful, courageous book. Many life lessons are here for the learning.

Review by Ann Hite

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still find myself thinking of certain parts of this book and how they are relevant to something that has happenned to me or to a friend of mine.
I found myself feeling so many things again and empathizing with and envying her for her experiences as well. I also laughed out loud in several parts which for any book is a real measure of success in my opinion.
If I hadn't read this I would never have understood why women continue to choose to birth at home even when faced with so much pressure by the medical experts around them.
I will have others read this who went through trauma as teenagers who find themselves unable to figure out why they are "just now" finding the need to cope with it.
Thanks to Ms. Lewars for writing this book.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Corbin's story very much. It is an inspiring tale for anyone, for those who struggle with following their own hearts when friends and family believe they know best or for those who have been robbed or wronged in some dreadful way.

Her engaging story of recovery and triumph is told in a way that brings tears and laughter, allowing the reader to experience her pain, and live her success.

I absolutely loved it.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the maker of the Reality Mom zine, this is a pretty candid look at pregnancy and the various life choices around raising a kid, whether it's in a relationship or as a single parent. Corbin Lewars is likable and strong-willed, a fresh voice that I think both women AND men will appreciate. Some parts are a little light and goofy but she can also be pretty funny at times too.

[Loretta Matson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down and read it within 24 hours of purchasing it. I’m a reader whose life experiences have been very different from Corbin’s, but I’ve been in the position of examining personal issues and wondering, “Why now? Why at this point in my life must I think about these things?” Readers can count on Corbin to tell the truth.