As some of you know, for the past two years I've been collecting letters from all over the world for a book about recovery from eating disorders, to benefit the work of the Academy for Eating Disorders in advancing research in the fields of treatment and prevention. Hundreds of contributors have written about their experiences of the different stages of recovery, and I've been collecting advice and insights from eating disorder professionals, as well. Our goal is to let those who know recovery best trace the arc of this experience in their own true voices.

This is not an easy time to find a publisher for a book -- any book -- but I am delighted to announce that I have just signed a contract for publication with Trumpeter Books, an imprint of Shambhala Press, to publish BACK TO LIFE: Voices of Recovery from Eating Disorders in 2011.

Serendipity guided me to this publisher. Shambhala is known for books related to the practice and faith of Buddhism, but Trumpeter is a new imprint covering mindful awareness, psychology, health, literature, memoir, and personal growth. It turned out to be a perfect fit, not only for our book but also for anyone with an interest in true recovery. Current titles in the Trumpeter list include Creative Recovery, The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living, The Open-Focus Brain, Partners in Healing, Perfect Love Imperfect Relationships, and When No One Understands. Take a peek at these and other offerings at
http:/​/​www.shambhala.com/​html/​learn/​features/​trumpeter/​

Of course, the road to publication is almost as slow and painstaking as the road to recovery. My generous working partners on this journey are past president of the AED Dr. Judith Banker and Dr. Amanda Weishuhn. We have miles to go yet, as we finish selecting and editing the final contributions. Then, we will be sending edited copy to contributors for approval.

If you have contributed a letter for this project, I want to thank you. If you have moved or changed contact info since you sent me your letter, I hope you'll send your new contact info to GainingTheTruth@​gmail.com so we can reach you. Even if we cannot use your letter, we are very grateful for your candor, your insights, and your support.

We expect the book to be published in time for the AED's 2011 International Conference on Eating Disorders, at the end of April 2011. We're hoping to throw a big book party at the conference, so I hope to see you there. I know it seems like eons away, but time is short!

That's my news for now.
I wish you health, love, joy, and peace this holiday season.

Aimee

“The beauty of Aimee's Liu's brilliantly researched book, GAINING: THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE AFTER EATING DISORDERS, is right there in the title. There is life after eating disorders, and Liu writes about that life with unflinching candor, exceptional insight, and remarkable bravery. While much has been written on the devastating effects of the illness itself, Liu gives us a unique and provocative look at recovery, taking away the shame and helping us to "gain" hope and understanding. This is a ground-breaking work that's a must-read for anyone who has struggled with food or weight but didn't quite understand why.”

--Lori Gottlieb,
Author of STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF

Liu's book, Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders, immediately grabbed our attention because it focuses on life after a person overcomes an eating disorder. It incorporates theory, evidence, and examples that are meant to provide knowledge to
individuals who may suffer from eating disorders and also help them feel that they are not alone. The families of individuals who suffer from eating disorders may also benefit [from new insight into] the psychological worlds(thoughts, fears, beliefs, worries) of their loved ones. One of the strongest contributions of this book is that clinicians may learn about the lives of individuals after they overcome their eating
disorder.

-PsycCRITIQUES
Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books
Volume 52, Issue 51
What, If Anything, Do Our Clients Gain From Life
After Eating Disorders?
by Maria Karekla and Margarita Kapsou

With uninhibited truthfulness Aimee Liu reveals incidents in her own life which propelled her into anorexia... She believes the greatest asset any of us possess is our own life story and to realize the full power and dimension of this treasure, we have to be willing to tell the whole truth, and courageously, she does so...
‘Gaining’ lights the way into understanding the root causes and hidden origins of these surprisingly common eating disorders. These origins are not limited to eating disorders, in various degrees they lurk in all of us.

- JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association

Aimee Liu published “Solitaire”, the first memoir of anorexia, in 1979 after she struggled with the eating disorder as an adolescent. Although at the time she considered herself recovered, a relapse thirty years later encouraged Liu to reconsider the meaning of the word “recovery”.

Liu draws from multiple sources — her own experience, interviews with former anorexics and bulimics, research findings from leading experts in the field - as she explores the psyche of individuals who have suffered from an eating disorder. She describes how people with certain personality characteristics or tendencies are not only more prone to developing eating disorders, but that these characteristics can remain problematic throughout one’s life. Perfectionism, avoidance, social isolation, alexithymia, fear of intimacy, and disconnection from one’s self can continue to haunt people and destroy lives for years after they have “recovered”. Although no longer meeting DSM criteria, the characteristics that make an individual vulnerable to developing an eating disorder in the first place can continue to restrict one’s capacity to fully live life. If these tendencies are not addressed, they can also set the stage for relapse years later, particularly during times of stress. Liu encourages the question: Once someone no longer meets criteria for an eating disorder, what work still remains to be done?

“Gaining” is an engaging and incredibly insightful book. Those who have suffered from an eating disorder will see themselves on every page. Liu’s brutally honest approach in retelling her story will hopefully encourage readers to examine their own lives and consider making changes that will contribute to their long-term health. The book is also extremely thought-provoking, and will encourage researchers and clinicians to continue to question what is meant by “recovery” and how it can best be achieved.

-Renee Rienecke Hoste, PhD
The University of Chicago Hospitals
Reviewing for Academy for Eating Disorders
AED Forum

With heart-wrenching interviews from more than 40 men and women, Liu's book lobbies for cultivating self awareness (as well as getting a doctor's help) and for realizing that change, in life and in our bodies, is natural. Says Liu:
By unlocking ourselves, we unleash our power to change the world. This ultimate message of Gaining applies to us all.
Brave and timely, Gaining isn't just a good book, it's an important one.

-Caroline Leavitt
Cookie Magazine
http:/​/​www.cookiemag.com/​