Wow! What a year!
Last year in the month of August, I had a very successful book launch. It was such a wonderful afternoon – everything I had hoped for – for an auspicious start to the potential impact of ‘Show Us Your Tits – Baring All and Beating Breast Cancer.’
The amazing Chesterfield Lounge at Bar Orient in Fremantle, was chocka with supportive people, all speeches went off without a hitch, everyone had a great time and many copies of my memoir went home in interested hands.
Becoming an author has been a lot of hard work, but also a very fulfilling, proud and exciting chapter in my life (pun intended!).
HARD WORK
There were times when I thought I just couldn’t do it. The time it took – 5 years dedicated to sitting down and progressing this thing; having to give it priority over everything else - including family and friends - all whilst going through breast cancer treatments, surgeries and recovery, along with the usual work and family responsibilities. There was a plethora of research that went into the statistics side of the book – I was lost down internet rabbit holes for days! Permissions sought and invoices paid for the replication of song lyrics. So many edits to and fro from Ocean Reeve Publishing, complete with deadlines to meet, marketing modules to finish, online meetings to attend, shipping concerns to conquer and the all-important launch to organise. The discipline required seems now, upon reflection, quite insurmountable, but I was driven by important purpose – to help others that came after me and save more Australian women’s lives.
FULFILLING
So that is the fulfilling bit.
Raising awareness, helping others and saving lives.
This memoir has done all of that and continues to do so.
Awareness - Just last week a lady bought 7 copies for her book club. She felt the book was fitting for this group of ‘40-something’ mothers, and would be a good choice to raise awareness of the importance of being vigilant about breast health.
Helping Others – I’ve had people buy copies for friends and family members just diagnosed. Reading my story has been helpful to so many – a sort of guide to what you can expect and how you might feel – as my breast cancer experience was fairly typical, covering what most women go through.
Saving Lives - I’ve had a few women contact me about unexpected diagnoses. After either reading my book, or seeing it in a shop, online or at a friend’s house. They’ve booked a mammogram or done a breast check, resulting in an early breast cancer diagnosis.
That is pretty damn powerful. Yeah!
PROUD
Saving lives and raising awareness makes me fill with pride. I have to let this ‘pride thing’ be a positive feeling and stop my inner critic from slamming it down. Being proud of this achievement for all it has done, and continues to do, is something I still wrestle with. Feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction is the personal benefit from all the hard work, and the decision to literally bare it all in words and photos. So, I am teaching myself to not only receive compliments with gratitude, but really hear them and let them penetrate my wall of self-doubt.
Only about 1-2% of the world’s population has authored a published book, so I am happy to now be in amongst those ranks!
EXCITING
It is exciting to have not only sold around 600 out of 1000 copies, but to know they are continuing to sell – mainly through word-of-mouth – which is not only powerful, but also very gratifying.
Many BC survivors have been generous in sending me a couple of sentences and a selfie with the book, so that I can continue to try and get it known and out there, into hands that most need it. Feelings of excitement also rise when I am asked to speak at an event or attend an exhibition where I can display the book. I am always looking out for these opportunities so keep me in mind! I still have 400+ copies to sell, before making my final donation to BCCWA – that will be an extremely exciting moment; the pinnacle of the whole shebang!
GOALS
I set out with THREE goals for this book:
1) To heal myself;
2) To help inform Australia’s women about BC and help those diagnosed;
3) To raise over 20K for Breast Cancer Care WA.
The first goal was achieved even before publication. The process of getting what happened to me on paper in both pictures and in words, was a very cathartic experience.
Informing, helping and raising funds continues.
Some weeks I sell none. Then there is a wave of orders that come through, like last week when I sold 13 copies. Around 60 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, so it is important to keep plugging this book and beating its drum.
Perhaps you can add your voice to the noise?
One year on, it seems fitting that a first anniversary is symbolised with paper.
I feel truly blessed and deeply grateful for whatever forces combined, to steer me through and help me turn the most difficult challenge of my life, into a tangible resource and asset for others.
I think I’ve NAILED IT!
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