At school they nick-named me chatter-box! Always in trouble for speaking at the wrong time!
This time I’m using my innate nature to express myself … and now is the Right Time! I’m shouting to the world … I have a book that is screaming out to be published and to be read.
I’m dusting off those Toastmasters skills I’ve learnt over the last two years, fine-tuning my speeches and steadying my nerves.
My aim as a speaker is to break down the stigma of mental illness by making the audience aware of the issues, at the same time gathering support for my book Me and Her: a Memoir of Madness.
On Tuesday I made my debut with a Public Reading from an excerpt of Me and Her to the Society of Women Writers at Brisbane Square Library during their club meeting. Two unexpected things happened, during my reading.
One … Towards the end I started to smile, enjoying the enthralled look from my attentive listeners. You could have heard a pin drop.
Two … after the meeting so many ladies came over to me to thank me or share a story about someone they know.
I had reached them!
This Saturday I’ll do the same at the Logan Crime Writers Club.
Now all I have to do is tame my right jelly-wobble leg! Lucky I wore a long skirt!
Good on you, Karen. I love your description of wearing a long skirt to hide your ‘jelly-wobble leg’. I know what that feels like. Very brave of you to do all this public speaking. Sounds like you’re making progress in all the right ways. You’re your own travelling roadshow! Congrats again on another prosperous week on your Road to Publishdom. Joanna :))
Hi Karen, That’s a very courageous thing for you to do! Firstly to get up and speak in front of a crowd and secondly to talk about such a topic. One that’s been shoved in the cupboard for too long! Yay to you!
Karen – you are my Shero. SO proud of your commitment and passion to get this message out there in the form of your book and your words out aloud. You are a true inspiration.
Go for it. Wake up the world!
You are super inspiring Karen.
I am very fortunate to be following your journey.
You are so brave Karen, I hate public speaking! I’m glad it went so well for you and that you had so much fun.