We All Have Our Stories
Tag: Writer
A Fabulous Read - When Breath Becomes Air
This is such a stunning book: so insightful about the meaning and purpose of our lives, so beautifully written, and incredibly honest. Basically it's bloody fabulous (as we would say in Australian parlance). And so sad when the 37-year-old author, a neurosurgeon and scientist, dies. It's an absolute must-read, especially for anyone facing their own mortality, (that's all of us isn't it?) and for those who surround and love them.
An inspiring story that will live on long after the last page is read.
Long live the memory of Paul Kalanithi. Que Viva!
After my latest book, Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me, was published, I was often asked to speak about end of life. Fraying was written from the perspective of a daughter, with no medical qualifications; a daughter struggling with the medical maze and the decisions to be made. When Breath Becomes Air is from a medical professional's perspective, one who becomes the patient. The questions Paul and his wife, Lucy Kalanithi, must face, and dare to ask, are confronting. But they are also, in essence, questions about what it means to be human, and at what point living becomes too much of a burden.
This book is a precious gift to readers.
Michele's website: www.michelegierck.com.au
Fabulous Reader Feedback
It's great getting reader responses to Fraying. So many people whose parents have had dementia have written to me, and I find their stories so moving.
Here's a few lines received this week.
'I purchased a copy of Fraying and I simply couldn't put it down. It was like I was reading my own life experiences with my mother... Thank you so much for writing this story for me too. It will remain a most treasured book on my bookshelf and shared with others.'
All I can say is thank you, thank you to readers.
The more we share our stories, the richer the community. Stories, after all, are our treasures.
Michele Gierck
Author/Freelance Writer/Speaker So You Want to Write Your Own Story
So you want to write your story. Wondering where to begin?
Here’s three questions to get you going. Take time to consider them.
1) If you were to choose six parts of your life to write about -- they could be events, experiences, life stages, transitions or times when you've learnt something significant – what would those six things be?
2) Why do you now feel the urge to write? Is it because you promised yourself you would before you turned 30,50,60 or 75? Is it because you want to hand stories down to family members? Or to reflect on your journey so far? Is it to tell the story of others through your eyes? Or perhaps just to let your creative self flourish, and see what emerges?
3) Who would you like the audience for your writing to be? Are you writing it for anyone in particular? Or just for yourself? Would you like it published?
Once you’ve answered the questions, write down the six things you want to write about. And then write about them! It's okay if you only write a paragraph on each. Or you could write pages and pages.
Then, once you've got that writing done, take a good look at it. Then put it down, leave it for a bit. And look again. What are the threads that are common to each of the six pieces? What might hold them together? What would you like to replace or add?
This might give you an idea of what you really want to write.
And at least it's given you a starting point.
The rest of your writing could easily develop from this.
Rather than pressuring yourself to write a book, you might consider writing an overview piece that links the pieces you’ve written. Or perhaps you'd prefer to write on one of the pieces that just seems to grab you.
You never quite know what’s going to happen once you start on your own personal writing adventure… So, be brave, be creative, and allow the story to emerge.
Go for it!
Michele
ps for all those who say they can't write, then speak it, record it, and get hold of some apps or technology that types it up for you! (See, there's no excuse not to write.)
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Text and Image copyright Michele Gierck
Michele Gierck is author of 700 Days in El Salvador, Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me, and co-author of Peter Kennedy: the man who threatened Rome.
Michele's website: www.michelegierck.com.au
Michele is a member of The Australian Society of Authors.
Michele will be on tour in the USA and Canada in June and July 2016 Michele Gierck Author Tour in USA & Canada June/July 2016
Michele Gierck, author of Fraying and 700 Days in El Salvador will be on tour in the USA and Canada in June/July 2016. If you'd like Michele to speak at your bookshop, university, corporate, community, library or not-for-profit event, please contact her via the contact page on her website.
Confirmed cities so far are: Washington DC, Chicago & Halifax.
Michele's website: www.michelegierck.com.au
Author, Michele Gierck, speaking in Adelaide - 23 September, 2015
Author, Michele Gierck, will be speaking at an Alzheimer's Australia South Australia event on Wednesday 23 September, 2015. It's a fab day, all part of Dementia Awareness Month. (For the fine details, please go to the Alzheimer's Australia SA website.)
At 7.30pm that evening, Michele will be part of a panel speaking about dementia on ABC Radio, Adelaide, with host Peter Goers, broadcasting across South Australia. Naturally she will be speaking about her book, Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me.
Looking for good read?
How fab, having Alzheimer's Australia VIC endorse my latest book, Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me, as a good read.
Underneath this endorsement Carers Victoria commented: 'It is great. We are looking at having Michele speak with carers during National Carers Week in October. Very insightful and honest.'
As the author, I am delighted by this positive response. (And all the likes.) Great to see that news about the book is spreading.
Refer Facebook page: Alzheimer's Australia VIC, 25 June, 2015
Refer Facebook page: Alzheimer's Australia VIC, 25 June, 2015 Readers' Delight
Thanks so much to those readers who have taken time to write to me to tell me of the delight they have taken in my latest book, Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me.
One of those responses, from a trauma nurse who, it turns out, grew up in an orphanage was so touching. Reading about her life, I began to see Fraying through new eyes.
We have all walked such different paths, and stories are such a great way to understand the path others tread.
Image: Maguk, Kakadu National Park, Australia (Gotta get yourself there!)
Image and text copyright: Michele Gierck
Anticipation
Waiting for your new book to be released (launched) is like having a ticket overseas and waiting for the journey to happen. So much anticipation. Will you rocket down the road ahead, reaching some fabulous pinnacle? Or ...
Well, let's see what happens when Fraying: Mum, memory loss, the medical maze and me is launched later this month. (So far there's lots of interest!)
You can catch Richard Fidler's Radio National interview with Michele, (that's me) on 25 February at: http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations/ The 55-minute interview will be podcast and can be listened to online any time after the interview.
For more information about Michele's new book check out her website: http://michelegierck.com.au/fraying/
Image and text copyright Michele Gierck
Photo: Road to Aoraki/MtCook, New Zealand Pause, Ponder, Power Down
Holidays, especially in naturally beautiful places, can be a wonderful time to pause ... and ponder. They can become a vital time to power down, and then, eventually, recharge.
Image: view of the mountains from Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand
Image and text copyright Michele Gierck