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In this podcast, you will learn:
- How Lauren's life began with junkies and alcoholics, her Mum committed suicide, she stowed away on a ship to the US, was raped and deported, and became a fire-eating stripper and then a prostitute. She attempted suicide at 20 and realized that she needed to change her life. She went back to school and trained to become a doctor.
- How laying bare her own life has affected Lauren and her family – and her advice to other people considering writing a personal memoir
- Whether people judge Lauren for her past now she is a medical doctor
- How writing was a form of therapy for Lauren, and how it can be used to help solve problems
- How Lauren learnt writing as she went along and belonged to a writers group online
- How study is an important part of Lauren's life in order to develop her mind – after completing med school, she is now pursuing theological study
- When you should publish your writing therapy – and when you should keep it to yourself. The therapy is in the writing, not the publishing.
- How Penguin rejected Lauren's manuscript which went on to be a bestseller in New Zealand, and then sold in the UK and now in the US in audio form
- How Lauren's UK tour was interrupted twice by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and how to cope with the unexpected
- Speaking as an author can be an interesting experience in women's prisons
- Lauren's publishing experience internationally – she has been translated into a number of languages and is now available in the US as an audiobook
- How it took Lauren 3 weeks to record her book at 2.30 am every morning before work – that's commitment!
- The experience of reading your book aloud has good and bad sides
- What Lauren is doing to continue marketing her book and using her story to help other people
- Take your future into your own hands and achieve your great goals!
- What being an author means to Lauren – and how it fits into her self definition (along with being an Iron Man!)
- If you can dream it, you can be it – the importance of positive affirmation!
View Comments (2)
Well done!
Hello Joanna,
Great interview. I really enjoyed listening to her story!!! I have downloaded the interview and will put it into my inspirational library of audio interviews. Thanks.