Hello Jessica!

I’m from Germany, and I want to be an author just like you, but I don’t know how to start! Could you tell me how you started?

Judy

Hi, Judy. Thanks for the compliment. You know, I didn’t know that I wanted to be a writer until a couple of years ago. A lot of people kept asking me to write my story down and share it with the world and I didn’t think I could do it! I was too scared to take the risk, but when I did, I was so happy! If you know that you want to become a writer, there are a couple things you can do while you’re at school. Join the journalism club if your school has one and begin to write for the school newspaper or write captions for the yearbook. Try to get involved with as many organizations that deal with writing as possible. Also, to be a good author you need to read a lot. Read other authors and find the books that make your heart sing and then develop your own style. Remember, Judy, the world wants to read your voice, so take time to develop it. The other thing that’s really important in becoming an author is living your life. Have lots of experiences, travel when you can, meet new people and do not be afraid to experience life to its fullest. Lastly, the key to becoming an author is to just start writing. The jobs will follow and the career will take form. You’ve got a great dream, Judy, and I support you in it!

I was recently lucky enough to be a participant in an important panel discussion sponsored by Girls, Inc. Along with Dana Buchman, designer; Shelly Lazarus, Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour; and Dr. Jennifer Wider, a women’s health expert, author, and radio host, I addressed all-too common issues facing young women today.

From the stress to be perfect to the gender stereotypes we still face in school and in the workplace, nothing was off-limits, and the discussion was fast and furious! It made me realize how fortunate I am to be in a space where I can affect change, and I am excited to hear what you have to think about the solutions we offered! Click here to watch the footage and then comment below to make your voice heard!

Girls Inc. and Jess Weiner share a common goal: to help all girls realize their potential and their ability to do anything they set their minds to. However, intense pressure and persistent gender stereotypes can keep them from their goals, and Jess participated in an event that addressed these very issues and gave practical solutions to the challenges that girls face.

On October 13^th, Jess was part of an amazing panel of women–which included Dana Buchman, designer; Shelly Lazarus, Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour; and Dr. Jennifer Wider, a women’s health expert, author, and radio host–all gathered together to discuss one thing: how to help the next generation of leaders manage their stress to become strong, smart and bold. Click here to watch Jess in action in this important video for everyone who believes in creating an equitable society and then join the conversation yourself and let us know what you think!!!

Are you passionate about writing? Do you have an important real-life story to tell? Do you love to journal, blog, or write poetry? Do you dream of being a published author? If your answer is “yes,” to any of these questions, head over to http://www.louderthanwordsbooks.com/submit-your-story/ and submit your story today.””

As a native European, Andrea grew up with an unrealistic image of what a woman should look like. When she started to hit puberty and her body developed in a way that wasn’t like the models – curves, acne and what she considered an awkward smile, she started to hate who she was. For three long years, she suffered with severe body image issues and depression until eventually, by the age of sixteen, her obsession turned into anorexia and ultimately bulimia.

However, almost ten years after her initial decent into self-hate, she was able to overcome her struggles and won the fight against her eating disorder. She learned to accept and love herself for who she really was – a beautiful woman inside and out - with a whole life to enjoy. She now spends her time on her passions – supporting others on their path to recovery. To help with that, in October 2006, she published a book called, You Are Not Alone: The Book of Companionship for Women Struggling with Eating Disorders. With another book in development, an increasing number of speaking engagements and a popular recovery focused Internet newsletter called the You Are Not Alone Support Letter, Andrea truly is showing eating disorder sufferers everywhere that recovery IS possible.

For more information about Andrea, her book, the Support Letter or to get in touch with her, please go to www.youarenotalonebook.com.

Author. Speaker. Songwriter.
Mentor. Survivor.

For Shannon, relationships replace eating disorders. Period, the end.

When Shannon first developed anorexia and bulimia, little was known about recognizing and treating eating disorders. She struggled for seven years in silence and secrecy against an illness she could not name. But she refused to stop fighting. When she was nineteen she met her mentor. Together, they joined forces against the eating disorder. Slowly but surely, the loving, supportive bond she formed with her mentor began to edge out her dependence on her “relationship” with her eating disorder. She began to take her life back.

Today, Shannon has been in strong recovery for over a decade. In 2004, she founded Key to Life: unlocking the door to hope, an outreach and advocacy organization that offers programs, workshops, concerts, products, and services to facilitate recovery from eating and related disorders. Through Key to Life, she began sharing what she had learned about eating disorders recovery through speaking and performing her original songs at school campuses and in treatment centers. She also began serving as a mentor to others who were struggling to recover from their eating disorders.

It soon became clear to Shannon that the need for eating disorders mentors far exceeded what her time could accommodate. As she answered her mentees’ questions and responded to their emails, she began taking notes, noticing common themes and writing down everything she could remember about how she healed. Those notes became her first book, Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back (Health Communications, Inc.)

With the release of Beating Ana, Shannon & Key to Life launched a worldwide mission to share the power of mentoring with others. In 2008, Shannon partnered with three other dedicated volunteers to found MentorCONNECT, the first global mentoring community to connect those in strong recovery from eating disorders with those who are seeking recovery support.

To learn more about Shannon, her speaking and songwriting, Beating Ana, Key to Life, and MentorCONNECT, visit her at www.key-to-life.com.

FREE “Beating Ana” Book Giveaway!
In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week this February, Shannon is giving away five FREE copies of her new book, Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back, to the first five readers who send an email to PaolaF@hcibooks.com. Be sure to put “Beating Ana” in the subject line of your email!”