Kathi Holmes Inspires Her Readers with Her Book, I Stand With Courage: One Woman’s Journey to Conquer Paralysis

Kathi tell us a little about your background. 

After nearly fifteen years of diligently completing one class at a time, I graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  I began with a focus on counseling, conducting several support groups, later switching to a communications major. During that time I worked either full or part time while raising my family. The tenacity I demonstrated was a good role model for my children and helped me keep the focus on my book.  

Before retiring, I had a lengthy career in advertising, marketing and publishing; working at both major Twin Cities newspapers, marketing for senior-housing communities, and publishing a residential real estate trade publication. During this time I wrote for both business and pleasure.  

Why did you choose this genre?

In 2008 I suffered spinal cord damage and became paralyzed. While I was confined to a rehab center my husband, Charlie, was in and out of hospitals. He had quadruple bypass surgery followed by complications and a below the knee amputation due to a diabetic infection. We were both alone in our medical quagmires. 

The horrendous medical problems my husband and I incurred that year gave me the fuel for my book. Family, friends, and acquaintances all marveled at my recovery from paralysis. I heard comments like, “it’s a miracle,” “you are an inspiration to me,” “how did it happen?” I wanted to share my personal life experience as a message of hope for others trying to overcome challenges. I experienced a remarkable transformation when I was diagnosed with a below the waist paralysis and told I would be living with paralysis the remainder of my life. Through acceptance, courage, faith and determination I am now walking with just a cane. I hope to inspire others to rise above their affliction whether it is mental or physical. I have always loved to encourage and inspire others to be the best they can be. Now I am doing that through my book, I Stand With Courage: One Woman’s Journey to Conquer Paralysis. 

How is writing in the genre you write, different than other genre?

In some ways, writing fiction is easier than non-fiction. With fiction you can expand your reader’s reality in any way you choose. It’s like a mysterious journey through the woods. When you come to a fork in the path you can choose the familiar or venture into unknown territory. Fiction allows the reader to escape into the world of the author. Non-fiction brings “real life” to the reader. Non-fiction must stick to the facts. Writing a memoir or about a personal experience is even harder. It challenges your memory and word by word makes you relive your life from the outside in. While enlightening, it’s often difficult to reach inside yourself. Over and over you must ask yourself, “How did I feel?” “What was I thinking?” “Why did I respond in that manner?” It is, however, therapeutic.   

What are some of your books, stories that have been published?

I have written both for business and pleasure, writing my first play for the fourth grade paper sale. I have had non-fiction articles published on topics covering accepting breast cancer and lifestyles and traditions. “I Stand With Courage” is my first book. 

Can you tell us more about your book, and where we may find it?

I Stand With Courage: One Woman’s Journey to Conquer Paralysis is available by ordering it at your local bookseller, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, InspiringVoices.com or, for a signed copy, at my website: www.IStandWithCourage.com . ISBN: 978-1-4624-0022-5. It is also available for Kindle or Nook.

The description on the book cover describes this book very concisely.  

Was it a miracle, God-given determination, or both, that lifted Kathi from the paralysis that blindsided her, confining her to a wheelchair? No one wants to face such a life-changing health crisis, but Kathi takes us on her journey of creating a new life with a disability. With a husband also hospitalized, she is alone in her battle. A rehab center becomes her home while she searches for strength of body—and mind. See how acceptance, determination, and courage can overcome the challenges of everyday life. Reading about her progress, you realize she is just like you—an ordinary person who accepts and achieves the challenge to accomplish extraordinary feats, inspiring us by her power of faith and determination. 

Where do you get your ideas for writing?   

Having written mostly non-fiction my ideas come from my life experiences. 

What is your favorite thing about your book?

It demonstrates how ordinary women can conquer extraordinary challenges.

Why and when did you begin writing?

It seems I have always gravitated toward writing. I write with no expectation in mind, just a passion for writing and honing my skill.

Is there any one person who had a big influence on you or encouraged you to write? 

After encouraging a friend and former teacher to begin teaching a writing class, the tables turned and she became my coach, helping me to think outside the box.

However, I must admit, I would not have a book if it weren’t for my paralysis and becoming a first time grandmother. I wanted to be a “proper” grandmother. That truly inspired my determination and quest for mobility. It’s amazing how little tugs at your heart can make a major impact on your life.

What is your writing schedule?  What atmosphere do you need to write?

All my writing is done on my computer. An idea will come to me – usually in the morning – and I will key in notes. If I get excited about the topic I will continue to write on that subject; often turning to look outside and find the sun has already gone down. I am always alert to new story ideas.

What projects are you working on now, or plan for the future?

I would like to challenge myself with some humorous short stories – a little embellished non-fiction. In an effort to market my book, I will be creating a blog on my website and delving into speaking to groups about challenging themselves to be the best they can be.  

What kind of advice or tips do you have for someone who wants to write and be published?  

Edit. Edit. Edit.  Use a good editor. Self-publishing is not a sin. Research publishers and know exactly what you will be receiving for your payment. 

Are there any other comments, advice or tips that you would give to beginning writers? 

Writing is a process. The more you write the better you get. If you love it, keep writing and learning.  I believe everyone should write. I encourage people to write, whether it is your own book, journal, memoir or cookbook. It doesn’t matter whether you publish it or not. What does matter is that you leave a legacy for your family so that they may know who you are. Now that I am retired and have more time, I have so many questions I would like to ask my mother if she were alive.  

What do you do when you are not writing?  

Having spent much of my time working and raising kids I never read much. Now that I am retired I have become an avid reader of mysteries, intrigue, inspirational books and stimulating biographies or autobiographies. I read magazines, newspapers and just about any article that lands in front of me. Scrapbooking and card making is relaxing – just like when I was in kindergarten. I relish family times, especially with my granddaughters. Travel has been a passion, although we don’t do as much traveling as we did before my husband and I became handicapped. 

Include anything else you may wish to add.  

To all you writers (and those with dreams): Go for it. Why not?

What “Made It” moments have you experienced in life?  

1) Starting a business from scratch and leading it to success. This increased my confidence ten-fold.  

2) Surviving several life threatening health challenges. I am now determined to live as full a life as I can.

3) Becoming a published author. The process was often taxing, but sharing hope with others as well as leaving an inspirational legacy for my grandchildren is well worth it.

I close with a quote from my book, “None of us knows what the future holds for us. May we all be blessed with the courage, determination, and faith to conquer the challenges.”

Chatting with Lelia Taylor about Her Bookstore and Blog

Once upon a time, a mother and daughter went out to dinner for the mother's birthday. Over the course of this dinner, the subject of, "If you could own any business in the world, what would you choose?" came up. Without hesitation, a bookstore was the answer from both mother and daughter, and a momentous decision to follow that dream was made. Creatures ‘n Crooks Bookshoppe was born in Richmond, VA.

Years later, the bookstore is closed and Lelia Taylor spends most of her time reading books, reviewing books and talking about books, along with lots of guest bloggers, on Buried Under Books. You can find it at http://www.cncbooks.com/blog .

Lelia avoids pictures of herself whenever possible but has some really good ones of Hamilton, erstwhile store cat and bookseller extraordinaire.

1.   When and why did you start your first blog?
I debuted Buried Under Books in November 2009. I had always sworn I’d never do a blog but, after we closed the storefront at the end of September, it seemed like a logical way for me to keep my connection to the book world. I wasn’t ready to walk away and I’m still not, although the blog will be my main focus after September when I’ll be closing my online store and the last remnant of my local sales.

2.      What do, or hope your blog arti­cles accom­plish?

As I said above, it’s my way to maintain my connection with the book world but it’s also a way for me to help promote an author’s books and career and to make book suggestions to readers. After all, those are the primary reasons for being a bookseller so the blog is the next best thing .It’s another way to handsell, something I love to do, and it’s becoming more and more important as brick & mortar stores continue to close in alarming numbers. Readers need resources to help them find the good stuff.  

3.      Have you ever tried com­mu­ni­cat­ing with any of your read­ers at places other than your blog (Twit­ter, their blog, etc)?

I’m not as good at that as I’d like to be. I read quite a few blogs, list serves and yahoo groups but leaving comments is not my strong suit. I’m trying to get better about that, meaning I’m trying to organize my time better so I’m not just flitting from one to another. I also check in at Twitter at least once a day but, again, I don’t say enough. I think I need a personal assistant to set me on the straight and narrow ; )

4.      When you don’t feel like blog­ging, what do you do?

I’m an unrepentant TV junkie so I’m usually watching something while I also read a book or fiddle around on the computer. Or sleep.

5.   Do you administer the blog your­self, or do oth­ers help you?

Both. My daughter, Annie, set it up for me initially and she takes care of some administrative issues but I do all the daily work.

6.   How do you react when an arti­cle doesn’t do as well as you’d like — go back and try to fix it, or learn why it didn’t do well?

Nothing will ever appeal to everybody so I just move on but I have to admit I sometimes wonder why an article didn’t work, especially when I think it’s good or even just funny, like when I post a series of LOL pictures. It bothers me most when no one leaves a comment for a guest blogger because it means I haven’t helped promote his or her work well enough.

7.      How easy is it for read­ers to com­mu­ni­cate with you?

Very easy. They can leave comments on any post and I’ll see it there plus I get an email alert. I also provide an email address on the “About” page.

8.      How much effort to you put into com­mu­ni­cat­ing back?

I’m slow to answer some emails but I do eventually get to them, usually within two or three days. I’m making a concerted effort to get better at that.
 

  9.      What’s your biggest dis­trac­tion, and what do you do to get rid of it?

Nobody does distraction better than me and it’s not just one thing. I can be led astray by the TV, reading, fooling around on the computer, sleep, food, going to a movie, you name it. At this stage of my life, I doubt seriously that I’ll ever get rid of any of them.

 I should say, though, that I’m rarely distracted by housekeeping.

10.  How often do you write a guest post for another blog?
Not often since I’m not an author.

11.  How much time do you spend wisely on social net­work­ing sites?

Wisely? Very little. I’m not on Facebook or My Space and I have some trouble thinking of anything worthwhile to say on Twitter. I do at least put links on Twitter to the daily blog posts, primarily to help promote guest authors and book reviews and I’m thinking about joining Google+.

12.  How much time do you spend writ­ing head­lines, and open­ing an article?

Hmm, well, headlines, meaning post titles, don’t trouble me too much but I can go stark raving mad trying come up with the first sentence or two to the point of putting it off for days. What’s up with that?

13.  What is the best thing about your blog design?

Well, I hope others find it easy to read and to find what they’re looking for. It’s definitely pretty easy to use from my end. I also think it’s fairly gentle on the eyes, something some bloggers don’t seem to care about very much. It may be aesthetically appealing to have purple print on a black background but it’s awfully hard to see.

14.  How diverse are your blog­ging topics?

As diverse as anyone could want, I think. Each guest blogger (three per week, usually) chooses his or her own topic and my own pieces are about whatever strikes my fancy, not just about the book world. The book reviews are limited only by what I or my contributing reviewers want to read.

15.  What do you spend the most time doing on your blog?

That’s hard to say. I guess putting guest bloggers’ articles together with cover shots, head shots, bios and whatever else takes more time than anything else. Then again, it takes me forever to write a review and I have no idea why.

16.  Do you have an idol, or some­one to look up to?

I admire anyone who can achieve her heart’s desires without hurting anyone or anything else and who never forgets where and how she began.

17.  When things don’t go the way you had hoped, what do you do?

Throw a mini-tantrum or mutter vulgarities to myself, whichever feels best at the time. Then I find myself some comfort food and then I get over it.

18.  What would you like to do that you are not doing now?

I wish I still had a brick & mortar bookstore. That was the best 9+ years of my working life and, if I won the lottery---a biggish one---I’d open again in a heartbeat. First, though, I have to PLAY the lottery  ; )

Failing that, I’d like to be living in the islands or at least on a southern beach.

Hey, maybe I could open a bookstore at the beach!

From Sylvia:  My book blog link is:

Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts

                  http://love-faith-and-guts.blogspot.com/