I know what your thinking...a narcissist? Well, maybe perhaps, but sometimes it's much more than that.
As a reader, I have always enjoyed biographies and memoirs over any other genre, I just think reality is always more interesting than fiction. But before I wrote my own memoir, I never really thought..."Why"? Why would someone, who is not known or in the public spotlight, want to expose their most private thoughts and intimate details about their lives? And really, who would care?
Well, now that I am added to that list of 'narcissist', I can tell you, sometimes it's not about 'you' so much as a person...it's about 'you and the healing process', at least in my case.
I never set out to write a book..in fact that's the last thing I ever imagined. After my mother's death in 2005, I found myself dealing with a lot of 'unfinished business' I carried with me. In fact, I was shocked at just how much I still had! Through many long 'therapy walks' on the beach, with just me and my thoughts, I started to make sense of the scattered puzzle pieces, and I was surprised there were also 'others' in that puzzle as well. But not until one random afternoon, when oddly, I decided to confide my story to a friend, did she convince me through a tear-soaked face that I had a story the world needed to hear. Hum. Who...ME?
Yes, I knew my story was unique in many ways, but I never in 30+ years hinted a word of my experiences...where would I even start? Well, I started at the beginning, as they say. And once I jumped in, I swear the keyboard smoked! In less than two weeks I had my first (very rough) draft. Not only was it a chance to put it all in black and white, turns out it was a very cathartic, very necessary, part of my healing process. Not until I saw those words staring back at me did I realize the 'why' of it all.
And that's when I finally 'got it', allowing me to forgive and let it go...for good! Freeing my soul of resentment and anger, allowing me to see exactly why things happened and the reasons, but most importantly, making me realize ALL those supposedly 'negative' experiences made ME the person I see standing in the mirror today. And you know what? I truly like that person...now.
So here I sat with close to 300 pages of self-discovery...what next? Actually, it was a no-brainer...I knew it was my mission to get my message out there, and what better way than to publish a book? If I can help someone going through the same thing, or make a parent realize the damage they might be doing to their children unknowingly, then it's worth me having my face behind the message of acceptance. In fact, I'm very proud to be that messenger. Like they say, if I can help one person...it was more than worth the trip.
So, I believe THAT is why people write memoirs...or at least it's why I wrote mine.
Narcissist? Perhaps a tad, but hey, I'm a Leo, so I'm going with that...and the healing/helping thing too! lol
Lisa Vaughn
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
A Very Elegant Review of The Gifted Ones by David Hulegaard
Read David's thoughts and emotions on how this moving memoir touched him. Author interview included too!
http://davidhulegaard.com/?p=426
http://davidhulegaard.com/?p=426
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Just Added! 2 More 5star Reviews on Amazon for 'The Gifted Ones'!
Read the latest awesome reviews on Amazon by Shana Hammaker and Kathy Lynn Hall - both dubbing The Gifted Ones as a must read! Read what they drew from this emotional memoir and decide for yourself if this is your next read!
http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Ones-Lisa-Vaughn/product-reviews/1456506234/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Ones-Lisa-Vaughn/product-reviews/1456506234/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Gifted Ones~A Memoir. Read 1st Chapter Here & Get Hooked!
Intro Chapter of The Gifted Ones:
It was as if a freight train had hit me. That's the only feeling I remember. Within a fraction of a second, I felt as if I couldn't breathe, could possibly pass out...or just die.
I was home, killing time upstairs in my room, like your typical teenager. My dad was also home, so it must've been a weekend. My name echoed from the bottom of the stairs, summoning me to the kitchen table. If only I knew then what I would soon come to know, I would've jumped out my bedroom window and never looked back. Caught completely off guard, like a lamb being led to slaughter, totally unaware of the shit storm ahead, I be-bopped down the staircase, as my mom gestured for me to take a seat, which I did voluntarily. Seemingly, out of nowhere, something flew from behind me - over the top of my head, practically grazing my skull. A dull thud diverted my attention as "it" plopped directly in front of me, landing on the kitchen table. Taking a few minutes to focus, I began to digest what I was seeing. I think my heart started pounding a few seconds before my brain told me what I saw.
"It" was my diary. MY f*#*ing diary! My PRIVATE diary! Blood rushed to my head, flushing it beet red, as perspiration instantly broke out from every pore, covering my young, adolescent body. I had never felt this level of fear before in my life - not even while giving an oral report in front of the class. My whole world passed before my eyes, and in a flash, I realized life as I knew it was about to change drastically. If there had ever been a better time to be stricken with a heart-attack and die, it would have been convenient then. I was not that lucky.
The first words spoken were my mother's. "What the hell is this?", she said sternly, in a low voice I hadn't heard before then. I felt the lump in my throat swell, blocking off my ability to speak. My mind was racing. What was I going to say? Desperation took over. In a lame attempt to get out of this tightening noose, I started to laugh. They looked at me as if I were insane, and frankly, at that moment, I truly believe I was. I opened my mouth and started to explain that this was not MY diary, but writings for a play I had been working on for school. It wasn't a true story, or even about me actually. I was abruptly cut off from my babbling web of deceit. Apparently, Peggy had had enough of my deceiving lies and wanted to know the truth. My immature mind raced as I searched my creative lobes for a more convincing route, but there was nothing more I could say. It was all right there in black-and-white, ratting me out like a two-faced friend. My beautiful writings of my incredible journey, my unbelievable love, sitting there on the family table right before my eyes...and theirs.
Funny, they didn't see it like that at all. The words in my diary held no beauty to them. Instead, my own words, the words that gave me so much comfort when I had no one else to talk to, had turned against me, backing me into a corner. A corner in hell!
All they saw was ugliness. The look on their faces told me right away that I was not winning over this crowd. I sat silently for what seemed like hours. My beautiful, perfect world was closing in around me, and there was nothing I could do. I felt as if I were sinking to the bottom of a pool with a concrete block tied to my ankle. The two people that had raised and nurtured me, who supposedly loved me, had suddenly turned on me. I was now their enemy in a matter of mere minutes. Do you know what that feels like? It feels like everything you ever trusted in your life was suddenly a lie, and always had been, you just happened to be the fool that didn't catch on soon enough. I felt abandoned, I felt stupid, I felt so alone - surrounded by my so-called-family.
And that's when my true, "official" introduction to hell would begin.
***********************************************************************************************
Continue the journey with me to discover my fate and the very important message many are taking away from this emotionally charged memoir. They laugh, they cry, they never forget my story...find YOUR meaning. Available on Smashwords and Amazon~Links above.
It was as if a freight train had hit me. That's the only feeling I remember. Within a fraction of a second, I felt as if I couldn't breathe, could possibly pass out...or just die.
I was home, killing time upstairs in my room, like your typical teenager. My dad was also home, so it must've been a weekend. My name echoed from the bottom of the stairs, summoning me to the kitchen table. If only I knew then what I would soon come to know, I would've jumped out my bedroom window and never looked back. Caught completely off guard, like a lamb being led to slaughter, totally unaware of the shit storm ahead, I be-bopped down the staircase, as my mom gestured for me to take a seat, which I did voluntarily. Seemingly, out of nowhere, something flew from behind me - over the top of my head, practically grazing my skull. A dull thud diverted my attention as "it" plopped directly in front of me, landing on the kitchen table. Taking a few minutes to focus, I began to digest what I was seeing. I think my heart started pounding a few seconds before my brain told me what I saw.
"It" was my diary. MY f*#*ing diary! My PRIVATE diary! Blood rushed to my head, flushing it beet red, as perspiration instantly broke out from every pore, covering my young, adolescent body. I had never felt this level of fear before in my life - not even while giving an oral report in front of the class. My whole world passed before my eyes, and in a flash, I realized life as I knew it was about to change drastically. If there had ever been a better time to be stricken with a heart-attack and die, it would have been convenient then. I was not that lucky.
The first words spoken were my mother's. "What the hell is this?", she said sternly, in a low voice I hadn't heard before then. I felt the lump in my throat swell, blocking off my ability to speak. My mind was racing. What was I going to say? Desperation took over. In a lame attempt to get out of this tightening noose, I started to laugh. They looked at me as if I were insane, and frankly, at that moment, I truly believe I was. I opened my mouth and started to explain that this was not MY diary, but writings for a play I had been working on for school. It wasn't a true story, or even about me actually. I was abruptly cut off from my babbling web of deceit. Apparently, Peggy had had enough of my deceiving lies and wanted to know the truth. My immature mind raced as I searched my creative lobes for a more convincing route, but there was nothing more I could say. It was all right there in black-and-white, ratting me out like a two-faced friend. My beautiful writings of my incredible journey, my unbelievable love, sitting there on the family table right before my eyes...and theirs.
Funny, they didn't see it like that at all. The words in my diary held no beauty to them. Instead, my own words, the words that gave me so much comfort when I had no one else to talk to, had turned against me, backing me into a corner. A corner in hell!
All they saw was ugliness. The look on their faces told me right away that I was not winning over this crowd. I sat silently for what seemed like hours. My beautiful, perfect world was closing in around me, and there was nothing I could do. I felt as if I were sinking to the bottom of a pool with a concrete block tied to my ankle. The two people that had raised and nurtured me, who supposedly loved me, had suddenly turned on me. I was now their enemy in a matter of mere minutes. Do you know what that feels like? It feels like everything you ever trusted in your life was suddenly a lie, and always had been, you just happened to be the fool that didn't catch on soon enough. I felt abandoned, I felt stupid, I felt so alone - surrounded by my so-called-family.
And that's when my true, "official" introduction to hell would begin.
***********************************************************************************************
Continue the journey with me to discover my fate and the very important message many are taking away from this emotionally charged memoir. They laugh, they cry, they never forget my story...find YOUR meaning. Available on Smashwords and Amazon~Links above.
Anne Wallace's 5star Review of The Gifted Ones! Read Here...
As posted on Goodreads July 25,2011
Hi y'all Anne here and I've just finished reading The Gifted Ones by Lisa Vaughn. First off I wanna say I've never read a memoir before and now I wonder why I haven't because it was awe inspiring. To get a peek into someones private life is truly a gift.
I loved this book, I felt a sense of truth in it that must have been not only scary but painful to write. Sharing a part of your life is hard enough but sharing those kinds of secrets even in today's society can make people talk. Lisa has weaved a story of true and pure love, when you truly love someone you don't get to pick the form it comes in you just take the love and run and that's exactly what Lisa did. In the generation she grew up in she was treated harshly and poorly for her open mindedness. This open mindedness I find truly great, I felt connected to this theory as I've always thought you love who you love no questions asked. Her story is one for future generations to read and learn from. It doesn't matter who you are or how you were raised you are who you are to the core.
The "unicorn" only comes around for the purest of hearts I feel like I've seen that unicorn and now I know someone else who has as well. Lisa has turned me to a genre of writing I only hope that other memoirs I will read are as eloquently written as hers, four letter words and all. That's what made me love this book, she let it all out the words, drugs, feelings, hurt, loss, and eventual growth. Everyone has a story but it takes a truly special person to share hers with the world and I thank her for letting me into that world.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has doubts about their feelings. Look at this piece of Lisa and tell me you'll question loves intentions. If you love a good read and a heartfelt story of love, honor, loyalty, and fun this is a book for you. 5 out of 5 stars for Lisa Vaughn and her moving book The Gifted Ones....
Hi y'all Anne here and I've just finished reading The Gifted Ones by Lisa Vaughn. First off I wanna say I've never read a memoir before and now I wonder why I haven't because it was awe inspiring. To get a peek into someones private life is truly a gift.
I loved this book, I felt a sense of truth in it that must have been not only scary but painful to write. Sharing a part of your life is hard enough but sharing those kinds of secrets even in today's society can make people talk. Lisa has weaved a story of true and pure love, when you truly love someone you don't get to pick the form it comes in you just take the love and run and that's exactly what Lisa did. In the generation she grew up in she was treated harshly and poorly for her open mindedness. This open mindedness I find truly great, I felt connected to this theory as I've always thought you love who you love no questions asked. Her story is one for future generations to read and learn from. It doesn't matter who you are or how you were raised you are who you are to the core.
The "unicorn" only comes around for the purest of hearts I feel like I've seen that unicorn and now I know someone else who has as well. Lisa has turned me to a genre of writing I only hope that other memoirs I will read are as eloquently written as hers, four letter words and all. That's what made me love this book, she let it all out the words, drugs, feelings, hurt, loss, and eventual growth. Everyone has a story but it takes a truly special person to share hers with the world and I thank her for letting me into that world.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has doubts about their feelings. Look at this piece of Lisa and tell me you'll question loves intentions. If you love a good read and a heartfelt story of love, honor, loyalty, and fun this is a book for you. 5 out of 5 stars for Lisa Vaughn and her moving book The Gifted Ones....
Sunday, August 14, 2011
'THE GIFTED ONES' ~ Ebooks $.99! Print $10.99! SUMMER SALE NOW!
Get it while it's HOT! All E-versions available on Smashwords. Print & Kindle version on Amazon. Please see links above to go directly to get your copy today, and see what message The Gifted Ones brings you.
Friday, August 12, 2011
READ MY 'IAN' AUTHOR INTERVIEW!
Read about me and how The Gifted Ones came to be!
http://www.independentauthornetwork.blogspot.com/2011/08/lisa-vaughn-ian-interview.html
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
