The Xlibris Blog welcomes another rising talent to its roster of award-winning authors. Xlibris author Betty Collier received a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal 2013 for her book SHOWgrins published by Xlibris earlier this year. Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest is considered the “fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet,” with over 300 professional reviewers.
With her zeal and writing flair acknowledged, Betty proves that self-pubbed writers indeed have something to say.
Get to know more about the Xlibris author as she talks about her book, literary feat, reader reviews, and optimism.
Pleasant surprises
When I opened the email that read, “Congratulations Betty Collier! SHOWgrins is a 2013 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner!” I was flooded with the gamut of emotions that I had experienced for the past couple of years. It’s ironic that the email came exactly two years to the date from when I first read the headlines that tennis star Venus Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open because of Sjögren’s syndrome. With hands trembling, heart pounding, and tears flowing, I continued reading the email announcement and realized the journey I had begun in 2011 was so much greater and deeper than anything I could have ever imagined.
I discovered that I had many of the same symptoms as Williams which began my quest to get diagnosed and prompted me to start writing SHOWgrins the very next day. (Sjögren’s is pronounced SHOW-grins; hence the title of the book.) I knew that I wanted to share the journeys of five other remarkable women battling this incurable illness, but I had no idea that my first conversation with the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF) CEO, Steven Taylor, would lead me to the five fabulous Sjögren’s patients featured on my celebrity panel in the book.
Readers’ thumbs up, more life-changing realizations
A book review by Eduardo Aduna for Readers’ Favorite aptly summarizes what’s inside the book:
“A touching and inspiring collection of tales that give readers an idea of what Sjögren’s syndrome is and the impact it can have on those who have it. The author, Venus Williams, and the five women featured in this book have all had their lives changed due to an encounter with this strange medical condition. The book is easy to read, with a flowing narrative that fully shows the author’s storytelling abilities. The stories themselves are emotional roller coasters. As a reader, I felt the women’s pain, frustrations, hopes, and determination. Their bravery and the love and support of their family are inspiring and heartwarming. Cathy Taylor, Estrella Bibbey, Judy Kang, Lynn Petruzzi, and Paula Beth Sosin have all managed to make the best of their situation. Their stories, together with the author’s own journey, inspire not only those with Sjögren’s syndrome, but everyone who has had life-changing challenges and problems.”
Read more about Betty Collier on the second installment of this featured Xlibris Blog.
Fulfill your writing dream with more inspirational stories from Xlibris authors on the Xlibris Indie Authors Roundup. Plus, get free writing, editing, and book marketing tips from the Xlibris Writer’s Workshop.