Life After Becoming an Author - Gaynor Cherieann - Guest Post

Here we go then, folks, another WWTO (Who’s Wally Takeover).

This is the second piece submitted by Gaynor. I’ll pop a link at the bottom of the piece to her previous blog I hosted.

Gaynor Cherieann is an adoptee from the era when babies were taken from their birth mums because they were usually unmarried and often young.

She wrote her memoir about her adoption journey in the form of letters

Gaynor lives in Northampton with her husband and dog, she has four grown-up children and six grandchildren, and works part-time time which keeps her very busy.

Thank you, Gaynor … Over to you!

Life After Becoming an Author

I am an avid reader, but I never had a burning desire to write myself. So why did I write mymemoir? Over the years, various friends and colleagues have told me my life story wasinteresting, and it got me to thinking that I would like my grandchildren to know about my life Always wishing I had known more about my grandparents and even great-grandparents, it is a shame when people die, their story often dies with them.

Just after COVID, a Facebook post popped up called ‘Write That Book’, and it just grabbed my attention, I asked my husband what he thought, and he said, “Give it a try”.

Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

 I loved the whole process and found that writing my thoughts and feelings down really helped me to put my life into perspective. I found it extremely cathartic; however, I was still not expecting it to become an actual book, just something for my family.

The course took me further than I ever imagined. I finished my book and published it, with lots of help. I also made so many new friends, and I am still in touch with many of them today. When people started to read my book, the response was so positive that it gave me the confidence to sell more and do a few podcast interviews. I went and spoke in person to a book group, which was something totally out of my comfort zone.

My book is written in the form of letters addressed to people in my life, some are family or friends, but some letters are to people I will never meet, like the Prime Minister, for example. People who enjoyed my book often wrote letters back to me, which was an unexpected joy, and I always replied. They often told me of their lives and their family stories; some even had an adoption link. When I replied, I always encouraged them to write their own stories down before they disappear forever.

Two of my sons are dyslexic, and I knew they would never read my book themselves, and lots of people asked if it was also an audiobook. Again, I hadn’t thought of this but started to investigate, eventually I found a recording studio about an hour away and spent two days recording my book. I loved every minute, a brilliant experience. My eldest son has since listened and asked me many questions, which I was so pleased to answer.

Now, two years on, I thought my author journey was over, I won’t be writing any more books. I do want to keep writing letters to my grandchildren, though, throughout their lives, with family updates and anecdotes. 

Recently, I was in an amazing independent book shop in the town of Stamford, Northamptonshire, I told you I was an avid reader and book collector, I cannot walk past a bookshop without going inside. I got chatting to the owner and mentioned to her about my memoir, she then said, ‘I will sell some copies for you if you would like?’ I couldn’t believe it and jumped at the incredible opportunity. If they sell well and people are interested, I may even do a talk at the bookshop.

Not only have I met lots of new author friends and have supported some of them by being a first reader and helping them edit their books, but I have also made some new adoptee friends like a certain Mr Wally and joined a few online groups too. I have grown as a person and feel more confident. For years, I struggled with my mental health, especially during the COVID pandemic and I have always had feelings of insecurity and lack of self-worth, typical of many adoptees.

I can honestly say I have moved on with my life and have closure.

The book - An Adoptee's Journey - Letter of My Life  by Gaynor Cherieann - is available from Amazon in paperback/digital and audiobook

Or look me up on my website, Facebook, and Instagram

Get on and do it people WRITE THAT BOOK!!!

Gaynor's previous WWTO post ‘Lessons of My Life’ can be found here.

Image courtesy of Gaynor Cherieann.