Amnesia

I occasionally forget that I am a mum with a toddler and a baby on boob (and boob alone thank you very much! There will be none of this fake, plastic, wanna-be-nipple thing going on in my mouth. No way! No day! Uh-uh, no!)

It is at these times that the amnesia gets me into all kinds of trouble. Like the fix I am currently in: Big program to prepare, no time to prepare it, deadline rapidly approaching, cough getting worse, children not cooperating…

It’s a fantastic program, if I do say so myself, for high school students. All about getting to know themselves and their behaviour patters, how to break through the negative patterns, how to get through to the people around them, how to find their way to a happy, healthy, fun and inspiring path that they want – all the feel-good stuff that is so often waffled about and so seldom practically taught. I have been stinging to do it for ages, so when the oportunity arose, amnesia struck!

So this post will be short, full of typos and devoid of wit. Apologies, but since managing to sort out the logistical nightmare of getting someone to look after The Lion from 5.30am (no, I couldn’t manage to get the program in a local school, could I?) until around 6pm AND finding someone willing to lurk around a high school all day with The Blossom, ever ready to crash the workshop to demand that the presenter present her bosom for the starving child, I no longer have the energy to be creative. What little brain power and time remains shall be poured selflessly into the materials for Monday.

Ironically, the program is all about getting (and staying) in a healthy zone of behaviour, one that allows for peaks and troughs, but does not send the peaks so high and the troughs so low that the person finds themselves on a manic cycle that spins them out of control. I fear my first example of an unbalanced approach to life will be this episode of amnesia – talk about not looking after yourself; putting everyone and everything else first! At least it is something I want so much to do and at least it is for a finite period… very finite… oh dear, is that the time?

When all is done and my children have their mother back, when I can breathe once more and remember what my priorities are, I’ll tell you all about it.

In the meantime, speak to me, oh muse! SPEAK!

Another Email

Sample email 2

Dear Fabulous Journalist,

 

Some 10-14 years ago, you wrote a few great stories about a swimmer who had broken her neck and come back to make the Olympic Team for the Atlanta Games. That was me. In the ensuing years I have become an English teacher, a mother and a writer while swimsuits have become bigger, tighter, faster and more controversial than ever!

 

With The Commonwealth Games Trials fast approaching and swimming coming back into the spotlight, I was wondering if there might be an opportunity for me to get involved in giving readers an insight into what lies ahead for our swimmers. I am aware that Famous Person often writes pieces commenting on current issues in the sport and I thought this kind of front-line perspective might be complimented by a ‘human interest’ angle; something that gives an insight into what the athletes might be experiencing physically, mentally and emotionally through the different phases of their preparation for the Trials and, later, The Games in India.

 

I have had experience with writing – in November last year my memoir, Wobbles – An Olympic Story, was published by Interactive Publications with a foreword by John Konrads. The feedback has been excellent. Duncan Armstrong said, “Many sporting stories fall short in taking the reader into the painful, lonely, exhilarating, monotonous, confusing and triumphant moments a life in sport delivers. This book throws you down and drags you through them all!”

 

It’s not your average sports memoir, it is not a story about someone who won medals, broke records or wowed the world with her exceptional prowess, but it is completely honest and true to the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing during each event in my life rather than presenting a sanitised version of events courtesy of hindsight and maturity. Feedback has been that it makes for a “gripping” read, so now it is just a matter of getting the word out there!

 

In addition to writing experience, I also have some knowledge of India (having travelled and stayed there on a number of occasions) and could offer some perspectives on what the athletes might expect from that most vibrant and chaotic of host nations. My book is also set to be launched in India later this month and connection led me to think that perhaps excerpts from my memoir could be an alternative way of bringing the swimming journey and my experiences in India to life for readers, if a regular ‘Insiders Guide’ is not suitable.

 

I would be keen to know what you think and if you have any other ideas on how I might be able to help you with your coverage of the swimming. Also, if you know anybody I could approach with regards to getting word about Wobbles out into the community and/or reviewed that would be enormously helpful!

 

If you would like to see a sample of my writing or for more information, my website covers it all: www.nadineneumann.com.au. And if you would like a copy of Wobbles to have a look at and pass around, just let me know!

 

Thank you for your time and for your writing!

My email

Sample email

Dear Person I Spoke To,
 
It was good to speak with you today about my new book, Wobbles – An Olympic Story. It is not your average sports memoir about someone who won medals, broke records or wowed the world with her exceptional prowess, but it is an uplifting story of an ordinary girl who wanted something extraordinary and nothing, not even Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or a broken neck could stop her.
 
The book is also unique in its style. I have remained completely true to the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing during each event in my life rather than presenting a sanitized version of the rollercoaster of elite sport with the benefit of hindsight and maturity. The feedback has been that this honesty makes for a “gripping” read – very flattering!
 
In addition to writing, I am also and English teacher, motivational speaker and mother of one (soon to be two) little handfuls. I have attached a media release which should give you a little more information and for even more, you can have a look at my website: www.nadineneumann.com.au.
 
I look forward to hearing from you! 

Nadine

The Deep End

Just over a month into my New Year’s Promotional Strategy Resolution and progress has been made!

For a long time it seemed I was barking up all the wrong trees, speaking a language that nobody understood and wasting the little self-respect I had left on fawning before disinterested strangers. Then a wonderful thing happened.

First, I marched boldly into my local Angus & Robertson with 18-month-old son (covered in Vegemite) in stroller and asked the girl busily sorting books behind the counter, “Excuse me, I was just wondering how I would go about getting my book stocked here.” She looked bewildered and as she was taking my details down she was rescued by a more senior staff member. I repeated my question while prying a copy of Stephanie Meyers’ “Twilight” from my son’s Vegemite fingers. She tapped away at her keyboard and smiled.
“Oh, ok. Well, we’ll just order a few copies in and see how they go. Were you interested in doing a signing or anything like that as well?”

I was floored! It was that simple. Just ask. Just front up and ask. The worst that can happen is they give you the name of a manager that doesn’t work there anymore or the number of an answering service that doesn’t pass on messages. So just ask!
 
Second, I got an article into my local paper – The Maitland Mercury. Have a look at it here:
http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/olympic-swimmer-tells-of-extraordinary-life/1733028.aspx

I called the paper and asked to speak to an appropriate person (the people who answer the phones are brilliant and know exactly where to send you if you give them a one sentence wrap-up of why you’re calling). After a brief, and I mean very brief chat, I got an email address. I then sent a nice, semi-succinct email with a reminder of who I was and that we had, in fact, spoken on the telephone. I included plenty of name-dropping, recommendations and links to current issues (ie Commonwealth Games Trials coming up) as well as an attached media release.  I’ll post a sample of the email for anyone keen to see.

And third was the biggest win so far – I emailed a journalist who writes about swimming for the Sydney Morning Herald and who had once, in my swimming days, written about me. I emailed with a concept, an idea of how I might be able to help him with the coverage of the upcoming swimming trials. I floated a few ideas and options I thought might be interesting – excerpts from the book to bring swimming to life, features on the “inside story” or “behind the scenes” type stuff to give readers a deeper understanding of the sport.
He referred me on to his editors at SMH and the Sun Herald. He mentioned the ideas to them and then it was up to me.
So I sent two very scary emails and spent a month checking breathlessly for a reply…

Nothing.

So I sent a follow-up email, about three weeks after the first and this time I attached some sample excerpts from the book that I thought might be appropriate (and that showcased my writing while also being intriguing, exciting, revealing of the inner workings of an athlete in some way, etc).

Bingo!

A few emails, a meeting and one week later I am sweating over the idea that I will be writing for the Sun Herald – first feature (possibly a double-page spread) out on 14th March!

The spin offs have begun already – Dymocks George Street, Sydney have ordered stock and I now have something tangible and BIG with which to approach radio stations, other papers and magazines and book shops – another angle.

So call in those favours, contact old acquaintances and find a way that you can help the media offer their public something new and different and special. It won’t work every time, but all it takes is once.

Here’s hoping… and nervously writing!