Sonia Marsh's Blog, page 29

“My Gutsy Story®” Mary Hamer

“Breaking out of the Library”

 This is a story of escape—though a slow release from sucking mud rather than a daredevil exit down castle walls on a rope. How I released my imagination, that’s the story.

It began the day I was returning from a sabbatical to the college where I’d been teaching for ten years. As I looked round the familiar setting, the sun-filled lobby lined with mailboxes, the green upholstered chairs grouped in the common room, one powerful thought—or was it intuition? –transfixed me: I shouldn’t be here.

It was alarming. I’d given my life to education. Scholarship girl, Oxford, PhD. That meant a certain limited kind of writing. Correcting papers, marginal notes, final comments to help my students. And in the vacations—only then—writing and research of my own. Ever since the day when I was given a shiny green fountain pen for my sixth birthday, in a secret, unknowing kind of way I’d set out to be a writer.

But where had writing as a professor got me? How muffled and anxious my voice was. I can see that now. My first book, Writing by Numbers: Trollope’s Serial Fiction, was about the way the Victorian novelist, Anthony Trollope, worked. He kept count of the number of pages he wrote every day, anxious not to be lazy, not to be in the wrong, anxious to please his editors with the correct word length.

Only after it was published did I begin to wonder how much of his fears I shared. And why wasn’t I writing novels of my own? For three days I sat paralysed at my desk. I wanted to write a story but I couldn’t do it. I gave up and went back—but not entirely to my old ways. I began to question the connection between my own life and the topics I was choosing to research.

That name, ‘Trollope’? Was ‘trollop’ how I’d been taught to name a woman who knew what she wanted? How I’d been taught to think of my deepest self?

What in fact did I want?

All I knew, that day back at work after my sabbatical, was that I didn’t want this, the college. I went home that night and told my husband I needed to give up my job. He was quite startled. It meant doing without my salary and we still had kids at home.  For myself I knew I was making a huge decision. I’d clawed my way up to some kind of perch in a very competitive world. I’d be letting go.

But instead of a sickening plunge, it was release that followed: my voice was freed. In fact my whole body felt free. Those first days I literally rolled on the floor in my study, bubbling with joy. More mature activity followed. But it was no coincidence that I then wrote a book, Signs of Cleopatra, about the way Europe learned to condemn a woman with a mind of her own and the power to do what seemed best to her!

My new state of liberation gave me the nerve to choose boldly. I set off on research trips, to Egypt, to Venice, to Rome. I searched out experts in art history, history of costume, Egyptology. Meeting these strangers, being treated with respect by them, my confidence grew.

I began to read the literature I used to teach with new eyes. In a move to re-educate my body as well as my mind, I took actor training: a month’s intensive with Shakespeare & Company in Western Massachusetts. They taught me to find the voice that comes from deep inside. Another book followed. I wrote about Shakespeare, how he used the old stories to get his audience to ask questions about political and religious authorities: those very authorities who had subdued me and blinkered my vision as I grew up.

Writing my next book, about children and damage, in order to build my argument, I moved from the voice of the teacher into the voice of the storyteller. Perhaps, deep down, I’d been a secret storyteller all along but it had been knocked out of me at school. My old kindergarten teacher had to remind me of the day I kept our class of five year olds spellbound, telling them the old fairy story of the Hobyahs. I’d forgotten that power had once been mine.

What now? I asked myself, one day in 2003. And I remembered Rudyard Kipling, the man I’d wanted to study for my PhD, though that had been vetoed by my supervisor. Free now to explore him, I read my way into Kipling’s life. I began to realise I’d been treading in his footsteps—India, the east coast of the US, South Africa, his home in Sussex—preparing. I seemed to be on some sort of track, ready to reconnect with myself.

Deciding to follow the course of his life was one thing: choosing to write about it in the form of fiction, rather than biography, was a massive leap. I’d never written anything but criticism before. But confidence and stamina had built up in me and I was no longer looking for permission or waiting for someone else’s timetable.

And so I came to write my novel. In the end, it was not just about Rudyard Kipling.  His story led me to that of his sister, Trix, also a writer, but a woman who lost faith in her own voice. Turning my back on life in college that fateful day opened a path led home, back to what I knew for myself! It worked. Kipling & Trix won the Virginia Prize for Fiction.

MARY HAMER was born in Birmingham. Educated at the Catholic grammar school and at Lady Margaret Hall, she grew up a secret rebel. Reading Kipling’s Jungle Book, in the small branch library in Harborne offered her the first hint that there was a different, more exciting way to see the world. Mary is married, with grownup children and seven grandchildren. Kipling and Trix is her fifth book and first novel. Please check out Mary’s website: www.Mary-Hamer.com

Mary’s books: Writing by Numbers: Trollope’s Serial Fiction, Signs of Cleopatra: History, Politics, Representation, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Incest: a New Perspective, Kipling & Trix.

Click on the book cover for the US Amazon link, and or the UK Amazon link. 

Join Mary’s Facebook page, and on Twitter @mary_hamer

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Mary, we all love to read stories about giving up what doesn’t feel right, and going with passion instead. Congratulations on your books and awards. Three authors who submitted stories about following their passion are: Carol Bodensteiner, Larry Jacobson and Lois Joy Hofmann.



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Mary Hamer’s is the first one in our second series “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology #2.

Our first Anthology is being launched in September 2013, with a SPECIAL EVENT IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA on September 26th, 2013. News about the event this Thursday, June 6th.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Travel: The Difference between Sightseeing and Sight Thinking

Photo credit: http://www.internationalnomads.com/

Travel means different things to different people; from relaxing on a beach to sight-seeing, to shopping for souvenirs, but what fascinates me are questions such as:

How much of it are we really absorbing?
How much do we really see?
How much do we really understand about the culture around us?

At a recent TED-x conference at UCI (University of California, Irvine,) the focus was on the “global perspective” of travel and what it truly means to travel.  The audience was challenged to think about the “global perspective” of travel.

I believe there is a shift in the way we view travel today, and this shift is happening with the millennials, and spreading to the boomer generation; their parents.

The main difference with young people who travel, is that they do so

without a plan
travel frugally
are entrepreneurs
savvy with social media
enter contests
get media attention

Graham Michael Freeman, a 24-year-old UCI graduate student, decided to go backpacking around the world for six months. He, and a couple of friends, literally spun the globe and pointed a finger, and wherever it landed, they decided to go.

During his TED-xUCIrvine talk, Graham emphasized the importance of:

“Giving yourself the freedom to discover new things along the way. Forget all the rules. Eat with your hands. Direction over destination.”

Many young people today combine their desire for understanding the  “global perspective” with the entrepreneur spirit. After traveling to countries such as Thailand, China and India, lived in a Maasai village in Kenya and swimming with great white sharks in South Africa, where Graham is originally from, they started a website Nomads In Touch, as a means to share their experiences with the world as they trekked through the world.

As with many travel bloggers today, social media is key for those who want to keep traveling and turn their passion for travel into a profession.

I think our youth have a great perspective on travel, and I believe we can learn from them. Here’s what Graham said.

“I want people to take that step back. To fully immerse yourself. Checking your expectations and comfort level at the door and putting yourself in a situation in life and experiencing it completely. Putting yourself in situations where you’re not just rushing from landmark to landmark or doing what you normally consider to be a vacation but allowing yourself to fully immersing yourself into a culture.”

Travel is no longer just about sightseeing, but about sight-thinking.

It’s easy to say, “Well Graham is young. He can take as much time off as he wants, that’s not my case with a job.” And perhaps you’re right, but as I say when I speak about “Gutsy Living,” there are always options in life, and we can always find an excuse to postpone our dreams.

So here’s what I’ve done in the last few days to satisfy my desire to learn about a new culture.

I signed up with Vaughan Town, to volunteer for 10 days in Spain. They pay for my hotel and in exchange, I help Spanish business people practice their English and as a bonus, I learn about the Spanish culture.


I Skyped memoir writer, Janet Givens, whom I met via Kathy Pooler’s blog interview, and asked her about her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan with her husband. She shared some helpful tips about the Peace Corps website and her two year experience. Another one of my strong “Gutsy” goals in life.

 What about you? Do you have a desire to immerse yourself in other cultures for a while, or does travel mean something else to you? Please comment below.

 Stop by Monday June 3rd, to read our first My Gutsy Story®
of Anthology #2
Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

3 Quick Videos from Paris and Copenhagen

Pain au chocolat for you to enjoy

Since most of us are at home on this Memorial Day, I thought I would share some quick videos from my trip to Paris and Copenhagen. I took these a few days ago.

#1

Shopping at a market in the suburbs of Paris.

 

#2

A typical French metro with accordion player and a view of the Eiffel Tower on my way to The American Library in Paris.

 

#3

Happy Danes dancing on the pedestrian street in Copenhagen, A gold statue of a real person, and biking is a way of life in Denmark.

Paris, Musée du Parfum and Luxury Shopping

Galleries Lafayette Department Store

Everything in Paris is a mixture of style, luxury, perfume, great food and cigarette smokers.

There is of course history in each building and the department store, Galleries Lafayette (more photos) is no exception.

Galleries Lafayette, View of all the floors and the famous dome

Purchased in 1896, the beautiful glass and steel dome was designed by architect,  Georges Chedanne and his pupil Ferdinand Chanut  and finished in 1912.

Only in Paris will you find a museum that covers the history of perfume. I discovered the “Musée du Parfum” also known as the Fragonard Musée du Parfum.  This museum was created in 1983 by the Fragonard perfume company within a Napoleon III town-house (built 1860.) I was not allowed to take photos inside the museum, however, here is a photo of the orgue à parfum (perfume organ) with tiers of ingredient bottles arranged around a balance used to mix fragrances.

 

Perfume Organ Photo credit

The museum sells perfumes and is located close to the Place de L’Opéra.

As you can see, we’re wearing winter coats in May 2013.

Place de l’Opéra

Another view of Place de l’Opéra

And finally the beautiful upscale store “Printemps.” I have never seen so many Chinese tourists buying Luis Vuitton, Chanel and other  luxury goods. At the Chanel store, a rope blocked the entrance, and the women were only allowed to go in two at a time. The look of anticipation on their faces reminded me of kids waiting for their favorite ride at Disneyland. I heard it’s the same at Harrods in London.

Luxury good at Printemps.

Do you like shopping at luxury stores? I don’t feel comfortable in this type of environment.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

We are now collecting  “MY GUTSY STORY®” Submissions
For Anthology #2

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

 

 

How to Choose a Book Cover That Sells

How do you choose a book cover that appeals to your readers?

After much thought, a poll, and discussions with 1106 design company, here’s why I decided the above “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology is the right cover for the first and subsequent series.

The #1 reason to have a great book cover is to grab people’s attention.

A book cover has to cause an immediate reaction within a potential reader; either interest, intrigue or familiarity with the author, and in order to do this, certain “rules” apply.

I’m not a book cover designer which is why I believe in learning as much as I can about this topic, before leaving the task in the hands of those who do it for a living. From what I’ve read on Joel Friedlander’s informative blog: The Book Designer, authors need to think about the following aspects when determining the best covers for their books.

Initial Emotional Response
Genre
Title-Font
Sub-Title
Color-Scheme
Layout
Brand(ing)
Series

Name recognition is important to authors with a large fan base. They are a “brand” and often have a series of books with a similar design or font. Readers subconsciously tune into the author’s brand. I’m sure you’ve noticed how a particular font, color scheme or logo is associated with a specific author or series. Take for example, Nicholas Sparks. All of his books have the same concept with his name in the exact same bold font, with the title underneath. This is enclosed within a box.

Notice the box with name and title on all his books.

Another example of a series is the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. The font used for the title is the same on all their books. You instantly recognize their brand.

Same Title Font on each book. (Brand)

So I decided to take a poll to the public, listen to the pros and cons, and then make a sound decision. I polled other authors on our Facebook Group: Gutsy Indie Publishers, which any indie author is welcome to join. I also polled readers on my Facebook Page: Gutsy Living, as well as other groups I belong to.

I showed two cover concepts based on my first book: Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, which I owe to 1106 Design, and which won the TheBookDesigner.com’s April e-Book Cover Design Award for Nonfiction.

I received in total around 80 comments on the covers

Concept # 1

Concept # 2

Here are some of the responses which I listened to and thought made sense. I went with my gut and with what the majority thought was the best. Of course not everyone agrees, but I’m happy that my friend Maggie Dodson from the UK, made the suggestions of reversing the yellow and white colors in the title, to make the “My Gutsy Story®” stand out, and anthology in white, and smaller.

Linda Austin Not fond of the harsh font on the #2, though it’s easier to read. Don’t think it fits the relaxed island look, or the heartfelt stories. For #1 cover, use a tad more space between the 2 lines to give more clarity for reading, and yes, make Anthology smaller. Then delete a butterfly because odd numbers are better.


Carol Bodensteiner I’m not a fan of having a lot of different type faces on one page. It feels scattered I like the feel of the My Gutsy Story type on #1, but the My Gutsy Story type on #2 is easier to read at a glance. I support making Anthology a lot smaller and letting My Gutsy Story carry the book. That’s the interesting part.


Lois Joy Hofmann I would limit it to fewer type faces. I like odd numbers of graphics, e.g. 5 butterflies are better than 4.

We are starting a new series of “My Gutsy Story®” in June, so if you’re interested in submitting, please click on the link.

What do you like to see in a book cover?

Winner of the May 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”

Carol Bodensteiner WINNER

Congratulations to Carol Bodensteiner, winner of the May 2013, “My Gutsy Story®.” She wrote an inspiring story about giving up her career and following her passion. I love her phrase:

“It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful.”

In 2nd Place, we have the wonderful “My Gutsy Story®” of Jason Matthews. Another motivating story by Jason who took a major risk, leaving his lucrative career as a paint contractor, and followed his passion to write.

Jason Matthews

In 3rd place we have the amazing story of Julia Prosser, written by her husband Julia passed away a few days before we posted his story, and she was true inspiration to many.

David Prosser

In 4th place we have the wonderful “Gutsy” Win Charles. Her message is to not focus on her disability, but on what we have in common.

Win’s energy and passion shines through everything she does. She is truly a “go-getter” and an inspiration to everyone.

In 5th place, we have an extremely “gutsy” Linda Kovic-Skow

Linda shares a great story about how she took a major risk as a young woman, and how it paid off.

Thank you so much to all five of you. You are all winners and have some wonderful stories and books to share with us.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

WE ARE NOW COLLECTING
“My Gutsy Story®” SUBMISSIONS
FOR ANTHOLOGY #2

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

A Visit to the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen

Sonia and the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen

I was born in Co0penhagen, Denmark, and whenever I return to this beautiful city, I’m drawn towards The Little Mermaid. She brings back warm, childhood memories spent in Denmark with my best friend, Lilian.

Sonia with her childhood Danish friend, Lilian

Those who see The Little Mermaid for the first time are always surprised by how small she is; only 4.1 feet.

She is to Copenhagen what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, and has been a major tourist attraction since 1913. Since the mid-1960s, this poor statue has been subjected to vandalism for various political reasons, but has each time been restored. Her head was sawn off and stolen in 1964, and was never found. It was replaced, and in 1998, the poor Little Mermaid was decapitated once again. This time her head was returned anonymously to a local TV station. In 2003, explosives knocked her off her base and she was later found in the harbor’s waters.

She was then draped in a burqa in 2004, as a statement against Turkey joining the European Union.

She’s endured several traumatic events, including green paint poured all over her, a dildo placed in her hand, and the words March 8 written on her. It’s believed this vandalism was connected to International Women’s Day, which is on March 8th.

Here are some photos from my one day touring Copenhagen.

Queen Margrethe’s Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen

Close to The Little Mermaid is the Queen’s winter residence, Amalienborg Palace with her guards marching in front. I’ve often wondered what those guards must be thinking of while standing still for hours. Here is a YouTube video of the changing of the Royal Guard.

View from Illums Department store at the pedestrian street in Copenhagen.

There are several wonderful pedestrian streets in Copenhagen. Illum is a favorite department store with an open air restaurant on the rooftop.

Most Danes love their bikes. Here is how young people transport their kids. I cannot imagine father’s taking their kids to the grocery store in one of these where I live in California.

How Danes bike with their small children

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner of the May “My Gutsy Story®,” and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

My Air New Zealand Flight to London

On my recent Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow, passengers stopped to take photos of the plane before boarding.

At first I thought someone famous was boarding my flight, then I noticed the unusual artwork, on the plane which explained why passengers went wild with their cameras.

Even the restrooms on the Boeing 777 had wallpaper (I’m talking coach) made to look like you were sitting in a library. Books shelves with photos of book spines surrounded you.

The flight lasted 10 and a half hours and I managed to sleep for four.

My friend Maggie, met me at Heathrow for lunch. I met Maggie at Chris Guillebeau’s first conference in Portland, and we have remained friends since then.

Maggie and Sonia at Heathrow

My flight landed at Terminal 1, and in order to transfer to Terminal 5,  we caught the underground.

After a few hours I caught a British Airways flight to Copenhagen. Imagine a hot dog stand while you wait for your luggage. They have this at Copenhagen airport.

 

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner of the May “My Gutsy Story®,” and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

 

 

 

 

Why do Americans Work so Hard?

Thanks to Stephanie Yoder’s post, “Is the American Dream Holding You Back?” I discovered an article which explains everything I’ve been meaning to put into words, but haven’t.

Stephanie is a young woman who travels all over the world and blogs about her travels and one question she gets asked all the time is, “Why American’s don’t travel?” Stephanie says she has a whole host of theories, but it’s easiest for her to point out that,

“Well, most of us (Americans) don’t really have time (to vacation.)”

According to a CNN article entitled: Why is America the “No-Vacation” nation? 

“America is the only advanced nation in the world that doesn’t mandate employers give their workers vacation time.”

John de Graaf, the national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, a group that researches the effects of overwork said,

“There is simply no evidence that working people to death gives you a competitive advantage.”

As with many companies in the U.S,

“The running joke at Brock’s company is that a vacation just means you work from somewhere else.”

A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, shows that:

Working more, makes Americans happier than Europeans.

But isn’t that because Americans have been taught from a young age to believe in the American Dream? Are we working to accumulate more stuff?  As Stephanie Yoder says,

“It’s a trick: an endless void of things we can throw money at: there’s always a new phone, a nicer car, a bigger house to be aspiring to. The problem with the American Dream is it’s always slightly out of reach.”

Do Americans believe more than Europeans that hard work is associated with success?

Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, the study’s author and an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, states:

“Americans maximize their… [happiness] by working, and Europeans maximize their [happiness] through leisure,” he found.”

Having spent half my life in Europe and then marrying an American and raising kids in the U.S. I find this topic fascinating.

I agree that Europeans take more vacations and travel more than the majority of Americans. I also agree with Stephanie’s post, there seems to be the “herd mentality” in the U.S.

“This idea that you need to do what everyone else is doing. This extreme pressure to go to school, get a job, work really, really hard for 45 years, and then maybe when you’re retired you can do the stuff you really want to do. It’s a powerful cycle and it’s extremely hard to opt out of it. I think, more so then the lack of vacation time, that is why Americans don’t travel: so few realize that the only American Dream you should be pursuing is your own personal one.”

The above quote fits in with so many of our My Gutsy Story® authors, and their stories like Lois Joy Hofmann, Carol Bodensteiner, and Larry Jacobson.

I also believe that the U.S. media plays the “fear factor” game with our minds, making us  scared to travel, scared to try new foods, scared to let our kids play outside, scared they will get cancer if eat the wrong foods. I thought the U.S. was full of innovators and explorers, etc. What happened?

During MAY, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris, London on vacation, while working of course (I’ve got the American work-work-work ethic going. )

Any thoughts? Please comment below.

Meanwhile, please submit your “My Gutsy Story®” which will continue in June.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by Win Charles, Carol Bodensteiner, Linda Kovic-Skow and Jason Matthews.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th for your favorite April 

“My Gutsy Story®” .

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Vote for Your Favorite April 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”

The voting starts right now for your favorite April “My Gutsy Story®.”

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Our first moving story of the month was from

Julia Prosser, an inspiration to all.

Julia, passed away on March 30th, and David shared his wife’s positive outlook on life while fighting her battle with cancer.

Our second “My Gutsy Story®” is the amazing Win Charles, and she too is an inspiration with her message: “Don’t focus on my disability, focus on what we have in common.”

Our third “My Gutsy Story®” is by the inspiring Carol Bodensteiner who gave up her corporate job in order to find out what matters. She has a wonderful saying: “It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful.”

Our fourth “My Gutsy Story®” was from Linda Kovic-Skow, a gutsy woman, who lied about her ability to speak French in order to get a job as an au pair in a Lyons, France.

Our fifth “My Gutsy Story®” is about taking a major risk in your life. Jason Matthews quit his lucrative painting contractor job and followed his passion to become a full-time indie author. He has a truly inspiring story of perseverance and determination to succeed.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

What would you like to see or hear about from my trip to Europe?