The Story Behind the Story with Lisette Meuse-Manuel of Moncton, NB, Canada.
Let’s welcome Lisette to theScribbler.
She is excited to have her new bookin her hands and is ready to share her story with everyone.
Watch for her debut book signing atChapters in Dieppe, NB in October.
Read on, my friends.
Lisette is originally from BaieSte-Anne, NB and now resides in Moncton, NB where she has been working in thebeauty and wellness industry for over 35 years. She owns a skin care clinicthat specializes in advanced facial treatments, reconstructive tattooing,menopausal skin concerns and nutrition coaching.
Working Title: Prepare to Pause. A wellness guide for women.
Synopsis: This is an informative self- help book written to help andempower women to stay strong, healthy and confident at middle age. By the year2025, there will be over 1 billion women going through the menopause.Nutrition, sleep, skin care and stress are some of the subjects covered in thisbook as well as mindset and motivation to help women understand and preparetheir mind of body for this hormonal transition.
The Story behind the Story: This book was not planned at all! Itjust kind of happened as I was preparing a draft for a printable pamphlet togive out to my clients during consultations. As I started writing, my own storystarted to unfold and write itself as I experienced a very difficult menopause.Daily conversations with female clients going through the same thing made merealize how thirsty for knowledge, support and solutions we all are. I starteddoing tons of research and compiled my knowledge and experience on varioussubjects and suddenly chapters started appearing. I soon realized this was nolonger a bullet form pamphlet... haha. I started feeling out the territory to seeif women would be interested in such a book as it is a bit of a taboo subject.The response was phenomenal, so here I am.
Website: www.dermakaesthetics.com
A question before you go, Lisette:
Canyou tell us about the perfect setting you have, or desire, for your writing?Music or quiet? Coffee or tequila? Neator notes everywhere?
Definitely Coffee. Preferably organic dark roast with a splash of almond milk in my favorite ceramicmug that was gifted to me years ago. This is my first book and I wrote itduring my work day in between clients as a lot of the content ideas came fromconversations that happened in my treatment room. I usually have soft, ambientmusic playing that puts me in a kind of zen state of high focus. I wrote this mostly on my laptop, but alsoused a voice recording app on my phone to quickly capture ideas before they slippedaway. But honestly, I am a pen and paper girl. I love the feel and sound of aheavy pen on a crisp, blank piece of paper. For the next book, I am imaginingmyself sitting on my comfy couch staring out the window on a stormy day, with afancy notebook, a good pen and a steaming cup of coffee. I have no idea whatthe next book will be about or when that will happen, but it definitely will.
Excerpt:
We live in a time where ageism is real andthe search for the eternal fountain of youth is alive and kicking. Women aftera certain age often feel, and sometimes do, become invisible. This happens inthe workplace and even on the big screen where famous actresses just suddenlydisappear. A certain very competent woman news anchor comes to mind. Not longafter letting her natural silver hair grow out, she was quickly replaced. Oursociety celebrates youth, which has become synonymous with competence andsexiness.
However, in many cultures around theworld, matriarchs are celebrated and revered. They do not try to change theirappearance and hide their age. They are looked up to by the younger women fortheir wisdom, knowledge, and life experience. They have rights of passageceremonies and special herbs and remedies for various symptoms, informationwhich is passed on through generations. Older women teach and guide youngerwomen, so they know what to expect when changes start happening. Here in NorthAmerica, we pretend this middle phase of life does not exist. It is like a bigsecret that no one feels comfortable talking about. Throughout my life, I havedone a lot of reading and observing of older women for cues on what I should beexperiencing and how to prepare my mind and body during this life stage. Ourbodies go through an incredible change physically and mentally, and not many ofus are prepared for it. We are taught about puberty in school and learn verybasic skills to deal with that. But when menopause hits like a hot freighttrain, we are often left confused, sweaty, dizzy, and utterly exhausted.
Thank you for being our guest thisweek Lisette. Wishing you all the success you deserve.
And a big thank you to our visitorsand readers. Don’t be shy, leave a comment below.
