How I Became a Writer by Vivianne Knebel – Guest Post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vivianne Knebel will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

My secret to writing is a complete absence of helplessness and discontentment which affects so many of the old. Writing has a healing effect! There is an increased sense of well being.

When I started writing my memoir, I engaged in the process of reflection. Not only reviewing past events but finding a connection between them and drawing valuable lessons from them.
I wanted to take the readers by the hand and walk them through my past. My memoir explores some deeply sobering moments from my life. In order to do that, I realized I faced vulnerability. In order not to cheat the reader I had to be truthful and bear all.

I believe it is important for the writer to be open and let people see them! Deeply see them!
Vulnerability builds bridges and connects with the reader. Vulnerability is the courage to do something that frightens us.

We all at one point face difficult and trying times. Pain and suffering are part of life. Without it, there can be no life!

In my book, I am taking the reader through experiences that look just like their own, with the disposition that can shift their hearts and minds. The purpose is key! Not only to do something good for ourselves but also for the world around us. That drive keeps me going, it keeps me alive. The fire inside me is always burning because I have a purpose and it gives meaning to my life. Writing is my purpose to help other people better their lives.

My books are a testament to the human struggle which we all face and my ultimate triumph in the face of adversity. It is a story about the hard and terrible realities of human life, but also of the beauty that’s always awaiting all of us, of love and of happiness. There is always something better for all of us. I guide and help people to reflect on their own lives.

Reading books changes people’s lives. So does writing them.

In her second book “Lessons Learned About Life and Love”, Vivianne shares some of the lessons she has learned from writers and thinkers such as Dr. Wayne Dyer and Dr. Viktor Frankl, weaving them into her own experiences in a compelling guide to living, loving and thriving in old age. Her insights offer proof that great wisdom is not gained only from the classroom or the lecture hall, and that one need not look far to understand the secrets to living well. From anecdotes about her everyday rituals to memories from her world travels, Vivianne captures the profound and often surprising moments of enlightenment that can be found right in front of us, if we only know where- and how-to look.

Enjoy an Excerpt

My book “Lessons Learned About Life And Love” is about my life experiences and how they were impacted by my mentors the philosophers and poets, who helped me make sense of the world. I applied their wisdom and it worked to help me gain the inner dignity of living a fully loved life. How I have come to love life, that same life which I had once sought to end at age 17. I learned early on how cruel life can be but also felt inspired by the beauty and love that always awaits all of us. The trials of my early life left their mark on me and I found a way to overcome the adversities of the world I was able to build a new life for myself, dealing with immigration and walking that long path of self-discovery and self-fulfillment. But that does not mean that I left all adversities behind me. We are in a constant cycle of ups and downs.

In my book, I write about my latest challenge having to face my husband’s severe illnesses. How it was almost touching and go. With positive hope and optimism, one can still find joy and meaning in life and how it can create miracles. This book is a guide to seek meaning even amidst tragedy. I write about the greatest power of love. Nurturing and a sense of responsibility are facets of love. Awareness of service is a state of mind that expresses love. With my unwavering hope, positivity, and devotion I hope to inspire my husband to hold on to that same faith and hope to overcome this latest challenge.

I want to give people the message to always hold onto hope, positivity, and faith, to stay determined, and to persevere. I guide people to cope with challenges in flexible ways. Challenges make us resilient and resilience breeds purpose. That is how we grow!

About the Author: Born an illegitimate child in the wake of WWII in Berlin, Nazi Germany to a single mother, Vivianne Knebel’s options were limited and her future looked bleak. She experienced poverty, cold, and hunger, and was even driven to the point of committing suicide. To seek out a better life, Vivianne immigrated to Canada as a teenager, but her misfortunes did not end there. However, in response to a miraculous intervention, she decided to preserve her life and keep moving forward.

After this incident, Vivianne met a fellow German immigrant, Wiland, who eventually became her husband. But even more than that, he became a catalyst for change in her life. His belief in her is what helped her see the true, immeasurable value of her life. She went on to play a key role in Wiland’s business venture and together they built a better future for each other.

Since then, Vivianne has run a marathon, learned to pilot a plane, and even beat cancer. She’s found a greater sense of spirituality and wants to share her story with the world, to remind people that there is always a reason to keep moving forward.

Buy the book at Amazon.

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