A Light in the Darkness
by Lisa A. Sniderman
Genre: Inspirational Memoir
What can we do when we struggle with an illness that doesn't go away?
An inspirational story of the healing power of music, creativity, following your dreams and finding your true purpose.
In 2008, singer-songwriter Lisa Sniderman was living the dream in California. As Aoede, the Muse of Song, her star as a gifted recording artist was rising fast. Lisa’s quirky folk-pop performance style electrified audiences up and down the West Coast, and the albums just kept flowing. But just when her career was rocketing skyward, a health crisis brought all of her dreams crashing to the ground. Diagnosed with a rare, debilitating immune disorder called dermatomyositis (DM), Lisa struggled to maintain a normal life with a body in revolt and, eventually, to accept a new normal. Living with a chronic illness challenged Lisa to see DM as a gift in disguise that has opened the door to new dreams, new songs, and new opportunities. Lisa’s story is for you if you seek strength, new inspiration, hope, joy, healing, and if you or someone you love struggle with a chronic illness, disability, or unexpected life events. Her insights and reflections on her journey inspire hope and the courage to keep dreaming and living to the fullest no matter what life hurls at you.
Excerpts:
Chapter 6, p.63:
"Of all the ways I put myself out there, sharing my
personal struggles is perhaps the most daunting. At times, especially because
I’m almost always home, I feel like I’m hiding from the world, playing it safe
indoors. Maybe that’s why I create light characters, focus on fantasy, and want
to connect with my inner child. As I’ve taken on Aoede the Muse’s identity,
inspiring others, I’m disinclined to share the scary, icky, fearful, sad, negative
feelings—the secret spaces where I’ve stuffed my skeletons. I tell myself I
have to put on a smile and be upbeat, not show weakness or have self-doubt.
It’s much easier to tell the world that all is beautiful than to admit that
living with a chronic illness is harder than anything I’ve ever faced; that
some days it’s exhausting to get out of bed, despite my positive attitude and
optimism; that I get tired of thinking and talking about being sick, and just
plain being sick; that the endless therapies, drug cocktails, and unwanted side
effects keep me on a roller coaster; that I resent having precious moments of
my life replaced with 156 doctors’ appointments; that I wish I had more stamina
for being in the world; that I wonder where David’s and my relationship would
be had I never gotten
sick—if he didn’t have to do all the shopping, cleaning, cooking, and
driving, and we had an equal partnership instead of a caretaker-patient
relationship. This is the stuff I used to keep to myself, choosing instead to
share the positive accomplishments, the milestones, and the fulfillment of
dreams I’ve decided others want to hear about.”
Chapter
10, p.95:
"From the moment I was
diagnosed with DM, I’ve watched my chameleon-like dreams shift repeatedly. I
let go of some dreams, like playing Caesars Palace or opening for a national
act on tour, because I was too sick to chase them. In their place, new dreams
were born that I’ve pursued with drive and passion even while living with DM.
Former professional boxer Mike Tyson once said, 'I’m a dreamer. I have to dream
and reach for the stars, and if I miss a star then I grab a handful of clouds.'
I’m a dreamer too. I’ve come
to terms with not being a cookie-cutter mold of an artist. Unlike most artists
who release albums and tour to promote them, I haven’t been able to perform a
full set live, or tour, because of my DM. I call into radio shows for
interviews and do online features on my schedule instead of doing personal
appearances. I connect and engage with my fans mostly online through social
networking rather than in person at shows. I write my musicals and record
my own vocals from home with David’s engineering assistance. Even while I was
collaborating with my producer on all three of my musicals, he always
accommodated me and opted for us to do sessions at my house because he knew how
much energy was required for me to travel and be 'on' for hours at a time. I
measure my progress by what I can realistically accomplish, not by what I’d
love to accomplish if I had no limitations. The questions I never stop asking
are 'How do I keep my dreams alive? What am I capable of? What can I continue
to do? And if I can’t, what else might I be able to do so I can keep pursuing
my dreams?'"
Lisa Sniderman, aka Aoede, is an award-winning, quirky, folk-pop artist, playwright, filmmaker, and author from San Francisco who creates to heal. She creates and records unique, original full-length fantasy musicals on audiobooks that she adapts to musical theater stage plays. She’s been honored with more than 80 awards for songwriting, audiobooks, films, stage plays and books since 2012 all while suffering from a rare autoimmune disease: dermatomyositis, a progressive muscle weakness disease. Lisa’s mission is to be a light and a muse by inspiring, engaging, empowering, connecting with, encouraging, and supporting young adults and kids at heart of all ages, challenges, and abilities through original art and music. She fosters healing by “giving your creative spirit wings and inspiring you to share your story.”
Lisa’s new memoir, A Light in the Darkness: Transcending Chronic Illness through the Power of Art and Attitude, chronicles 10 years living with chronic illness while creating to heal. Through confessions and life lessons, Lisa offers support, compassion, strength, connection, encouragement, motivation, and hope-a light in the darkness-to those battling chronic illness, disability and unexpected life challenges.
Lisa founded an online community of artists creating to heal and collaborated with more than 50 artists who are also creating to heal, culminating in an online video showcase and live multi-media performances in December 2018.
➜ #BookTour #Giveaway
#inspirational #memoirs #lisasniderman
#inspirational #memoirs #lisasniderman
Thank you so much for sharing my book and give-away! ♥ Aoede ♪♫
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