I met RJ Thesman, the editor of my new book How I Hear, at a book signing event more than 15 years ago. We had much in common — attending the same church, growing up in Oklahoma, and both of us enjoying the art of writing since we were young girls. RJ defines her prolific … Continue reading
Thirteen years ago, my memoir Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom hit the bookshelves. It detailed the emotional and mental health impact of having hearing loss while raising my three children, during the first six years after diagnosis. In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I speak with Dr. Anne McIntosh, president of … Continue reading
“One person can make a difference. It takes many people to make a lasting difference.” These words are a personal and professional philosophy. By working together, we accomplish so much. I am honored to announce I have joined thousands of trailblazing professionals as part of Influential Women, an organization that amplifies women’s voices and inspires … Continue reading
In How I Hear: Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, I recount my journey with progressive hearing loss, diagnosed at age 27 shortly after the birth of my first child. The unexpected news thrusts me into a life of constant adjustment as familiar sounds—doorbells, smoke alarms, and my babies’ cries—begin to fade. While raising three healthy … Continue reading
If you would like to order copy of my second book Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, the publisher will be discontinuing distribution and sales of the book very soon. You can order it on Amazon through the next few days. It will not be available for purchase after that and will be considered “out … Continue reading
In honor of Show Me Your Ears celebrating its second anniversary this month, Lipreading Mom wants to reward you for supporting this hearing loss awareness campaign. From now until September 19, here is how you can win one of my e-books: 1) Post your ear photo on Twitter (use hashtag #ShowMeYourEars). -OR- 2) Comment below … Continue reading
Twenty-five years ago this summer, I sat in a packed Texas movie theater with a high school friend. The movie was Dead Poet’s Society, and in it, the late actor Robin Williams’ character teaches Literature at an all-boy’s prep school in the 1950s. To engage his students who had been previously taught to embrace conformity and … Continue reading
Five years ago this month, my first book debuted. A book tour followed, with stops in Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City; Oklahoma City; and the small town that inspired the book—Chickasha, Oklahoma. Lip Reader is a work of fiction, but the story has some true elements. The main character, Sapphie, is a reflection of me as … Continue reading
Weeks after my second child was born, I was in the throes of a horrible postpartum depression. Something motivated me to pick up a copy of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the memoir of author and poet Maya Angelou. In the book, Maya shares about growing up in racially segregated Arkansas and how … Continue reading
This Easter, I want to recognize a particular teacher I knew as a kid. Miss Ann and I attended a country church in Oklahoma during the early 1980s. She was the first Sunday school teacher I can remember from my childhood. There may have been others, but Miss Ann taught me in a plain-spoken way. … Continue reading
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