by Leah Vanden Bosch
Is this the year that you finally write that novel or memoir? Everyone has a story, and Stacey Buehner and Kendra Gottsleben have put theirs in print. Both local women have survived challenges, but their stories have changed their lives for the better. They’ve each published their own books and have some valuable advice to get the rest of us started.
“We all have something that we have to overcome. Some of us have to overcome health conditions, some of us have to overcome disabilities, and some of us have to overcome family situations or poverty. We all have something that we have to work through,” said Gottsleben, who works as a marketing communications specialist at the Sanford School of Medicine’s Center for Disabilities. Diagnosed with a rare medical condition called Mucopolysaccharidpsis (MPS) Type VI, Gottsleben knows what it means to overcome. As only a sophomore in high school, she participated in a clinical trial researching enzymes for her condition. The trial included receiving weekly enzyme infusions – infusions that are helping Gottsleben live a healthy life.
“You don’t have to have a disability or health condition to gain something from my books. My goal through both books is realizing that life isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it interesting.” Gottsleben self-published her first book, Live Laugh Lemonade: A Journey of Choosing to Beat the Odds, after a good friend recognized the story she had to tell and encouraged her.
She began to write, collaborating with friends and networks along the way. Wanting to meet the person who would help bring her book to life, Gottsleben chose to publish with Alphagraphics in Sioux Falls. She worked alongside a graphic designer to create the format, while her aunt provided the book’s cover images. A little over two years after she began writing, Gottsleben picked up a published copy of her book. She went on to self-publish a children’s book, Kendra’s Lemonade, simplifying her message for children to appreciate and understand.
Stacey Buehner chose to take a different route in publishing her story. Surviving a horrific car accident that took the life of her best friend, Buehner realized her tragedy had created a story worth sharing. “I wanted my book to be real, authentic, and honest. I thought it could help heal someone going through something similar.”
With a busy career in public relations and amidst planning her wedding, Buehner set aside at least an hour a week to write, describing the time as a “therapeutic process.” Using Amazon’s CreateSpace website, Buehner walked through the user-friendly steps to create her first book, Upon Impact: Two Women’s Journeys through Friendship, Tragedy, and Love.
To read the full article, pick up the January issue of 605 Magazine or click here.
