FORMER Ulladulla Times journalist, motivational speaker and colourful grandmother of seven, Chrissy Guinery, shares her life story from loneliness and despair to self-discovery in her first book Falling Up Stairs.
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“If Falling Up Stairs doesn’t move you or motivate you to pursue a better life, check your pulse, you could be dead,” she said.
Chrissy and her husband Steve live in a cottage in the Murramarang National Park, south of Ulladulla, and have spent much of the past five years travelling the country in their technicolour ‘hippy van’ Buzz.
During their travels, Chrissy finally found time to put pen to paper and write a book, something that she has always dreamed of doing.
“It’s a lifetime of experiences that took me nine days to write,” she said, “I didn’t come up for air”.
Her life, and the lives of others, have inspired many of the stories in her work that she describes as “an entertaining and moving read that will make you cry and laugh out loud”.
“I think people will really enjoy reading about my world and my experiences,” she said.
“It’s raw and honest, and often confronting.”
Chrissy said the story was one of her struggle from loneliness and despair to self-discovery and a realisation of the healing power of helping others.
“I’m renowned for my energy, enthusiasm and passion, but particularly for my desire to see people rise to their full potential,” she said.
“I love life - full-tilt, full-on.
“I spent the first 20 years of my life feeling loathsome and lonely, and I plan to spend the rest of my life making up for it.”
Chrissy, who was heavily involved in the Highway Christian Church and the Ulladulla-Milton Lions Club for 15 years, is now a motivational speaker at Batemans Bay’s Southland Church, however told the Times Falling Up Stairs was “definitely not a religious book”.
“It’s real, it’s positive and energetic,” she said.
The title reflects her positive outlook on life - “when you fall down, you are actually falling up, learning and becoming stronger”.
The book delves deep into Chrissy’s colourful and, at times, dark past touching on topics such as contemplating suicide, sexuality and marriage break-down.
After leaving Ulladulla in February 2009, Steve and Chrissy travelled around Australia helping people and spreading their “happy vibes” along the way.
They are in close contact with their five children, who grew up and attended school in Ulladulla, and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren in between operating the Olive Tree Art and Coffee House at Batemans Bay.
After keeping journals her whole life, Chrissy is continuing to write and is elated to be launching her book at the Harbour Bookstore in Rowen’s Arcade at 10am on Saturday September 27.
“I hope people will come and buy a copy of the book and I will sign it and have a chat - I’ll entertain them,” she laughed.
“I’m so excited that it is finally happening.”
Author Karin Moorhouse described Chrissy’s writing as having an “energetic style takes the reader on a ride akin to kayaking down river rapids”.
“It’s full and fast and then hits an eddy before careening over the waterfall!”