Battleford author Linda Nelson received an award for her memoir That is Not Me: A Journey of Perception. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Support the arts

Book on dwarfism honoured with award in independent publishers’ competition

May 30, 2019 | 5:12 PM

Linda Nelson was born with achondroplasia, a genetic bone disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism.

Her memoir, recounting the challenges she has faced growing up with dwarfism, recently won an award in an international competition.

That is Not Me: A Journey of Perception, was awarded a silver medal in the Canada West – Best Regional Non-Fiction category at the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

“I’m amazed, surprised, and humbled,” said Nelson. “To place second in the category is really an honour.”

SASK VOTES

Saskatchewan Party promises increase in tax credits for persons with disabilities

17h ago

Battlefords North Stars Preview

'Have to ride our confidence': North Stars get ready for Notre Dame and Humboldt

20h ago

ACCREDITED CHAMBER

Battlefords Chamber earns second national accreditation; sees growth in Saskatchewan

22h ago

While she released her book last year, the project was 10 years in the making as she carefully honed the piece. She said the editing phase itself took about a year.

Nelson’s inspiration for her story was a poem she wrote when she was in her 20s, a painful time when she said she felt very alone.

Despite her difficulties, she managed to complete a number of goals. Among other successes, she attained a Bachelor of Education degree and pursued a career as a teacher in the Battlefords for many years.

“The differences you can’t change, you have to let go of,” she said as a word of advice in speaking about her own trials. “And, you celebrate the accomplishments you have done personally… You keep on going.”

Since releasing her book, Nelson visited many communities in Western Canada to share her story. She said she hoped in telling her piece she would help raise awareness and “create conversations, create dialogue.”

Nelson has received international interest in her book since it was published. She said people have reached out to her from as far as Sweden, Spain and Australia after hearing about her memoir.

“It was a surprise to me that so many of the comments were so positive,” she said, adding that people often say they can relate to her stories documented in her memoir. “It has created great conversations with people about their lives, and making connections with new people.”

Nelson said many people in particular going through their own personal struggles have said the book helped them too, by showing how she coped with feeling different and isolated in the world.

“I didn’t expect to make connections with so many people because of my book,” she said.

She is currently working on a second follow-up book after the success of her first release that will feature a series of vignettes about her unique experiences, sometimes humourous, growing up with dwarfism.

“One is called monkey bars and bar stools – two things I’ve never mastered in life,” Nelson said with a laugh.

The memoir can be purchased online and at a number of locations around the Battlefords.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow