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13.4 Glenda Watson Hyatt, the person I met

March 1, 2007 by Liz

See What Is Right

Glenda Watson Hyatt's photo

Through this week, Glenda and I had a conversation, really, not an interview. She was open, authentic, and transparent in sharing the stories of her life and her publishing achievements. If were in my old job, I would have tried to find a way to talk Glenda into coming to work for me as work-at-home writer.

Glenda and I had a conversational interview — one question at time. I sent her a conversational email that ended with a question. She added to the conversation when she retuned the answer to the question. When the answer email arrived, I responded to the conversation and sent an additional question.

One exception to the one question at a time rule occurred.

Glenda as a Brownie
Glend'a college graduation

Thinking Glenda might want to know I was going to ask this final question, I sent it early along with another, stating it would the the last of the questions.

I should have known that Glenda wouldn’t need time with this — that she would have the answer.

Here’s that question and here’s Glenda’s reply.

I’m sure that, as a woman with a significant disability, you find folks often focus on the wrong things when they meet you. . . . But then, I feel that sort of thing happens to me too. . . . If you could tell the whole world something once, have them believe you and understand, what would you tell them?

Despite my speech impairment, I am not deaf. I can hear just fine. And I am not cognitively impaired. I am an intelligent woman and I understand you, as long as you are speaking English.

Despite my cerebral palsy and my jerky movements, I have the same needs, wants, dreams and desires as anyone, as any woman. I do not consider myself courageous or brave for simply living my life and following my dreams. After all, what else am I suppose to do with my life? Other people’s misperceptions and assumptions are what limit me, not my so-called disability.

Look beyond what is wrong with me and see what is right. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Glenda on horseback

Thanks Liz for conversing with me in this way. I’m curious to see how it turns out.

You just explained the reasons I’m so glad to have met you. Thank you so much. I’m honored to call my friend..

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
13.3 Glenda Watson Hyatt, Learning to Write
13.2 Glenda Watson Hyatt, published author
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
A 4-Part Series: An Interview with the Amazing Glenda Watson.Hyatt

Filed Under: Interviews, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, cerebral-palsy, emoms-at-home, Glenda-Watson-Hyatt, ill-do-it-, Wendy-Piersall

13.3 Glenda Watson Hyatt, Learning to Write

February 28, 2007 by Liz

A Life Changed by a Book

Glenda Watson Hyatt's photo

Yesterday, Glenda and I talked about what it felt like to become a published author. She shared the experience of touching her books for the very first time. Her description makes it easy to imagine how it must have been — one more example of Glenda’s skill as a writerr and storyteller.

Glenda’s accomplishment and that thrill of achievement are a future that many people reach for. Yet Glenda became a published author following a distinctly different path from the usual road. I wondered about that path and asked Glenda these questions.

How did you learn to write? How did you learn to type out the characters? How did you learn to find your clear, authentic musical voice?

Please allow me to share this except from I’ll Do It Myself about learning to print in Grade One in the Special Education class:

“Because getting to the chalkboard was difficult for most of us once we were placed in our seats, we each had an 18-inch square piece of chalkboard at our desks for practicing our printing. It was also easier to work on a horizontal surface rather than a vertical one. Initially, my printing was wobbly scribbles. With practice and extreme concentration, I controlled my jerky movements enough to make my letters almost legible more of the time. I also kept a chalk eraser handy, though inadvertently an uncontrollable movement erased a good letter. In frustration, I did the letter again.

Although learning to print, and then to write, were important steps in learning to read, it was evident that printing would not be efficient. It took too much energy and was too time-consuming to keep up with my work, and that would only worsen through the grades. Learning to use a typewriter was a necessity.

An electric Smith Corona typewriter was placed at the back of the room, which a few of us shared. When it was time to do typewriter work, Mrs. Rutherford dragged me in my desk chair over to the typewriter table and then dragged me back to my desk when I was done. Then it was the next student’s turn. A while later, perhaps once funding became available, we each had a typewriter at a second desk beside us. We simply dragged the typewriter back and forth as we needed it. It was much easier, especially on Mrs. Rutherford’s back.

As I have only one somewhat functioning hand, I only typed with one hand, my left hand. While typing, I steadied my hand on the typewriter hood to give myself some control over the spastic movements and used my thumb to hit the keys, causing my wrist to be in a dropped-wrist position. This concerned the adults, particularly the physio and OT [occupational therapist]. Although this was decades before repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome had been invented, they were concerned that the dropped-wrist position would cause damage over the long-term.

They decided a splint with a stick to hit the keys was needed to keep my wrist in a good position. With this contraption snuggly Velcro strapped to my arm, I was expected to have enough arm control to steady my hand mid-air, without resting it on anything, and to accurately hit the keys. And this was less frustrating than printing with a pencil? After a few days, the splint ended up in the back of my desk drawer, and I resumed typing with my left thumb, my hand in its compromising position. I type the same way today, as nothing else feels as natural. For a non-verbal individual who relies on written communication, my left thumb is my most valued body part.”

I have always enjoyed writing; that is my means of communication and expression. I fondly remember our Creative Writing sessions after Friday morning recess in the Special Ed class. In the regular Grade Seven class, as a replacement assignment if there was something I couldn’t do, the teacher had me pick one moment or incident and write as much as I could about it by describing all of my five senses. The idea was to expand that one moment in time as much as possible and to include as many details as I could remember. I still use that technique if I’m stuck while writing.

Once I got my first computer in university, my writing improved because rewriting and revising were easier. I no longer had to type a rough copy and then a good copy or mess around with that darn correction paper. I love when the words just flow through me; that when I am in my groove and truly using my gift.

Gosh, Glenda, that’s a story. Thank you.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
13.2 Glenda Watson Hyatt, published author
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
A 4-Part Series: An Interview with the Amazing Glenda Watson.Hyatt

Filed Under: Interviews, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, cerebral-palsy, emoms-at-home, Glenda-Watson-Hyatt, ill-do-it-, Wendy-Piersall

13.2 Glenda Watson Hyatt, published author

February 27, 2007 by Liz

A Life Changed by a Book

I'll Do It Myself Book Cover

Yesterday, Glenda gave us glimpse into the business she began as a web accessibility specialist, Soaring Eagle Communications, and she shared her feelings about a future filled with possibilities.

Our conversation, at that point, had turned to the how the act of writing a book had an effect on Glenda’s life.

Glenda, as a publisher, I know that the book we start is hardly ever the book that gets written.

What was the most unexpected thing you found while writing your book? How did the book change? How did the book change you?

When I first began writing the book several years ago, I envisioned a collection of short stories and memories from my life. I then found myself filling in the gaps between the memories. The book evolved into my autobiography, or, at least, the first installment! The book cover also changed, thanks to Nancy Cleary of Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing. I had designed a simplistic cover, which she turned into something amazingly beautiful. I was emotional the first time I saw it.

Once I started telling people that I was writing a book, I was surprised by the support and encouragement that I received, even from people I did not know. One such person is Debbie Fierst, of Logical Imagination . who generously volunteered to edit my manuscript. I was also surprised by the number of people who would like to write a book, but haven’t made it happen for a variety of reasons.

My book I’ll Do It Myself confirmed to me that I am a bona fide writer and that writing is my gift, which I am meant to use and to share with others. I sense my book will continue to change me by opening new doors for me, and by taking my business/career and my life in a whole new direction.

I remember the feeling of seeing my words in print for the first time. How did you experience that feeling? Where were you when you opened the first copy of your book? What was the feeling and thoughts you had at that time? Have you captured them to call them up later?

Since I self-published, the boxes of books were delivered to my home on December 5th. I anxiously awaited their delivery until they finally arrived mid-afternoon. I was trembling with excitement and anticipation while the delivery man wheeled in the boxes in two loads. When I opened the first box and saw my book for the first time, a wave of emotions came over me. Thirty years of dreaming, preparing, researching, visualizing and writing became real in that moment. I had done it! My dream became reality in that moment. I had written and self-published my book. And they were beautiful! There were a few happy tears. I can only imagine that it is similar to giving birth and holding your baby for the first time. I captured the moment on my other blog.

Thank you, Glenda! I can identify with those moments. You made them real for everyone. That’s a writer’s gift.

See you tomorrow with another question.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
A 4-Part Series: An Interview with the Amazing Glenda Watson.Hyatt

Filed Under: Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, cerebral-palsy, emoms-at-home, Glenda-Watson-Hyatt, ill-do-it-, Wendy-Piersall

13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt

February 26, 2007 by Liz

Glenda Watson Hyatt’s Virtual Book Tour

Glenda Watson Hyatt's photo

It was the photo, Glenda’s photo, that led me to write to her.

After Wendy suggested that Glenda would be someone Successful Blog readers would love to read about, I went over to Glenda’s blog. I poked around a bit. I read some posts about Glenda and her book. Then I did a Google search, and I read a few other interviews from her Virtual Book Tour.

But I kept coming back to the photo at the top of Glenda’s blog. It was what I saw and what I felt in that photo. I’m right there when it comes to meeting someone who knows the feeling of joy.

Joy that’s what I saw.

Glenda Watson Hyatt has achieved incredible things. She made a life as an author with cerebral palsy, typing with only her left thumb — hey, becoming an author is no small feat for us with two hands to type. But that’s not why I introduce you to Glenda Watson Hyatt.

I want you to meet her, because she is a woman who has felt joy.

Hi Glenda! First let me tell you, one reason that drew me to write was your photo. I take photos of people very seriously. I look in their eyes. In yours I saw intelligence, but more than that I saw joy to match the smile on you face.

So, darn it, how are you? and who are you?

Hi Liz, thanks for the warm welcome and for conversing with me in this manner. This is great because the written word is my best means of communication. I’m awesome, and extremely busy with my virtual book tour, promoting my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself.

To introduce myself, I am Glenda Watson Hyatt from Surrey, British Columbia, on the westcoast of Canada. I’m married to a wonderful, supportive man Darrell. Faith is my four-legged feline baby. I am forty and am excited to have reached that milestone.

I have been self-employed for eight years; initially, it was out of necessity because job prospects for someone with a significant physical disability weren’t plentiful. I began my business Soaring Eagle Communications as a web accessibility specialist and several interesting projects in the field but the work was sporadic. Right now the Eagle is undergoing a transition and finding a new direction. I am seeing new opportunities everywhere and I sense the Eagle will soon catch an updraft and soar to heights unimaginable.

Despite my cerebral palsy, I have lived a fairly full life. I focus on what I can do and what I do have; so many have much less than I do. I believe in possibility thinking and making things happen for myself. I am in a point in my life where life is good and I truly believe the future is mine.

Thank you, Glenda! You are awesome! See you tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear more.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
A 4-Part Series: An Interview with the Amazing Glenda Watson.Hyatt

Filed Under: Interviews, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, cerebral-palsy, emoms-at-home, Glenda-Watson-Hyatt, ill-do-it-, Wendy-Piersall

A 4-Part Series: An Interview with the Amazing Glenda Watson.Hyatt

February 25, 2007 by Liz

Glenda Watson Hyatt’s Virtual Book Tour

I'll Do It Myself Book Cover

Wendy Piersall wrote to me that I must meet this amazing woman, Glenda Watson Hyatt. Wendy was about to interview Glenda for eMoms at Home as part of Glenda’s Virtual Book Tour for her new book, I’ll Do It Myself.

Glenda’s new book I’ll Do It Myself chronicles her story of growing up with cerebral palsy. This beautiful, bright woman with the engaging smile and intelligent eyes was a pleasure to interview, and I missed her when it was over.

You really must meet her.

I’ll be sharing Glenda this week in a four-part conversation.

Monday, February 26 — Who iis this author and why is she smiling? 13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt

Tuesday, February 27 — What surprises happened while writing the book? 13.2 Glenda Watson Hyatt, published author

Wednesday, February 28 — How did Glenda learn to be a writer and find her wonderful writing voice? 13.3 Glenda Watson Hyatt, Learning to Write

Thursday, March 1 — What message would this author like to give the world? 13.4 Glenda Watson Hyatt, the person I met

Thanks, Glenda! It was wonderful that you let it be such a two-way conversation. I hope you really will come to Chicago so that we can meet person to person.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Filed Under: Interviews, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, cerebral-palsy, emoms-at-home, Glenda-Watson-Hyatt, Ill-Do-It-Myself, Wendy-Piersall

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