Free Author & Panel Discussion, Thursday, November 9th, 2023

We will meet on 11/9 via Zoom, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST

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Open to All writers!

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This will be a conversation about the difficult experience of working through trauma on the page, even relapsing during publication.

Our four panelists include:

• Maya Golden, author of The Return Trip (Rising Action Publishing Collective, November 14, 2023)
  
• Brian Brandt, moderator and author
• Dr. Crystal Frazier, mental health expert
• Tina Beier, COO of Rising Action Publishing Collective.

Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, called The Return Trip “a blessed blueprint for anyone seeking freedom from the shackles of shame, guilt, and trauma."

Maya is an Emmy-nominated and Associated Press award-winning journalist. Maya's work has appeared in Salon, Blackgirlnerds.com, Dave Campbell's Texas Football, The Tyler Loop, and IN Magazine. She is the founder and executive director of the 1 in 3 Foundation, a non-profit supporting survivors of sexual violence.

The Return Trip details Maya’s road to healing and recovery after years of sexual abuse and sexual assault. She travels the country speaking about topics including mental health, wellness, education, and equality in the workplace.

The Return Trip is the story of what happens to a girl when she develops the core belief that she only exists for the pleasure of other people. The Return Trip confronts head-on the stigmas women face, especially women of color, with their own sexual identity, and is a rally cry for survivors of sexual abuse and assault that they can find self-esteem again after trauma.

Brian Brandt has spent his life supporting the transformation of individuals and organizations. He is the President of Core Insights, a Texas-based company providing premier training, strategic guidance, leadership coaching, and keynotes for businesses, nonprofits, and associations. In his three decades of leadership experience, he has served in such roles as C.E.O., public relations director, national sales director, executive pastor, and college tennis coach. He regularly speaks on leadership topics including blind spots, leadership, effective communication, non-profit issues, and how to bring a vision to fruition. Brian holds a Master of Global Leadership, as well as a Bachelor of Accounting. Brian volunteers for and serves on the board of numerous non-profit agencies. He coauthored Blind Spots: What you don’t know CAN hurt you, and The Ambassador’s Journeywith Dr. Ashley Kutach.

Dr. Crystal Frazier will provide insight into the symptoms of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and the difficulty authors can face when revisiting trauma in writing.

Dr. Crystal Frazier is a doctoral level trained Licensed Psychologist with extensive education in clinical psychology. She was previously an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center and a member of the doctoral psychology internship program training committee. She has a special interest in caring for patients struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. She is passionate about helping clients complete the often very challenging therapeutic work and helping them achieve their goals for positive life changes. She is past president of the 1 in 3 Foundation.

Tina Beier of Rising Action Publishing Collective, Maya’s editor for The Return Trip, will discuss what stood out about the book during the query process. Tina will share the process from publishing deal to publication and the journey of putting the story into the world. Tina will also discuss what independent publishers are looking for in memoir queries.

Tina has ten years of experience in the reference publishing industry as both a copy editor and a project coordinator. She has a B.A. (Hons) in English, a Certificate in Publishing, and a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing. Tina’s primary role is editorial and managing all production schedules and distribution partners. Tina is a member of SF Canada.

More about The Return Trip: At age thirty, Maya Golden appeared to be living a charmed life. She was an award-winning sports reporter, a loyal wife, and a new mom. Outwardly, she was the picture of the American Dream for many women. Privately, she was battling addiction, perfectionism, dissociation disorder, and rage due to sexual abuse endured at the hands of her cousin and other predators. After years of harboring pain and channeling her anger into unhealthy outlets, Maya wanted to change. So, on a family road trip back to her Texas hometown, she decided she was ready to put an end to the secrets that threatened her marriage and her career. Three separate moments of divine intervention ultimately saved Maya’s life. From a suicide plan to treatment facility to launching a non-profit organization—Maya’s story chronicles and dissects her journey to show others that purpose can be made from trauma.

DISCUSSION TAKEAWAYS:

This FREE author discussion meets via Zoom. Come prepared for an engaging class with live interaction on Zoom!

Maya Golden is an Emmy nominated and Associated Press award-winning journalist. Maya's work has appeared on Salon, Blackgirlnerds.com, Dave Campbell's Texas Football, The Tyler Loop and IN Magazine. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University. Maya is the founder of the 1 in 3 Foundation, a non-profit supporting survivors of sexual violence. Her memoir, The Return Trip (Rising Action Publishing Collective, November 14, 2023), details Maya’s road to healing and recovery after years of sexual abuse and sexual assault. She travels the country speaking about topics including mental health, wellness, education and equality in the workplace.