Beauty Rising from Brokenness By Elizabeth M. Clamon

11/17/2018

Journey through Childhood Trauma and Chronic Illness into Healing

Multi-volume author, Elizabeth M. Clamon introduces us to her latest book Beauty Rising from Brokenness:
Even though we can’t choose the adversities that come against us, we can choose how we let them affect us. We choose to let them make us better or bitter. We can choose to heal, then use these adversities to teach us, help us grow, and use us them to help others. Elizabeth shares the story of her humble beginnings and the events in her early childhood that began her brokenness. How stress affects you, even pre-birth, and how she chose not to let the brokenness define her. The questions and frustration of not knowing who her father was. How she asked and was rejected time and time again until she finally could not live with the lies any longer. When she finally confronted her mother with her need for answers the reaction was something she could not have imagined. After several major life changes and a move across the country the brokenness begins to affect her physical health. She is forced back into a stressful living environment and finally has to face the abuse and trauma she has suffered. She makes the hardest decision she could have to make. Another major move and the inability to continue living a lie, she comes close to a nervous breakdown. She has thirty plus years of anger and rage spewing on everyone and everything in her path. She finally seeks help to work through the brokenness. Years of toxic stress having taken their toll on her physical health. She shares with you the specific path to natural healing she took to regain her health. She encourages you to choose and walk your own path to healing physically. Years of stress and trauma cause her to believe all sorts of lies about who she is and why she's here. She shares with you the path to mental healing and ways she replaced the lies she was told with the truth. You will be challenged to change your thoughts in order to change your life. Depression is almost a given when you're raised in a dysfunctional family. Getting control of your emotions is possibly one of the hardest parts of healing. She shares with you the range of emotions she felt and was acting upon. She shares her experience of being raised by narcissistic parents and the struggle to heal emotionally. Finally, she meets with family again and experiences the final blow she can take. As she begins to feel the depression and despair take over again, she makes a bold choice, one that will help her finally find freedom. Free of the brokenness and able to step into her purpose, she is surprised by how sweet freedom really is.

This is a powerful story of one woman’s journey from a brokenness that began in the womb and culminates in a healing journey. Elizabeth deals with so many issues in her life and shares the struggle with us along the way.
First person point of view is an excellent method of sharing a story such as this. Elizabeth does a superb job of detailing so many of the obstacles she faced and the process she went through to overcome them. Her scene-setting is quite good, there is dialogue aplenty and action keeps the story moving along at a good pace.
While her struggles, in all areas of her life were manifold, she never gave up seeking relief and healing, even when going in the wrong direction.
I give Beauty Rising from Brokenness a score of 4.9 stars.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Rising-Brokenness-Journey-Childhood-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-beauty-rising-from-brokenness
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beauty-Rising-Brokenness-Journey-Childhood-ebook

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/ClamonElizabeth
https://twitter.com/Clamonnatural
https://www.clamonnaturalhealth.com/
https://www.elizabethclamon.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-clamon
https://www.instagram.com/clamonnaturalhealth
https://facebook.com/abetterway2heal
https://facebook.com/ElizabethClamonspeaker
I have reviewed another book by Elizabeth Clamon, "Fiercely Faithful": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fiercely-faithful-by-elizabeth-clamon
Tags: self-help, parenting, families, dysfunctional family, military wife, PTSD, relationships, spiritual life

Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

31 Comments

Elizabeth link

11/18/2018 02:35:25 pm

It is my sincere hope that everyone who reads my book finds that there is hope and healing for anyone willing to take the journey. It is not an easy path, but one well worth the taking.

Mark

11/18/2018 03:26:35 pm

Welcome Elizabeth, I have been looking forward to chatting with you.
Hope and healing are very important for all of us. Walking that path is difficult, it usually means facing a great source of pain in our life, something we are all loathe to do. Before we get going into your book and writing, please tell us a little bit about your self.

11/18/2018 04:53:47 pm

A little about me...being the fun loving person I am, I’m not going to give y’all the bio you can read just anywhere, I’ll give y’all the little known information. I LOVE New Orleans Saints football, so much so my nickname is Rajin’ Cajun, watch a game with me and you’ll soon learn why. I have been an entrepreneur since I was 13! I started selling Avon under my mothers name, because I was to young to sell it. I have always wanted my own business and have had many over the years. I have moved 17 times in 22 years to 6 different states and 2 states twice. I am a motorcycle enthusiasts, I love to ride, the motorcycle is my happy place. As soon as I save up enough money I’m buying myself my own motorcycle. Last but not least I never ever saw myself as a writer, I always loved math. So much so, I took 5 math classes in high school when I only had to have 3. Now here I am with 4 books and 6 more in the works!! (Some my own and some collaborations)

11/18/2018 05:31:35 pm

That is some juicy secret bio! Thank you for sharing that with us. We have a few things in common. I have also been an entrepreneur since a very young age. I started selling greeting cards door to door when I was 9. We live on a 400 acre farm at the time. My bicycle got me everywhere! I loved math as a kid also, but calculus didn't love me. That was the end of the road, I couldn't find my way around that obstacle.
I think you have moved about as much as me, but you have lived in more states. I stayed on the west coast. Each of our three kids were born in a different state on the west coast.
Before we get to this book, can you tell us a little bit about your other books, collaborations, and your works in progress?

11/19/2018 08:14:37 am

My first two books, Remember the Butterfly Effect, how Stress Affects your Health and 20 Chronic Illnesses and their Natural Treatments, are self-published mini-books on Amazon. They are really collections of articles from my natural health blog. I made them into books after many request from people at my speaking engagements. I was part of a collaboration book, Voices of the 21st Century: Women Who Influence, Inspire and Make a Difference, that came out in October and went to Amazon International bestseller. I am also part of 4 other collaboration books coming out in the next couple of months. Then there is my next book, Shattered; Rising from the Pieces to Rebuild your Life, coming out summer of 2019 and I gave everyone a sneak peek into that one at the end of Beauty Rising from Brokenness.

11/19/2018 09:42:53 am

Very good! You are doing a great job of maximizing your niche with all those things. Do you have a schedule of speaking events on your website? What kind of topics do you speak about?
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What inspired you to write this book?

11/19/2018 10:15:05 am

I don’t have a speaking schedule on my website, I had one for a little while, but it is very difficult to keep updated. The best way to find out about my upcoming speaking events is my Facebook page www.facebook.com/ElizabethClamonspeaker I post all events and podcast, etc there. I speak about resiliency, natural health, stress management, and self-care. I do Keynotes, Workshops, and lunch and learns for companies. I’m a part-time writer, with my blogs and books. I also speak professionally and coaching. This is my business, I don’t work outside of this due to being disables by an auto accident in 2005. I prefer setting my own schedule and love the ability to be flexible based on my physical health and pain levels at any given time.
I have been trying to write Beauty Rising from Brokenness for many years, but it never came out right. It was always angry or sad and not the type of book I wanted to write. Then about 8 months ago I woke up very early one morning feeling God really impressing on my heart it was time to write this book. I woke up every morning at 6 AM and I’m not a morning person feeling the need to write and in the course of a month this book was written. It really was a calling to write it and ordained by God.

11/19/2018 10:42:45 am

That is an interesting business, personal and professional development. It seems to be a growth industry and has been that way for a long time.
I am glad yo waited for the right time to write this book, while you express a great deal of personal pain you also balance the equation with hope and healing in your life. You proved quite well, when God calls you to do something He also provides what you need to accomplish it.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book?
What do the elements on the cover represent?

11/19/2018 02:53:46 pm

Thank you Mark. This business has been a dream of mine for many years and I’m so glad to finally be at a season in my life to pursue it.

As far as the book cover I did a cover design contest on the website 99 designs. I had over 80 entries. I chose my top five favorites and then had all my followers on Facebook vote on their favorite. I was so glad that design won because it was my favorite.

The elements of the cover design are very representative of the story. The girl holding the jar represents the young girl I was when I went through the trauma. The jar is not only representative of my brokenness, but also being trapped in a family and situation I couldn’t do anything about. The butterfly is a monarch and has several meanings. It flying out of the jar represents me breaking free of the abusive family I was stuck in and the butterflies are also a representation of transformation.

The Monarch butterfly is a deep and powerful representations of life. Many cultures associate the butterfly with our souls. The Christian religion sees the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope, and life. I thought that was fitting.

11/19/2018 04:47:11 pm

Very interesting, I have never heard of the website, that is a cool process! I suspected the elements might be significant. You pulled all that together quite well. That's very smart to involve your Facebook fans also.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

11/19/2018 09:56:25 pm

Oh my! A favorite, that’s difficult I have so many. I love books of all types and love to read. Well, I guess you could say love to learn. I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school and loved it, it’s still one of my favorites. I recently discovered The Divergent series and even though science fiction isn’t usually my favorite I loved that series. I read a lot of Beth Moore’s books and medical books on natural health treatments. My guilty secret books are anything by Nora Roberts.

As a child I wasn’t read to very much, however my grandmother told me stories every night before bed, she also taught me all the nursery rhymes, which I loved and did the same thing with my children. They had lots of books and many favorites, but they loved for me to tell them the stories my grandmother use to tell me most.

I read everyday, it’s one of my great loves and I’m very fortunate that my husband also loves to read. Even though our taste in books are very different.

11/20/2018 08:52:13 am

Very nice. We, as bibliophiles, have much in common. I used to be strictly a fan of sci-fi and fantasy. In the last few years, my horizons have been widened tremendously. I have read hist-fic, romance, cozy murders, thrillers, action, literary fiction, and more. Now I am a fan of good writing, regardless of the genre, mostly.
What a wonderful gift your grandmother gave you and you were able to pass it onto your children.
Our three children are all readers and have been from the beginning, we made it a goal to instill the love of books and reading in them. Now, our oldest granddaughter is starting to write stories, yesterday she asked me to proofread her work. This will be interesting.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?
Is there a book that makes you cry no matter how many times you read it?

11/20/2018 10:13:01 am

My favorite book I’ve written so far has to be Beauty Rising from Brokenness, because after 50+ years I was finally able to tell my truth. It was very liberating. A book that still makes me cry would have to be Cane River, it’s a story set in Louisiana near where I was raised and is fictional, but the characters could easily have been real people. It tells a tough story of slavery pre-civil war and follows a family through post civil war and reconstruction. It is an excellent book and very well written. I loaned it out to my mother-in-law so I cant think of the author off the top of my head.

11/20/2018 12:42:08 pm

Your feelings of freedom makes sense to me, cathartic only begins to describe what you have experienced.
That must be a good book, I bet you have read it more than once.
New questions.
What is your routine when you sit down to write?
Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?

11/25/2018 02:09:00 pm

My writing process varies greatly depending on what I’m writing. The 2 mini-books I just gathered articles I had written for the blog and those I do a lot of research and take notes before writing. When I write a chapter for the collaboration books I’ve been part of I usually just sit down and write beginning to end, then edit. When writing Beauty Rising from Brokenness I really resisted writing it in the beginning. It seemed overwhelming to me to write an entire book, so when I began to write I just sat down and wrote the story as I remembered it. I then sent it to my sister-in-law who has a masters degree in English and has taught for years. She advised me where at add to make things clearer and things that maybe I needed to eliminate. I went through that process twice and then began to add the research areas about trauma, ACEs, etc. After I had added and refined all the information I sent it to you for editing and to my sister-in-law for one last review.

11/25/2018 02:56:37 pm

It makes a lot of sense to me, that different projects required a different type or style of writing. Your are lucky to have such a nice sister-in-law. A lot of writers will be jealous.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why did you use those?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

11/26/2018 07:42:07 am

I am very fortunate indeed to have my husbands entire family! They are all wonderful and have always treated me like a daughter/sister.

Believe it or not I do all my writing on my iPad Notes! I write everything on my ipad and there is a good reason why...I was involved in a severe auto accident in 2005 that left me disabled and the damage to the nerves in my neck make it difficult to type on Microsoft. Holding my arms at that angle causes my hands to go numb and often causes migraines. So when I’ve finished a chapter in Notes I copy and paste it to an email then open the email on the laptop and copy and paste it into Microsoft word and edit. This seems to be the best process for me with the limitations I have. I believe where there’s a will there’s always a way and I just do what works best for me and my conditions.

Now for unethical practices in publishing. I don’t know a lot about traditional publishing, but from the research I did I would have to say the thing I find most unbearable is that they keep the rights to your work! I lived this book, I spent the years recovering, and I did the hard labor of reliving it while writing, it is mine and should remain so!

11/26/2018 09:58:53 am

I am glad you have discerned a workable solution to the issue of writing. I am happy it works for you so well. You are a fighter.
I agree, the intellectual property rights issue is so very important. I recently read about an author whose book was being made into a movie, forty two years after publication. He was savvy enough to keep those IP rights to himself, instead of bargaining them away.
There is a big lesson there.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

11/26/2018 10:32:55 am

I don’t remember doing a lot of creative writing in school. I remember doing a lot of sentence structure, outlines, research papers and such. Like I said math was alway my thing, so I didn’t focus much on English.

Now as far as the power of words, I realized their power early on. Especially the power of the spoken word to lift you up or tear you down. I really didn’t fall in love with the written word until high school and that was because of a books ability to transport you to another place and time. For those who read my book, you’ll understand my need to escape my home situation through books and other less constructive ways.

11/26/2018 10:41:53 am

My attempts at creative writing were pretty lackluster, I will freely admit. My focus was on math and science also, until I discovered fine art. That was a welcome outlet for my creative urges.
New questions.
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

11/26/2018 12:58:15 pm

The most important thing I learned from publishing Beauty Rising from Brokenness, is how much work it is to publish and promote a book. I so desperately want this book in the hands of everyone who is broken and in need of hope and healing I did 15 podcasts, 5 blogs leading up to launch and 8 live interviews on Facebook the day of launch. I’m still promoting it every way I can like book signings, more podcasts, interviews, speaking to support groups and churches. It’s a lot of work and stress, but I feel so passionate about this message I have pushed myself way past my limits. It’s that important to me.

Three things I wish I knew before I wrote my first book...
I really consider this my first published book, because the other two mini-books were just done through createspace since I had audience members when I speak asking for books about what I was speaking about. One thing I wish I had known was to start promoting this book much earlier, otherwise I think I was pretty knowledgeable about publishing due to the training I received when I did my first collaboration book and from my hybrid publisher I used for this book. Their program is all about teaching you about publishing and using your book to reach more people through speaking, coaching, and training. It’s a great program of video trainings and coaching. Otherwise I was pretty well prepared I think.

11/26/2018 01:16:21 pm

I am not surprised by your passion. You have healed from so much and earnestly want to share that with others.
That publisher's program sounds quite interesting. I have not heard of something quite like it before. Would you like to identify them? Others might be interested also.
New questions.
You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?
What are common traps for beginning writers?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

11/26/2018 01:57:35 pm

Sure, I would be happy to share my publishers information. It is https://authoracademyelite.com and they have been amazing through out this entire process.

I’m not writing anything right now just for me. I have begun writing my next book, the teaser is at the end of this book and the other collaboration books I have coming up have me pretty busy right now. I have plans to write a book of Military Family stories, we have over 50 years of them, between my husband’s families 23 years and our 30 years. It’s a completely different genre for me, because I plan on telling the funny stories and there are many! I do plan on publishing it at some point.

I believe some common traps for beginning writiners would be all the people out there who claim to be your best option and all they really want is your money or your intellectual property. Beware they are everywhere! Make sure you take your time and have good council before you agree to anything and ALWAYS read the small print!

As far as ego...I don’t think ego is a good thing for anyone writer or otherwise. Ego tends to get us into trouble, because we start thinking to much of ourselves and that we are more important than we are. Now confidence is a totally different thing. I am confident, tenacious, even relentless, but not to build myself up in my eyes or anyone else’s. Everything I do is done to point back to God and give Him the glory for all He has done for me.

11/26/2018 02:14:33 pm

Thanks for sharing that website. Your recommendation means a great deal.

That book about military families sounds good to me. I really enjoy humorous stories, I love to have a good laugh; it always makes me feel good!
Confidence and ego seem similar at times, other times they are so different from each other. I think it takes a great deal of self-confidence to be a writer.
Do you struggle with writer's block and how do you overcome it?
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

11/26/2018 03:03:14 pm

I love to laugh and make others laugh! I tell people I spent so much of my life stressed and depressed that I only have time left to laugh.

I do struggle with writers block from time to time. Usually it’s when writing for one of the collaboration books and I have something specific they want me to write about. When writing my own stories they seem to flow, although I did have to put Beauty Rising from Brokenness down serval times and work through the emotions of it and then come back. I’m sure it will be the same with my next book as it’s my personal story with much pain and growth attached.

I considered writing under a pseudonym for this book, since it does open me up to the possibilities of liability from my family, but it was very important to me and my healing to put it under my own name. I had so much of my power taken from me from so long I needed to own my words, if you know what I mean. Maybe a rebellion of sorts. I think everyone has to make that decision for themselves based on what their writing and how they want to use it in the future. I want to speak and that was one factor in my decision to write under my own name.

I believe reading most definitely makes you a better writer. I love to read and drew on some of my favorite authors when writing this book. I do love a good chick flick though, but they don’t have the same power as a good book. My son thinks my granddaughter and I are crazy because we see a commercial for a good movie and immediately look to see if there is a book. The book is always better! An example would be the movie Salt, I loved the movie and was very disappointed there was no book! I also listen to music a lot, I have the stereo on all day while I work and music is always where I run when I need comfort.

I think music, movies, and books can influence us for the better or worse. I’m careful what I watch and read especially, to be sure I don’t let in any negativity or things that will trigger unpleasant memories.

11/26/2018 03:33:57 pm

It seems many writers struggle with writer's block. Your situation is a little bit different, in that you are writing something at the request of another with a specific theme. While your own books appear to flow easily.
Your decision about a pen name makes a lot of sense. Owning your experience is very important and can be very liberating. It certainly makes sense to not use a pen name in your circumstance.
I am in full agreement about books and movies. The book is always better. I do watch movies sometimes because I just don't have time to read every book. Watching the movie is interesting, sometimes just to see how they pull off an exciting stunt.
New questions.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career?
What are your favorite reference books for writing?

11/26/2018 04:16:02 pm

The best money I sent to enhance my writing is twofold. The collaboration books I’ve invested in, with people who already have proven success have been a great investment. It’s always a good thing to learn from the best. The other would have to be the investment in the publishing program I talked about earlier. I’m all about learning, I love to learn, so the fact that they teach me how to do things myself is a great bonus for me.

I don’t subscribe to anything in particular to enhance my writing. I just read a lot and do a lot of research. I read several books on writing, publishing and also watched a couple of webinars. But I don’t really subscribe to anything, I get bored too easily and move on to something new.

I have a couple of good dictionaries and a thesaurus, but other than that I use google for research and references. Google knows everything, right??

11/26/2018 04:25:30 pm

The collaboration books sound more interesting now. I would definitely like to hear more about them. You sound like an information junkie like me. I love to learn new stuff.
Google has told me they know everything. I have a little salt on my desk also.
Last questions.
What was the earliest experience that made you realize that you could influence and change lives with the power of writing?
How many times did you rewrite the first page, first chapter?

11/26/2018 05:37:03 pm

My earliest experience with writing that made me realize the influence and change words could bring was in writing cards and letters. You know that old fashion thing we use to do with paper, pen, envelopes, and stamps? I use to write and receive letters and cards with my grandmother and like her they had the power to make my world a better place. I would run to the mailbox every day when I got off the school bus hoping and wishing there was a letter and when there was I was elated. I couldn’t wait to open and consume every word, then excitedly write back. We also sent cards and not just for Christmas and Birthdays, just because. I still have them all, as well as, the cards and letters my husband and I exchanged throughout all his deployments. There is still nothing as exciting as getting a handwritten letter or specially picked out card that’s just for me. My mother-in-law is also really great at picking cards and sending them just to make your day.

As far as rewriting the Introduction and first chapter of Beauty Rising from Brokenness, none. I wrote it just as it is today. Other than adding chapters, rearranging, adding to chapters to make them clearer for the reader, and editing the book is pretty much as I wrote it the first time. I can’t explain it, but it was as if this book wrote itself. It just poured out of me. I say God wrote it I just held the pen. I tried to write it many times myself, but until God ordained that it was time for the story to be told it was a struggle and never came out right, then when the time was right it just flowed easily.

11/26/2018 05:50:47 pm

You just opened a long shut drawer in the old memory bank. I remember doing that when I was very young also. Writing letters and receiving them were great events. I felt so grownup at the time. Your grandma and your mother in law were wonderful people in your life, providing support when you really needed it.
That is quite a miracle, I think many writers would agree. Having the story just pour out of your pen is very remarkable. What a great blessing!
Despite a considerable interruption of our week, we have covered a fair amount of ground.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing about your writing and your journey with me this week. I look forward to seeing more come from your pen, there is a lot more story to tell, I think.

11/26/2018 06:59:17 pm

Yes Mark, I was very blessed to have the grandmother I did and to still have a mother-in-law that is more mother and friend is a great gift from God.

I am blessed that Beauty Rising from Brokenness poured out of my pen so easily, but maybe that’s because living it and recovering from it was and still is the hardest part. I pray the next book comes just as easily, but I will get it done one way or the other, because you're right there is much more to tell and learn. There are just to many people out there that need to hear the message, I can’t keep it to myself that’s not why I’m here.

I have really enjoyed chatting with you this week and I hope that your followers have enjoyed it as well. It has been a pure pleasure, despite my pounding head and sore throat. I look forward to doing this again next summer when Shattered: Rising from the Pieces to Rebuild your Life comes out!

Thank you so very much!
Elizabeth

Beauty Rising from Brokenness By Elizabeth M. Clamon

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