What I Learned about the Courage to Write and Publish my Memoir Accidental Soldier
January 12, 2017
4 PM PST 5 PM MST 6 PM CST 7 PM EST
What kind of crazy person would trade college life for serving in the Israel Defense Forces at the tender age of 18? As a dual American-Israeli citizen, I was trying to make my life work as a college student until I realized that if I didn’t distance myself from my neurotic worrywart of a mother, I would become just like her.
Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces is the story of how I dropped out of college and volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces in an effort to change my life. The story shows that by stepping out of my comfort zone and into a war zone, I discovered courage and faith I didn’t know I was capable of.
As a first-time memoirist, I put myself out into the writing world in many ways, and learned what it takes to come full-circle with the writing and publishing process. I’d love to share the “highs” and “lows” of my journey with you. It is my hope that learning about my wins and successes will give you a road map to see your book as a marketable journey of creativity.
- It was a challenge to translate some of the “foreign” experiences of serving in the Israel Defense Forces for the United States audience. Through doing this, I discovered that my book was marketable here.
- I discovered it took courage to build my author platform creatively.
- I learned the importance of marketing my memoir to a niche audience and what that meant for choosing the right publisher
- There were unexpected challenges and successes with the publicity and marketing as I did a book tour for my memoir in the United States and in Israel.
- I’ll discuss how writing my memoir inspired me to support other writers and authors
Bio:
Dorit Sasson is a copywriter, content marketing strategist, speaker, and author. She is the founder of “Giving Voice to Your Courage” podcast and website. She mentors authors and writers on how to build a more visible and engaging platform – creatively and with courage! Her groundbreaking memoir Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces is a finalist for the next Generation Indie Book Awards, Best Books USA Awards and Santa Fe Literary Awards. It’s a widely read handbook on how to become more courageous in life.
Thanks for posting — I hope to tune in. It will be interesting to hear how your book tour was different in the U.S. than in Israel, plus eager to hear more about how publishing your own memoir encouraged you to help others write their life story. A similar thing happened with me –after my memoir Long Time, No See was published I started leading memoir-writing classes for older adults here in Chicago.
Hope you can tune in Beth – looking forward! Thanks for hosting me Linda Joy!
I love everything about your book, Dorit, and haven’t even picked up a copy yet. I’m American, in Israel, one daughter in the army, one son out, only been here 5 years… and writing a memoir about my marriage and moves back and forth to Israel, where I never wanted to live. My question is since the webinar is 2AM my time, will it be taped so I can listen during daylight hours later? Thank you
Hi Jennifer,
It will be recorded! We hope to have it out via email tomorrow.
Kind Regards,
Erica
NAMW