Cerebral Palsy: A Story By Ilana Estelle Book Tour

Join us for this tour from May 17 to Jun 4, 2021!

Book Description:

Born the second of premature twins, Ilana knew she was different from a young age, but for all the wrong reasons. Part memoir, part motivational guide, this is Ilana’s open and honest journey, from an angry confused child, knowing something was wrong, but not knowing what, to the ‘real’ her – a courageous woman using her experiences and lessons to create inspiring messages about mental and physical health, positivity, resilience and change. 

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.UK
B&N ~ BAM ~ IndieBound ~ Waterstones
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Enter the Giveaway: 

 
Cerebral Palsy: ‘A Story’ Finding the Calm After the Storm Book Tour Giveaway

Author Interview

You refer to your website The CP Diary in your book, how many times do you write for that?

I add new content to my blog daily. What started out as a blog for me has turned into so much more, it helps others too.

Also, 11 years into a disability I didn’t know I had, I am still learning new things about myself, about my disability. It was only in January 2019, at the age of 56 that I found out I had autism too. It has changed the way I look at what I deal with mentally and emotionally and it is the reason why I continue to write as often as I do, wanting to learn more. I never stop learning, wanting to find out more about myself.

Do you have a writing schedule?

I have never tied myself into a writing schedule, but I do write daily for the blog. Writing can be quite addictive, so the more I write, the more I want to write.

Also, the more I write, the more I want to know about myself, the more that helps me get to know me, the more I want to write and learn more.

How original and unique is your book?

Finding out about my disability at the age of 46 even though I was originally diagnosed at 2, makes ‘my story’, what I have written original and unique. The way I have written the book, from a universal perspective, also makes my book original and unique. It doesn’t matter what I deal with or what someone else deals with, we can all relate to what I write.

Your book contains several quotes from famous people – which is your favourite and why?

The serenity prayer, by Reinhold Niebuhr below is my all-time favourite quote:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

I love the words, because they’re simple, deep and powerful. I also love it because this quote holds true for me in my life, with my experiences and through my disability journey.

How did writing your book put any demons to rest?

Writing my blogs for @thecpdiary, was the start of the process of me coming to terms with my experiences and putting some of my past experiences to rest. Writing my book Cerebral Palsy: ‘A Story’ was the other part of the process. Up until that point, although I had a name for my disability, I didn’t understand how I presented or what that meant.   I have had to work hard at piecing the symptoms of my disability, my experiences and my life together. I needed to understand how I presented, and for others to understand me.  I believe being able to rationale and understand your life are an important part in the healing process and putting some of those demons to rest.