My Unfurling: Emerging from the Grip of Anxiety, Self-Doubt, and Drinking
a Blog Tour
A memoir by Lisa May Bennett. A book about rethinking her relationship with alcohol and the beginning of her journey to Sobriety.
Building Self-Confidence through Sobriety and Writing
By Lisa May Bennett, author of My Unfurling: Emerging from the Grip of Anxiety, Self-Doubt, and Drinking
When I was about eight years old, I was afraid to call my best friend’s house. She had an older brother, and I was terrified that he would answer the phone and I would have to speak to him, even if it was only to ask for my friend.
I don’t know how it all started, but once I accepted that I was a shy kid, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. As one of the smallest kids in my class, I was often teased by my peers, so it’s understandable that I was self-conscious about my appearance. But I honestly can’t tell you where the idea came from that I was going to say something stupid and nearly die of embarrassment. I knew I was smart, and yet I was convinced that there was something wrong with me—something that would come out eventually and mark me for life.
An awkward book report in front of English class or a group of kids not letting me sit with them at lunch were serious setbacks.
Like many teens, I started going to parties and drinking at the age of 16. Alcohol offered sweet relief to my timid soul. Suddenly I could talk to boys and act silly in front of other kids. But was that girl really me?
My drinking habits solidified in college and my early 20s. Alcohol became tightly woven into my life, and it stayed that way for decades. My dream of becoming a published author receded from possibility. I turned to drinking when I was nervous, sad, excited, bored—you name it. Alcohol was my all-purpose mood enhancer. I had a lot in my life to be happy about, and yet I was running on autopilot.
It was as if a vital part of me was buried under ground, waiting for nourishment and light. When I finally decided to quit drinking, that part began to emerge.
Without the false courage generated by alcohol, I started to build real, organic confidence. I found myself doing things that scared me, and then when the world didn’t end, even if I messed up, I grew stronger.
This newfound faith in myself allowed me to finally pursue a career as an author. Writing my book was a way of looking back at that unsure little girl and seeing all the possibility in her.
I made the decision to self-publish my first book, and the process of preparing my manuscript for publication helped me develop a whole new level of self-assurance.
Now, when I go to events to promote my book, I enjoy talking with people. I can’t say that I’ve turned into the ultimate extrovert, but I am far from that shy girl who was afraid to phone her best friend.
I owe this gradual unfurling to my decision to remove alcohol from my life. The results might be slow, but they are genuine. Each step in my journey has helped prepare me for the next step, and I look forward to what’s still to come.
Book Summary
Wicked hangovers. Scary blackouts. Ugly fights with friends. The results of binge drinking weigh heavily on Lisa May Bennett. She tries repeatedly to savor “just a few” glasses of wine—only to find herself passed out on the couch again.
Lisa has a bucket list full of exciting adventures with zero check marks next to them. Her anxiety and self-doubt are crying out for real solutions, not more booze. And her dream of becoming a published writer is fading away. She worries that her love of a good buzz will keep her stuck in this rut. Can she take charge of her life, or is she headed for a disastrous rock bottom?
This touching and funny memoir explores the childhood experiences that paved the way for Lisa’s drinking habit. She examines her complicated relationship with her mother, her experiences as a late bloomer, and her ongoing search for validation. In an engaging and relatable voice, the author shares how she began to “unfurl” without alcohol holding her back. But will she stay sober and discover how to truly thrive?
Anyone wondering if they’ll ever burst out and follow their dreams will find My Unfurling compelling and hopeful.
ISBN-13: 9798985875003
ASIN: B09WZJXBCZ
Print length: 266 pages
Purchase a copy of My Unfurling on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author
Lisa May Bennett is the author of the memoir My Unfurling: Emerging from the Grip of Anxiety, Self-Doubt, and Drinking. She had a flourishing career in marketing and communications for more than two decades before finally embracing sobriety and chasing her dream of becoming an author. Her upcoming book will demystify the self-publishing process, and she hopes to encourage more people to tell and publish their own stories.
You can follow Lisa May Bennett at;
https://www.lisamaybennett.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lisamaybennett
https://twitter.com/lisamaybennett
https://www.instagram.com/lisamaybennett
Blog Tour Calendar
October 30th @ The Muffin
Join us at WOW while we celebrate the launch of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett. Read an interview with the author and enter for your chance to win a copy of her book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
October 30th @ Book Q&As
Visit Deborah’s blog for a Q&A with author Lisa May Bennett.
http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/
November 2nd @ A Slice of Life
Visit Linda’s blog for a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about being a caregiver for an aging parent while trying to stay sober.
November 3rd @ The Faerie Review
Lily shares a spotlight of My Unfurling on her blog.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
November 5th @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra for her spotlight of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
November 7th @ Sweet Silly Sara
Visit Sara’s blog for her review of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
https://www.sweetsillysara.com/
November 10th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about how her writing deepened and solidified her sobriety.
November 11th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for a spotlight of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
November 13th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Join Lisa for her interview with Lisa May Bennett, author of My Unfurling
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
November 15th @ Freeing the Butterfly
Visit Michelle’s blog featuring a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about how anxiety played a part on her reliance on alcohol.
https://www.freeingthebutterfly.com/blog
November 17th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole’s blog for a review of My Unfurling.
https://worldofmyimagination.com
November 18th @ Book Room Review
Don’t miss a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about how being sober has helped her build self confidence and pursue my dreams.
http://www.bookroomreviews.com/
November 20th @ Word Magic
Join Fiona’s blog for a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about why your life doesn’t have to be completely falling apart in order to benefit from giving alcohol the boot.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
November 23rd @ Cheryl M-M’s Book Blog
Visit Cheryl’s blog for her review of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
https://mmcheryl.wordpress.com/
November 25th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Don’t miss a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about breaking old patterns and talking back to the voices inside her head.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
November 27th @ Jenny Bilskie Smith
Visit Jenny’s Instagram page for her review of My Unfurling.
https://www.instagram.com/jenny_bilskie_smith/
November 28th @ Writer Advice
B. Lynn Goodwin shares her review of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
November 29th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole’s blog for a guest book reviewer who will be sharing their thoughts about Lisa May Bennett’s memoir My Unfurling.
https://worldofmyimagination.com/
November 30th @ The Mommies Reviews
Glenda reviews My Unfurling, a memoir by Lisa May Bennett.
http://www.themommiesreviews.com/
December 1st @ Fancy That!
Visit Nicole’s blog for a guest post by Lisa May Bennett about going sober in middle age after decades of drinking.
December 3rd @ Nita Sweeney’s blog
Join Nita for her review of My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett.
Visits: 17
Nicole Pyles
Great review!