Dr. Lise Deguire, a clinical psychologist in private practice and author of the critically-acclaimed memoir Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience from a Burn Survivor, was awarded the prestigious 2020 Nautilus Gold Award and recognized as a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Each of these competitions attracts hundreds of entries from around the world.
To celebrate this achievement of Deguire, who The Times previously interviewed, Commonplace Reader, 65 S. Street in Yardley will host her for a special book signing event on June 5, from 2 to 3 p.m.
“Flashback Girl has been a bestseller at Commonplace Reader for the last six months,” said owner Liz Young. “We are honored to host Dr. Deguire on this special occasion.”
The Nautilus Book Awards recognize “better books for a better world.” The core mission is to celebrate and honor books that support conscious living and green values, high-level wellness, positive social change and social justice, and spiritual growth.
Flashback Girl is a natural fit for this award. Deguire recounts her painful life experiences to inspire those who suffer life’s challenges to maintain hope and keep pushing on, despite seemingly insurmountable hurdles. She interweaves her clinical expertise with stories from her own childhood and adult life to provide important resilience techniques that anyone undergoing hardships can employ.
“This award places my book in the company of highly esteemed authors, whose works, according to Nautilus, ‘can help point us in the direction of greater wholeness.’ Previous recipients of the Nautilus Book Awards include Deepak Chopra, Barbara Kingsolver, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Erdrich, Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said Deguire. “I am truly humbled to be selected to represent my memoir among such great authors and thought leaders.”
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest international nonprofit award program for independent authors and publishers. Flashback Girl was named a finalist in the personal memoir category.
At the age of 4, Deguire was third degree burned over 65 percent of her body, a result of both maternal and corporate negligence. Against the odds, she lived through this injury, enduring countless surgeries and extended hospital stays. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and lost four members of her family to suicide. Despite these life challenges, Deguire has forced a triumphant path toward love, health and life satisfaction. She is happily married with two daughters. She waited 50 years to tell her story, until her entire family of origin had died.
She is a national keynote speaker and has appeared as a resilience expert on national radio and regional television. She also writes a blog for Psychology Today and has been featured in numerous national publications and podcasts.
Flashback Girl is available in paperback, as an eBook and audiobook. Visit lisedeguire.com for more information.
