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Jennifer Gasner's debut memoir, My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis, has been honored with the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Book of the Year. This accolade recognizes outstanding achievements in nonfiction literature, and celebrates Gasner's candid and raw exploration of life with a progressing disability.
Published on September 7, 2023, My Unexpected Life has fascinated readers and critics alike, earning raving reviews and multiple recognition. According to The Chrysalis BREW Project, “Gasner’s candid exploration of navigating life beyond a diagnosis is not only deeply personal but universally relatable. With grace and vulnerability, she invites readers into her world and offers profound insights on finding balance amidst life’s unexpected challenges. This book is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for growth, healing, and transformation.”
The acclaimed book chronicles Jennifer’s journey from a shocking diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, to finding strength and acceptance within the disability community. At seventeen, she faced the life-altering news that she would lose much of her physical independence. Her memoir details her struggle with sadness, denial, and alienation as her condition progressed. In college, she initially turned to alcohol and a toxic relationship to cope. However, a friendship with rock star Dave Matthews became a turning point, helping her understand that life in a wheelchair doesn't mean a life without meaning or joy. Jennifer's story is a testament to resilience, highlighting the importance of disability culture and community.
Jennifer’s passion for disability culture was ignited through her work with Independent Living Centers and further developed during her tenure as a mentor for What's Next, a program for youth with disabilities. She also served as co-chair of UC San Diego's Staff Association for staff with disabilities. As an ambassador for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), Gasner has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the condition, participating in Rare Across America to advocate for legislation supporting the over 25 million Americans living with rare diseases.
In addition to the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award, Gasner's work has received numerous other accolades, solidifying her role as a vital voice in contemporary memoir writing. Here are her latest book awards:
- • Book of the Year, BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award, The Chrysalis BREW Project, 2024
- • Autobiography of the Year, BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award, The Chrysalis BREW Project, 2024
- • Women’s Memoir of the Year, BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award, The Chrysalis BREW Project, 2024
- • Personal Transformation Book of the Year, The Chrysalis BREW Project, 2024
- • Red Ribbon, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, 2024
- • Gold Book Award, Literary Titan, 2024
- • Finalist, Memoir, National Indie Excellence Awards, 2024
- • Finalist, Memoir, Eric Hoffer Awards, 2024
- • Notable 100 Book, Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition, 2023
- • Honorable Mention, Biography/Autobiography, Hollywood Book Festival 2023
Here are Jennifer’s author awards:
• Author of the Month, San Diego Public Library, April 2024
• Member of the Month, International Memoir Writers Association, September 2023
Read the full BREW review of the book here: https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/2024/04/27/editorial-review-my-unexpected-life-finding-balance-beyond-my-diagnosis-by-jennifer-gasner/.
Know more about the BREW Seal of Excellence and the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards via https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/the-brew-awards/.
Read more about Jennifer’s story in an exclusive interview on The World’s Best website.
Jennifer and her book were also featured on the front cover of The World’s Best Magazine, which is now available in Kindle and paperback via Amazon. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBC51SCQ.
More About the Book
My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis is not just a memoir; it's an inspiring tale of courage, love, and finding one's true self amidst life's most challenging circumstances. This award-winning work is available in paperback and digital formats.
To get your book copy, visit the author's website here: https://jennifergasner.com/.
More About the Author
Jennifer Gasner holds a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and an MS in recreation from Western Illinois University. She is a member of the San Diego Memoir Writers Association, and her writing has been featured in Shaking the Tree, volumes 3 and 4. When not writing, Gasner enjoys yoga, movies, and traveling with her boyfriend Gregory and their dog.
