2025 Book Tour Starts at Indigo Innes
Saturday, February 22, 12pm – 3pm
I have so many to thank for an amazing 2024 — and the medical and journalistic acclaim for Becoming Comfortably Numb: A Memoir on Brain-Mending is helping create many opportunities for 2025 and beyond. Here are a few highlights:
My book launch, held on September 21, 2024, in collaboration with Bruyère Health, was a great success. Bruyère’s Dr. Finestone talked about neuroplasticity – how our brains never stop trying to forge new pathways – and the importance for stroke rehab patients to seek continued support in their communities after discharge so that they can continue to improve.
I also had my first book signing at Books on Beechwood on November 9, 2024. Such a thrill!
On December 3, 2024, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, The Ottawa Citizen published an excerpt from Chapter 19 of Becoming Comfortably Numb about how I made it back into the workforce seven years after my second stroke.
And last but not least, in March 2025, the Heart and Stroke Foundation will be featuring me in a mini-blog on social media about stroke risks for women. They also recruited me as a member of their community consultation and review panel for best treatment practices for women with stroke in pregnancy/postpartum. A tremendous honour for me.
THANK YOU
- Jean-Pierre Allard, my husband and constant supporter
- The Self Publishing Agency (TSPA)
- Kathie Lynas, Editor
- Ashley Russell, Graphic Designer
- Dr. Christopher Skinner, Neurologist, Faculty of Medicine, UOttawa
- Dr. John Clifford, Physiatrist (retired)
- Dr. Peter Stys, Professor of Neurosciences, UCalgary
- Dr. Hillel Finestone, UOttawa Professor of Physiatry and Director of Stroke Rehab Research, Bruyère Health
- Anick Sabourin, Director of Marketing and Donor Loyalty, Bruyère Foundation
- Christina Spencer, Editorial Pages Editor, The Ottawa Citizen
- Ken Warren, Journalist, The Ottawa Citizen
- Geneviève Maurice, photographer
- Mike Carroccetto, photographer
- Pascale Milne, Lucie Hemstead and Lise Sévigny, pre-reading/book launch support
- Occo Kitchen, Orléans
- Megan Sutherland, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Barrie, ON
- Rebecca Lund, Stephanie Tesseyman and Kim Rupnarain, Heart & Stroke Foundation
- Books on Beechwood
- Singing Pebble Books
- Perfect Books
UPCOMING 2025 BOOK SIGNINGS (so far)
Saturday, February 22, 12pm to 3pm: Indigo Innes, Orleans
Saturday, March 8, 12pm to 3pm: The Book’s Better, Smiths Falls ON
And more to come …
IDEAS FOR 2025
This year, I’m especially looking forward to meeting with 55+ communities, caregivers, book clubs, guesting on podcasts, interviews and doing road trips with Jean-Pierre to bookstores for readings, Q & As, and book signings.
If you have any ideas for me or ways to recommend Becoming Comfortably Numb within your community, please reach out to me at cathyallard50@gmail.com. I would be delighted to follow up!
I LOVE To Talk About:
- Never saying never
- Celebrating the small stuff
- How positivity changes everything
- Empowerment – how to better understand your health issues to help yourself
- Managing chronic pain
- Invisible disabilities
- Accessibility
- Forty years of neuroplasticity
My goal continues to be getting my book into the hands of everyone who carries a heavy load and needs inspiration to lighten it.
Sending love, laughter and gratitude,
Cathy xo
