Author Q&A With Babs Walters
As a domestic violence and sexual abuse survivor, Babs Walters has devoted much of her adult life to raising understanding and awareness of the long-term effects of generational trauma, breaking the chain. She has conducted trainings for the past 30 years on Women’s Empowerment, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination, helping women speak up and out for themselves.
Her compelling story invites survivors to share theirs through oral histories, journal writing workshops, peer groups and role plays. Her goal is to support women in confronting and healing from trauma associated with domestic violence and sexual assault. Her work shines a light in dark places, educating where taboo subjects still exist. Meet Babs:
You are an author, but is it your day job? If not, what fills your days? My calling is as an author, advocate, speaker, and survivor. Having finally found the voice I was meant to share, I get the word out regularly about the harm in keeping family secrets. This healing comes from understanding generational trauma and new ways to keep all children safe. In addition, I am a certified Jazzercise Instructor and teach three cardio sculpt classes every week.
Did you always want to be an author? Yes. I loved reading as a child. Getting lost in books helped me escape the reality of my everyday circumstances. I did write articles for publication when my children were young. But had to wait for the freedom of time and resources for writing books. Facing the Jaguar is my second.
What is your most recent book, and what inspired you to write it? Facing the Jaguar – A Memoir of Courage and Confrontation is my most recent book. I actually made the decision to write it when I was eleven years old and I came across the definition of what was happening to me in an encyclopedia. The experts were telling me something meaningless and adding to my pain. Feeling all alone in the world, I made a promise to myself that one day I would write a book so some other little girl would not feel so all alone.
How do you hope your book uplifts those who read it? I have learned that healing is a journey. Not a destination. Even though the book is a coming-of-age memoir, my personal journey and perspective have covered eight decades. Reading about all the obstacles that my childhood heroines had to overcome, fueled me. I knew that I just had to stay the course. Things would work out in the end. My message is that it is never too late to find your voice.
What are you most excited about with this book? My vulnerability in sharing my story has allowed others to come forward and speak of theirs. Discovering that other families have secrets too. Not necessarily the same as mine. Secrets like a family member’s suicide. An alcoholic parent. A disabled sibling. An institutionalized aunt. Supporting these family secret keepers has shown me an additional purpose and meaning for writing this book.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to succeed in your professional industry? As an author, there are two different skill sets needed to succeed. Writing consists of putting words onto the page. But the business of writing requires marketing your book. One can be done as an introvert. The other requires stepping out of our comfort zone and stretching even further. Your book is not done when you finish your edits and revisions. Hang on for the next ride.
How do you handle setbacks and criticism? Having been raised in a highly critical home, I am sensitive to criticism or negative feedback. My solution is to have a lot of possibilities out in the world so that the rejection does not hurt too much. I query, ask and apply for more than I need. It takes work. But I’m also getting loads of acceptance and positive feedback at the same time as the negative.
How do you hold yourself accountable and achieve the goals that you set forth? I am fortunate to be part of a memoir cohort that is supportive, encouraging and sharing. We learn from and teach each other. Since writing is done in isolation, being part of a community works well for me. I also tend to be a perfectionist. At some point, I have to give myself permission to let go even though I could keep working on a project.
What do you find most fulfilling in the career you’ve chosen? I have been taught that it is my responsibility to repair the world. There are too many problems these days for me to address them all. So, I focus on my corner of the world. Every time someone comes up to me after I give a talk and tells me what a difference it made to them, I know I am in the right place, on the right corner.
What book uplifts you? This is an impossible question for a lover of books to choose just one. Here are a few that I read recently and uplifted me. Stephanie Foo’s What My Bones Know, Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle (Reread it), Tara Westover’s Educated, and Dr. Lindsay Gibson’s Adult children of Immature Parents.
Connect with Babs and learn more about her and her books via her website.
