Inclusion, Diversity and encountering something different and unexpected. We all have reacted to different kinds of people and unexpected situations often with fear and unacceptance. Join blind World Trade Center survivor, No. 1 NY Times Bestseller and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe, Michael Hingson as he talks with thought leaders and others about our often blinding fear of inclusion and our resistance to change. Mike will explore the idea that no matter the situation or different kinds of people we encounter our own fears and prejudices often are the strongest barriers to moving forward. This podcast is presented by accessCast, an accessiBe initiative.
https://michaelhingson.com/
episode 191: Unstoppable Writer and Retired Military Officer with Kelly Thompson
Kelly Thompson comes from a multi-generation military family. Although, as she describes herself, she was a shy child who nevertheless wanted to follow in her parents’ footsteps and so joined the military at the age of 17. In high school she took military courses as part of her studies.
Even with all that military background in her family and in her studies she says she always wanted to write.
She retired from the military after eight years due to a broken leg that did not heal well. Kelly then went back to school as you will hear. She published her first book, Girls Need Not Apply, in 2019. It was about her life in the military. Her second book, Still I Cannot Save you, earlier this year. Both books have been quite successful. She is working on a third book, this time a thriller. I look forward to hearing more about it. Kelly has one of those indomitable spirits that, no matter what, keeps her going. She loves life as you will hear. I am sure you will be quite inspired by her attitude.
About the Guest: Dr. Kelly S. Thompson is a writer, educator and academic. She is also a retired logistics officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, medically released after an injury.
Kelly has an MFA and a PhD in Creative Writing, with research centered on representations of grief and trauma. She works as a mentor at the University of King’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction, lecturer, and author.
Her essays, poems, and fiction have appeared in literary magazines, trade publications, and anthologies, as well as publications such as Chatelaine, Maclean’s, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, _and more. Her memoir, _Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces, was an instant Globe and Mail bestseller and was listed as one of the top 100 Books of 2019 by the Globe and Mail. Her second memoir, _Still, I Cannot Save You: A memoir of sisterhood, love and letting go, _released in 2023 and was also an instant bestseller.
Ways to connect with Dr. Kelly:
kellysthompson.com kelly@kellysthompson.com www.facebook.com/KellySThompsonWritingandEditing Twitter: KellyS_Thompson Instagram: @kellysthompsonwriter
About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.
Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children’s Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s 2012 Hero Dog Awards.
https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/
accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/
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