Help Liza Get Certified & Build Her Future!

Seeking Support to Complete the Certification Program to Become a Book & Writing Coach!

Dear Friends,

Have you ever had that defining moment in your life when all of your talents, interests and experiences line up and you’re presented with an opportunity to fulfill your life’s work?

That moment is finally here for me right now — and I need your help to make it happen!

I’ve spent much of this year learning all about the profession of Book/Writing Coach and the outstanding Author Accelerator Certification program*. I’m ready to take the plunge to begin the training and become certified, which will equip and empower me to launch my own successful coaching and teaching practice.

However, given the last few years with the pandemic, plus what happened to me early in 2022, I can not afford the course fees, but the sooner I am certified, the sooner I’ll be serving clients!

If you know me, you know I’ve run multiple personal and professional gauntlets over the course of my life**, you know I’ve somehow managed to overcome (and am still working to overcome) so many insurmountable-seeming obstacles, and you know I’d much rather give help than ask for it.

Things Were Finally Looking Up for my 3rd Life-Rebuild—

In late September 2021, things were finally looking up. After being aggressively recruited (it felt like a courtship!), I’d just landed an incredible full-time job in Patient Engagement with the promise of stable employment and belonging, and finally, the means to soon be able to afford to rent a 1-bedroom of my own. I was living frugally, setting aside money in savings and sending monthly amounts to help my mother. Taking the job meant losing my other consulting clients, but I was now a full-time employee…

One of the Most Difficult Years of my Life—

It’s a good thing I didn’t move right away — the company switched course out of the blue, and at the beginning of 2022 I (and a few others) was summarily laid off with neither notice nor severance. The whiplash of this sudden dismissal slammed me into one of the most devastating and prolonged mental health crises I’ve ever experienced. Among other things, it awakened the mentally crippling PTSD/emotional flashbacks from when I spent several years homeless (couch-surfing, petsitting, etc) due to the financial toxicity*** of 3 cancer diagnoses.

Excited for New Possibilities—

While grappling with the demons, I began to work on my recovery, sustained by the love, care, compassion, patience, understanding, and generosity of soul of the many amazing people in my life. Along the way I re-dedicated myself to my art practice and to creating a career path that truly empowers all of me. I sought out resources, took all the free webinars, and earned scholarships to two fantastic, intensive writing workshops. And, that’s how I discovered this certification program!

I am so excited about this program! Over the last 30 years, I’ve worked in many settings and had many different job titles, but there has always been one thing in common: facilitating the communication of stories and ideas that impact the world. For instance, my work as an advocate has always focused on telling meaningful stories (often in innovative ways) that break down silos, foster understanding, promote education and empowerment, and accelerate change — and on helping others do the same.

Building a Sustainable, Healthy, and Meaningful Future—

My dream is to keep building a new sustainable (and fun!) future for myself by supersizing the deep experience I’ve had as a writer/editor/facilitator/mentor with the practical tools I’ll acquire via Certification. With that I will fulfill my larger dream which is to foster connection and repair. As such, I wholeheartedly endorse what Jennie Nash, founder of Author Accelerator, says about being a Book Coach:

“We write because we are called to do it. We write to raise our voice. We write because making art of any kind often makes us feel alive. We write to have an impact on people, to engage readers, to get them to think and perhaps act. (...) I believe that helping writers do this work — the work of their heart and the work of their soul — is good, noble work. Helping people get clarity around their thoughts, share their stories and their perspectives, and invite others to see the way they see the world is one of the ways we can rise above the noise and reveal our humanity.”

Please help me launch this next phase of my work life so that I can provide for myself and create the stability I need to finally thrive after all these many years in survival mode.

The target amount will cover fees for certification in Fiction, the Memoir Master Class, and allow for future certification in Non-Fiction. Any amounts received over the goal will go towards gofundme fees, upgrading my aging tools (phone, computer, etc).

Thank you so much for supporting me with whatever amount is easily feasible for you—no amount is “too small”! And if you aren’t in a position to donate, no worries and no pressure! Encouragement, and/or sharing with your networks is much appreciated!

Warmly,

Liza

PS: Links to learn more (gofundme doesn’t seem to allow direct linking):

*Author Accelerator Book Coaching:

https://www.bookcoaches.com/what-is-book-coaching

**Personal essay in Cancer Today Magazine “On Cancer and Identity:

The first time Liza Bernstein was diagnosed with cancer, she wouldn’t allow it to be part of her identity. After her third cancer diagnosis, she became an advocate for other patients”:

https://www.cancertodaymag.org/cancer-talk/On-Cancer-and-Identity/

***Article on the financial toxicity of cancer featuring my story: “Cancer, Bankruptcy and Death: Study Finds a Link”:

https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2016/01/cancer-bankruptcy-death-study-financial-toxicity.html