Alex Cownie

Talk about showing up for what you believe in…

Writing this current book for me has been like an ultra-marathon that lasted for years… Challenging me mentally, emotionally and physically and demanding discipline, endurance, self-belief, a village of friends sending the most supportive messages (100% essential to the process to be honest!), an abundance of tea, months of 3-4am wakeups to write a few hours before “real work” began, a bit of delusional literary capabilities, a lot of time spent reading books when I knew I should be writing but also knowing that reading improves my skills, a go-to shirt and Zoom background to use for interviews and all promo recordings, a storyline made as complex as possible to increase the challenge (what was I thinking?!), a lot of failed attempts and rubbish parts that took weeks to write and rewrite, only to end up in the “cut sections” folder, until one day, I miraculously ended up with a 350 pages manuscript that’s mostly presentable.

This is where I’m at. And am now drowning myself in other work and train twice a day to not go crazy while I await my first rounds of feedback before I make my final edits before finally seeking publication.

It’s all about the process they said. And they were right. It’s awful and awesome all at once. A bit like life itself really.

Can’t wait to do it again and already planning the sequel and a historical fiction novel after that! Anyone interested?😎❤️

10 years fighting impossible odds and I’m standing now stronger than ever.

Ten years ago a virus killed my left ear and severely damaged my vestibular nerves… leaving me near dead and unable to sit down or walk.

I was told I’d be lucky to walk properly again let alone exercise, I was told it’d be hard to work, live, raise my kids, travel, live an active and fun life…

Life shrunk to something unbearable. Trapped inside a body that didn’t work anymore after being a professional athlete was the most painful experience of my life.

Besides my husband and children, everything else was lost. Passion, businesses, livelihood, ability to use my body normally, dreams of travels and adventures, even reading a book made me sick.

After spending a few months feeling very sorry for myself I started to ignore the prognosis and fight. An insanely stubborn, hardcore, and disciplined attitude pulled through to the other end.

This was the type of challenge that breaks most - as it almost did me many times along the way.

It took me 3 years to handle an hour of yoga without curling into a ball and feeling sick for hours afterwards.

Another 2 years to walk 5k alone without needing to be pickup half way.

First movie in a theatre was after 6 years.

First concert was after 9 years and despite loving it, I left curled up on the grass, so desoriented that my amazing husband .cownie had to support me the entire way back to the hotel.

This week, it’s no small deed to be leaving AC/DC standing (barely and with help - but still standing!!) after 10 years of pain, suffering, heartbreaks, deep deep deep despair and loss of hope and desire to keep living.

Today I am still here. Still fighting. Editing the last sections of my memoir that is already deeply affecting the lives of my early readers and closest friends I’ve shared sections with. ❤️

I’ll always be deaf.
I’ll always have severe vestibular nerve damage.
I’ll continue to feel sick every single morning a the gym.
But I’ll never stop living life. Never ever again. 🤘🏻

As a native French speaker having learned English on the go, it’s always been particularly confronting to step up on a stage and share my stories with an accent and no formal training.

Whether it is business innovations or snippets from my life that people ask me to share, no matter how silly or at ease I might look on stag, it’s always - always - challenging and uncomfortable.

But the impact me facing my fears has had on people’s lives is what keeps me going. Even though I’m off stage at the moment editing my next book, I still get regular messages from people I’ve worked with telling me how something I said made such a difference in their lives. And every time I pinch myself to be this lucky to live a life of service to others and use my deepest pains, experiences and often traumas to help others be stronger, more resilient and brought back to the light, even in a little way.

Thank you for listening and giving me the chance to be there for you. I love you, all of you, and care more than I can ever express in words. You also give me hope and I’m forever grateful. ❤️

P.S. Trying to live by example the fact that although motherhood changes everything, it doesn’t have to stop you living a full life. And if it comes to it, bring your baby ok stage with you. Whatever it takes! 😉❤️

Often missing a younger life spent in dance studios and on stages around the world. The world of ballet has changed a lot (for the better) since I was in it and feel deeply grateful to have had the chance and opportunity to know in and be recognised in it for a little while. This past life definitely makes up for great stories… 😉 🩰 💃 So much so that an entire chapter of my next book relates to it! 📚

How am I supposed to wait for book #4 now?! 🙀

That was a fun few weeks of reading… Thanks .twistedplotevents for the recommendation and new book release! You’re the absolute best. Very very cool reads. 🥰⭐️⭐️⭐️

you’re a star and aspiration to greatness. You have my gratitude for your generous and inspired creations! 🙏 🌟

Wonderful novel. Pairs well with a spiced tea on a picnic rug. 🍵📚

The only way to nap! 🥱 💤 🐶