The Courage to Tell Your Story

Our appreciation to Kimberley Mullins for writing this summary of Kandra Albury’s talk.

Kandra Albury, president and founder of Kids ‘n Capes,* said to Writers Alliance members and guests, “You must have the courage to tell your story,” emphasizing how sharing one’s story empowers others.

She grew up in a single-parent household, one of five children. Her mother’s goal for them all was to graduate from high school and go to college or into the military.

She chose college and, after graduating, started her career in journalism. However, that wasn’t her love. She asked herself, “Why write other people’s stories, when I can write my own?“ Hence her first book, From Food Stamps to Favor, a memoir of her journey as a child in a single-parent home and a victim of sexual abuse.

After the publication of her memoir, she turned her attention to marketing the book. With a background in journalism, she reached out to many channels. She went out on a limb, proposing her book to the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) because she felt the book would inspire others in the church setting, mainly because it is a place where victims and predators co-exist. Unfortunately, CBN was not interested. But a month or so later, they called her and asked for an interview.

Next, Albury ventured into writing children’s books to make youngsters aware of sexual predators. First in The Feisty Four Children’s Book Series is Don’t You Dare Touch Me There. This book makes kids aware of predators and how to get the courage to fight back. At her presentations in schools, she gives each child a cape for the new superpower, Courage. The other two books in the series, Leave Us Alone You Mean ‘Ole Bully!! and No! address bullying and drugs. The later book was dear to her heart, she said, since her older sister became addicted to drugs.

Passionate about writing, Albury teaches a class at Santa Fe College, “Let’s Write Your Book Now.” And during her talk, she highlighted ten important tips for writing:

1. 1. Schedule time to write. Don’t just make time.
   2. Set a deadline.
   3. Have an accountability partner.
   4. Enjoy the process and all that comes with it.
   5. List all of your chapter titles or at least seven, so if you have writer’s block later, you can move on to another chapter.
   6. Write about what makes you, you — your passion.
   7. Tell your story unapologetically.
   8. Include humor, pain, fear, and shame.
   9. Invest in your project: you must be the first investor.
   10. Don’t forget marketing: Business cards/Flyers/Promo cards/Social Media – It’s up to you to get your name out there.

Albury serves as Training Facilitator for Darkness to Light, a non-profit organization committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse. Her literary and children’s advocacy work has been featured in numerous print publications and on television networks such as WCJB-TV-20 and WUFT,

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* Kids’n Capes, Inc., is a sustainable non-profit whose mission is to prevent and raise community awareness of child sexual abuse, bullying, and illegal drug use.