From Sex Appeal To Self Appeal
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 18th, 2014
Good morning!
I love when I get to see the passion and courage of a woman, tell her story about her own life experiences, and through her journey she inspires and empowers other women and girls. Now, that’s my kind of girl. And that’s the heart of Susan Bremer O’Neill.
“Self-Appeal – All relationships start with the relationship you have with yourself.”
~Susan Bremer O’Neill
I met Susan almost 2 years ago at a business course that we both attended along with many other incredible women entrepreneurs. Susan is a lovely woman, with a soft-spoken voice, a bright, beautiful smile, and a set of piercing blue eyes that lets you know she is tuned in and listening to your every word. We kept in touch and through various networking events and one-to-one conversations I got to know Susan on a more personal level. And…I discovered that she had a story inside of her to tell.
And tell it she does, in her new memoir. I haven’t read it yet, but if the title intrigues you, read on…no doubt her story will too.
From Sex Appeal to Self Appeal: One Woman’s Journey to Recover Her Body, Her Sexuality, Her Self
What happens when a middle-aged scientist gets sober, then embarks on a second career—as a stripper?
This is the story of one woman’s sexual odyssey as she turns the microscope on herself and looks inward to determine what is real and what is not, what is merely dogma and childhood and cultural indoctrination.
Uprooted and shuffled around in a military family, Susan turned to drugs and boys. Although she was intelligent and beautiful outwardly, internally she was chaotic, confused, hollow, and disconnected. At 34 she sobered up. Then, desperate to escape her drab 12-year career in science and having bought into the culture’s fixation on appearance, sex, and money as a way to happiness, she became an exotic dancer. This is when “Vixen” was born and Susan’s real scientific journey began.
From Sex Appeal to Self Appeal chronicles Susan’s life as her sexually empowered, carefree night persona is pitted against her good girl, people-pleasing, repressed daytime self, and she confronts feeling and actions she always considered unacceptable. Her exploration grounds her in a morality and value system of her own choosing until her two selves merge. She learns how to stay grounded in and with herself and how to resurrect a relationship with her body, mind, and sexuality that will serve her well for the rest of her life. Susan’s story is a powerful and compelling memoir about sexuality, self-respect, and Self-Appeal.
*****
Pretty cool and captivating huh? Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what a few other women are saying about Susan’s book:
“I recommend every woman who is struggling with self worth to read this book It takes you on a personal journey of low self esteem to having what the author calls “self appeal.” It will change your life It changed mine.”
~Oleta Kay Ham, Author of Migrant Mother, the Untold Story
“What an amazing life story! Life lessons around every corner. I did not want to put it down!”
~Christine Baily
“Each woman’s sexual development and experiences are unique to her, but all women can identify with the feelings and the needs bared so skillfully here, no matter how different their own sexual experiences may have been. I was both moved and inspired by the book, and I only wish I had read it in my early twenties or late teens instead of in my early sixties. With soulful honesty and a tender vulnerability, she shares the story of a young girl turned woman searching for love, acceptance and meaning in both a successful career and a series of affairs, only to find real healing and her true self in some very unusual places and ways. Both suspenseful and satisfying, this book may well end up being required reading in many Sexuality 101 courses throughout the nation, as well it should, for its gritty reality coupled with sweetness and hard-won insights reveal necessary truths to males and females alike. It liberates, empowers and heals women in so many ways, but could also hold the key to helping men relate more successfully to women as well.”
~Carol Pinckney, MJC English Instructor
“With superlative writing skill, this author opens my consciousness to a very different life than the one most women readers have lived. Her intelligence, courage and stalwart confidence in the life she cuts out for herself have lifted my awareness into a sense of feminine power I had not previously known. Hers is a story well told and a life well-lived!”
~Shirley Irving
A magnificent journey that has gone full circle, proving that inner strength, diligence and discipline win over and over. There are so many wonderful life lessons – it doesn’t matter that her path was different from other women – what the author struggled with are what many of us struggle with at all ages, and we all can learn so much from this! Every woman (and men too!) should read this memoir. ~Karrin Dalton
♥ ♥ ♥
Readers: So…if you are inspired to dive in and read, I encourage you to pick up a copy through Amazon. And if you order today, and email Susan: susan@selfappeal.com, letting her know that you bought her book, you’ll get a special invitation for an exclusive virtual read and Q & A with Susan on April 4th! (And no, I am not getting a kickback for promoting Susan’s book. :) I’m just happy to do it because she is, after all, empowering women and girls through her own life experiences and lessons…and in my mind that’s good reason to give her blog time and my title of Wonderful Woman Of The World.
Thoughts? Comments? Blog me.
Peace & Love…you know what to do.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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March 20th, 2014 at 7:54 am
I love your advice Michelle, I’m buying this book today.
March 20th, 2014 at 7:55 am
Michelle, it has been mostly error of “trial & error” to post to your blog. If this gets in I just want to say that I wish I could be your friend.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:12 am
I will buy the book because you recommend it Michelle. I too would love to be your compadre.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:30 am
Bad news first: The Kochs just launched another brutal 3-state, $2.4 million attack, expanding into new must-win battlegrounds and bringing their total attack spending to $30 million.
The Washington Post now reports that there’s been “a shift in the battle for the Senate majority” — “what began as a toss-up has now tilted in favor of Republicans taking the Senate majority.” If we aren’t able to respond, it’ll lead to a painful loss for us.
But here’s the good news: our grassroots fundraising is on pace to match the Kochs’ $30 million dollar-for-dollar. This enormous accomplishment will BLINDSIDE Republicans who believe the Kochs will hand them the Senate and power our efforts to reverse the GOP’s momentum and STOP a takeover.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:37 am
I like this woman too Michelle. I ordered her book from Amazon. I can’t wait to get it.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:47 am
It was a great read. I recommend Susan’s Memoir to all young girls chumping at the bit to take on the world.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:50 am
Brilliant piece of writing. As a woman it inspired me to believe that men can’t control my mind while they control the laws that govern my freedom.
I feel more empowered by this author’s ability to expand my consciousness on what I can do if I am willing to face down those old stereotypes.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:53 am
Honestly, this book should be required reading for all teens male and female, but especially females.
It empowers women to see the possibilities and shows those of us who have felt that life is over because of our mistakes that it isn’t.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:54 am
If you give any book to your Sweet 16 for her birthday, make it this one. You will not be disappointed and she will thank you one day.