Interviews

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Thank You, Next

Posted by jennifer gibson on Sunday, January 10, 2021, In : 2021 

I think that I speak for a lot of people that 2020 was an incredibly challenging year, more so for those of us with disabilities. As a deaf person being taken to the ER twelve times in a single year, I learned very quickly that hospitals are not very accommodating to patients like me since I rely on lip-reading, observing facial expressions and body language. Due to COVID, that changed the way I could understand the paramedics and medical staff since masks covered their faces and muffled thei...


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HOPE

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, In : August 2020 



As a child, I was always fascinated by the concept of heroes, such as Wonder Woman, Superman, the Million Dollar Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Bionic Woman. I loved how they could utilize their unique skills and super powers to help others. It was amazing how they were willing to tackle a challenge head-on by using their strengths even though they had their own share of limitations or disabilities. What was especially intriguing was discovering that the actor, Lou Ferrigno, from the Incredibl...


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Walk a mile in my shoes - COVID style

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, In : COVID - March 2020 

Going to the hospital this week for my spinal injections was a nightmare for someone like me with a profound hearing loss during the COVID crisis. Everywhere I looked, everyone was wearing a mask. This is the worst thing to do since I have absolutely no idea what is being said. I rely on lip reading as much as possible and need to see facial expressions. Fortunately, the staff that I deal with on a regular basis know me very well and were very understanding about my situation. They knew I was...


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Be true to yourself

Posted by jennifer gibson on Sunday, August 11, 2019, In : August 2019 

I have to admit that I’ve been seeing a prominent theme lately which I find interesting. It keeps popping up in so many unexpected ways, through music, books, tv shows and even Instagram! Last week has been all about loving ourselves, this time it’s showing love, kindness and respect to others. I wholeheartedly agree with that and already do it on a daily basis. I’m constantly showering people I meet with compliments whether it’s face to face, through Facebook or Instagram. I...


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Fab Five - Love Yourself

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, In : August 2019 

I’m sitting on the rooftop on a hot summer day, battling a bad cold and reading a new book by the Fab Five called “Queer Eye - Love Yourself”. Funnily enough, I've been seeing a lot of endorsement about loving ourselves which is a big sign for me since it’s also in many of BTS’s songs and videos. That’s saying something.

If you get a chance to peruse the book, grab it! It’s a worthwhile read with lots of fabulous advice and features an introspective look into the live...


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Queer Eye

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, July 22, 2019, In : July 2019 



I recently saw the newest episode (season four) of Queer Eye on Netflix and it immediately captured my attention. It was by far, my favourite since it was focused on overcoming disabilities. The transformation was truly incredible to witness! 

This episode, featureing Wesley Hamilton, a cross fit trainer who founded his own non-profit organization called “Disabled But Not Really” to help other people with disabilities feel empowered. He became paralyzed from the waist down after ...


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Five Feet Apart

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, July 18, 2019, In : July 2019 



I recently saw the movie Five Feet Apart and was pleasantly surprised by the story. It featured talented actors, Cole Sprouse from Riverdale and Haley Lu  Richardson, as 17 year old Cystic Fibrosis patients. Stella has learned to take take control of her life despite spending most of her time in the hospital. She figured out how to cope with disease by setting goals, big and small, to give herself a purpose. Everyday she sets out to achieve those goals which gives her the strength to keep goi...

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You're my light

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, In : July 2019 

One of my favourite bands, BTS, just released a phenomenal new song entitled “Lights” and it could not have come at a better time. 

After ending up in the ER, again, I relied on listening to BTS as a distraction from the severe pain I was in. I couldn’t have gotten through that night without the support of my dojo family. They were by my side through the entire ordeal and that gave me the strength to pull through it. 

I’ll admit that it took me longer than usual to recover...


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Leave a powerful impression

Posted by jennifer gibson on Sunday, October 7, 2018, In : October 2018 




“Leave a powerful energy impression.”

Those are the words of Gabrielle Bernstein, from her book “Miracles Now”. The timing couldn’t be more perfect since it’s Thanksgiving weekend here and it would’ve been my mother’s birthday today. I think it’s fitting that I came across that phrase since it’s a time of reflection. 

We are in a transition phase, moving from a humid summer to a cool fall, where the leaves are changing into bright shades of crimson, gold and orange. It...


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We're all in this together

Posted by jennifer gibson on Sunday, September 23, 2018, In : september 2018 

I recently came across this phrase by Gabrielle Bernstein "We're all in this together" and thought it was the right fit for today. It certainly feels true. In one of her chapters, she was discussing the need for us to let go of the anger and resentment from our past, especially from our childhood. I agree and this is exactly what I'm working on these days, learning to let go of situations that I have no control over. They are life lessons from when I was a child that focus too much on inequal...


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Pay it forward

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, In : August 2018 



In a world controlled by  corporate greed and massive consumerism, it’s not a surprise that there has been a monumental shift in the population towards a deeper sense of personal contentment. We’ve have grown tired of the fear tactic that is being used by the retail market, constantly making us think that they would run out of their products when in fact, they have too much on their hands that ends up in the landfills.

There is a growing sense of awareness and concerns about the welfare ...


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Embracing gratitude

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, July 9, 2018, In : July 2018 




Living in the city has given me a valuable lesson on finding new ways of embracing my life, which has changed considerably. And that’s a good thing. I’m no longer the same person I was before, I’ve gone through a spiritual metamorphosis where I feel more like a butterfly, free to explore my surroundings. 

Even though my routine is very different now and I’m still trying to figure out the best (ie: cheapest) grocery stores, restaurants and pet supplies, it’s an exciting venture for ...


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Symbol of Hope

Posted by jennifer gibson on Sunday, February 11, 2018, In : Feb 2018 




As the snow continues to fall outside during another winter storm, I’ve been spending time on Pinterest looking for new Supergirl wallpapers to use on my tablet. Yes, I’ll admit that I love that show, for so many personal reasons. I think it’s because I can relate to her. As someone with a hearing loss, I’m always searching for inspiration, someone to look up to and I find  that she is a great choice. 

Even though Supergirl is incredibly strong, fearless and determined to help others, ...

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Stronger

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, November 16, 2017, In : december 2017 


After seeing the latest Jake Gyllenhaal movie, Stronger, I walked away with a profound sense of recognition. I immediately connected with him, particularly at the point when he realizes the impact that he is having on others, simply by being determined to stay strong. Like many of us in the theatre, I left with tears in my eyes and struggled to maintain my composure in such a public place.

Mind you, there were numerous moments throughout the movie where I disagreed with the...


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Passengers

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, October 5, 2017, In : October 2017 

The last few months have proven to be an incredible challenge for me on many levels, particularly after the death of my mother. I've been doing a lot of soul searching, trying to figure out where I fit in and how to utilize my skills. I'm continuing to evolve and change as I go through this new journey. 

While my hearing loss has defined me and given me opportunities to adapt and grow as a person. It has also forced me to come out of my comfort zone, especially since I'm quite shy, and to come...
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Alumni interview!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, In : September 2017 



I was recently contacted by Sheridan College, the first college I attended right after high school. Much to my surprise, they wanted to interview me about my life. They came across one of my posts about the release of my fourth novel and wanted to know more. Needless to say, I was blown away by their genuine interest in my work. It's times like this that I wish my mother could've seen the article. I hope that I made her proud.

I have had people ask me why it's stories like this one that mean ...
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Perspectives

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, August 31, 2017, In : September 2017 

I recently stumbled across one of my mother's articles that she had written in 1993 where she talks about living with a disability - I thought that this was worthwhile sharing. She was a strong and independent woman, working full time as a psychologist and raising two teenagers. It's an insightful perspective into her life at that time and still applies to this day. 

While I was in high school, she had back surgery that left her with a permanent disability. No one really knows why her surgery...

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Moving Forward

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, In : May 2017 
After my mother's death, I spent a LOT of time perusing books dealing with grief and the afterlife. Thankfully, my mom already had an influx of books from her psychology practice. In fact, she had her own library full of them that filled the entire wall. Soon after she had crossed over, I began choosing a variety of cool topics including Destiny of Souls and Journey of Souls by Michael Newton (which were a heavy but fascinating read - much like cramming for college exams). 



I'd also delved int...
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More Bling please!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, April 8, 2017, In : April 2017 

(Earmold tubes - Etsy, BriteTubes)

After seeing numerous posts on Instagram featuring brightly decorated earmolds and hearing aids, I decided to contact Phonak and ask them where I could possibly get the colourful tubes for my BTE's. They offer a lot of gorgeous shades for their Sky V hearing aids which is for the Teen market that also gives them the freedom to pick a variety of hook and tube colours as well. Even though I do not wear Phonak, I was over the moon about their willingness to allo...
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New Life

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, In : April 2017 


After the sudden death of my mother, the world I knew shifted overnight. While reeling from her loss and scrambling to deal with the mountain of paperwork and funeral arrangements, it hit me in terms of just how much of a loss it was. There was now a huge void in my life. Even though we lived independent lives and ran our own home based businesses, we found a way to balance everything by helping each other. She was able to do things that I couldn't and I was there to pitch in whenever she nee...
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What do you mean?

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, January 9, 2017, In : January 2017 


To borrow the phrase from Justin Bieber's popular song "What do you mean?", I wanted to know the true meaning of the word "stigma". I reached for the heavy Dictionary and Thesaurus, flipped through the thick pages and found the description: a mark of disgrace or infamy associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. To go even further, according to the medical description it states: a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a defect or disease.

So what does that mean ...

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Bling up my hearing aids please!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, December 2, 2016, In : December 2016 



Everyone knows that hearing aids tend to look rather dull, after all, they are medical devices. While some companies provide a variety of colours, particularly for the kids, the majority offer a limited range, namely hair and skin tones. That’s fine for people who want to be discreet about their hearing loss. But what about the rest of us who have been wearing them for more than 20 or 30 years? We get bored, really quickly. Like myself, I discovered that it’s much more pr...


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Holiday fun

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, November 14, 2016, In : November 2016 


Now that Christmas is just around the corner and people are starting to put up their holiday lights, there have been a series of delightful commercials that are simply adorable. Some of they feature incredibly realistic CGI of animals and the overall story is as sweet as candy canes - definitely worth watching and sharing! They will melt your heart...go on and take a peek.

This brand new video is being featured on the JohnLewis website featuring Buster the Boxer who loves to jump.

http://www.j...
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Tools for life

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, In : july 2016 

I was recently informed about several nifty gadgets for people with disabilities and knew that I had to share it. Since there is still a sense of stigma surrounding physical disabilities, there are companies out there that are acutely aware of this and coming up with great products that allow us to be more at ease with using mobility aids. They are making great strides in producing innovative products that enable people with any type of disability to live their life as comfortably as possible...
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Awareness

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, In : july 2016 


There has been an noticeable shift in the awareness of mental health in recent years and it's a sign that it can affect anyone at any age or social class. I was reading an article about Prince Harry and was rather surprised by his admission that he has been struggling with several issues in his life.

He has always said he's straight forward and honest about himself, saying that "What you see is what you get with me," and that is amazing considering how well known he is to the public. Prince H...
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Psst! Wanna know a secret?

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, June 13, 2016, In : June 2016 
I've been working super hard lately at designing book covers and decided to treat myself to brand new versions for all of my books. It will be officially announced later this week as they go live at online bookstores around the world. That's not all! We will also be having a special re-release event on June 18 and there will be prizes! Isn't that awesome?

Here's a special sneak preview of the new covers - I hope you like them!



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Breaking news...

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, In : May 2016 


I saw the news this morning and had to share it, Deaf model and actor, Nyle DiMarco won the Mirror Ball in Dancing with the Stars! He's the first Deaf person to win this competition and this is a supremely HUGE step forward for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

I'm so freaking proud of this guy! With his extremely good looks, sweet charm and positive outlook on life, he has created an incredible opportunity for people like us by opening a lot of doors. He strongly believes in just being...
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United

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, May 23, 2016, In : May 2016 


The world is changing and our generation is witnessing this incredible shift. There seems to be a greater sense of awareness as a whole everywhere you look, bringing communities together in the true spirit of friendship and family. Events in the last few weeks have proven that on many levels, from friendly competition and banter between countries (US/Canada/UK) due to the Invictus Games as well as the forest fires in Fort McMurray (Alberta, Canada) where over 80,000 people were suddenly evacu...
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Finding HOPE

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, April 29, 2016, In : April 2016 



This week's theme is finding inspiration and hope. Today I saw a quote from Christopher Reeve that fit the bill perfectly. We live in a busy world and often we find ourselves feeling completely overwhelmed. Sometimes, that leads to neglecting time for ourselves, doing something kind to our heart and soul. We need to learn to set aside quiet moments of self reflection so that we can grow as a person, from the inside out.

It doesn't matter how you do it, whether it's going for a walk, meditatio...
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Whee!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, April 28, 2016, In : April 2016 


After Wentworth Miller, actor from Prison Break and Legends of Tomorrow, posted a deeply personal message about his struggles, it made me realize how important it was to be honest about it. He chose to move forward by sharing his thoughts and self care techniques through his social media which in turn is helping so many others. In my eyes, he's doing the right thing. He's showing us that there is no shame in being open about our daily struggles and talking about it.

Like him, that's one of th...
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Hooked on Glee

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, April 21, 2016, In : April 2016 


I had originally tried to watch Glee when it was first released several years ago and it didn't really blow my socks off despite what the critics and reviewers said. They kept raving about it and I failed to see why. At the time, my first impression was that it was rude, somewhat unpolished, and unethical. I did not appreciate the way people with disabilities were being portrayed. Yes, I realize that it was meant to reflect the good, bad and ugly aspects of high school, however, I found Coach...
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Golden Age

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, In : April 2016 


(Image by Valeriya Kutsan and Alexander Khokhlov)

No, I'm not talking about the Golden Years, I'm referring to the advancements in today's technology and awareness about disabilities that is simply groundbreaking. People like me with a hearing loss are living in the golden age of digital technology. 

There has never been a greater time in our lives for having so much access to digital devices that help us, such as texting and emails. The ability to communicate with more people has opened a lot...
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Beacon of HOPE

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, In : March 2016 


Living in the darkness is never easy, It's a constant struggle and a heavy weight on our shoulders. In a strange way, it's very much like being in a prison. It has been like this since I was very, very young. Just when I thought I had managed to escape from it, somehow, it finds a way back into my life when I least expect it. Lately, the burden seems heavier than usual.

I've been in the spotlight and public eye since I was a kid, primarily because of my hearing loss. I became a public speaker ...

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Flash forward

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, February 27, 2016, In : February 2016 


I swear I'm not that obsessed with one of the hottest shows, The Flash, but I know talent when I see it. This is such an inspirational show that most people who watch it with me continue to follow the series, it's that good. I am impressed with the incredible cast that is featured in it, especially one of the main stars, Grant Gustin. To have such a young person carry the weight and responsibility of a major hit show is truly remarkable. Fans of Glee would have been quick to recognize him, he...
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Accessible designer

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, February 26, 2016, In : February 2016 




Designer Tommy Hilfiger has finally introduced accessible clothing for children with disabilities. About damn time. Hopefully this will open more eyes in the clothing industry for even more products for people of all ages.

He joined forces with a non-profit organization called Runway of Dreams to produce shirts, pants and dresses that feature magnetic and velcro closures and adjustable sleeves. This is simply a brilliant idea and I know a lot of people who would greatly benefit from wearing t...
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A new hero

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, February 18, 2016, In : February 2016 




I know that I've mentioned this many times before but I will say it again: people with disabilities have the right to request a more accessible platform at school, work, sports, as well as services such as restaurants and theatres. They have every right to speak up about what services are creating a barrier that is preventing them from being included like everyone else. There cannot be any form of discrimination towards people with a disability. There is a law in place that helps enforce more...
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Lessons in life

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, In : 2016 



After wearing hearing aids for over 40 years, I've learned a lot. I'm fully aware of my limitations and what works for me. It's not necessarily because I'm stubborn, it's due to the fact that I have oodles of experience. I know when someone is trying to pull a fast con on me or trying ridiculously hard to convince me that a particular brand is more superior than others. I can spot someone who is not qualified or inexperienced with dealing with someone with a hearing loss. Not very many things...
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Serendipity

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, January 1, 2016, In : 2016 
Everything happens for a reason. Throughout our lives, pieces of a random puzzle seems to fall into our path, sometimes it may take months or a year or two that we begin to see the full picture. In my case, it wasn't until recently that my love for 80's music from high school came full circle.

When I had written my first novel, Sway, the main character Jessie had a different name, it was originally Jenna. I had picked that name since it was one I was going to use if I had a baby girl (If it w...
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Fencing with Deaf Athletes

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, December 17, 2015, In : 2015 



I’ve been asked if I’ve found the transition of going deaf from a profound hearing loss easier than becoming hearing impaired later in life from a normal hearing. Honestly? I really can’t answer that question because I was born with a severe to profound hearing loss. I have no idea what normal hearing sounds like. It was only in recent years that I went deaf in one ear from being exposed to toxic antibiotics.

However, what I can say is that growing up with a severe hearing loss has had ...
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Love from Nikki And Ian!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, November 12, 2015, In : november 



Wow! Just got a great surprise from one of my fellow authors at Black Opal Books who's book cover I designed - Nikki Reed from Sleepy Hollow and husband Ian Somerhalder shared their love for Tonya Royston's latest release of Shadows at Sunset on Twitter! I was blown away by their support for Tonya. Congrats!

Earlier this year, Tonya and her sister were lucky enough to meet Ian and Nikki at a charity event for the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. They had a fabulous time chatting with the two stars...
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Politically correct doll accessories

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, In : 2015 


I'm seeing more and more toy companies create politically correct dolls and accessories for a wide range of disabilities. It started out with tiny glasses for dolls, which are super adorable and snazzy, then grew to wheelchairs, crutches and now hearing aids and service dogs.




Today I saw a plush hearing aid for Teddy Bears, how cute is that? If you're interested in getting one or two, they are available from Build a Bear workshop: http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/store/Plush-Hearing-Aid-/pr...
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Hearing loss challenge

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, In : 2015 


Jude Law photographed by singer Bryan Adams for Hear the World.

I recently posted a hearing loss challenge on Facebook by encouraging people to wear ear plugs for a day and one of my friends tried it out.

She said that by doing this, it really opened her eyes about having a disability and gave her a deeper appreciation of what she has now.

Go visit her website and read about her adventure.

http://www.authorerikamszabo.com/youve-made-my-day/it-sucks-to-be-a-deaf-person-in-a-hearing-world

Thank y...
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Supernatural

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, July 10, 2015, In : 2015 



Most people know I'm a big fan of the tv series Supernatural, I've been watching it for years. Aside from the obvious reason that the two main characters, Dean and Sam, are portrayed by supremely handsome actors who are ridiculously talented and hilarious. It lifts me up especially at times when I need it. In a strange way, they are the glue that holds me together. The last thing anyone needs is having me unraveling when the stress gets to be too much.


When Jared Padalecki, the actor who play...
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More new designs!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, March 12, 2015, In : 2015 


Can you believe it? There are three more brand new book cover designs for you to enjoy! All of them are already available to snap up on Amazon!

Anne Rowan - Enchanted --> http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Anne-Rowan/dp/1508659869/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426191303&sr=8-2&keywords=anne+rowan

Erika Szabo - Protected by the Falcon, Book 1 --> http://www.amazon.com/Protected-Falcon-Ancestors-Secrets-Book-ebook/dp/B00LNBSKIY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Erika Szabo - Chosen by the Sword, Book 2 --> http://www.a...
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Community Press

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, In : 2015 

Photo by Evelyn Mcleod - For The Community Press

Oh hey, that's me in the news! The Community Press just featured an article about my award from the HearStrong Foundation. The reporter, Evelyn Mcleod, was thrilled to visit our fencing club in Peterborough and took some great shots. She really enjoyed this assignment!

Here's the article:

http://www.communitypress.ca/2015/01/28/jennifer-gibson-receives-hearstrong-ambassador-award?utm_source=addThis&utm_medium=addthis_button_facebook&utm_campaign=...
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International Ear Care Day

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, January 14, 2015,
Hi everyone! I've been creating logos for the International Ear Care Day competition. As you may know, I'm hard of hearing so this means a lot to me.

Don't forget to check on page 2 or 3 for more of my logos.  After up click on "Vote", scroll to the top of the page to view the "voting box", and press the blue bar to submit your votes. You should receive an email confirmation. Click on the link they provide to confirm your vote.

My logos will need at least 20 votes each to be added to a short l...
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Seal of Approval!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, January 12, 2015,
Oh my! I just received the news that Destiny is a Literary Classics Seal of Approval recipient! What an amazing surprise!

You can read the review here: http://www.clcreviews.blogspot.ca/2015/01/jennifer-gibsons-destiny-earns-literary.html

Enjoy!



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HeartStrong Champion!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, December 9, 2014,



Oh my! I just received the news this morning that I've been named a HearStrong Champion! Perfect timing too, it's such a nice Christmas present for me ;)

News release:

We are proud to name Jennifer Gibson a HearStrong Champion! Jennifer is the author of a trilogy series of books about a young woman named Jessie who has hearing loss and overcomes many obstacles.

Jennifer's dedication to helping change the stigmas surrounding hearing loss makes her pretty amazing!

> http://www.hearstrong....

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Interview by Christoph

Posted by jennifer gibson on Friday, December 5, 2014,



I was recently interviewed by the lovely and talented author Christoph Fischer. Go visit his wonderful blog featuring our lively discussion at: http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2014/11/30/sway-by-jennifer-gibson/

If you have ever wondered who I would cast in a movie from my novel Sway, definitely take a peek at my answers ;)



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SWAY is a WINNER!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, October 15, 2014,

Wow! I just received the news this morning that SWAY received Silver in the Young Adult category at the Literary Classics Book Awards!

Can you hear me screaming?

> http://www.clcawards.org/2014AwardRecipients.html




More about the Literary Classics Book Awards:

2014 was a record year for entries in the Literary Classics International Book Awards.  With entrants from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and many more places around the globe, competition was tremendous.  With an extraordi...
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More awards and reviews!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, September 3, 2014,


Holy cow! What a day! It was full of surprises.

I did not know what to expect when I woke up this morning to a dreary, rainy day. I certainly was not all that enthusiastic, especially having a cat sleeping on my face and smacking me in the nose to wake up...it wasn't until I checked my messages that I was rendered speechless.


Sway was given a 5 Star Award and a sweet review from Readers' Favorite:

"Sway tells the story of Jessie, a teenager who needs to wear hearing aids and who becomes the t...

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The Vampire Diaries

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, August 16, 2014,


Okay. So I've gotten hooked onto a new series recently.  I just happened to be browsing for some cool stuff on Netflix that was closed captioned and stumbled upon The Vampire Diaries. Now, I was initially wary of this series thinking that it was like True Blood or Twilight. Boy, was I wrong. It totally sucked me in from the beginning. Yes, that was a deliberate pun.

What did it? Aside from the supremely good looking and talented cast, the storyline about two brothers and the cheeky one-liners...

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Perception

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, August 14, 2014,




Robin Williams death has certainly opened eyes around the world. Not only has he brought laughter into our lives, he still continues to inspire us by showing us the importance of staying in touch with each other. He is still teaching us that we need to find ways of reaching out to those that need help, even if it means just listening to them or giving them a hug.

Mental illness, including depression, is not an easy topic to discuss and it's not clearly understood by most people. It's not unti...

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Stars

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, September 26, 2013,


I've met all sorts of people and kids from around the world.  The ones that steal my heart are those that have a disability.  Many have had a difficult life, particularly as a young child.  They've endured the most unimaginable horrors that no one should ever go through.  Being bullied is just one aspect of cruelty that they have encountered.  Imagine having your hair set on fire by a classmate or being pushed down the stairs at school and no one offers a helping hand.  The principal and teac...
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Blog hops and interviews

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, September 5, 2013,


When I'm not busy promoting my books, creating ads and working on my next book, I'm often doing interviews or blog hopping. Today, I'm being featured on the "Shut up and Read" blog today which is a fun article. Keeping busy is a good thing, it keeps me out of trouble ;)

Go check it out: http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.ca/2013/09/q-with-jennifer-gibson.html

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Dreams

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, July 23, 2013,


Book 3 in the trilogy series, Destiny, has only been out for less than a week and I've already had several readers finish it and exclaim "Wow!" and "Loved it!".  Even thought it's geared towards teens and young adults with disabilities, many adult readers have really taken a shine to it.  Numerous people that I didn't think would be interested in it, have followed the series from the very beginning which is absolutely remarkable.  I had no idea that they were so supportive and keen on reading...

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Connections

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, June 29, 2013,




I've had people ask me why I love watching shows such as Merlin (BBC series) or movies like X-Men. My response is that it's most likely because of the strong connection to specific characters that I find endearing.  And you would be surprised to discover that it's not necessarily the hero that I adore, it's the underdog. 

Why in the world would I cheer for someone who's not the dashing and charismatic knight in shining armour? Honestly, I tend to find them a bit ignorant towards the people ar...
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Kindness of strangers

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, February 26, 2013,
Kindness is everywhere, you just never know when you will be blessed with it.  I'm a strong believer in paying it forward.  If I have extra change on me and see someone struggling to pay for their cup of coffee, I'm more than happy to buy it for them.  The look of stunned surprise (and sometimes tears) on their faces never fails to amaze me. 

Recently I received two bracelets courtesy of Jackie Brazil World Jewelery, a delightful gift for my mother and I.  I received the Ciclon silver...

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Feeling Abnormal

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, January 12, 2013,
No, it has nothing to do with my blood type...it's about a pretty cool show called Sanctuary that has been produced and filmed in Canada for the past few years.  It was a unique series that originally started out a mini webisodes that became so popular, it was turned into a tv series. The funny thing is that it's such a truly original show it's hard to sum it up neatly.  For the most part, it's about a team from an organization called the Sanctuary that track down extraordinary and unusual cr...
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Name game

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, December 29, 2012,
Growing up is never easy.  Going through school with a disability makes it much more difficult to get through the day without being tormented by people you trusted and expected to be your friend. In my case, it was already humiliating enough to wear hearing aids that were visible to everyone, the last thing I needed was to be teased mercilessly and called nicknames like "Gibby" which was a deliberate slur based on my last name.  It may sound innocent enough and I know a number of people with ...
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Guest Blogger

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, November 3, 2012,
Hi Everyone! 

Well, winter is definitely upon us as I gaze outside and see the fluffy white snow falling from the grey sky.  Guess that means I should get out there and rake those leaves...

In the meantime, while I'm busy doing chores, go take a look at this guest post I did for Kim Scott.  I'm thrilled to have been asked to contribute to her Blog!

> http://www.kimscottbooks.com/apps/blog/


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No shame

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, October 16, 2012,
What's amazing is the response I've been receiving from my book Sway.  It has proven to be a wonderful ice breaker and a great way to learn more about someone.  What has happened is that it has opened a door to being more open and comfortable about ourselves and willing to say something like "Yes! I know what you mean!" or "That happened to me too!".  It's been an astounding revelation for all of us. 

What's interesting is that I often hear the phrase "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronge...
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Silent World

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, September 25, 2012,
I recently watched the award winning movie called "The Artist".  As I watched it, I kept getting the impression that it was eerily similar to "Singing in the Rain".  Particularly near the end with the dance sequence between the two main characters where it becomes acutely obvious that it's very much like the tap dance number in "Moses Supposes".  By the way, for those of you who are curious, here's the link to that dance scene > http://youtu.be/tciT9bmCMq8

Throughout the movie I kept gritting ...
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Powerful words

Posted by jennifer gibson on Tuesday, September 25, 2012,
Gah! I've been tagged by a chain letter! I just hope it doesn't turn into a nightmare with dark, looming scenes of giant cursive words and letters chasing me through a misty graveyard as if I'm stuck in a horrendous world from Alice in Wonderland.  *shudders*

All kidding aside, I found this particular chain letter intriguing - it's an exercise that requires me to search for the first word "look" in my current novel, Compass, which is in the official editing stages.  BTW, I actually have four e...
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Q & A

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, January 16, 2012,

I'm often asked "What inspired you to write about a hearing impaired teenager?". Well, It's true what they say about writing from true life, if it feels real then the reader will say "Wow!" and immediately connect to it.  I wanted to offer something new for young readers, I wanted them to experience life from a different perspective.  Quite often, when people meet me, they always ask a ton of questions of what's like to be severely hard of hearing.  It just made sense to write it all d...


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Harry Potter, books & movies...

Posted by jennifer gibson on Saturday, January 14, 2012,
Just did some "light reading" this morning as I perused through the massively thick volume of Harry Potter Page to Screen: The complete film making journey. Sharp eyed fans will recognize my tongue in cheek humour here (Hint: Hermione said this phrase in the library while doing research on Nicholas Flammel.)  It really is a heavy tome.

It was an astounding read and I'm only halfway through it.  It's filled with fascinating tidbits from the directors and producers,  personal insights from the a...
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Accessibility

Posted by jennifer gibson on Thursday, January 12, 2012,
I've been involved with various organizations and committees for many years.  I'm currently on the local Accessibility Committee, part of an amazing team of people, able and disabled, who are dedicated to finding solutions and breaking down barriers in our community.  We are constantly coming up with potential ideas, some of which are long term, to educate the public and increase the awareness of disabilities that exist in our town.  Not only do many businesses, stores and medical buildings a...
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Nominations

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, January 11, 2012,
Did you know that www.trenthills.ca is now accepting nominations for the Civic Awards?

Know the perfect person to vote for? Go nominate them! >> http://trenthills.ca/en/services/civicawards.asp

Don't wait too long, the Nomination deadline is January 30, 2012 at 2:00pm!

I've already submitted a nomination for someone today - I'm crossing my fingers that they win, they deserve it!

These are the categories:

Agricultural Leadership Award - For the leadership efforts of an individual o...

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Food for thought...

Posted by jennifer gibson on Wednesday, January 11, 2012,
As someone who is severely hard of hearing, I have found that the best form of communication is via email or texting.  It's easy and accessible a part of today's society, everyone does this which is very cool.  Who would've thought that someone like me would be mainstream, become a part of the hip crowd?

Growing up was an isolating experience, particularly since I was the only kid in school with a disability.  At that time, my hearing loss was glaringly obvious.  I wore a body aid which meant...
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My Life

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, January 9, 2012,
If you are already a big fan of my books, Sway and Compass, you are probably asking the question "How?!  How the heck did you survive?!"

To tell you the truth, I'm still asking myself the same question.  Honestly, I really don't know how in the world I didn't lose my mind a long time ago.  If anyone else had been in my shoes, they would've most likely be left quaking in them.  I know it's unbelievably cliche but what you experience in life, especially the good, bad and downright ugly, it can m...
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Happy New Year!

Posted by jennifer gibson on Monday, January 9, 2012,
Can you believe it's already 2012?! Wow, time goes by really quickly!

For those of you following me, I'm currently working on my third novel - a continuation of Jessie's journey.  This came as a complete surprise, I never expected to write past the first book, Sway.  So, to be writing a third one is simply mind blowing!

There are lots of new twists, deeper revelations, and surprising changes in this one.  It's a real page turner.  And it's based on my life as a hard of hearing teenager - meanin...
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