Full disclosure: One of the four co-authors of this book is a friend of mine, Judy Croon. Judy has been a stand-up comic for a long time and you’ve probably seen her on The Comedy Channel or CBC or any number of other places including clubs across the continent.
Maybe you heard her on morning radio in Toronto back when Virgin was MIX 999. One of Judy’s passions is fund-raising for breast cancer research and some proceeds from the sale of this book will go toward that cause. Judy co-founded Laughlines, an annual comedy night that sells out and has so far generated more than $650,000 for Princess Margaret Hospital and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. She’s tireless, selfless and damn funny.
The new book, From the Stage to the Page, Life Lessons From Four Funny Ladies is sectioned off for each woman to share her personal stories, insights and practical advice. Along with Judy Croon, Judy Suke, Meg Soper and Susan Stewart are the other stand-ups-turned-motivational-speakers who contribute to the book. These women have been through a lot of life’s challenges, from family strife, the loss of a brother, abrupt career changes and their common thread is surviving the sometimes humiliating eye of the storm that is the launch of a stand-up comedy career. Can you imagine telling jokes to a completely indifferent and nearly hostile crowd, knowing you don’t get paid unless you fulfill your obligation of a 25-minute set, or whatever it is? You would have to stay on stage and endure the insults being lobbed at you, the cat-calls for the “real” act to follow, and then somehow get up the nerve to go out again next time. It takes intestinal fortitude that not everyone has.
Life Lessons is part self-help, part road stories and all authentic. Each woman has her own life experience to share and no two are the same, despite the thread of comedy and public speaking tying them together. This book is soul food that’s worth your time and the bonus of contributing to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with your purchase. Do something good for yourself and women everywhere and buy a copy. Give one to your chick friends. The insight into what it’s like to do comedy on stage is alone worth the price of admission. The nuggets of wisdom to apply to your own life are extras you’ll absorb through osmosis. I truly hope it becomes a best-seller.
OK, two posts, two uses of the word “osmosis.” Is this your word for 2012? Are you playing some kind of word game on your blog?