Author T. M. Lawley tells readers that "Pride is Not Vanity" in pro-active feminist story. Inspired by the desire to encourage transparency across a wide sector ranging from family dynamics, gender, media, mental illness, equality, diversity, church and politics; and to examine the role of the traditional and modern family, author T. M. Lawley pens an insightful and powerful allegory of Australian society. "Pride is Not Vanity" is a tale of the search for clarity in a place caught in the middle of a paradigm shift, a social transition between the traditional and historical, and the fruits of change and modernity. A fictional Australian country town tries to bridge the cultural divide, an act that symbolizes the growing pains of modern Australia. It continues to rely on the perspectives formed by church and politics, which are driven by the momentum of the past, as well as the relatively new and evolving concepts of feminism and the search for equality. It follows a family that experiences tensions and conflicting interpretations between personalities, which too often have effects lasting an entire lifetime, unless resolved by valuing transparency and accountability between individuals - an act that fosters confessional freedom. Through her narrative, Lawley shows that exposure to common experiences, even those that are deeply challenging, promotes and allows for transcendence towards more meaningful and engaging relationships between families, communities and individuals. Her message is that many trials can be overcome with the conscious choice of optimism over despair. To ignore these universal dilemmas that continue to affect society, such as depression, is to stay stuck in the past, bogged down by ignorance, secrecy and a misguided preservation of dignity. "Pride is Not Vanity" is a call to action, to know when to face the big issues together. It compels us to challenge our own perspectives and the universal aspects of the human condition. Its visceral approach towards many subjects, which are still considered taboo: menstruation, eating disorders, sexual abuse, female freedom of choice, aging, mental illness and the collateral damage within families and communities, obliges us to face these realities which continue to be ignored. It is written with an honest, unique and self -deprecating Australian humor, which crosses the cultural boundaries and provides for the reader, an opportunity to reflect.
T. M. Lawley, 46, was raised in a small remote Australian country town. This landscape was a fundamental inspiration for her expansive and ever searching imagination, to find for herself, a place in the world, while feeling so removed from it. But the deeper appreciation that your own back yard can be as rich a dig as any place on the earth, exotic or otherwise, was soon all the evidence she needed to appreciate the stories she experienced. She used these growing experiences, along with her many forays into the work force to motivate her creative life. She has picked grapes, chipped cotton, detailed cars, been a waitress, cleaner, kitchen hand, registered nurse, and adult education trainer across 4 different states. Working in the community services and health care sector brought her face to face with the multitudes of human expression. It informed her works in the poetry she published in her 20's, and in the music she wrote and albums she released in her 30's. With her current book, Pride is Not Vanity, she does what all writers hope to do: to tell a story that connects with others, to promote feeling and expression, to start the conversation that we always wanted to have, if only we could find the words. She currently lives in rural Victoria, with her husband and 2 children enjoying the beauty of the changing seasons, surrounded by art, music, architecture, gardens, lakes, multicultural and indigenous celebrations, food, wine and local produce, and the inspiration of all those that came before them, embedded in the rich historical landscape of the Gold Fields.
