S1 Ep1711: Running Blind Self Published Book by Guide Dog Owner Helen McCann

There is a famous phrase or saying that goes along the lines of ‘everyone has a book inside them’ which might be true but what about the challenges of not only writing your first book but self publishing it too. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Helen McCann a Guide Dog Owner from Somerset who has not only written her first book ‘Running Blind’ but is also self publishing the book too.  Helen’s marathon running story starts in 2016 when Helen was challenged to run the Bath Half Marathon and the London Marathon 2017.  At the time Helen was 59 years old, a non runner and a  sucker for a challenge, so Helen decided she was going to do both events with a guide runner.It was during Helen’s preparation for both events running out on the roads and in the gym that many people suggested that she should write a book about not just her marathon journey but also her personal life story too and how she had overcome disabilities to live a full and active life. Helen tells Toby about her training for the two marathon running events, what it was like waiting in the holding pens before the start gun and finding her pace with her Guide Runner.To then giving a bit of insight into some of her personal life that readers will find in ‘Running Blind’ before talking about how Helen found the self publishing process as a visually impaired person. ‘Running Blind’ will be published by Helen towards the end of May in standard and large print with the hope that an audio book version will also be available soon. You can find out more about how to order your copy of  ‘Running Blind’ by Helen McCann by either emailing [email protected] or if you are on Facebook just search for Running Blind Helen McCann to find Helen’s Facebook page. (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)