Last Week I gave a talk...

Well I did it; I gave the keynote speech at the Benefits for Women meeting at Caruther’s Creek in Whitby on May 13th about my career as a Photographer, Writer, Artist, and Gluten Free Cookbook Author to other business women like myself. The title was, “Turning Your Passion into Money”
The video has been posted, to watch it click on this link.
Although I was a bit nervous, shouldn’t have been but well, I’m allowed. It took a lot of prep writing, thinking back to see how my passion for my work has influenced my life. Sometimes your direction is determined my circumstances, like becoming gluten intolerant and then finding ways to cope with that. I had prepared 55 slides of photographs of my gluten free baking, Astor Media Group websites, and photography to loop in the background for my allotted 30 minutes. I’m used to giving workshops where I answer questions, so narrowing a speech down to 30 minutes well, if you have done it then you know.
 
Anyway, people came up to me afterwards and talked about things I had said and I am happy that I could inspire. One woman’s daughter has a passion for photography and was interested in hearing about that side of my career, and how I utilize photography and writing in other aspects of my career, such as Astoria Magazine, which was originally formed to share my gluten free recipes. I have been approached lately by three young women who want to follow along, if this keeps up I am going to have to organize events. Now how do I do this along with inventing more gf recipes?
 
I am always amazed at how many people in an audience that you think don’t have to live a gluten free lifestyle are actually trying to eat gluten free, know someone, or wondering how to manage a gluten free diet without feeling deprived. We used to feel like we were the only ones on this ‘strange’ diet, but no more. My email has been loaded with queries since and I have been busy answering questions about gluten free recipes.
 
I even made regular wheat eaters drool over the pictures of my baking. And yes, ( to any of you who were there and wanted to ask) I made them all, totally gluten free, no tricks and we ate every delicious gf morsel.
 
I’ve been asked to bring some of my gluten free goodies, to an opening for a nutritionist friend of mine, Jane Snyder of New Vision Nutrition on June 4th, should be fun. Now which of my gf breads should I bring? Jane is bringing some of her organic butter, yum. Jane’s sons manage an organic vegetable garden each summer.