Author returns to her home town
By Joan Janzen
Diana Koenning from Cudworth, Sask. is returning to her hometown of Plenty, SK, to give a reading from her new book “Silently Said - A Journey Through Illness and Addiction.” Locals from Plenty will remember her as Diana Lee. She will be speaking at the school on September 16th and then will do a reading of portions of her book at the United Church later in the evening.
“I’ve had much support from Plenty with publishing my book, so I felt it would be good to come back to the community and connect with everyone,” Diana said.
Former Plenty resident, Diana Koenning (nee Lee) holds her book “Silently Said”. Diana will be doing an author reading at the Plenty United Church at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 16. SUBMITTED PHOTO
She was born in March of 1978, the youngest of four children, all born within six years. Her story is about her family making their way in this world as their mother’s health failed and their father’s alcoholism strangled the family system.
Since that time, Diana has been on a healing journey. Although she had been writing her story for 25 years, she was always hesitant to publish it. Now that her children have graduated, she felt the time was right to take this brave step forward.
“Silently Said” is book one, with book two following next year. This book chronicles her childhood when her mother was diagnosed with a rare brain atrophy when Diana was only nine months old.
“From there, I had to step up, along with my siblings, to help the family survive. My dad relied on alcohol, which meant we spent much time alone,” Diana explained. “My sister then became ill with the same rare brain disease. It was devastating for me and our family.”
Diana doesn’t hold back in relaying her story. She wanted to expose people to the reality of what happens behind closed doors. But woven throughout the story is a message of hope and healing.
“You grow through trauma and tragedy. We all need to be planted, to be crushed, in which we allow the world to change us, moulding us into a more compassionate, understanding and more patient person,” Diana said. “I became the mother I wished I had. I succeeded in my career, becoming an administrator for a rural municipality.”
Diana is not only an author but, like so many others, she is also a wife, mother, friend, employee and light giver. “I have been blessed beyond measure. Through darkness, there is much to be gained. There is light,” Diana said.
Her story is meant to inspire and encourage her readers that no matter what their circumstances may be today, there is hope for a bright tomorrow.