Liz Robertson
What does it mean to be determined when life repeatedly tells you that something is impossible? For Elizabeth Robertson, author of Determined to Walk Again, determination has been a defining part of her life.
In a recent PublishU Podcast conversation with Matt Bird, Liz shared the story behind her book, from growing up with a right-side disability in Scotland to being diagnosed with incurable cancer and having to learn to walk again. Her story is one of resilience, overcoming barriers and refusing to allow other people's expectations to define what she can achieve.
Liz was born with a disability affecting the right side of her body, including her hand and leg. During the first five years of her life, she attended hospital regularly for physiotherapy.
Growing up with a disability also meant facing social challenges. At school, Liz was often made fun of, and comments that others might have considered harmless had a real impact on her.
Over time, however, she learned an important lesson: she might not always be able to do things in exactly the same way as other people, but she could find her own way of doing them.
Something as simple as tying her shoelaces became an example of this mindset. Rather than accepting that something was beyond her ability, Liz worked out how to do it.
That determination continued into her working life. During her first job interview, she was asked whether she could type. Liz said no and assumed that meant she would not get the job. She got the job anyway.
These experiences helped shape the way she approached challenges throughout her life.
Liz continued to encounter people who made assumptions about what she could and could not do.
As an adult, she experienced discrimination and was sometimes told she would not be able to achieve certain things. When she was studying at college, someone told her that she would not achieve the course she was taking.
Rather than allowing that comment to stop her, Liz became even more determined to succeed.
She eventually achieved her degree.
For Liz, the word “determined” is more than just part of her book title. It describes the mindset that has helped her navigate many different challenges.
She explains that she has always wanted to be a few steps ahead and, regardless of what she is facing, she is determined to try.
Five years before the podcast conversation, Liz was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Although her cancer is treatable, it is not curable.
Her diagnosis brought another major challenge. Liz had a tumour in her back, which meant she was unable to walk. Following surgery, she had to learn to walk again.
This experience became the inspiration behind the title Determined to Walk Again.
But the title has a deeper meaning too. For Liz, walking is not only about physical movement. It also represents moving forward through life despite the obstacles that appear along the way.
Her cancer diagnosis also happened during the COVID period, meaning that many people, including members of her own family, were unable to visit her in hospital. They could not fully see what she was experiencing.
Writing her story gave Liz an opportunity to share some of what she had faced and achieved.
The idea of writing a book first came to Liz after people heard her talking about how she was coping with cancer and suggested that she should write about her experience.
Her initial response was simple: she did not think she could write a book.
The idea stayed with her for some time before she eventually decided to join the PublishU Writing My Book course.
Even after signing up, Liz had doubts. Her biggest challenge was not knowing how her story could become an actual book.
She knew she had a story to tell, but she did not know how to structure and develop it.
The course helped change that.
Rather than being expected to write an entire book immediately, Liz worked through different topics and stages. Each step built on the previous one, helping her develop confidence and understand how her experiences could become a complete book.
The encouragement of the other people in her group also played an important role.
Today, Determined to Walk Again is published and available worldwide in paperback, Kindle and audio formats.
For Liz, becoming a published author is both exciting and vulnerable. Her story is now public, and sharing personal experiences naturally brings a sense of exposure.
But that vulnerability is part of why she wanted to write the book.
Liz hopes readers will see that life can throw difficult circumstances at us, but that it is still possible to keep moving forward and eventually see light at the end of the tunnel.
Her goal is not simply to tell people about herself. She wants to use her experience to encourage others who are facing their own struggles.
Liz Robertson's journey shows that determination can take many forms.
It can mean finding a different way to do something. It can mean continuing your education when someone says you will not succeed. It can mean facing a serious diagnosis, undergoing treatment and learning to walk again.
And sometimes, determination means taking the first step towards something you never believed you could do, such as writing a book.
Through Determined to Walk Again, Liz has transformed her personal experiences into a story that she hopes will encourage others to keep going, face their struggles and believe that there can still be light at the end of the tunnel.
This article is based on an interview with Matt Bird, founder of PublishU, helping first-time and serial non-fiction authors to write, publish and market books worldwide.
Connect with Matt on Instagram 👉🏼 CLICK HERE or LinkedIn 👉🏼 CLICK HERE
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