By Matteo Morelli | Photographs courtesy of Louise Walden-Edwards
Former British skilled ice dancer Louise Walden-Edwards has launched her new e-book titled “The Ice Dream Sundays.” We spoke along with her about what impressed this undertaking and the way she champions inclusivity in her e-book and in her life.
It has been an actual journey! I got here up with an idea again in 2017. I used to be pressured to retire from skilled skating by unhealthy well being, so I used to be attempting to work out what to do subsequent and I got here up with this idea. I sat on it for some time, then I wrote the phrases, being very meticulous about what they wanted to be, and spent a number of time arising with the drawings and the illustrations, however I ended up placing all the things in a drawer, as a result of I didn’t actually have the arrogance to do something with them and I didn’t know the way I might put them collectively to create one thing.
In the meantime, I’ve had a little bit little bit of success with my teaching. I’m additionally on a roll with the opposite issues I’m doing by commentary and my on-line academy, and we received just a few awards! I felt like now was the time to give attention to my e-book once more: if I’m going to do that and make it a actuality, I’ve to apply what I preach, which is encouraging individuals to dwell their desires. So I made it occur!
Having seen the e-book, it’s exceptional to see the way you went from story to textual content, after which to drawings. How was the method of making them?
I need to say, I illustrated and got here up with all of the drawings, however a part of my insecurity was I didn’t really feel like I used to be an artist, so I then received someone to assist me edit them and reformat them, to offer them motion and make them come to life. So sure, I did do all of the illustrations, however I did have some assist making them look the way in which they do within the e-book.
What’s the story about?
It’s about a little bit woman who appears like a misfit, very very like me rising up. I didn’t know the place I belonged, what I wished to be, or the place my individuals had been till I discovered the rink and the ice. The primary a part of the story is impressed by my very own journey of discovering myself when I discovered the ice. After which from there, Mia Estelle, my star, finds different individuals with variations that make them really feel like they don’t belong, till they’re within the ice rink. All of them have their very own little variations and quirks, however in reality, as a result of they’re all completely different, it provides them one thing in frequent, after which along with their frequent ardour and drive for the ice and their objectives, they imagine that they’ll obtain something. I believe everyone ought to really feel like that.
What impressed the title of the e-book?
“The Ice Dream Sundays” is a play on phrases. I’m not going to lie: I like ice cream, so it was a little bit of an “ice cream Sunday”. My characters all meet on a Sunday, even when I by no means really began skating on a Sunday, it’s my characters within the e-book that do it. So, the title was a little bit of enjoyable!
What’s your target market?
I’d purpose the e-book at kids age three to seven, one thing you would learn to a three-year-old however {that a} seven-year-old would possibly have the ability to learn. However I actually hope that it resonates with everyone: maybe, everybody can determine with one of many characters and certainly one of their variations. And in reality, I don’t state what individuals’s variations are, you may learn between the traces and make your personal model of that. We’re speaking about inclusivity right here. Why can’t you benefit from the idea of the e-book whoever you might be, wherever you might be from, no matter age you might be? All of us love the ice. I hope it is going to resonate with adults and perhaps some inclusive skaters or individuals with further wants, perhaps not simply skaters, however understandably, in the event you just like the ice already, you can find one thing to love in it.
You aren’t forcing inclusivity however displaying it as a pure way of life. Why is inclusivity so essential for you?
I’ve my very own further wants, one thing that I’ve hidden for many of my life till very not too long ago. With the arrogance I’ve gained from the opposite areas of my work, I now really feel like I can talk about it. I undergo from dyslexia and one thing known as Irlen Syndrome, which suggests I course of color in a different way. After I learn a e-book, if it has black writing on white paper, my eyes are distracted by the white. Studying for me could be a difficulty, however I exploit filter colors and coping mechanisms: my filter color is purple, which is why my character Mia wears purple. I by no means wished to be seen as completely different rising up, I wished to mix in. Whereas now, as I say within the e-book, I’m proud to face out. I believe if I’m advocating that message, I have to have the arrogance and braveness to share my very own expertise.
Due to wanting to cover my variations, I needed to provide you with coping methods that helped me and have become my strengths. You’ll at all times see me, even now, with a pocket book, writing and drawing issues. After each lesson I had, I’d write all the things out. I at all times needed to put additional work in, my work ethic was undoubtedly my energy. I by no means claimed to be a pure expertise, I simply know find out how to work arduous, as a result of I at all times needed to assume exterior of the field.
Occupied with your current journey, you may have gone past simply speaking about inclusivity: you may have constructed it into your work, , particularly together with your VO:ICE Academy (which I used to be informed needs to be pronounced “V-o-ice”).
VO:ICE Health & Wellbeing is my on-line academy, which was arrange partly as a consequence of COVID. It has develop into a really inclusive surroundings. I now educate individuals everywhere in the world by a pc display. I educate elite opponents, inclusive skaters, individuals with further wants, I’ve college students of their 80s and as younger as six. All of us come along with the identical ardour, and it’s actually about progress over perfection. I need to widen my attain with VO:ICE, break down obstacles to train and skating. I additionally run a YouTube channel known as “The Micro Mummy” with bite-size exercises, 5 to 10 minutes lengthy, accessible to everybody; it’s about getting individuals transferring.
You might be additionally a mum of two. Are your youngsters into skating?
Not in the intervening time. My skating associate Owen Edwards, who can be my husband, was the primary particular person I shared the e-book with. Our boys are 4 and 6. I don’t need them to skate simply because we did, I need them to seek out their very own passions. Skating gave me all the things – my husband, youngsters, and profession – however that was my dream, not theirs. In the event that they need to skate, they’ll, however I need them to be themselves and pleased. Just lately, Owen and I even skated collectively for the primary time in a protracted whereas: the children had been “mildly impressed” and completely unfazed by it, which made us chuckle!
Thanks for sharing all these inspiring insights about your work and life, Louise! Let’s end by telling our readers the place they’ll discover “The ice Sundays”.
You’ll be able to order it by Amazon on all channels world wide. I’ve already finished pre-sales and signing copies, earlier than it went out for wider distribution. I already have a few retail orders to hopefully get it into rinks, which is thrilling!
Join with Louise Walden-Edwards on Instagram: @louisewaldenedwards / @voicefitnesswellbeingacademy / @theicedreamsundays.