DEBRIS: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, GRIEF AND COURAGE

Debris is a hauntingly poignant memoir of true love scorched by the flames of Australia's Black Summer Bushfires. What began as a casual online connection blossomed into a beautiful family, ultimately torn apart by tragedy, leaving behind physical wreckage and emotional ruin. Josie's mental health was deeply affected by the traumatic loss of her husband, yet her love for her daughter became an anchor, a reason to live and the quiet force that guides her through grief's darkest corners. As she learns to live with the loss, she begins to uncover what is best for her and her daughter. She embraces change, rebuilds with courage and discovers ways to heal.

Written with fierce tenderness, Debris speaks to anyone who has loved deeply, lost profoundly, and found themselves gathering the fragments of a life altered by tragedy.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Debris: Josie’s love story, the Black Summer loss, and the moment she knew she had to write this book

• The “before” and “after”: what life looked like with John, then how everything changed overnight

• Inside the firestorm: what happened during the bushfires and the emotional whiplash that followed

• Grief in real life: parenting through heartbreak, mental health, asking for help, and the stuff people don’t say out loud

• Finding solid ground again: what healing actually looked like for her, and what she hopes readers carry with them after Debris

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Josie L. Smith is an author, visual artist, mother, and a public servant whose work spans memoir, community service, and creative expression.

Her debut memoir, DEBRIS: A Memoir of Love, Grief and Courage, traces her powerful journey through love, devastating loss, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding after Australia’s Black Summer bushfires.

In her book, Josie narrated her life with her husband John and their daughter Ems, the tragic loss of her husband, and the emotional aftermath of navigating grief while raising their daughter alone. With honesty, courage, and deep vulnerability, she explores what it truly means to survive, heal, and find strength in the ruins.

Alongside her writing, Josie is an exhibiting artist whose work centres on cathartic process, resilience, and the emotional landscapes left behind by trauma. Her exhibition CATHARSIS, Embers of Resilience brought her paintings and John’s sculptures together as an artistic extension of the themes that shape her life and her memoir.

Beyond her creative practice, Josie works in the Department of Communities and Justice in NSW Australia, supporting children and families through trauma-informed, community-centred practice.

Josie uses her voice—in writing, in her art, and in her community work—to inspire others to face their own storms with courage and resilience.

CONNECT WITH JOSIE L. SMITH

Instagram

Facebook

Josie Smith | LinkedIn

THE HUMILITY YOU WANT AND THE WORLD NEEDS

Learn the life-changing secret great leaders know, and lead with love, live with purpose, and influence with humility. Are you driven to leave a lasting impact but find yourself struggling to balance humility with self-confidence? Do you long to grow as a leader, deepen your relationships, and cultivate inner peace, but feel unsure how humility fits into it all? If these questions resonate with you, don’t worry. Many people seeking growth and legacy feel this same tension. But transformation is possible, with the right tools and a fresh perspective.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• About The Humility You Want and The World Needs and the Inspiration Behind the Book

• Why Humility Matters Right Now

• Humility as a Practice, Not a Concept

• Ambition and Humility Can Work Together

• Humble Leadership in Practice

• What’s Next for Schalee Sanchez

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Schalee Sanchez is a global leader, speaker, and author with over 20 years of experience leading diverse teams across cultures and causes. Having lived and worked in five countries, she brings a rich global perspective to her work. Fierce in her belief that every person is worthy and wildly capable of impact, she equips readers to lead with humility, live with purpose, and rise into their fullest potential with courage, clarity, and compassion.

CONNECT WITH SCHALEE SANCHEZ!

WEBSITE: https://schaleesanchez.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/schalee.m.sanchez/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/schalee.sanchez/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@schaleesanchez LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schalee-sanchez-7207a7181/

Jules Moves the Rug: A Story About Courage, Hope and New Adventures

What if the things we trip over are the things we need to face?

In the middle of a small, busy house lies a big, bright, bumpy rug. Everyone steps around it: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Big Brother, and Little Sister. No one likes it, but no one dares to move it.

Until one day, Jules, curious, brave, and tired of stumbling, finally says, "That's it. It's time to move the rug."

As Jules leads her family to lift the rug for the very first time, they uncover more than anyone imagined-reminders of moments lost, lessons forgotten, and something quietly waiting to be found.

Jules Moves the Rug is a tender, thought-provoking story about courage, curiosity, and the power of facing what has been hidden. Inspired by the leadership book RUG: Move What You Are Tripping Over and Lead with H.E.A.R.T., this beautifully illustrated picture book invites children and families to talk about:

• The feelings we hide and the healing that comes from sharing them
• The importance of asking questions and being brave enough to listen
• How love grows when we stop stepping around what's uncomfortable

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• About the book: Jules Moves the Rug uses a simple household problem to show how avoiding issues doesn’t make them disappear

• The central metaphor: A rug in the middle of the home represents problems people keep stepping around instead of fixing

• Why problems linger: Familiar discomfort often feels safer than change, even when it causes repeated frustration

• The power of small voices: Jules, the youngest in the family, speaks up and shows that clarity doesn’t depend on age or authority

• What’s under the rug: Hidden messes symbolize unresolved feelings like missed apologies, forgotten dreams, and tension

• The core message: Facing problems together turns overwhelm into connection and healing

• What’s next for the author: The “move the rug” idea continues through leadership work and future stories focused on honest conversations and growth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherry Whitaker Budziak is a speaker, writer, and entrepreneur who encourages leaders and families to find the courage to move the rugs that hold them back. Her children's book Jules Moves the Rug grew out of her own journey of resilience and personal transformation. Through this story she hopes to spark meaningful conversations that help children and the adults in their lives talk openly about change and emotional growth.

Sherry is also known for her long career guiding organizations through moments of transition. After serving in executive roles within the medical association community she founded .orgSource in 2005. Since then, she has advised hundreds of organizations as they work to strengthen strategy embrace innovation and build cultures where people can thrive. At the heart of her work is a belief that growth begins with honest reflection and the willingness to imagine new possibilities.

She is the co-author of two books on leadership and entrepreneurship and is currently writing her third. When she is not writing or speaking, she enjoys traveling trying new recipes and spending time with her family.

CONNECT WITH SHERRY WHITAKER BUDZIAK

https://rugthebook.com/

https://orgsource.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sherry.budziak

https://www.instagram.com/orgsherry/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryb