Ali Villani, tell us about your book ‘Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn’?
The book is about me – I always knew I was different, I was teased and bullied at school. I never really found my tribe. I didn’t really believe I was worthy of doing what I loved. I’ve worked in Youth Mental Health and I’ve seen the devastating effects of suicide. I want to instill confidence in our little people to be Bold, be Brave and be You! In the book, Ali talked to her Mum, I want kids to talk to someone if they have worries and I want others to show empathy and tolerance.
The book idea was born out of the Entrepreneurial Babes Action Hours Facebook community. It’s a community of beautiful women who have a desire to step up, claim the space and be the best versions of themselves. I would share my love for all things shiny, and sparkly and would often pop my pink tutu on to help give myself permission to dream again, like the shiny sparkly 5 year old I was before me life experiences “messed me up” and I lost who I was.
The Action Hours community love me and my unique ways. They embrace me for who I am and often send unicorn gifts in the mail, from wall posters, to plush toys, to coffee mugs, t-shirts or even unicorn leggings. I started to be referred to by the Community as ‘Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn’, and this name stuck.
On March 16th 2017, I awoke at 4.44am, the time I love to wake up in the morning. On this day I jumped out of bed and twirled and whirled straight to my PC and the words for the book just flowed out. This is the day that ‘Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn’ children’s character was born.
Tell us about yourself.
I am an online entrepreneur, assertiveness coach, author, philanthropist & singer. Simon and I have twins Josh and Sam. I grew up in a small town called Naracoorte in South Australia.
Why did you move to Anglesea?
A truthful decision was made with my husband on the 4th of July 2017, after attending Katrina Webb’s NEW DAY Conference, Radical Leaders – Radical Change. On this day speaker Gill Hicks proposed a question to the audience which went something like this “If your life was to change in a moment, like it did for me (Gill lost both of her legs in the London bombings) what would you change in it?” This question hit me right in the heart and stirred my soul, I answered it with “I would live near the Ocean, I am so happy there”. #myhappyplace
Have you experienced a life-changing moment?
Five years ago, at 36, I underwent a full hysterectomy. Then, a couple of months later, due to an accident, I found myself in emergency. It was like an ah ha moment. It made me think about what I wanted to do to make a difference
How did you publish the book?
The cost of publishing in Australia is high and I wanted to publish here, so I studied kickstarter for 6 months to learn how it worked. This was an incredible way to get the message out there. I was delighted by the success and pay tribute to my Action Hours community, my incredible friends and networks for its success.
You can purchase the book online at http://www.entrepreneurialbabes.com/
By Jacqui Bennett Photo: Supplied
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