Shari Chelack. (submitted photo/Shari Chelack)

By Angie Rolheiser

Flawed and Fabulous

Cudworth native pens memoir that has gained popularity among women

Dec 1, 2020 | 2:56 PM

What started out as a blog for a Saskatchewan woman, has become a very popular book among women.

Shari Chelack who grew up in Cudworth and now resides in Aberdeen, released her book Flawed and Fabulous: A memoir of a Working Mother’s Pursuit of Wholeness on October 22.

The book that covers healing, finding wholeness, and raising babies while juggling a career has been selling at a rapid pace.

“My editor had told me that a self-published book would sell between 100 and 200 copies and I have sold well over that already,” Chelack said.

As a young mom re-entering the workforce, Chelack looked to bookstore shelves for a read that would be relatable and provide all of the aspects that can now be found within her own story but she couldn’t seem to find one that had it all.

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Being a writer is never something that Chelack would have called herself but she began a blog on her social media and she found that the women that followed her, wanted more, as she did.

“I just had a lot of things to say and wanted to write them down,” Chelack said. “About a year into writing, the words just flowed.”

She finally found the inspiration to put it all together in the form of a book.

(submitted photo/Shari Chelack)

“Writing the book healed me and I thought sharing the book with others would be of service to others,” Chelack said.

Following the release of the book, it didn’t take long for sales to pick up and then a very nice surprise for Chelack when she found out her work would be put on the shelves of Indigo on Eighth Street in Saskatoon.

To physically see the book on those shelves was a magical moment and a dream come true.

“About a week ago, I walked into the store and my book made it onto the shelves,” Chelack said. “I had gone in about a year prior to that and I looked at the books on the shelves and I thought how incredible it would be to have my own up there, and there it was.”

The book is also available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca as well as at Tree House Treasures in St. Benedict.

“This book was created for the everyday warrior woman who does it all,” Chelack said. “Running kids to preschool and school and hockey and ballet, whether she is a stay at home mom or working at the office, this book is for that woman.”

When Flawed and Fabulous first came out, it made it into the top five of the motherhood categories on Amazon while Rachel Hollis was in the top seven.

“The heroes of the literary world, I was on the online shelves next to these women,” Chelack said. “It was a definite dream come true, an everyday mom that can do this and it teaches everyone else that they can do it too.”

(Submitted photo/Shari Chelack)

A virtual book reading takes place this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook live rather than in-person due to the public health restrictions currently in place.

“I would have loved to do this in-person but we are just moving with different opportunities and saying yes to what works,” Chelack said.

The public is invited to join the live event by following Chelack on Facebook. The book will also be available at the Aberdeen Library following the live event.

The feedback from women that have read it has poured in through social media making the journey even more exciting.

“This is the perfect book for your mom, your aunt, sister, friend, mother-in-law, your cousin, any woman,” Chelack said. “You’re going to be able to take pieces of my journey and help you on your own and lead your best life in 2021.”

Flawed and Fabulous retails for $22 or for $34 a coffee mug and the book are available as a set.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser