Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee


Publisher:  Bowker (January 11, 2019)
Category: Memoir/Self-Help/Non-Fiction
Tour dates: March/April, 2020
ISBN: 978-0578430805
Available in Print and ebook, 316 pages

Description Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

Michaela Renee Johnson was just 12 years old in 1992 when a financial slump forced her family to move from an upscale area in Sacramento to a 27-ft trailer in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with no electricity or running water — so no Nintendo or MTV. It wasn’t exactly the life that every adolescent dreams of, but it was, in fact, their reality.

Michaela chronicles these formative years (and beyond) in her often humorous, constantly candid true story, Teetering on Disaster. As the young Michaela navigates her way through the inherently melodramatic teen years, she must come to terms with relieving herself in the woods, shaving with a 10-cent borrowed razor in an irrigation ditch and taking what she called “bird baths” with a jug of water.

Somehow, in the midst of disorienting change, she learned to focus on what she was gaining instead of what she had lost. And in the end, she gained profound wisdom about her family and the world around her, and uncovered the truth about her own ability to thrive in the face of life’s inconveniences.

But the effects of her unorthodox upbringing don’t end at adulthood, and Teetering takes readers along as a grown Michaela stumbles upon a few “Mr. Right Nows,” gets divorced in her twenties, and ends up right back where she started: a small mountain town in the middle of nowhere.

Teetering on Disaster is a heartfelt, coming-of-age story written to inspire others to live a courageous life of authenticity and to speak their truth with grace. Michaela’s book is an unapologetically honest, authentic tale that will make readers laugh out loud and cry — sometimes at the same time.

Acclaim/Awards Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

Best Indie Non Fiction Novel, Shelf Media Group

Non Fiction Author’s Association, Silver Award

San Francisco Book Review, Prestigious 5 Star Award

San Diego Book Awards Best Un-Published Non Fiction

Praise Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

“Throughout Michaela’s autobiographical story, she sent me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Not being able to identify on a personal level with the extreme of both of her situations in each half of the book, I still felt that as a human being I could sympathize, and it helped me to have a greater appreciation for what I currently have. Michaela’s story had me happy at all of her highs, sad at the many losses, and emotionally confused concerning her relationships. What it all boils down to is that at times, being a grown-up, and a female, can be very difficult.”- Rachel Dehning, San Francisco Book Review

“I really did laugh, and cry, while reading this. I was able to relate to the experiences of the author, even though we are twenty years apart in age; the early years… amazing experience that family went through, creating a precious, ever-lasting bond between a young woman, her parents, and her two younger brothers.
Her humor and positive attitude, her extreme frankness and humility (touched with a bit of narcissism) draw one to her.
She, like the sweet doggies of the Great North, she is ever pleasing, forgiving, hard-working and never tiring. She relates to the dog world so much, calling herself Rio’s mom, that she probably won’t mind being compared to a canine. 🙂 Being a dog lover myself, I think of it as the highest compliment!
I wish I had her strength, her sense of humor and wit, her looks, her intelligence, her resilience and determination; I wish I had her ability to seems so Angie-Jolie-transcendent, and yet admit to being a little Grace-Adler-(Debra Messing)-ordinary … striking and competent, clumsy and insecure… God bless her!!
I wanna go through struggles and come out looking like Michaela Renee! One you just can’t help admiring.
Very inspiring. You just know she is going to be JUST FINE! She has spirit! She has spunk! And she IS LOVED… she will never be alone 😉 When she least expects it her true love will curl up next to her, and he won’t have four legs!”- Marcy Lundy, Goodreads

“Laugh out loud funny, interesting & touching. Teetering on Disaster is like a Modern day “Swiss Family Robinson meets Jerry Springer”! You could know the entirety of the story and Kayla’s writing style, quick wit, raw truth still entertains. If she wrote recipe’s we wouldn’t need the food channel. Buy it for every chick you know and earn major points, but make sure you keep one copy for yourself! Not just a “chick” book – man up and enjoy!”-Rick Harris, Amazon

Interview Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee

TR: How long did it take you to complete ‘Teetering on Disaster’ from start to fruition?

MR: Teetering started as an online journal, the chapters were a weekly blog, and gained a lot of excitement which is how it eventually became a published novel, all in it took about six months.

TR: Where did you get the inspiration for your cover?

MR: The cover is two pictures, one taken snow wheeling (which is shared in the book) and the other is from a Trash the Dress photoshoot I had after my divorce (long before that became a thing.

TR: What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

MR: It being a memoir, so much of it rings true to my heart in happiness and sadness. But my favorite is probably the scene with my brothers building the go kart and scooting down to Mar Val.

TR: Did you tell your family and friends that you were writing your memoir or did you tell them after you started the publication process?  What did they think?  Were they supportive or was there a lot of resistance?

MR:  My family has always had a good way of helping keep my feet on the ground while also supporting my crazy dreams. After the memoir came out I think we all realized what it meant to have our lives so open to interpretation from others. I think that’s the biggest realization that I had through the entire process, is that you open yourself to judgement from perfect strangers (both good and bad).

TR: Many memoirs similar to yours have been made into movies.  Which actor/actress would you like to see playing yourself and your family?

MR: We, as a family, often joke about this. I think Jennifer Lawrence would make a great young me. I think mom wants dad to be Sam Elliott and dad wants mom to be Goldie Hawn.

TR: You mentioned some songs in ‘Teetering on Disaster’ which ones would be important to include in the sound track in the movie.

MR: I think I would leave that creatively to the director, but I think any of the songs in the book are pretty timeless classics.

TR: I am sorry I have to welcome you into the abusive relationship club.  I was in an abusive relationship with my first husband.  After working through my experience I was able to spot a possible abuser very quickly.  Do you think that you are able to spot them too?

MR: As a licensed psychotherapist now, I will simply state that I think it’s important to communicate your needs and express your boundaries clearly in any relationship.

TR: I am very open to people about the relationship I was in and how I have grown from it.  I think ‘Teetering On Disaster’ could be helpful to other women, was that part of your intent in writing it?

MR: Ultimately Teetering became a book because many women reached out on the blog/online journal and said how much it was helping them, it is my ultimate goal to inspire others to speak their truth with grace and live a courageous life of authenticity.

TR: You have certainly proved you have the skill and creativity to write!  Are you working on another book or do you have plans to do so? Can you tell us anything about it?

MR: I have a traditionally published book that will truly inspire out this summer. But I’ve also published 4 children’s books, a self-help book (Be You Find Happy) and a fiction novel (Me & Moe).

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