THE hairs stand up on the back of your neck after reading some of of the passages from Chrissy Guinery's latest book 'When The Smoke Clears'.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Her story details three months of family life of fire, evacuation, separation and homelessness during the recent chaotic and destructive bushfire season.
You read the words from this book and think 'yes' I can truly relate to those experiences'.
The bushfire crisis, sadly, was a family experience for Chrissy.
"I had 11 of my 14 grandchildren, four of my five children and their partners and my hubby, Step, all within the fire zone," the Long Beach resident said.
"It was a mammoth effort trying to put out spot fires and just trying to stay alive - one hour at a time, one day at a time and one week at a time."
Her family's experience shows how hard living through a crisis can be.
"We moved into the Love Shack (a pet name for their home) in December, just days before we were evacuated," she said.
"Fires, though threatening, never did get into Long Beach so our home was spared, as were the Batemans Bay homes of two of our daughters' and our son's home.
"Unfortunately, our middle daughter in Catalina lost her family home."
Chrissy describes herself as "a faith-filled woman" and knows many people are still in recovery mode.
"Like most people in this area where more than 500 homes and 81 per cent of the landmass was lost, we remain a little shell shocked," she said.
"Our daughter's block was only cleared two weeks ago, so the road to recovery is a little longer than expected.
"With so many affected, and restrictions halting the clean-up process, the delay is understandable."
She was approached to write the book.
"When The Smoke Clears' was birthed in the middle of the fires. I was posting regular social media updates to help extended family and friends know we were safe," she said.
"Sydney publishing company Fifty Days Press approached me and asked would I write a firsthand account from inside the fires.
"Some of the processes was difficult as I was forced to revisit my own and my family's pain, but overall it was a cathartic, healing journey and a book of hope.
"Many who have purchased the book are telling me that it is doing the same for them and taking them on their own healing journey as they rebuild their lives.
"I feel privileged to be able to share so many stories and help in every way I can.
"I have also committed a percentage of every sale towards helping fire victims."
'When The Smoke Clears' is available at the online bookstore at chrissyguinery.com or here.
Her previous works "Falling Up Stairs' released in 2014, followed by 'Room To Breathe' in 2018 and a children's counting book, 'Buzz Loves His Friends' released last year are also available online.