Lindfield earthquake survivor writes memoirs to fundraise for victims

Rowana Smith has written memoirs of her story of surviving the Nepal earthquake - picture submitted

Rowana ‘Row’ Smith, 35,is working with a publisher to crowdfund her memoirs in the hope of raising money for the charity Community Action Nepal (CAN).

She needs to raise £15,000 to get her book written and published by the specialist memoirs publisher Story Terrace.

Once published, all profits from the book, that is around 80 per cent of the £25 hardback fee and 75 per cent of the £20 paperback fee, will go directly to CAN.

Rowana said: “I want to raise as much as possible for charity and make it a long lifetime goal whatever I can raise is a bonus and will help.”

Since returning from Nepal last year she has been overcome by a feeling of what she describes as ‘survivors’ guilt’. This has led her to raising thousands of pounds for CAN as well as making numerous personal donations to people in Nepal. However she said: “It was no longer sustainable. It got to the point where I couldn’t afford it (anymore). But the guilt never goes away.”

Writing her memories down has been a therapeutic experience, but she is aware that her wounds are still raw.

“(When writing) I feel like I’m bearing my soul. There are certain feelings which make me very uncomfortable.

She added: “It can be painful. Talking about it can be too. It is a very horrible thing. Imagine that your hometown or village has been reduced to rubble. That’s what it was like, what I saw. An entire village, 300 people killed. Every building obliterated.”

Having received therapy to cure her post traumatic stress disorder she considers herself ‘one of the lucky ones’.

Her ultimate goal is to help pay for psychotherapists to offer Nepalese victims similar therapy in Nepal.

The book, The Earth Moved, is available to pre-order at www.mystorystarter,com/nepal.

She has also teamed up with Brighton comedian James Pryor to host a fundraising evening of jokes and live music at the Latest Music Bar on Saturday April 30 from 8pm. Tickets cost £12.50 in advance or £15 on the night. Go to www.wegottickets.com/event/357662 to book.