I Wanna Tell You My Story

About the Book

“I Wanna Tell You My Story” is about the power of the human spirit, using non-fiction prose and poetry, the author expresses her true feelings. Along the way, she caught glimpses of her true glory.

The author shares with us her experiences of growing up in abject poverty surrounded by an atmosphere of fear and repression. This leads to many years of living with shame, pain, and humiliation.

            The story starts in the segregated south in the 1950’s with a charismatic, share-cropping, preacher father who ruled his family with an iron fist. His motto was “spare the rod and spoil the child.” It wasn’t called abuse when she was growing up, it was called strict discipline.

Growing up she said she would never treat anyone like this; to make people feel small. Even though she swore to herself that she would never be like her father, in many ways she became her father. It was this realization that led to a breakdown, which later became a breakthrough.

Cornelia has a gift, not given to ordinary people. There is something in her book, “I Wanna Tell You My Story” for everyone. It is inspiring…it gets you up and keeps you going. It is motivational….it takes you places you thought you never would go. It is serious…it focuses on issues to be addressed. It is humorous…it makes you laugh out loud and keeps your life in perspective.

About the Author

            Cornelia was born in Harnett County, North Carolina, and was the fourth of ten children. As an avid traveler, she loves and embraces other cultures. All of this has inspired her to share her story.

            Although her healing process was painful and gradual, she ultimately reclaimed the person within, whom she believed to be lost. It was a hard-won triumph of will.

            From this experience, Cornelia found herself inspired by an irresistible desire to write. Ironically, she discovered that her impoverished childhood provided her with a rich source of material for poetry and songs. So, she began to express, in a creative way, all her repressed feelings of shame, humiliation, and anger. What has been a therapeutic act has burgeoned into the creation of over one hundred poems and songs, a one-woman play and countless performances around the world.

            First and foremost Cornelia McDonald is a humanitarian. She has taken the art of healing and transformed her pain of abuse and poverty onto the world stage. This poet, storyteller, humanist, dramatist, and inspirational speaker uses her childhood and life experiences to convey a message of hope.

            She chooses the arts as her mode of communication because it is the universal language of healing and hope.

            Her work evokes tears and laughter simultaneously. Whether she is performing for small groups or for an audience of thousands, her message is simple but profound “-- you can overcome your past to become a fully realized human being."