Bloody Minded: War, womanhood and finding my voice
'A story of grit and determination from a woman who writes the way she lives - fiercely, with passion and in full colour.' - Michele A'Court
'There are times, admittedly rare, when a book comes along that needs only one word to evaluate it. In the case of Bloody Minded, that word is "WOW"... Unquestionably it must be a hot contender to top its category in the next book of the year awards.' - Jill Nicholas, NZME
'A gripping, page-turning memoir, both due to Ferguson's incredible career, but also due to her grasp of what makes a compelling story: drama, a touch of humour, and a theme to tie it all together. In this case, it's how the bodies of women are as much a battlefield as an actual war zone...' - Claire Williamson, Kete
Early in her radio career Susie Ferguson became a war correspondent. The only woman among hundreds of soldiers, in a helmet and flak jacket she was one of the boys. None of them knew she was taking fifteen painkillers a day and relying on opioids to stem the burning and stabbing pain in her uterus.
Even bloody-minded grit couldn't have prepared Susie for womanhood. More than your body's betrayal, it's the vicious bullying only girls can do. It's waiting years for surgery because your pain doesn't matter. It's the threat of violence in countries where a woman is either property or the spoils of war. It's going overnight from a high-powered career to a stay-at-home mum. It's the doctor who says you're wasting his time. But it is also friendship, love and having the strength to carry on - and to do it smiling.
'If you've ever wanted to eyeball a doctor and demand the treatment you need and deserve, this is the book for you.' - Lotta Dann.
Susie Ferguson was born in Scotland and is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in New Zealand. After graduating from The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and the University of the Arts London, she became a war correspondent, reporting and presenting from around the world - most notably the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. She emigrated to New Zealand in 2009, and for eight years was co-host of Radio NZ's top-rating show, Morning Report. She has also made radio documentaries and podcasts including RNZ's The Unthinkable and Undercurrent: Misinformation in Aotearoa. Susie now hosts RNZ's Saturday Morning, is an ambassador for Endometriosis NZ, and lives in Wellington with her family.
Author: Susie Ferguson
Format: Paperback, 336 pages, 154mm x 235mm, 455 g
Published: 2024, HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand), New Zealand
Genre: Autobiography: General
'A story of grit and determination from a woman who writes the way she lives - fiercely, with passion and in full colour.' - Michele A'Court
'There are times, admittedly rare, when a book comes along that needs only one word to evaluate it. In the case of Bloody Minded, that word is "WOW"... Unquestionably it must be a hot contender to top its category in the next book of the year awards.' - Jill Nicholas, NZME
'A gripping, page-turning memoir, both due to Ferguson's incredible career, but also due to her grasp of what makes a compelling story: drama, a touch of humour, and a theme to tie it all together. In this case, it's how the bodies of women are as much a battlefield as an actual war zone...' - Claire Williamson, Kete
Early in her radio career Susie Ferguson became a war correspondent. The only woman among hundreds of soldiers, in a helmet and flak jacket she was one of the boys. None of them knew she was taking fifteen painkillers a day and relying on opioids to stem the burning and stabbing pain in her uterus.
Even bloody-minded grit couldn't have prepared Susie for womanhood. More than your body's betrayal, it's the vicious bullying only girls can do. It's waiting years for surgery because your pain doesn't matter. It's the threat of violence in countries where a woman is either property or the spoils of war. It's going overnight from a high-powered career to a stay-at-home mum. It's the doctor who says you're wasting his time. But it is also friendship, love and having the strength to carry on - and to do it smiling.
'If you've ever wanted to eyeball a doctor and demand the treatment you need and deserve, this is the book for you.' - Lotta Dann.
Susie Ferguson was born in Scotland and is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in New Zealand. After graduating from The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and the University of the Arts London, she became a war correspondent, reporting and presenting from around the world - most notably the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. She emigrated to New Zealand in 2009, and for eight years was co-host of Radio NZ's top-rating show, Morning Report. She has also made radio documentaries and podcasts including RNZ's The Unthinkable and Undercurrent: Misinformation in Aotearoa. Susie now hosts RNZ's Saturday Morning, is an ambassador for Endometriosis NZ, and lives in Wellington with her family.