So how did she manage to have her first book written and published all this year?
The answer to that is reflected in the title of her debut book While the Kettle Boiled, The Power of Now, which she says is about “Big shifts, five minutes at a time”.
The book came about at a busy time of her life, starting when the family relocated to Finley 15 years ago after running a restaurant in Toowomba.
“My husband Ken has MS (multiple sclerosis), so I’m now his full-time carer,” she said.
“He was diagnosed with MS at 38 in 2010.
“I am also a registered nurse and just finished studying for a Master’s degree in advanced nursing.
“I also have nine children.
“So I was always busy, and I would wear my busyness around as a badge saying things like, ‘I can’t do that, I’m just too busy’.”
The idea for the book was sparked during the everyday task of boiling the kettle.
“I was making by husband’s cuppa and when I turn the kettle on to boil I would usually do something like pack the dishwasher.
“My husband then asked me how much do I get done while the kettle is boiling?.
“That got me thinking. In the six minutes it takes to boil the kettle, what can I do in that time that is just for me rather than adding to the busyness.
“So at first, I would take those six minutes to sit in silence or look out the window, and I started to reflect on the power of those six minutes.
“I always wanted to write a book, but I’d never done it before.
“So in those six minutes while the kettle boiled, I began typing away on my computer.
“In five months, I’d written the book.”
Mrs Vidler said the book has a core message that she is keen to share.
“It is about reclaiming time and reclaiming yourself.
“Everyone these days talks about reinventing yourself, but I think it is about getting back to who you were before you became busy.”
Mrs Vidler self-published the book through the Australian Independent Publishers Group.
She will host a local launch this coming Monday, December 1 at the Finley RS Club from 6pm.
“There will also be a book reading at the local library on Wednesday, December 3, which should be great. I feel like our libraries are highly underutilised,” Mrs Vidler said.
“People can obviously buy the book online, but I also have some amazingly wonderful local people and businesses who have offered to sell the book.”
“These include the local Tocumwal Post Office, and the Three Girls Homewares boutique and Daisy Mae’s Giftware in Finley.”
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