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Fiercely You

Be Fabulous and Confident by Thinking Like a Drag Queen

Paperback
$18.95 US
5.56"W x 8.5"H x 0.68"D   | 10 oz | 40 per carton
On sale Aug 15, 2016 | 224 Pages | 9781626568075
Work through your fears by getting fierce!

Fiercely You is a creative, playful approach to the serious problems that women face regarding confidence and risk taking. At a particularly low point in her life, bestselling author Jackie Huba serendipitously stumbled upon the wonderful world of drag queens and was inspired. They were supremely self-assured, utterly fearless, strong, powerful, and unabashedly and completely themselves. Jackie even became a drag queen herself: Lady Trinity. Drawing on her own experiences and interviews with the world’s top drag queens, Huba and coauthor Shelly Kronbergs offers five Keys to Fierce that will help readers find the courage to ignore criticism and live the life they truly want to live every day—no wigs or stilettos required.
“When you become the image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.”
-RuPaul

“By weaving together critical research, compelling examples, and lively storytelling, Fiercely You shows us how to bring our boldest, most fearless selves to any challenging situation. This book is a game changer.”
—Claire Shipman, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Confidence Code

“Bold. Brave. Courageous. Confident. The real-life characters in Fiercely You astonish and motivate readers to stop worrying and start werking it.”
—Lisa Grimm, Global Associate Director, Social Media, Whole Foods Market

“Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs aren’t just fierce, they’re wise. The message at the center of this book is one of empowerment, attitude, self-discovery, and freedom. Anyone can be as fierce as a drag queen! Paint those lips fire-engine red and you’re halfway there. These sharp, sassy ladies will take you the rest of the way.” 
—Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of the New York Times bestselling novel Hausfrau

Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative yet clever approach to being our most confident selves.” 
—Anne Murray, Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Southwest Airlines

“Who knew that the answer to women’s problems with self-confidence would come from drag queens? Jackie Huba did—and she explains it all in her groundbreaking book, Fiercely You.”
—Liz Bullock, Director, Digital and Paid Media, Rackspace

Fiercely You is an inspirational book that takes the reader through a journey of self-discovery. The authors share strategies to eradicate self-doubt and embrace all aspects of life with authenticity, joy, and confidence, rather than fear and uncertainly. It's a must-read for all ages!” 
—Kathryn Ferguson, Senior Director, Marketing, SAP Americas

“Jackie has done it again! She has turned drag queens into role models for every woman by making new and surprising connections. This is truly a guide that all women can use to build their own confidence and perform fearlessly in their many life roles.”
—Jennifer Hughes, Global Director, Social and Community, Electronic Arts

Fiercely You is your ticket to finding and setting free your playful, badass, bold, beautiful self. Step back, Jack. Jackie Huba’s got one helluva ride for those who are ready to start expressing the version of themselves they’ve always wanted to be.”
—Victoria Labalme, performing artist, performance coach, and founder of Rock the Room

Fiercely You is for every woman who has ever daydreamed about what she should have done or said. This inspiring yet practical book provides an action plan on how to live your life with greater confidence.”
—Virginia Miracle, Chief Customer Officer, Spredfast 

“Hilarious and courageous, Fiercely You is the new how-to guide for women to build self-confidence and realize their true fabulous selves. Highly recommended!”
—Gemma Craven, Senior Vice President, McCann

Fiercely You is a step-by-step powerful guide for women to learn how to be a force to be reckoned with. Using inspiring stories, Jackie and Shelly show us that we have the confidence inside to be whatever we want in this world. Just take the stage!”
—Kathie Jones, Global Controller, frog

Fiercely You provides lessons anyone can take away on how to be strong, bold, fierce, and in control of your life, every day. It’s a personal power development tool I would have loved to have had twenty years ago, when just starting my career.”
—Stephanie Pfeffer Anton, Executive Vice President, Luxury Portfolio International

“A wonderful combination of a personal journey, glittering (and fierce) examples, sound research, and delicious process, Jackie Huba’s Fiercely You provides women with a fun and fresh tool for building, growing, and leveraging confidence.”   
—Monique Maley, President, Articulate Persuasion, and creator of Command a Room Women’s Leadership Program

Fiercely You is an essential read for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on how to stop worrying what other people think and start living boldly and vibrantly.”
—Lyn Christian, MCC, CFCC, founder of SoulSalt

Fiercely You is packed full of tips and advice to tap into your inner diva and become the fiercest, most confident version of yourself.”
—Sarah Finley, cofounder and CEO, Social Arts & Science Institute 

“Jackie Huba is a fearless role model for women who are holding themselves back from greatness. In this book, she shares the secrets to being the badass you always knew you could be.” 
—Amy Swank, Vice President of Operations, Texas Economic Development Council

“Like Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In wrapped in a feather boa, Fiercely You is a masterful and marvelous study of female empowerment in the modern age.” 
—Andrea France, retail software executive

Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative and clever approach to being our most confident selves.” 
—Maxine Clark, entrepreneur

“Confident. Remarkable. Strong. Courageous. Who doesn’t want that for themselves? I do. I know you do too. In Fiercely You, Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs want to outfit you with a new way of seeing yourself in everyday situations. No bustier or thigh boots required!” 
—Jill Silman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Senior Performance Consultant

Fiercely You offers practical insights and creative tips and tools that can help you work through your fears and ignite your confidence.”
—Barbara Miller, international speaker and speaking consultant/trainer

“How can thinking like a drag queen help people gain autonomy and self-assurance? Huba (Monster Loyalty) answers this question by showing readers how to conceptualize and actualize the person within. That’s the essence of the book—pulling out that alter persona and bringing it to life without fear of condemnation. Certainly a big order, but, according to Huba, the outcome is immensely rewarding. Real-life stories dominate the text and make for fascinating reading if not guidance in realizing the nature of our true selves. VERDICT: A fun, insightful read that takes readers in surprising directions.”
- Library Journal
Jackie Huba is the author of three books and a TEDx speaker and has worked as a consultant with top brands such as Whirlpool, Disney, American Express, and Discovery. She is a Forbes.com contributor, and her work has frequently been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Businessweek.

Shelly Stewart Kronbergs is a licensed marriage and family therapy associate in private practice.
Shelly Stewart Kronbergs View titles by Shelly Stewart Kronbergs
Introduction: Setting the Sail for the Queendom
Part One: Why Fierce Matters
The Need for Fierce
Learn from the Queens of Fierce
An Invitation to be Fiercely You
Part Two: The Keys to Fierce
The First Key: Create Your Drag Persona
The Second Key: Always Look Sickening in Everyday Drag
The Third Key: Strike a Post and Embody Your Power
The Fourth Key: Tell Your Critics to Sashay Away
The Fifth Key: You Better Werk!
Conclusion: Living Fiercely Every Day
Epilogue: Doing Drag on a TED Stage
A Drag Primer: Know Your Herstory
Glossary of Drag Terms
Notes
Acknowledgements
Index
About the Authors

About

Work through your fears by getting fierce!

Fiercely You is a creative, playful approach to the serious problems that women face regarding confidence and risk taking. At a particularly low point in her life, bestselling author Jackie Huba serendipitously stumbled upon the wonderful world of drag queens and was inspired. They were supremely self-assured, utterly fearless, strong, powerful, and unabashedly and completely themselves. Jackie even became a drag queen herself: Lady Trinity. Drawing on her own experiences and interviews with the world’s top drag queens, Huba and coauthor Shelly Kronbergs offers five Keys to Fierce that will help readers find the courage to ignore criticism and live the life they truly want to live every day—no wigs or stilettos required.

Praise

“When you become the image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.”
-RuPaul

“By weaving together critical research, compelling examples, and lively storytelling, Fiercely You shows us how to bring our boldest, most fearless selves to any challenging situation. This book is a game changer.”
—Claire Shipman, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Confidence Code

“Bold. Brave. Courageous. Confident. The real-life characters in Fiercely You astonish and motivate readers to stop worrying and start werking it.”
—Lisa Grimm, Global Associate Director, Social Media, Whole Foods Market

“Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs aren’t just fierce, they’re wise. The message at the center of this book is one of empowerment, attitude, self-discovery, and freedom. Anyone can be as fierce as a drag queen! Paint those lips fire-engine red and you’re halfway there. These sharp, sassy ladies will take you the rest of the way.” 
—Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of the New York Times bestselling novel Hausfrau

Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative yet clever approach to being our most confident selves.” 
—Anne Murray, Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Southwest Airlines

“Who knew that the answer to women’s problems with self-confidence would come from drag queens? Jackie Huba did—and she explains it all in her groundbreaking book, Fiercely You.”
—Liz Bullock, Director, Digital and Paid Media, Rackspace

Fiercely You is an inspirational book that takes the reader through a journey of self-discovery. The authors share strategies to eradicate self-doubt and embrace all aspects of life with authenticity, joy, and confidence, rather than fear and uncertainly. It's a must-read for all ages!” 
—Kathryn Ferguson, Senior Director, Marketing, SAP Americas

“Jackie has done it again! She has turned drag queens into role models for every woman by making new and surprising connections. This is truly a guide that all women can use to build their own confidence and perform fearlessly in their many life roles.”
—Jennifer Hughes, Global Director, Social and Community, Electronic Arts

Fiercely You is your ticket to finding and setting free your playful, badass, bold, beautiful self. Step back, Jack. Jackie Huba’s got one helluva ride for those who are ready to start expressing the version of themselves they’ve always wanted to be.”
—Victoria Labalme, performing artist, performance coach, and founder of Rock the Room

Fiercely You is for every woman who has ever daydreamed about what she should have done or said. This inspiring yet practical book provides an action plan on how to live your life with greater confidence.”
—Virginia Miracle, Chief Customer Officer, Spredfast 

“Hilarious and courageous, Fiercely You is the new how-to guide for women to build self-confidence and realize their true fabulous selves. Highly recommended!”
—Gemma Craven, Senior Vice President, McCann

Fiercely You is a step-by-step powerful guide for women to learn how to be a force to be reckoned with. Using inspiring stories, Jackie and Shelly show us that we have the confidence inside to be whatever we want in this world. Just take the stage!”
—Kathie Jones, Global Controller, frog

Fiercely You provides lessons anyone can take away on how to be strong, bold, fierce, and in control of your life, every day. It’s a personal power development tool I would have loved to have had twenty years ago, when just starting my career.”
—Stephanie Pfeffer Anton, Executive Vice President, Luxury Portfolio International

“A wonderful combination of a personal journey, glittering (and fierce) examples, sound research, and delicious process, Jackie Huba’s Fiercely You provides women with a fun and fresh tool for building, growing, and leveraging confidence.”   
—Monique Maley, President, Articulate Persuasion, and creator of Command a Room Women’s Leadership Program

Fiercely You is an essential read for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on how to stop worrying what other people think and start living boldly and vibrantly.”
—Lyn Christian, MCC, CFCC, founder of SoulSalt

Fiercely You is packed full of tips and advice to tap into your inner diva and become the fiercest, most confident version of yourself.”
—Sarah Finley, cofounder and CEO, Social Arts & Science Institute 

“Jackie Huba is a fearless role model for women who are holding themselves back from greatness. In this book, she shares the secrets to being the badass you always knew you could be.” 
—Amy Swank, Vice President of Operations, Texas Economic Development Council

“Like Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In wrapped in a feather boa, Fiercely You is a masterful and marvelous study of female empowerment in the modern age.” 
—Andrea France, retail software executive

Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative and clever approach to being our most confident selves.” 
—Maxine Clark, entrepreneur

“Confident. Remarkable. Strong. Courageous. Who doesn’t want that for themselves? I do. I know you do too. In Fiercely You, Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs want to outfit you with a new way of seeing yourself in everyday situations. No bustier or thigh boots required!” 
—Jill Silman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Senior Performance Consultant

Fiercely You offers practical insights and creative tips and tools that can help you work through your fears and ignite your confidence.”
—Barbara Miller, international speaker and speaking consultant/trainer

“How can thinking like a drag queen help people gain autonomy and self-assurance? Huba (Monster Loyalty) answers this question by showing readers how to conceptualize and actualize the person within. That’s the essence of the book—pulling out that alter persona and bringing it to life without fear of condemnation. Certainly a big order, but, according to Huba, the outcome is immensely rewarding. Real-life stories dominate the text and make for fascinating reading if not guidance in realizing the nature of our true selves. VERDICT: A fun, insightful read that takes readers in surprising directions.”
- Library Journal

Author

Jackie Huba is the author of three books and a TEDx speaker and has worked as a consultant with top brands such as Whirlpool, Disney, American Express, and Discovery. She is a Forbes.com contributor, and her work has frequently been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Businessweek.

Shelly Stewart Kronbergs is a licensed marriage and family therapy associate in private practice.
Shelly Stewart Kronbergs View titles by Shelly Stewart Kronbergs

Table of Contents

Introduction: Setting the Sail for the Queendom
Part One: Why Fierce Matters
The Need for Fierce
Learn from the Queens of Fierce
An Invitation to be Fiercely You
Part Two: The Keys to Fierce
The First Key: Create Your Drag Persona
The Second Key: Always Look Sickening in Everyday Drag
The Third Key: Strike a Post and Embody Your Power
The Fourth Key: Tell Your Critics to Sashay Away
The Fifth Key: You Better Werk!
Conclusion: Living Fiercely Every Day
Epilogue: Doing Drag on a TED Stage
A Drag Primer: Know Your Herstory
Glossary of Drag Terms
Notes
Acknowledgements
Index
About the Authors

You Better Werk: Celebrating Drag

Despite drag bans and anti-drag hysteria dominating the headlines, the queens and kings of drags are here to slay. Drag has existed in one form or another since the beginnings of recorded history, but modern drag artists with colorful wigs, extravagant camp couture, and perfectly on point performances have elevated the artform into a full-blown

Read more