Write a commentSarah Dulany-Gring (SDG) is a force to be reckoned with.
Published in September 2023, NAKED is a memoir written in a series of essays, with the feel of a friend giving another advice based on her experiences. “Really, these are the stories I share with friends, in coffee shops, and beyond. It was about time for me to finally write them down,” she said with a big belly laugh.
As owner of FAUVED and author of NAKED, SDG has built a community and a brand around authenticity and embracing the “messy middle” of life—but it’s more than simply branding. It’s who she is.
“I wanted to share the stories in NAKED to help people recognize that life is messy and that’s OK. I’m all about encouraging people to be authentic and true to themselves,” Sarah told iHeart Oswego. “I’d much rather see people becoming their favorite versions of themselves than their best selves.”
It’s important to note that, while NAKED is written in a very frank and accessible voice, the narrative was very intentionally put together. The book went through three editors with various approaches, and then SDG used a spreadsheet to plot emotional intensity. “I write about some heavy stuff, but I wanted to keep it balanced so it didn’t become too much of a bummer.”
That concept of balance is also an important part of her approach to life. “Holding the darkness and the light at the same time is so important, especially when going through hard times,” the author told iHeart Oswego. “Tilling the soil to cultivate the garden of your soul is not a pleasant process, but it’s that darkness that makes the light possible.”
NAKED is SDG’s first book and was printed locally at Mitchell's Speedway Press in Oswego. Over 500 copies have been sold so far. In fact, the 500th copy was sold to none other than iHeart team member Paula McKalsen this past summer. Readers can find their own copy on SDG’s website in paperback, audiobook, and eBook formats.
For folks interested in joining SDG’s community approach to authenticity, visit her website to learn more about upcoming events. These include Naked Coffee (a bit of a reverse book club), Journaling with Color, and something fun for the new year focused on being your favorite self.
However you want to tap into this community, whether it's on social, with sticky notes, just reading the book, or attending events, Sarah encourages everyone to reach out and say, "Hi!" over text, email, or DM. The whole purpose of this is to bring people together to authentically connect and realize more binds us than separates us.
And that’s something we at iHeart Oswego could not agree with more.
