We had the good fortune of connecting with Bee Bloeser, author and popular public speaker, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bee, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?

I hadn’t actually decided to start a business. But I HAD decided to write a book. In fact, I had no choice but to write the book. The idea came after I read through the hundreds of pages of detailed documents (unclassified of course) my late husband had saved. They were the history of our two years in West Africa with the campaign that eradicated smallpox from the planet. We’d lived through some fairly harrowing experiences under “The Terror” in Equatorial Guinea. The stories needed to be shared. Well, when you spend seven years writing a book, you obviously think you have something to say that’s worth reading. But in the US alone, hundreds of new titles are released EVERY HOUR. Millions every year. You have a decision to make. Either do the business of the book—getting it published, promoting it, selling it—or be content with no one but your children, your grandma and a few close friends even knowing it exists. So—business it is. I love public speaking and knew I would share the story that way as well. So I’m in the business of promoting both my book and me as a speaker and storyteller.

Alright, so let’s move on to what sets you apart. 

I’ve lived in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia and Native American nations, and have supported my late husband’s public health work on five continents. I think this background informs everything I do.

I think there are three things that set me apart as both an author and a speaker.
FIRST, is the unique perspective. To my knowledge, my account of the most amazing campaign in public health history, the campaign to wipe smallpox off the face of the planet, is the only first-person account written from the perspective of a family behind the scenes of that campaign.
SECOND, the unique circumstances in early post-colonial Africa that are the physical, societal and emotional setting of my story. I was one of only six Americans and only two American women living in despotic Macias Nguema’s Equatorial Guinea. And I’ve been able to write in great detail because my late husband had saved hundreds of pages of documents—all unclassified of course. So I have extensive history underpinning my very personal story.
THIRD, my story’s breadth and depth. (The subtitle of my book gives a hint.) Because of this, I offer different talks to fit a wide range of groups. Many organizations request two appearances, and some have even had me back for all four of my talks.

What are you most proud of?

I think I’m most proud of the fact that after retiring from one career at 77, I developed an entire new career and that that work has been so well received. Foreign Policy magazine’s deputy editor says my memoir “makes for riveting reading” and The Economist’s former Johannesburg bureau chief says it’s “a sympathetic, vividly told and useful record. . . .” A Pulitzer Prize-nominee and creative writing faculty, Oberlin College, says my memoir “reads like a political thriller, women’s history and African adventure rolled into one.” I’m honored by these comments by such respected journalists and professors.

I’m excited now to be close to acquiring the funding to have my book made into an audiobook. So watch for the audio version of VACCINES & BAYONETS: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War a little later in 2024. I’m thrilled to announce that noted actor and narrator, Claudia Dunn, has agreed to record my book!

How have you overcome challenges you encountered, and what are some lessons you’ve learned along the way? 

The challenge in writing the book was that I’d written clinical reports my whole career, so for my book I had to learn how to write creatively. I attended a lot of seminars online and joined some excellent writers’ MeetUp and critique groups. Speaking came easy to me. Before my grad work in speech-language pathology, I’d done an undergrad degree in theatre. I’d always been a storyteller and am still in storytelling groups as well as Toastmasters.

The aspect of the business that’s been the biggest challenge, and still is, is the need to use social media and other aspects of digital marketing. I’ve had wonderful coaches from SCORE, Ninety Degrees Media and State of Sparkle, but I still struggle. It’s not the pathway I naturally take to. I’m not much of a techie, and just when I think I’m finally moving forward, some tech conundrum rears its ugly head and stops me in my tracks. My SCORE mentor tells me I need some media-savvy person who also has a passion for my message and wants to do this part of my mission for me. That would be a dream come true.

I’d had a boatload of lessons to learn in West Africa. I didn’t know I still had a lot to learn in the process of writing the story and sharing it. When I began writing I expected to educate and entertain. Now, I’ve learned another lesson. That I can inspire at least a few people to do something more with their lives to make a difference—for at least one other person and maybe even thousands. So my goal has now grown to become a mission. A mission to inspire.

What do you want the world to know about your brand and story?

My book and my talks and lectures focus primarily on one or more aspects of my two-year inspiring, sobering, enlightening, frightening, mind blowing and occasionally humorous life with the history-making campaign to eradicate smallpox from the planet. I had no choice but to write this book. My talks give you just a handful of pieces of the 500-piece puzzle revealed in the book. I use both to promote and support water wells for Africa.

I offer anything from a thirty-minute summary talk or series of talks to a half-day program and do meet-the-author events with bookclubs. Zoom bookings are welcome. My signature talk is Sending Smallpox into History: One Public Health Family behind the Scenes. Special interest talks include: Women Hidden behind Walls, From Ramses V to the Final Case (in depth history of smallpox and attempts to fight it), and An Empty Harbor: When the Dictator Burned All the Boats.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I primarily like to show people the natural beauty of the Santa Barbara area, e.g. the Douglas Family Preserve, Botanic Gardens, and Stowe House. The Santa Barbara Zoo is outstanding, the Sea Center is a great place with its touchy-feely tanks. The Harbor, the historic courthouse, and the SB Art Museum are other favorites.

A couple of my favorite restaurants are Via Maestra 42 Italian restaurant and TAP Thai Cuisine. And I love a couple of the walkup eateries in Santa Barbara. Two that can’t be beat for their quality food: are East Beach Tacos (next to the Batting Cages) and Naan Stop authentic Indian food near UCSB.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
How many pages may I use? I had numerous mentors in the writing process before I moved to California. Then in the years since I moved to the Santa Barbara area, the list has grown to include the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and dozens more. I have to thank the business mentors with SCORE, Lisa Angle of Ninety Degrees Media, and Rachel Sarah Thurston of State of Sparkle marketing, Toastmasters has continued to sharpen my speaking skills. Exposure for my book has been helped by professors who have included Vaccines & Bayonets in their optional reading assignment lists.

I’m enormously grateful that I’ve been given opportunities to speak at Pepperdine University Harbor Lectures, at Westmont College Faculty Forum and biology and nursing classes, and to a U of Northern Iowa global health class (by Zoom), as well as to many civic, social and educational organizations. I’ve taught courses for VISTAS Lifelong Learning in Santa Barbara and similar groups out of state.

Website: https://beebloeser.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beebloeser/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beebloeser/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beebloeser/

Other: tiktok.com/@beebloeser

Image Credits
Bee Bloeser

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.