The award-winning writer described her book as 'a memoir and manifesto on appearance diversity and loving yourself', discussing what life is like for Ms Findlay living with a rare skin condition, ichthyosis.

Findlay said her motivation for writing the memoir came from a personal place.

"I wrote it because there's nothing out there like it so no one hears about this condition and the effect it has on people, and if they do it’s often parents telling story," she said.

"When I was a child, I needed to see something like this to help me find confidence."

When asked of her hopes for the future of society's opinion on disabilities, Findlay said she fears it may be a slow process to eliminating discrimination.

"I hope we get there, but it won't be easy," she said.

"People can easily become more publicly visible nowadays and in doing that we can reduce people's sensitivity, but while there is such discrimination happening and little help from human rights initiatives and even the law, it's hard to make a movement because there isn't much to protect us."

Findlay said her experience writing this book highlighted issues often overlooked.

"What I did find when writing is that it's hard to write about discrimination without seeming like a victim, but the more we speak of these things, the stronger we become and make people aware - only it's hard not to drain out people by seeming like you want them to feel sorry for you - that's not the case," she said.

The author has already been to Melbourne and Sydney for her book, soon to head to Perth and here in Wagga.

"I have been to Wagga before, not as an adult though so it’s exciting," she said.

"I used to travel there a lot when I was younger to see a dermatologist there."

This won't be the last published piece of work we see from her, according to Findlay.

"I’m working with Black Inc Books at the moment on their anthology 'Growing Up Disabled in Australia' which I'm very excited about, and also want to write a children's book at some stage, as well as do my PhD on social media or something like that," she said.

Carly Findlay will be coming to Wagga for a book signing on March 8, hosted at the Wagga City Library. 

Related content: