
Join local author and Tai Chi teacher Arlene Faulk as she discusses her new book, Walking on Pins and Needles: A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis. She will be joined by Nadine Kenney Johnstone, author, teacher, podcast host and writing coach.
Once thriving as an upwardly-mobile career woman in a male-dominated corporation, Arlene is hiding increasingly severe health problems. But doing less work isn’t a viable option and her body finally says “stop.” She lands flat on her couch for two years. With a daunting label of multiple sclerosis — which took 21 years to diagnose — she has no road map for what to do, where to look.
Enter a health care professional who really cares and possesses extraordinary healing gifts. Arlene finally feels like she is more than just a diagnosis as she is led to practicing Tai Chi, to walking again, to getting off all medications, to teaching Tai Chi, to building her own thriving business.
Arlene has captured her dramatic personal story in a memoir where she recounts how she regained mobility, embraced the power of Tai Chi, and took back control of her life.
She’ll talk about her book, her journey, and more in this special event.

Sunday, March 13
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Heartwood Center
Skylight Room
1818 Dempster St., Evanston, IL
[ map ]
F R E E
This in-person event will follow all state and Cook County guidelines to mitigate COVID-19 that are in place at the time of the event. As the location is a health center, wearing masks indoors may still be required.
The event will include:
- Arlene’s alternative health recovery journey. How did it come to be and what made her jump into the unknown?
- How Tai Chi plays a critical role in health, in life and even as a business.
- What it was like writing a book about her experiences and what she has learned along the way with her writing coach and developmental editor, Nadine.
- The process of “letting go “ and what happens from thinking about taking a step into the unknown and actually doing it.
- A reading from her book, Walking on Pins and Needles.
- A Q&A with participants.
- Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
Follow Arlene on Facebook and Instagram for news about her upcoming memoir and Tai Chi classes, tips and observations about keeping our balance in life.
Arlene is also available to speak to your group or on your podcast. Call 312-642-0722 or use the Contact form.
TESTIMONIALS FOR WALKING ON PINS AND NEEDLES







ABOUT ARLENE FAULK
Arlene Faulk is a teacher, writer, storyteller and accomplished business woman. Through a zigzag trajectory, she discovered her calling with Tai Chi and has been teaching for more than 20 years in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. In her award-winning blog, she interweaves Tai Chi principles and her own life experiences to inspire readers to live their best lives. Her moving memoir, Walking on Pins and Needles: A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis, chronicles her inspiring story of how a chronic and debilitating health condition lacks the power to control our lives and stop us from moving in the direction of possibility.
ABOUT NADINE KENNEY JOHNSTONE
Nadine Kenney Johnstone’s memoir, Of This Much I’m Sure, was named Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association and received press coverage in Cosmopolitan, Today’s Parent, MindBodyGreen, and Metro, among others. She is a podcast host (Heart of the Story) and a writing coach who helps female authors develop and publish their stories. Nadine received her MFA from Columbia College Chicago and has taught writing internationally for 15 years. Pulling from her vast experience as a writing, meditation, and yoga nidra instructor, she leads wellness retreats with her chef husband.