Stephanie Kay Bendel

Biography

Stephanie Kay Bendel is the author of EXIT THE LABYRINTH: A Memoir of Early Childhood Depression – Its Onset and Aftermath, MAKING CRIME PAY: A Practical Guide to Mystery Writing, and A SCREAM AWAY, a romantic thriller published under the house name, Andrea Harris. She has also written numerous short stories and articles on writing.

Stephanie has taught writing to college and adult education classes. She has run writing workshops for over thirty years. She lives in Westminster, CO, with her husband, Bill.

Smashwords Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
Although I was born in Chicago, we moved to central Wisconsin when my father returned from the war, so I grew up in a very small paper mill town where everybody knew everybody else. Consequently, I heard the life stories of many people and observed different personalities and became interested in the interactions among them. I realized that everyone has a story,and no two people view things in exactly the same way, nor do they react in the same way. Thus, my small town upbringing provided plenty of fodder for story ideas.
When did you first start writing?
I first started writing in about the fourth grade, although I had been making up stories in my head for as long as I can remember. I was a voracious reader beginning at age four, and I loved the process of asking questions (what happens now?) and seeing where my imagination would take me. I also loved to tell the stories I made up and often did so at recess. The nuns at school weren't happy because my classmates would gather around me to listen instead of running around and burning up energy so they wouldn't be restless in the classroom.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Stephanie Kay Bendel online

Books

Exit the Labyrinth: A Memoir of Early Childhood Depression — Its Onset and Aftermath
Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 101,900. Language: English. Published: February 20, 2016 . Categories: Nonfiction » Biography » Autobiographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction » Psychology » Depression
For more than forty years, Margo Witz has been troubled by the effects of an early childhood trauma she can’t remember. Despite years of therapy, she has experienced severe depression and recurrent nightmares. Although this is a true story, it reads like a novel. For those who enjoy memoirs, this is a must-read. Those who have battled with depression may also find comfort in this book.