Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I ever wrote was about sex. I was 14 and he was twice my age. Only one person was permitted to have a copy of that before I destroyed it: my 9th grade English teacher. I have since written a new short story about Nicholas because I want the world to know that teenagers are children who do not know what is best for them, and adults should not have sex with teens.
What do you think readers should know about your autobiographical ebooks?
Mental illness runs in my family. That sounds funny, but it's no joke, though we are great at using humor to get by! My sense of humor is very warped and on the dark side. I have had homicidal fantasies about people who have hurt me or my children. Of course, I won't act on those urges, but it is interesting to notice the craving for vengeance. I'm a grizzly mama bear!
In 1993 I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have learned a great deal about depression and anxiety since then. My intention is to de-stigmatize mental healthcare and help everyone to realize that reaching for professional help to deal with mood disorders that could cause you to become a danger to yourself or others is no different than seeking help from a doctor for diabetes.
My style is to the point and cathartic. Someone criticized me for writing the story of my rape at age 15 with too much "I... I... I..." and guess what? -- I don't care what that reader thinks. It was done on purpose. The mindset of a 15-year-old girl the day after she was raped is all about "I shouldn't have been so stupid." That's where it was written from, but ultimately the child grows out of that and recognizes the truth: there are human predators.
Nevertheless, my life story ends on a happy note because I am a survivor. It was the family counselor who said it was "remarkable".
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