my-addictionbooks - Interview (Jul. 2013)

Check out my answers to the tricky questions that the lovely Nadine Maritz challenged me with during our interview:-

[From:  http://my-addictionbooks.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/interview-christina-taylor-womans.html]

Interview: Christina Taylor – A Woman’s Courage: Inside Depression.

Christina Taylor is the author of A Woman’s Courage: Inside Depression which was published on the 1^st of July 2012 by Brolga Publishing. We are – as always – very excited to have the honour of interviewing published authors, especially those who like myself, have struggled through many roads to reach the honour of being published.

Christina, welcome to the M.A Blog.

Christina, as a start – and I know this is very cliché – tell us a bit more about yourself, your background and what made you decide to write in the beginning?

I grew up in Tasmania (Australia) and moved to Melbourne (Australia) in 2001 after completing an Honours Degree in Computer Science at the University of Tasmania.  Since then I have worked in IT, mainly in Software Testing.  That covers my nerdy side. 

I have had an interest in writing from an early age.  Throughout school, I was always good at English and Art.  I enjoyed painting as a means of expressing myself and my innermost thoughts and emotions.  I started keeping a journal and that became another way for me to express myself and particularly my inner life.  I have always used my writing as not only a form of expression, but also as a form of therapy. 

There was an article featured of yourself in the Flemington – Kensington news now recently in 2013. Would you say that this publicity has broadened interest towards your novel and your cause?

All forms of publicity have broadened interest towards my novel and the topic of depression.  As a first time author, it is important to promote not only my novel but also myself as an author.  To generate publicity, I have written newspaper articles, attended radio interviews, book signing events and conducted special promotional events for charities and special occasions (for example, Mother’s Day).  I have also used my Blog and Facebook Author Page to promote my novel and myself.  I have found that all of these have contributed to broadening interest in my novel, myself as an author, and most importantly, contributed to further awareness about depression and how it affects not only individuals but also those who care for them. 

Being a novel – directed specifically towards the female genre - in your experience - how was the general manuscript received by agents and publishers? Was it a hard road?

To clarify, my novel is not directed specifically towards the female genre, as its title may imply.  Unfortunately, I had very little say when it came to the title.  My novel is intended for anyone with an interest in the topic of depression, whether male or female.  Many males have purchased my novel and told me that they found reading it to be worthwhile. 

I approached almost every Literary Agent in Australia for representation.  I received many rejections.  I started approaching Publishers directly and more rejections followed.  When I met with Brolga Publishing for the first time, they were very excited to hear about my proposed novel and believed there would be a large potential market for my work. 

It took me a couple of years before I found someone who was interested in publishing my novel.  It was a hard road but my persistence was rewarded in the end. 

Since being published, how have readers received the novel?

I haven’t received any negative feedback from my readers so far, but I have received a great deal of positive feedback.  Some of the feedback I’ve received: 

·         'At times, it felt not dissimilar to Kate Holden’s “In my Skin” in that we are taken down sometimes dark paths through the eyes of a highly intelligent protagonist who knows the ‘danger’ they are in but which they are unable to escape.’

·         ‘It was very brave of you to put your most private thoughts and feeling into a book for all to read.’

·         ‘I want to read what happens next – when are you bringing out your next book?’

·         ‘Congratulations on your bravery in speaking out about depression.’

·         ‘I would never share with the world those sorts of details about my life.’

·         ‘I couldn't put it down!  I had to find out what happened next.’

·         ‘I started reading and had to read it all.’

·         ‘I love your poems.’

·         ‘More erotica than "50 Shades of Grey!"’

·         ‘Very good read as I can relate to a lot of the emotions and feelings you go through with depression.  I hope you have another book on the cards.’

·         ‘Your book was fantastic!  Loved it!  Very helpful indeed.’

·         ‘What an unbelievable experience reading your book was.  I like the way it has been written, such raw honesty.  What an insight it has been for me as I could identify with some of your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.’

Depression is a big thing in our modern day times, sure we still have a lot of people who don’t acknowledge what depression is, I’ve always seen it as something you need to acknowledge, almost like being an addict, you need to admit, yes I am depressed before you can start working towards seeing the positive things in life, what is your take?

Depression is a huge issue in today’s society, as are preconceptions and a general lack of education about mental illness.  Incorrect preconceptions of depression and mental illness in general can be extremely damaging, as they can cause people to unfairly stigmatise those who experience mental illness, or minimise the seriousness of such illnesses – for example, telling someone to ‘harden up’ or ‘pull yourself together’.  Lack of knowledge about mental illness can result in it going undetected until it becomes extremely severe, sometimes with disastrous consequences such as self harm or even suicide. 

I understand your point regarding the need to acknowledge depression, but I’m not sure I agree that it is similar to the need to acknowledge addiction.  While it is generally accepted that an addict must acknowledge that they have a problem before they can take the necessary steps to recover, the case with depression or other mental illness is less straightforward, for several reasons. 

The symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses are often difficult to see, especially to the untrained or inexperienced eye, while people often recognise the symptoms of addiction, even if the addict spends most of their lives in denial of their addiction.  People are generally more familiar with the symptoms of addiction than the symptoms of depression. 

Many depressed people are not aware themselves that they have a mental illness.  A depressed person’s family and friends may not even be aware that the person is suffering from depression, until something major occurs, such as a suicide attempt. 

Depression must be recognised and acknowledged before it can be successfully managed and treated, but often it might not be the depressed person who first recognises that they are depressed – it might be a friend or family member who initially notices something is wrong.  Ultimately a qualified health professional must make the diagnosis of depression or any other mental illness.  Whether or not the affected person acknowledges the illness is much less important than professional diagnosis and treatment. 

Depression is a very complex medical condition, caused by a wide variety of factors.  Sometimes it requires therapy and medication for a significant period of time before the affected person experiences any signs of improvement.  Living through a depressive episode is a larger battle than simply ‘seeing the positive things in life’.  The ‘positive things in life’ can often appear entirely outweighed by negative thoughts and emotions, and many depressed people experience ‘anhedonia’, where they find themselves unable to enjoy or appreciate what they had found enjoyable in the past. 

Can you tell our readers a bit more about what to expect from your novel?

‘A Woman’s Courage: Inside Depression’ is an emotionally raw, honest and intimate account of a traumatic three years of my life.  It is not a ‘misery memoir’, nor does it go on and on about depression. 

Readers should expect a journey into my mind as I slowly descend into a depressive state as a result of my life circumstances and events.  A series of journal entries take the reader on my journey as I spend time on the run, fall in and out of love, struggle with my low socio-economic standing, unemployment, living with someone who is an addict, eating disorders, sexual dissatisfaction, betrayal, high stress levels, self-medicating, family secrets, and trying to establish a relationship with my biological father, while I continually searched for the emotional nurturing and guidance I needed and craved. 

Keeping a smile on my face for the benefit of the outside world, I battled daily with conflicting and abnormal emotions and behaviours.  My journal is the only outlet I had to express these emotions and conduct an analysis of my strange behaviour, without being subject to the judgements of others.  One night, I made a desperate attempt to reach out for help from my family, which failed miserably.  I attempted suicide. 

Along with my journal entries, my novel also has a section with practical tips on how to detect depression in others, in oneself, what family and friends can do and what the depressed person can do to help themselves out of the ‘black hole’ of depression.

What made you decide to write about this specific topic? How has writing helped you?

I wanted to share my story with the world, to help other people and in the hope that reading it might prevent a depressed person from committing suicide.  I want to provide useful, practical information for others who are suffering from a depressive illness, or have a friend or family member suffering from depression. 

Many people who have spent time around a depressed person may wonder what goes through the depressed persons mind: ‘What are they thinking?’, ‘Why did they say that?’, ‘Why did he/she do something so stupid?’  My novel will provide some insight into the thoughts that go through a depressed person’s mind. 

My novel shares with the reader my experience with depression, not a textbook explanation of depression.

Writing out my thoughts, in the past and present, has helped to free me of the emotional weight I carry.  Writing about my inner life helps me clarify my thoughts and emotions and put them in perspective.  I have gained a clearer understanding of what I think and feel, and why, and have also noticed patterns in my behaviour, emotional reactions and thoughts over the years.  I have gained an understanding of my inner self through writing.  I have always found writing to be therapeutic. 

Your novel is intended as a guide for depression, counsellors, social workers and anyone in a situation helping someone overcome a trauma – can you confirm whether it has actually been used by social workers, trauma counsellors, life coaches and the like?

While my novel is intended for the people you mention, it is also intended for anyone with an interest in the topic of depression, and particularly those seeking an insight into the subjective experience of depression – how a person’s thought processes, emotions and behaviour might be affected while depressed. 

A social worker at a local centre for homeless youth purchased six copies of my novel directly from me last year, for herself and those who attend the centre.  I can’t confirm whether my novel is being used by other counsellors, social workers, life coaches and the like as my publisher has been handling the marketing of my novel to these people. 

Your writing path – over time – what is the one thing you would tell fellow aspiring authors out there that you think might help them in their own endeavours?

Writing a book from start to finish and then finding an agent or publisher is a huge and time consuming commitment.  I went from working full-time to part-time and now not at all, so I could dedicate as much time as possible to my first book. 

Most aspiring authors I have spoken to have told me they haven’t commenced writing their first novel yet because they ‘don’t know where to start’.  It doesn’t matter where you start!  What does matter is to start, and how you put the final product together.  You can always spend time reorganising what you write at a later point.  Start where ever you can, where ever the words flow.  Want to write your life story but can’t remember anything prior to your teenage years?  Then write about your teenage years.  If you remember your childhood while writing about your teenage years, start a new file and write about your childhood in the new file.  Just write.  Don’t fuss over the grammar or spelling mistakes – they can be fixed later on.  What is important is that the writer writes. 

Since being published, what is your next step? Where to from here?

I plan to spend the rest of this year promoting my first novel.  Later this year, or early next year, I hope to find a Literary Agent or different publisher to represent me for my second novel.  I will continue writing and hope to have a new novel released every couple of years. 

Where can people reach you, follow you or just keep tabs?

People can contact me via email at ploketter@hotmail.com. 

For more information about my novel, author events or me in general, people can visit/subscribe to my Blog site (http://authorchristinataylor.blogspot.com.au/), “Like” my Author Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristinaTaylor) and/or visit my personal Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/christina.taylor.31). 

Details on how to order my novel, can be found at this link:  http://authorchristinataylor.blogspot.com.au/p/how-to-order-available-world-wide.html

Christina, thanks so much for taking the time to chat about your own personal war against the very dark looming hole the majority of society struggles with daily. I honestly have to applaud you for your bravery in sharing something so intimate with people around the world. I trust that your strength will pass onto many fellow readers and guide them towards the rainbow which inevitably lies at the end of their own dark storms.