Can you share a brief overview of your journey as a Nurse Practitioner and what led you to become an author?
Being a Nurse Practitioner had always been my dream. Helping others to learn how to live healthier lives and promote self awareness was the way that I could make a positive impact in my community. I’ve been in the medical field for 21 ½ years and I have enjoyed every day of it. I have experienced many things in my career that would make many question staying in the medical field. But coming from a broken home with no one to lean on and living a life that crushed my soul, my profession of helping others was always my saving grace. It gave me hope and faith that I could bring others out of the darkness and bring a smile and a glimmer of hope to those that lost it. My life, my experiences, and my truth that stayed hidden for so long is what inspired me to become an author. I wanted to share my story so that others that may have or continue to endure would have the opportunity to know they are not alone and they can succeed in life no matter what they may have been told or instructed to believe.
How do you balance your career as a Nurse Practitioner with your passion for writing?
My career is what keeps my mind balanced in order to write. My career reminds me that others have had the same struggle as myself and the compassion that I have for my profession is what captivates my ability to write. I balance my career with my passion for writing by correlating the two together. In order to be the best health care provider for my patients, I needed to be able to listen and understand my patients in all aspects. I try to set aside time every week to allow my mind to be free and write.
In what ways has your experience in nursing influenced your writing, and vice versa?
My experience as a healthcare provider helps me to see the changes that are needed in society in order to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives on a personal level. Therefore that is the driving force behind my writing.
How does your family play a role in your writing journey? Do they contribute to or influence your creative process?
My family- my husband and children are my reason for success in my career and my writing. They influence and contribute to everything I write. They are my motivation and encouragement.
What inspired you to write "The Unforgivable," and how did your nursing background play a role in shaping the narrative?
My life, my truth, is what inspired me to write “The Unforgivable”. When you lock away feelings, memories, and thoughts for so long in order to try to forget them it tends to play a major role on your mental health. I was tired of keeping the family secret that tore my family apart. I was tired of being silent about how those in power in my hometown ignored my cries for help and allowed years of abuse by my stepfather to occur. I wanted to share how neglect from the system erased any ounce of trust I would ever have for children’s services, the courts, and the police department.
Could you walk us through your writing process? How do you find time to write, especially with a busy career and family life?
My writing process comes from journaling. I write daily in a journal by reflecting feelings, daily tasks, and current events that are important to me. I try to set aside time at least weekly to seclude myself and dive into my writing. I reflect on the last thing I wrote and I begin by placing myself in the story at that very moment and I take it from there.
Are there specific rituals or routines you follow when working on a writing project?
Not particularly, I just have to be in a quiet environment with the phone turned off because any distraction takes me out of my writing mindspace at the moment.
What are the central themes explored in your book, "Weight Loss Health Journal" and why did you choose to address these particular topics?
“Weight Loss Health Journal” was written so that individuals could log their daily eating habits, work outs, feelings, and goals in order to help them achieve their goal of becoming a healthier version of themselves. I chose to write this book because as a healthcare provider, Obesity is a major health concern of the population today and the cause of many chronic health conditions. From personal experience I know what it is like to do yo-yo diets, work out with no results, and feel the frustration of the numbers on the scale. The trick to weight loss and being healthier is learning how your body reacts, not everyone else. This journal allows the individual to see what was causing their weight gain, failure to lose weight, and allow them to reflect and change what needed to be changed in their routine in order to achieve the results they wanted to achieve.
What message or emotions do you hope readers take away from "The Unforgivable"?
I hope that those that read my story can just find within themselves to pay more attention to their surroundings and those they encounter. I want those that may be going through abuse or have gone through it to know they are not alone and that failure does not have to be the option. Never judge a book by its cover, you never know what one may be going through or has gone through in life to get where they are today.
Have you received any memorable feedback from readers that particularly resonated with you?
I have received feedback from some people that were from my hometown such as teachers, classmates, and friends and that hits on a personal level for me. Friends that were supportive and proud for finally telling my story, especially those that understood my fear in keeping it a secret.
Was there a specific moment or event that prompted you to transition from nursing to writing, or have these two aspects always coexisted in your life?
They both have always coexisted in my life. I couldn’t do one without the other I feel. They both are meaningful to me in many ways.
Can you share a specific moment during the writing of "The Unforgivable" that stands out as particularly meaningful or rewarding for you?
When I finally finished the book, I felt like a burden had been lifted and I finally felt free. I had vowed to not finish and release my book until my mother passed away even though she allowed the abuse and neglected me all those years, for some reason I still cared about her feelings.
You mentioned enjoying the outdoors. How does nature inspire your writing, and do you incorporate elements of the outdoors into your work?
Nature is peaceful to me, it is a reminder that we are as free as we allow ourselves to be. The different sounds of nature help to open my mind and dive into my writing.
Are there any upcoming writing projects you can share with us? What themes or topics do you hope to explore in your future works?
The second edition to “The Unforgivable” is currently in the works. I hope to have that completed within the next six months.
When did you join AllAuthor? What has your experience been like?
I joined All Author about a year ago and it has been a great experience. I have enjoyed connecting with other authors and having another outlet to share my story.
