Audrey Williams Interview Published on: 08, Dec 2023
What are the things that remind you of your childhood?
EVERYTIME I THINK OF CHILDHOOD I THINK OF PLAINFIELD NJ. I HAD A WONDERFUL CHILDHOOD. NEIGHBORHOOD, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
Can you describe the turning point or moment of clarity when you decided to start your journey back from grief towards self-acceptance and healing?YES I CAN. MY MARRIAGE FELL APART DEC. 2014. CAN WE SAY STUNNED. IT WAS THE CLASSIC MARRIED TO A NARCISSIST. 2015 WAS A TRAUMA FILLED STRUGGLE BUT BY MAY 2015 I DECIDED TO MOVE AND RESET MY LIFE. IN SEPTEMBER 2016 I WAS FREE. BY THEN I WAS MORE THEN READY TO MOVE ON. IVE WRITTEN POEMS SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I WAS AWARE MY POETRY HAD BECOME DARKER. THAT SET OFF THE THOUGHT OF THE 5STAGES OF GRIEF. IN 2017 I MOVED TO GEORGIA. THE SITUATION CAME WITH ME AND IT WAS AT THAT POINT I KNEW I HAD TO CONTINUE MY QUEST DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. IN 2018 I WENT ALONE TO THE GRAND CANYON WHICH I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE. I FOUND A PEACE THERE. IN 2018 I DECIDED TO GATHER MY POEMS AND WRITE OF MY ORDEAL. I PUBLISHED IN 2019.
How do you hope readers will be affected or changed by reading your book?I WANT THEM TO REALIZE IN ALL PHASES OF LOVE THE DISSOLUTION OF THAT LOVE IS A TRAUMA BUT TO REMEMBER LOVE STARTS WITH SELF.
What was the most challenging part of writing a memoir about such personal and emotional experiences?DECIDING WHICH POEMS TO USE BECAUSE I HAVE MANY.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind writing "Transparency isn't EZ" and what motivated you to share your story of love and loss?THE INSPIRATION WAS TO SHOW THAT ADAGE OF TIME AND THAT IT WILL INDEED HEAL WOUNDS.
The book mentions ten years of love and loss. Could you share a bit more about the pivotal moments or experiences that led to the creation of this book?OUR RELATIONSHIP/MARRIAGES LASTED OVER A 10 YR SPAN. I HAD DIVORCED HIM ONCE, THEN MY FATHER PASSED. HE WAS MY STRENGTH DURING THAT TIME. MISTAKENLY WHEN HE PROFESSED LOVE AND LETS TRY AGAIN I FOOLISHLY GRABBED AT STRAWS. BY 2014 WE WERE DONE.
What does the title, "Transparency isn't EZ," mean to you, and how does it relate to your personal journey?TRANSPARENCY BY AMAEZING A (MY NICKNAME) IS ABT ME. PEOPLE HAVE SO MANY SECRETS OR THINGS THEY ARE ASHAMED OF. ME? I DONT HAVE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS. IM AN OPEN BOOK.
Can you describe your writing process for this book? How did you approach turning your experiences into a written narrative?I READ MOST OF MY WORKS OVER THE LAST 3YEARS BEFORE WRITING THE BOOK. THEN I SEPARATED THEM BY WAY OF THE 5STAGES AND THEN FORMULATED THE BOOK.
The book alludes to the five stages of grief. How did you navigate through these stages, and what advice would you give to others experiencing similar emotions?THOSE STAGES ARE JUST THAT...EMOTIONS. THEY ARE SELF EXPLANATORY. HOWEVER I REMIND PEOPLE THE GOAL IS TO REALIZE YOU WILL SURVIVE AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY AGAIN AND POSSIBLY HOPEFULLY LOVE AGAIN. BUT THE GOOD THING YOU WILL BE WISER.
Could you share a bit about the role of self-discovery and self-acceptance in your narrative?I WAS RAISED WITH A GOOD FOUNDATION OF WHO I AM AND WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER IN THIS LIFE. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY COMPASS. OF COURSE ITS HUMAN NATURE TO LAY FAULT IN OUR LAPS. ACCEPT THE MISGIVINGS AND TRIALS BUT REMEMBER IT DOES MAKE YOU A BAD PERSON.
Were there any authors or books that inspired you during the writing process of "Transparency isn't EZ"?THE BOOK IS CALLED SIMPLY "TRANSPARENCY" THE ASPECT OF USING GRIEF AS THE ANALOGY CAME FROM MY READINGS WHEN MY MOM PASSED AWAY. I BECAME A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER WHERE IN OUR STUDIES, THE 5STAGES ARE PREVALENT.
In the book, you mention the idea of ending up in unexpected situations. Can you share a memorable experience where you found yourself in an unexpected situation?BOTH TIMES WE JOINED AND THEN SEPARATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS PREVIOUS LIFE, WIFE #1 AND THEIR CONSTANT BATTLE OVER THEIR YOUNGEST CHILD, HIS SON. COURT VISITS, ARGUMENTS AND TUGS OF WAR WITH THEIR CHILDREN. I SHOULD HAVE RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. :)
Your journey seems to involve both love and loss. What have you learned about yourself through these experiences, and how have they shaped you as a person?IVE ALWAYS KNOWN MY STRENGTH, INTELLIGENCE WHICH BOTH TOOK A HIT. HOWEVER MY RESILENCE CAME TO MY RESCUE.
What's next for you as an author? Are there any future projects or writings you'd like to share with your readers?I HAVE WRITTEN 2 BOOKS (ENGLISH AND SPANISH) FOR FAMILIES REGARDING YOUNG CHILDREN AND DENTAL NEEDS. I AM A REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST BY PROFESSION (RETIRED) IM ALSO GOING TO PUBLISH ANOTHER BOOK OF POETRY...(2SHOW SURVIVAL BRINGS PEACE)
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?ITS BEEN A GREAT ASSOCIATION.
