Interview With Author Indigo
1. What inspired you to write this book? It started out with the journaling of all the upheaval in my
life. Over time it transformed into the telling of, not only my story, but the story
of travel and of adventure and of being a nurse and, perhaps most of all, the
story of loved ones whose lives were torn apart by mental illness.
2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? "Dancing
with Chaos" is a memoir. It is an eclectic tale that covers most of a
lifetime of many challenges and the search for meaning and harmony in a life
often set off balance and torn apart by mental illness in a loved one. That
search for meaning and happiness covers a lot of ground E.G. travel, adventure,
nature, the profession of nursing, the making of a homestead, romance and more.
It is written for anyone who just enjoys a colorful true to life story. Also, I
think anyone interested in nursing as a profession or anyone who loves stories
of nature and country living would find it inspiring. I am hoping that people
who suffer from mental illness and/or their families will get a sense that they
are not alone.
3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I am hoping that readers, first and foremost, will find it an
enjoyable read and a momentary escape from the everyday stresses of their own life.
It would be great if it inspired some to travel and also to find comfort and
solace in nature. I am also hoping that bringing a personal face to the
heartaches and tribulations of someone suffering from mental illness will help
to bring this very important issue to the public with the goal of eliminating
the stigma of mental illness (which makes it harder to treat} and stressing the
need for more and better treatments, support and compassion.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Funny you should ask. Before it was published a friend read
my book and told me "This book is about dancing with chaos!". As to
the cover, I painted the picture, and it is reminiscent of the little house in
the woods that I dreamed about as a youth. It is also resembles the homestead
that has been a sustaining force in my life and that of my children.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – > other
than run!?
I feel like writing is a lot easier if you are
writing about something that moves you. In my case I couldn't not write this
book. I was "driven" to putting it all down on paper! I think that in
many cases you will be disappointed if you are only writing to make money. That
is very hard to do!
6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading? I am
grateful to see that in spite of movies, TV, the internet, U-Tube
etc. there are still so many of us that still
love to read books! I think many books are being published as e-books but still
many of us love to hold our books in our hands. Audio books are great for those
who have vision issues.
7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in >
handy when writing this book? Since this is a memoir,
it goes without saying that my experiences are what inspired this book. A life
lived in search of ways to turn chaos into harmony, meaning and fulfillment of
one's dreams.
8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your
writing similar to? My writing style is very narrative oriented.
I'm not that good at conversation. I also find that I always seek to find the
positive in things, kind of like looking at the world through rose-colored
glasses. I think that those who enjoyed the book "The Glass Castle"
will find my book a good read as well.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Time was a big challenge in writing this book. Between
12-hour shifts working as a nurse at the local hospital, tending to an off grid
23-acre homestead and a single mother (part of the time anyway) of 3 children,
it was hard to find the time to write and, in
fact, this book took several years to write.
10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be
yours? Read my book because you like a story with lots
of changes. Read it if you are interested in the profession of nursing or love
nature adventures or travel stories. My friend with some physical and mental health
issues wrote to me that "It is exactly the mental health break
that I need right now"! I do hope that people
will take away a sense that following one’s dreams can be extremely fulfilling
even if the road is a rocky one. And too, if you know someone who is suffering
from mental illness (and who doesn't) or are yourself someone who is suffering
from mental illness (as so many do) then you might gain some insight into the
issues involved or at least some comfort that you are not alone.
About The Author: I was born and raised in Manhattan by a
single mother suffering from
schizophrenia. We were poor and life was pretty
chaotic. My teen years were a mixture of "Me Too", heartbreak,
instability and at the same time amazing friends and wonderful new discoveries.
I discovered my calling in Nursing at a young age and the love of my work has
sustained me through much of my journey. I have also followed my dream of a
life in the country and live off grid. Nature and travel have also been sustaining
forces in my journey. Heartaches resurfaced when my son was 23 and began to
show signs that he had inherited his grandmother's genetic predisposition for
schizophrenia. For more info, please see: https://www.indigo2019.com
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About Brian Feinblum
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