My Unwanted Companions

Darkness threatens to close in on me. I deny its existence because I can't let myself go there again. I desperately look to any light I can find. Tears come easily, often without a reason. People ask me what's wrong. How can I explain what's wrong when I don't have the answer myself?


Depression and anxiety have been constant companions in my life. They fade into the background for awhile, but never truly disappear. Living with them is a never ending battle. One I'm determined not to lose. With the recent suicides of well known public figures, depression is once again pushed into the spotlight, but for how long? Until another suicide makes the news?

Awareness of this issue needs to be an ongoing dialogue. It's more than just a sad moment. People suffering from depression can't "pull themselves out of it".  For years I felt like a failure because my depression and anxiety crept up no matter how long it lay dormant. It's taken me years to accept that this is a part of me. Its' the way that I'm wired. I'll always have episodes and I'll be okay. I've  survived each one and will in the future. So I'm not a failure......I'm a survivor.

I've never felt stronger that this is the time to tell my story. My writer's devotion this summer is to talk about my journey and the tools I've collected over the years that give me hope and means to overcome this disease that crosses over into all walks of life. No matter age, race, socio-economic status, or gender, it doesn't discriminate. I hope that my story will help anyone who feels alone in this struggle. You're not alone and there are people who will support you. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. As you read my story this summer, you'll see that my mistake at the beginning of this journey was not speaking up. Stay strong.

adaa.org/adaa-online-support-group


www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depresssion-support

Five Things I Learned From my Character Part II



Tomorrow is the cover reveal for my debut young adult novel, To Be Honest. To say I'm excited is an understatement.  I've been bursting inside to introduce to you Starla and Chase.  You learned a little about Chase in my first post of Five Things I Learned From my Character. Now I'd like to tell you what I learned through the main character, Starla.




Starla lacks self-confidence due to a deformity in her hand. Teens in general fear embarrassment in front of their peers, so the physical difference compounds this fear for Starla. She suffers from anxiety at a level that exceeds the norm and has had to learn ways to cope. The list below is what I learned through Star's character.




1. Tapping is a technique to lower anxiety. This method operates much like Chinese acupuncture without the needles. You use your fingers to locate tapping points on your body that trigger emotional balance along with focusing on words to bring you back in balance. I found it interesting and much more involved than my brief little snip of information here. Starla uses this technique in the story when her anxiety rises.




2. Photography is another outlet for Star that she enjoys. I learned about different types of lenses used in photography. The coolest thing I found out was that night vision lenses use infared light not visible to the naked eye in order to illuminate an area.




3. Starla loves to quote classic literature and apply it to her life. I added some classic literature titles to my 'want to read' list as a result of the quotes. I admit to never having read "Little Women". After reading some quotes from this classic, my interest is piqued.




4. Internet bullying is a means to target a victim in today's technology world. I've posted on this topic while writing the book. The information I learned was too valuable not to share. You can read my posts on this topic by clicking the titles: Big Hair and Bullies  & Her Hair is Full of Secrets


5. I learned to let Starla lead the story. Of course I started this story with an outline of where I wanted it to go. As Starla's character developed and she experienced things in the story, I allowed her to take over and lead. She turned into a much stronger girl than the one from the beginning of the story. I hope you enjoy her journey!

• Cover Reveal is July 7th with Lola's Blog Tours.
• Book Trailer Reveal is July 14th with Double Decker Books.
• Book Release is July 21st with a Book Blitz event through Lola's Blog Tours.
• Fire Side Mocha Book Blast starts on July 30 with Double Decker Books.