I began writing my book at 18 by keeping a journal about what was going on in my life as a way of explaining and making real what happened. It was about my life. So it didn't start as a book, it started as a journal. It later became a story, and took on a life of its own. Even though there is so much of me in it, it is still a novel. I think that’s what makes it so great. It's a real story, my story, but hopefully can be relevant to anyone.
It is a huge accomplishment to have a book published at a young age. The moments that I really feel successful are those times when I get the emails from people reaching out to me for help, or telling me about how my book has touched them. At those moments it is a truly amazing feeling because I know I am changing the world just a little bit at a time.
The first books that I ever truly loved were those by L.M. Montgomery. Anne of Green Gables was my first friend in a book. Laurie R. King is probably my favourite current author and was my inspiration for my first novel. I read one in the series of The Beekeeper's Apprentice by King and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card at least once a year. Barbara Kingsolver, I think she does great things with her works, and Steven Levenkron's works represent the goals I have for my own books.
I am a full time student and a part time waitress. I write a lot when I should be paying attention in class. Additionally I worked hard during summers. It was probably one year of writing, but it took me three years to
complete. Now, I am graduating and am being forced to decide if I am going to pick a career path in life that will allow me to continue to write. It is proving to be a tough decision.
My family is very much involved with the book, because it is personal to them. They have never stopped supporting me and my goals for the book. Most of my friends knew everything already, so it just took them back to
high school and what we were all a part of. For those friends who weren’t there, they just thought it was an amazing read. I haven't had any negative feedback or reactions, which was always my fear.
I am working on my next book. Hopefully to be finished next year. I'd love to work abroad. I am looking at the U.K and Ireland, but work visas are difficult. I might do risk analysis, or teach or work with teens or I might just write. We will see what the world has in store for me.
This has been an amazing experience for me. A lot more work then I ever imagined. It turns out that once you get a book published it doesn't automatically appear on shelves! However despite the amount of work it takes to publicize and market my book I have loved it. I love the talks, the promotion. I like making a difference.
About the book - Dancing in the Rain: the Final Cut:
Self mutilation has sometimes been described as the “new anorexia” affecting 1% of the American population. 1 in 10 adolescents have hurt themselves at least once, be it: cutting, burning, pins, etc. most common of which is cutting.
Girls growing up in today’s world are under tremendous pressures; magazines telling them they aren’t thin enough, standardized tests telling them they aren’t smart enough or social rankings that say they aren’t popular enough.
This book is based on a true life story. It is about growing up and taking control of your life. It is about finding strength within yourself, and knowing that you don’t have to live with depression and self-mutilation.
Drue is a teenager who falls in love for the first time in high school; she goes through the struggles of the average American female teenager: first crushes, heartbreak, SATs, alcohol, insecurities and the attempt to find out who she is and who she wants to be. After a gruelling experience she comes out strong and is still ‘dancing in the rain’.
The author tells her story - with the hope that those who are discouraged and feel alone will realise that they are not, that they've got what it takes to pull through and as this book says; 'Everything is okay in the end, if it's not okay then it's not the end'
Dancing in the Rain: the Final Cut can be obtained at the following address: http://www.pneumasprings.co.uk/
