Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a San Francisco-based painter and author; I love traveling and live music. The Factory of Maladies is my first book and it was inspired by stream-of-consciousness journaling that I used as a healing tool after I spent a traumatic week on a psychiatric ward.
Tell us a bit about your book.
The Factory of Maladies is a raw, visceral, and unflinching memoir that explores the stigma of mental illness, the danger of cults, and family dynamics. It details my week on a psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt with a compassionate lens and dark humor; additionally, it sheds light on the inadequacies of publicly funded psychiatric wards.
Have you always wanted to become a writer?
Yes, I have always wanted to be a writer; it’s been a lifelong dream and I am so excited that it’s now a reality. I began writing and illustrating short stories as a child; I continued to develop my writing and editorial skills during college while also studying visual art and psychology. I was searching for the perfect subject matter for a fictional book when the idea of sharing my story – healing from a mental health crisis – presented itself.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
The most challenging aspect – a hindrance at times – of writing The Factory of Maladies was on an emotional level. In the beginning, the more I wrote, the more PTSD flashbacks occurred due to the triggering nature of my experience. However, putting pain to paper proved to be one of the greatest assets of my writing style and a major part of my healing process. Also, I confronted many difficult emotions when I decided to publish my work: it pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I am naturally quite shy and a bit anxious. However, working through these emotions has led me to feel genuinely excited about sharing my story and has been a great gift on many levels.
What inspired the idea for your book?
There was a clear moment when I was incredibly inspired to write The Factory of Maladies: it happened during my institutionalization when a very kind nurse went against hospital protocol and smuggled a notebook and miniature golf pencil into my room. The nurse knew that I love to write (miraculously, this information was in my chart) and it was this generous gesture that became the catalyst for writing my memoir.
What advice would you give a writer working on their first book?
My advice is to write for yourself first. Commercial success may or may not follow; however, it’s important to stay true to your ethos, vision, and creative process.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about
writing?
The best advice that I have received is simple, yet very powerful: Write what you know.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
The Factory of Maladies is built around my personal experience, which was the impetus for writing my memoir.
Website: https://www.thefactoryofmaladies.com/home