My Story
About the Author
Mission
Originally written to turn my pain into art, I quickly realized that I had stumbled onto something truly incredible. I never thought myself much of a writer, but I've always considered myself a talented creator. At first, my work was only intended to inspire myself to practice self-love and get to know myself, but it has now become a mission to inspire the same in others.
If You Saw Yourself Like I Do is written for everyone and is intended to help inspire the world to prioritize their mental health. Self love is a never-ending journey and takes lots of dedication and patience.
It would be a dream come true if this book helps improve the lives of others. My mission is for my book to be a safe-haven for its readers. While I truly hope that this book helps improve the mental health of all its readers, I am a firm believer in seeking out mental healthcare. That being said, I understand personally the stress that comes with the expense of finding such care, especially effective care. I hope that together, author and reader, we can take action to make mental healthcare more accessible.
Vision
I want If You Saw Yourself Like I Do: A Letter from Your Future Self to truly be a letter from your future self. Every reader should try to hear their own voice reading the words to themselves. Just like daily affirmations, my book works the same way. It is awkward at first if you aren't used to talking to yourself in this way and one read-through is not the magic trick. Even I, as the author, have to read my words repeatedly. This is because training your brain to rewire the way it thinks takes a lot of practice. After all, practice makes permanence.
I envision my book being a thoughtful gift for loved ones or an inspiring gift for yourself. I hope that the owner keeps the book close and that it is both a way to increase mental peace and is a beautiful piece of art to be displayed.
Finally, I hope my readers take the time to get to know the artwork, visualizing the calmness and beauty of each one. Each piece was crafted specifically for each section of the book. Both Beth Ferrier (illustrator) and myself want each and every reader to fall in love with themselves by falling in love with the words and art. Spread the love and join me on my journey to make a happier world.
Writing the Book
As a teacher, I became intrigued by the idea of creating a unique and fun children's book. However, as soon as this idea hit me, I wrote the majority of it in one night and realized it was going to be so much bigger than inspiring young people.
Do I recommend staying up late and working for hours? No! However, it worked for me. In fact, the majority of the book was in its final version for most of the creative process. In fact, there were really only three times that I sat down and wrote for hours. Those of you who share similar neurodivergent brains know that sometimes we become motivated to do all of the work at once. While it isn't always convenient, sometimes it's when we do our best work.
It's for that reason that the remainder of the publishing process was a test to my patience and dedication to the project. There are so many nuances in the process that I am happy to share. It was all worth the wait, especially for the illustrations, which beyond exceeded my expectations.
Another test of my patience came in the editing and layout stage. With my father, we spent weeks laying the book out with InDesign. It may not appear like it, but every page was carefully planned. This book needed to be unique, so I made every choice to make it an experience, including the font, which is my own handwriting. I am so proud of the work put in by everyone who helped make it possible. Thank you to my readers who continue to support my dreams!
My Hobbies
I love keeping my hobbies diverse. I greatly enjoy all things crafty: crochet/knitting, painting, drawing, designing accessories, etc. Above all, I love spending time with my boyfriend and our cats: Pumpkin, Boo, & Ruby. I never imagined myself a PC girl, but now I can't wait to get home from work and play video games with our friends and snuggle with our cats.
One day, I hope to have enough money to travel with my partner more regularly and spend more time exploring what the world has to offer. Until then, I enjoy going for walks, exploring the Indiana Dunes National Park and State Parks, and slowing down to enjoy the fresh air.
You may notice that a lot of my hobbies are referenced in the illustrations within the book. I particularly am connected to the peace I feel exploring the Dunes.
My Family
I enjoy spending time with my family. I want to thank my loved ones for inspiring me to follow through on publishing my book. A special shoutout to my father for taking the time to create the most beautiful book layout possible. I could not have the book I have without his help!
Thank you to my incredible boyfriend and our three cats. You continue to bring so much joy to my life. Here is to many more memories!