Featured Interview With Alexis Rose
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello!
My name is Alexis Rose and I live in Minnesota. Besides writing, I love to be with my family and friends. I unwind by practicing yoga and spending time outside. Besides writing, I have a part-time marketing job for a couple of wellness centers, and teach beginning writing classes. I have two cats and a wonderful dog! Sometimes it seems like a zoo around here.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always had a fascination with books. I don't remember a time when I didn't love to read!
Writing came into my life purely by accident. I had never written anything more than letters or birthday cards, until seven years ago. A friend of mine wanted to know what it felt like for me living with PTSD. Because it’s such an invisible illness, she was at a loss on how to support me. At the time, I was unable to verbalize what it felt like to anyone, let alone to myself. I went home, thought about what I would like to say, and I wrote my first poem. After showing it to her, she told me I had to start writing. I showed the poem to a few other friends and was invited to collaborate with a couple of artists, using my poetry paired with their artwork.
Three successful inspirational books later, I had developed a fierce love of writing. I took the chance to write on my own, and have published both a memoir two years ago and my latest book last month.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don't really have favorite authors to read. I'm a fairly equal opportunity reader. I love to give new authors a chance as well as the authors who have been around for a long time.
I read a lot of books on mindfulness. I absolutely love reading historical fiction. I love an author who does their research. I have a pretty good BS meter and don’t like a lot of filler in a book. I’m a person who will sit down with a book and escape into the character’s world. I simply love good books. I read both non-fiction and fiction at the same time. It makes both sides of my brain really happy.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
If I Could Tell You How It Feels is a series of essays and poems about living authentically with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I write about the reality of living with triggers, flashbacks, and the challenges of working through trauma. I write with vulnerability about the tough subjects of family, friendships, loss, grief, parenting, and therapy.
Whether you are a survivor, someone living with a mental or chronic illness, a professional working within the mental health industry, or you are simply interested in learning more about the intricacies of living and thriving with PTSD, this book will provide new insights and an appreciation of this invisible illness that affects millions of people around the world.
This book is a labour of love for me. My main intention is to begin to break down the stigma of mental illness, especially bringing awareness to PTSD. So far the response has been really good.
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