Category Archives: Interviews
An Emotionally Action-packed Odyssey
Changing Course Gracefully is a reflective travel journal that uses the PARQS Method to guide readers through emotional waves, cultural challenges, and moments of self-discovery with warmth, practicality, and calm. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Changing Course Gracefully is a reflective travel journal that uses PARQS™ to guide readers through emotional waves, cultural challenges, and moments of self-discovery with warmth, practicality, and calm.
For a long time, my life didn’t feel like a gentle “journey.” It felt more like an emotionally action-packed odyssey. I grew up in a highly restrictive religious environment, very cut off from the wider world. Travel wasn’t on the radar at all. When a wrong number led me to Joseph, who later became my partner and guide, my world cracked open. Traveling with Joseph and on my own, I went from my small neighborhood to all seven continents over the course of thirty years. On paper, that sounds glamorous—and it was many times—but more often I was moving through those countries with old “remote-control” beliefs still running the show.
Travel became my laboratory for self-trust. I noticed how often I overrode my own preferences to keep the peace, how quickly I went into autopilot in unfamiliar situations, and how long it took—usually after the trip—for the lessons to sink in. Even after building successful businesses and doing years of spiritual work, I still found myself unsure how to support myself in the very moments when I needed self-trust the most.
Changing Course Gracefully is my answer to that question—for myself first, and then for anyone who recognizes themselves in that pattern. I wanted a practical companion I could tuck into my day bag, open in a crowded airport, and actually use. PARQS and the prompts in this journal are distilled from years of lived experience across cultures, airports, hotel rooms, and honest conversations.
It was important for me to write this book because I know what it’s like to appear “put together” while feeling disconnected inside. I wanted to offer readers a way to pause, hear themselves more clearly, and begin building a quieter, steadier self-trust that travels home with them when the suitcase is unpacked.
What personal experience first sparked the creation of the PARQS Method, and when did you realize it could help others as much as it helped you?
PARQS™ didn’t arrive as a neat five-step framework. It grew out of a long stretch of feeling like I was constantly reacting—saying yes when I meant no, overriding my needs to keep the peace, and then feeling resentful or exhausted afterward. After one particularly draining season, I sat in my therapist’s office, and she asked me a simple question: “What do you want?” I opened my mouth and realized I didn’t have an answer. I could list what other people needed, what I “should” want, and what would keep things calm—but not what I actually wanted.
That moment shook me. It made me see how far I’d drifted from my own preferences, and how automatic my responses had become. From there, I started asking myself very basic questions in real time, especially while traveling: What do I prefer here? What am I aware of in my body? What is one right action I can take? What am I honestly asking myself? Can I meet myself with some level of self-acceptance instead of criticism?
Over time, those questions were organized into the five anchors that became PARQS: Preferences, Awareness, Right Action, Questions, and Self-Acceptance. I used them first as my own private checklist when I felt overwhelmed or disconnected. I realized PARQS could help others when people I shared it with started repeating it back to me—telling me they’d tried the “next right action” idea or had written down their preferences before a trip and felt completely different. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just my private scaffolding; it was a way other people could gently interrupt their own autopilot and come back to themselves, too.
How do you hope readers will integrate the PARQS Method into their everyday life, not just their journeys abroad?
I’d love for PARQS to become less of a ‘special occasion’ practice and more of a quiet companion readers can reach for on a Tuesday afternoon, not just on a flight to somewhere beautiful.
On the most practical level, I’d love for readers to use PARQS in small, ordinary moments: before they say yes to another commitment, while they’re sitting in the car outside a difficult appointment, or when they realize they’re scrolling their phone instead of resting. Taking sixty seconds to ask: “What are my preferences? What am I aware of right now? What is one right action I can take?” can change the tone of a day in ways that don’t look dramatic from the outside, but feel very different on the inside.
I think of PARQS as one way to build self-trust, a way to stay in conversation with yourself. Once readers are familiar with the prompts in the journal or digital companion, they don’t have to be sitting with the book to use them. They can jot a few lines in a notes app, check in mentally while making their morning coffee, or use a single letter—maybe “A” for Awareness—as a touchstone in moments of stress.
If readers walk away feeling empowered to pause, notice what’s true for them, and choose their next right actions with a bit more kindness and clarity, then PARQS has done its work far beyond the airport gate or train station
If you could add one new story or prompt based on your recent travels, what would it explore and why?
If I added a new prompt today, it would probably explore what I think of as “micro-course corrections”—those tiny, in-the-moment adjustments that don’t look like big decisions but quietly change the whole experience of a trip.
Recently, I’ve been paying more attention to the moments when I override myself in small ways: pushing through hunger because I don’t want to inconvenience anyone, skipping a quiet morning because I feel like I “should” see one more sight, or staying in a conversation that feels draining out of politeness. None of those choices are catastrophic, but they add up.
The prompt might ask:
Where did I override myself today?
What would a small course correction have looked like?
If I could replay one moment with more self-trust, what would I choose?
I’d want that story and prompt to remind readers that we don’t need a dramatic plot twist to “change course.” Often, it’s as simple as choosing to rest instead of rushing, saying “that’s enough for today,” or honoring a quiet preference that no one else will ever see but us. Those are the moments where self-trust is quietly built.
Author Links: X | Facebook | Website | GoodReads
Finally Make Time For Fitness
Racing Against Time follows your journey from a defeated teenage runner to a 56-year-old endurance athlete, revealing how relentless effort, humility, and heart can reshape the aging curve and one’s sense of purpose. Why was this an important book for you to write?
In the first years after I got started in endurance sports, I read everything I could about running and triathlon. I especially enjoyed fitness memoirs. I found these to be a source of inspiration – convincing me that I could take on challenges that had always seemed out of reach. They were also filled with good practical advice, which was important to me during those early years when I was still so inexperienced.
Now, 15 years after I started on this fitness journey with a first 10K at age 48, I look back with amazement at how endurance sports have enhanced my life. They turned the decade of my 50s into one of discovery and adventure. And I credit my exposure to the world of ultramarathons and Ironman for much of my success in the challenging world of start-ups.
Writing Racing Against Time was my way of trying to do the same for others who are just getting started. Especially because I started so late (I ran my first 10K at age 48) and because I am not an especially fast runner, I hope my story can persuade others who are approaching mid-life and are concerned about their fitness to give endurance sports a try. I would love to see others experience the things I have in recent years – to surprise themselves, to gain confidence, and to find the joy in climbing new mountains in all spheres of life.
What finally pushed you to confront the sting of that first failed 10K after letting it simmer for thirty years?
It was a combination of things. My father had passed away the year before and that caused me to think about my own health and well-being. Before that, I had, like a lot of us, always pushed off to the future thoughts about getting serious about fitness – telling myself that I would start once I had more time. At age 48 and with my father’s passing still fresh in my mind, I decided that this was not something that I should put off any longer.
Around that same time, I met Jason Schwartz, who was only a few years younger than me and had recently started running. He had already progressed to the marathon and had really been transformed by the experience. That planted the idea that I should specifically consider making running a centerpiece of my effort to finally make time for fitness.
You write openly about fear, ego, and self-doubt. Was there a particular race or training cycle where those emotions almost stopped you?
I found the prospect of taking on a full Ironman race (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run) to be extraordinarily intimidating. For years I had entirely ruled it out as impossible for someone like me. When I did finally decide to take one on, it was only after years of training (including multiple marathons, my first two ultras, and a number of shorter distance triathlons) – and even then, I set the goal for some two years later so that I would have ample time to build up to it. For the entire period of training I was anxious about my ability to finish the race – yet at the same time excited and energized that I was chasing something that was challenging and that would have the potential to redefine me as an athlete and change me as a person.
If someone in mid-life feels stuck and overwhelmed, what is the smallest, most doable first step you hope they take after reading your book?
I would recommend taking the crucial mental step of deciding that the time to begin is now, and to make the firm commitment to yourself that you will train a specified number of days per week virtually no matter what – and to start today. The ideal number of days per week to train is 6. You can start with fewer if absolutely necessary (for example 3 or 4 days) – you should never let the perfect be the enemy of the good – but you need to start now and to be consistent. Over time you should try different fitness activities to find the one(s) that work best for you. It will take some amount of experimentation and you don’t need to have all the answers at the beginning.
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“Weiss’ work is a raw and honest commentary on the human condition and the need to squeeze everything out of life while pushing past perceived limits to live life as it’s meant to be lived—an adventure.”-US Review of Books
“A motivational sports memoir, Racing Against Time chronicles grueling endurance running accomplishments achieved in midlife.”-Clarion/Foreword Reviews
Winner, Gold Book Award – Literary Titan
Love, Hate, and Ego
The Long Farewell follows a young man with an Oedipus complex living in the rise of Nazi Germany who, after a series of tragic events, seeks to get revenge on his father. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was in college, I was fascinated by Jorgen, a fellow student whom others in our student house labeled as a weirdo. He exhibited abrupt mood swings and had an aggressive aura, although he was skinny and short. When something irked Jorgen – and many things did – he stood trembling, his fists clenched, his eyes wide-open, in front of you and then burst into tears. After such an emotional eruption, he was withdrawn and silent. In our student house, we placed bets on how long he would last at university. I had been so stupid to tell the others I wanted to become a writer and that Jorgen could become a fascinating character in the novel I wanted to write. The rumor had apparently reached Jorgen: during an evening out at the well-known student pub The Red Scaffold, he confronted me about my statement. It turned out that, for once, he wasn’t aggressive. On the contrary, he seemed flattered. We found a quiet place on the terrace. Jorgen told me he wanted to become a poet and asked a string of questions. We drank a few beers, and he became nostalgic and tearful. He boasted he was diagnosed as borderline schizophrenic. He really seemed proud about it and became strangely souped-up and said with trembling lips and flared nostrils: “My mother turned me into a creep. I was only thirteen when she confessed that she wanted me to make love to her. I remember that a fiery arrow went along my spine, making me shudder.” He peered closely at my shocked face and almost whispered:” Nobody knows if we did it or not.”
What could I say? I was quiet.
Jorgen looked me straight in the eyes. I saw he was fighting back tears. “I hate my father,” he whined softly, exhaling with quivering lips. “It’s all his fault.”
That evening, in my bed, I vowed to write a book one day, circling a character with an Oedipus complex.
And to dodge Jorgen.
I didn’t have to do that long. Two weeks later, Jorgen didn’t check in on Monday at our student house.
And never came back.
The memory of this troubled young man stayed with me for several years.
And popped up stronger than ever when I began writing “The Long Farewell.”
The tragic boy Hermann was born.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The contradiction between our ‘good’ and ‘bad’ urges is breathtaking. The building of our personalities after birth is chaotic. Our instincts are relentlessly brutal. If babies had the strength to wield weapons, I believe that most of them would be murderers before their third year. We speak with disdain –and fear- about narcissists and don’t want to face up to the fact that our own ego is narcissistic on different levels. In “The Long Farewell,” we see Hermann’s mental suffering, fueled by his hate for his SS father, getting worse and culminating in a dangerous schizophrenia, leading to a truly apocalyptic ending in the German city of Dresden. Schizophrenia is a fascinating and eerie mental disease. When a baby grows up in a family where its mother and father imprint it with radically opposed worldviews, research has detected that the tension thus generated later on in life is the ideal breeding ground for mental anomalies. In past times, these anomalies were called demons. You may smile, but I assure you that we have to take them seriously.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
You know, I often think that everything on this Earth eventually comes down to the endless configurations that love, hate, and ego can produce. Love and ego can join forces to form powerful hate and cruelty. I know that we want to see love as something pristine and holy, but reality shows us otherwise.
Of course, I propose my statement here, pure and well-defined. In everyday life, the borders between love and hate –and ego! – are fuzzy. In my oeuvre, I try to follow the intricate signs in our mind that forecast violent drama. Not an easy task, I can assure you. You may wonder why I am so frantically searching for the roots of our violence. I wonder about that too, because after 39 years of being a full-time author, I’m still searching. I’ve been a travel writer in conflict zones between 1990 and 2003, visiting Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Lebanon, Burundi, Bosnia, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Myanmar… to name but a few. Those travels have surely influenced my outlook on the world. In Belgium and the Netherlands, my Flemish/Dutch publisher published 45 books. Although set on several continents, they all focus on the mystery of our aggression, on the executioners and the executed.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I suspect that I’m writing my last novel: I am seventy-two, and I feel my energy waning. Three years ago, I fell victim to a sepsis infection that nearly killed me. I still struggle with the damage the sepsis has wrecked. Moreover, I am afraid to lose my mental powers and glide into Alzheimer’s maw. The terrible disease destroyed my mother’s brain. I know that Alzheimer’s is hereditary, therefore I spy on myself as if my life depends on it. Which it does, of course.
But enough whining, my manuscript-in-progress carries the ominous working title “Black Water,” but I keep searching for a better one. Over here, in Belgium, readers know me as an author who writes crossovers between suspense and literary, but “Black Water” is more magical realism, with a story taking place on different continents, with a central character, a writer/father hiding many secrets from his teenage daughter until a car accident results in a deep coma. Moran, the daughter, tries to wake him up by reading excerpts of his diary. I could explain more, but an author must be cautious and not divulge too much about a work in progress—the novel centers on love, sorrow, and guilt.
And magical mystery?
Maybe.
When out?
I hope next year.
Author Links: Website | Email | Facebook | X | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | BookBub | Amazon | GoodReads | TikTok | Substack
His father is in the SS, his mother is Belarusian, and his girlfriend is Jewish. After a brutal clash with his father, Hermann and his mother flee to Paris. Swept along by a maelstrom of events, Hermann ends up as a spy for the British in the Polish extermination camp Treblinka.
The trauma of what he sees in this realm of death intensifies his pessimistic outlook on humanity. In Switzerland, the famous psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung tries to free Hermann of his frightening schizophrenia, but fails to unravel the power of the young man’s emotions, especially his intense hate for his father.
What follows is a tragic chain of events, leading to Hermann’s ultimate revenge on his father: the apocalyptic bombing of Dresden.
THE LONG FAREWELL is an unforgettable exploration of fascism’s lure and the roots of the Holocaust. More than ever, the novel is a mirror for our modern times.
Blending Adventure With Science
Galileo’s Points of Light in the Night Sky follows a pair of curious siblings and Dr. K and her magical time portal, who travel back to Renaissance Italy to meet Galileo and experience firsthand the wonder of his telescope and discoveries. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came from my desire to make science and history feel alive for children. Galileo’s discoveries changed how we understand the universe, yet for many young readers, history can feel distant or abstract. By introducing a magical time portal and pairing the story with two inquisitive siblings, I wanted to create a bridge between today’s readers and the past. The setup allows children to see history not as dusty facts in a textbook but as living experiences full of curiosity, wonder, and adventure.
I enjoyed your characters, especially Dr. K. What was your favorite character to write for and why?
Dr. K was certainly the most rewarding character to write. She is both a guide and a fellow traveler, modeling how to ask questions, nurture curiosity, and balance seriousness with a sense of wonder.
Through her, I was able to weave together elements of science, history, and imagination.
She is not only a mentor to the children in the story but also a representation of my own lifelong passion for encouraging young minds to explore the world around them.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I wanted to emphasize both Galileo’s scientific process and the cultural context of his discoveries.
Children learn not only that Galileo built a telescope and observed the moons of Jupiter, but also that these observations challenged established beliefs of the time.
The book highlights critical thinking, perseverance, and the courage to question accepted truths.
I also included a “Science Primer” at the back of the book to give readers and educators additional resources, ensuring that the story supports learning in both classrooms and homes.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Dr. K and the direction of the second book?
The second book, Marie Curie’s Radiant Quest, transports readers to Paris at the turn of the 20th century.
In this story, Dr. K and the siblings meet Marie Curie and learn about her groundbreaking work with radioactivity.
The narrative continues to blend adventure with science, showing not only Curie’s discoveries but also her perseverance in the face of challenges as a woman in science.
The series as a whole will continue to introduce children to great scientists across time, always with an emphasis on curiosity, resilience, and the wonder of discovery.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website Books | Website Authors
In the awarding-winning Galileo’s Points of Light in the Night Sky, the first book of the captivating Dr. K’s Portal Through Time series, Jennifer, a vivacious 10-year-old, and her intellectually curious 8-year-old brother, Daniel, embark on an exceptional voyage through the annals of time. Guided by the enigmatic and brilliant scientist, Dr. K, they are transported to the heyday of Renaissance Italy, straight into the workshop of the iconic astronomer, Galileo Galilei.
As they traverse the time portal, Jennifer and Daniel experience firsthand Galileo’s groundbreaking observations of the celestial expanse through his innovative telescope. They are enlightened about the significance of questioning established norms and the audacity needed to defy the status quo. The siblings witness Galileo’s unveiling of the cosmos’s wonders and his revolutionary proposition that our Earth is not the center of the universe.
Throughout their journey, Jennifer and Daniel support Galileo in chronicling his pioneering discoveries. They confront challenges that enhance their problem-solving abilities and deepen their grasp of the scientific method. Their adventure cultivates an appreciation for the quest for knowledge and the potency of curiosity.
This enthralling tale seamlessly blends history, science, and adventure. It offers young readers a captivating, educational narrative, introducing them to the mesmerizing world of astronomy and the enduring contributions of one of history’s most illustrious scientists. The story of Jennifer and Daniel will inspire the readers to question, explore, and cherish the pursuit of knowledge, just like Galileo did. The book, while being a thrilling read, also helps foster a love for STEM disciplines in young, inquisitive minds, making it a perfect addition to any child’s reading list.
At the end of Book 1 is a QR code for the Science Primer, a comprehensive, free downloadable guide over 100 pages long, written specifically for parents and teachers. It also includes a complete Teacher’s Guide with detailed lesson plans, a glossary of terms, and an extensive list of resources such as books, videos, websites, and other online Resources for teaching about Galileo and his discoveries. The primer is designed to make science education engaging and accessible. Each of the books written for the series will feature its own tailored Science Primer. Book 1 itself also includes a glossary of terms and resources designed specifically for children ages 8-12, complementing the exciting adventures of Jennifer and Daniel.
Llife Can Surprise Us In Extraordinary Ways
The Friend from the Future: The Spark of Friendship follows a young girl stuck at home on a rainy day with homework who discovers a robot from the future has landed in her backyard. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story was inspired by something very simple and familiar — a rainy day that feels slow, quiet, and full of hidden possibilities. I’ve always loved the idea that magical things can appear when we least expect them. One afternoon, I watched my daughter staring out the window during a storm, and in that still moment I imagined a little glow landing in the backyard. That spark became Nova.
I wanted to show that even on the dullest days, life can surprise us in extraordinary ways. Sometimes magic arrives exactly when we feel bored, stuck, or overwhelmed.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I focused primarily on emotional learning. Children often experience pressure, frustration, or confusion around schoolwork — just like Luna does. I wanted to show them, in a gentle and playful way, that curiosity, kindness, and creativity can turn stressful moments into exciting opportunities for growth and discovery.
I also sprinkled in playful futuristic elements like robots, glowing technology, and simple science concepts. Not in a heavy way — just enough to spark imagination and encourage kids to explore and see learning as an exciting adventure rather than something they “have to do.”
I found Luna and Nova’s characters to be dynamic and engaging. What was your process for writing the characters’ interactions to develop the bond between them?
I approached Luna and Nova’s friendship the way real friendships grow — with curiosity, honesty, and a bit of humor. Luna meets Nova with wonder, and Nova sees our world with fresh eyes. That contrast made their connection feel natural to write.
I let their conversations happen the way kids actually talk: sometimes excited, sometimes confused, sometimes deep without even trying. They learn from each other in small moments — a question, a laugh, a misunderstanding — and those moments slowly build trust. My goal was for readers to feel their bond forming page by page, just like a true friendship.
When will the next book in Luna and Nova Magical Journeys be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The next book in Luna and Nova’s Magical Journeys series is already in progress, and I’m incredibly excited about it. It will be released soon — and this time, Luna and Nova step into a new kind of adventure that blends magic with a deeper emotional message.
Without giving too much away, the story will center around something very familiar to every child, something that seems small but affects the way they feel, think, and move through their day. Luna will face a challenge that requires her to look within, and Nova will guide her in a surprising way that brings mindfulness, growth, and a touch of enchantment.
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One rainy day, Luna meets Nova, a robot from the future, who appeared in her backyard with a unique proposal. While he helps Luna with her daily tasks and challenges, she teaches him about friendship, empathy and emotions.
Can a curious girl and a high-tech robot prove that genuine friendship transcends time and space?
Why Families, Teachers, and Young Readers Love This Book:Engaging Rhyming Text:Makes reading aloud a joyful, memorable experience for the whole family.
Teaches Emotional Intelligence:Gently introduces themes like empathy, emotional expression, and compassion.
Sparks Curiosity and Imagination: It blends futuristic fun, whimsical moments with timeless lessons about confidence, growth, self-discovery, and embracing challenges.
Enjoyable for All Ages: Whether its storytime with little ones or independent reading, there’s something heartfelt and fun for everyone to enjoy.
Makes a Wonderful Gift: A thoughtful present for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion that calls for something special.
Give your child and your whole family a story that sparks connection and a friendship that travels beyond time and space!!!
The Way I Saw Myself And The World
Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines is your memoir, about surviving a childhood shaped by violence, poverty, mental illness, and constant upheaval, and how you continue to work each day to live and love despite it. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted the setup to feel like inviting the reader to sit beside me at the kitchen table while I finally say the things I was never allowed to say out loud.
The inspiration really came from two places: my younger self and my present-day self. As a child, I lived inside the chaos—violence, poverty, mental illness, constant moving—and I didn’t have language for any of it. As an adult, I finally do. The setup of the story grew out of my desire to honor that little girl’s confusion and fear, while also letting the woman I am now gently guide the reader through it. I didn’t want the book to be just a list of painful events; I wanted it to show how those early rooms, those sounds, those secrets shaped the way I saw myself and the world.
I also structured the opening around a simple but honest truth: the past doesn’t stay in the past. I wanted readers to meet me not only as a child in survival mode but as a grown woman still learning how to live and love with everything I’ve carried. So the setup moves between then and now—between the immediacy of what happened and the quiet work of healing that continues. My hope was that, from the very beginning, readers could feel both the weight of what I survived and the possibility that a different life is still being built, day by day.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
There were three kinds of pages that nearly broke me:
- Writing about the people I loved who also hurt me.
Putting certain family members on the page was excruciating. I grew up in an environment where we didn’t “tell family business,” and breaking that unspoken rule felt like a betrayal, even as an adult. I had to constantly walk the line between telling the truth and not turning anyone into a monster. Most of the harm in my story came from people who were wounded themselves, and holding both of those realities at once—“this hurt me deeply” and “you were not only your worst moments”—was incredibly hard. - Admitting the ways the trauma shaped my own behavior.
It was one thing to write about what was done to me; it was another to be honest about how I carried those wounds forward. The moments where I shut down, pushed people away, ignored red flags, or repeated unhealthy patterns in my own relationships were very painful to face. Those chapters forced me to look at myself with the same unflinching honesty I used on my past, and that was humbling and raw. - Going back into the child-mind.
Some scenes required me to re-inhabit my childhood body—the sounds, the smells, the confusion, the terror. I didn’t write them as an observer; I wrote them as if I were back there. After those writing sessions, I was often wrung out. I’d have to walk, cry, or sit in silence before I could rejoin “normal life.” It took a lot of emotional and physical grounding to go back, and then come back.
In a way, the hardest thing to write about was not one single event, but the ongoing impact—the way those early experiences still echo in my marriage, my parenting, my self-talk. Putting that on the page meant admitting that healing isn’t a neat before-and-after story. It’s daily work. Letting readers see that unfinished, imperfect process was terrifying… and also, I hope, the most honest gift I could offer.
How did you balance the need to be honest and authentic with the need to protect your privacy and that of others in your memoir?
I thought about this constantly while writing. For me, “tell the truth” and “do no unnecessary harm” had to sit side by side.
A few things guided me:
- I kept the focus on my experience, not other people’s secrets.
I tried to stay in the lane of what I saw, what I felt, what I carried, rather than exposing every detail of someone else’s life. If a piece of information belonged more to another person than to me, I either left it out, softened it, or hinted at it without giving identifying specifics. - I changed or obscured details where it didn’t weaken the truth.
Names, locations, certain timelines, and identifying characteristics were altered to protect privacy. The emotional truth and the impact stayed the same, but the “tracing paper” over the real people got thicker. If a reader can feel what happened without being able to easily recognize who it happened with, that’s a good balance for me. - I gave myself permission to have boundaries.
There are things that happened that are not in this book. Not because I’m hiding, but because some stories are still tender, or they belong to a future version of me who’s more ready—or they simply don’t need to be on public display to validate my pain. I reminded myself often: You owe the reader honesty. You do not owe the reader your entire self. - I wrote the raw version first, then edited with care.
In early drafts, I didn’t censor myself. I needed to know the real story on the page. Later, I went back and asked:- “Is this necessary for the reader to understand my journey?”
- “Does this cross a line into someone else’s private life?”
- “Am I telling this from a place of healing, or from a fresh wound?”
If something felt like a wound still bleeding, I either reframed it or removed it.
- I tried not to punish or vindicate anyone on the page.
Even when I wrote about harm, my goal wasn’t to get even. It was to bear witness. That helped me keep the tone grounded in my humanity and theirs, instead of in revenge. I can say, “This hurt me deeply,” without turning the book into a public trial.
In the end, the balance looked like this: the reader gets the truth of my interior world—the confusion, the terror, the resilience, the ongoing healing—but not a roadmap to track down every person who ever hurt me. The story is mine. The people inside it are real, but they are not mine to expose.
How has writing your memoir impacted or changed your life?
Writing Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines has changed me in ways I felt in my body first—before I could even explain them.
A few of the biggest shifts:
1. I stopped arguing with my own story.
For a long time, I minimized what I went through:
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Other people had it worse.”
Writing the memoir forced me to sit with the facts. Seeing them on the page—clear, ordered, undeniable—made it much harder to gaslight myself. I don’t have to keep re-litigating whether it “counts” as trauma. It happened. It shaped me. That simple acceptance has been huge.
2. It changed how I talk to myself.
When I wrote scenes from my childhood, I had to look at that little girl closely—how hard she tried, how alone she felt, how much she carried. It softened something in me.
Now, when I’m harsh with myself, I picture her. It’s harder to call myself “too sensitive” or “weak” when I’ve just spent months honoring her survival on the page. Writing the book made self-compassion less like a buzzword and more like a daily practice.
3. It rearranged my relationships.
Telling the truth has a way of shaking the tree.
- Some relationships have gotten closer. People in my life understand me better now. They see why I react the way I do, why certain things are hard for me, why I need boundaries. There’s more context and, sometimes, more grace.
- Other relationships have become more distant or more defined. Putting things on paper meant I had to stop protecting certain illusions. That’s painful, but it’s also cleaner. I’m not working as hard to pretend.
Overall, it gave me permission to let my inner reality and my outer life match more closely.
4. It turned my pain into something useful.
Before the book, a lot of my story felt like random debris—memories hitting me out of nowhere. Writing gave it shape. Now, when I talk to someone who’s navigating their own trauma, I’m not just speaking from the middle of the fog. I’ve walked through it intentionally, sentence by sentence.
It’s changed how I show up:
- I’m more open about my history without feeling like I’m oversharing.
- I feel less ashamed and more… equipped—like, “Yes, this happened, and here’s one way I’ve learned to live with it.”
There’s a strange relief in knowing the worst things you survived can now sit in a book and maybe help someone else feel less alone.
5. It taught me the power of boundaries and pacing.
Writing this memoir forced me to learn:
- when to stop for the day,
- when to ground myself,
- when to say, “I can’t talk about that right now.”
Those skills didn’t stay on the page. They bled into my daily life. I’m more aware of my limits, more protective of my energy, and more willing to say no—even to “good” things—if my nervous system is tapped out.
6. It gave me a different kind of courage.
Surviving my childhood was one kind of courage.
Choosing to lay it out for others to read is another.
Now, other risks feel a little less terrifying:
- Sharing my work.
- Speaking honestly in conversations.
- Naming what I need in relationships.
- Letting myself be seen as I actually am, not as the “together” version I used to present.
Once you’ve told the hardest truths in print, small everyday truths get easier to say out loud.
In short: writing Unbroken didn’t “fix” my life. I still have triggers, hard days, old patterns that flare up. But it reorganized my inner world. It gave me language, loosened shame’s grip, clarified my relationships, and reminded me that my story is not just what happened to me—it’s also what I choose to make of it now.
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As her mother’s delusions intensify, Adriene and her younger brother are swept into a cycle of instability: temporary relatives’ homes, decrepit apartments, shelters, and the bureaucratic indifference of Child Protective Services. Her life becomes a study in adaptation. Teachers, social workers, and therapists appear as both saviors and spectators, their well-meaning interventions undercut by a system that cannot see the full truth.
Amid this chaos, Adriene discovers a sanctuary in learning. Books become her escape and her mirror, a means of constructing identity from fragments. Her intelligence and resilience earn her entry into gifted programs and, later, a transformative scholarship through the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s ADVANCE Camp – a rare space of belonging and recognition. Yet even moments of promise are shadowed by trauma’s lingering grasp; her mind remains both brilliant and haunted.
Foster care, meant to save her, instead subjects Adriene to new forms of cruelty. The “Bitch from Hell,” her abusive foster mother, wields authority with sadism cloaked in righteousness. Still, Adriene’s intellect and adaptability allow her to navigate this world – and, in small acts of defiance, reclaim pieces of her agency.
College becomes both a milestone and a reckoning. Having survived the unimaginable, Adriene graduates with honors in International Business, only to find herself unprepared for the invisible toll of trauma in adulthood. Depression, self-sabotage, and a string of hollow relationships bring her to the brink of despair once more. The memoir crescendos with a raw confrontation of suicidality – and the awakening that follows.
In one of the book’s most powerful sections, Adriene revisits her own CPS case files, psychiatric evaluations, and therapy notes. Reading herself through the cold lens of institutional language, she confronts the staggering disconnect between documented “stability” and lived abuse. This duality – the official record versus the inner truth – forms the heart of Unbroken. The narrative closes with a reclamation: survival not as triumph over pain, but as the deliberate act of continuing to live and love despite it.
A Way to Honor That Story
The Adventures of Belle Bear follows a cheerful polar bear cub living in the Arctic who has to move to a new home in a new country where everything is different, and she has to make new friends. What was the inspiration for your story?
When I was 9 years old, my family fled the Republic of Georgia after the collapse of the USSR. We were political refugees, ethnically Russian and Armenian in a newly nationalistic country, and had to start over in the U.S. with nothing but suitcases and survival skills. I didn’t speak English. I didn’t really fit in. I had to start over and make friends in a new place. There were no polar bears. And no one wore capes. I drew a lot of my strength and inspiration from my grandmother, my Baba. This book is a way to honor that story and my Baba’s memory.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I leaned heavily into the social-emotional aspect of belonging in this book. While the story is about moving to a new place and starting a new school. I think it’s also for every kid who’s ever felt different or out of place. And for every adult who remembers what that felt like. For example, my 7yo daughter is the only left-handed student in her 1st grade class. She told me she felt a little like Belle Bear when she first realized it. But then she remembered that it was okay to be a little different. That it made her special.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The most fun (and challenging!) scene in the book by far was the mirror-cape scene. I had the idea in my head for months, when Belle Bear internalized Baba Bear’s nightly affirmations, “I am kind, curious, and brave. I can do anything. I am a Belle Bear,” her new cape would somehow appear. But I wasn’t sure how it would work on the page. Originally, it was going to be a spin or a twirl. But the movement was hard to show in still illustrations. Nathalie, the illustrator, and I spent several weeks perfecting it after the rest of the book was done. It was the literally the last scene we finished. She really brought it to life with Belle Bear’s cape appearing in the mirror before she steps out on the next page wearing it. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!
Will this book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
I have BIG plans for Belle Bear. Think of Belle Bear as The Berenstain Bears of this generation with a modern voice and an orange cape. Each book will explore a different challenge kids face today, from family transitions to standing up for themselves, and help them build confidence from the inside out. Belle Bear is just getting started!
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Belle Bear is a spirited polar bear cub who lives in the arctic country of Mount Bearia with her beloved grandma, Baba Bear. Her days are filled with snowy games, cozy bear hugs, and magical moments—all while wearing an orange cape that makes her feel brave.
When Belle Bear and Baba Bear have to leave their home and move to a new country, Belle Bear’s world is turned upside down. There’s no snow, no other polar bears, and certainly no capes. At her new school, Belle Bear struggles to feel like she belongs, and she begins to doubt the very things that once made her feel special. But with a gentle nudge from Baba Bear and a heart full of courage, Belle Bear discovers her self-confidence and begins to make new friends who appreciate her for exactly who she is.
The Adventures of Belle Bear is a heartwarming story about moving to a new place, making new friends, and finding self-confidence in the process.
Belle Bear believes that every child should go to bed with a full belly and a bedtime story.
Through December 31, 2025, 100% of the proceeds from The Adventures of Belle Bear will be donated to Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Celebrating Small Victories
Lalibela is a book of poetry that wanders through memory, love, pain, Blackness, faith, and survival, shared through snapshots of memories filled with real emotions that hit the reader hard, and amplify the realities of Black life. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
I am so grateful for the opportunity to talk about this collection.
This work was part of an intended series, picking up from where a previous work, Black Architects, left off. There was this and a prequel to Black Architects called Dearest. Unfortunately, the latter was stolen from my storage unit, but Lalibela survived. I was very much moved by my community and the struggles that I witnessed/experienced. When I look around me, there are people living unglorified lives, battling day in and day out to survive. I also see triumph, I see joy, I see grit, I see humor, I see love. The scene of backs breaking under hard work, celebrating on Sundays in church and lending a hand, set a very heartfelt rhythm in my mind. This was the rhythm to which my hands went to work to capture the sanctity of what we lived. The pieces, in turn, celebrate simply getting through the day and all other seemingly small victories.
I was also partly inspired by “Of the Coming of John” by W.E.B DuBois as well as the Allegory of the Cave by Plato. Being in the motions of experience sometimes means that the very thing that is taking place is lost on your eyes precisely because of its proximity to you. The burden, weariness, revelations and love carried by the protagonists in these two stories felt familiar to me. Having experienced the world outside of my neighborhood and family inspired an awakening of sorts that stirred a deeper love and admiration for the persons around me.
I love my community and I wanted to do justice to show just what made it so special to me. I was inspired by the coming architects of our tomorrow, (specifically my niece who was around 1 at the time and my nephew who was just a fetus), that will inherit and take charge of the world that I must one day forfeit. It was important to me to pass down my own legacy within the greater legacy of this community. I wanted to explore the nuances of ‘home’ and in a lot of ways this is my letting go of what I think ‘home’ should look like. The neighborhood is in the hands of a different young now; that narrative of its character no longer belongs to me, it belongs to the coming generation of architects that must rise to the task of defining and defending it.
Were there any poems that were particularly difficult to write? If so, why?
Most of the poems were difficult to write. The time they were written, in 2018, was turbulent for me. There was a death in my community, one that I managed to blame myself for and I was battling a number of things personally. Among these battles were crippling panic attacks. I would become completely incapacitated for any number of hours and then once I was functional again, I would hit the page. During this time, I thought a lot about mortality and I wondered about the things that really mattered in life. I found myself in this picture of the universe, small and mighty and I was thus able to blend easier into the flow of things on a larger scale. I realized how my life meant more when spent in communion with the Most High and in service of those around me. Being a vessel for Christ in this way meant that I had to be pure, so the task was to confront the world in me in writing and to speak truth to power as an honest and accurate witness to all that occurred within my realm. This made it difficult to write because I would have to face those lives and those faces who were written into the lines of each of the pieces. I had to live the baring of soul that made me feel naked – in the eyes of the Lord and the eyes of the people on whom I depended on and whom depended upon me. I felt so exposed. The lesson was this: there really is no hiding place in all of Creation.
How did you go about organizing the poems in the book? Was there a specific flow or structure you were aiming for?
I wanted the poems to speak to one another, so I arranged them in a way that they kind of flow into each other. Here’s a fun fact: you know how most movies have a love scene or a romantic storyline? I wanted to integrate that into the pulse and beat of the collection so I wrote “And When On Days” to give the collection that added bit of romance. The collection creates a certain type of world, like a mini neighborhood, and I wanted every representation and expression of love present in it.
Have you received any feedback from readers that surprised or moved you?
I think that when the Most High puts it in the hearts of man to be moved by these words from my soul, then there will be more readers. As of now, any feedback is welcomed and the invitation is extended to chance upon these waters in time.
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Lalibela holds within its reams the fatigue and redemption of a working class family of the African Diaspora in the West. The lively avenues, bus routes, love lives and cultures preserved in memory and in real-time as if frozen in place from another, happier time. Retaining a legacy of teaching its young hard truths about survival, identity, achievement, failure, faith, death, resilience, life, love and hate.
As concepts evolve, facts change and truth disrobes, Lalibela is an expression and legacy of survival. Within this small community with limited resources people ponder existentially, pray colossal prayers, and resuscitate grit mouth-to-mouth. Named after a town in Ethiopia that is home to the legendary rock hewn churches, Lalibela is the sanctuary for a piece of mind and a direction to that inner place of belonging that travels with us all as we navigate our various and difficult realities. Simply, Lalibela is home.
LITERARY TITAN 