Wednesday 5 June 2013
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to have the lovely Tanya J Peterson as the Author in the Spotlight. Before we find out about her new book Leave of Absence, lets find out a bit about the lovely lady herself.
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Tanya
J. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education, Master of
Science in counseling, and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. She has
been a teacher and a counselor in various settings, including a traditional
high school and an alternative school for homeless and runaway adolescents, and
she has volunteered her services in both schools and communities. She
draws on her life experience as well as her education to write stories about
the emotional aspect of the human condition. In addition to her novel Leave of Absence, she has published Losing Elizabeth, a young adult novel about an abusive
relationship, Challenge!, a short story about a person who finds the
confidence to overcome criticism and achieve a goal, and a book review of
Linley and Joseph’s Positive Therapy: A Meta-Theory for Positive Psychological
Practice that
appeared in Counseling Today, the national publication of the American Counseling
Association.
She is passionate about issues that involve
mental health and wellness for all people, so she writes novels with themes
involving the human experience of mental illness. Further, she writes a mental
health blog on her website, and she participates in events both off- and online
to increase awareness and understanding and to end stigma. Her passion
stems from unique experiences that have put her on both sides of the proverbial
couch. She’s worked and volunteered her services in order to help people
help themselves. Also, she has been the recipient of help as a
patient. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury after a car accident, she
spent time in a behavioral health center and was ultimately diagnosed with
Bipolar I Disorder. Armed with a desire
to help people, to teach about the realities of mental health, and a love of
writing, Tanya sets out to combine these things in the form of mental health
writing.
She is married and has two children, a
daughter in high school and a son who’s almost done with elementary
school. Living in the Pacific Northwest, she is able to enjoy the
outdoors — hiking, biking, tent camping, kayaking, and show shoeing. She
also enjoys attending musical and theatrical performances and, especially,
spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
I think everyone will agree that Tanya Peterson is a very interesting lady! I will be reviewing Leave of Absence on the blog tomorrow but let me tempt and tease you with a bit about the book.
Leave of Absence,
the Evocative New Book by Tanya J. Peterson, Unlocks the Pain, Struggle, and Triumph of Those Suffering from Mental Illness.
An empathic and honest portrayal of human beings stripped to their core and made to redefine reality and themselves,
Leave of Absence reveals the emotional latticework of those suffering from mental illness, as well as the lives they touch. In this insightful and meaningful novel, Tanya J. Peterson delves deeply into the world of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, and proves that fiction can act as a powerful vessel for conveying basic human truths.
When Oliver Graham’s suicide attempt fails, he is admitted to Airhaven Behavioral Health Center. Unable to cope with the traumatic loss of his beloved wife and son, he finds a single thread of attachment to life in Penelope, a fellow patient wrestling with schizophrenia and its devastating impact on her once happy and successful life. They both struggle to discover a reason to live while Penelope’s fiancé William strives to convince her that she is worth loving. As Oliver and Penelope try to achieve emotional stability, face others who have been part of their lives, and function in the "real world," they discover that human connection may be reason enough to go on.
Written with extraordinary perception into the thought processes of those grappling with mental illness,
Leave of Absence is perfect for readers seeking a stirring depiction of grief, loss, and schizophrenia, as well as anyone who has ever experienced human suffering and healing.
Nice to meet you here, Tanya.