Hallo, Hallo dear hearts,
I was approached by my featured author today to read her debut novel – however, in discussion with Ms Woods about the particulars of “The Process of Fraying” – I knew it was one novel I would have to pass on reading. It isn’t that I didn’t believe in the story it is that I knew within our conversation about the story itself, it was one story I would not be able to handle reading. We all have our list of things we have to be careful of whilst reading – certain triggers (ie. subjects, inclusions, graphic depictions or overtly strong language) can wreck our own mental health whilst we’re reading which is why it is best to not just remain open-minded about what we seek out to read but to become cognisant of our personal limitations.
Although I knew it wouldn’t be a good fit for me personally, I also knew I wanted to champion the novel if and when it were to go on a featured blog tour and/or other promotional blogosphere journey. I happily encouraged the author to seek out Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours as I knew the scope of the book bloggers who participate on Ms Bruno’s tours would happily find a wicked good reading within these pages – if not, personally affect them if they drew closer to the context of the story due to personal experiences. I wanted to do what I could to help promote a novel I knew would become an important read to a lot of readers – even if I knew I couldn’t personally read it myself.
Thus, I opted instead to happily discuss the novel through this author interview and help champion the Historical writers who are continuously and tirelessly giving us convicting fiction set in the historic past. I would classify this one equally spilt between an important Historic narrative on Mental Health practices with a Feminist Historical perspective combined within the breadth of a Historical Women’s Fiction novel.
I hope after you’ve had the chance to digest the information Ms Woods shares within this conversation you’ll know if this is a novel you will be able to read yourself and/or mention it to someone else you know will appreciate knowing about the book being published.
Be sure to brew your favourite cuppa
& settle into a comfy chair whilst you enjoy this interview!
The Process of Fraying (Interview)
by Jess Neal Woods
Violet is a pillar of hospitality and compassion within her community. As a farmer’s wife and mother of a large brood, she is resolute, thrifty, and charming. The life that is woven between the land and her family is one of harmony and beauty.
When she begins to struggle with depression, her demeanor changes. At first, the change is subtle, but it becomes increasingly problematic as Violet struggles with bouts of incapacitating depression and anxiety and visions of self-harm. A candle flame offers a way to feel, even if it is the pain of a burn. Her beloved creek becomes ominous as it beckons to her. Having no real understanding of what is happening within her, Violet turns to both the religious and medical communities for guidance. Both fail her. With her identity stripped away and her family reeling from the aftermath, Violet must determine if she can make peace with the changes within herself before she is consumed by them.
The Process of Fraying is a historical family drama that explores the social, religious, and medical stigmas surrounding mental health in the 1940s.
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 9781793309457
Published by Self Published
on 7th January, 2019
This is a Self Published novel
Converse via: #MentalHealth + #HistFic or #HistNov
as well as #WomensFiction and #HistoricalFiction
Available Formats: Trade Paperback and Ebook
How important was it for you to develop a story which brings to light raw and vulnerable insight into challenges of dealing with mental health issues? How did you approach researching this aspect of your story?
Woods responds: From the beginning I knew that this story would not be everyone’s cup of tea because of how heavy the content needed to be. I was dedicated to dealing with the unpleasant factors surrounding mental health in the WWII era because each aspect was something my own great-grandmother (the story is loosely based on her) either faced or could have faced during her struggle with depression. The more research I did, the more I realized the importance of exposing a past generation’s mishandling of mental illness in hopes that it would show us how far we’ve come as a society and how far we’ve yet to go. Quite a lot of research went into the making of this novel. Apart from my own great-grandmother’s story and records, I also conversed with several psychologists and read over 40 books.
For readers who have a more sensitive heart when it comes to triggers within the narratives they’re reading what do you want them to recognise as being inclusive to “The Process of Fraying”?
Woods responds: I do not think this book is for everyone. It was incredibly hard to write and it may be hard to read at times. While I do try to have an inspirational tone overall, and there are some beautiful scenes and images, I think it is important for readers to realize that there is certainly some heavy content. Readers should be warned that there are scenes of medical abuse, allusion to rape and inappropriate touch, self-harm, and themes of isolation and judgment.
How did you develop the downward spiral of depression affecting Violet and how did you want this to draw a note of realism to those who are dealing with depression?
Woods responds: Unfortunately, people who struggle with mental illness are sometimes devalued or dismissed within their communities, and they shouldn’t be. So many of us struggle. I didn’t want my character’s identity to be anchored to her mental state even though the story centers around it; I wanted Violet to be a loveable and relatable character. I wanted people to empathize, to maybe see themselves in her, and in order to make sure that happened, I created endearing scenes with family, friends, and nature throughout the novel; I tried to show that she was so much more than a woman struggling with depression.
As far as her spiral is concerned, that came organically. Violet began to struggle with depression and then that struggle was agitated and heightened by the social, religious, and medical communities—all of which should have been supporting her.
As this is a drama centered round family – which characters in supporting roles did you feel were most important towards telling Violet’s story?
Woods responds: Miles, her husband, is an integral part of the story. He is not a savior, not a knight in shining armor, but he loves her deeply, and his love and consistency draw her back time and again.
What was the most challenging part of writing this story and why? How did you push through those difficult moments to reach the final copy readers have now?
Woods responds: The most challenging part of writing this story for me was the construction of the scenes that take place within the asylums or institutions. They are horrific and uncomfortable, and I cannot imagine the terror that a person would feel in such a situation where they have no say over their body or their treatment. I do not want to. Yet I did have to put myself into their shoes as best I could to provide a realistic telling of the story. Though I often had to take breaks from heavy scenes like this, I was motivated to push through in recognition of my great-grandmother and other victims who were silenced.
What did you personally find (through research) was the most frustrating aspect of religious and medical stigmas from the early half of the 20th Century? What has changed between then and now?
Woods responds: Honestly, there’s plenty to be frustrated about when it comes to the treatment of mental health in this time period, and I am grateful that our society has made the progress it has made (not saying we have arrived; we have work to do still yet). I’ll choose one frustration from each facet to discuss here.
Religiously, I was incredibly frustrated with the idea that one could not be both spiritually sound and emotionally disturbed at the same time. I kept finding evidence of the belief (at least in the southern United States) that if one just prayed more or believed more, then he or she would be healed. While I don’t doubt the occurrence of miracles and quick-turn moments sometimes, I think it is dangerous to make the assumption that one can be free of depression or anxiety if only they check the right boxes or pray the right prayers.
Medically, I was astonished at how skewed the data was for treatment within the medical community and, in turn, how much research was driven by the desire to make a professional name for oneself and nothing more. Let me give you an example. When collecting data on Metrazol therapy or electroshock therapy (or fill in the blank), marked progress was not true progress. Say a patient was incredibly temperamental before therapy began and after several terrifying sessions said patient appeared infantile, it was written down and twisted as a success. On the flipside, we now know about all of this faulty data and its terrifying implications. If you are interested in reading more about this topic, I suggest reading Robert Whitaker’s Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine, and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill (which does cover some global perspective too and is not solely based in the United States).
Socially I can imagine there was a lot to write-in to the background of this novel, as society has been notorious for judging people with a harsh cruelty; how did you approach the community Violet and her family were living amongst in regards to highlighting their social views?
Woods responds: I drew heavily from the experience of my great-grandmother and from the experiences I saw or had myself growing up in a small town in the Southern United States. I spent hours talking to people who felt judged by society, cut off from religious community, and/or failed by the medical community, and I crafted the town and its response to Violet from all of those responses. Obviously, I needed to work within the time frame of the WWII era, but so many of the issues within the novel are timeless ones. While we are making progress, people who struggle with mental illness are still ostracized and devalued sometimes.
As this is your debut novel – did you set out to develop a historical narrative or was it an organic choice to write a historical story as you started to develop your character?
Woods responds: While I am widely read, historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I set out to specifically write within that genre as well. Obviously as I wrote, there were some organic progressions in plot and characterization. For instance, I wanted desperately for there to be a nice, happy ending and for one specific character to have a change of heart. But it wasn’t natural, so it didn’t happen.
What drew you to focusing on 20th Century Historical Fiction? Is there a certain aspect of the world war eras which drew you towards these decades overall or was it something more personal?
Woods responds: Honestly it’s a bit of both. Personally, I wanted to tell my great-grandmother’s story in some capacity, and I bumped the story back a few years to fit into the late 1930s-early 1940s. I love the WWI and WWII eras; I read heavily from them (though my reading does not just center on the wars; I love 19th and 20th century historical fiction in general). I love being transported back into the past, and though I can never quite vocalize what it is that draws me to this time period, I think there’s something to be said about the heart found within it- that in the midst of extreme darkness and brokenness, hope and goodwill were not extinguished.
What do you hope readers will takeaway with their visitations with Violet? How do you hope her story will resonate with them?
Woods responds: When I began this book, I wanted to write a story that could pull people in whether they had any experience with depression or not. A good book makes us think and reflect—and occasionally change our views. I wanted a story that was real and transparent to evoke empathy and raise awareness of the intense inner struggle that so many people face on a daily basis. I do think that there is still a harmful stigma surrounding depression, and my hope is that this novel can assuage that a little for its readers. I also wanted for those who are struggling to find a place where they felt seen and understood. I was incredibly nervous about the book’s reception before publication and shortly after, but I keep receiving affirming messages from people who struggle with depression or people who love someone who struggles, so no matter what happens from here with my sales or my writing career, I am going to count this one as a success.
How did you decide to publish as an Indie Author and what do you enjoy the most about being an Indie Author?
Woods responds: I have several author friends (trad published and indie published), so I spoke to all of them and carefully considered my options based on their experience and knowledge and based on my own goals. I did query for about 8 months and received some encouraging responses, but none of those came to fruition for one reason or another, and I was spending a ridiculous amount of time researching agents and publishers, querying, submitting manuscripts, waiting, corresponding, etc.—and as my writing time is actually very constrained, I just decided to let the idea of traditional publishing go for this novel. Publishing independently has offered freedom and flexibility for me as writing is not my full time job, and I’m in a season of life where it can’t be just yet. In the future, I may pursue traditional publication again.
As this is your debut novel – have you thought ahead to what you want to develop next as your sophomore release or are you letting the story find you when the time is right to explore a new character and their journey?
Woods responds: Fraying was a difficult novel to write, and I was honestly depleted after finishing it, so I took a year hiatus from novel writing to focus on poetry and a less rigorous writing schedule. This summer I’ll actually have some poetry published in a literary magazine along with some essays. I am excited about that, but I have shifted my focus yet again and have begun a second manuscript recently. It is also historical fiction based on a true story (post WWII reconstruction era in East Germany/Berlin), and I’m really excited about this one! It is the tale of a woman who chose to love and protect herself, giving up family and love in the process.
When you’re not writing or researching your stories what uplifts your soul the most?
Woods responds: I think I would have to say first and foremost it would be spending time with my family and friends. I have a wonderful group of people surrounding me.
A close second is being outside. I love nature. I enjoy walking, hiking, running, sitting on the beach or in a forest, listening to birds, identifying insects—it all gives me so much joy.
I am wicked thankful for the openness of this conversation and the beautiful way in which Ms Woods has shared her writerly journey as a debut novelist. This is an important book with an important message threading through its heart and I hope more readers will become aware of it. I love hosting authors who are on the brink of launching their careers and in this particular case, I am thankful I could help cheer for a novelist I believe in – even if I couldn’t read their debut, because of the heart she put into the process of bringing this novel to life! She truly deserves a lot of credit for digging into the heart of her character’s life and for honouring her character and the story which needed to be told.
This author interview is courtesy of:
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Similar to blog tours where I feature book reviews, as I choose to highlight an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog. I provide the questions for interviews and topics for the guest posts; wherein I receive the responses back from publicists and authors directly. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them; I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers. This also extends to Book Spotlights & Book Blitzes which I choose to highlight which might have content inclusive to the post materials which I did not directly add a contribution but had the choice whether or not to feature those materials on my blog.
{SOURCES: Book cover for “The Process of Fraying”, book synopsis, author biography, author photograph of Jess Neal Woods, the tour host badge and HFVBTs badge were all provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and used with permission. Post dividers badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Conversations with the Bookish banner and the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2019.
Comments via Twitter:
It is my wicked honour and joy to bring this #HistNov #interview to #JLASblog feat. @JessWoods18 "The Process of Fraying" which is a historical #womensfiction centred on #WomensHealth & #MentalHealth👍
📖✍️https://t.co/i7BtR1g8Iv | #blogging4books pic.twitter.com/7XXzBnMRCI
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) June 17, 2019
I was wicked thankful I could help be a #bookcheerleader for a #historicalfiction novel which I know will touch hearts and minds per each new reader who picks it up!😉You gave us a wonderful portrait of your #writinglife + how you brought this debut to life! I'm so happy for YOU!
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) June 17, 2019
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