An interview with Cynthia Harrison

My biggest emotional challenge as a writer occurred well into my novel-writing career.

Writing has always been therapeutic for me, but one very dark novel took me by surprise.

My tenth published book did not come easy. I was going through a tough time in my marriage and dealing with depression, something that has not very often affected me. I’m more the anxious type.

But there I was, feeling very low, and writing a very dark crime novel. It got to be too much. I’m a fan of psychological thrillers, but reading a novel in a few days does not impact my life the way spending two years writing one did.

I often have elements of suspense in my books, but pushing myself into that dark story on a daily basis was not doing my real life any favors.

Writing a Lighter Christmas Novel Helped Me Beat My Depression

The way I coped with it was to go to therapy for real life problems and for the writing part I stopped working on that dark crime novel and began work on a lighter Christmas novel featuring an amateur sleuth.

It was far more fun for me and lifted my spirits. It was the right thing to do.

By the time that lighter book was published about a year later, my marriage was solid again and the depression had passed. I was ready to go back to the darker crime novel and give it the finish it deserved.

I’m lucky to have supportive writing friends, a great husband and an excellent therapist. Not to mention an understanding editor.

Click here to read more of this interview by Colleen M. Story blogger and Wellness Writer