Marking the start of my journey as an author, I recently announced the release of my first book, “Where Did The Light Go?’. After spending almost a year reaching out to publishers or literary agents, I decided to self-publish through Amazon. Incredible books sit in slush piles never to be discovered each year; I didn’t want that to be my outcome.

When I was a child, my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I witnessed her battle the horrific disease every day. I was by her side for every doctor’s appointment and infusion treatment. I became very anxious. I was quite the worry wart. Seeing your loved one deteriorate right in front of you becomes very stressful. I was scared of losing her to the disease. I was depressed I couldn’t always do things with her that I saw other kids do with their moms. The rude glances from strangers directed at my mom in public still haunt me. My mom had to walk with a cane or a hiking pole, and it seemingly gave people the right to look down on her.

But my mom’s poor health was just one layer to my struggles with anxiety, worry, and depression. Later in life, I began to experience many of my own medical problems. It all started becoming too much. I became overwhelmed. I felt my life was already over before it had a chance to start. I just wanted to not exist. Feeling passion for nothing else, I threw myself back into my love for art. Painting was always very therapeutic for me. I could let the brush strokes share my story. My reignited love for creating took off once more. My purpose became to help children walk through what I went through. That is when the idea for my first book “Where Did The Light Go?” was born.

“Where Did The Light Go?” is a story showcasing a young girl who presents signs of worry, anxiety, and depression. She just wants to be happy and not feel so sad. She wants to feel safe and protected. I always found it difficult to describe how I felt in-depth, so I figured I’d rather give parents signals to look for that indicate their child is struggling. Do they distance themselves? Are they terrified of being alone? “Where Did The Light Go?” is the perfect tool for parents to start a conversation sooner rather than later with their kids about mental health topics. Investing in our family members should always be a priority, and we need to care for the next generation. Kids are facing many troubling issues today. Parents must prepare their children to face these obstacles. I wish to encourage every single child that they are not alone and that they can face their fears.