A Measure of Madness on the Pages

Bloggersphere, I understand that I've spoken quite often of my writing, but never really spoken of what exactly it is I write.
Considering my writing blog posts tend to get a fair few views, I feel it's only fair that you all know exactly what you're reading about.

Since I was a teenager I've loved to read and write Young Adult fiction. It hasn't been around long but has caused controversy often. It gives writers the opportunity to tackle new subjects - such as fantasy worlds and even illnesses - through the eyes of the younger generation.

My previous focus in writing has been on the magical side - I have a particular soft spot for Dystopian and Fantasy. My shelves are filled with books such as Divergent, Mortal Instruments and Shatter Me. My writing, as most authors, reflects my books and I have a collection of unpublished novels on my memory stick filled with those types of genres.
However, after writing my Dystopian novel, The Divide, which unfortunately went unpublished due to an overcrowded market, I realised I needed to take a new approach on writing. I needed to pick something I felt connected to and something that was yet to be touched on.

My shelves are also filled with YA issue-led fiction - The Fault in our Stars and Noughts and Crosses - and I knew that was what I wanted to write next.

I suffer from a chronic back condition that a lot of people don't understand because it's not a pain that you can see or really understand. Similarly, my mum suffers from a kidney disease that long went undiagnosed and misunderstood because it's so rare. Based on our struggles and the need for recognition in the current market, I decided to write a novel that was centered on the struggles felt in illness in both a physical and mental way.

I chose mental illness because, not only is it interesting to write, but it is also one that is commonly misunderstood. So many people suffer from various mental illness diseases and are ignored and unrecognised. It may be the words of a doctor noting it as a passing sadness, a misdiagnosis or even a parents denial.

So, my kind readers, I introduce you to Ana.
She is my main protagonist in my novel and she suffers from a mental illness herself that her parents and doctors diagnose as Depression when in fact it is Borderline Personality Disorder. She is alone in this illness, but she finds some form of companionship in 4 ill teenagers that she meets in therapy, all with their own illness - ranging from Parkinson's to PTSD. In the scene she has been depicted here, she is forced to go to a party in a dress her boyfriend gives her to wear. I wanted to express the troubles that young teenagers go through in a world that may not understand them. The extent of Ana's troubles may be more than the average teenager - with neglectful parents and bloody accidents - but my point remains the same: sometimes people just need to be listened to. Sometimes they need a little help, even if they don't say so.

My wonderful and artistic friend, Ashling Larkin, drew this concept of Ana for me. She's a wonderfully talented girl who deserves so much recognition. The link to her site is here - http://ashlingdraws.portfoliobox.me/ - and I urge you all to go and look at her art and be amazed!

Thank you for reading people and if you have any questions for me, don't be afraid to ask! Until next time!