Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hello, I am Vanessa. May I first importantly thank Sassy Reviews for taking an interest in reviewing my book Won Heart: Diary of a Twin. I do not particularly view myself as an author to have held a childhood dream to such, nor did I bring a single thought process to suddenly waking up one day and saying, “I want to write a book”. Of course I held many dreams, as children do, to be that Occupational Therapist or that Lawyer who changes the world, but for the most part my focus remained strongly on protection of all living beings and organisms, inner and outer-worldly, to have understood before the age of five the allowance of purpose to my spiritual gifts granted for the good of all to bring justice.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Won Heart: Diary of a Twin”?
I became raped in May of 2021 after surviving a deliberate poisoning just months prior, and finding myself in what felt like “someone else’s life” I needed tangible proof of my existence that was somehow becoming invisible, to sit in a dangerous Women’s Refuge in New South Wales, Australia and write a draft so fast to release it to a confidential ‘source’ that in the event that I die prior to releasing my book, my biological children be immediately placed into protection. So the greatest impact lay in the lack of a stable long term environment to not have a proper place to call home and to remain vigilant to the many external dangers that surrounded my life.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your writing?
Defining an absoluteness to expression and style of writing on a level of such astute maturity (not often produced), Jennifer Lash has innate creative talent to balance on the precipice of raw and eloquent rhythm and flow. Specific to referencing her book, “Blood Ties” I drew much courage and strength from an author so legendary that my hardcover purchase has remained one of the only tangible items carefully guarded in my run to safety, and to have in fact held great privilege to her soul presence in my personal auric field during progression and finalisation of my book, I hear her say “Freida” (peace, protection and strength) and I send a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
My MotherLand is South Africa, no matter where in the world I am I will always be proudly South African. So in terms of remembering my favourite spot before relocating to New South Wales, Australia in 2007, I would have to say I found solace in a small coastal village on the south coast of Kwazulu Natal called Umkomaas, on the Umkomaas reef and shipwreck dives (some great, some not so great) being the understanding that greatness was held to those limitless moments of freedom and pure connectedness in an ‘under-world’ that made sense to me. And especially special was the local dive crew (skippers and waiters) who always accommodated my children’s requests in community spirit, friendship and care.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
For professional authors I can only assume there is a planning process to hold foreplanning strategy scopes, storyline preparation etc. The only plan in my mind was immediate pen-to-paper deliverance to not hold an expectation to outcome but rather the self belief that should I die at the hands of corruption, someone, someday will find my truth.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book “Won Heart: Diary of a Twin”?
As previously stated, I wrote my draft fast and I self published my book in early 2022, so less than one year. Although, it’s not a particularly long book to read (short and to the point).
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
I wrote and-published on Amazon’s self-publishing user-friendly platform (KDP) so this finished product should be available to most countries on the Amazon site.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title “Won Heart: Diary of a Twin”?
The Eagle would represent mine and my twin sister’s zodiac sun placement being Scorpio, and the colour palette of orange was personal to me to associate unconditional love to Arcturus in the Bootes Constellation to forgiveness in unconditional love on Earth. The title “Won Heart” holds symbolic meaning to carrying my twin’s heart in mine, being that childhood traumas validated her copying strategy to “fight-flight” response in the form of dissociative disorder.
Q9. When writing a book, how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Taking into consideration that I have only written one book, my intention was to deliver difficult and real content of all forms of abuses and sexual confusion, held to an epoch in the countercultural decade, to hope that a ‘fresh’ perspective is gained by readers, respective of past held belief systems and healing methods.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
My self advice was to import a truthful account of events to remain focused on my inner voice.
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