A Drop Of Water: A Spiritual Journey by Yvonne Williams Casaus Interview

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Book Details:

Book Title:  A Drop Of Water: A Spiritual Journey by Yvonne Williams Casaus
​Category:  Adult nonfiction, 208 pages
Genre:  Memoir, Spirituality, Self-help, Personal Growth, Grief, Loss, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention
Publisher: Laughing At Myself, LLC
Release date:  September 2016
Tour dates:  Sept 19 to Oct 7, 2016
Content Rating:  PG + M (There is no bad language, but author discusses her husband's suicide)

Book Description:

In this extraordinary book, Yvonne reflects upon her past experiences, grief, and losses to find her way back to her spirituality and strength. She bares her soul, yet is able to use water as a lighthearted, uninhibited, and fun way to express how we are all connected. It is a spiritually inspired book about healing, grief, and personal growth.

It becomes a beautiful poetic journey as she discovers her love of water as part of what led her towards her spiritual path. Through her writing she expresses how she found her way through several tremendous losses, including the loss of her husband. In her ability to endure, she found a strength she never knew she had.

This book is for anyone that has ever struggled with depression, grief, or loss of any kind. It is for anyone interested in personal growth and healing. By sharing her personal story she is able to remind us that we are never truly alone. Water connects us all.

Meet the Author:

Yvonne Williams Casaus is a Mom, Wife, Author, Counselor, and Play Therapist. She is an independently licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC), a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. She specializes in Depression, Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She has a private practice in New Mexico and has been helping adults, children, adolescents, and families for over eleven years.

Yvonne’s areas of expertise include Depression, Anxiety, Divorce, Panic Attacks, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), Sexual Abuse, Rape, Physical Abuse, Grief, ADHD and other issues. She also specializes in treating traumatized children with issues such as PTSD, Sexual abuse, Physical Abuse, Neglect, Adoption, and Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Pinterest  ~ Instagram

Interview:

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I felt a calling to write several years after losing my husband to suicide. It began as a whisper, but continued to get louder and louder. It was the same calling I felt when I switched my career from an Engineer to a Therapist. I love being a therapist so I felt I had to trust it.

How long did it take you to write this book?

I wrote the first draft of this book in a weekend. The words were just pouring out of me. I started by writing longhand on unlined paper, but the words were coming so quickly I switched to the keyboard. I literally typed with my eyes closed. It was as if my finger were dancing.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

When I am “in the zone”, I take three days off to do nothing but write. The rest of the process, editing and revising comes in between working full time as a Therapist, and being a wife and mother. I write while my kids are at gymnastics practice or I get up early on weekends before a day full of birthday parties. Sometimes I have to choose to between working on my writing or doing the dishes.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I found that I often laugh out loud when I write. I am always laughing at myself. It happens so often that my website is Laughingatmyself.lol. The other funny quirk I have is typing with my eyes closed. It helps to keep the words flowing. Otherwise, I have a tendency to keep stopping and fixing every mistake.



Where did you get your information or ideas for your book?



I felt spiritually inspired to share from my knowledge as a therapist and suicide loss survivor. My husband, the father my children committed suicide. It is my own personal story that I share to help others dealing with depression or grief. My love of water helped it become a poetic journey.



What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love music. I play the guitar. I enjoy painting and making jewelry. I have always been drawn to the water. I must have been a mermaid before because I love to swim and I love being in the water. Most of all, I love spending time with my family.



What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?



Growing up I would never have thought of myself as an author. I felt a calling to write this book and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I am in fact a writer. I felt pure joy and experienced uninhibited fun while writing. I have laughed, I have cried, but most of all, I have healed.



Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so what are they?



In my experience it is best to let your ideas flow. Do not stop to edit as you are writing. For me, stopping would lead to distractions, which would lead to procrastination. Write from your heart, you can edit it later. Give yourself the gift of time to do nothing but write.



Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?



My first book was just released. I have already received such amazing feedback that this book is thought provoking and inspirational. It is helping people that are struggling with depression, grief, or loss. It is helping people know they are not alone. People do not like to talk about suicide or depression. My book takes the stigma out of it.



What would you like my readers to know?



Of the 8 billion species on earth, there are 7.24 billion people of different cultures, ages, and genders. What is the universal link that connects us all? Water. A drop of water, an ocean of water, they are the same. We can all overcome profound tragedy and loss because we are all connected.