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Julia Tannenbaum pens third mental illness self-help book

Hartford Courant - 11/20/2020

West Hartford resident Julia Tannenbaum recently published her third book, Choosing Life, which is the finale of a trilogy of books that discuss mental illness via the lens of her own experiences.

Tannenbaum wrote her first book at age 17, telling the story of a 16-year-old girl struggling to overcome mental illness - specifically, mood disorder and depression, which she herself has struggled with since she was 13.

“The books are pretty heavily based on my personal experiences,” Tannenbaum said. “Like the character in the book, I went through hospitals, treatment facilities, the whole gamut that comes with mental illness sometimes.”

Tannenbaum said she began writing during one of her lower points, but that it helped her immensely.

“It became my number one coping skill, and the way to get things that were inside of me out,” she said.

Inspired by the relief she felt, she wanted to share that with others in her situation.

The first book started with the character’s diagnosis. Choosing Life picks up the story a year later, as the character is actively in recovery while a senior in high school.

“It’s her progression, that kind of went along with my own progression in recovery,” Tannenbaum said, adding that many of the circumstances are changed for the book, but that the character is essentially “who she was.”

Tannenbaum researched mental illness, both for her own knowledge on how to deal with her own issues, as well as for the purpose of incorporating some of that education for her readers.

“I read a lot of books about mental health, because I wanted to feel connection. I felt misunderstood, and wanted to relate to something,” she said. “A lot of focus is on the mental illness, but recovery is such a huge part of it. I definitely think [the trilogy] shows from start to finish. It’s not just a book about mental illness, it’s also a book about finding hope and getting better. This is how I got better, and how people I knew got better.”

Tannenbaum said she went the self-publishing route, through Kindle Direct Publishing, on Amazon, because it was quicker than the traditional route, and she wanted to get the information she thought was important out there for people. She also recruited the help of best-selling young adult author K.R. Conway, who had spoken at Tannenbaum’s high school.

“I reached out to her and she basically became my mentor,” Tannenbaum said. “She did my cover design and formatted my interior. She was really able to help me tremendously, and guide me through the process. It’s also shown me the importance of connections, and how asking for help is a good thing.”

The first two books have done well, Tannenbaum said.

“It’s just been incredible,” she said. “A lot of people have the idea that you can’t do well if you’re self-published. It’s just a matter of making the effort to talk to people and spread the word about your book. It was definitely a lot of work, but it’s so worth it. It’s been a great experience.”

Currently studying toward a creative writing degree, with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University, Tannenbaum said she hopes to continue to write, but not a continuation of this story, which was always planned as a trilogy.

She and her mother have started working on an online cookbook, which may turn into something else, but she isn’t quite sure what, if any, her next tome will consist of.

“I don’t really know what next big project I’ll have in store. It’s kind of nerve-wracking and kind of exciting," she said. “I definitely see doing something related to writing in my future.”

Choosing Life can be found on Amazon.com.

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