TwitterView with Laurie Bellesheim about Surviving Emily

On October 19, 2011 I had the esteemed pleasure of interviewing Laurie Bellesheim, the author of Surviving Emilya heartbreaking story that leaves us all with a feeling of hope and a recognition of the healing power of love. This is Laurie's first published novel and I am happy to be a part of the party shouting it out to the world!

Here's a description of the book from the Surviving Emily website.

Abigail Hooper and Stephen Sparks had never heard of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy until one fatal morning in November when it crushed their hopes and dreams. Twelve years after the devastating loss of their dearest friend Emily, they find themselves still affected by the trauma.
Abigail, married and newly pregnant, helps others through her work for the Department of Children and Families. When a new client with epilepsy unexpectedly forces her to re-examine the past, Abigail realizes she’s the one who needs saving. Stephen has struggled emotionally, physically and spiritually after losing the love of his life, and the long-term effects of his grief have kept him from truly living and finding love again.

If you missed the TwitterView, there's no need for you to be sad, I saved it all for you! Here it is, in it's entirety. Enjoy! 

riverand 1:01pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim first of all, congrats on publishing your 1st novel #SurvivingEmily. It must be so exciting!

LaBellesheim 1:01pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I'm very excited about it! I'm so happy to see it out there , its been a great experience

  riverand 1:01pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim how long have you been #writing in general & how long did you work on #SurvivingEmily?

LaBellesheim 1:02pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I've been writing since I was a small kid, on and off over the years. It took me 3 yrs. to complete Surviving Emily

riverand 1:03pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim 3 years! WOW! A labor of love, for sure!!

LaBellesheim 1:03pm via TweetDeck

I had several versions of Surviving Emily before I stuck to one so it took me a bit longer

LaBellesheim 1:04pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It was a labor of love, it means a great deal to me :)

LaBellesheim 1:04pm via TweetDeck

@riverand After several versions and revisions, I finally decided to publish

riverand 1:04pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim What was is about THIS version of #SurvivingEmily that told you "This is IT"?

LaBellesheim 1:06pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I realized that it was finally expressing what I was trying to get across. And knew if I didn't stop tinkering I'd never finish

riverand 1:08pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Ah YES!I read that you got that great piece of advice from a writing class - finish first, then go back. <3 it #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:09pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I also knew I was done when the story made me tear up :)

  riverand 1:10pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim a good sign, for sure #SurvivingEmily

riverand 1:10pm via HootSuite

So, @LaBellesheim when the BIG DAY came did you have any kind of celebration when you received your first PUBLISHED copy of #SurvivingEmily?

LaBellesheim 1:11pm via TweetDeck

@riverand My husband celebrated it by buying me a really nice pen to sign all my books with, lol.

LaBellesheim 1:11pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I also had a celebration dinner with some friends and a good bottle of wine :)

riverand 1:12pm via HootSuite @LaBellesheim Ooo! I love cool pens! What a great gift! So thoughtful. (Thumbs up to the hubby!)  

  LaBellesheim 1:12pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It was sweet. The best was when my 3yr old saw the book and saw my picture on it & got all excited!

riverand 1:12pm via HootSuite

@Labellesheim friends, food and wine - a perfect celebration!! #SurvivingEmily

riverand 1:13pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim since the hubby has come up, rumor has it you are also a mom of 3. That's a handful! #momauthor #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:13pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Nothing can beat your own book arriving at your door!

LaBellesheim 1:14pm via TweetDeck

@riverand YES! I am a mother to 3. My girls are 3 and 4 and are very much like having twins.

riverand 1:14pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim you see we both went straight to thinking of the kids! This leads to my next question. #SurvivingEmily

riverand 1:15pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim HOW did you find the time and quiet space to #write while raising 3 children? #momauthor #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:16pm via TweetDeck

@riverand That's a good question. It was very hard and it slowed me down quite a bit but when u want something bad enough u make it happen.

LaBellesheim 1:16pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I used to have a babysitter come 1x a week for 4 hours to help me with this.

LaBellesheim 1:17pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Early mornings and late nights helped too :)

riverand 1:17pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Would you consider yourself a naptime writer? :) #momauthor #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:18pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I wish! My kids refuse to take naps :) They stopped napping too early.

riverand 1:18pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim I think the babysitter is a wonderful investment and a great idea!! #momauthor #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:18pm via TweetDeck

@riverand The goods news is that my son is a teen and in school for a good portion of the day so that was at least 1 down.

LaBellesheim 1:19pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Yes, it was great t ohave the babysitter - she helped me clear my mind

riverand 1:19pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim school age rocks!! #momauthor #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:20pm via TweetDeck

@riverand This year the younger ones go to preschool 3x a week so now I have started writing again!

riverand 1:21pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim my next question brings us back to the writing process again. A question of curiosity, I suppose... #SurvivingEmily

riverand 1:21pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Who did you show your book, #SurvivingEmily, to first? Husband, friend, editor, #WritingGroup? And why that person?

LaBellesheim 1:22pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Prior to publishing it was my friends. But on that BIG day, I showed my husband first.

LaBellesheim 1:23pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I waited to show the hubby because I wanted to surprise him with the finished copy

LaBellesheim 1:23pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I also dedicated my novel to my husband and children & I didn't show him until it arrived :)

riverand 1:24pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Had your husband been reading along during the pre-published stages with your friends? #SurvivingEmily

riverand 1:24pm via HootSuite

This is so sweet :) RT @labellesheim: @riverand I also dedicated my novel to my husband and children & I didn't show him until it arrived :)

LaBellesheim 1:25pm via TweetDeck

@riverand He did in the very beginning but when I kept changing it around & revising he stopped. He figured he'd wait

LaBellesheim 1:25pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Us women think alike! :)

riverand 1:25pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Wow, so the finished product must've been very exciting on SO many levels!! #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:26pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Yes, I still can't get over seeing my name on the cover sometimes

riverand 1:26pm via HootSuite

we do :) RT @labellesheim: @riverand Us women think alike! :)

riverand 1:27pm via HootSuite

**SO COOL!!** RT @labellesheim: @riverand Yes, I still can't get over seeing my name on the cover sometimes

LaBellesheim 1:27pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It's nice to have achieved this goal of mine

riverand 1:28pm via HootSuite

OK @LaBellesheim I have some questions about the story #SurvivingEmily and your inspirations/experiences relating to it, ready?

LaBellesheim 1:28pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Sure!

riverand 1:29pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim your job in social work must expose you to so many stories.How much of THAT reality influences your writing? #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:30pm via TweetDeck

@riverand My SW experiences have given me MUCH to write about but realistically I only used a small piece of it in the story

LaBellesheim 1:30pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I think I might use more of those experiences in the next novel

LaBellesheim 1:31pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I tried to be careful in Surviving Emily to keep some of those experiences fictional but close to the truth

riverand 1:32pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim true however do you think your exposure to so many diff people through SW helped in character development? #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:33pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Absolutely - the role of Nancy in my story is very similar to many of the young clients i worked with

riverand 1:33pm via HootSuite

answering later questions! Yay!! ---> RT @labellesheim: @riverand I think I might use more of those experiences in the next novel

LaBellesheim 1:34pm via TweetDeck

@riverand The attitudes your faced with out in the field of SW are similar to that of Nancy's

riverand 1:36pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Understandable, my experience with various attitudes/emotions/reactions as a teacher gives me juicy details for characters!

LaBellesheim 1:36pm via TweetDeck

@riverand In Surviving Emily, Nancy is the character who brings back the painful memories for Abigail

riverand 1:37pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Nancy is a nice segue to my next question #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:38pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It's fun creating characters based of real experiences with other people

riverand 1:38pm via HootSuite

#SurvivingEmily mirrors a sad event from your life w #SUDEP - how difficult was it to relive that through your writing? @LaBellesheim

LaBellesheim 1:39pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It was very difficult at times because it brought back a lot of memories for me as well, even some that I had forgotten.

LaBellesheim 1:39pm via TweetDeck

@riverand But in a way, it was also therapeutic and helped me work past some it

LaBellesheim 1:40pm via TweetDeck

@riverand In a few scenes or chapters , I shed a few tears

riverand 1:40pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim do you think writing the book helped you in your grieving process? #SurvivingEmily #SUDEP

LaBellesheim 1:41pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I do. Surviving Emily first started off years ago as a writing journal for me to help in the grieving process.

riverand 1:41pm via HootSuite

Wonderful!! RT @labellesheim: @riverand But in a way, it was also therapeutic and helped me work past some it

riverand 1:41pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim in #SurvivingEmily Emily's death was initially suspicious & investigated by cops. Is this common in #SUDEP cases?

LaBellesheim 1:42pm via TweetDeck

@riverand At first I never imagined Surviving Emily becoming a published novel, it was more for me but it became something else over time

LaBellesheim 1:43pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I'm not sure if it's common, but its very likely as most times there is no known cause for the death

riverand 1:44pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim Publishing #SurvivingEmily was a fantastic move 1.you bring awareness to #SUDEP and 2. who knows how many ppl NEED this story!

  LaBellesheim 1:44pm via TweetDeck

@riverand In my case, I really didn't know my friend had epilepsy & her death was a huge shock

riverand 1:44pm via HootSuite

So scary! RT @labellesheim: @riverand In my case, I really didn't know my friend had epilepsy & her death was a huge shock

LaBellesheim 1:45pm via TweetDeck

@riverand That's exactly what I'm hoping for in this story - to help raise awareness

riverand 1:45pm via HootSuite

You made ME aware!! I had no idea! RT @labellesheim: @riverand That's exactly what I'm hoping for in this story - to help raise awareness

LaBellesheim 1:45pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I know a person like myself could have really used a story like this back whe nit had happened to me

riverand 1:46pm via HootSuite

EXACTLY! RT @labellesheim: @riverand I know a person like myself could have really used a story like this back whe nit had happened to me

LaBellesheim 1:46pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I didn't hear about SUDEP until several years AFTER my friend passed away.

riverand 1:47pm via HootSuite

So we know that Abigail's character was modeled after you. What about Stephen's character? @LaBellesheim #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:47pm via TweetDeck

@riverand At the time of her death, SUDEP was unheard of

riverand 1:47pm via HootSuite

Wait! What?! Amazing. RT @labellesheim: @riverand I didn't hear about SUDEP until several years AFTER my friend passed away.

LaBellesheim 1:48pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Stephen's character is slightly based off an actual person who was involved in this story

riverand 1:48pm via HootSuite

Oh W-O-W. RT @labellesheim: @riverand At the time of her death, SUDEP was unheard of

LaBellesheim 1:48pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Very true

riverand 1:49pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim if you could, what advice would you give to Abigail, Stephen or anyone dealing with loss suffered from #SUDEP? #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:50pm via TweetDeck

@riverand SUDEP didn't become a medical term used on death certificates until years after her death

LaBellesheim 1:51pm via TweetDeck

@riverand My advice would be to search out others who have experienced the same tragedy, to find a support group

riverand 1:51pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim I am so happy for you that you were finally able to put a name to the mysterious death! #SurvivingEmily #SUDEP

LaBellesheim 1:52pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I would also suggest to research more about epilepsy and SUDEP and find out ways to help raise awareness

LaBellesheim 1:52pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It was quite a turning moment in my life to learn about SUDEP and put a name to my friends death

riverand 1:53pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim excellent advice. I would add read #SurvivingEmily. I think it's quite powerful to see your own reality played out in fiction.

LaBellesheim 1:53pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I've learned so much about epilespy and SUDEP since then & I hope to help educate others too

riverand 1:54pm via HootSuite

Well, @LaBellesheim, I think it is time we tell people where they can find more info about you & #SurvivingEmily. Where should people go?

LaBellesheim 1:54pm via TweetDeck

@riverand It was a challenge to write fiction based off real experience.

riverand 1:55pm via HootSuite

I believe that! RT @labellesheim: @riverand It was a challenge to write fiction based off real experience. #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:55pm via TweetDeck

@riverand More info on Surviving Emily can be found on my website at SurvivingEmily.com

riverand 1:56pm via HootSuite

RT @labellesheim: @riverand More info on Surviving Emily can be found on my website at SurvivingEmily.com

LaBellesheim 1:56pm via TweetDeck

@riverand A excerpt and my bio can be found on the website

LaBellesheim 1:56pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Surviving Emily is also available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

riverand 1:56pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim excellent, and although I believe you alluded to this earlier, I have one more question for you! #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 1:57pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Sure :)

riverand 1:57pm via HootSuite

1 more thing before we let you go, @LaBellesheim! Are you working on a new project for all of us to look forward to after #SurvivingEmily?

LaBellesheim 1:58pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Yes! I am happy to report that I've already started novel #2, another women's fiction novel.

LaBellesheim 1:59pm via TweetDeck

@riverand I plan to keep going and writing for many more years to come! :)

LaBellesheim 2:00pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Thank you for this chat! it's been really nice sharing this with you and everyone here on twitter :)

riverand 2:00pm via HootSuite

@LaBellesheim With the kids in preschool, this one should be here in a flash! ;) We look forward to it!! #SurvivingEmily

LaBellesheim 2:00pm via TweetDeck

@riverand Thanks! The next novel will surely take much less time!

riverand 2:01pm via HootSuite @LaBellesheim I don't want to keep you from that 2nd novel any longer! Remember everyone ow.ly/72w7r for #SurvivingEmily  

And that was it. I hope you you learned a little something about Laurie's book, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy, writing and this great new author, Laurie Bellesheim!