In November 2024, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by journalist and author Ramona Portelli about my writing journey, the inspiration behind Hugger Mugger and Maze Aflame, and the realities of sharing a deeply personal story with the world.
Our conversation explored the emotional challenges of writing about manipulation, psychological abuse, resilience, and recovery. It also touched on the publishing journey, the realities of book promotion, and the lessons I learned while transforming lived experience into a series of books.
One of the topics we discussed was the difficulty of revisiting painful memories while writing. Bringing these experiences to the page required confronting emotions and events that many people would prefer to leave behind. Yet it was through that process that I gained greater understanding, clarity, and purpose.
We also spoke about the central themes of Hugger Mugger: The Con Man Smile and Maze Aflame: Flimflam Man. While the books follow Mary’s journey through manipulation, deception, and emotional turmoil, they also explore resilience, personal growth, and the search for truth in the aftermath of abuse.
Another important subject was the reality of modern publishing. Many readers see only the finished book, but behind every publication stands a long journey involving editing, design, promotion, interviews, reviews, and countless hours of work. Building an author platform often requires learning skills far beyond writing itself.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of the conversation centred on why these books were written in the first place. My hope has always been that readers who have experienced manipulation, coercive control, or emotional abuse may recognise parts of their own story and realise they are not alone.
Writing these books was never simply about telling my story. It was about understanding it, learning from it, and sharing those lessons with others.
Thank you to Ramona Portelli for the opportunity to discuss my writing journey and the stories behind books.
Read the original interview
