Featured Interview With W. Andranette “Anne” Anderson
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a single sassy middle-aged lady who enjoys life, exercising, singing, playing the piano, and working Soduku. I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and this is where I presently reside. I do not have any pets. In my wildest dream I never thought that I would become a writer. However, thanks to my mother I did.
Life is too precious to take anyone or even the material things that one acquires for granted. Whatever obstacle you face remember to always look at it in a positive light. That is, never see the glass as half empty see it as half full. Remember without bad times in your life you would never appreciate the good times when they arrive. Also, it just makes life more interesting as well.
As I always say, “Without a test, there is no testimony, and without a mess there is no message.”
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I did not realize my fascination with books until I was in my late forties. I started writing in July 2013, after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Infiltrating Ductile Carcinoma (Breast Cancer) and given my first chemotherapy treatment.
My mother was adamant about me not sharing my disease with my family and friends. Due to the aforementioned statement, I used my writing as a way to describe my true feelings about the changes that my body was going through with chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation treatments while simultaneously telling my feelings about what was going on in my life during this time.
When I really think about it, I really believe that we all should write down what is important to us. I do not believe that people realize how POWERFUL words are. In fact, I have a mantra for myself that i repeat daily. That old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, is NOT TRUE at all. Words can hurt and words can heal. Moreover, people do not realize that we can speak things or circumstances into existence. Furthermore, we tame animals but the tongue cannot be tamed. Therefore, think twice and speak once. Remember you have the power to make this world a better place or a miserable one. Its all up to you.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like to read a variety of authors, but 2 of my favorite authors are Jodi Piccoult and Jim Stovall. I love to read Self-Help books because I am striving daily to become the best person that I can be. I know for a fact that whatever I put out into the world or my environment that is what is coming back to me. In other words, ” You do reap what you sow”, so it is to one’s advantage to sow good seeds so one will reap a bountiful harvest. We all have our flaws and idiosyncrasies, but we should be striving daily to reach our full potential while we are here on Earth. After all, its not the material things that we acquire or degrees that we obtain that people remember but they will remember the relationship/s that you made with them and that is what is important.
My mother inspired me to write and i know that I would not have written this book if it had not been for her. She really left a great legacy for me and she demonstrated the importance of giving to others and I did my best to give of myself by self-publishing this book.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
In this non-fiction story “My Journey with Infiltrating Ductile Carcinoma(Breast Cancer)”, I used my passion and emotions to convey to my audience how the challenges of breast cancer affect me and my family. My challenges are compounded when my mother and stepdad are also diagnosed with serious illnesses. I am now the primary caregiver for my parents and myself. This story takes place over a period of two and a half years. During this time, I do my best to live my life as normal as possible, do whatever is needed for my parents, and use my daily activities as a much needed respite in order to ensure my own self preservation. Though I had to stop working as an educator to take care of my parents and myself, I would not trade anything for the lessons that I learned from this awe-inspiring experience.
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