Writing Through Trauma: Postpartum Depression, Feminist Fiction & Indie Publishing

Welcome to another inspiring coffee break on the Women Writing Podcast, hosted by certified fiction and memoir book coach and author Liisa Kovala! In this episode, Liisa sits down with Northern Ontario multi-genre author Emily Andrews to dive deep into the reality of the writing life, the power of community, and the beauty of writing from a feminist perspective. Emily shares her personal journey from writing angsty teenage poetry to embracing self-publishing through KDP Amazon. She opens up about the raw inspiration behind her postpartum depression memoir, Second Right Goddess, explaining how she used sarcasm and humor to face barriers in the medical system. Liisa and Emily also discuss her YA short story collection The Fates of Three, her paranormal co-authored project Danny Fundy: A Cult Babysitter, and her upcoming 1990s Sudbury-set novel, And Then They Found Out. If you've ever felt isolated in your creative journey, this conversation is your reminder that you don't have to write alone. Learn about the upcoming grassroots Use Your Voice Indie Book Festival happening in Greater Sudbury, aimed at uniting local readers, writers, and artists to support youth arts funding. Emily Andrews is a Northern Ontario writer. She has stories in books such as Redwing Speculative Fiction and Painted Voices, as well as full length publications such as Danni Fundy: Occult Babysitter and The Fates of Three. She can be found hiding in her home in rural Sudbury or online at Emily Andrews Author on Facebook. 00:00 - Introduction to Women Writing with Liisa Kovala 00:46 - Meeting Multi-Genre Author Emily Andrews 01:31 - Overcoming the "Solitary Writer" Myth & Discovering KDP 02:18 - Writing the Reality of Postpartum Depression in Second Right Goddess 04:24 - Reclaiming Creativity After Chronic Illness & The Fates of Three 05:54 - Paranormal Babysitting: Co-Writing Danny Fundy 06:40 - 1990s Sudbury Nostalgia & Female Rebellion in And Then They Found Out 07:54 - Uncovering Family History: A Feminist Novel on Historical Asylums 09:25 - Building a DIY Art Community: Use Your Voice Indie Book Festival