"Hello All, I'm Author, Catherine Lyon & I'm New"

Hello New Friends,

I'm brand new here! I just wanted to say Hello, and I'm excited to be here with you all. I thought I would share a new "Author Interview" with you all today that will give you an idea of all that I do. I am an author, writer, blogger, book & media promoter, and loud advocate for important issues that have touched my life in the area's of Recovery, living with Mental illness, and being a Childhood trauma & abuse survivor.

A good friend of mine, and fellow author himself has done a wonderful interview about my current book and about me! So I thought I'd share it here. I'm still learning my way around, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it here at The Book Marketing Network...

Happiness & Blessings,
Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon
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Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon

Glendale, Arizona

USA

Kev: In a generalized way, Catherine, tell us a little about yourself. Where you grew up, siblings, family life, education, and how you got to where you are now.

My family life so I thought, was normal as every other kid’s. Until the age 9 to 13, that all changed for me as a little girl. I was sexually abused at that time by a neighbor’s older son, and a family friend of my father’s.

At the same time, there was parental punishment abuse, both verbal & physical on top of all that, which set up the ‘Perfect Storm’ for me later in life. We were told, and taught you don’t speak of things that happen in our house outside our home, nor do you bring shame to the family.

As I got older into adulthood, I went from one bad relationship to another, a curse from being abused as a girl, as your thinking about men is so messed up by that experience. I was married twice, and divorced twice, and that’s all I’ll say about that.

I Was born in Toms River, New Jersey, moved and raised in Southern California, in Highland at age 7. I moved to So. Oregon, from So. California at age 25. And believe me, I did a lot of partying, dancing and living in between, but I always did the right things, took care of myself, had a good working career, and was enjoying life.

I met my husband that I have been married to for 25 years come this Sept, in Oregon at a bank I worked at. We dated awhile, and married after a year living together. We have no children, just are 4 CATS!..LOL.

Things were going good until I started suffering from PTSD, ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and depression from the abuse as a young girl. I had just turned 34, and all these old feelings of hurt and pain, and the horrible memories started to return. I could not stuff them away any longer.
That’s when I started gambling. It was at that time,  I gambled more often, something to pass the time as my husband was doing a lot of out-of-town construction jobs. From 1996 to 2000, I somehow along the way crossed that line into addicted compulsive gambling. It wasn’t until a trip to visit my parents in California with husband that things got bad.

We took a trip with my parents to Laughlin, Nevada where they had casino’s. The last night we were there, my gambling got a bit out of control. My husband saw the ‘Gambling Demon’ for the first time in myself. From there, it all went South! I gambled every chance I got.

Finally my husband had enough and told me to get help. I did, but not after I relapsed on and off for a few years, 2 failed suicide attempts, 2 crisis center treatment stays, many Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and finally got a foothold on long-term recovery! But,… I’m still a work in progress. I have managed to stay in recovery for 7 1/2 years now.

Kev: That’s a lot to take in Cath! How long have you been writing for?

I started writing as a teen, as a release from stress. I always had a diary or journal, but my favorite was writing poems. I stopped around 18. Then about 4 years into my recovery is when I started writing again, around 2010. I never wrote with the intention of writing something that would be published.

Kev: Why do you write?

Again,  I wrote poems when I was younger, and it helped me to stay calm and sane, as later in life I was diagnosed with a few mental health issues, and went undiagnosed for years. It was also a form of trying to come to terms with WHY I was chosen to be sexually abused. I had been so confused, and many who have been abused tend to think it was our fault that it happened to us. But through much therapy, I know that is not true.

Kev: What is your genre?  

My genre is non-fiction, it’s sort of my ‘Memoir’ of my life. I just turned 51, and looking back, I can not believe all I have been through in my half century here on this earth. It’s about giving people insights to the dangers of addicted compulsive gambling, living with mental health issues, and being a sex abuse survivor. The gambling addiction is the main focus of this first book, and how to start recovery.

Kev: Who would you say are your favorite/most influential authors and why?

I’d have to say the authors I love to read are, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, and of course Stephen King. Mostly because of their writing styles.

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Kev: What is your latest book called and what is it about?

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My current book is titled; “Addicted To Dimes” ( Confessions of a liar and a Cheat ) Which has received all 5 Star Amazon Reviews. It is my raw, unpolished account of gambling addiction, living with mental illness, childhood trauma & abuse added fueled to my addiction. It gives insights on how addicted gambling can happen, and it was my way of being honest with myself of all I went through, and the poor choices within my addiction, and into recovery. How dark family secrets and dysfunction can rip a family apart. It’s life. 

Kev: Who or what influenced you to write it?

My first book truly is the work of de-vine intervention really. I read an article in our newspaper about a woman who shot herself in her Casino hotel room. She committed suicide, and a note left said; “she relapsed and could not stop her gambling”…
This lit a fire in my heart to NEED to see all I did and all I went through with my gambling addiction. I was only 4 years into my long-term recovery. But I felt that woman’s pain in that newspaper article, hell, I almost was her twice within my addiction. This is also how I start the opening of my book.

Kev: What challenges did you face while writing the story?

To be honest, the only problem I had was the ending. I’m not a professional writer, everything I wrote on paper came from my heart, and my lived experiences. It was healing to write, but also difficult at the same time. WHY?

Because I’m not proud of the choices, or acts I committed within my gambling addiction. I started writing until all of it came out of me on paper, 4 notebooks worth. I wrote it all by hand, not on a computer, as I didn’t have one when I started writing. Later, when my writings became a book manuscript by a friend that needed a final exam project for college, is when I knew I didn’t want one more person to think Suicide is the only option they have to recover from compulsive addicted gambling.

Kev: Did you do any specialized research for your story?

No, not much was really needed since it was my own true testimony, and my life story.

Kev: Is your book part of a series?

No. Although my next book will focus more about Compulsive Gambling the disease, and how to recover and have a healthy balanced life in recovery. A little more humor, tips, and advice. The title is; “I Am Nobody, but I have Something to Say DAMN IT”! …LOL. Really, that is the next book title!

Kev: Which of your works do you like best (feel most proud of) and why?

Well, since I’m still only a “One Book Wonder”, I guess it would be my current book, Addicted To Dimes. LOL. I am really proud that my book got picked up by a fabulous publishing company, TKG! ( http://kodelempire.com) Owner: Steve William Laible. He took a chance on me with a different type of genre. He is himself a Children’s Author in his own right. It’s a great family of about 30 published authors now, and growing. I wouldn’t have anyone else publish my books but TKG.

I’m proud of my book because it has received all Amazon 5 Star Reviews. It is helping many who suffer or have reached out for recovery from Compulsive Gambling Addiction. I hope it is saving lives by telling and sharing my story. We can always turn our lives around from the deep depths of ANY addiction and have our lives back! It has been 18 months since the print version of my book has been out, and it is still opening doors for me to expand my advocacy about gambling addiction, the expansion of casino’s and State lotteries, and have done many Guest Author Radio shows, and a wonderful 4 part article done on me by: http://www.myaddiction.com Gambling Addiction Section.

Kev: Is there anything you would like to say to your readers at this point?

Since my book released in e-book for Kindle just a while ago, my readership has grown. I want to say to all my supportive readers, Thank You for buying and reading my book. I appreciate all my readers, as many follow on all my social media sites and my recovery blog too! That’s been the blessed part of having my story out. I have met some wonderful friends from my readership. I really enjoy interacting with all of them. To those who have not read my book, please do. It will help others understand more about this cunning addiction. I try to raise awareness and inform my readers so they understand, and to help Shatter the Stigma that is still huge around people in recovery from any addiction.

Kev: What are you working on now?

I’m putting the finishing touches on my next book that I already revealed the title here for you. I start looking for cover designs soon. But, I also have launched my book promoting service too. I love my publisher so much, and I have worked as an independent umbrella of TKG for a while now heading the book & social media promoting services for all our new authors. So now I’m offering my service to the public. I have some fantastic new clients with fantastic new books & novels that just released. I just enjoy helping others, both in recovery and other authors & writers.

Kev: What new challenges are you facing?

I have to say writing a fiction book now. I have started my 3rd book, and I’m trying my pen at fiction! WOW it’s hard. But, you can really use your imagination with fiction, and I love it! But it really is more challenging. They other challenge I face on daily basis is my Mental Illness. Yes, I do all I do and suffer from mental disorders which makes my writing at times even harder.

Some of my disorders are a direct effect from my past gambling addiction, some from the childhood abuse and trauma. I’m burdened with AADD, PTSD, Bipolar II depression, Agoraphobia with panic. Medications help me tremendously, but I still have a few bad days, but those are the days I can push myself just a bit harder. I don’t let my disorders dictate what my limits are. Recovery has also taught me that as well.

Kev: Could you give us a little spoiler?

Well, since I told you a bit about book #2, all I’ll say of book 3 is,….it’s about a woman, just divorced, no children, and moved to North Oregon Coastline to be a Lighthouse Keeper for some solitude, but ends up fight some ‘Demons’ of her past … 

Kev:  Sounds familiar already, Cath. Do you have any advice for other writers?

As a writer myself, the best advice I received was, with your first book, regardless if it’s fiction or non-fiction? Write what you know. And the second piece of advice my publisher gave me, and turned out to be true, …. Being an Author and Writer is a game of, “Wait -N-See”! If you are not already Famous, a Reality Star, or have been a New York Times Best Selling Author? Your not going to get “Rich” being a writer and authoring books. Fifty Shades Of Grey was a fluke, remember that!….LOL. An unknown author to hit that list is very seldom.

It takes a lot of promoting, time, social media, and networking to get your book noticed. Many hours of promoting, but when your book starts to sell, it’s very, very rewarding! There is nothing like holding your very first paperback book in your hands! Nothing like it in the world.

Kev: Is there a question I haven’t asked that you would like me to ask?

YES! It’s a question you should always ask your Women Guests? Do you like CAKE OR ICE CREAM?….LOL ~ I love Chocolate Cake Please!

Kev: Don’t for one second think you’re getting any! (It’s my favourite too) ;)

My Recovery Blog: http://CatherineLyonAddictedToDimes.wordpress.com “Recovery Journey and Ramblings of Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon”

Lyon Media & Book Promotions Blog & Info page: http://anAuthorandWriterinProgress.wordpress.com

My Book Links:
Amazon Books: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984478485

*Stevie Friends Books!* ~ My Publisher: http://StevieTenderHeart.com  

Let me know Kev if I have missed anything? Thanks so much for this interview!!

Kev: I think you covered all the bases Cath! :D

There you go everyone!: Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon!