Interview with writer, memoirist Megan Cyrulewski

Today’s special guest is memoirist Megan Cyrulewski. She’s doing a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her book, Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again.

During the tour, Megan will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a lucky winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Megan Cyrulewski has been writing short stories ever since she was ten-years-old. After attending Grand Valley State University, Megan eventually settled into a career in the non-profit sector for eight years. She decided to change careers and went back to school to get her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

While in school, she documented her divorce, child custody battle, and postpartum depression struggles in her memoir from Black Opal Books. Megan lives in Michigan with her 3-year-old daughter who loves to dance, run, read, and have snuggle time with Mommy. Megan also enjoys her volunteer work with Troy Youth Assistance.

Welcome, Megan. Please tell us about your current release.

Who Am I? is about my journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, visits to the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, and my courageous to survive with my sanity intact—and how a beautiful little girl emerged from all this chaos.

What inspired you to write this book?

Even though a lot of people know what post partum depression is, no one really understands it until she has it. I wanted those women out there to know they are not alone.

Excerpt:
Tyler was out of control—I had to stop him from taking my daughter…

Before I could even react, he snatched Madelyne out of my arms and put her in the back of his car. She started to hyperventilate.

“What are you doing?” I screamed.

Tyler ignored me as he tried to strap her in the car seat.

“Tyler! She’s terrified! You can’t do this! Let’s take her to a park or something. She has to calm down before she can go with you!” Was he crazy? How could he do this to his own child?

I squeezed in between him and the doorframe of the car door. “Tyler! Stop!”

“Don’t touch my car!” Tyler screeched as he tried to slam the door shut. I had my leg in between the door and the frame so he couldn’t close the door. I tried reaching Madelyne who was still wailing and howling. It was a horrific sound. All of a sudden, Tyler put me in a chokehold and dragged me from the car. I could see my dad out of the corner of my eye trying to get someone’s, anyone’s, attention.

“Help!” I screamed. “Help me!” But we were parked too far away from the actual police station and since it was Sunday, no one was around. “Someone help me. Please!”

Tyler tightened his arm around my throat. I couldn’t breathe. Oh my God, I thought. He’s going to kill me. Tyler was completely out of control. I knew if I didn’t do something soon, I was going to blackout.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m working on a crime fiction novel. I have to put my law degree to use somehow!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably when I was in college (about 15 years ago.) My major was journalism and my big dream was to write the news.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I split my time between writing and court-related work. I like the balance between the two.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I’m not one of those writers that can sit down and force myself to write. I have to be in the mood and sometimes, I go months without working on my manuscript. But when the mood strikes, watch out! I usually end up writing 50,000 in less than a week.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A history teacher. Then when I observed a classroom for one of my college courses, I was like – hmmm…no thanks!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’m obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. I have no idea why. I first read about him in 3^rd grade and ever since then, it’s my mission in life to learn everything about him.

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Thanks, Megan!

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