Meet Author Hannah Conroy
Battles raging within are the ones you must fight to win…
“WHITLEIGH CROMWELL dreamt of a happy life with her newlywed husband. Army Private First Class COLLIER CROMWELL loved God, his wife, and his country, though the military demanded he pay a high cost.
When an unexpected deployment during the height of war sends Collier away for another year, their lives tumble down a path marked with struggle, and fatalities. War weary, and faith crippled, Collier brings home a war of another kind leaving Whitleigh staring at the shattered pieces of their broken marriage.”
The above provides insight about Hannah Conroy’s newest novel, that addresses a very serious topic, and is the title of her book, Wounded Warriors and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Read the interview I had with her to learn why writing about this is so important. You’ll want to read through to the end because she has a special promotion you can be part of.
1: Your first novel, The Wounded Warrior’s Wife, from Olivia Kimbrell Press is on sale now. It takes an in depth look into the lives of military families in war time from the perspective of the spouse and soldier. One of the topics you spotlight is PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Is there a reason you’ve addressed this in your novel?
• Definitely. I am an Army Wife. My husband is an Infantry soldier with multiple deployments under his belt. For years, PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) has such a stigma attached to it. You were weak if you were having difficulties getting back to normal life after war. I saw changes in my husband…drastic changes that only got worse. Nightmares, anxiety, depression, mood swings, anger, distant and unfeeling behavior. It took years and our marriage almost falling apart before he got the help he needed. I’ve been told to write what I know, so I’m writing about this.
2: It’s my understanding that you don’t have to go to war to have PTSD. Is that correct.
• That is absolutely true. PTSD doesn’t only effect soldiers. Spouses can have it. Anyone who has experienced a traumatic event or loss of a loved one can suffer from this condition and there is no shame in getting help.
3: Can you elaborate a bit more on your experience with PTSD as you journeyed alongside your husband?
• For a long time, many years actually, I felt very much alone. I felt talking about it made me a bad Army wife, like I was bad mouthing him or something. God showed me that I wasn’t alone, and our struggle needed to be shared to help others. And so, here’s The Wounded Warrior’s Wife.
What kind of help do you recommend for anyone who might be struggling with PTSD?
• The best counseling anyone can receive is from THE Counselor, God. Dive into God’s Word. Find a solid Christian counselor. Surround yourself with positive thoughts. The Bible says to think on whatever is good and true and noble, and to renew our minds by reading His Word. Pray. Open up to a small group of friends, even one friend. Friendship is so important. Educate yourself on the condition and the natural ways to combat it like with your diet and exercise.
4: You’re Faith in God has gotten you through many things in your life as an Army wife. As a Christian author, can you discuss trying to find a balance in writing “real life” stuff into this novel in a way that doesn’t compromise your faith?
• First of all I want to say that just because I’m a Christian doesn’t mean I only want Christians to read this book. Anyone who reads through the Bible will see some serious real life crazy stuff going on in there, not because God condoned the behavior or the situation, but because it happened. There is a lot of “real life” going on in this novel. Because the problems, concerns and situations in this novel are so real to life they were hard to write and I’m sure they will be hard to read for many readers. As far as balancing my faith in my writing…I have to say that my faith isn’t something I turn off and on. I’m always a Christian 24/7 so I should write like I am. When I write about difficult real life problems it’s because we all have them. I can’t act like or write like the world is perfect, but I can write about how the Perfect One works in our world through the ups and downs.
5: I want to thank you for this interview and I know many are now looking forward to getting our hands on a copy of The Wounded Warrior’s Wife. Do you have any parting thoughts for the readers out there?
• I want to thank you for having me on as a guest and I want my readers to know how much I love them and pray for them! Please feel free to connect with me. I love hearing from you guys!
• The book released Sept. 22nd! Copies can be purchased wherever books are sold. If it’s not at your local bookstore, simply request it. Subscribe to my mailing list on my website for the latest release updates, links, and giveaways.
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About the Author:
Hannah holds a BA in History from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy. She is a Kentucky native, Army Wife, Stay at Home Mother of two, and Speaker, living in Clarksville, TN near Fort Campbell, KY where she and her family are currently stationed.
She can be reached via:
Email: authorhannahconway@gmail.com
Web: www.hannahrconway.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hannahrconway #thewoundedwarriorswife
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorhannahconway
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