As a perinatal mental health-certified trauma therapist by day and a novelist by night, I spent a lot of time writing in my office feeling a bit… incognito, like I was doing something clandestine, perhaps even a little mischievous.
Now that In Her Own Backyard is out in the world, I can say it openly: my goal was to subversively educate people who wouldn’t otherwise read about perinatal mental health through story. When readers care about the characters and wonder if a group of mamas can solve a cold case, they are willing to sit a little longer with the uncomfortable reality of how common perinatal mental health disorders truly are.
Moving Past the Taboo of “Postpartum”
While this book deals with heavy experiences (depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and suicidal feelings), the story keeps momentum, much like the 24/7 realities of life with an infant. We aren’t stuck in the pain indefinitely. Instead, the love and support from the characters’ friends, partners, neighbors, and a therapist sustain them, showing readers many of the ways we muddle through.
When all diagnoses get clumped together under the umbrella term “postpartum,” it becomes another way of sweeping mental health under the rug. Families during their reproductive years deserve accurate diagnoses, specialized care, supportive resources, therapy, medication, and, most of all, safety. Untreated perinatal mental illness can lead to substance abuse, overdose, or worse. Society often shies away from these realities, but through fiction, we can start to shift perceptions and improve access to care.
Unexpected Connections Along the Way
Since publishing In Her Own Backyard, I have been blown away by the sweet, meaningful moments that have come out of readers connecting with the story:
- A woman in her 80s sent me a handwritten letter sharing that she felt seen in these pages in a way she never experienced from her doctors 50 years ago, when postpartum depression had no diagnosis, let alone specialized support. She noted reading it “felt cathartic,” helping to heal old wounds.
- A pregnant mama in her 20s shared at a book signing that while she expected to experience postpartum depression due to past history, she was excited to be a mom, with her husband adding, “Let’s read it together.” Resourcing themselves ahead of time is remarkably brave.
- A computer science student bought copies both for himself and a psych major friend, noting he knew nothing about postpartum mental health but was a “sucker for tote bags.” (I offered a “buy 2, get a free tote bag” as an incentive at a book festival…and it worked!) Encounters like that offer real hope that future parents will be better educated and resourced.
- An Instagram influencer who dances to release trauma reached out to thank me for my work, observing that weaving EMDR coping tools into a fictional narrative reaches people who might never pick up a self-help book. The camaraderie and encouragement from someone “who gets it” means the world to me!
The Power of Community & Collaboration
Last year on my birthday, I wished for more community and collaboration in this next phase of life. While creativity and curiosity are vital human strengths, we can only go so far on our own.
That belief led to a thrilling development: my publishing agent recommended the manuscript to a film and television agent specializing in psychological thrillers, and a casting director subsequently passed it to a producer interested in real-world impact projects. Perinatal mental health impacts one in five moms and one in 10 dads, and bringing this conversation to the screen could expand that awareness exponentially. Fingers crossed!
Whether we are working to shift societal perceptions around mental health, building supportive local networks, or chasing creative dreams, we go further together.
If you are interested in learning more about the book, exploring upcoming author events, or looking into therapeutic support through Healing Home Counseling, I invite you to explore the rest of the site and join the conversation.
