Join Us for a Conversation with Novelist Tanya J. Peterson

What do you when your seemingly normal life is suddenly ripped apart by mental illness? Tanya J. Peterson explores this question in her new novel, Leave of Absence. It is the inspiring and disturbingly realistic portrayal of a man and a woman being treated in a mental health facility.

The book is all the more true to life because it covers both situational depression and a lifelong illness. One character has been hospitalized after the loss of his wife and child drove him to attempt suicide; the other is struggling with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia. The bond they forge will be the only reality they can cling to while in treatment.  

It was my pleasure to speak with Tanya about her love of writing, as well as her commitment to bringing awareness to mental health challenges and other social issues. Her previous book, Losing Elizabeth, is a Young Adult novel about a girl involved in an abusive relationship.

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Tanya is from the Northwest, where she is a certified counselor and teacher. To learn more about her work or purchase the books, visit tanyajpeterson.com

This Friday's Podcast Guest: Novelist Tanya J. Peterson

Tune into the WITS podcast this week as author, counselor and teacher Tanya J. Peterson discusses her  new novel, Leave of Absence. It is the story of two people from completely different worlds who find themselves admitted to the same mental health facility. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, they find that the only reality they can cling to is each other. This moving story explores not only the devastating effects of depression and schizophrenia on the mind, body and soul, but the healing power of friendship.     

Leave of Absence is more than an excellent read; it is also a reflection of Tanya's life's work. She is passionately committed to bringing awareness to mental health issues; however, rather than writing self-help or nonfiction books, she has chosen fiction as the vehicle to deliver her message. She believes that novels can reach a broader audience, and to this end, lets her characters do the talking in the context of a tightly woven and entertaining story.    

Tanya holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education, a Master of Science in counseling, and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. She has been a teacher and a counselor in various settings, including a traditional high school and an alternative school for homeless and runaway adolescents, and she has volunteered her services in both schools and communities. Her previous work includes the novel, Losing Elizabeth, about a teenage girl involved in an abusive relationship. To purchase the books or learn more about Tanya's work, visit Amazon or tanyajpeterson.com