A Personal Note on Every Thought Taken

Since my first book, I've wanted to write a character like Anderson. Someone who has struggled with their mental health since childhood. I wanted to show that depression isn't always on display or what people expect.

Depression is something I personally know. No two stories are the same, though. In my youth, I purposely masked my hurt and kept my dark thoughts bottled up. I attempted the make it all end, and no one saw it coming.

Every now and again, the darkness surfaces—it truly never disappears—but I have learned how to cope with it. It is a part of me, and I accept this. And I hope through my own struggles, I am able to help others.

Remember to always be kind. Not everyone shares their struggles—in person, through messages, or online. There is no real way to know what someone is going through. Many put on a brave face in their darkest hours.

To anyone struggling with depression, please know there is a light in the darkness for us all. And if you every need someone to talk with, I will listen.