Quite a few years ago, I began a book about a troubled young woman named Auburn Halverson. On the outside, Auburn might be easy to judge, She is in her early twenties with two kids from two different fathers. I wanted to acknowledge and promote that women can be too strong. They can endure so much that they become trapped. Yet, society judges them as weak.

The current title of my book is No More Ugly Girls and it has been accepted by All Things That Matter Press. I’m very excited about that.

I found this article about Anna Kendrick that relates to my main character and my message:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/anna-kendrick-blamed-herself-abusive-relationship-shame?bfsource=relatedmanual

I think it reinforces my character Auburn. Ms. Kendrick had a long term boyfriend that she considered her husband (like Auburn). He became abusive and pushed her away. He even told her that he was interested in someone else. Yet, Ms. Kendrick fought for her relationship. She blamed herself.

In the article she says, “It wasn’t just the, ‘Oh, I’m losing the relationship.’ It was that I believed that if we broke up, or if he left, basically, it was a confirmation that it’s because I’m impossible,” she said. “I’m lucky that he’s even tolerating my bullshit.”

We know what is right and what is right for us. But our inner voice attacks us and stops us from making changes.

And if a successful, smart person like Anna Kendrick can fall into bad patterns, anyone can.