New book

Author Teea Ansari, who lives near Chichester, offers The voice of an insane woman (Wow book publishing, £12.99, available on Amazon).

She explains: “I had been thinking about and working on this novel for almost 20 years. Although the story is not a direct account of my own life, I drew inspiration from experiences that were close to me and from witnessing the impact of stigma, trauma and emotional struggles on people’s lives.

“What inspired me most was the belief that I could reach people who are suffering in silence and let them know that they are not alone. Asking for help can often be the hardest step, particularly when someone is carrying shame, stigma or fear, but there is support and there is a way forward.

“I wanted to create a story that opens up conversations around mental health and encourages people to speak openly about what they are going through. We are living in a time when mental health is finally being discussed more openly, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, which highlighted just how important emotional and mental wellbeing is across the world.

“The book is aimed at anyone who has experienced trauma, struggled with mental health, felt judged or stigmatised, or simply needs to be reminded that recovery is possible. My hope is that readers will see something of themselves in the story and feel encouraged to reach out for help.

“After carrying this story with me for so many years, finally bringing it to life has been incredibly meaningful. The journey from having the idea to seeing the book take shape has been emotional and rewarding. I’m especially grateful to everyone who has helped bring the vision to life, including the creative work that has helped transform the story from something I carried privately for years into a book that I can now share with others.

“Ultimately, this book is about struggle, resilience, healing and recovery; and, most importantly, finding the courage to reach out.

“I am a first-time budding author, and this is my first book. I actually started writing this book about 20 years ago. I felt a strong sense of responsibility to reach out to people who are struggling and let them know that healing is possible. My hope is that the book will help readers find their own path towards recovery, healing and a better life.

“Hopefully, in the near future, I’ll be able to organise some book events and create opportunities to connect with readers, fellow writers and the wider literary community. It’s an exciting journey, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.”