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Victoria Rydberg-Nania's avatar

Tracey, I found the same thing when I became a mom—I can't subject myself to scary things anymore. There is too much real scary in this world. Jeff and I recently had a conversation about graphic violence as well—he doesn't write it because he's BTDT in real life. Finding the calm every day is a must. I spend early mornings with my Down Dog Yoga and Meditation app starting the day with calm.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

Yoga is amazing. Breathe with the movement. Breathe out with the flow. And I've come to love shivasana too. Embrace the stillness. 🩵

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

I appreciate you sharing your story with us. There's a great book my daughter gave me for research into Mattie Cobb's trust issues and anxiety. It's called The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD. I love that book...it really speaks to me about some of my traumas. Thanks, Tracey!

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

Thank you Margaret! I'll take a look. If it has anything to do with metaphysics, sign me up!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Epigenetics. It's very interesting.

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Carl Vonderau's avatar

I admire how you've been able to take your family's turmoil and put it in your books. Nothing your own family to make your heart pound.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

How right you are! 😆

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Thomas A. Thrun's avatar

Thank you for sharing your horror/thriller life story. In the middle of my own now, almost 70, and facing cancer surgery and other neuropathy difficulties related to last years diabetes diagnosis. My poetry has grown darker.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

That resonates with me, Tom. I may be true for most dark fiction writers. We write about our experiences because we're working through things.

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Nick Chiarkas's avatar

I love this…so true.

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

May all your personal traumas be resolved as smoothly and satisfyingly as your delightful books.

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Meredith Rankin's avatar

I can really identify with what you're saying.

After I had children, there were certain books that I just couldn't read. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, for example, or Room by Emma Donahue. I had little kids and it was simply too much to handle.

Now, though, I'm writing murder mysteries. My life's changed, in some similar ways that yours has, and now I need the reassurance that comes from writing a mystery that has a solid conclusion, the bad guy caught, justice served. And as I research police procedure and forensics (as morbid as it is), it helps me understand the world around me better, and that, too, is helpful.

Thanks for sharing.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

Thank you, Meredith. I agree, there is satisfaction in justice and resolution at the end of a thriller or mystery. I makes the reader feel like the world is safe again.

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